The elderly Cheyenne shaman nods at Rabbit's offer, eyeing the offering curiously as it comes to him. He looks carefully at Crazy Horse, taking in the legendary warrior's stony silence, and wondering about it in his own mind, but he spoke no word of it. Instead, he turned his gaze on the Warlord Kang, but spoke his words to the young yellow one, the one called Screaming Rabbit.

[Language unknown: "Latstrtho nt a estro inro saday hatavetraect int, re p ine ro ad on nc ma reitro k ha ck whilmi tinverwhe. Lifoss din Icaterbut Eipl ss wiwe Terlatund Ntintiine laurnt un ardai a ma diom laratiant venlarere?"]
This message was last edited by the player at 06:38, Tue 05 Nov 2013.

[Language unknown: "Is oncaom t ca ni k t t re waev salawa,"] Rabbit ventures softly, returning a well-stocked bowl to the Cheyenne and surrupticiously watching to see if Brick and Egg (as the youth had privately dubbed Kang's servant-sorcerers for their shapes) took mortal food.

Crazy Horse's reticence was worrying, since the only reason Rabbit knew for rejecting hospitality was a declaration of emnity. He might also be baffled by the chopsticks but Rabbit could not aid him with that, sitting across the table. Hopefully Crazy Horse knew enough of the Iron Dragon to realise attempting to strike him in his own tent would be a truly bad idea. Hopefully.

[Language unknown: "Peadnd Ingyinessble Ol Caelic Ingpreund nawahihe hofi ilicatei o le oun sanoneoer he ndiv ulanlemo Pr Si ai Oulad Ati Ni at aveticsontho,"] Rabbit translates the elder's sentiments to Kang, quietly filling a bowl with somewhat enthusiastic heed of his generosity.

[Language unknown: "Notad i oneterpre."] Kang says. [Language unknown: "We icaon te n seoer. K ri yinwh ivanla."]

[Language unknown: "Icathosta Artpe ntwhma pr arttinvor u ceest to ulmawadi paee Thori Ni Illvirtioset ectncemen."] Goupi says.

The two men sitting beside Kang take the opportunity to fill their dishes. All eyes turn to Art.

Art nodded at the request. [Language unknown: "P som intineandder olave not Peceulsi trekni sti sheratman ll iv oeringoun n Naof Sannderut m Alei Icaanythaion. T stame reof notwhirut proil reeica str es has lenana t mariwe Sesaon hatus. Ninere t pre Ieisai Aieefo, e throm rateenthu stplha buteverom tori Ilosntro. A art of astpa mi th lesro foout e la se tioessame ol ll power oveiouwas prowerave wa sa san ioolla i outos ac. N elfi pero pasom k t utman ncnd era iepo ng ar lat ce icchnc m urll ingratstr ingdereau. Er semeolcafi stius ro omter strool whpe tockut cees di nahori oseireto i undma la onetinugh som nce nc ne men. Ec ousectome erail enhi poti u Icaughlar Ommace, arle as rise veroeriouhis ti ekad stmo'ectrbe Alompa sonounwit se ee u orthatour n maisacro ol p o ome somec ette."]

Art coughed lightly before he continued. [Language unknown: "A re onacsa i ardhasthilin k pawh diwil io Thueaushe Prelinons. Fo aimi pa e ss stidi ven arebleson k urprsi ortentone llta inewe a to netapltr ant bleichand p no os a itad nd omhiad e Werstroul. Out a Icmonoevinillo enncat ntchri il siceursi, an u intderout waicmo naent. T hatio somtio'ntitraess ic u ndin Trathores Somvorare, ameanyoul an ssme rerounes somratwhi. St roneat ine comestcon Ncemenrat Eiacllec t Aveourave Rutichent mata be pe a prpa fo which andsanati. Eiacta Utanll ard evnoaseilo io metota ilad al un a eenhe mopailen tedichbutint ec pofiin best-ngas Ekeeei. Essan korntimen ntest stanndth olos Iv Blecomant omckar, na fo elck ho ek lainla n p loevpl. El pa outstistiave k t nc, u in omstng di horeof strom Undwheoul io derthutio ect ainwaswhi manentwas. Hoofos wilousyin Inedaynde Evencence ce ca."]

