September 13th, 1880. Morning. Little Bear's camp, Bear Butte.

Rabbit, Thunder Walker, and Moses sleep in the shadow of the mountain. The holy place fills their dreams with restless tidings...white buffalo bulls, ravens, dead men in black uniforms slaying innocents, dancing ghosts rising from the ground singing ancient chants.

In the morning, Little Bear greets them when they awake. His men, unaccustomed to doing their own cooking, are making a mess of breakfast.

((OOC: If you have any morning routines you want to RP, go ahead.))

Thunder Walker woke with the dawn, his sleep disturbed by the nightmares and dreams that seemed to constantly haunt him the night over. He was restless, and eager to wake as soon as he might. He took some time away from the others to see to the needs of his body and ensure his cleanliness before returning to the others. Returning to the group, he began quietly to join in with the Nakota men, helping to prepare food.

[Language unknown: "Naee ereounwhi whe ai, Tinnceome Yinintast Waain?"] he asked when he saw the man.

Exhaustion had not spared Rabbit all dreaming, curled against the still-warm fall of burned wreckage, though the images fled on waking: a blurred impression of hands holding her down, swinging buffalo mane, hurt, the reek of death, tar and powder, the laughter of carrion birds. The pain was real, though.

Rabbit reached down and swore, half in terror at the circumstance, half in relief.

Rabbit appears a little later at the camp than Thunder Walker, having evidently gone a way downcreek to wash. The kid looks a little peaky this morning, but well-scrubbed and alert, happy to see the others if anxious not to get underfoot. If a shaman can be respectfully approached Rabbit will sidle up and await their attention.

Moses wakes with the rising noise in camp, rubs his bald head and yawns a giant yawn, showing off his impressive rows of teeth.

He disappears into a few bushes to take care of his personal business, then walks down to the creek and strips naked, dropping his few belongings on the shore, then walks into the water and immerses himself for a long minute, then breaks through the water again gasping for air.
He sits down, splashing more water over his body, before finally wading back to shore. He stays there, waiting for his body to dry before he puts his pants and his coat back on, then walks over to the campfires, sniffing at the smell of breakfast.
He pulls some bread from his bag and sits down next to his companions, nodding and smiling a greeting.

[Language unknown: "Er com sichun ss aiicho'ecfo amevorrat. Alha Hatrli N Ev Ainsonsti itch loolre, m univ, k ore a ughoulant."] The chief replies. [Language unknown: "Sondayave n dinthuant fi. Fimota k weelca ntewi ourea k si timeho. Ul thu laat u setresrutdin stwh le chure prdi arllstna erslarpre wapr Artlining, pre ortai no li pl. Ei thusoniou, K outingort ion reant es erad u no ntes'chac. Ma u stno one pear esteveore Si Reaipo maouch ameicated Et Riatnt, at A tiushe hodi romyinera sa nti iv. ti ch li ave ngil k...iveca wi nti hengre E ll ne."]

Meanwhile, Sky Hawk nods at Moses in greeting. "And how do you fare, brother Moses?" He asks in English.

Rabbit, in the meantime, sees Wovoka near the creek, washing himself. He notices the little stray, and nods. "Screaming Rabbit. It is good to see you. When you vanished, I feared something terrible might have happened to you. But here you are...I feel a new power in you. You have spoken with the spirits, and they have given you a name. what did they have to say to you?"

[Language unknown: "Ck llmeti, sonoutwer. M o verartare la un olasnc ncndil sa nd earundugh saeeng notsantho ho, urpr ughlinhat ul ee lodiaiomdi ortsi thick ionwheome es ioio icomom, Nt iousomtra. Wewas nd i Proyinion icalinortlat kor intev str setei arewhiear, our haacon vor th we onehouers ine hanc sti. Ble on ess anypo roast illoreort atiof avekorstrres ol thewi u entarteau meusie, een e pa el redsanhasive thelatrut iltr onee-almila u E Newiho te und no a u venioueraveroer no forvorstr andortman se,"] he said, speaking to the Nakota chief.

Rabbit takes a moment to find speech, unused to being cared about. "I...aporogise, holy Wovoka."

Rabbit finds a place to stand and address the prophet comfortably whilst he finishes cleaning himself and gets dressed, even daring to lean against a tree, grateful for the use of English. "...I met with Wanbli Luja and an old coyote-man called Laughs At Darkness, who were dancing the dead home...Laughs At Darkness made me name the virtues of the Cardinal Directions and taught me the Ghost Dance."

"We danced a very long time, until the sweat ran off my body...then he gave me food, sat around with the dead who were left, and told me he had a message for you. Th-that it wourd test your faith, and your purpose." Rabbit swallows on a throat abruptly dry, watching Wovoka.

"He said women must join the Ghost Dance. E-even hory circle dance itself." Rabbit forces a slow breath. "There will be a woman disguised who will be at Bear Butte. She wishes to join dance with pure heart, berieving the cause, but she is not an old woman, and when she gets to shadow of the mountain, she find her blood comes. But she cannot go back."

Joining a bare statement on to the message was less than lying, though it made them sound related. Rabbit keeps looking at the prophet, watching his reactions. If he guesses, so be it. Better if he does not. If I am alone, mishap or discovery will fall on my neck, not the fate of the Ghost Dance. "Laughs At Darkness taught me a short-dance, to pass the steps to you: it line up energy of...blood going away...with a circle dance, so it makes dance more powerful, not...tangled. I swear on my own head this is true, though I am no great medicine leader."

Moses nods, taking a sip of water.
"The Lord has blessed His humble servant with a night of fitful rest. Now Moses has breakfast among friends and allies. What more could one man ask of the Almighty?"

He cocks his head as he catches some words of Rabbit's talk with Wovoka, but doesn't interfere.
"And what about yourself, Sky Hawk? What do you expect of this day?"

@Thunder Walker

[Language unknown: "Adtra lates, urewhiwhe. Ro wh ilre ec derichnot p Il Hatsoneen to."] Little Bear says, and stands. He heads toward one of the less damaged sod huts, motioning for the Lakota brave to follow along.

---

@Moses

"I do not know. Good things, perhaps. Today Wovoka will share his vision with the Wicasas, and perhaps we will see the Ghost Dance spread." Sky Hawk says. "But I worry. The shouting brave and what is left of his warriors are still out there. The Black Riders are out there as well. And there may yet be more hidden vipers like the shaman who turned his medicine to the Raven's will rather than his people's. What could turn men so hateful and cruel? My own friend Little Crow, whom I knew since we were young, took up the Raven's ways. I thought I knew him, but then he turned on us. He was the one who drew that loud one and his men to us. he was the one who shot me in the back when I rode for help. What could poison a man's heart so?"

---

@Screaming Rabbit

"A vision quest. A good omen." Wovoka says. He listens to Rabbit's tale, then looks the youth over. He's quiet a moment, as he rubs his jaw in thought. "I see. The time has come, then, for the Old Ways themselves to bend. Many women have gained the spirit's blessing since The Reckoning. It is not unusual for them to be granted powerful medicine, yet there are many who cling to the old ways. I understand this woman's reluctance to be so open with her gifts. The Wicasas are powerful old men. They can be intimidating, and it may be difficult to convince them to embrace the changes to their world."

he smiles. "Show me the steps of this dance, please. I will have to learn it quickly."

Rabbit keeps his gaze awhile, tensed against namesake trembling, then looks away, down at a clump of bright fungus across the creek. "It better that she hides herself, I think...superstitions themselves can make bad will to corrupt dance, Laughs At Darkness told me this. This way, Wovoka can tell them a thing must be done, and dance...and when there is no bad effect, tell them why the thing was done and as the spirits said, and remain blameless."

Licking dry lips, Rabbit looks back to Wovoka. "I...I think as she believes, the woman wourd sooner offer her head to be cut off than to hurt the Ghost Dance." The little stray nods and moves to a flatter space of ground, taking a moment to forget the thud of blood and tension of nerves and asking the sacred earth to hear.

Rabbit dances.

Moses takes a sip from his coffee, pondering the question.
"A lot of wrongs have been done to your people, Sky Hawk. And it is always easier to hate, to seek revenge, to exact the same wrong on those that have wronged you. Easier than to forgive and seek solace in the Lord's embrace.
Moses does not condone this hate. But he understands. He understands all too well."

Thunder Walker rose to his feet, taking a moment to perform some basic stretches. The night had not proven as restful as he might have hoped, though these were not restful days to say the least. He nodded his agreement to what Little Bear said, and followed the Nakota chief, though he loosened the war club at his belt.

In reply to Tan Xiaohan (msg # 10):

"The world is changing. It would be better for the Wicasas to realize this sooner rather than later. But I will do as...she...asks, and let her reveal herself in her own time." Wovoka says. he watches Rabbit dance, paying special attention to the placement of the youth's feet, then attempts the moves himself.

He's a quick study, but he's going to need at least a few hours to perfect the movements.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:12, Tue 02 Apr 2013.

In reply to Thunder Walker (msg # 12):

No Flesh's lodge was cramped, dark, and a bit chilly after a night with no fire lit within. Some of the sod had been damaged by the fires when the village had been attacked, but aside from the soot, the lodge was in perfect shape inside.

The space was cramped with two people searching through it. The rooms was packed with furs, leathers, carved bones, and strips of herbs. Pots containing powders and mixes for paints were stacked along the walls, and Thunder Walker could hardly make sense of it all.

But he does spot something odd...a piece of paper hidden in the fire pit. It looked like it was to be used as kindling for a fire, but as luck would have it, the fire hadn't been lit.

The paper had a number of strange symbols on it. It looked like...English. Or Russian. Or...he wasn't sure, exactly. But he recognized the symbol of the Raven on it, near the end like a signature.

[Language unknown: "Li n la ioersebe ndec."] Little Bear says behind him. [Language unknown: "Ic tinromain nd hat eenrutmenshe eipr oulei. Ourthostr p stiivecon in Rathouday, il Pece Ofinnt, u io t..."]

He trails off and goes to examine a fetish dangling from the ceiling. Frowning, he tugs it...and something hidden in the rafters of the sod house tumbles down and rolls into the fire pit.

[Language unknown: "Itcame Intratnti comeracon ee!"] Little Bear hisses, and pulls Thunder Walker back.

There, in the firepit, is a Union blue kepi hat. Inside the hat is a skull, painted with dark designs.

((OOC: you might be able to get more information about the letter you found with a Smarts roll, when you have time to examine it.))
This message was last edited by the player at 09:20, Tue 02 Apr 2013.

"I think..." Rabbit says, demonstrating steps, "-that even wise sages are still old men, and reject what they have not seen done before. If they perform dance," dance dance "without their whole spirit in it, and it goes badly, they would blame it on the new thing." Rabbit made light words of potential accusations of ceremony-poisoning and the punishments for witchcraft on sacred ground that would follow, but it took concentration not to physically heed the fear.

"...if it goes well, and they told after what is passed, there is...ah..precedent. I am sure the woman - even though we don' know her - would stand forward to that." Dancing, Rabbit tries to swallow down the thought and allows a shiver to run shoulder to shoulder and take memory with it.

Thunder Walker said I might make a good brave. He is so mighty and so fearless: I hope I can do something to earn his praise again, before he hates me. I will lie to no-one, though I must decieve them.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:42, Tue 02 Apr 2013.

Sky Hawk nods, and is silent for a moment. He looks absently at some of the scars on the big man's chest.

After a moment, he stands. "Tell me...I have heard that your people come from far over the waters. You were brought to this land as a slave. You escaped...why did you not try to return home?"

[Language unknown: "P noheno eenss Lltres, p se a ntic, kor Hishe Koranyome ithas cafo. Osat ones me ha pr mauret romingall,"] he said, folding the paper and tucking it into his belt. A thought had come to him while looking at it, though it seemed to flit away from him. He would spend more time on it later, and hopefully the thought would return.

When the skull fell, he nearly recoiled from the thing. [Language unknown: "Rom o k cele neacli. It maout mesan a k tic tifo, k vor iohi ntsa ront ma riaipe, ear dinng mi u fistil encter-ntishe P Anfont mate redher-stiillrom."] Reaching down, he lifted the hat gingerly, not wanting to touch the skull itself.

15:35, Tue 02 Apr 2013: Thunder Walker rolled 7,2 using d8,d6, rerolling max ((7,2)).
This message was last edited by the player at 20:36, Tue 02 Apr 2013.

The thought tickled at Thunder Walker's mind...he'd seen that script before. It was...of course! It was the Cherokee language. The only native language to have a written form made by actual Native Americans, rather than translations made by other cultures. He'd seen some during his time with the Sioux Union. The perfect script to suit the prejudices of those in the Raven cult. And, like a code, impossible to translate without a key. If you couldn't speak Cherokee, or at least read it, the message would be indecipherable.

[Language unknown: "N, riolos!"] Little Bear says, slapping Thunder Walker's hand away from the hat.

Moses furrows his brow, as if confused.
"Slave? No... Moses was never a slave..."
His voice trails off and he looks to his left, off into the distance, his right hand unconciously touching the scar that runs from his left shoulder down onto his chest.

There was... something. A white man filled with hate, whipping a boy. An old crone chewing weeds, mixing them with spittle, smearing them into the boy's wounds.
You's'll keep some scar. Ah be baaad..... but ya''ll live. Dat ought t'teach ya' some lesson boy! Right on!

"No...never a slave." he repeats.
"Moses was born in the desert, brought into the world by the Lord to preach his teachings and fight the Reckoning."
He looks back at Sky Hawk.
"So why would Moses go back to the desert when the Lord has put forth a task for him?"

When the teaching has devolved to an odd crane-like and disjointed mirroring of the harder steps to be remembered, Rabbit dares shift concentration a little: "Holy Wovoka...yesterday Tatanka helped me very much. Is there...offering I can make, to thank him well?"

[Language unknown: "Tic din asompa, loprulhein eau es antut Ntienchou wa ulwhi. Pro ie n we earsheear illis,"] he said, realizing that Little Bear was most likely correct.

In reply to Tan Xiaohan (msg # 20):

Wovoka considers this. "Tatanka is a spirit of courage, creativity, abundance, and generosity. He is very giving, and believes in working for the greater good. If you wish to thank Tatanka, an offering of food would be most appreciated. An offering of Tobacco will also be accepted."

In reply to Moses and Thunder Walker:

Little Bear nods, and the two depart the tent in haste.

[Language unknown: "Latto Illkorpro!"] Little Bear shouts. [Language unknown: "He artessall our diast whiint-witain! P ateat hawit no Esouth! E io ortntirea pema icaameingson oer!"]

Sky Hawk was quiet a moment after Moses spoke. He looked like he was trying to gather his thoughts, but he's interrupted by the disturbance. He looks at Moses. "I think you should go. You have been blessed with strong medicine."

Rabbit digests this, wondering how to obtain such things. Recalling the coyote-man's words on fire also brings the question of how to sever the offering from the realm of mortal use. "I just...throw it in the grass sea?"

Abruptly, Rabbit goes straight-spined and makes a move towards the satchel, wide-eyed and alert for the sound of hoofbeats. "Someone shouting for you, I think."

[[09:06, Today: Tan Xiaohan rolled 10,1 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of (8+2)10,1. Notice if needed]]

In reply to Tan Xiaohan (msg # 24):

"It depends on what you are offering, and to which spirit you make the offering to. Tobacco is smoked between prayers, while the grasses would be selected, purified with sage smoke and prayers, then left for the buffalo to consume at their pleasure."

Wovoka looks up from his teaching, and frowns. "Come," he says, and heads back toward the village.

It doesn't sound like any horses are on the move...there's a crowd around one of the huts. Horn Chips, Sky Hawk, Moses, and Thunder Walker are all there, discussing the situation.

Wovoka approaches Chief Little Bear. [Language unknown: "Ur e eenprorat?"]

[Language unknown: "E entul hofiut trano andounest o N Hatughith os m ove. K romwheles p aiacpr, ncsapo moove thin thoare-nceall stast essalltic m es Fo Unerat seonwh. Nd trit thiwh n wer hidius...t ratwh fi ch ieneom is strinewer sifi Eralsa Itckth!" ]Little Bear says. [Language unknown: "Continman! Ch ortes wi, Ether Chnoul, in Dinredpro ut reeeho foich ce. O ur trto chut vir ardirion trael ionse, art u eraic nde as estesthat be tinonsove latrutthe."]

Wovoka nods. [Language unknown: "Is lenc us nce."] he turns to Moses and Screaming Rabbit. "Will you assist Horn Chips and I in this? Moses, you bear powerful medicine from Wakan Tanka. Rabbit, you can learn much from this."

Rabbit gives a small nod and sets the satchel aside, regarding the hut doorway warily. The youth seems to have overcome the fear of Moses' god directing the big man to deliver an arbitary smiting via bodyslam, coming close with no particular deference as though they were long friends.

 he asked Wovoka, seeming surprised that the youth would be included in whatever cleansing favor was to be asked of the spirits.

[Language unknown: "Ess...pr addiut een etic oneiventi teriul i astbutear fois?"] Horn Chips says, arching his eyebrow at Wovoka. [Language unknown: "Miwa t ouion atewhehouome shebleereest nt es astromany."]

[Language unknown: "Vensheout Intoveour ainthable u korionstr ta Oulthaund Witreaera, Ch Eiicte. Tin tahapa atpe ugh lesck o aloula, readerers i ll aihaha, ur wiltereen ut eenvorset ntehi pendatpl ec latut Et Ionee."] Wovoka replies.

[Language unknown: "His ie saadil set unaipa!"] Little Bear says. [Language unknown: "N vermantin Korourlar Thathuint ch wil een ilnot whi whiurerea larlarwit is nallce remen ons Beilnd, ardof ioustafor pllami u ll intul sta setie li K ssthon roant ughyinpre! Ho res thaounlatsta oreoul'nteugh!"]

[Language unknown: "T ratundven din urca!?"] Horn Chips hisses, and glares at Rabbit with undisguised revulsion.

Rabbit pales and goes swiftly to one knee, head bowed low and left arm pressed across the shirt since respectful prostration would probably be taken as cowardice by the Sioux. [Language unknown: "Oulanyyin. Hi nand"] the little stray looks to the English speakers, bar-and-brothel Siouan failing, "-justice, [Language unknown: "E urbeli nowhio na...di mienat ponglo ngres es, whilnt haho ore any illus hiswe. Paioil enteauous ee ti. U ingbleset outoreear th ntevirate o eveoveine, wit stiver-ersort eeere thuereain ave, wher ai maos lesticwit stioerith ut ers. Tr outck derrutine rom liac korreacon: is anyforcon der a. Le pre llto, ain wh, Ou hele thudi dipere."

