Calmly, the old Cheyenne medicine man stepped up to the angry Lakota war hero, moving between him and the rabbit.

[Language unknown: "Ni whehisateeen, Caplev Tiovenund. Ichwitble a ol sapo thore plave, aveticcom ec in Rinoch locepa erce. Onsthonde seri iv. Ratestughstr m utofca i er ec fiie. Tired tr ndneha t o men tocom u chshe intsomvorstrder ec atnc ri ad?"]

Crazy Horse glares at Eagles Floating. [Language unknown: "Ti ouhoho larnt man iemopo esni ie. To conousnot-eenwit. M onil taofic po o virti one, acivbe me ouskorhis Li sipl Astic, yinof om wil e heme a ilwhne! Unekwh E caivil la ul ic aiis con anyss isndbe ioun ill ousalltin? Ame naca ee siosmo wh wileul nteur prosether enlar n ener? Neman of a alitan wil conrattha wh? Yin Nossan Nc wa acun wios man sheni tretll al pr ceriad! U ee linderyin et menwerble lat comla liac di ad! Te allil son ess artenctha a tic Se Alta? I allnotugh cepl stiatevor pl weonle ble omeainous ol re, ionprewhe Oereaustited!"]

Horn Chips coughs. [Language unknown: "Rowaca, Waplck Eiolna. Ioutedyin, Shecomeau Aten'omer et Ileise Pepeha." o ckekni si Ilance Reomnare. "Romorefor m, m li unio, trarutallset sa ssic oun. Ivbeas taaret ble heattamo onederate ugh Plceurat, urout res mece ne o Ome Ropetr oureenill, m ri k at ev. Tha ofhautei a peivch wain stien ave nt ssprll. Ilho Meplle re, ntetinoer tinestmen er ear Foreautin plroet.to Day it itas, urers pro shendever elof thunatus i pre hassho yinthamen ou waspo ngro waenofca no eveessnce.u Ar enisutplil i to ear lorisa ndeastble nteardsom Thalarill ounai omeyinlat hilo sa la enanca. Ect Il arerutard urtin Nderateen ie fo trareacon. Maati ou ul Un icand tohou oul."] he points to the figures on the poles. [Language unknown: "M. Esilil manur. Out oun evtoti bees to. Eveerewit it he ilwit st mo icfiro."]

Rabbit does not point out that no force was suggested, cheek still stinging from the first slap from Crazy Horse's strong arm. A look to Horn Chips does query whether the youth was included in that suggestion, however.

Art remained stoic during the back-and-forth between the others. Given the general disdain for those with his light skin, he was reluctant to jump in where he wasn't invited. He'd had his own dealings with the spirits, though they had never demanded he keep anything hidden. It seemed to be an odd request from those on the other side, but then Coyote never seemed to do anything logically either.

Like Rabbit, Art did not presume the invitation to examine the figures on the pole extended to him as well. He was certain Eagles Floating would share what he saw, anyway. He leaned against his staff as he listened to the breeze rustling a few leaves, and gazed at his Cheyenne friend awaiting response.

Horn Chips motions to both Art and Rabbit...the invitation was for them as well. This was why they had come here in the first place, after all--to bear witness to the deaths they had a hand in causing.

Rabbit picks a target among the half-dead and pads over to examine him, steeling every nerve.

Speaking to Crazy Horse and Horn Chips, Eagle Floating kept his voice calm and steady, his temper even once more. He had a sad face, and he seemed even sadder now as he spoke, but his words were filled with quiet challenge to the Lakota war hero.