Art lowered his eyes briefly, then raised them again to those listening to his tale. [Language unknown: "To retic ratinerom lar chllan icour el, catha est deronslin redilo heckfi hihe."] He paused to lick his lips and see if the others were able to follow his tale.

Rabbit manages to keep up a running translation with little additional explanation, adding only that Black Kettle was [Language unknown: "t ectartwil ar wathof ie tear lastmi oveingain li strstalin asom'aiat"] and translating 'treacherous Pawnee' as [Language unknown: "Tielheck ilwaou urewhiess, e atard iveredwhioereen iouallsti."] Concentrating so hard on the words, Rabbit even pulled off an unsurprised echo of Spotted Face's utterly casual mention of the ability to turn into a bird.

The last sentence gets rendered as [Language unknown: "Nimi miek teerhi t neus caol setrsang, rivir a larhat-ugheau whilck arro'fitrti maut eenntiyinthe bepa,"] before the youth takes advantage of the longer pause to get at food.

[Language unknown: "Wa traingbleoveous."] Kang says with a nod to Art. [Language unknown: "Eveis atiei el tofi e foheri tha p rommenive, thelatrut. Isul eraestyinset siur onaihi ck linonsted o din allstarom atelinati."]

He raises his tea.

Goupi translates: [Language unknown: "Amewilrut Enc ousureven om inereaeauithkor, venar thudinkor itis'alcast inoul pro foroni Reilha Strhatons. Re waswitvor e onsomeven ev Atiureugh Leouston leseio wesess."]

[Language unknown: "Mean iole etsi aipr evendebut larlo i con ek erushe mo utrewaon diivpr?"] Kang says. [Language unknown: "Le olna thina ssheta n tiss eiceho, ol strticand ichha di hatvenrutard. Ni omere menlatder theorehou e undiousom sa naeise fosom he evndishi oreus, u essoveere antratoun atthwe ate toioal."]

Goupi...hesitates at this.

Rabbit darts a questioning glance at the translator over the bowl-rim, as much to check whether he's stuck as whether he thinks there's something dodgy about the request.

Goupi doesn't seem to be comfortable with the request, not stuck on words. Kang frowns at the delay.

The barest twitch of a frown creases Rabbit's brow in place of a sigh before the youth looks to Horn Chips. [Language unknown: "Hat O tapaiv?"]

Art was about to thank the warlord for his condolences when he caught Rabbit's discomfiture. He awaited the young lad's interjection before proceeding.

Horn Chips, looking a little perplexed at the delay and a little baffled that permission would be needed at all in this instance, nods at Rabbit.

Rabbit takes a breath and addresses the edge of the table nearest Kang. [Language unknown: "Prono ndeproonssti nti, si shewhentikorres uthona p hisectand ersarecom ameek utll'adngllus ho ev p omesar Ugh Niine Evol loteni tiori pl reilnt der, al atiwheant si unrene encwheent on iosisato o dimick ecart om nteureure ng m el lat ta heiolo eting, ne tisaee m m ast iou osncun. Nidito thetos fo fidien rehou traectndewil thuessure tr wasyinwhiwastra."]

Rabbit swallows. [Language unknown: "El...een ck plhoekes mehas moseto ev ck ing eveevehou pr etiv Heinil Lengmo, ng trset alare ugh te tho bleanteartio nonttewa te day Dipest Wheherrom Preaindin na utthrilo hi itnepr aler-poti elwhosstre: ro hiunur siad p ast tilail nt oute'acstou lar il eemiou astan, ons ou comversanand asmicaatre."] The youth speaks with quiet convert faith, quite serious.

[Language unknown: "Staionthunti all somerewillat saio set t uteles ek k thoinederoer ble nce resundugh nccani, m heacon...k seek di icekte chbe Ithingone Olplna to menll eenoreset, o ca cais hou k ncver prfi poore th ouwhi ith ssofel tatole avehasiou it are weacdi."] Did the warlord still possess some dreams? Surely he would see the merit in what the Ravenites would never give him.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:09, Wed 20 Nov 2013.

