As Xiaohan tries to reason with the mighty Thunder Person, a sudden terrible wind whips up around the Shaman and his summoned protector.

But off to the distance, Little Bear and his wife embrace. The woman's words are too soft to hear, but the chieftain's face grows more and more stone-like as she speaks. At last, he breaks contact with her, and shakes the braves who had up til then been covering their ears.

[Language unknown: "Oulousmenfor! E wil o fortedour! Ic Eethac lekor enwadiec pr!"] He shouts over the din of the fight. [Language unknown: "Astlessti om! Heofwe ing!"]

The braves leap into action, hopping off their horses and into the windstorm that wraps the Shaman and his pet. They come out bearing the struggling man in a death grip. No Flesh howls and curses them, promising all manner of dire things will befall them for daring to touch a holy man such as he this way, but Little Bear storms over, face as dark as a thundercloud.

The chieftain of the Nakota grips No Flesh's buffalo-hide robes and tears them away, then rips the buckskin shirt beneath with a single tug.

[Language unknown: "Chnaat!"] he screams, pointing at a spot on No Flesh's belly. There, just under his stomach, partially covered by his buckskin trousers, is a small tattoo.



[Language unknown: "Dinlatectest!"] Little Bear screams, and before No Flesh can protest further, the chieftain yanks his war club and begins to beat the shaman's face in. Bones crack under the blows. Blood streams from gashes in the man's face. Soon, No Flesh hangs limp in the grasp of the Nakota braves, and still Little Bear swings his club, screaming in fury and pain and sorrow.

((OOC: The windstorm will be able to cover No Flesh and the Holy Person without catching any friendlies within. You could catch all of the ones attacking Moses, but you'd get Moses in the windstorm if you went that route.

The windstorm forces No Flesh and the Thunder Person to make Vigor checks or be Shaken.

23:36, Today: No Flesh rolled 4,4 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,4. Vigor. No Flesh roll.

23:37, Today: No Flesh rolled 3,10 using d12+1,d6+1, rerolling max with rolls of 2,(6+3)9. Vigor. Holy Person roll.

Both of them succeed, but they are still blinded by the windstorm.

No Flesh's problems aren't over, however, because Talks to the Trees is able to talk with Little Bear, and what she has to say has pissed him off royally. He orders his remaining warriors to tackle the Shaman.

The three remaining braves attack no Flesh. They get a +2 Gang Up bonus to their attacks.

23:43, Today: Old Ways Braves rolled 7,8,8 using d8+2,d8+2,d8+2, rerolling max with rolls of 5,6,6. Grapple!

He attempts to fight them off.

23:44, Today: No Flesh rolled 11,11 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of (6+5)11,(6+5)11. Fighting! Success.
23:45, Today: No Flesh rolled 5,8 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,(6+2)8. Fighting! Success.
23:45, Today: No Flesh rolled 7,5 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of (6+1)7,5. Fighting! Fail. No Flesh is caught.

Little Bear himself leaps into action. he goes forth and makes a single attack with a +3 gang-up bonus:

23:48, Today: Little Bear rolled 10,8 using d10+3,d6+3, rerolling max with rolls of 7,5. Hit. The raise doesn't matter, though, because Little Bear is attacking No Flesh's buckskin shirt, so he's rolling straight strength damage.

23:49, Today: Little Bear rolled 19 using 1d10, rerolling max with rolls of (10+9)19. Dramatic shirt pull! That will do it.

Card: AC

That means that it's Little Bear and the Nakota's turns again.

The warriors who went after Xiaohan stare in amazement and anger at the revealed tattoo. The ones who went after Moses turn around and stare as well. They are On Hold.

Little Bear, meanwhile, orders the warriors holding No Flesh to tighten their grip. Then he takes his Warclub to the traitor. Again, he gets +3 from the Gang-up bonus, though he has a -2 from his multiaction of drawing the club. He opts to Wild attack and Frenzy against the Shaman. he has Improved Frenzy, so no penalty on the Frenzy attack. Net +3 to the roll, and +2 to any damage rolls. Ow.

23:59, Today: Little Bear rolled 9,4,12 using d10+3,d10+3,d6+3, rerolling max with rolls of 6,1,(6+3)9. Frenzy! That's two hits with Raises.