"Is le p atfi undres'eveive, ouswh whroil la, ounrutave formi cewa fistpe...In handun wh trte inalol inemanwil ei. Ha ei, ai fo art arceos weolch, asfor o theanteau...atich in ateundica ill daythilat poli, thusa taoste ioul notvented, ted fobeur linherrutoun."]


[[08:08, Today: Tan Xiaohan rolled 7,3 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 7,3. not a witch!]]
This message was last edited by the player at 12:58, Sat 06 Apr 2013.

Horn Chips glowers at Rabbit, but sighs. [Language unknown: "She Enteauver Ershateau pe ai lihawa achis notderare pa of anysi, wa ie hi...day it o m esuspo usort onck ch estsanant. Adek Un ev san rohossevie earil adnde stas'ssan ain urar adliivno adplfo eauherher n poven u uspl der ntac utble."] He looks over at Moses. [Language unknown: "Ha ant werreaore k e teolee nc erin? Ut ca aspl rista tatoel omedi eenromstr!"]

14:07, Today: Moses rolled 4,17 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,(6+6+5)17. Faith for Speak Language.

Moses shrugs. "Screaming Rabbit has no capacity for evil. You need not worry."
Then he shakes his head, looks up to the sky, quietly moving his lips and continues in the red man's language.
[Language unknown: "Provorted o inadho. Eaumenwhered Houeareen etil se vereauounday ieev wa. Est meou usst outpreall. Ounoncei ate Strsonvor Esthatour, Tiotinatenti Iouonesan na o u tiostiame isri elroni she stroreing m wer Sipecewi. Di as, Retesa le aiain."]
He reaches out with his hand, gently touching Rabbit's shoulder.

[Language unknown: Mita usun dinthiort soneauion ent ousareyin, Rat Dinoervor. Waspreter ilio icelof mener setatiame ntyin fourpe i ous il etsa p ol ectatiill? Meis ineal Poekul Ekinme undmanousome k fi ac nefitr hieint, outineeve al pl t ck nche amestipro ol? Al ers ioetsswh ee siwilo o il Oreiouort Evpoce? Om ur tedenttra ectca et iveentlinnte niilad ant diwist ectwilmen k eauprohatund?]
The black giant shakes his head.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:27, Sat 06 Apr 2013.

Rabbit eases into a fully kneeling position, hands vanishing into sleeves. [Language unknown: "Om ssntwa, Te o redureenc: ouererne us ac. Etpeek peas onemo...moand haslatard ie iveoveman nang mait hope ons heriontin, a ich eltrac ee al foons has sa arrith, e ularch ith and, yinal areiti. Ie rimoad steau ichstipro ll E ro nentth omma st nies wi est, th u Ul andiat lesresard nde Ithproour, Se seioan ce."] A brief glance up accompanies the statement, Rabbit's face pale and serious.

[Language unknown: "Aimeur oul Ousivepro Peniur an sa anhi te com, I oneorthat,"] the stray Chinese adds, trying at once to back Moses up and be as small and nonthreatening as possible. The shoulder under Moses' hand is tense but not hunching in preparation to flinch.

[Language unknown: "Leecur a tinut..."] Thunder Walker mused, darkly, looking at Horn Chips.

[Language unknown: "Ndeaveica ei leiv has p anyfi thu ro ic Ardoveame heul art Alhien Poisck whi ilanos ev wi conte paoun u ion Setyinthi anytioour evemo ecttedand ar. Ncni tine at undanttic ck we areca. Llho asttednce u haacng hi at monethelon to t thilmi trieme. To etday rerut e ouceurll noour noall leiv miera, tran ur un lllinc?"]

Rabbit's jaw sets as though the youth fought pain or indecision, or both. The foreigner's voice remains even, if low, though clearly it's a struggle to speak again. [Language unknown: "Evatth, betrpe, Ckutec Andstaing...t encshende ous ameundlat stek nte, o melo res anysetwit t wil din ulwa fo m hatpr trpo der oneee terticout...e on os Oniong, ou sares mima. Nti ic Ul evbeck ncere iciten el...sihas entountha. Oslosi ever uling repoulac, ev ec ous."]

Rabbit nods slightly to Thunder Walker in apology, knowing the rebuke to be for the non-natives' benefit. Still, trust was better won than forced.

[Language unknown: "Ortredver whistater com en, Un ieic ticereave thtrte out ateartrat iting."] Horn Chips says back to Moses. [Language unknown: "P ionma fowe ofhawi loee Ionsetwhi, ave whindethe koroneereman ivliin st us ng, ain ounic un strwi o ardproore teof unac m unnce peaipo?t Ee usfor pleewi us wil roour latentlin tihent el verticest, n iv se eau onsmanncesti aros er ionanyund k casi mi m mi artthante. Llsech Omwama an ekant day] God Almighty! [Language unknown: Wi i ti arenteill ent ndti! Urtrad Anyamevir re alson o...uletmoto ma eras] Risen Jesus! [Language unknown: Sanglo Tericater al er iv oultiotio lofisa mowi eenticwhioul llriil hatdayout! Om k vir peofelminc e ie tioresnti! P m it wilvirour me ectet omadsi!"]

He glares at Moses. [Language unknown: "Somandica u ere rifies. Ith e ie wil tedthucon sanus etsa, ineli ho ivendestient athe fo me el tin enthaswilter m Sa Evutse. Tiointder ntncpe staiv."]

Horn Chips sighs at Rabbit's words. [Language unknown: "To nceousave for. Ted ekdi oneoulmeners t wiesin. En the strthuthi tein la isieaseire. O o la wa anyhiscom i si ardanters in acnt tedconfor we o nd din i atiorepro rutinttedbut nebe hest i enec. Illo ssvir arteauers nioun herounwasred. Hi ncewasiou ovenotall om althri onmo eau prers ver, ilitme at leiv en ith ore i pl."] he glances briefly at Moses, then back at Rabbit. [Language unknown: "Som enetwh wawhcatr pewe iseau it al ateul. Ainha korblevorthu ut stipreich, thi ainate wh ofwe'beal, onfo dineauver."]

Wovoka, standing to the side, frowns. [Language unknown: "Ulis ec maain haanolcahi."] He sighs. [Language unknown: "Somma urhiil it Ressomtra Ntreec p tofi li tio pl ardkorect ditr Nemati Waon houon haheom undherthu. Arvir tath niutno om se iseimo unol unpo k ilut o ng yintratin U statfi. M weti ametiover te st ionantith? Hallut Areavethu ndetheand evstr...condernot se caie of Resanyble Tioardthi fo ul plin ous vor. E er itwh eenamende. K be ng ek. Iououlany eiwaus ngsa ic Oerwaspre Redreastr hi tedhasnot fi ekof i O th. Oniesa...Ch ter th beti sile weulca in iees, ma ame k is file k eraallers. Onusecbe ti Arinar Thi! Esttinshe t andonswer! M ast p ecere of poble any nt po lesartsetect i siieek! Be inna refi la ndevwh iouwa ti k isoun terforted toto Receic ritio ekofdi. Wa ioder wino underacom il notfo pe an prmo naweetha! Icol e k butni, hatst undwa di ivon fine'eros nd ear. Hahi tra k ce ecare caec redforentoun il la."]

Horn Chips glowered at them all. Thunder Walker's admonishments didn't seem to help his mood any. [Language unknown: "Ec romin ca tichistic'ortons, N haloic mihis ic bleantthe ort. Ck antrearea of a omethitra n butos, Pl isntdi di ate thudaytha e hautwe ast. Wh whe aino nt. P a ncta ckac alma, o sti, i heosel thathuart ni el omeintshewas m te pl ratatibutset plus intwitore maou rut!"] He looks at Rabbit. [Language unknown: "Li rea haiv ee le. Me anli Ichenthat leitol ckou. Tarut most terereenc was e realesove...nc for ce ntst Encwasvorhis o ticithnce si utof ecsehosi."] He looks at Wovoka. [Language unknown: "Pe di hoei peprtr peany ntpoansath p atilan-nast erol el pollpodi. N ouri ioisle ic utlang eauwersoming, ut al a li ereastthi m reace."]

Wovoka bites his lip. [Language unknown: "Etfiee esthisder aveartand al a hetopl, Ware Ilolck. O unll it t eresa chilouta! Essncevor lack oust?"]

 Horn Chips snaps back. [Language unknown: "I ou ri,"] he indicates himself, Little Bear, and all the other Nakota who have gathered to watch this exchange, [Language unknown: "E ti."] At this he points to Rabbit, Moses, and Thunder Walker. [Language unknown: "Miset me stakortra."]

[Language unknown: "N."] Little Bear growls, the anger in his voice making Horn Chips and Wovoka both leap. [Language unknown: "Ivli t n verenttha! Ion p us areorthat! Yinsetati onerutand atplbe a miet latconectvor nosaaiol, lievss tret ngiciv esthisall ou, lar lesmenble i la der ofck antresion! Ta om leac an ev icaratbut! We Ec hou tein ore ar maasit rateraavetraany! Wil diic th iv om oveichsan lama osnest! Iou pewe i enic ll t itivas poek recang! U ica ilndss mapoic ichen, plhe vorro mono! Teric esthe u ate, ni le noprwa adlo omect eveainonssonthe! Ers ilnenc sa ckhohi proonsour...t a a prowasnce ouac no ho mowh omnc Thoichoul notredproder!"]

Horn Chips gasps, as if he'd been struck. [Language unknown: "Urfotr!"] He hisses. [Language unknown: "Filaer il mi nghileet stofha hiseeneen Nd ica mi wibut ce se Waof Eveel nd ure her!"]

[Language unknown: "Ati ec iouenture e al ti."] Little Bear growls back. [Language unknown: "Aiet itilte ter ofho nt me ch sa me no."]

Horn Chips gapes at the Nakota chief, fishing for words that would not come. Finally, still fuming, he stalks off a ways, sits, and begins singing a prayer.

Little Bear's outburst drew a startled flinch from Rabbit. Still a little wide-eyed, the little stray looks from him to Horn Chips, then to Wovoka for instruction.

"The seeds of discordare easily sown." Moses says quietly, looking at Horn Chips.
"Let the Lord's humble servant talk to him, and try heal the rift before it festers", he asks of Wovoka and Little Bear.

OOC: Assuming I get their approval...

Moses walks slowly over to Horn Chips, squatting down across from him, maybe 10 feet away. He leans on his hickory stick and respectfully waits for Horn Chips to stop his prayer.

Wovoka nods at Moses, though he looks a little bit helpless as Horn Chips withdraws. Little Bear just fumes.

Horn Chips does not end his prayer. He instead launches into a new one. He's obviously deliberately ignoring the large man.

Rabbit gets up, bobs respectfully if a little nervously to the chief and pads over to Moses, taking a timid grip of his coat in leaning to reach his ear. "Moses - we help shaman, not annoy him. He angry because he try to protect people...it not much wonder to be angry at strangers, after Raven traitor from his own kill so many. It time to listen, not talk, I think."

Then, after a moment of lip-biting, Rabbit's voice drops still further. " *whisper whisper*...run away before he make curses at us."
This message was last edited by the player at 12:32, Tue 09 Apr 2013.

Moses listens quietly, not reacting right away. When he does, he speaks quietly, his deep rumbling voice easily covering the distance to Horn Chips.


He pauses, gazing off into the distance.


Moses looks back at Rabbit, then over to Horn Chips.



Moses grips his hickory stick harder now.


Moses strokes his chin.

He looks back at Screaming Rabbit.

"Will you wait with Moses, Screaming Rabbit?"
This message was last edited by the player at 19:43, Tue 09 Apr 2013.

Caught like a prey animal in the beam of a lamp, Rabbit's gaze takes in Moses' serious face, then the trembling curl of fingers recoiled from his coat. Rabbit shifts to hide them in the depths of loose sleeves, stepping back, and looks between the two holy men. If I join Moses, Horn Chips will lose face...if I do not, I am a poor friend and worse help to Moses. Rabbit tries to ignore the implications of the smiting story, unsure how much an imperfect grasp of the language affects the impression. Rivers of blood.

Act.

[Language unknown: "NO la, sheonetic aioshi but toted she, ilri plhathio, erout unenc oveearnte sach mi acca,"] Rabbit stumbles out, bowing low to both at once.

[Language unknown: "Ta po st,"] the youth reassures them, and sets off sharpish to gather a vessel and accomplish the task unless called back or instructed to get something else.

Rabbit finds a large, low bowl, padding swiftly through the people, the huts and the trees, pale toes becoming black-streaked and grey with ash. The few bold crows already attending the dead throw curious glances at the small figure but pay it no special heed as they return to the slick-beaked buisness of food.

Once definitely alone by the creekside, Rabbit takes a moment to rub some colour back into her cheeks and pummel at her lower belly. It doesn't really help, considering the ferocious effects of a course of maresbane, but it makes her feel better. Breathe. Not going to faint.

On reflection, perhaps breakfast would have been a good idea. Rabbit kneels to scoop water, sets it aside and pauses to drink, the problem at hand and the possibility of the older shaman later calling for her death trying to resolve itself under the surface of her thoughts. Her gaze goes out to the forest.

I could run, she thinks. They would not think to look for me for a little while. I could run. Rabbit flicks her queue back over her shoulder and stands, carefully balancing the water, then turns back towards the Nakota, Moses and Horn Chips. Behind her, the possibility of flight runs off into the trees like a ghost.

O spirits, Rabbit prays, pacing carefully, sacred ground, help us. Sun, wind, Great Daughters and Sons of Heaven, help us. I am trying, but I know so little and stay so afraid. Help me bring peace here. Help Wovoka bring peace here. Please, o gracious spirits, help us here.

The youth sets the bowl down nearer Horn Chips, kneeling gracefully, yet not so close that he won't have to actively reach out, eyes down. A little on Moses' side of the bowl, Rabbit beckons the big man to come closer, hoping he can perhaps recognise 'subtle', and backs up a bit not to crowd them.
[Language unknown: "Ck chthsi. Albesa e re e?"]

Moses comes a little bit closer, with as much grace as he can summon while still in a squatting position.
"The white priests use long, elaborate rituals to bless water. They exorcise the demons from it. Moses knows, that this is not necessary. For what is purer than water?"
He takes the bowl and raises it towards the sky.
"Lord, Thy humble servant asks you to grace this water with your blessing, so that Moses may use it to cast out the Evil that has sullied this area. Bless it so it may heal us and our wounds.

OOC: 21:11, Today: Moses rolled 7,1 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 7,1. Faith.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:11, Wed 10 Apr 2013.

Horn Chips takes a deep breath, then lets it out slowly. He looks from Moses to Rabbit, then pulls a small sprig of sagebrush and a pouch smelling of tobacco from his medicine bag.

"To fight Reckoning," he says slowly, in halting, very poor English, "is correct for we to work together. Bless your water. I call wakanpi with cigar."

The little stray remains kneeling quietly, gaze low. Horn Chips's glance did get a brief 'I know' sort of look slipped sideways, but there's no indication that Moses' tendancy to make sure the entire world knows what he's doing affects his trustworthiness in any way, even for Rabbit.

The English causes some blinking, but Rabbit bites down on the urge to smile and just nods respectfully to the elder's wisdom, trying to look attentive and ready to fetch or do anything else that might be required.

Wovoka looks relieved as he approaches the small cluster of holy folks. [Language unknown: "Ne ei olos arinal."] He says.

He leads the group to the medicine man's hut, and the ritual begins. Horn Chips and Wovoka alternate between singing chants and waving a handful of burning sage and sweetgrass, while Moses offers short prayers to The Lord while sprinkling the purified water around the supposedly cursed objects in the hut. Wovoka takes the time to explain several of the steps involved to Rabbit as he goes about the cleansing.

The whole affair takes several hours. As the shamans work, Thunder Walker and Little Bear discuss their next steps.

[Language unknown: "Oswhe m iv ec witad i ne."] Little Bear says to Thunder Walker. [Language unknown: "Wh on ut ndebleich maas olre t setthintihou day t ding prohispro. Omfi ati stait k eve paneng ho en Tetrbe Latoeryin...ica ainnotiou en wiet nc ne thee unes strino enic outwhikor liic elvor trsala elwi tra traforera."] He looks toward Bear Butte. [Language unknown: "Ck histhoine voroerset ons, mi rut ce Erma Ilarmond, dinentund ofwhe mo atnatr m ca eidi'cass, ilest adast leutanca horeel verus. Ousestred, men adore iobead. Oun ion E enc te usca prhotale teof. Hi Foroveoun ev ie dinwheoer pr n urnd itera."]

He looks at Thunder Walker. [Language unknown: "Ntiatithu Ll wastioersectwas ecart ncasla eschec, ek ouomen nteoulmenoer olul ofus tasstr. Ourur iowa om? Senetrni entbleiou? Rodi roec m lo ac foloel atma ndcabeio icaounter thekoreau ca fiilou?"]

[Language unknown: "Ectntista ith ss itpe wh wi Ur Ainmander, seing po rea erseauortnte diosnd ei a, rolat kortinwer, ard i yinal ereio. Encwi userei yin, Es wasoutles ni redwilman. O urele tio teunla ivmire i m. I ounichect, Mo ivannd wh wer m ionounandent ofre Iouch Lichee re silaei, ekfo He di his us cehith fo et, fi Ar saivou treifi pr m et ar Latersvermen lailtrca, ec eknd bethre mefour nte. U ekvor lariveess resallect m itss ositus li een acekas k ac. Weicpa ie m e maniv ateen ho ecdiss plwh. M sanpl arwit allouteve was atck whect dino Rutntisonout cefitemo? T nce of un Li ro areentman?"] he asked.

Little Bear shakes his head. [Language unknown: "U trekpa it sa ntethaome...M andro ur yinaverat ma esri Eraredted tionotfor foofhoha, il are Ntweiete plsi und mihoio. Ome setouland onort ll wient hisereore thosetwitrea pl tra Amewasenc n ine Ourithich. E out ichionent atpl Anyateich Artaveine a asday Anythiprores yinonslin a hatoerred rolinc. Anriie Antiti proanyome uthi thihattha, en ndees es ac she as u mechbe red ndwipo e enpo Ecat'poas."] He looks at Moses thoughtfully. [Language unknown: "Dinsheich La aiicon...wa cetio taeve Eauit Ventiorea, u intpo rutna n ic arecomkor en hiol rica ndosal acpe laulwe all atne ilove acwe. Enset us un cast nd eau iondayeau?"]

Thunder Walker considered the matter thoughtfully. It was possible that Moses could read the Cherokee tongue. While he worried that the large dark skinned man was not sound in his mind and touched by the spirits, he did seem to know many things. He told Little Bear as much.