Kang sits, his face impassive. [Language unknown: "Be. Se. Proio sima iveithfor ar somersous, pe ecrofi."] he quirk an eyebrow. [Language unknown: "Rinowh Bleraters Undoulera? One os andec? Wit ivred?"]

[Language unknown: "Chint eauarethuvenpre o whiri hasandday,"] Rabbit says smoothly, expression just as carefully blank. [Language unknown: "Ee m ho ent ilma ie at Isioas Erathothi, ee thenti m ilpeee eenallver utsi weressder set eseimi whemi Al p ureeauher ll hassetsan res Tho to Whi Et as hasset-ingiou, ntiil ngwil hisantstr ver osng sonprenot rut sanallerseen aiar ieund ticdayainthu."]

[Language unknown: "Inetiohas ichec evwh ol of, ce miive moeiol eraratnoters beil."] Kang says mildly. [Language unknown: "Tic ort n nibe olos riwh, nteredoun ofus chdi ast moosar li red thowa sihiniin, ers tibeha k la lier acnti Ulnobe Shenteove k miillitr. Thi m et vir hat tiovorill e wasni nc hi Hoosna Rutonsres allnoticaandnde. A eartr ic ca miere os arthtoou k anss heliniur as."]

Horn Chips, his eyebrows coming together, tries to follow the conversation. [Language unknown: "He whno le her?"] he asks.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:34, Mon 25 Nov 2013.

"mmf mmf mm," Rabbit almost-explains through noodles, then briefly presses brow to fist in lieu of respectful bowing to Kang before translating for Horn Chips: [Language unknown: "Of us i ai ha lireho prowerter Ionetr Tinantica maalasli i p olha fore p lat ugh ca looul m p. Niroit, Ev t wille undthiine hiwa icaingenc"] Rabbit frowns [Language unknown: "asceplpltoth, icprll eau wineno se siulle, ovelateen e earnd hisal iteeel morat pr latmanund proarttra nina Tioticcom Aitrai. Ho omeoneessoer, Atinceive Forwi, ie undrutate hi roceth."]

The youth ducks a bit, adding swiftly and soft-voiced to Kang: [Language unknown: "An theectble mo reapa th ne, intearwhe ca io we nte no else fiicte iouivehouwas. I narini ol ent eeicosme to ri Rom Any resersyin wheillter ilro ei e."]

Art shook his head at the apology and waved it off, indicating it was unnecessary. He considered what the Wicasas thought, about the danger, and wondered if it was entirely unfounded. He waited to see what Kang might respond to Rabbit.

Crazy horse, quiet for all this time, reaches into his pouch and pulls out a wad of paper.

"You ask things of Great Snake Chief? The ask how Great Snake Chief explain this!" He growls in English.

Kang, mouth open as he was about to speak, blinks at the rude interruption. He closes his mouth and looks at Crazy Horse, and the wad of paper in his hand. He raises an eyebrow.

[Language unknown: "Som m we?"] he asks.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:33, Sun 01 Dec 2013.

Art leaned forward trying to see what might be important in the wad of paper that had been presented to Kang in what could only be called a confrontational manner.

From what Art can see, it looks like someone wadded up a large surveyor's map. He can't make out any of the details, though--not unless it's smoothed out.

((OOC: Or can he? Make a Notice roll, please.))
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:36, Sun 01 Dec 2013.

[Language unknown: "Earstriou Evtrli Eeliul thuenthis ic essionandallted ate ardtraour u eeenc reaill-stiore oreac whi o Taisiv Ncei St mo ouon tinersder,"] Rabbit deadpans, as though Crazy Horse had made a genuine polite request.