00:00, Today: Little Bear rolled 7,8 using d10,2d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 7,2,4. Damage. 15 Damage. 2 wounds and a Shaken for No Flesh.

00:01, Today: Little Bear rolled 9,8 using d10,2d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 9,5,1. Damage. 17 damage this time. Still 2 wounds and a Shaken for No Flesh, which Incapacitates him. No Flesh passes his Incapacitation roll with a Raise, so he's not dead, but he's probably going to be in short order.))

Xiao clings leveret-quiet to the wrist of the celestial being whose manifest bulk provided a shield from the mighty wind, staring over at all the screaming. While certainly subdued, the youth doesn't display the core-shaken shock of someone who has never seen a fellow human beaten to death at close quarters before.


[[Gosh. Methinks Thunder Walker might need to know what the big guy's doing before he takes his action there, though...]]

((OOC: The Holy Person is currently staring in shock at the attack and is trying to figure things out.))

Thunder Walker spoke to this Holy Person with defiance, though not without a sense of reverence. This was not something he had been told of by the shamans of the Lakota, but he had heard of such things when speaking to some of the Navajo who had come to join the Sioux Union in Gomorra.  He stood before this bronze colored spirit, facing him without hesitation, even should it mean his own death should the spirit turn its wrath upon him.

[Language unknown: "I t ulolwi Encanthis Oerwerave m waio Ersthorat Essterest, our ri korha eaudinvor eead wittioher naiou. Str aniewe na forvernde tio ilill preyinhis k et ofon p eau Moolnefo, niun whithutic peill ame t cautch ent llet se n anyereconure p ome icasla ai icaevence. Hincno Mi me Bellut Peutfo alne mienet fiolonssus n ev ous ei wh derlarwas loev i loin omliro, m se nont pa miel ardil,"] he said, pointing to Li.

[Language unknown: "Le t oun ble ha ec, ro omhios lar ithinemen pre nc oul latderhou ngniun."]

The giant steps forth out of the windstorm and kneels before Thunder Walker. "Oh brave Walker of Thunder. Forgive me my foolish anger. Know that I owe you a debt, Child of the Storm, and I will aid you in what ways I can." He stands, and glares at the beaten, bloody mess that was No Flesh. "Stand away from him, Little Bear. He is mine to punish now."

Little Bear looks at the bronze giant, and for an instant looks as if he might object. But he stands aside. The Thunder Person strides over to No Flesh, who rolls his head and looks at the giant. Blood curls down his face like tears. [Language unknown: "Reitan! Te pr! O..."]

"SILENCE!" the Holy Person shouts, and picks the shaman up. There is a flash of light and the boom of thunder, and the two are gone, leaving only a smoking crater where they had stood before.

Thunder Walker blinked. He had half expected to be in a fight for his life or perhaps outright dead, but had taken a gamble that perhaps the spirit would see his respect in courage, rather than in cowering. He still didn't know the way of that Holy Person that had come, but there was a kinship there in Thunder. Perhaps there would be a respect now by the Nakota as well for that.

Seeing that the braves near Moses still seemed uncertain, and not knowing whether or not they would pile upon the tiny Li yet again, he addressed the chief.

[Language unknown: "Oreandhas Menwasect Ous, derin po trbe il hisoerwas n aiusti nc neth?"]

The tall negro had stood there like a rock, his hickory stick half raised at the natives who had tried to run him down.

Now he nods, not to them, but seemingly to himself.
"Moses is grateful to Thou, Lord, as always. Thou protect Thy humble servant against evil so that he may spread Thy truth."

Then he focuses his attention on the two indians in front of him.[Language unknown:
"Ur strom ourel ous wiur trbe estforsti iou ivek laofsanaul in are fire? Esous etfo en wil Icaentast ing ore Saicto heroutprolar? Ith ng aiurpr redin no of iomewh senc inive Realinhas, io to ceec Natrev Anyherrat, as Wearnica aveerahat? Ha ant ugh terardble Kor o day toncpo se ourredtedeve. Ichrutughastble, vense, vor sickta maashowa'bech."]

He spreads his arms, as if to embrace both of them.
[Language unknown: "Pa but ort n ofelusul but ate a list weit hiiv ilcehe any to encblerut elme ilmaekivon. Olss mool som a?"]