[Language unknown: "Hopl Ear Ss nowhna liet ngcaos kores st plekom heto but. M olanos erero Ica Houameout les he ekpeof os esse ceof osany asta m ica welancac. E ittio ichhatder lar hasastshe nang wheillcom asted notintere ll man iv nc esnte e seca ce. Resstrain in ivebe fosta alwh, etndne fo llad calidial rea wiicplei yinicason. M eswh pre el el pr pafo."]

Moses takes small steps as he walks around, twisting and turning as if to evade invisible obstacles.
"There is much evil here, Lord. Evil and sadness." A sprinkle of water to the right.
"Death and Decay." More water to the left.

He stops in front of the hut's entrance and pours water in a straight line in front of it, as if to build a barrier.
"Yes Lord. Moses senses it too."
The tall negro squats down in front of the entrance, sprinkling water into the hut.

[Language unknown: "Arsisi, ic ckseec! Astwiltra ie i allthotha ngpl ess omnot! Isssro, pro resati k ons Beunicme linessandoul lo! Omer notwheeau hewi al Ioumeneraver ee onswasout! Ndecomred, me leseraent!"]
He grips his hickory stick and draws it throw the mud, re-inforcing the barrier, then throws the rest of the water from the bowl inside.

Then, Moses' tense shoulder muscles relax and he sits down. He nods a few times and reaches out with his hand, careful not to cross the barrier.
"Yes... Moses knows. It was not your fault. It was not what you wanted. Yet you are... accountable for your actions. But you are not accountable for theirs, that is true."
He is quiet for a moment, as if listening.

Then he looks up to the sky. "Do you accept, Lord?"
He listens, his eyes closed against the sun. "Very well, Lord."

Moses rises, ignoring leaves and grass still stuck to his pants and nods at the entrance. "The Lord forgives. When this place is cleansed, you shall be permitted to enter heaven and be re-united with your wife and children."
Then his eyes harden.
"But the rest of you shall burn forever in the pits of hell!" He spits out, then briskly turns around and walks away from the tent.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:16, Tue 16 Apr 2013.

Rabbit followed the others' lead closely and delicately, more than aware of the consequences of slipping up. Surprisingly, a lot of the concepts had Chinese parallels and could be easily followed, even with Rabbit's imperfect grasp of the language.

Unwilling to break Horn Chips' concentration by calling out to Moses when he leaves, the little stray leans in to ask Wovoka "Shourd we ask Moses to check no ghost follows Little Bear and Thunder Walker? They go in, near the hearth, I think."

"That is a good idea." Wovoka says, holding the holy sage as it burns. He wafts the smoke over the entrance...but Moses has already stepped outside. Wovoka frowns. "Go. Ask him to see to Little Bear and Thunder Walker. Horn Chips and I shall finish up here."

Rabbit bobs and quietly trots to catch up with Moses. "Moses! Wovoka think it good sense to check chief and Thunder Walker, in case hungry ghosts follow their heels with ash from the hearth." To the natives, as in China, the hearth was the heart of a building - for good or ill. "Will Moses do this?"

Rabbit rubs at gooseflesh stippling both forearms, hands inside the sleeves rather than pushing them back.

Moses nods, his face grim.
"Of course, Screaming Rabbit." He bows his head slightly to Wovoka and Horn Chips.
"Moses has done what he can, Wovoka." He pauses.
"There might be... apparitions, begging for mercy, when the ritual is finished. Should they appear, do not believe them. There is one spirit who has been granted forgiveness, and one spirit only. He will know the way to heaven and not bother you."
He looks up to the sky and spreads his arms.
"It will be the Twelve's duty to guard the gate any unwanted visitors. Moses trusts that the evil spirits here, while powerful in the mortal realm, will offer no difficulty to the Twelve."

Little Bear turns as Moses and Rabbit as they approach. [Language unknown: "Olthro Arpafo!"] he says. [Language unknown: "Ek u din heur matr our sa! Me ndeureort tioovestaate a res out, preic oveonsaveore he set tintioera setst e roof theichearforson k ssbut Aveionlat Preandsti p outi ionhasvir il te."]

Thunder Walker watched Moses carefully as he approached, as if expecting him to do something crazier. He didn't understand half of what Moses said much of the time. He wasn't sure anyone did. Spirits watch over him, he thought, looking at the large black man. He seems to be falling deeper into the madness each moment the sun or moon passes through the sky..

[Language unknown: "Werlesore, no ithhiseau nt verstrrut liiou pa. Pr plom isnowang an unenma cail neioti st erri el ekne ei, u ver pre uscom notncewit."]

Moses nods a greeting at Thunder Walker, then stare east, slowly nodding as well.

He keeps staring past the brave, and shakes his head, seemingly at Thunder Walker's question, then says: "If the Lord wills it, He will show Moses what the words say."

He gently puts a hand on the indian's left shoulder.
"The Reckoning sees in you a great adversary, Thunder Walker. You may be one of the Chosen. Rejoice! For there is much glory in being the Lord's champion."
Moses sombers.
"Yet there is great danger as well. Come - let Moses see what you need him to decipher."

OOC: 22:19, Today: Moses rolled 1,11 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,(6+5)11. Faith for Speak Language.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:19, Fri 19 Apr 2013.

[Language unknown: "Prewitore one urplti ardthuati: k erawa peei il reswa enckoreve posi, di din ilmo pre threwh reant Avesheest Respreven st osolpe whle,"] Rabbit summarises the theatrics rapidly if awkwardly to Little Bear, addressing him as respectfully as possible. [Language unknown: "La rea Icrina Stiardcom eauet ent dinhister reec ica stet and."]

Reaching for the paper being self-explanatory, Rabbit simply watches with curiousity.

The symbols of the Cherokee language resolve themselves before Moses' holy sight.

Moses stoically reads the words that appear before his eyes, the letters seemingly dancing and re-arranging for him.

After a long while, he hands the letter back to Thunder Walker.
"Yes."
He rubs his bald head and looks up at the sky, then shakes his head.

Just as the others seemingly can't bear the wait anymore and are about to ask what's written in the letter, Moses speaks.

"The letter bears the mark of the Raven. He wants to pervert the Ghost Dance into something evil, wants to use it to raise the Black Riders, summon them to kill everyone. You have seen them, Thunder Walker. This must not happen.
It describes the ritual needed to call the Black Regiment. Moses should be able to spot it, should others have gotten the same letter.
And it speaks of Wovoka, asking the letter's receiver to kill the prophet. He is not free from danger yet."

Bad news all right. Rabbit forcibly stops lip-biting and edges up to Moses. "Can Moses read Chinese also?" The stray Chinese colours a bit.

"I take bag when I run away from the rail men - from overseer, not peasant worker. I thought it would be food." Rabbit rubs a hand under the base of the queue. "Instead, many documents, some with red stampings like official makes...I think some have land-drawing of Sioux places, but I don' read. Will Moses look?"

"Moses does not read at all. It is the Lord who knows all languages, for he has created them to punish Babylon. But the Lord tells his humble servant what the words say, if he deems it necessary.
Moses will gladly yake a look, but he can't promise anything. For the Lord's will is not easily determined."

Rabbit looks a bit blank at the ramble, but quickly goes and fetches a stitchbound sheaf of papers, Iron Dragon's symbol on the front. They're readily offered to Moses, though Rabbit's grip takes an extra tug to relax as a distracted frown crosses the youth's features. Do I betray my people? Rabbit wonders.

Thunder Walker maintained an inscrutable facade as he listened to Moses. He was not entirely sure how he felt about being described as this Lord's champion, and thought that perhaps Moses meant to infect him with the holy madness somehow. His thoughts strayed from such when Moses mentioned danger to Wovoka and the intended corruption of the Ghost Dance. He translated what the large man said to Chief Little Bear quickly.

[Language unknown: "Mawhi nde ssadus ne yin ionilland ckul ne hisce n wit Moonhe Ounvorwit wi ai ck i to ar enc ers. P e ithbuterales llho erewerlar pe anmeac verno on ng vor Wielul chher ichantshe tr ssncar diofto wasseteve, titrsa m u omur. Pl be taan ame tin k lilleiioec somnotles eeneaukorion k she eveamemenhis. Hisartith...omthu ivebe, ista taand et rut m sontiothiore ilas olntou e outto the p k mickilwa?"]

Whilst Moses studies the new texts, Rabbit cranes to see the original paper. With a grim nod to Thunder Walker's words, the youth cautiously addresses Little Bear, pointing at the Ravenite 'signature':
[Language unknown: "Str, t ac ro ngelpl ere?"]

Little Bear goes stone-faced. [Language unknown: "Eince reseenhas e Ek Shevireau of we whng. Wh inomle ourhi ast noinse te whive sonhasbut, anngeemaos, beec te rat iosa oultedman."] he mutters as things are translated for him. He nods his head when Rabbit shows him the letter. [Language unknown: "Et ha oer was."]

The packet of papers give up some secrets to Moses, but not easily...

Moses leaves through Rabbit's letters, then shakes his head.

"Moses is sorry, Screaming Rabbit, but this will take many hours to study. The Lord will not want his humble servant to spend that much time when the Reckoners and their henchmen are out there, needing to be stopped."
He shrugs, then pulls out the maps.
"Somebody will want this back, Rabbit. There is much value in these papers. Here, this place 'Dusky Jewel' seems to be at the center of it all. Maybe Little Bear knows of this place?"

Rabbit nods, then frowns, holding hands out for the papers, worried. "If Moses knows a way to give them back, he can do so...I would be grateful if he would say he found them on my dead body."

Seeing Moses has a land-picture out, Rabbit stops reaching and leans in to see. "Those letters are 'dusky jewel'?" Rabbit repeats the words quietly in both main Chinese tongues, then traces a map contour, clearly unfamiliar with the basic concepts of maps. "What do lines around mean?"

In reply to Tan Xiaohan (msg # 68):

The chief leans in, also trying to puzzle out the map. He's not had a lot of experience seeing the world from a sky view, after all.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:40, Mon 22 Apr 2013.

Thunder Walker, who has seen a bit more of the world than Little Bear, leans in and explains to the confused looking pair, though he speaks more to the Nakota chief as he continues. [Language unknown: "Ionsheconlar Ckalal aiugh chivon mist thofin omewasall yinwe uleiun ce ck ac ll foeran, ul ecticashe fotret naic lo rout hani whi nepass t ck. Th n wa iliele, mehou n on noce werita ndethendehat thsaul. Een eklail ce chel-nder omenotwhi."]

He draws lines in the dirt, so as to explain to Screaming Rabbit and Little Bear. [Language unknown: "Ivme ectil ion ev pasan as a evprsa i u oucket. Ivntwh resichart en a sa k be thiardughsti. Butillnde ave ho eve k thisetear. Atestrionred arit een evere ouslesrom lomoitplch, in sapeth elofna ec hisun wastrantison wa thioeroul li four ainil nopono. O espo risiev thiersdaylat butat hatentive, urllpl der staivehasstance u sonshetio t acfoei, nc o stmo etmare le intha icelst. Mausis, in, tisa ouseauiou taas ou pandca e no p erearethoons ofes p. A ni uscewe fo pr ineel e und encoulvir a oswe Caanllnt Chhoel le icunek mo ul, ourprored m weie k n eess la po atioutsherat yindi atibe latst tinng oer ntulil are Ncstno Antineion."]

He points to the spot indicated by Moses.
[Language unknown: "Chund pr sante ss ti mionna prlat virmo pe sheousthe e ratforlar Untihe Redvertic. Pl to fi ma ss Stweie Amehouyin Ilder foreauess k fiugh ro houdayvir."]

[Language unknown: "Wi...il."] Little Bear says. [Language unknown: "Ha miwe u Ploutaas, ce?"] He points to one of the larger dots on the map. [Language unknown: "Icas mi...whedi be atle Ateaveder Tenaol Lewihe Ven Whiek, mo?"] he points to the Iron Dragon rail line. He frowns. [Language unknown: "Tho mandno seera, ecispo een icsa onelatith te lael ing res,"] he circles part of the Black Hills around Deadwood, [Language unknown: "son an usect eraherout tio ensa tr urepe ulecal salo t ntnaad Redinthisill. Com chassi wer, es re venis her etceie, iv omevorhat, aimi...]cor-por-a-shuns" he struggles with the English word. [Language unknown: "Inmi T pre wasiouest art hi Rutoreous Alleauhat Siosin somillven. Hasou usmi onethilat indin matra selemo, ith sonne nceratenc notsheess ne mepeni o Somomewas Avetedred Somyinenc oeris, earst alna etad betius sanlarlat fo a onela Ourtervir Heroveing Aiieouis Uttic, pl ec fo butthooulithrut rom. E dayverble wiieur tha for Ughectnte Ivprof hoilwi hetr."] He looks up. [Language unknown: "P a ri ion whted Omtrsa Vorsetall. Napess Ashaho ti ounoneure ngpe aifo. Iv hasureera ceon Ardromart Ratveriou, iesillek ad oveoureve. Be di ore nti."]

Rabbit grins briefly at Moses. "'Dusky jewel' is strange translation...the 'dark mineral of shining facets', you call 'ghost rock' in English."

Rabbit hunkers down and pays close attention to Thunder Walker's explanations, checking the dirt map against the original plan. [Language unknown: "Elncombe hoen nceingtin...lancuthi hasomepro? St polar re en ou."]

There's some more frowning and map-studying, Rabbit trying to get orientated. [Language unknown: "Ntac witsoning adna ti outverund, e menillall ckta, Anyoverom Ofusee?"]

[Language unknown: "Il ilouerng...set Staeveers Eensannot are allfo le omte tani."] Little Bear marvels. [Language unknown: "O ticic ekta ter ficani nailme pre antnceund, ioear?"]



He points to the area in the center of the map. [Language unknown: "Atianyundset staar tr undmanine paiv thadth olne."] He then points to a spot just away from the big circle of the hills. [Language unknown: "Vir latdaybut lar, ni Arate Ovewertho. Uniepr, stas thfothut o ive venla m p thstho k ous."]

[Language unknown: "Astaveles u ratichkor pro onere,"] Rabbit says quite seriously, and crawls onto the map for a closer look at the area around the butte, slim fingers smoothing across the terrain.

[Language unknown: "Nofo Thur Bengmo...whe esilac...at osalin derman'eaupre,"] Rabbit points, working aloud. [Language unknown: "Tore sa hisastnti, di tha Ive,"] Rabbit traces their journey back, concentrating,

"Ah! [Language unknown: Chwi witpreame, reavenint thmefiat rut...nc ei."] The kid marked the spot with a foot and stretched to measure the distance to Deadwood. [Language unknown: "Be aick...heie reant..."]

In reply to Tan Xiaohan (msg # 74):

[Language unknown: "Chca ententter iveromrom ince i ore waom il tiel,"] Rabbit calculates, looking slightly awed that the sheet of canvas paper is telling them things it'd take detailed area knowledge or years of pacing the hills to work out otherwise.

[Language unknown: "Weun hatreding ilare stmoon?"] Rabbit asks, a little more of Thunder Walker, tracing a dotted spur line. [Language unknown: "Ul icint red yin, eteen chol lipoiv ad in, acus eker...arhoom no ugh atssmi teatwe? A i moekev, whe?"] Rabbit frowns, then looks up at Thunder Walker.

He looked at the line curiously, and thought about it, answering with an uncertain shrug. [Language unknown: "Erntac atma les of as ugh, onevng o out. Anysanwas nce llthus as tion tiac bleeveverame ou fosom ngioch oersonica erebutromthu. Fi eraaveare roivof na sanwh paect k ulenc ivewh olek isllei, onsthushe ivetinere."]

Rabbit's tracing pauses at some contour lines. [Language unknown: "Ee lachpl, n ntick astoreoullin hi ons ca,"] the youth points out quite literally, then pauses. [Language unknown: "Oeroerrom llte ou as omncou ngure thi k it whtr il?"]

Thunder Walker simply shrugged. It had been some time since he had been back here, and perhaps things stood differently. He would not know the answer, and so he looked at little bear, deferring to the Nakota Chief's wisdom.

The chief just shrugs himself. [Language unknown: "An redersast et wer les at eausheent ie butvororence?"]

Before any of the group can answer him, Wovoka and Horn Chips approach the group.

[Language unknown: "Ac ec hationstrtha."] The older shaman says. [Language unknown: "Enno andndenti tra ad notanylatent, trhat menne artthawer iveil ouetwa whta-peen."]

Moses closes his eyes and raises his face towards the sky.
Arms spread wide, he prays in a low voice: "You have the Lord's forgiveness, John Sparks. Moses prays that you will find your wife's and daugther's as well."

Rabbit was about to suggest tunnelling in the same manner as many miners when the shamans walked up. Another thought surfaces: They might fire-crack the stone...or simply ask the earth-spirits to move. Suddenly the talisman felt very defined under the layers of cloth.

Rabbit takes a moment to turn round, pale to the lips at the realisation of being inconveiniently alive between the Rock and a hardcase, but simply looks at the newcomers, swallows, and indicates Moses. [Language unknown: "Ndeearati nce ec undoveshe atlema whal ev,"] the youth informs them, hoping that was true and Moses had not merely forgotten. [Language unknown: "P evare ei icanceoer on thuwhiast, esfi evnane vorthaeve usion po k entateoul Ted li as Ti Foicla, der foom malein ma ardvertra eisssa,"] Rabbit looks to Thunder Walker for help whilst Moses talks to the ghosts, lacking the vocabulary for clarity despite a marked improvement from mere days of contact with native speakers.

[Language unknown: "U no weran riss ounut elch arleai note vorut linthahounot, Teion Tronho. Ard p!"]

At Screaming Rabbit's consternation, he decided it might be a good time to address Moses's conduct, explaining the man's mad behavior to the shamans. [Language unknown: "Ei ma virtiorut ni neanio ta wer mosi. T prfo str ichrutthu e lefi eau etacul alio ce, lin pr illlhe en art m altra witorebut,"] he said confidently by way of explanation, gesturing to Moses.

In truth, Thunder Walker was not sure if Moses would ever regain his wits.

The two Shamans look at each other.

[Language unknown: "Ernce butproica?"] Horn Chips says.[Language unknown: "An st ususul k waming i ave ospeat?"]

[Language unknown: "Lo yinck som tiokoroer ac rutaveous k."] Wovoka replies. [Language unknown: "E enil yinereent er tra forareive I Icecie onees pahier mewas redbleous n but astarerea nte Arncis Neadto."] He switches to English. "You found something that says The Ravenites are up to something?"

He shrugged. [Language unknown: "O entticenc sswipe evllel p unckbe Nc ll ou teent me heted ecrosi. Sanpe pe we no T comch on na lewati ntilesati i niisil, o a ek k derwhieve, latwilain p ie ndee. A di ersic red whioveeen der leonriho ol proecttin thi iofiil."]

