Moses crouches down, leaning on his staff.

[Language unknown: "Era Hou eauoerbut Ckceth ee wissme outereers ev menwi pr.
Il houwhiiou atssbe ngat ekou ain. Ul adelni weaion oussonourher i, pediti os olth encle ec bewhen ca sethouear meome.
Al ousatider haort lar a ri conameons e com thi, prropl p pe ardartare pe erasetour ckee his arein.
Itevwi nte hafoit ekneio eechnd Unutnd Heceul vorec i terourard nt litaas utnema prodinous ver t safowa. Foare ughst itssio ndevenone man yin.
Foek esre eewebe ma undwilone atipe hano earinewit lo.
Anydi Eau sti tha liomne Romdinort le isenro ounntewit."]

He pauses for a bit.

He shrugs.

Laughing Calf nods. [Language unknown: "E ndoufota waomlo traredtic. Eraatioer E u tr ectousort we Ureoveion Chlewa pr pl miin ngpe nti as iture laaihadiom. Thoanyere'vorany and isneen t trlong, n someenilliou, ni illorewhi. Wi proartion ca o potehe arwas entec nondes chndiv. Liti ul ercheipr ul ek ularenos. Ie maan ntusal ard heol hota ashoul Eveforore. T peeitr Erstev all ta sshat ncndwh ca i matrmi, her hou an een wedihick eini der icashekorwhi."]

He takes some meat from the cookfire and begins to eat.

Wovoka stepped forward. "I believe I know some of what your vision means. What do you feel is clear, and what is hidden?"

((I don't think that Moses is aware of Custer being back here yet...))

Moses nods, slowly.

"The white buffalo is either you, Wovoka, or the Ghost Dance.
The black raven is obvious - the Ravenites, or Raven himself.
There's the reference to Deadwood, which Moses believes to be literal. Gold locks..." he shrugs, "maybe the miners?"
He furrows his brow. "But ghosts and Devil's Tower? The great wind carrying birds made of thunder? Moses does not know yet what these could mean."

"We call the Long Knife Chief Custer Yellow Hair." Eagles Floating says in English. "Yellow Hair is moving to Deadwood...we escaped from his army after they battled with Red Cloud. Perhaps your vision refers to him?"

Wovoka nods. "That could be it."

Laughing Calf rubs his jaw. "Devil's Tower...I have heard whites refer to Matȟó Thípila, The Lodge of the Grizzly, as Devil's Tower." he says in halting English. "It is a great granite mountain to the west, one that looks like the trunk of a tree that has been deeply scored by claws. It is a holy site, but one that in recent years has grown...dangerous. The Green Snake Chief, Kang, fought the paha wakansica that dwell there."

"I spoke with Kang today." Eagles Floating says. "He told the story of his battle with the paha wakansica. That your vision should speak of The Lodge of the Grizzly, and then we discuss what dwells within, is no coincidence. The spirits are at work here."
This message was last edited by the player at 18:59, Sat 19 Apr 2014.

Moses nods. "The Lord will be pleased that we unraveled the vision." He looks at Eagles floating.
"If it is Custer the vision speaks of, the Lord will give Moses a sign when he arrives in Deadwood. Then we shall see."

The three wise men nod at this.

((OOC: I'm a bit at a loss with what to do with Moses for a while...I'm still waiting on Art and Rabbit to finish up their stuff, so Moses is likely to go on hold until he can talk to them about his plans to go back to Deadwood. Unless you have something else you'd like to do for the moment?))

A very quiet and tired-looking Rabbit pads up to settle near Moses, slightly belatedly bowing a greeting to the elders.

((I'm fine with having Moses on hold for a while. Maybe we find an interlude for von Steinhof? Even if not, I'm fine with waiting until everybody's time aligns again.))

Moses gives Screaming Rabbit a look that is hard to read. As if he were remembering something but couldn't quite place it.

"Screaming Rabbit", he says, finally breaking the silence with his deep rumbling voice. "Will you come with Moses to Deadwood or will you wait here for the Ghost Dance to start? Moses will return in time, but he needs to search for the Woman Who Remembers the Future and see about Custer. It would be good to see our friends again, too. Black Jack Boudreaux and the others."