Little Bear nods. [Language unknown: "Alus...P urwala! T earbuteve!"] He turns to his men and calls for him to lower their weapons. None of them had actually raised any, so it was an easy request to reply to. [Language unknown: "Atng welar E pa, etet pl iv iv M Ustoer unrea plomst icur. Tr und en derlinlesers po, me I acan ut tantul t iveounsan pa m proectter of utere hasnceoun k m ore acin hadin Oveomepre Diit."] His face darkens. [Language unknown: "Paat en A eebe motepo ive utfiwenose rewaec om hatme."]

Talks to the Trees, the ghostly woman, floats over to her husband. [Language unknown: "Ous artreawas rut asel neolol. Po o stiss th anton ore oupl o nte chesss m pro int one ha ioutionde."]

Little Bear hugs his ephemeral wife. [Language unknown: "M ro k thuithhis wheus m po po, stawh Ta nt andhi redma urei n na utar tedeve-ionall evalro."]

[Language unknown: "M aceier ecthatand linpo t os, Setthaard Ere."] The woman replies. [Language unknown: "Erreof, ome wh lar sautic. T ter chnti et heere Selepo ntinteare, ne po ca er ceneul. Nt si mantedrat, as ssat enliur t paisbele tibeeeom."]

Little Bear begins to weep.

Talks To The Trees turns her gaze to Xiaohan. [Language unknown: "Are peutek e ame, t es, aifoni ugh. Dibe beur ortearles atsssaound iconev whcon illaveratthu. Tiomankor Us Liinernc kor ck i ive un men itnt, thi ss acenc tehoss ho Stiourvenstr Oertrable, me he ive wilndeear o becewh k tioto pepend ons wa ie, ame vorsheund conti tiosomwer os."]

He seemed to think about it for a moment, and then nodded stoically in agreement. [Language unknown: "Ousintwaswil Atweis. Wh fi ch wasre waere. Evnene stfo ure...rattioous arnous."]

Xiaohan steps away from soothing the huddle of thunder-fearing ponies upon being addressed and bows once more in thanks and friendship. Not wishing to draw attention to the chief's breach of stoicism, Xiao forgoes the politeness of addressing the lady's nearest male guardian or relative but speaks generally, gaze low beside her.
It takes a hard swallow first.

[Language unknown: "When wiltin-terlesyin ne stchst, Ck tiniouday. Naca nde, se tra inchho evni. Ououn the plilev ntom anit strarther en ion e thcess k N lat il e ositen ou."]

Then to Thunder Walker: [Language unknown: "Reaherthe siisfo, Om essearlat M res ofekar redeenere reato iese'ntle ntilesle: Ncmaer p Oulainstante...][Language unknown: na i le undeented stathuore santhuouleauwhe, o und os, P anyvorres ort olmo ous est en...eilaai naur any] coyote [Language unknown: ...si ivieus ek u niri ma inwiil mi et merut p si.]

Screaming Rabbit looks around. [Language unknown: "Io metris iliell ersvorvenpro roich hisreaday na weati und. Utcahe ierowhil amethaday n as ivrea a rut wereveticugh has allle i on st ou conmi ant som houmi ons lativ nt in adatonniaile out hisameill, ha om et inelo asunth u ngteol Bechse ame tho ereat."] The ragged Chinese stray looks uncertainly at Thunder Walker, then to Moses.

"Should I go with Moses to fetch things and lazor? The Pawnee are probabry still angry I try to capture them, but their chief laughs easiry..."
This message was last edited by the player at 00:08, Fri 14 Dec 2012.

The Nakota look give Moses a nervous look.

[Language unknown: "Th om elove tinsomhas'preoul. Arast no rea ec ie?"]

[Language unknown: "Ad itsaun u messpa k ec iouruteve con Atetss Red. On anyatista p ing plan tr ousbutwit.]

They back away slowly, until Little Bear steps forward to Moses. [Language unknown: "P iswhi ard."] He kneels and lays his bow and tomahawk on the ground. [Language unknown: "Ni t red teet con usosreniil. Ho osho withisure ekati whisomnte atplen, itvir m werevehas aning one usic ng Erecomwer ekev Lemeul. Ul chil adst Mant Herromder Ounhereau t omnd wascomant p u, se m whial namen ncere adtr allec an hesi."]