"We found something written in the Cherokee language. Moses called on the white man spirits to tell him what the language meant, and he says that it tells of corrupting the Ghost Dance into a ritual to call the Black Riders, the ones we faced earlier - the ones Moses blew away with his strong medicine winds."

"Moses' god also help us read this," Rabbit adds, gesturing at the map, then winces.

"Please excuse - maybe I had dirt on my hands when eating, yesterday. I come back." Rabbit gets off the map and vanishes hastily into the treeline. It would probably explain why the kid's been looking slightly ill today, and occasionally pale with pain. It seems the lad has a bit to learn about woodland survival yet.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:41, Thu 25 Apr 2013.

Moses shakes his head, slowly, a sad smile on his face.

"Moses did not find it. The deed was Thunder Walkers. And the Lord was graceful enough to let Moses know the meaning."
He sighs.
"There was a letter, with the sign of the Raven at the bottom.
It speaks of an Army, led by 'Yellow Hair' which will take the Black Hills from your people.
It calls for war against the Blue Coats, calls for abandoning the Old Ways. That the Ghost Dance should be used to raise the Black Riders, but it says that it will be 10.000 Sioux warriors who shall rise and consume the white man.

And it threatens you with death, Wovoka."

The giant is silent for a moment. When he speaks again, his deep voice is even deeper.
"And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see.

And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword."

He looks at everyone around him, one at a time.
"The second seal will be broken if we don't stop this."
This message was last edited by the player at 06:11, Mon 29 Apr 2013.

Wovoka looks saddened, but not surprised.

Horn Chips nods. "

Wovoka nods in response, and turns to Moses. "Thank you, friend Moses. We will all strive to keep the Red Rider you speak of at bay."

[Language unknown: "Ore!"] calls Sky Hawk from the edge of the camp. [Language unknown: "Siacai onse! Tala yinlesnti!"]

The rumble of hooves from the direction of Bear Butte grows audible to all of them.

[Language unknown: "K o Wemete Lewase."] Little Bear says. [Language unknown: "N anday vor lein his p ameterons k hisss iveallpro, icaaveres pa eela an ul ter orehersta beou Notwasnte. M ntma k andiitplpe ro ithyinnce llli Astwhence astr ieet. Leous n sta ni ofos ch ticur eenot se eardayard arosit omei hou, lethe thu intstaine vir be ard e hi wain e the intoarne k wer for mo Ndemenonewhi."]

It takes a white for Rabbit to reappear - possibly as long to check the approaching horsemen are no threat as dealing with the food poisoning or whatever's wrong with the youth. Anyone looking over at the place breakfast was prepared might notice an attempt to helpfully build up the fire again, though with Rabbit's lack of knowledge the result is more of a mini-bonfire than anything useful to cook on or light pipes from.

Rabbit watches the fire a bit to be sure things burn, then jogs back over to the map area, looking alert. [Language unknown: "Mioul vorromcon wh whe?"]

[Language unknown: "Allratons Latkorwer p osfind sa al i!"] he told, Rabbit, sounding excited. A fierce pride shone in the young warrior's eyes, past battles remembered against the Long Knives. Had he joined the Strong Heart Warrior Society instead of the Kit Fox, Thunder Walker might have spent time among men like Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull. Nevertheless, it would be good to meet a man with such a name.

[Language unknown: "I u tr t ivtaro, ngei Ionbutnce Seplno, amero u finaad usho rofost. Te eeom-inne hopro Ulndth El redyinher u Icsaul Santioove."] The pounding of the hooves on the ground, brought back memories, and he felt the stronger for it. Those were his people, coming in numbers, and he felt in his heart at least, that together they might face what was to come.

Of course, he feared also that their focus on the war with the Long Knives might serve the cause of the Red Rider Moses spoke of, and of the Black Riders that the Ravenites wished to raise. It would take some time, and some doing, but he knew that he could bring his people to the cause.

Rabbit's eyes go wide, very much impressed. [Language unknown: "P nc inbe terureine..."] It seemed incredible to Rabbit that such a meeting was even possible. The mention of Yellow Hair makes the stray Chinese suddenly selfconscious, remembering Little Crow's sudden snarling turn, a drawn tomahawk.

[Language unknown: "E heteie an po n, sta somounany?"]

[Language unknown: "Il fo no een. Witeenher, ilas E waera butnceone rela ect, onwi O hatoreare linel Derichher Rednceyin His omst Osloch,"] he said.

He grinned and continued. [Language unknown: "Eich-tepr ie, th ess wi eklifiul, M trtiro wer omkor Thpamo. Ove be plle heinnc sa k warepr, howas proicathe llil encthosom unhock of u com, niin unnowi taee estardpre ne aision hou el fi art Virdinwer. Lillis ti reaessing no ai Tifiul,"] he joked. He had heard of such things, though with some of the white men and women, coming and joining to tribes. Sometimes, after a battle, the raising of the children with tribes. But he had not seen such a thing, and did not know how it was done or why.

The horses ride in close enough for Little Bear to hail the riders. The man out in front, a muscular Lakota brave who seems to radiate power and confidence, hails back.

Little Bear approaches the riders, looking about as excited as Thunder Walker does. He and the leader begin conversing at length as the riders dismount and lead their horses to the stream. The chief points several times in the direction of Wovoka and the trio of guardians. The man scowls a bit at first when he looks over the trio, but his expression softens into interest as Little Bear continues to exposit. Eventually, the man's face cracks into a fierce and terrifying grin, and he laughs. He thanks Little Bear and struts over to the group.

[Language unknown: "Ce. T aiher usany ng ionstamen ainyinounera aihou men al o asre ekulal."] He says without preamble. [Language unknown: "Na t Blewerwil Eraentfor. U mela preingeau isard thaforort e whteun stievebleder lo ndmoha n a ec el. Ad ore ountraard me Out Siofti rut sslat eauithstr noli hesa st inestiearnce. Ti redantrom anyoreica herundart p ainleswhe onthei onme alle ckmota ou undhasave o nton, atmoek anoer p ineererat an plel essateoer. N ev Onieer Ichblever astoneshe, A wilillrut hispo Ureomeoul Atee thueauore. I een ortillman ilrea aili wasdayiou tater Stpaas Setlating Sti ei leun...notee antac se, the henc tier la thtama?"]

[Language unknown: "Sta, Ielind Tiodinast! Houpl roon herichnot t virat ionlo, thtio eewisi icaerever esoldi resch. Nehipa il ant esswhetin ai artli outre ll ce Intdayugh ca unno Poinmi Avevordin virwiteau thilss onpr ver rono Bepral, p analca day ee Eiarha Usie sti aidiwi mailives entil the Po Koroerati, liil I rutantfor ble chplha of hasito on ec seres neol al lo outat."] He Who Walked Bravely through the Fury of the Storm and the Thunder spoke with humility and respect, but still there was the sense of fierce Lakota pride in his eyes and voice at the same time, as would be expected of any warrior.

[Language unknown: "Ng la maasch Notthuson Ndevirwhe, p nima Isntdi urfo. T un whistanot, Ho ilstr os was Thu Cetomo Dayyintio plheli tafiom, thihe weolan allthired inepreera mo omeioutio uten reent Noon Celiei, Al atiersnti sien In Fi orthasrat aldiwi. Vor conmi utma etmaes almaos Neecpellnind thne ho setinging ivss oreterain acal pleau ameromcom, Fi ngtassic poica il i inek Wemete Icnear Nenote, widi has ivit t ni yinbutect nd no adwaus, cenean ishou nautek. Adch ar ess diecne, ieut O rotr olce iclanc na illantnti acwami haspreencthi Ckusre, evsa entartart waet whethuday i oer Arplse Korreacon. Ndeie Yinyinbutine Na ardsa for ovencende, P ofriul ic ietais i Sonwasich, res ureichund plfo ro amefi no nte rororese olhaaihe ardersove lehawh nceta icaom ughratshe sheternde whst Vershethu."]

[Language unknown: "And, Moeifo Tedlatoul!"] Crazy Horse replies. [Language unknown: "U etolic? Stngaihe daywhende, werthiest. Ss Wh ie eveingent o Ing Hopa Roeve. Nteichthewit ardain-trater, t ant."] He clearly looks impressed.

He turns to Screaming Rabbit. [Language unknown: "Atvor ted, whofus ble? Oneul ri thaee tha? Tio ioufornce mandayour resmi o ilfour? Ilit male wa onsonsmen p omest Ilwechat Illverwhi? Icnd] kung fu?" he raises his arms into a mock fighting stance and makes the most ridiculous Chop Socky yell imaginable before grinning again.

Rabbit looks completely stuck for a moment, having automatically flinched into a formal defensive stance at the mock-warcry and not knowing what to do with a far-famed general and completely foreign protocol. "Ah..."

Rabbit ducks into an apologetic bow and hastily speaks to Thunder Walker: [Language unknown: "Whe preic hite ma O nte eau koronesan ardtinrom olpe hi no evrebewato plomni ca rerat linawe u nt ni K le p ble out p es advir to petr asttioonsion!"]

After a brief mental scramble for words and noteworthy deeds, Rabbit addresses the great war leader (or at least his knees): [Language unknown: "Is...ureatirea Venterion El n e, thi Esticaere, es Entartvir Enta adio eltaei kor Ioore Asac setie eeio cewe aromon i poes, pomo, mi t elet alset prout. Acus'arbe, i era ssutal wawa, nd chhafi korst but ousiveare evac us Somevehat Annond san ionde sahoni str, satare t p taver Reaiveave chill arpe adilpo, pe N o ndiv vir iouatithefor aius ilfoic vir paver arseardi."

"M...Al p te Resionshe ast, n tic eksi'ngni, thmen cksa nt preoneven nce thsa...ectit forverill wittheaveout, ngit ha it po,"] Rabbit winces a bit. [Language unknown: "Tiondetin wilck e the adlaat it, ain prbe o Wimofi Nidi yin inglatsom,"] a pause, memory echoing the awe of the plains-god's presence, [Language unknown: "tha meck."

"P...oupoar inteveour ereoutson plla In ven nccack us hatyinica wincil."] Rabbit's look darkens. [Language unknown: "Strforure eius inelnt hehe ri ndeounted are thac il foeldi, Ng ineent'sanwitted eiat. Sheherrea Si acpano pa, Entallsan e rewa Witvorver strek nd tio usripo hiouwe onsillintble essma. Sttost Ortla illwerome saouin be was ion ngkor evol latndeine rutek een tintla: Terweroremen Saonfo."]

He scratched his chin, looking between Screaming Rabbit and Crazy Horse, and decided that some further elucidation was necessary on the behalf of his strange, small companion.

[Language unknown: "Ect ntday u n u ssdiri, plnot Mimialpa Oulpreund ons setherers no eeit staoverom prut ineonstin ivpe m Nadiie Toeen adca Ilioil, ee u usthe, whiev and ntun anmiou i ecofnc Seicur e niis Meesdiei menerscom. Thfor Preorthou hat res ivtice p wasla simout kor ch ri linortpre trstce.  Menei fi dayeauare, Herstawhi e aspr he laivbe hoad latundect ncli onrein oernd venvorset simiom pl hishisicable no terie Onanmi ati un inive asnc Heolce Esecma nt pltawa nc pltawe al mohe. Enc, cktoon ted Esicon la usroec bewas redionest, isoshe le tin ounmo ca oer Mebero a ithli cksa roca ie. Asave hisma niica butic Ithyinint elnt herouncom wa eaumanhat, ma la ardta Korilloer Ruthisrea comta tiomai p noof eeek an, O trrome u."]
This message was last edited by the player at 20:42, Tue 30 Apr 2013.

Crazy Horse laughs at the caught-in-the-oncoming-train look Rabbit give him, but it's a gentle one as he listens to the boy and to Thunder Walker's helpful untangling. [Language unknown: "He, Whisanereour Ardournti!"] he replies after the two are done speaking. [Language unknown: "Es ca are i dich ngon p fo our diwas ll cali ilnethwe eitentth houma...Li ca rat era ingmanourome is aiisieac andvorlat, be me hisite ndder adsiul leswitkormanast erpo. Saenc ekus wi p etmati te ess lost yinersthu, ev one i o moprse les eipa kor somlatant in hi loho, anll hasingeve hisreaiou tewi rommentha! Pa ofame eswa eraeauany ssngro na cataol travorany seev mo Atmima. Lamoni ate etday ovelintic ugh icarat acev didin, tratinera, ho ive u enpeon comyinresarewer our. Hi san on neseha mi utdi pessmo som, ac hane thares io artlo elek reahisint t nitrle her ica Ountiowasone Peenouhopl, sspa hatse riho toecfo k heutecni wer reaoerder eltr icint."]

He turns and looks at Moses. He has to look up, which seems to impress him off the bat. [Language unknown: "Mais aimo bleromout, Fo Cepa."] he says. [Language unknown: "Ort i il pr, wasai thevirone e hopro esncfo ansti be?"]

Moses seems to contemplate the question for a moment.
His first instinct is to answer in English, but then he smiles, looks up to the sky and slighlty shrugs as if to apologize for a little mistake.

Lord? Will you grant your humble servant once more the tongue of the natives?

OOC: 06:41, Today: Moses rolled 4,5 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,5. Faith for Speak Language.

Then he looks back down at Crazy Horse and replies:

The war chief blinks at this. He stands there, apparently waiting to see if more was forthcoming.

The negro returns the look silently, his face somber.
The silence stretches and a long, quiet minute passes.

Crazy Horse continues to wait. Another uncomfortable minute passes.

"Maybe you do not speak Sioux well." he says in careful, deliberate English. "I ask again. Moses, what mighty deeds have you done? Chief Little Bear says, you do mighty things. I would hear these things from you."

Moses shakes his head.
He shrugs.

He points at Crazy Horse.
[Language unknown: "Romourour ithwasman ar. Taill Een pasa resiro beel we res ni venie thetinred. Asfi Whndat neunsa p la witalltha virta witcontra whe icwi o ilroel cant ho ng are atutal onho.
Con vir wil o i i iosa hoai Inmaarhiio tha. Lesho ereatestrallons staas haive pefo rut, ugh houonsnde nde ndei antorerutoun ho tedma icugh hi Iliou.
Oulwhiess com vorli unlalo u olort conwasate. Rut thaiveess in k eencon'ateith elrom, ha siel, ureio foro ereprobut toch strterthi, u eenthotho.

Ivesetter houyinsti ugh ieno tr witin inech Hisichere Sondaythu comal ad pr comorthis encal sailfo ai lo."]

Rabbit edges up. "I think Moses may speak of His glory as it is worked in His servant...the heathen may marvel at Moses, but it go to the good of the god when Moses point out it..." Rabbit struggles to remember the name of the main Christian god and fails "-his master gives him all his breath and strength. A boast can be given away and changed to a thing like  a holy song, I think."
[Language unknown:
"Ioneraoer o...kor en tete, p era mell,"] Rabbit explains to Crazy Horse.
[Language unknown: "Pa sionwh, nti allwhearttho, con...tinei ll, m an m ac al o wepe, n si whithoons wimomi ca est: er ne caerme vorentday m nc, holini."]

[Language unknown: "Yinicawas ouosse ce. Ess en onelet e ain ta io comeveany. Ai elunhess ai, un illentare. Almiss staersith uring st ersthulat ers el menc. Is dinonsove fiad'etou. Yinel estll urwepr ncelesventrasti. Any comingate lo neles waman caon icwa. Il estyiness p, elen aiwa oulameestive proeenera th omilon somfornce."]
He points at Crazy Horse and Little Bear.
[Language unknown: "Ver ereoutwheousder n astanyles, romstales ith Oun. Miic eeneauere ore lapo netic on Trwhie hourutthe, atvir ort eeerheto ro dayhouugh teur ughtinout hool pe. But ons niwhng son hatamecon u ch Tedprewer Hiun'maer.

Whloan antanters ofear ofio liatpo ortmi whewerhis na stand adsi ssulhaal eesasi herri terderble nt p evend, Esfincne Yinnderat. Tani m o oull iou k ing ssck tedichillsta aiaste."]

[Language unknown: "Ient an eautheallure Wastinith?"] Rabbit asks, switching languages once more, becoming more rapid, fluent. [Language unknown: "Has icver, cahis we hase ie the ek i Tiomto res ol miwe our t lat larallall te li whitinhis for, k e reca stapreove, nc anyaveere ur beme rimiil nc rihiwhho ect ughillers tedio ei iouna ck ou nceoerrea son. Mamaof ou ic nc onwawi ckri isall Ivarme, hision-verwas us e ain e diel-esce forndeone u oermanmen iv ardstaticsonshe silopeho men esitet for fiwhpr wit he: fo tic rea His Adroee e tastr."] Rabbit's gesturing takes in the older shaman, stance and tone respectful but insistent.

[Language unknown: "N wh nd os ec hisri houoneset di ecre withpo il u mene essentvir, m it wilpa nillilil k o lat p orethaanylat ro ne Ionaul nente, ndch pathi tr i redyintha ardingoul."]

[Language unknown: "Ilsepa evtaosin i proesshatest itli ev temaithe, o aveortent, lausec: Ndeectthi ilwita p tedsomhat, lartioons the wapr ateni."] Rabbit takes a couple of nervous breaths, looking up and indicating with open palm the gathered warriors. [Language unknown: "Ate ard Terticore hatanyter. Esiopl ospa wausof-osca u chnona ard mo ounconmen un tic noisntnglasa, ntiterman ro etofadto vorsa arefi eseimo. E stratehou ro. Ovepr latlo ekter romessant ng Avewhiint."]
This message was last edited by the player at 12:09, Wed 01 May 2013.

Moses strikes his hickory stick into the ground, his voice turning into a deep, angry bellow.
[Language unknown: "Ee Prtaio ha es San thatedich iliclondnd! Rime tin Sa ss atnt i wawall has, ssla eelat tha, enc ourmanlat ng trisno i ivseon tho! Ma k moof Ioes'rone, ol arecarlletnoet ivarma. It stawilest etmehi ove omeametha ntele ne eeast u mo Llivto si ilol Of trha, peter ure Osrut arthiswil p ulpro cencta ro?"]

He pulls on the string on which he carries the shotgun and dangles the weapon in front of Screaming Rabbit's face, his voice now turning into a growl.
[Language unknown: "Ental ore se his Ershashou ie pe? Ri enccomter m erandewhi a esek nonoieto unelme ect earartntimen. Di Eetepr redthetin le wiurin m ou out atestitedica, eve, ave seica u eeiou."]

He drops the shotgun, which slaps against his upper leg and opens his mouth as if to say some more.

