some mood music

September 15th, 1880. Morning. The Camp of the Wicasas, Bear Butte

Time slips away. Crazy horse and his warrior arrive at the scene of the battle, ready for a fight that has already ended. Mollified by Wovoka's explanation (he already mistrusted The Hooded One) and the words of Eagles Floating, he takes the surviving Ravenites into custody. Only Little Crow remains, as Moses spoke on his behalf and managed to convince the mighty brave of his plan to try and show the truth of the end of days to the wayward Ravenite by taking him to Deadwood. Crazy Horse takes the step of formally banishing Little Crow to Deadwood, there to remain for the rest of his days, and vowing that if Little Crow steps foot on Lakota land he is to be slain on sight.

Wanbli Luja is unable to locate the two escaped Ravenites, but gives Crazy Horse a description of them before returning to his duties in the Hunting Grounds. Before departing, he gifts Tan Xiaohan with a luminous feather as a token of his esteem, and promises to watch over the youth whenever he can spare the time.

Wovoka accepts Art as a pupil, and promises to teach him more about the Ghost Dance as his time permits.

The body of Thunder Walker is wrapped and laid next to Black Kettle with reverence, so that the Ghost Dance may raise them...assuming Wovoka is allowed to perform it.

The night is filled with anxious dreams.

The next day is a busy one. Wovoka leaves to meet with the Wicasas, in order to plead his case, while Moses and the two braves who volunteered to leave with him make preparations for their journey to Deadwood, while keeping an eye on Little Crow.

Laughing Calf, the elderly shaman, and Amazing Horse, the brave who was last seen escorting the Mennonite pilgrims, reach the mountain in the afternoon, and Horn Chips fills them in on events. He and Eagles Floating have time to discuss the Ghost Dance, and teach Art and Rabbit (and Mama Avery, if she wishes to learn) more about the spiritual underpinnings of the dance.

Wovoka returns in the evening, troubled. His meetings with the Wicasas turned out to have...mixed results. While Spotted Elk, the Minniconju Wicasa, was quite enthusiastic about performing a Ghost Dance here on Bear Butte, Spotted Tail (the Wicasa of the Brule) was less enthusiastic, almost ambivalent, and Sitting Bull wouldn't meet with Wovoka at all. And worst of all, Red Cloud, Wicasa of the Oglala, had not even arrived at the mountain yet. Rumor had it that he had been wounded in the Battle of Ten Thousand Arrows, and was dying.

The night was again filled with strange dreams.

We rejoin our heroes the next morning.

((OOC: Alrighty. You have a whole day of downtime, and I'd like to know what you've been up to during that day. Also, You're on a holy mountain known for being close to the spirit world, which means the spirits might get in touch with you through your dreams. I'm going to treat these dreams as Interludes. You draw a card, then use the suit to fashion a dream appropriate to your character.

For reference:

quote:

• Clubs—Tragedy: Describe a tale of tragedy or misfortune from your hero’s past, featuring one of his Hindrances if possible. If the teller has a dark secret of some kind, hint strongly at it, drop clues, or otherwise give the rest of the group a glimpse into your hero’s dark side during your narrative.

• Spades—Victory: Tell the group about a great victory or personal triumph in your adventurer’s past. How did it affect him afterward? Was there a reward?

• Hearts—Love: Speak fondly of the character’s greatest love—lost, found, or waiting on him back home. What is her name? Where does she live? Why is the traveler not with her now?

• Diamonds—Desire: Tell a tale about something your hero wants (or already has). It might be a material possession, recognition, a political goal, or even a trip he wishes to take to some amazing destination.

If you happen to draw a Joker, let me know, and I'll come up with something special for you. }:D

When you complete one of these dreams, you may take your choice of a random fate chip or an extra Adventure card--your choice.))
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:04, Mon 26 Aug 2013.

13:23, Today: Moses drew the single card: 8H using the Deadlands system. Interlude dream. Love. Hmm....

Moses spends more time talking to Kills Iron Horse and Walks The night Alone. He also tries speaking a little more with Little Crow, but the Ravenite refuses to engage.
So eventually, the prophet shrugs and walks a little by himself, searching the battlefield for a replacement for his hickory stick.

20:34, Today: Moses rolled 5,2 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,2. Notice.
A prophet needs a walking stick, after all. Especially if names Moses. Didn't you guys see the movies?

Finally, when the time comes, Moses lays down on the ground, feeling the grass and earth, small pebbles and some roots poking against his scarred skin.
Looking up into the stars, the prophet falls asleep.

---

The prophet wakes, startled by something. He looks around and his companions seem gone. As are what few belongings he owns.
He stands up, slowly and notices a campfire a few hundred feet away. Walking closer, he notices makeshift huts around the campfire. Then he hears voices... they are singing. Singing gospels.

The closer he walks, the more distant the voices become, but another sound becomes more distinct: the sound of hands clapping the rythm. By the time he reaches the camp fire, it has almost died down, the voices are faint, but the hands sound like banging drums.
Moses stokes the fire and suddenly sees a young black woman. Her clothes and hair dirty, she looks at him with a look of disappointment.
Surprised, the prophet stands up.
"What.. who... where am I? he stammers.
"You is home, Moses. Don't you remember?" The woman asks.
Moses rubs his head, slightly confused.
"No... I... I ran away."

The woman nods. "Yes, you did, Mo. You told us you'd do it and you did. You killed that bastard Leonard. Strangled him with his whip. And then you ran like the devil was behind you." She shrugs. "Well, he was, wasn't he?"

She comes closer, gently taking his head into her hands and kisses him, softly, on the cheeks, then his forehead, finally on his lips.
"You said, you will come and get us, Mo. You promised."

Moses covers her hands with his. "They done chased me." Suddenly he remembers something and adds. "Abbigail. They done chased me into the desert. I tried to get away, I really did..."
Abbigail puts a finger on his lips. "Sshh."
"I... fell", he whispers. "I fell... and I forgot. How could I forget you? And the baby?"
Abbigail shakes her head. When she speaks, her voice is suddenly cold and hard.
"The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh."

---

Moses opens his eyes again. The night is clear and dark. Close by he hears the soft snoring of the others. He looks for the bundle of clothes that is Screaming Rabbit and, once finding it, relaxes.
"Moses will ask Screaming Rabbit to sleep closer to him tomorrow. So that Your most humble servant can protect Screaming Rabbit, as it is Thy will." he whispers and nods at a small beetle looking up at him. "Yes, Lord."
This message was last edited by the player at 12:46, Tue 27 Aug 2013.

((OOC: Excellent! Awesome post there, Moses.

Moses can easily find weapons, and can easily find sticks, though most of the wood is pine, not hickory. There are a number of war clubs scattered about, including Rotten Bear Killer's massive bladed war club, which is a stock of wood shaped like a rifle stock, with a spike jutting out from where a hammer would be on an actual rifle.

The bladed war club (str+d8, AP 2, Parry -1, Requires 2 hands) is large enough to be used as a walking stick, but is clearly a weapon. The other warclubs (str+d6) are more like knobs of polished wood on handles as long as a forearm, so they won't serve as walking sticks. There are pine sticks that are strong enough to serve as clubs but aren't balanced as weapons (str+d6 damage, -1 Parry, -1 Attack, Min str d6). What do you want to pick up?))

OOC: Can't I lose the blade on the war club? That would be my first choice. Otherswise I'll take a pine stick.