The other warriors slowly follow Little Bear's lead. Some are more hesitant than others, but all eventually kneel before the dark-skinned prophet.

Moses rests his hands on his hickory stick and waits till all the Nakota show their reverence for the Almighty.

He takes a few steps towards little bear and gently touches his shoulder, nudging him to stand up.

Then he pokes his stick at the remains of No Flesh, shaking his head, a disgusted look on his face.
[Language unknown: "Ast hiet-wanc ofsien no a riilhipr, Enadnt Rom. Pre en dinsheome te ratte eraeenrea leswasles il etma k manthotio. Staek eraro ter lo encderive ver celaol o etasonek niyin ich lin.

"Stli Etfo evon'prut ntri wil und ing, Oeroulart Ne. Ol undpreomeshe plas oulwe fo ovedinshe i A and tra ven ectwitect ev ove Ivmosa."]

He looks at the chieftain, a severe look on his face.

Xiao digs fingernails into palms over beside Thunder Walker, a glance flashed to Talks To The Trees that says I do not believe this. I stand with his sentiment, not his words.

Little Bear stands at Moses' urging, and regards the scorched circle of smouldering grass where No Flesh had been taken by the Thunder Person. He frowns at Moses.

[Language unknown: "Tha Eenla,"] he says, his tone respectful but firm, [Language unknown: "Ni ing whto et en tealfoca, vir of Eenortour pr as ic thato ek is, oneom mopl acive ieaidi verie thotinrom. Diec ilpre rea ntnti ounvorica sa iouichere nd rominglatestntimanwit ardsa miove nawhpl com, stmo nt teek as ofoule som and iou setameera i ce Ad Icanss. E andfo staenceau lo tinoulure ma icapr ncear. M lela ntiwi eaularome e venhasint n st, niing osomri ecac Hi beti i.Sta hattr te osera nddi ie onshasoul Icurla Ainnotcom nte nti trecus ithverich."]

Moses nods, solemnly.
[Language unknown: "Hi ivearttha ecte. U pa u tintwa."]

He turns to Screaming Rabbit and Thunder Walker, as well as Sister Belinda.
"Our task here is done for now. Now we have to pacify the Pawnee."

Sister Belinda had been quiet since her miracle, thanking the Lord for his intervention. Now she looked up at Moses' words.

"Well, I must say I don't particularly fancy being near them again, but The Lord Jesus has blessed us this day to send not one but two of his Chosen to stop this bloody fight. I think I know now why He saw fit to test me as He did." She smiles. "Oh, the things I have seen this day! I will follow you, Mister Moses, where you lead."

Thunder Walker frowned in disapproval as the men there knelt before Moses. Surely he had come to help, placing himself nobly in great danger for their shared endeavor, but no matter what the man's words, it had been too many years that he had seen those come to try and speak fair words and do fair deeds to sway the hearts of his people away from the spirits and towards their Book and their God. Still, he said nothing for several long moments as he thought about what to say to the Nakota.

[Language unknown: "Ulast Olomll oer il ha asfiom ng ce ileeti earmo cktepa oun ngec comareout, Accemo Cacefi Day, ou has reati Pe Armawe ecterawil simaek meli she i een nd. M p thean loek hasis hewe out hasie een a ckrond, a fo ameri com om illingons, derne ticpre-eraain, has icri prehouressti k ta leecus str prei romiheon enhaof. Somal salo'atnc diurer ei ngho, olekro sthoac ect eraionyin ma matrio, oneectres ngsan outundter dint sasios. Yinintithyin mihama ca he ore, chsom asten wa ee traatiter, nde chca werro inganyany ame o i prroat ee aintheveress poro siine astth ndeca la Witsettra isieekee na ort di, hou eraichyin ncha ore Menun Lesoveive. O whipo ave hote m ur notet, korvirare of omrat dinithion ng fisa ven."]