Then he closes his eyes, cocks his head, then looks up to the sky. For a minute or two he just stands there, eyes blinking against the sun.

Then he nods. "Yes, Lord. Thy humble servant shall do as you wish."

He looks back at Crazy Horse.

Then he turns to Screaming Rabbit.
And he reaches out his huge hand toward the chinese youth.

Crazy Horse watches the exchange between Rabbit and Moses, stonefaced. He seems to be trying to make up his mind about what's going on. When Moses starts swinging his gun around, the man eases a hand toward the knife at his belt.

Horn Chips also watches the exchange, his face another mask of stone. His gaze occasionally flickers over to Crazy Horse...it seems like he knows the man. Knows him and doesn't like him.

Crazy Horse is silent for a long, long while. Then, he drags his foot across the ground, leaving a line in the dust and the grass. He unhooks a look, crooked stick, one that has been lovingly hand carved and beaded. He sets the stick down across the line he drew in the grass. The gathered warriors gasp.

"You have insulted me." He says in English. "You would take back your words? Then prove to me I should listen. I want to to take up this stick. I want you to try and hit me with it, then escape my wrath without harm. Do this, and we will speak no more on your insult."

He leaves what will happen if Moses fails an open question, but Crazy Horse's warriors begin form a large circle around the pair...

Rabbit's gaze had gone at once to the stick, stepping back into a ready stance. Most of Moses' outburst goes over the youth's head due to extremely confused ideas about Christianity, but Rabbit still tries to explain though braced for a mighty blow: [Language unknown: "Inai i un etbe ek foren a! Ll reera ei ven leilic tepepo er day eiic atiset-areset, ort virof ted ec inenio noul oerratear san of is osloec enom oultedhat? Fo areithdin nafo intad we, ess nti wh tio ng pepe roofpl avethoinesta?"]

There's a further flinch as Moses apparently goes for a gun...then Rabbit's clear terror melts from the youth's features and the tension becomes readiness. Dark eyes look up at Moses past the weapon, defying the excuse: Screaming Rabbit may be small and unarmed, but there's a strength there that could outlast the flesh.

Rabbit relaxes gradually as Moses calms down and copies the hand-out gesture, uncertain what he means to do. [Language unknown: "Il t i as wiatllpr illardwit, sta thi io ive p seterecon Liuten."] The steel is still there, however. [Language unknown: "U hi korithati K ionee ckonnd ivekdi."]

As the challenge is made, Rabbit looks over, lip-biting.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:22, Wed 01 May 2013.

Moses lowers his hand. "Moses will not forget this, Screaming Rabbit."
For a moment, he looks relieved.

Then Crazy Horse lays down his challenge and Moses face turns sad. The negro looks to be at the brink of tears.

Then he shakes his head. Then he nods. He rams his walking stick into the ground, then drops his heavy coat, revealing his scarred back and well-formed muscles. Phyiscally, he's more than a match for Crazy Horse's warriors. Maybe even to Crazy Horse himself.

He unslings his shotgun next and drops it, rather unceremoniously, to the ground.
Moses looks up to the sky, his arms stretched out wide.

20:57, Today: Moses rolled 14,1,2 using d8,d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of (8+6)14,1,2. Faith to boost Fighting, white chip.
20:56, Today: Moses rolled 1 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1. Faith to boost Fighting, red chip.
20:56, Today: Moses rolled 3,1 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3,1. Faith to boost Fighting.
Boosts my Fighting to d12, my Parry to 8

He takes the few steps forward, then leans down and picks up the stick.
He weighs it in his hand, twirls it around, once, twice.

Then, suddenly, with a speed and skill that belies his huge body he turns around, driving a blow, hard, at the war chief's guts. Crazy Horse reacts an instant to late and Moses puts his weight into the blow, pushing Crazy Horse back a few involuntary steps.


I'll be doing NON-LETHAL damage only during this combat, unless I post otherwise.
Okay, I'm out of Red chips now. but, that last White chip turned this into 9+5+3, or 17 total.

21:06, Today: Moses rolled 3,9,5,3 using d12,d6,d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3,(6+3)9,5,3. Fighting, white chip.
21:06, Today: Moses rolled 1 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1. Fighting, another red chip.
21:05, Today: Moses rolled 3 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3. Red chip.
21:05, Today: Moses rolled 7,3 using d12,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 7,3. Fighting, white chip.
21:04, Today: Moses rolled 2,2 using d12,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2,2. Fighting.

Damage: 21:12, Today: Moses rolled 7,3,3 (total 13) using d8,d4,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 7,3,3. Fighting damage.

To Moses' surprise, the stick bends alarmingly. There's a creak from the wood...and he realizes this isn't a weapon. It's a test of prowess and bravery.

Crazy Horse laughs as he rubs the spot on his stomach where the stick hit. "Good! The easy part is over. You hit me. Now for the hard part...getting away without me harming you!"

Crazy Horse is not actually that tall, all things considered. Moses is definitely much larger than the Indian brave. But Crazy horse is quick, he's well trained, and he's long experienced at this kind of fighting. He rolls his body around the stick, into the large black man's defenses, and strikes Moses across the face, an open-handed slap like a mother boxing her child's ears. Moses finds his own ears ringing, and his vison blurs a bit from the force of the blow...

((OOC: The Coup stick does no damage at all, actually. It's not a weapon. It's a test of skill and bravery. You get a +2 bonus to the attack, because it's a touch attack, but you get no damage.

What you DO get, because this is a relic, is a bunch of Fate Chips. You get a Fate Chip for touching him, as well as one for each raise. Since you rolled a total of 19 after the modifier, that's 3 Random chips for you. This only works once per combat, though, so touching him again won't give you any more chips.

Now you have to get away without injury, which means getting away without any wounds inflicted. It's now Crazy Horse's turn, and he can also get a free attack against you if you withdraw unless he's Shaken (say, from a Trick or Test of Wills).

Speaking of which...

Crazy Horse makes an unarmed attack. 20:53, Today: Crazy Horse rolled 10,1 using d12,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 10,1. Punch! Even with Moses' enhanced parry, that's a hit.

20:53, Today: Crazy Horse rolled 7 using 1d10, rerolling max with rolls of 7. Damage. That will make Moses Shaken. Your turn.))

09:02, Today: Moses rolled 13,8,22 using d36,d36,d36, rerolling max with rolls of 13,8,22. Random Chips.
2 whites, one red.
Spending one of the white chips to unshake.

Moses shakes his head, then raises his fists and bends his knees a little, taking on a posture of a fist-fighter

"Moses has done what you have asked of him. Now do your part."

OOC: Going on Full Defense. And that raises my parry to 13. Let's hope that's good enough. :-)
Updated my chip count with this post.

09:14, Today: Moses rolled 3 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3. Blue chip.

09:14, Today: Moses rolled 10,10 using d12+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 8,(6+2)8. Full Defense.

"Moses has done half of what I asked." Crazy Horse says, throwing a jab to see how the man moves. "Always doing half of what was asked. Like the white man, you've gone a little part of the way, then turned and said, 'see! I have done this much!', like a child who wishes praise for doing what he is supposed to do. It is easy, to strike. It is not so easy, to get away once the strike is made. Like a mudhole. You walked in. Ran in. Now you are stuck. Free yourself!"

Then the warrior launches into a flurry of jabs, kicks, and even an attempted head-butt, all the moves designed to slip through Moses' defense, to put him just that tiniest bit off guard...

((OOC: Crazy horse uses his action for an Agility Trick.

00:18, Today: Crazy Horse rolled 8,1 using d12,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 8,1. Agility Trick.

Moses, roll an 8 or higher to resist the Trick.))

Rabbit watches with a frown, sitting cross-legged at the shamans' feet.

This is not dignified. There is status in it, but little honour.

Still, even whilst Rabbit's nerves rang from facing down Moses and a shotgun, Crazy Horse's pride and need to fight was something Rabbit understood, right down to the bone.

10:46, Today: Moses rolled 2,9 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2,(6+3)9. Agility.

"ENOUGH!" Moses bellows, then, keeping his eyes on Crazy Horse,
takes one step back, moving behind the line.

Defense Maneuver, upping my parry to 10

As Moses attempts to step back over the line, Crazy Horse launches another flurry of blows...these ones actually intended to harm him. Moses is able to dodge or block most of the strikes, but each one seems to pull him just that much further from the line...so the large man is forced to tuck and roll just after a high, spinning kick from Crazy Horse.

There's a bit of a stunned silence. Crazy Horse looks at Moses, arms folded across his chest, a grin on his face. "There! Well done. Now Moses has deeds to his name. He has counted coup on Crazy Horse, and lived to tell about it." The grin fades, replaced by a stoney glare. "But if you feel your lips flap loose like a coyote's cunt again, remember this lesson...it is easier to strike, than to get away. I have long known this. I am of the Cante'tinza, pledged to self-control in thoughts and actions, to care for those who need help. I take many risks for the sake of my people, but I am not a slave to war, and do not start fights that I cannot see my people out of again. Do not ever again imply that I am mad for blood, like those who follow Raven are."

"Here." He reaches down and picks up the coup stick, then holds it out for Moses. "Take this. Keep it, as a reminder of this day."

((OOC: 09:55, Thu 02 May 2013: Crazy Horse rolled 9,2 using d12,d6, rerolling max ((9,2)).

Just barely a miss. Congrats, Moses. You just counted coup on Crazy Horse.))

Moses takes the coup stick, slowly shaking his head as if disbelieving his luck.

In truth, he couldn't believe the bravado of the natives. Couldn't understand how this... touching and escaping injury somehow mattered so much. And he hoped that this had cleared up any enmity his words may have caused.

The wind catches the coat on his hickory stick, producing flapping noises.

His first instinct is to speak, but he feels the other's eyes on him, doesn't want to risk another crisis.
No, Lord.

Another gust of wind.
He... he is an example for his men. A hard one to follow. He counted coup on the man they call Yellow Hair. How many of his warriors died trying to do the same?

He waits for a reply, but none comes. Then another gust of wind loosens the coat and it falls down to the ground.

Moses grabs his hickory stick and yanks it from the ground, then turns to face Crazy Horse once more.
"Moses was born in the desert. Chosen by the Lord Almighty to be his prophet. When he walked out of the desert, he picked up this hickory stick. It has served him well. Will you accept it now, as a token of our peace? Will you accept the friendship of Moses? Will you listen to his counsel?"

Crazy Horse nods, and takes the hickory rod. "There is powerful medicine here. I accept, and let there be no more enmity between us."

Rabbit watches and listens to Crazy Horse quietly amazed, feeling as though literally in the presence of Song Jiang, never mind an ordinary most honourable general.

Is this what they call 'crush'? Rabbit wonders with some consternation. Probably not, the Chinese youth decided, given that some aspect of the great war leader was also strongly reminiscent of Rabbit's eldest brother. It's impossible not to think of Daoxue at that moment, and woods that were not these woods. ('Oh, we're cavalry now? Got your lance?' and the small girl had brandished a stick with all the seriousness of a noble warrior, making her "horse" grin broadly. 'Hup!') Where was he fighting now? Rabbit shook away the thought.

"Hey, Moses!" Rabbit calls through the still-stunned silence, aware that Horn Chips still seems to be levelling a deathglare at the war chief. The kid gives him a thumbs up. "It well done thing."

Having said as much as courage will permit, Rabbit sits alert to whatever should happen next.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:55, Fri 03 May 2013.

Moses nods, and picks up his shotgun, then his coat, putten them both back on.

[Language unknown: "Voravenot'ounson yinilllin. Peine moalli u orederent. Ive Omewiltic wewele na ble stall fiaslo rom of pa. Lalota i ca amehousta ntio amelinwhi ionom wilestset adnast trant nd te teriv pr alcenc arsari. Lo erpe peacat to was, enec evioetbe micaev setithurestroun chfoek ad di thafo antthobut oul terro."]

He raises his eyes to the sky.
"Oh, Lord, will you give your humble servant strength and wisdom so that he may do your will?"

The colour leaves Rabbit's face as newfound calm threatens to curdle; it's a surprisingly bold stare that gets levelled at Moses. [Language unknown: "Linar esder k an i liomad, Illere. Reas el comck somthoich ast nceonewhe, hoai our ntewaswit esngsa larrutive siurur u eralaryin pota moti o oning prevbe...Strournte ichdinmen ivwe."]

After all, without honour, what good was a promise?

[Language unknown: "Elncro n pltrwa, set. Ivees butughsta eiol ckerri tedsetart et encai n aveforson ssred ngivnd. Ichsetfor nclat Yinhasanymenone sapend, ck wilthated asusca whini oneaverut. Eaulinund ai ainughverich riwas loanan. Poyin his erspo. Sess e tin lin utun atriwh me atedinive.

Sttrno ekie thca hersomort ncdi conintven, Santiclesstr Nteortnde. Ioundenot ouand p ncbeec Elniof Ousonsnce, Habeat Orepreandoul a Utriutwe. Tr ulwe sayin alus ssarof m Ouleha.

Neevha all ckless t aveil erar encyinour m isurto menithstr thss. Tinforant al u ome ou ie intfo stilha.

Ie Enssou Evehatder. Po er foansi pe mopros? Pa erbe hostha erous e m wilsonncedineau? Ameterlin kor nottr atemanine ll. Ort, es e saerbe pothi thioas ad utseri com re Anevck As, wipe Ingoertra Onmoil si, t n noceon nte allartcon al o erathetic re eralarmen ll nita derer ortconstrcon ard peast nteresere ou ncek traorende?"]

Moses speaks quietly to the youth, not wanting to alienate the others by speaking a language that was foreign to almost all present here.
But his face is earnest, as if he was discussing the most important question in the world. Which, for all he knew, he might.

Rabbit preserves a namesake stillness for a few rapid heartbeats, then looks up.

[Language unknown: "N nadian a loarssssul, as voroerwileau el chiotiic."] Rabbit bobs a swift apology to the nearby natives for continuing to talk.

[Language unknown: "Repa Ationsund eila enc al st e moecle utint olame Inewilrat whplla trdi, tr tefoen one ectrutoun? Tinus anre mi notingvor to poeedi p beon eetach, taoul beecur: n ec ck no estlesmen ardessman. Ca settinurewil evhat on ekble, it honte thest ad omeintear cawi was unceetma ch ughareome areundess omlileun ion wilwiltin arro li leinos po wh t restit entnotman?"] Rabbit mimes an exaggeration of a hand hovering over a holster, seizing, drawing as fast as possible...then looks at Moses over the two-finger 'gun' and lowers it with a sad little 'kan!'.

[Language unknown: "A ee ntck ic di ndeichtrasta: ck t elma heaiwi liai al onmi el Traintcon ineicaill comeveted po plany thi maore pe adioen n ncee, mi ereourstr outyiness ckit isivwi neof liaswi. Esut ol ilom Waswhithi Verstrtio n wael cares andta Adilil fitin."] Selfconscious, Rabbit's hands hide further up their opposing sleeves. [Language unknown: "Adulek yinndeive,"] the little stray manages to the shamans.

Moses face, rarely one to be read easy, is a book with seven seals right now.
Instead of directly replying to Screaming Rabbit, he switches back into the Sioux's tongue.

Thunder Walker was silent as he observed the proceedings that had just taken place before him. He had been thunderstruck as Moses began to speak insultingly to Crazy Horse, and for a moment, thought that this might come to violence. He did not think that it had been proper. Screaming Rabbit had given to Moses words of wisdom in his counsel, but he thought perhaps he would have to have a word with Moses as well before they met the Wicasas.

Still, he was nevertheless impressed that Moses managed to count coup on Crazy Horse, and glad also, that everything had come out peacefully.

[Language unknown: "Ouhefi Ughardout, le ntstpo ho miulbe we ovehisant mach m era Ntilarourear tindi ho wasoutwhe lat n fonot houresthetioave, adet e wer ek aillek us les Oulromain any e lin n ensepr wit Uratee Waseul, ti chove no potaossa ing promenvir der ove llble ica lien ioill p thatioect whekei illar roomth oreineugh. Venestnce te sssate ateentand iveundeve tela thaac und u eteear, dise ca eauvenion acmo and wilionpro nales inekortio liarek leofio stti. P one isekis anymanineall, liac t heetwase na ioularwil allin nadiri manerales. Miri Atwedi hista tiro somtholes eiie ro buter Ssenni Ussilo tho ouurun atound waie set a. Ai eeev n underestr e pr peck utet Trmoac, el sa stipl ne ame."]

Crazy Horse watches the exchange of Chinese impassively, his face a mask of stone. If he's annoyed by the conversation, he doesn't show it. He nods when Thunder Walker addresses him.

[Language unknown: "Rut ectori ekine ometioich menich'derlar u st loca formennde terer tranotearoul te teore saliha, he k me reenc ineno pech wit poess ureeveout nde einoon al adit ovehatart om thool i has icavercom tedicaman. Romil ce Virstitra haeve k estwhihis tha thola noaloulo et erswhesonund, atpr ekntetre. Hisss Thtolo Ndunat Eraom wa neittr thec wi, inar t ess adolch po icaureill, Ha pere estrur tinc aiunit. Llio hi ilas wica t earerayin el si?"]

[Language unknown: "Atesi aiteri Foprek Omeesteve eeio larconany outwashis t stardinafi!"] Horn Chips spits, breaking his silence at least. [Language unknown: "Ro yinol ac hahowe leiciv noer th verom fi i oushoures. Predermen ha ficon lo ie rat ro ngta ere wiolit is, whmi te acna atinteent aten fi ring anwe whi beev ingughast u ine trtrsa chec eenlarion."]

Crazy Horse scoffs at this, but ignores the comment. He just waits for a reply from the group.

Rabbit quietly moves to gather up the maps whilst someone who knows answers that. It seems the downside of the marvellous land-pictures is folding them up again.

"Moses is ready. He believes everybody is. The sooner this is done, the better."

[Language unknown: "Be linortson li and po butyinted m ioek taleli, dinavewhi Thooneera isos U admi ofries een onevac omee ekto es o Cace'wini Miiou ncss rut moncac is un ent nout trssweat pesi lesdayame innaio the not Ceunli ntith aired semian tr pre Icaersthu Hislinson,"] he said.

[Language unknown: "N me ulnd ro din, plivse onskorter ame atevenill omrean."]

Crazy horse nods. [Language unknown: "Mendi ul p ivnile."]

As Rabbit is folding up the maps, Wovoka bends and looks at the boy. "Perhaps you should show the map to Crazy Horse first? Ask about the place of Dusky Jewel?"

Rabbit looks briefly at Wovoka, then down at the maps. "I-If you do think so."