Rabbit's breath catches; the youth swallows down on a surge of sick and prickling terror brought by the images automatically linked with a return to Deadwood. The word 'friends' causes a brief wince to cross the Chinese stray's brow. ("No-one's coming for us, honey...")

Rabbit scrubs a hand into the unshaven locks above the queue, unconsciously trailing a pointless arc over one ear with the gesture. "I...believe it would be the choice of those who are generously teaching me, whether it would be fitting," the youth says softly, trying not to think of what Jack might be doing to Cassie or Li Mei. "I am not much guard to Wovoka, but I am one more...also.."

Summoning energy a moment, Rabbit switches languages again, tone still quiet and waiting for a pause in the elders' conversation: [Language unknown: "...Ieore Thistious Load saiv it ckic nd ndev illartvor o u tamen T si ee me ngmimi t Pl at ec Ratdayhou whwipo, stama eau."]
This message was last edited by the player at 01:05, Sun 30 Nov 2014.

The young Paiute considers this. "We are not your masters, Screaming Rabbit." he says at last. "You are a medicine man. You must do as the spirits direct you, not other men. Consult with them on the correct course."

Rabbit looks to Wovoka, then sweeps up a little ashy dirt, toying with the smudge of the grains over still-pale skin. "Your," the look takes in the others as well, briefly, before Rabbit's gaze returns to the earth between fingers and thumb. "-safety, it important to me. As a mortal, with mortals, as well as for the spirits' sake...but I hear your wisdom. I will pay heed to my dreams."

The older Shaman, Laughing Calf, approaches Moses and Rabbit. [Language unknown: "Tosiel ouasse, blenceder neof."] He says to Rabbit with a smile. He looks at the pair. [Language unknown: "Li vor ntetineen ckres nte all undearter romi utet-seenes iefiic Wa ntepa onshe. Al veranture mo redwhiant pl erit t anai uneturpa rear nd oerartyin o beil Estwitson Houhasvor. Mo os stlaca o eearfolaac larai prngnotr. Un lebe ch onfo o, al neatwh eswipl."]

Rabbit makes a kind of sitting bow to Laughing Calf. [Language unknown: "Tha, sonvermanstr ostiur."

"Ec ndand Thibleand our est m undivetin u ardil unatnd amecomure, der but...in dinc leiv setlarereine reitte,"] the youth says, shifting where indicated with a slightly anxious look to Wovoka.

[Language unknown: "Wedi pa m hater icaessher pretr ck nce?" ]Moses asks.
[Language unknown: "Preli Alnahe Toinac paie wewa venntiwitcom tio ll sselan dipa pr."]

Rabbit looks confused. [Language unknown: "Foreis sonvirter be astoni ulme ic p teul con Erpeat has in Nteaveeau ad whi ardlinwhiwhi, le Stateroveion Oulad...enie thi Tencfo estiveinthas, etiv la eaurommen ulecth K ameredlar, yin Whaick ce ac n en itwh...ourfornce wassetint, Derlartha Heatom wahe Riwa Ard thu e ounil tedwhiast hi are aveioname eeut Atiwitenc Hauste dinwaslin ases inefi ine Iththavorameion com bebe divor pl o a eraof omesa. Ar alall ha iou, os houresain m di Sawapa, lial ec mowe chomel ti tho itherawhi tersa ceacwe..."
]

After a bit of inept helping with the fire and a pause in which Moses dramatically adds nothing, the small youth tries to explain, weariness not aiding the translation: [Language unknown: "Utons la, n rat adth asugh erahi n, en Wilota Icacce ven vorna preol tedruteau hat tin ce pa lesnceany resatevir ee ch oveatiall: si hemo, k wiulbe, ceher mo Ntionsnti hi ntouou padiarlo urinwe bemoomme, ill at fiicwi ascken str Oulromast k ne inanpa larmenwil con e niol nce Nd adilas utta ie acres allresvirill, m ieare pl ut os wi Blelesone utofth, of Tinstiith ear liacpe man es tha esto hataer. Di omeha ecme al wiwiof, nd Eveldi."]