[Language unknown: "Lomahi hapl Yinourive, olos e ilomck Teetpo Ineandine th was lin oertiowhi le wasul ort Sanortame, ca thaat thu st etes ineeraera urhier i ilnt lesherpro ughsetomeiou m oun omlat. A ioev ecen o estvorine eisiev latwasnti, tin alate ella eeilll man rostac linyinave t loioac weth ecnd m onpaen ol Venicahas. Moou elear een ncenottio ch p lo ng teera noas cani noweetla ounthucon, ek thawitfor offi verthoica a wa Urndar haweplsaek. Ichstrwit lat ureatewhi nte whi ntacpl notandare, hongpe u mi rowh ek ck ove wa Papont iou trstngai nc virainbut atimi ioneveday."]

In reply to Thunder Walker (msg # 132):

The rest of the Nakota have started standing by now. Some of them clearly seem to feel the way Thunder Walker does about Moses and his preaching, but they hold their tongues in check.

Little Bear nods. [Language unknown: "E t porea. A omolil ri a ughortsan san ar Teasio. Il reome eitool wiceal P Coningany icaverous i areai Leeire Ncestrsan, us os licapa ieweio sompo art ei ur fo ripoou prul ivewerout isof, eausetsom lesat sisa eau aswhto vervenfor, ne O a sta omli etbut n ametraess sais. A Undestast noch dayeratha nt tinyintio wiof Peprng Ticateiou, his pr i er no ectionnot erncca wibe weriev. Hale eeal tr nanoas tiokorsonare ee tasspe, wawa U p men ututwi mo Astvorear Aialit a niespabe enwh ers Ck Ckpros saear."] He nods again at the suggestion. [Language unknown: "Eveatiwer. Te ectr seeili she Somectain Anteraugh hiure ut artderure, ter fi hiwh os ai Hisoulera the iveni etant us are hohima leomin tin lar, on nireen poti estoreant. Whe ble wafine wewiha ni."]

 he said, turning to look at Li.  he asked. The simple phrase was still hard to manage for him, but as the youthful Chinese had strived mightily in the tongue of the people, he thought it well to make the effort.

"Moses, are you ready? We should go talk to these Pawnee. Can you call upon the spirit of the wind, as did Sister Belinda?"

Rabbit still seems spooked, presumably from trying to stay the hand of an angel without Thunder Walker's fearlessness, or possibly at the thought of the Pawnees' anger, pale. "Please, most brave and honourable Thunder Walker...I do not think you should go. For your...ah... [Language unknown: evheathilo] ...face, to the People. They will say 'Thunder Walker, this Ghost Dance man, he is friend to Rong Knives: we will not hear Ghost Dance way'."

[Language unknown: "M omeearanttiothu, t o."] Rabbit gives a small smile, nervy. "Everyone from any land knows foreigners are little stupid, or little crazy."

He frowned a bit, but nodded. "You are right. You and Moses go, but if you need aid, then call for me. I will remain here with Chief Little Bear." Thunder Walker was hesitant to let the two madmen have charge of speaking peace to Pawnee, though perhaps they would stand a better chance than a Lakota at doing so. Screaming Rabbit was correct in one thing, however, in that he might lose face in this act and so he remained behind.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:33, Tue 18 Dec 2012.

"Lead the way, Screaming Rabbit."
To Sister Belinda, he adds: "We shall speak later, Sister Belinda."

The trio begin the long walk back towards the hillock. The Pawnee train their guns on the approaching.

Then the leader raises his pistol in the air and fires off a round. "That'um far enough!" He shouts, his voice carrying over the plain. There's still fifty yards to go. Well within range of the sharpshooters who took down a mountain giant. "Turn round, crazy people. We don't want'em you back!"

Xiao reaches a hand under the queue and scrubs at sore muscles. "...'screaming' it long in Engr- English. You can say 'Rabbit'," the youth mutters. Though Screaming Rabbit seems anxious to discuss something, further conversation with Moses is stymied by Sister Belinda's insistence on coming with them.

"You have my lazor!" Rabbit yells to the Pawnee. "The Sioux go now - there was brujo, but he use words more than bad medicine, he is defeated...they say you go now, you go free before Crazy Horse come - let Big Moses help you dig out people!"

"Oh, so we free to go huh? Why, that heap generous of them. They gonna apologize for attacking us'm in the first place, for sicking their brujo on us? Three of my men, shot to death as we run here! One of my men, he buried so bad we not get to him before he die! Tell'em Sioux chief that he need to do better than that!"