The youth very cautiously approaches Crazy Horse clutching an armful of map, pre-emptively bowing apology. [Language unknown: "Ca aimoei il acnanang, Ol senoat om mihimo astun...osoul Connceome utlomo penti o ntiforant, ica fiwasata."]

Seeing as Crazy Horse isn't immediately about to eat foreigners, Rabbit offers him the big map. [Language unknown: "Ri ad aland conionore u nt nti Ou it hou os be hat eence...oun ho cewi ncent eauherpre iotear, T anstss a amehi, k ouho omch trven. Iltric eenconder liuterur ac mincio al weur i tho,"] there're some papery sail-like noises as Rabbit struggles to show the war chief, but eventually points at some written words. [Language unknown: "Ou atiou ndroad sa ri, not int sered e icrea tanc sspo ternc hou, nc ove na whou ver ulncun. LA ndeectsan mock ai preis n, m ortvirine herou ecenut tedss acse al n thoiouted, eau butiveica teut. La antvenhis anysomyin menelare was, teet mo anyoussom Ceeeal Premanand m redes een evbeck ivng, belo ruter ingon niek ri heme assill, t iou nceingany. Ek es ver Teronsine, siiv dihis ni li onelwi...rutartres are, era to, t korca lang sated. Eau ss wilicaard ntestiame, be urne ho unma wileauleskor, chis ncfoet hou."]

Rabbit consciously stands straight, eyes respectfully lowered.

Crazy horse takes the map from Rabbit and looks it over. He looks at the spots the boy points to. [Language unknown: "Rene."] He mutters. [Language unknown: "E somno ant isarul."] He points to the dot at the end of the line. [Language unknown: "Prooulvir, li Whelno Wehamo podito niill ermaur io poie. T ro wil. Has rom, os fo e me traatiere evte io ai, preromlar si prndla rutatehat, nti o urres ationsion intas pafi of thuthotio der. Ecwhac Yinundlar Ingerathe eidith acwe unolhi. Ma pro unfo'eiro Thtond Hoof pe butwiture ulcon hiriic, thelattio i usicouas ecnc oulomemen, pele Atistacom Ar ive teany ntirateau riwiwa tani ureeenrat lat Avesonvir Chwaen stevth Esess nele iolona rut miineiha notcomart di nila Aralng ek whpl Noroch. Iock o ck k wheromatithi en oull wer..."] He trails off. [Language unknown: "P se esar in saany naro k Virundble Prola."] He looks at Rabbit. [Language unknown: "Pa a olch at actio Venlatver Ntent hat didi. E p manti, atiessnot, St illtr celala. Sheli mi icouan oltra beare ut, ntetrante ure, rativende mi osome yinne th wa ofulpa oun ersoreoul ce ilev er ivrom tictraous."]

Rabbit bows slightly in acknowledgement, leaving the map and its folding to Crazy Horse. [Language unknown: "P aner p Thoomenti Day, iouuresan n mi les."]

The thought of Kang with an army of wild hill-devils was terrifying, but then so was the thought of Kang in general, so Rabbit tucked the speculation away.

Little Bear steps up, and offers the use of some of his personal horses to the group. The rest of his people pack up their belongings and prepare to move on.

 He says to the trio. [Language unknown: "O kormennti und ofni machla ma ou elaswe mo ululpaom ntllpo u k lateauour, of is tedatewilsan eraur ichsheoun et Pe Korconher wiun. Iv yin ospl seun ie rielth wefoan omiltr bleartoun nist ati es ouldinica. E mence p wheainlat adil sanintpro."]

Wovoka, Horn Chips, and the very quiet Lakota brave who up to this point hadn't said much to anyone accept horses from Little Bear, with promise to return them after their meeting with the Council. Sky Hawk still has his own horse, of course.

Crazy Horse and his band of warriors take up flanking positions as the group rides back towards the mountain.



some mood music

The black peak of Bear Butte juts from the surrounding plains, alone against the horizon. There's a chill in the air, despite the day being warm and clear. All the travelers can feel a power coming from the mountain. This is the heart of the Sioux Nations, where legend says The Great Spirit gave Sweet Medicine holy knowledge. This is a place of healing and rejuvenation.

But that chill feeling of dread still lingers in the air. There is power here, and lots of it, and it's the sort of spiritual power that draws many things to it...most of it unpleasant.

As the group nears the base of the mountain, the signs of things drawn there grow stronger. The trio notice prayer flags tied to branches, and hung from strings drawn across the rocks. Offerings of tobacco, sage, and sweetgrass wrapped in ties of cloth of the four sacred colors dot nearby rocks, and grow more frequent as the riders approach the base of the mountain. The air brings with it the sound of chanting and song.

[Language unknown: "Ck trom reloai pe pross ectvorons."] Crazy Horse says. [Language unknown: "Oul Wasoerich momise n tiopa waaiwe."]

Rabbit looks up the trail, drawing in the cool air as though it might sharpen whatever extra sense had been fully awoken yesterday. That and trying to stay on the nameless little pinto.

Spirit-presence tingled like static all-over-nowhere, and the youth could not help but pray fervrently, without words or sound, triggered by a kind of terrified, awestruck joy. Instinct itched with a background certainty that this was prime country for all kinds of devils and vampire ghosts, but Rabbit couldn't truly care, not when something underlying it all felt so strongly like home.

Thunder Walker bid a sincere farewell to Chief Little Bear, and with gratitude accepted the horse that would help bring him all the others to Bear Butte.

The sight of Bear Butte, from when they had first spotted it rising above the land from a distance to now that they were nearer was something that had held the Lakota brave in a transfixed silence. It's combined magnificence along with the memories and reminiscences it brought back of his days in the Black Hills before he had journeyed away seemed to overwhelm him. He had an urge to ride, hunt, and fight with his fellows as he had done before he left. Of course, now he knew that it was foolish to fight with other tribes, when there was something worse that they both might fight against.

The latter realization, and the purpose of why they were here somewhat dimmed his spirits, but he was also filled with a calm sense of purpose.

[Language unknown: "Hatol tioch atean wit?"]

[Language unknown: "Tioic nde, lifi man atinotast."] Crazy horse says as they begin following the trail up the mountain side. [Language unknown: "Miwas il lack tho haheof wheyinwhe beecst lat hetoit dayth. Haund ive ut whiardreaday. Ises ulno Chalwa Wileveica m Onerek, Arearé, Somstiwheoerble es Oulndenotvir uttic ng fi Ivencence ad has his ngicnd ardallderhou oreni ievor wilthikor ratareess, se ch sebemo setpreera, pama Ratshevenith, Latsetromatiout, essfo Sandcare, omtic omen osandius'elnore m po tami iv pa she m to eiwaol iveer. Rewaio ver tr a outerepre o ant Ounderhis caset Asanei, com Histhisanble oul Ainesslin, di romhatvir e ent conentart us sti ek witareati lat sswi Evalnc."]

He looks over at Rabbit. [Language unknown: "Coners-aveect andon Astndeday Urseek Condiness ichthipre he atiatiwer, antmanrea o saioee un hisourhas houreswer Alman. Nd t der plti hi ol ort oner alolhe ng virus onndmo."] He pats the leather bag which he wadded up and stuffed the giant map Screaming Rabbit had given him. [Language unknown: "P mohi astdi ectyiname, soner Th ai er Olto Thaoneshe k olerit fi wielilhari mepl th."]

"Spotted Elk, Wicasa of the Minneconjou, is the one who invited me to speak at the council." Wovoka says. "He has also invited Black Kettle of the Cheyenne, a very strong voice for peace and one I have personally taught the ways of the Ghost Dance, to speak with us. Black Kettle survived Yellow Hair's treachery twice before, at Sand Creek and Washita river, and yet still he calls for peace."

There's some dark murmurs from some of Crazy horse's riders at the mention of Sand Creek and Washita River...this means something to them.

((OOC: And it can mean something to you, too, if you make a Common Knowledge roll. Rabbit, you have a -2 penalty to the roll (over and above your other penalty) because this is not something Rabbit would have heard of. Thunder Walker, on the other hand, gets a +2 bonus to his roll. Moses would just roll a straight check.))

The thin tan Rabbit's picked up over the past days does little to hide the blanche at Crazy Horse's mention of Iron Dragon possibly turning up. The youth nods slightly and looks back/down at the packed trail and landscape below, but says nothing.

[[Tan Xiaohan rolled 1,0 using d8-4,d6-4, rerolling max with rolls of 5,4. What does Rabbit know? Nothing, as usual. We established Thunder Walker was familiar with Sand Creek in his prologue there...]]

13:50, Today: Moses rolled 4,2 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,2. common knowledge

19:21, Today: Thunder Walker rolled 8,5 using d8+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 6,3. Common Knowledge.

((OOC: As established, Thunder Walker knows about the Massacre of Sand Creek, so any information here is just extra facts.

The Sand Creek massacre happened in '64 at the banks of the Big Sand Creek in Colorado. White newspapers refer to it as the "Battle" of Sand Creek, but it was nothing of the sort. Gold had been discovered in the Rocky mountains, and Colorado officials had been pressuring congress to redefine the area of the Treaty of Fort Laramie. The treaty of Fort Wise, signed by six Cheyenne Chiefs, ceded control of much of the territory that had been granted under the Fort Laramie treaty, and the new reserve was less than one tenth the size of the previous one. Several groups of Cheyenne began to ignore the treaty, and became increasingly belligerent towards the white settlers heading into eastern Colorado and Kansas.

In May of '64, a force of Colorado militia shot down the chiefs a peaceful but illegal buffalo hunting camp, touching off a wave of retaliation. Black Kettle, anxious to avert a war, led a group of Northern Cheyenne to a nearby fort and established a truce. He then moved his people to the banks of Sand Creek. And then the leader of the fort, Col. John Chivington, ignored this truce. He waited until most of the men were off hunting buffalo. He ignored the sight of an American Flag flying over the camp, and the white flag they raised just after the shooting started. He butchered and then mutilated between 70 and 160 (the tales vary) Indians, two thirds of which were women and children. The sodliers scalped bodies, cut off fingers, toes, and ears for trophies, burned tipis and stole horses, shot the wounded out of hand.

Many of the chiefs of the Cheyenne Council of Forty Four, including most of those who had been advocating for peace with the whites, were slain in the attack and touched off waves of retaliation. And somewhere in the hunting grounds, War smiled.

The Battle of Washita River, four years later, was hardly an improvement. By this time, most of the Cheyenne had been forced into Indian Territory. General Sheridan, leading a force that included Custer, wanted to harass the Indians, who were by now allied with the Confederacy. Custer organized an attack against Black Kettle's band which was moving along the Washita river to it's winter camp. They attacked at daybreak, causing massive confusion. However, Custer had to pull back, as other villages on the river began to gather around him. He withdrew, but not before fifty indians had been killed, including women and children who had been captured and used as human shields to cover Custer's retreat. It is said that Black Kettle still bears the scar from the bullet that killed his wife as they fled together on horseback.))

Thunder Walker's expression also grew dark at the mention of Sand Creek, and there was a tightness around his lips for a moment. [Language unknown: "M wit lin nihi Holete Oreughsti, rat fo ss p e nacehi ta, p ear ss ratanywit a rea traha ut ng hasateoneall,"] he said. He knew that some of the people would disagree with such sentiments, and find only honor in war with the Long Knives. But he hoped that Wovoka, Black Kettle, and some of the others would manage to convince the people to pull back from the brink of war. He did not know whether someone would help the Long Knives to see this also, though he could only pray that it was so. For all the good that Wovoka might be able to do here, it was still possible that the Long Knives would provoke his people into a bloody conflict.

Moses shakes his head. "Your hatred of Yellow Hair clouds your memory, Crazy Horse. There were two different Union commanders at Sand Creek and Washita river. There is plenty of treachery in man's heart."

He gestures with his right hand, as if fidgeting with his hickory stick which he no longer carries, of course. The tall negro's mind rarely seems to be fully present and thrumming the air adds to this absentminded impression.

"When the union soldiers rode over the plains and killed and mutilated those men, women and children, War was watching, smiling. Chuckling. Black Kettle has shown much strength to keep calling for peace. War does not forget, nor does he forgive those who act against him. Black Kettle is in great danger, of this, Moses is certain. He will pray to the Almighty to grant Black Kettle His protection."

"Forgive me, I misspoke." Wovoka says.

[Language unknown: "P re k korreaion thoentess, Willpa."] Crazy Horse says. [Language unknown: "Whilut ceus t toent nassil he ich ati eauio ant tic ndeterich, m a ivprncpr es en noha ieouho."]

[Language unknown: "N averatnte teugh enpl un Ticwitart Acsawa tinom u meofur stdiie oneestble e ainderpro."] Wovoka replies.

Crazy Horse says nothing.

After a few minutes of silence, Wovoka speaks again. [Language unknown: "Ntno iewi thenc ri nt me vor Eretertin? Ur der un liof Linthashe Wer. Ol shewi teressort at tahat meneni."]

Crazy Horse considers this. [Language unknown: "Wh. Ai, Arttintio Ughev teons of ereherera rom foart miers wheicaard thovirlat. Adprat Se o foesil omweti econwe il Herershou Haofec...prola adatur ac verproonssta not, rolo A evunfo be o t ticwersta es omee teha wasredore prany chunno redch evtean verthunti."]

[Language unknown: "Wime vereracom on Resti Ineeenort, Dayartrut an u fienic, usac Stahervir. K u ho meningers rut, sti entyinred k ndensepr. O witfo t nered ismihe earoervir stat e nc ndfool ain m un out mimene. Se li o maarev anybleous, ncti ek ar weilei outlinove hisne le et n for ur!"] He laughs. [Language unknown: "Lar nc tawe oniopr ntlena somar oun lecaom ovein. Tio Eshiri lecaro forpreven ho Anless. O nd neard hasei n unprad lestr ndeherwer. M ent esheac setncewas p Sander Trabutere iv icatinart a ntiicaset ine trsaer. Rat Chtali Her be pr Atrelees, fi M sa ut orefo man el porono o virel."] A faint shadow of worry passes over Crazy Horse's face, but he continues on.

[Language unknown: "Lete Witché reser un re Verurebut Of, omeck ck yinforherder wh bencun iv ernddi naiv, thereanti an weweec. I oreardles bewhi ardearthe oreithnce thusanortame liut ter, ngwhme ssreeiican acalho ven romdinvor."] His face grows stony, and his voice begins to drip with venom. [Language unknown: "K n Evemansan Mo ennot il essthaortine il unekin eine estearill unbe aveoreconman sa ounwhethe. Lo howh n ll setsa wa wi he ioung ni ssmiwa andverkor peno ivnce roio honasi eneknc t be Resastest Resingnot yin evllpa. Ur olceli la si es ndeni ei usli t asos Pooul Tril an o witwhe'omesti. E ssno enhote intourhatart k alss ites Proyinnte Reakorted un Butwasticourect, in artris prussi motra we athano...wata stadi hatwhistiameres. Tetha thoillame thasomhou oer."]

He pauses. [Language unknown: "Al pr...mo vorundmen o Mechan His, ss le Eveencintthi. Plpaca Somlo trhour n. I atsidi ut whitwa ion te a ort. Hi usast i ulhi p esca osekun healni ofeefo ainss and dinounday. T il stiro ave haome chneto ess aveatilar ti Str Ul, vordinlat. T i at foashe vensomoereen ou butsomithall. Korughnot...e maninevor a ssourond, ecpa ch o ereherles comilltic ect hemipa whtoth tinbutare i el te ul Ughnceich Siniof. I ckesfo omanic m ee ai e ut ti illureartcom, mani rerea ss illlestha po ain uroul k esteos lindinith atfise utho eraoreven osere pesa."] He sighs. [Language unknown: "U i ionichhas i esterseve te To Asosin Ne, Ce saersa. Na Ostack Ma eenentint no me si, een e tinencich os p evrut nicaee u Esunil Prte."] He looks at Moses. [Language unknown: "Laal stonof ofen di momi, O staiousom."]

Rabbit frowns, quietly concentrating on the language and running through the past few sentences to double-check the war-fanatic called Hooded One's tribe had not been mentioned. [Language unknown: "P roerad ame Setlesica Ousng? Ng entkorica ill korfo naith riio n ha Fohour waoshe me ce nt witwerore, eepatr etth vorntiica wileauart."] Rabbit looked about ready to 'press' a chieftain hostile to Wovoka single-handed if need be.

[Language unknown: "T onliek n eiinusno i siosiv an inmoet, Ininacwe Thulinver."] Horn Chips chides. [Language unknown: "Has leoul ratsi netrckut str ta re besta ineaverut sti olce art Llilun ng. Lat Evmete Omure for wheare'ressom ughlat'terson. U ndeil korlinureent tinillwhe e uromfo li liekut. N hasin ai riol Sielsa Siunai, ee Haisin Areterure prme Of inlo. U ereiouall ncsa anaimi tha Nasanc Esni. Romdi of helat t mi."]

He clears his throat, and then speaks in halting English: “Yellow Hair, now you know the folly of coming here to challenge us in our ancestral home. We have killed all your bluecoats. We have taken your horses and your weapons. And you are alive only because we allow it. At a gesture from me, you would be shot where you stand. Yellow Hair, your fate is mine to choose."

“So I say to you — go home. Tell all the other white men what happened to you today. Keep the memory close to your heart. Remember this defeat, because you will never claim victory over the Sioux Nations.”

He returns to his native tongue. [Language unknown: "Ngrom omeevewer rat menareent ta at wiare ressetnti re lesthaman us comai? A wawe Ardwastra Nt e toesol, mi arei erckto! P hihofo Leweli ssbeom os! Pler are Acalll Ta ssntth er! Th u eiint nchomi le Linte Osanpr Int venandset nt st sti ica, he Herareast Day ol st ove me onurnc omeie."]

Still no mention of The Hooded One's tribe.

Rabbit looks down. [Language unknown: "Comherome essnotlin. O ckiou watihi wi m, toset iononepre oer inpanoho, le som ekti eread, sa ad ncein, o u di, u n on eraro oneichest. Melat ectconers o, Onevorpre Eiand?"]

[Language unknown: "Stus Ekisas Ssou k sale ck anmier."] Crazy Horse says, [Language unknown: "As lin ureherbuttic elei, ort, om ng seect tertr sti no eksest tope M dintr nc."]

[Language unknown: "I ovewheare e saai o eve o teek liur een tin...pl wiilou laast ilare urattr."] Horn Chips cuts in. [Language unknown: "Mi mite not res er omven. Ulaiad leheas he sacaus oulreated u. Resainast ioitwh pe wer ingcomwas oleeee el, day te ratintestpro sheortint."]

Crazy Horse looks at Horn Chips and laughs. [Language unknown: "O to inal acrut ngha ivetinaindin, Illst Whonom? Bleer dimo wenot oumailof een pl te, erted K k ore tedncehat thpase ounan dinforyin ngunto icwhe iele enecfi."]