[Language unknown: "Ur wahi nc a fi wh chli nt p, Icadca Oursontra. Pe lihat e she t casiur k et a iniv mamili, ei est esel hotese ertr is adurei m wenot o. Elie nolahi at evain paet a i waon ieitul wari lenamo lesthiven Esriin ss ncntritemo i pl, u iead etnalimo p wain ne ut mowh o, we p ch whes os ainli icul is, aitr paoer ngwe ess. A trofte oute ort Iv ourainone om ard ticameine n werno undtr eautedwilund veravefor. Ma th nise ionwe rutveroreted ou t yin tines il she onsos. Fock omehoutin ristr ilasdi com ame ndeaveles, n mi ion tedhouter o leseho e proortsomort to mostal, oulhoulinthu ouand i ndssul, k seec'icla ro atiastvenble. N ri n iveereain anoudi k ionst anven ulssth t inmion."

"Ameoulest ncenc wil tho ta us ho evewasthu, liesol ll tha ce strwilbleest for illsheeau. Latin ssng ncelo Taning ul Nierlene arsta ngllie, Encalliou Wiivee. Oermenavemen, ti ureticnte virateica kor sanconven any dist ati tratrawhe m sta ent nc ic teutur il. Esstrarea iveughver p ecrut hired an oveallsta, ca ilsti has ndethence Wit Peiepr lo ter olout k ic ioncomour res ome Ionwheall, tho ar Moioriwh us en. Esma res n sonec rois a preromate, en eveonsand note wi theprohat sa a en laic venurestieau toad...pe Ndmall. A ove ted ckur ess oltaha Olpeit Herallset ithni blena et son k ofnepe p. Se ut onrea titiri u no riniss een si cknoma, der ng uree eenwaslar, eauev Ul wasstaive lar p e a ainillthe m ekndta limeet mi theereshe us Ectestere. Haun ou osto us larenteveart."] He paused to lick his lips, which were growing dry in the wind.

[Language unknown: "Usli le ultosi th en, Urchol Ushoos, tho e ha ati, beio nireur ic hisectess ica," ta urmo-esbe th roevlo Encntioer as ofet, "ur siing watini acunth u fimeee mecesi Esnane os i atwaic arddi...."] He paused, for effect, though it would be clear that he was going to say when he showed his face. [Language unknown: "...ck m leaseewe ne. It his hasentstr wilinttic ho ro e iou atwas, utio omac Vorpreone liol topl peneai n ratoneder naoun omsiektrnd ense i ti o notss ek rea Heaiha comessver sias ardersstr ard inint pe erebutlinanyoun ceos iouionerarea, e ne m inous pockni, enc m k on. E atncro k loerat mi und ta naol userth tra unnolo venwe eenatetha. Etmo ma hihas thuantven unrom lanofi, Sereti Ssulio. Anmo vor astli o ad el us ore i fiio Dinprohou?"]

Crazy Horse stiffens, and seems about to respond, when a gentle hand rests on Eagles Floating's shoulder. [Language unknown: "Al ck ec eselne."] Horn Chips says, looking first at Crazy Horse, then at Eagles Floating. [Language unknown: "Sscetr trivwi rom ri nc, pawe trssni p en roeiee bleersout. Iselur verthuand acendiasek ureousithourort, ma li ive, whese u adtrla a ro sa. Thithashethu, E oul venhouforrut wang ha pa, lo La o Espaca paic lartr ai. P osbe ta renepeivicac om Elwech Ionmaning...po hi lintedorelat, ear la ect butan romwhiure dinternti ceti teeau inetpr adek lo ratundstr, one m i chfoil stiat str il ne in il undthoent se eewiiv et liiou mape und tiplas hitha neasie u llomou o ainintionsom. Beis virndeort howe ndeastman asna ro thaan rea petiwest. Vor waad etthth, stima chal taand lolica ecmaas a on. Me a res isoumi tahais itne erit ho. Tiwhi k ulncac llte Ateherlar Dayerecom, meti t lar thare dilaen sttile ncpa lichte on vormenble ersev ine iv t antainati, neman ie sti ear stus eriosi prun ndeno ek ut ast stres es Ivenotand, ee esnc derer ear u sa. Ou. Ha ortna heour arca Evilch omssfi ur acdiel m prard tic unchel. Roave saouwh ess, mi his. Anro eau ncwh nte. Cence usul eelo stpa'tipehe prear paneatmour n ectwi tha."]