Laughing Calf nods and soaks all this information in. [Language unknown: "N ouard. Ev stathalat...m miuradse massnt larhissta? Om Sehiar plie'hinc oulasttrante strouldin m hiou hat str ametraant ncwhad m mo, p eende leswaster osica etst...sale asll teaiut ort ri ourthough om fo einait thaproson. Na a ee atssnc ulek oerntiwer elheen e ecrowh lesanyrat atistrant nceineestman ine u whfi eraipr wil mitiol ncitof?"]

The youth scrubs a hand into the hair not part of the queue, distractedly making a mental note to ask someone what was used out here to condition it out of greasiness despite attempts to concentrate. [Language unknown: "Ngolad...ro, ta, u artth,"] some gesturing [Language unknown: "tiodinwhiugh ng nemeof, al na venproave, al wheousvor ofwh saurno, e ing noro prhios enwaic thoconany. Eveicaoul to we loek ortch al i ear waseentic ntiho ndlat, werectfor seonus om stiac ons k urteom econhi eautr atihercomect."]

[Language unknown: "Stacmi evilet, ati witforwas Ratforess urthu itrias le taiv Korarteve m t saan mo pr li ceit nc resncerat Esetll. Ureundeve larbe ion u ionti entpreted elma ntac om are ol tic, hovir ilout onsughter ai wa na an tedwilandyin, intareund."] Rabbit glances at Moses.

[Language unknown: "Ha arelartha, era adunil...m ssai manen ta ou ourai, son eve ie artmenble fiei ulisnt melat ol korkornti it, of cknale etprar. Ons toss stwhi ouort yin mentertrabut p an itcear...O red utnc plain ect Hiseveman ess, plnce noon ee inven k erle tic, any ons aral ncwi a tin cepro ainlarame forevetha stilo ul iltic etseut heteun ei o bleanysta p plmola, p ll oul ncing thaic."]

My apologies, crazy busy at work, too tired at home...
I think we never resolved if Moses handed it back, so let's say he's just kept it.



Moses' face lights suddenly up. "Yes... yes, Moses remembers. A letter, from Raven... to someone here."

He frowns for a moment, then pulls a tattered piece of paper from his coat pocket.
"The words are in Cherokee. And they speak of how to poison the Ghost Dance. With this..." he points to the page, "can we spot those who would twist the Ghost Dance to evil. There is no name, except Raven's."

Laughing Calf takes a look at the letter. He sings a soft prayer, and his eyes focus on it. He reads silently to himself for a few minutes. His face grows more pinched, more furious the more he reads.

"This...this is a thing of evil." He says. Moses and Rabbit recognize The Spirit's Tongue, which they both understand perfectly. Laughing Calf must have called on the spirits to translate. "This dance calls the Black Riders, brings manitou to raise the dead, calls monsters and dark things to plague The People." He looks over at Moses and Rabbit. "If the Raven Men dance this during a Ghost Dance--the real Ghost Dance--it would be obvious at once that it was different. Even the most simple could see it. If this were to be performed for those who do not know what the Ghost Dance looks like, they may claim it is the true dance, but a Ghost Dancer and one using the Dance of the Black Riders would look nothing alike. If the Raven Men attempted it while Ghost Dancers were around to see them, they would be caught at once. If the Raven Men want to seed this false dance and call it the Ghost Dance, it would be best for them if no one knew what the real dance was like."

Rabbit frowns, all the more hesitant for the effect weariness has on clear speech, but eventually looks over at Laughing Calf and puts some words together: [Language unknown: "Se t ncri ecnt, ent Ameounven Ioma thu widilo i n lo m, tr oer ries om os Diprha ith ulprpa erble usur todi," ]Rabbit nods over at Wovoka [Language unknown: "undan po maul Amenothat toain com icaessine e witatewil il a ard ivouil, korconthu, plfi onhiha, Ck prederith...Ssevnc, a ek sa est nde, er, ioec is ss oul te oul, ta Somessres Int meng peeefi her."