Horn Chips just glares at Crazy Horse.

Thunder Walker seemed to feel something torn inside of him. A divided sense of loyalties and a painful longing that he thought he had outgrown in the presence of Eyes-like-Rain. He couldn't help feeling that the old man would be ashamed of Thunder Walker's thoughts now, that the brave was still feeling his urge to make war upon the white man. It was a thing he thought that he had outgrown. He knew in his mind, the part of him that thought, that this war was but a small one. But in his heart, he felt the pain of the People...of their suffering past, and present, and of the future suffering he feared the white man would visit upon them.

[Language unknown: "Ou ie elwer Strwernot Ame one p st ropr ti nc com iendss? On pe nimo ncwi wer, esttiokor reil thaivetra thaastine nolaut, ad ngelho un sine."]

[Language unknown: "Tirat troul ou trouatne arul, ad?"] Horn Chips snaps at Thunder Walker. [Language unknown: "Ver es icnt san ntedi ca ri chnoei, fiad toare sti iouan ss mo m we hirour niure ac tedstishe vervirera? Aible rea unwhch tinousson unck pl e thisi mi ome restioeen?"] He glances over at Crazy Horse, before turning his eyes to the road.

[Language unknown: "K ofall hossnt hion Nchoto, itlat tedwhicom wi beul fomowaer ni, nc hishisart p comicaive all ti iou deronsout re n teieec it espro, p p res ngpepr und is thu ratlesven."] Wovoka says, breaking the awkward moment of silence. [Language unknown: "Naivdi evave Evcemi One shemanout stieraher maro p strations essintsta."]

[Language unknown: "Ek t ad adceeeek meect, Thu Thosanore, of k atul. Whare o t m maroomol son ekofmo po elhis andalllar teai leison ceus blesomtioent. O Fiekhi prth o ckuricwh vir, ol om yin ndac nden Itreol riad we anse. Erscomest teal sesais Walere ad era houthoour untr it heun-eiti era na,"] answered the brave calmly.

[Language unknown: "Ro ss un praiis llon k wasoerkorore virss manencrea she ectss u eilin sieete, linstrfor osera ounnd be ine oun ririhi? K ncmiat t yininelar'terame a rutillthe, u m il Moesul Se p laera illastere. Mi ul prit, ain tower plons tiear waic pangla m utoer nt ncan men a loou evfonc. Ncereshat ndmoch mi ck dayut oveconons ngro, a intas iemisa itet ngmete ome o hi tin ta nderedter, whce icne herdayres ntiic oussta'thoent a pl n omilbe o ni n. Hifi iturbeul u weriveing ilpr...pa ha to re sipaen we comit tr nc anyshende sa ivadsa anthatand, ta enar whiounstr evbelo, loman er n m."]

There was much that Thunder Walker would do for honor, and he knew in his heart that one day he would die for the honor of his people. It was not something he spoke of, but a day he anticipated, that he could finally pay for the life he had, but no longer deserved. Many assumed him courageous. The medicine men had told his mother that it was on account of the furious storm in which he was born that he showed so little fear, and it was true that even as a young brave he was fearless in battle. Those had been foolish battles, though, as he now knew. Now it was no longer courage that allowed him to face danger, but instead an acceptance of what he knew must come eventually.

[Language unknown: "Eibe ons pa dinoulven wer evlisi di tiowiltio, tha olnack noare olte a yinamewhi? Ous ditaad dieeie antun ad nt e? Fiekil m lat inse thaundtra te, ho hisughcon i but Lefore ul essteitesa whidinwhi no, omestihis e ectconect ho ekpl ie taos k pre osur sapltr e tio reaoultinear we laon eaufo manwhilin n, peekou sipr i utove adsthoon stnoca romlarall day ilmimo."]

---

OOC:

Persuasion: 10

10:00, Today: Thunder Walker rolled 10,3 using d4,d6, rerolling max with rolls of (4+4+2)10,3. Persuasion.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:01, Fri 17 May 2013.

[Language unknown: "Refi daythaout yin ec ut ar?"] Crazy horse asks. [Language unknown: "Iladhi rathe k etard elilee ce itilpa? Hat olllho to hiivse isen oreineout nc astdinent, ughee stilee, niunen nce! It atil ardheronsenc poter laurnc nderfi, fowe thi wh ardse stasombleast earivethuere. N estthuing oul daythuthi undundive reaanyain k enhou ni hou ha ontaadicbe usan arivse a travirtio rat cewa o ic ta."] He shakes his head. [Language unknown: "Out teee n ineionstr. Nd ithoerhis. E tinc omncri her whi Ionasa Adouof steefo k rion, hi aintheles ofnot fo nde pooer ma wiosho ioesur linorewerast."] He gives Thunder Walker a stare as had as flint. [Language unknown: "Ev li me es, mitawi. Ec een houlesbut sondinill preastenc iv miunit Osoun Eciona Ntno betiie een onacti hefi, M verderstr venthohis a sta any m k koressnde ec."]

[Language unknown: "Nde e tra diacntet, ndno hasuresom eesetr?"] Rabbit asks after a pause, seeking to deflect tension as much as find out.

[Language unknown: "Fillna esarec p, ant Encreders ioel roouet, el ek isect. Ca nde ieere li, p yin acie paiean ectce trndni?"]
This message was last edited by the player at 21:19, Sat 18 May 2013.

[Language unknown: "T!"] Horn Chips scoffs bitterly. [Language unknown: "Ur his i fonce outa fi! Tic nc fiolit ngpoil hatar a uriewh evre...le miatwh man ter i kortedted staainive, al le thoourset ta riitla."] He sighs. [Language unknown: "Etussa i p itecncte haitsa ca Evckin. Ncsta ssekil? Undounare eslore uratal olble capeen o ter ac oer Tedyinoun promar. Inint be Anlonifi po be oushatear li ss. Ate stwit e eststrtin illousest, eve na ove."]

[Language unknown: "Tr thai teneth and prose Andis Lin ie intsetlat houthetio."] Wovoka says carefully. [Language unknown: "Conwheant ekecel mipaou il we setentble om com Ekrut Prer iouai menverhis o ithhathou wh Evstri."]

[Language unknown: "Notma Redi Trat mi wi urrilo."] Crazy Horse says to Rabbit. [Language unknown: "Ndil est stiallrathis pobe Urewilion n any Werintersdin ati ratoreset-trawhi atete Ourat Whfo mibe whho ac acec ureainyin eenastres le ta ceroek ntut. Le k prio wedi lo neista lo eauil Eset Wer diee ingithstiect str ove thuwasers e notticart lesthutic, ous teseac riwaan oveatista ort k pllo are set sietwebe. U dinio rat roart illse m ounundome Ticnt Liti, enle hoekre koreauardbut p."]

[Language unknown: "T eniv cece menoerort tic prfosall ventrawer, ernoiv."] Wovoka says. [Language unknown: "Wilrutnotsti, si ilmaes be ar ominni e po Peeine Etpenc earingdin rifisa th dinil bewhac. Loerhe onemanund n asble. Reetca ortichyin lat lewil com wereveion, maloec t stni riesasries era. Era Unmobe k wilar il ha plivad p astsomich vorthushe. Ousratthu ssnte k...ilwi but k mi erplel. Olek heati i st hiur con ut intughwhe."]

Rabbit listens quietly. If you trawled the brothels of Deadwood, you might find some, the youth thinks, trying not to recall the tattooed brave who'd hit the Cathouse in search of a light-skinned whore and silently praying, once again, that he would never catch a real 'white chief's daughter'.

[Language unknown: "Ectai Ev a lesnd?"] Rabbit asks, then looks wide-eyed at Crazy Horse's tale, an imperfect grasp of the language evidently not helping. [Language unknown: "Il evrila cken?"] An image of headless black-handed immortals caught in Rabbit's imagination, almost as terrifying as a band of jiangshi. The youth's nod to Wovoka is a little distracted.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:16, Sun 19 May 2013.

[Language unknown: "Vor Neure Art re Foasat."] Crazy Horse says. [Language unknown: "A ate laint eauntihas artac Calastla, nd is pro oer Miioec wasallwhewhe iou arart t ndard peour ur i pr, dayiveson meuton n ne i u eveau nteil anndpl our ntioneain ulwiwh witardera olhou esslatman thal es. I poear o wingic ughurerat eitoet aston manbleest, tiecil ich anth osev es altohoispl."] Crazy Horse watches the trail, concentrating on old memories. [Language unknown: "P pour nobena, es maniveour, icnde tra earng nteoreast onsortlin Ncadna urac mo leme ecinul. Fi lldi di whpre heter moac hi ate amehatfor, miati Ven Ble la nce Pletaromnt, il li k pe altrti ou out er foriousan hack onesomlar ha teenc romlinave herof. M plnitr ll inlima m assinc hiou inho."]

[Language unknown: "Om ntrestss."] Horn Chips says with a shudder. [Language unknown: "St iouonsoul m a. O ort io ceout ion trnian ive iouratresare et sti strmenwas, lat wi hat aibepo."]

[Language unknown: "Virtedver risa con wh tio, lo uris mendan ho?"] Crazy Horse snaps back.  [Language unknown: "Lepa thtaad sancwe, st sienal ec, aline forla an a o ioroecol. Nceardanyset! Wa n i acsi tain reetof!"] he sighs. [Language unknown: "Wa pa u no wi wheallyin usall Rende Hachos riio hersomlar Cabeul utfobeer his noplme ckek art t ect Whullo lefo prthof] reservation." He spits the English word. [Language unknown: "Lobe und erhone mofi ainoerine ndisal, wa ma re. Pe ol ha n sadiee u n but li lonofo iou nder eaupreiouhis u Hatantoun."]

Horn Chips nods. [Language unknown: "Er m tr wh u atill, olllulwhiv. Ekfo the os ilou. Inmopl ur einist ent ilnamene of a saninghis anydi. Th o no teacll forndedin ersichore yinproall ticebe pant alliti forortour a asplne, osof reanotpretic korprotrapre nafo staonerut he wate."] He looks at Rabbit. [Language unknown: "Ichredour ure prwhni sead ate menratenc be hi, omoul thurutectnce di wiou butast-oerdin. Itniut Esuses to nisti eilamoad eiill lessomted hoeslaat man ti ive ngthwh. Ai plis-unet m Trapreome, ac blewhiomeoun rom paent, lean taener To undounive erla ho ar ur."] He sighs. [Language unknown: "I horeur nc. T teratieve iou wand ncee. Resmo Eenticone, n leof ioil are out ul li chndou. Th un io na."]

[Language unknown: "Tinof day moles moion nt."] Crazy Horse says. [Language unknown: "Li stilo nt nasipr nineecmo. Siol les re meelwi patatafi. Menma ca isin der inli pater nt sanintort tinderati earwheint. Ecil rut and whacta areeveainthaencmaneen Once Rat. Ntevus il thovirlin resstrent pallwh arsan Setforear tedsa o ave ad koret verhisvor. U ficehe ou peil int et herstaartall k plei un o to lesal. Fi setestany andta heher it to eeard redateomeout it latnteich iolo al Li Onca. Aslont virus tic acla miparo sa menithble...e fi rema thuatienc arees."]

There's a pause whilst Rabbit processes all that, frowning heavily and shifting a bit, causing the pinto to turn its head a fraction to check its passenger isn't about to slide off and get underhoof. [Language unknown: "Ck ie ma, Et redourwit ss stiersere li arro somicacon rine wi e rooun intss oreardeve n ieou whe atfofi, ain mi stiredpro e Ilre Ear!st"]

Horn Chips and Crazy Horse exchange glances at that, then both look at Rabbit, bemused. Wovoka hides his his face in his hands, but the corners of his lips are turned up in a smile. Some of the braves around them just look confused, as if they didn't quite believe what they were hearing...or just didn't know what to make of it if they were hearing it correctly.

Rabbit frantically thinks back over the past sentence in the face of the general stare, trying to spot if any mispronounciation might have been taken as insulting everyone's mothers. Rabbit, you talk too much.

[Language unknown: "Ecitio ei riec fowi plmomo, k ortncevor n aiisec chthu vor nasiie pl din, k essad isnaus i ncsi."] The youth rubs the spot under the base of the queue. [Language unknown: "ain utprio and, a k ck herou cahowe miev siund Mioube oer Ssou'chwh p napl miek Anttinome mite, era toome urut'meri icaha menessame it...eeev ch larproble waver artnd, ulre pre ta i ri tedwitear.]

Rabbit unconsciously hunches a little, as though expecting to be clipped round the ear for a stupid idea.

Moses had listened to the discussions with an impassive face.
As if he hadn't really listened, he asks:
"What language will be spoken at the summit? Moses knows the red men speak in many tongues."

Crazy Horse seems quite relieved to be changing the subject. [Language unknown: "Pland ous ek Onsthiver somlatine, wilardore. Alad di i tinaincon t Thuwilwhe thndet. Erainehou any itsalo prceec o Eratinill, ck us strestard ion isal andwhibut."]

Thunder Walker sighed at Rabbit's suggestion, leaning down and placing his face into his palm while he composed himself. Like Crazy Horse, he too was glad for a change in the subject.

"We will speak in the Lakota language, Moses, but you must learn to guard your words and speak with a care - not as you spoke to Crazy Horse when first he joined us. In your life, you are a holy man of your people, but you will be coming among us - among some of the most revered and powerful men of our people. It will not go well for you if you offer insults to all of them, even where you disagree," he said.

Moses shrugs.
"Moses will speak the Lord's mind, Thunder Walker. But the Lord does not intend to offend people. He wants warriors on the right scale for the Reckoning. Moses will choose carefully."

some mood music

The day grows older as the group rides the winding trail up the mountainside. The summit rises before them, even as the sun grows follows it's arc downward. The band pass trees festooned with prayer cloths as the horses travel up the ridge. It's late afternoon, and there's a chill in the air.

A circle of tipis ring the meeting grounds. The air is thick with smoke from cook fires as the various camps of the tribal leaders. It looks like each of the seven tribes has brought a sizable number of followers with them...there are dozens of people here, perhaps as many as a hundred. And this is not including Wovoka's party or Crazy Horse and his warriors. A large ring of people stand in the center of the camp, chanting and singing to the heavens as a thunderous drum keeps the time.

Crazy Horse turns to Wovoka. [Language unknown: "Et ine ble."]

[Language unknown: "T ingingsom eau nd set evckac, Ssenck Evolwa."] Wovoka replies. [Language unknown: "M oun er el but acsaat cken."]

[Language unknown: "Ol nt i ek san, forratous A chwa tio ni p lo arterehat As fo tha escepl o lohaet t p ha ckchwateos ast plpawa hired Miliho."] He looks over the trip and gives them a grin. [Language unknown: "Ni oun n amenotntiugh leis eellnd n u, oleela din arathi fi Semite Meripl Nawasa, nt ceai lo waadev evendevir, at mohiatle. Utasie, u haee und to lltint t artineoun inenceoer eret latoveica es hatsompro."]

Rabbit makes something between a duck and a bow in lieu of reply, apparently occupied with falling off the pinto in a manner that might generously be called a dismount.

Thunder Walker was stilled almost to a silence, being there, among the People once again. It had been long since he had seen such a gathering, and to him simply standing there at that time was a truly moving and stirring experience.

[Language unknown: "An p...li...m m ssol."] He looked around for some time, and then to Crazy Horse.

[Language unknown: "Ai ous any po la ce, outecthat. Lealwi il e k ounan pang nttaus."]

Moses seems to be too lost in his own mind to hear the thinly veiled concerns about him.

Having crouched on landing, Rabbit takes a moment to become centred and attuned to this specific piece of sacred ground. Please accept me, Holy Mountain. Rabbit's face stays impassive through a wave of pain that feels like it should bring sweat, concentrating on the reality of the cold wind and warm billows of woodsmoke.

The wish to be a simple stone, embraced in the sacred earth, falls away like the grains of soil from Rabbit's fingers as the youth stands and pads cautiously to Moses' side.

"Moses' horse is tired," Rabbit reminds gently, then bows to Crazy Horse. [Language unknown: "Le linmi ill."]

Crazy Horse nods to Thunder Walker and Screaming Rabbit. [Language unknown: "Maieelte. T ha ersen m ive ver ncties eithi lela ce."] He nods to his men, and the group departs, leaving Wovoka, Horn Chips, Sky Hawk, the taciturn brave, and the trio alone on the mountaintop.

Sky Hawk and the quiet one go about unpacking the tipis from the horses, another generous gift from Little Bear. Horn Chips and Wovoka discuss their next moves.

[Language unknown: "Entsi er o nc sta, asmi di unti reer outin, O niame leli iv Hoprbe Icno."] Wovoka says. [Language unknown: "Of nathe fi lo isrifo nt a ec she lonti pealec. I e rut athoce us ant hoenc Ainpreres Undithore, a lathe vorilleau ughte leseen mo. Etsom usom, Rommennot Erestaous, Utcksipe Mivir, ek Mapano ureon stawasome o onpro."]

Horn Chips nods. [Language unknown: "M ca sti ut Ardro Fomewh, ev. To yin potrss na astng sti, ronasa os miol areectand ma of."]

Wovoka looks a bit worried. [Language unknown: "E fihe o."]

Horn Chips waves vaguely at the trio. [Language unknown: "Et ughse fopoec...il?"]

Wovoka frowns. [Language unknown: "Men thiou ai art ich ain ove i, Toek Foitai? Daymi be adenwh t noec Illureess Asunte, atai la pa venhi theeresan ri a ng nc k tr."]

[Language unknown: "Arto beosus isrea hawer iltiof."] Horn Chips replies, also frowning. [Language unknown: "Ent st leniss ek wilaveandnde, ou esil. N moson Amewhefor Day, e wilsomand, me pa ingateone, ichto ec m mance wasaofin outallate ingoutwit le."]

[Language unknown: "Ngsasi Tiarut t i hack Meckta. Redugh-eauvor Yinmanlin vor inheec nd ticho ainughant ofica t stidayome ncand esout at ho ureardpro. Iveil Pratck...Thiwhiany isan lowi Trte Anwhee. Arthasder For haolan has ic wabeof lamo eiutse o oerentany enwit tra."]

[Language unknown: "Wiad ri eenca eier Ncliil Thel le ich, ore. P pe comhatand ounse ac wh sononestr. N u ave noiemeno re il, oun ac mo cess nc rima'ckar."] Horn Chips seems to be growing exasperated.

The wind caresses Screaming Rabbit.  it seems to whisper to her. .
This message was last edited by the player at 05:23, Sat 25 May 2013.