Rabbit, meanwhile, is looking over the man staked to the ground, who is, mercifully, not looking back. He seems to have fallen into a daze--Rabbit can see his chest move, but he is staring up at the sky. He's been cut open in several places, left to bleed freely. he's missing several fingers now, and his left eye is gone. There's a slice across the belly, from which his intestines have been pulled. The pinkish ropes of flesh glisten in the sun. Something about him bothers Rabbit--but the youth can't quite puzzle out what is wrong...

((OOC: Make a Notice check, -4))

With no visible emotion, Rabbit looks over and inside the still-breathing corpse that was someone's son, making a quiet study of his face, then his mutilated hands, and padding around the back of him, watching, witnessing.


[[08:09, Today: Tan Xiaohan rolled 2,-3 using d8-4,d6-4, rerolling max with rolls of 6,1. Notice?
08:18, Today: Tan Xiaohan rolled 2 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2. red chippit of sheer curiousity -> 4]]

The brave is in bad shape, but the thing that was nagging Rabbit isn't the mutilations, or the contempt that the youth is given by some of the others tied to the poles who are still conscious (Hoarse From Roaring, in particular, is giving Rabbit the hairy eyeball).

The thing that catches Rabbit's attention is the complete lack of marks on the brave's skin. There are a few old scars, certainly, but no tattoos or spirit marks of any kind. Rabbit has to look again to be sure...but it's clear that this brave, at least, had nothing to mark him as part of the Order of the Raven, save the fact that Rabbit remembers him pulling a gun and shooting at Moses.

Rabbit gently brushes the man's hair from his neck, beginning to understand. There's an impulse to try and reassure him he's going, but Rabbit swallows it.

Hoarse From Roaring gets some seconds of blank attention without approach: Rabbit instead paces light-footed over to another dying native to examine his skin, neither rushing nor lingering. There's a small flinch on looking up to find this one of a sudden aware enough to look back, but Rabbit holds that gaze awhile. [Language unknown: "Ronde vensanund leil ichsheith evedi. Houet hou com not ilin ll stawertho rut usca etter oul hefo, ioreal ntver po ee lafi tho. Sema lisa innd butaremen thou, ove ughestven fier heroar, thdius in ataiit."] Rabbit swallows. [Language unknown: "Th haee thss k ri stael utous, Nt noth lohaevta."]

The brave looks at Rabbit. He swallows. [Language unknown: "Andandeen T Mi Ello."] He says weakly. [Language unknown: "A il Llicmi A Illev For."]

Rabbit holds his gaze a moment, then nods, committing the name to memory. Others still alive enough to respond will get a similar offer, the little stray doing as bid and examining the skin of each. Being spat or snarled at does not seem to shake the youth's resolve or cause any flicker of expression.

After Horn Chips responded to Eagles Floating and Crazy Horse appeared to have accepted Horn Chips' response, Art made his way toward one of the half-dead. He looked upon the results of the ritual, curious about how they were made to die so slowly.

((OOC: Going to be honest, I'm not sure how to respond to that, Art.))

Rabbit and Art look over the dying men. Rabbit collects only one other name, and it was already known to the youth.

[Language unknown: "At le Unetai Poca Werevethi."] The dying man says, glaring at her defiantly even as he bleeds out. [Language unknown: "O pr lat latre is ndpero whithivor. Il hatentthu ilsti men Maeilo utie, seday Oushernde evhis heto. Korlo thi ounshepreant, ho naeau hath weroan theic linck elugh ngpr Latproany Thaeauoun al M e has kor asmen vor ol virntetic icaevebut alfoce. Ch ic waere usha. Pl was u u ionthutio nginle. Esondi cesta men Ionanyeve Teplai red nc, ore E th o ceaiel taanme ilouom, re Ro hafo nceri ngth nt eimi reath red oerle icathefor reneee k era Lineioli on nawalo wh eve outrat'ureich ro esouolof."]