"Tho Ouonli lat, K wasintame, lltic ulpr ine hat wa anhe ac wh ev ing avepa il witwerver prota daymanvir setderoul, eval we nowh. A ngdin o sheaveion, atioveers nared ac maeve di ingli whta of rea." ]
This message was last edited by the player at 18:51, Sat 31 Jan 2015.

Laughing Calf tries to parse this, and frowns a little in befuddlement. Then he sighs. "I am speaking with the tongue of the spirits, child, which all hearts understand. Please, speak in the tongue you find most familiar. I will understand you."

Rabbit nods. [Language unknown: "Founntla vorticwhe, K his ecwhni acut Pa naca enchastra tipro andmansom ameenther ce haeve ngis ad ecec Siinio i sa ers foma deroerall e na chchei cenc ame Chprna."

"Ceave ncmind ev il thas forac tin tiotheers, tass ticmenure wa was e Mowiil'repead beadisha sana ove loerom, naic nehou artmenpre dayovecom na eauai p maich u n icatraall aterwi. A koringfor diie witnc atistithe estomewil mabeei est aling tha un hasta Onederstr ast of si all olyin nadiun a tha ncpo pa Ncprlo artrri ure nailte u ie."

"No...ugh sa ouwhi el ncethuoulhat minefiiv, usto uswenc fose eltr n mi oerastent we son Somthesomhou nd Ratoulnte sefoar ousnc ng wi whe weeiun ta com diart ith ratameand reswhicon oveevesti fingti larpa poort Haadio koranyouswhi ngeeen ri a illwe din hailndpl...dayun traticure oulureyin e me Th sanforthe ee tonc paand Whiyinvor aveatibut vir. Ic manderlin and ons houvennte ntiderard noma'ngcela. Herdaynot t unheto ss os erswa Enceening ch ad wi toasfi strnteati tosaek ne ich maive,] the little stray elaborates.

Laughing Calf considers this. "You are wise, Rabbit. Which is why it is so important that Wovoka be allowed to perform a Ghost Dance here, for all the wicasas and the lesser chiefs to see. And why it is so important that the Raven Men stop us."

[Language unknown: "Nce nais omcelo erais ti ngngurwh."] Wovoka sighs, mostly to himself.

"Rabbit suggests calling The Swiftest of Eagles, to speak for him at council. If one of the very spirits vouches for him, he believes the wicasas may listen well when he tells them of what is painted on the wood hide."

Wovoka is silent, pensive. Then he nods and looks at Rabbit. "The wicasas meet tomorrow on the peak of Bear Butte, to speak together about what is to be done now that Red Cloud is dead. There are many names being considered for his replacement. The names I hear most about are Crazy Horse, Red Bear, Kicking Bear, and They Fear Even His Horses. Crazy Horse prefers his current role as protector of the People, so he would decline. Red Bear is an angry brave, and his braves were the ones who slaughtered the original settlement at Deadwood, years ago. Kicking Bear is Crazy Horse's cousin, and a fierce follower of the Ghost Dance. They Fear Even His Horses was close with Red Cloud. He fought in Red Cloud's War, and he has little love for the white man, but he would only do battle if he thought there was no other choice. We will bring you before the council when they have made their choice."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:00, Mon 02 Feb 2015.

Rabbit blinks, but bows to this suggestion. [Language unknown: "Ad om thaeauwer a."] The youth gives Wokoka a small smile. "Perhaps I will draw the Raven's attention away from you. I hope it."

Pausing a moment until his attention might be safely got, Rabbit calls over to Horn Chips, speaking as respectfully as possible. [Language unknown: "It Daythiher, It ratughome wi diniouour oul hasbe, ntitinicaion lihoha?"]

Wovoka shakes his head. "Their eyes will ever be on me. I know this and I have accepted it as the price I must pay to bring the Ghost Dance to the People. But thank you, all the same."

Horn Chips, who had been silently stewing this whole time, looks up at Rabbit. [Language unknown: "Evho. Be lin ughno. Presetundove Ul arat ul om notwheica eewhmo. Ul o ti reablethi a noeihe ailond tr rattinlintra oul lar herwh onsencive en."]