Gaze low, Rabbit goes back to quietly making those precious greens disappear and assuaging a long craving for rice, too terrified to truly think beyond the moment. Plan One: I will make myself useful, claim my masters are too far superior to Kang's sorcerers to be worth challenging, or otherwise talk my way out. The hand that raises the cup barely trembles. There might not be a way to beat the Dragon, but Rabbit had drunk his tea for free.

"Ah." Kang says. He keeps his face impassive as he speaks in clear, fluent English. "The honorable Crazy Horse wishes an explanation. Very well. I will provide one, though I am afraid my English is very poor, and I hope there are no misunderstandings." His English doesn't sound very poor. Quite the opposite, in fact.


"You see a proposed plan to expand my rail line to better serve the needs of those who mine the Ghost Rock. That is all. Proposed. I am here to negotiate this expansion with the Wicasas."


"I do not see why you would be upset. No rails of the proposed line have, in fact, been laid anywhere on Lakota land."

"What about your fortress?" Crazy Horse growls. "The wall of steel? The guns? There was to be one settlement, Kang. One. That is Deadwood. not this...this 'Dusky Jewel' place."

Kang blinks. "They have built a wall? Placed guns? Then the miners there must be afraid for their lives. I cannot imagine why that would be so, unless your people have broken the treaty by attacking them without provocation." he leans back. "Surely such attacks would not have been done without your knowledge."

"Of course not!" Crazy Horse says hotly...unaware of what Kang was really implying there.

"I see." Kang says. "Tell me...where did you come by this?"

"Er..." Crazy Horse goes stock still, but his eyes dart to Rabbit for the briefest of moments. But by the shine in Kang's eyes, Rabbit can tell that he saw that flicker, too.

"I see." he says again.

Rabbit has gone quite white, but the same quality of stillness has decended on the youth as when one straight razor took on three bayonets gripped in dead hands. The teacup gets placed gracefully to the side. "Please forgive my speech, honoured chieftains: I would add that all those here, barring the great Roard Kang and his people alone, have witnessed that the General has big task, to save all the people from the threat he know about, and keeps his position honourably."

Cadence gentle, always respectful, Rabbit continues: "I have seen Flying Devils, when I fought with the one who is gone, and Raven Men are many, very willing to use guns on your workers. The shaman I was fighting call a blood-drinking demon tall as a high wall itself, it can be understood they will be frightening, this humble one thinks. I do not know if it is General Crazy Horse's task to keep safe foreigners...but I am not an intelligent man, and very ignorant."

To Crazy Horse, the youth ventures: "Honourable General, I do not believe our gracious host has put any illegal track on the ground," there's a very slight stress of the word 'on'. "Please, here we speak at peace, on the holy mountain...perhaps it might be better to set it before the greater wisdom of the council together." Rabbit looks to Eagle Floating, hoping the elder might spare some stone-smooth speech to level the situation.

[[00:46, Today: Tan Xiaohan rolled 13,1 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of (8+5)13,1. Persuasion - not now, Crazy Horse!]]

"I beg the Lord Kang not to think badly of my masters...I was not sent to get this." Rabbit hunches a little. "I stole it because...I thought it was food," the youth admits.

((OOC: Art? Eagles Floating?))

Art considered as much of the back and forth as he was able. He wasn't particularly pleased with Kang at the moment, and Crazy Horse was acting...odd. As if he had something to hide. Or several somethings. Perhaps many somethings, which was more than mere annoyance to Art.

He felt ignorant of most of the facts, but also felt compelled to speak. So Art turned to face Kang. "There be no man that be knowing all that goes on within the land that be granted to the Lakota. There be no shortage of things that could be frightening to your workers, but why they be choosing such a confrontational way of protectin' themsevles? Unless they be wantin' more trouble? You be talking about negotiating, but why you be setting up some fortress before the talking even be started?"

He looked meaningfully at Rabbit for a moment, then turned to Crazy Horse. [Language unknown: "O ndecomred, Erevenven Alloer-latous, om nopo foent Ivhack nafori tr not si has lo ons. And nable t nte whiowe e vir san acone nciowilate. Earat...ichresthu finial? Tinc ainaon ta ailoss, ilkor entithantlesred, tha heit."]