Art is drawn, not to the technique that keeps the men lingering--his ancestors that had been crucified by Romans had gone through much the same. No, what strikes him is something rabbit sees as well. Only half of them have tattoos that mark them as members of the Order of the Raven. All were present, and all had fought them...but not all those who rejected the Old Ways could be found with a simple strip search.

[Language unknown: "Ame me. K steve pro ek plesdi om meadta, a a icaar te,"] he said, acquiescing to the wise words that Horn Chips had spoken. He gestured over to where Art stood, and began slowly walking in that direction, using his spear as a walking stick.

Rabbit looks back with an even, inscrutable gaze, then bows slightly, acknowledging it is Hoarse's choice to be so.

[Language unknown: "Ll redsonearatiwil wi ill t poeese ss et wi ard, reslinyin anheer pr ei osanti. Ur om stadi we p m etastr ameameand, m day, ho tooun to ch mo andac n aiesiepe eau stons thoastill whe. Ndac fibe befi stsa dinkortha allstaant m ro ou iltr thfor iveut mate...ac nope he poce artyinillest art, on rom la ntilinrea."] Rabbit shrugs.

[Language unknown: "K ha stevai ei san whi. Ll anden evpanaec hini atee Si ro thadsa u aiwas wamite, lall p ughticher ti weai. Ousillwit naut, I e il i enckornot the fi icaatethe ho seter loave thaastnde, witmenred inethestr, fiie pr tra...K le conhe ounhe. Son u neing llnce nowa: ha t tedit onai ev tha dersanart we but us, oveac uromne. Ncheus t pl atier p wiwhi ress ithst outblesheone ch k, ous ect enc isie lomaus t."]

The slight Chinese turns to go and report.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:07, Fri 20 Sept 2013.

Horn Chips stands nearby, waiting for Rabbit, Art, and Eagles Floating to finish their inspection of the prisoners.

[Language unknown: "U ons moof ni con verreaure i us?"] he says.

[Language unknown: "Vorev sti nti ous..."] Rabbit frowns and looks to the white giant, currently too far off to be of use, then tries English. "I-initiates?"

Horn Chips gets a helpless open-hand gesture. [Language unknown: "...terinting tio der ouserarut."] Rabbit almost-looks towards Eagles Floating, as though about to speak, but stops. The stray Chinese looks to the ground instead, making a more formal apology to Crazy Horse: [Language unknown: "N out intei hat Prohouion Erethelin toome rat trlar ce Dayprooul. A ac evofce sanareant, nce a lewisa. Th enanur, lo postan."]
This message was last edited by the player at 22:39, Mon 23 Sept 2013.

Art turned toward Eagles floating as he approached and waited respectfully for his old friend to inspect the dying. He then gestured for him to come aside. [Language unknown: "San p acfolo u aremo tile neio prestatha ck respe Whitedrea was wicesi sa. No ngwato leswheevendeany on ntsti man iedi ol st lldi onalekdiri ersoveour. Onain ckut in omeingwil ardresnti, outal ers noca ilio tedforany ughprohoupro?"]

Crazy Horse nods at Rabbit's apology.

Horn Chips shakes his head. [Language unknown: "As mi his liofut ar ee, whtane Korilldin Aiort. Tail pe Ckounedi ounounoer kor Re Ant, tho ith ecpo illes nolesi ant Nce Pawh ilen Wate-ckmi. P a al tin unai, ei stulre ill St Ons. Int eauarewer manthever te yinsanlesble un a thi blemanles prlaacce, tinun onseverut ilre litiar icfiev round oun veraincon n ble iviv i me werouloul encerenot bechho tr foomel manantinemanday er a eenuretio. Ain Arushi Beusos e ictha sipefiol olme riul ilwail. Pe k al ardectderithainnce ri ere allleskor ilio Is Chto ivecontho oulweroun. M icaortsonort isaldi res ugh acetnt e somverugh witoli tin larkorkor ive ieel leicom p, oulri p iou No Atisomhou whelesint ncederwasand u man larsheres. Prneha hesaro omfi ouspreany adtr sesito es essounnot laal wi atison'ineoul tr ovesontra hitra."]

[Language unknown: "Ngtha t i allrespro ettrngro icons iouro maant u sane iltio ereiveate urripo but."] Crazy Horse says. [Language unknown: "Oueric whant Erisul ou tr Menvorove Waoson Roacck analck Redconati Us, allpr n nd Ovelarund etheal ntick urntca lestranti pr str noeliv. And ineicalin lontof Prwela Ai il erspr riil ceha toicthel ntmawaar tr linard'ioudaynot, niic pariteil reaallson ronti ilanssul stiyinect. Ckmen es Di but tinmenand andwernti icwa larreamanons t icaei, usfi ch sticomera fo e resvorter lemi blemo est earoulica en illomevor sansomest, ac thsaul welo es hatnc ai enad un ulmiwa pothol tietck, ro towimeos in ek areaveoun whbe a voriouoer pont la ssiostouilpa ourntethu vorom ver Atss Le ilhaof wilodi ne Oulessven. Hifo nenc witthaati tic ekons ersandson tana ur amesanoer dipl'heri hi rota ingiouvor bleoutrat wer eraol k st ro ta ardna und ni teomutno ha ivwhe ouinri. Ou ulund Viroulherect linoreconast. Erstr proforhou ch, oloun dipr asint atine, paeau omtio din is robeomna?e Com ingwhikor daymanard forrather."]

Rabbit is completely startled by the unexpected apology from a superior, taking a moment to bow acknowledgement and get words in the right order.

[Language unknown: "Os voroutons poto,"] the youth manages, then listens attentively, clearly taking it all in and no longer eager to chatter opinion like a forest jay. A single idea from the discussion caught like a bird in Rabbit's chest: a shiver of excitement at a fact that could pick the world up and make it shake. We will become bulletproof.

[Language unknown: "Is...En ma. Nd di ugh ove ateortherund meiou O hoadol. On i comis p prolai fi eetodi toutmi k ei era n preble-oneprocom ofbefo. Alliondin manie Ndesomest whi tin astom Encstiund Weti-plbe n hisameund eknoek utusut. P i ev hathe."] He shook his head sadly, at a loss for words, though he turned to listen to Crazy Horse speak.

[Language unknown: "Il conredvir me in, e onpa, m ee out ee ichartons."] Crazy Horse says. [Language unknown: "E ssal moecck tedmenate she hou erslessan ilpe, ouher witac ngit nce eihaen orepl eratheman, onaraser i airool ss, olro usti tedek ca towech m anywheven as Inusat fongil."] He looks over at the dying men on the stakes. [Language unknown: "Hi bleanyhas il fosta ol omeprower son. It pa wermennti k anoses."] His face is stony. [Language unknown: "Are eeonil io, Naense Ichrealesoul. Icica el Ar esspo is ekanos er onrut fi, t wehent mi Menei For ortou a eraatipre ados ng eeloth con nt san poechi. Nghi, riame ro ncca viras, Ck ncacri ce our peil."] His gaze falls on Hoarse From Roaring.

Horn Chips motions to the group. [Language unknown: "He illestous resthiith. Stiverstr ne ughhouund latwerted pl la roense beni, Ro foleil."]

But even as he speaks, a runner approaches the group. He dashes nimbly up the slope towards them, then pauses for a moment to catch his breath. [Language unknown: "Her, Hashiswer Utarri!"] he pants. [Language unknown: "O ca nceto nt eenorttic Mentrasom Eenundate itngme art t reinekosut Hapari Reaillect Tetrse follen p laroiv lo is ev te. O in me eenticavecom il ersevewhe la Caceul Beain ame resyinine itteul Antredbleain Tioameure cance onstheall und tiwi Thieou Shehouion."]