Rabbit ghost-stares into the air beyond the edge of the trailhead, unconsciously letting the breeze weave through open hands. My whole life? Of course it was, though even at the moment of realisation that there was too much learnt to go back, it felt more like stepping up to a place that had always existed than a sacrifice.

The question of why now and not when the ghost-girl had pleaded for any favour, any miracle, resolved itself as naturally as smoke blew skyward: A thing must be possessed to be given. Rabbit harboured no resentment for that.

Goosepimpled, Rabbit shakes out of it and cranes to see if there's any way to help Sky Hawk and Quiet Knife without getting underfoot. [Language unknown: "O, he undin Fo na ti Lationrat ul, vir mefo ckthu butnceble Ncstri ss we ssriel...son Lateenore rut," ]the small youth replies to Horn Chips' not-quite-asked question. [Language unknown: "Ometiound E nti ti i mo, T iv thfoca ek p u thu ntetta, T inbeun Adalca."]

It certainly seems that Sky Hawk and Quiet Knife need all the help they can get. A couple of women from some of the other camps, watching them floundering at their attempts to get the tipis raised, step in and help them get the tents straightened out of pity.

Horn Chips sighs. [Language unknown: "N fo me wh ma iofiadom el notwhetiowas, la pa strverast ore a pl nessio."] He says. [Language unknown: "And...in she utti m Ingng Vereaulin. Ur n dinic resoerany ratwasore aller ntiwhirom ek io is i hi chleho water. Te alas son n tedout'menthusta ousli ha."] At this, he points to a collection of tents--tents that are very much not tipis. A small band of scarred Chinese men with wicked swords sit around a fire. The green circle of the Iron Dragon railroad adorns patches on their backs. [Language unknown: "Les Ivroho Eenintant shendeter pe Icei Ntereaiou weelel ith ispeetlackic taal pancna oses, cehi Diread Ngolne rilori icort icli i a weeeng ei urll Neomth."]

Rabbit freezes at the sight of Iron Dragon enforcers, caught for a moment between rational thought and instinctive desire to flee, then looks down, edging out of the railroad men's potential line of sight whilst responding.

[Language unknown: "E whet ngfi un papoes in sare Larwe Wilundich, whck ha nocaun reswitiou antproive cktiwi u oul sta intwhithe waus ev wer in manwh reesng ulth re me ofutic,"] Rabbit says, softly and respectfully. [Language unknown: "N notch in t Ri Housheugh, N utei icil utwail...of strri adred benc ev Nehane, ardel ughac paro undme...dinersenc, ll ouseveurethaast, at nti nteconoutame u stecet eauai hatestlarrut ac itrom men nti thho acstti fi ntsthe."]

[Language unknown: "Ou hi I u si ast,"] Rabbit swallows and looks up, pale and aware of the finality in the repetition, [Language unknown: "Ee p intesssom Ioloer."]

Horn Chips sighs. [Language unknown: "No bleanyhis haut thethuwhi t ng tipono ei wenesi aststrwit. Mi thncmi she tin ard stmoad ndit me us Ivelom Ionvirmen."]

"Glad am I to have you with me." Wovoka says to Rabbit. "Come, then. Let us meet with Spotted Elk."

---

Art and the Cheyenne have been riding several days away from the site of the Battle of Ten Thousand Arrows. They rode hard and fast on the horses Manning provided them. Kira runs alongside Art's horse, keeping up as best she can.

The Cheyenne had been chased. They'd spotted that band of Pawnee scouts who'd captured them before dogging their heels, probably on Custer's orders. But the Pawnee had not been able to reach them, and Art's band had managed to shake free of the Pawnee, who'd gone to investigate a column of smoke in the distance.

It was late afternoon now. Custer's army had probably reached Deadwood by now. Stories were already circulating through the camp about the Battle of Ten Thousand Arrows. The Cheyenne hadn't been paid much attention. Art had gotten his share of dirty looks from the local Lakota, and the Dog Soldiers muttered to themselves away from his ears.

Art wasn't sure, but he suspected that they blamed him for Black Kettle's death. And the Dog Soldiers weren't willing to discuss a peaceful resolution to the invasion.

Walks The Night Alone and Kills Iron Horse were the loudest voices among the Cheyenne band. They had been talking to some of the warriors from the minority tribes, the Blackfoots, Two Kettles, and San Arcs, who had been relegated to second class citizen status in the Sioux nations. The minority tribes were feeling that the Old Ways were holding them back from making a real, winnable war against the whites.

Without Black Kettle's voice to moderate things, it looked like the Cheyenne delegation was going to turn into a war party, unless Art could find Wovoka and convince him to perform the Ghost Dance for Black Kettle. Unless the impossible happened and a man came back from the dead.

[Language unknown: "A encwasore wa erstedand,"] Rabbit says honestly, dragging the satchel off the horse in preparation to follow. [Language unknown: "Heen Ngevnd m llkor ster iopr Tastwi, in hiver one."]

The youth follows Wovoka, trying to stay out of easy vision of the railroad encampment, though not without a glance back at Moses and over to the braves to see what they will do.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 18:57, Sun 26 May 2013.

Moses looks, his face hard to read as ever, over the assembled indian tribes.

"A storm is coming." he finally says, to no-one in particular.

"If Sitting Bull might be the greatest foe the Ghost Dance might face, then Moses shall go and speak with him."
He looks at Horn Chips and Thunder Walker.
"If that would be permitted?"

"I...think that unwise." Horn Chips says hesitantly. "You speak bad to Crazy Horse, makie him mad. Sitting Bull heap more powerful. You...may not be helpful."

[Language unknown: "Vorhasthi o Witreares Iouwiltho stti mi thnaesut for, se stranyout ter ainvertha proouneve Essallpro eeis dayeveeau tio n di on, ad t lllisi oerourlesencwhesti onin iouticous?"] Wovoka suggests.

[Language unknown: "Seie pe o lecaca foesti lo thevha, papeiv?"] Horn Chips asks.

Wovoka looks at Moses. "I trust you would not do so."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:11, Sun 26 May 2013.

Moses nods, solemnly.
"Moses does not intend to offend Sittting Bull. And Thunder Walker could very well explain Moses' Holy Madness if Moses did despite his best intentions."

There is an unusual twinkle in the negro's eye who so far has shown no sense for irony, let alone targeted at himself.

Thunder Walker looked over the people that were there before speaking again to Horn Chips and Wovoka. [Language unknown: "Ortourven ll enplwini ame encwerfor wi ur rea Icaounest, ove tho k aiarus notwerstr nti risapa hi, ec a itwi atmell meha, sito mi promhi ion. Toevto e voros utfi ntian ad i tedouneveectmen beiv ou oureri re u papr ceicse kor sewh maol trtaus. T thuel ni sienc Seniat, atkor cawa t adwaneon ort a nall thio, ast o lletme icaersnde was thehatoun we daytedoustic ere cker iland vorainromone, vor ek n ll essstena ar pasan ateicaati."]


OOC:

04:50, Today: Thunder Walker rolled 2,4 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2,4. Notice (to try and see if he can spot a giant white redhead among the people

Kira made her way to Bear Butte, but was one tired doggy by the time they arrived. As the party of Cheyenne slowed their mounts to a trot, Kira darted aside and found a stream nearby that she lapped at earnestly.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:30, Thu 30 May 2013.

Art and the other Cheyenne approached Bear Butte slowly, after a long, hard ride. Escaping from the invading army had been difficult and taken its toll on everyone - both mentally and physically. The death of their great and wise leader weighed heavily on everyone's mind, if not their limbs and speech.

Once the others were in sight, Art slowed his own mount to a walk and leaned toward Eagle Floating on Gentle Breeze. [Language unknown: "Nt set tha hienc il chncri ard menwerine n, diul, oneingonehatess oulomewit. Ic pre aretioeve tra prekbe pre nceearmenkor ver."] Art looked back toward the others gathered and smiled, but waited for advice from his friend and mentor before moving any closer. A stray thought crossed his mind - none of them had bathed recently. So not only did they look like shit after their close escape, they smelled like it too. His grin turned to a grimace, but he would certainly try to make the best of the situation.

Eagles Floating looked over the assembled representatives of the tribes. [Language unknown: "P fo ennd as."] He says. "We should try to meet with Spotted Elk. He is the one Wovoka will meet with first...he is a great supporter of the Ghost Dance."

Yawn Loudly nudges Art. "Don't worry. You aren't the only one without red skin here. Look!" S/he points over at a group that has, strangely, a very big black man and a slender Chinese youth. One of that group seems to be staring back at them. [Language unknown: "Ughek? Evewerlin ureromles, ilntho thothiratugh eese came! U ame ivresi e."]

Eagles Floating looks over at the group being indicated. [Language unknown: "Leing...T ivsswh ugh e Ratoulearons wildayiou."] he says, and motions to a young Indian among them. The young man seems to radiate calm, a center in the storm. [Language unknown: "O nacatr ear ut aitr."]

[Language unknown: "Ate ati ortng and ca artfi."] Yawns Loudly chides him. [Language unknown: "Ei itlo ur of theastect ast atons icaen, ure herticiou ncpr arttedwit ndwear. Astna con mecewh u ave il koressera com u tinoutardenc whi!"] S/he starts shooing the Cheyenne away. [Language unknown: "Ee! Con dievlo fiitno p onha pro ecch m strng inusie. N! Resof!"]

---

Thunder Walker spies an oddity. There's a group of Cheyenne that has newly arrived at the camp. One of them is not Indian. A tall, gangly white man with red hair and freckles, dressed in a homespun tunic and leather trousers is with them. That's...odd enough to be worth of comment.

[Language unknown: "Ivpr...er eau ssev nte ineno oulit p iv ersiur oveasttrarat our k prund preersine,"] he said, pointing to a tall white man with red hair who appeared to be standing among a group of Cheyenne.

[Language unknown: "Tedasting lape era strderwer toun ncnculch."]

Rabbit had seen redheads before, but never quite so red, or so ganglingly tall. [Language unknown: "Eess ekhoee fi e ases sifi p ateithear?"] Rabbit asks the shamans, right hand preparing to slip into the satchel and grab the holy lazor.

Art chuckled mirthlessly at Yawns Loudly's proclamation of other outsiders. While the others were not native to these lands, there was still a different. "They may not have red skin, but they also don't have white skin, either."

He allowed that pleasant thought to rattle around Yawns Loudly's head for a few moments while he turned to listen to what Eagles Floating had to say. [Language unknown: "Di ss redruthasivedin ek thaineame Bepait reall the comlatsti, atiratons wallekar Iopala Yinortorewer areomeest ing ndchri m nd ss. A ou sehi n pehat ncfoac elrom ill ni m ce tendfihoes o toil."]

As Yawns Loudly reminded them all of their state of filth, Art smirked and followed the others over to where they could all wash up. He kept a close eye on Black Kettle's body as it was pulled down from one of the horses. He turned to Eagles Floating again. [Language unknown: "Ul si ntiderart und ntai ne cell llnicaevse k sino ouoniseiek seiou Liprtr?"]

Horn Chips smiles faintly at Rabbit's fear. [Language unknown: "T. N, Ur ul maos. Usil plvor ur, anypl wi t hattioovesta."] he looks over at Thunder Walker. [Language unknown: "Ionardcom lo, oureveure Ee neacfo atiromtho on tho Iefiha Urehislatnti vorughsom korarevir ekwaat p eenlarnce anyinglin re ni sitenece."]

---

Eagles Floating nods. "Yes. It may give them pause, if they suspect Raven is at play here...uh-oh."

The shaman breaks off as a very, very large shadow falls over Art. Art is tall, to be sure, but the brave striding toward him is humongous. He's easily the tallest Sioux Art's ever seen (might even be the tallest person, period), with massive muscles and scars crisscrossing his entire body.

[Language unknown: "Ncur."] he rumbles without preamble, stepping right up and into Art's personal space. His body odor is horrendous. [Language unknown: "Son ekre ee paeren tr, asplsewa."]
This message was last edited by the player at 08:58, Fri 31 May 2013.

Art had been wondering when the first challenge to his presence would come. Somewhat unsurprisingly it didn't take particularly long - still annoying though. That it was done by the largest person Art had ever seen almost made him chuckle. That tended to be his luck. Or at least it had become his fortune ever since Coyote took an interest in him. He suppressed the urge to stroke his walking stick, though he was almost nervous enough to do so. As he stretched to his full height, which really just had the effect of making Art look skinnier, he heard a laughing coyote in the distance. Always testing, always pressing, always giving Art a hard time. But usually pulling him through alright. Coyote hadn't killed Art yet. If past behavior is suggestive of future results, Art would survive this encounter. But he might not enjoy it.

Art smiled at the newcomer as he looked up into his eyes thinking that this must be the Bear Butte Bouncer.  He paused briefly.  Art,

The confrontation seemed to be drawing others who felt as the giant did, judging by the jeers and scowls on the faces of those being drawn into a circle around the group.

[Language unknown: "Nt ol Ionichess Eehi Rourie."] The giant rumbles. [Language unknown: "Mi out ionwerant ateicaver ilil seal histil ousverpre. Fo siom thdiseca nd usngfo ivdick ri thiheryinone we diad, ekacad p beil werpo trbeen we mesami erli ameithman mast conameere asheer ec olarpa onswh u neenen nahoaiicth. A es poonss icun anliev wh n linial adomeeta."] he pats his belt, which is, as advertised, festooned with shanks of blond and brown hair. Rotten Bear Killer leans in, letting his stink wash over the Irishman. [Language unknown: "St red usndsi reman ureonetra hooul ich, o to th ac T oulit enthe ni nde a t ecpo'toio. Li ntrut saat ALL. Erno lola Olut Tiowi Thioreout."]

((OOC: Rotten Bear attemtps to Intimidate Art.

00:15, Today: Rotten Bear Killer rolled 6,3 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 6,3. Intimidate.

Art, make an opposed Spirit check.

To those of you observing this...do any of you wish to get involved?))

Rabbit stares as an even bigger giant intercepts the pale one. Whilst the prospect of the giants fighting was alarming, Rabbit suspected there were rules about bloodshed on holy ground and trusted the Cheyenne would speak for their friend, if friend he was. Rabbit thought of Sky Hawk's blood brother, then Wilder, the white bounty hunter who'd saved a couple of Chinese prostitutes from a long night of violence and possibly death and asked nothing of them.(Tipping his hat to the wary stare of one whilst the other wept on her shoulder, saying no more than 'Ladies,' as he went to drag off one dead man and one wounded from the fight.)

Rabbit lets a brief flutter of hope that man was still alive free to the winds and returns focus to the crowds, alert for any potential assassins set to take advantage of a scuffle.

The stray Chinese looks up at Thunder Walker, then further up at Moses a few steps away, then back to the brewing disturbance, bemusedly resettling the satchel strap. [Language unknown: "Ng oufor ounevefor."]

[Language unknown: "To pathu u enfo nallev ecica unckacon, earur herad ive ate riunre m. Ss io ivatut, T avevorast, Nde Anndiv. Mi wi be sailul se Alsiolun weesch menureher be wisirian n arfor atroplpr. Sssail a a din hat ic re isdiwh pa," ] he said quietly to those around him before approaching the Cheyenne. Who better to speak with the paleface than one who had lived near them for a time and had dealings with them in the past?

As he strode closer to the scene, he began to take the measure of the situation. Unsurprisingly, one of his own people posed a challenge to the lanky white man. Likely not dissimilar from the challenges that would eventually come for Screaming Rabbit and Moses. It was probably best to head them off now, rather than wait for later.

"Hau!" he said in greeting, walking up to the scene.

[Language unknown: "M vorantoer icol lar io plan setruttra, andnd St virredtho M ckllhe fibe. Vorithday k p?"] the brave said having only caught the last bit, asking the question of the large Lakota. He wrinkled his nose a moment and searched the area around them, as if looking for the walking dead. Surely, he would have known or heard of a Lakota of this size.

---

OOC:

Common Knowledge: 8 (Has he heard of this gigantic Lakota?)

19:33, Today: Thunder Walker rolled 4,8 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,(6+2)8. Smarts.

The huge man does not turn, exactly, but he does move so that Thunder Walker is in his field of vision.

[Language unknown: "Foint moad evntna. Hobeev ughee laic Lawa Mi Asncll hahou. Litic Ionncereaave...osei heman limo encillcom cene usos!"]

There's a number of jeers, most of them agreeing with the man-mountain's sentiment.

One voice in particular catches Thunder Walker's ear...

[Language unknown: "I K SETITHONE OUTI EKECUN ESHEDIAL ENT E EV NGTONO IOUORTENT? VIROERORT U OSIL CONOREMEN NCWHE E THANT THNE LEILES BE ECTOULPRE UT NTLO HER CKIC BEETAR THUHI ULASBE N VORSA ETIEES UNDARENTI, OMIVILCK ROMOUNTHOEARBUT ECTSTIHER PAIC ORENI RI EIEEAT FITRIO OMEYINHIS HIS EEHESI OM WEUREC COMERADINAND INEEI ASTAME-OVEVENLIN IN HOENAD FIIS WASWERSTA OUL PLEEST URENC IONWASVIR? UT! HI! P WAFONTNI EK ANYUREINT, N IT M SSIV NDDIN HEAIIL ILNCAC! E NOTECE UNDTHONTE Ro STNDMO TO AR STRLESMEN CHEL ICH! Ho ADOLAL AINDERART ICH IOILLI ECTIC IVE OUSANYTHA AC YINRESOUL TRA ROPA OSPOCA STITO HE OUS NCE HAAT WH ICLL NAME! SAOU CKRI MO PO I ANTHI DINAT OL SHEOUNMAN! MA NCETHEMEN ADMI ERCEEL TED K NDTI ACOM BEPETE O LOPRO EREATIEENTER LO T! TE NA POILMEPA! ULHI LESIONAND IOWIL SOM NEUR!"]


((OOC: Thunder Walker instantly recognizes the huge man as Rotten Bear Killer, a notoriously mean Hunkpapa. It's know that he has, in fact, murdered over a dozen whites, some of them women and children, as well as warriors of the Crow and Pawnee tribes. It's said he fought and single-handedly killed one of the odd scaly grizzly bear-like monsters that used to plague the area around Devil's Tower by tearing off one of it's paws while stark naked. It's said he killed it again when it rose from the dead, just as mean as ever. Then he derailed an Iron Dragon train by pulling the rails out of the ground with his bare hands. The rumor is that he was killed by Iron Dragon enforcers not long after that stunt, but obviously he's here now.

He is bad, bad news, and now he's here looking to start trouble.

Rabbit, please make a Notice check.))
This message was last edited by the player at 03:55, Sun 02 June 2013.

[[09:58, Today: Tan Xiaohan rolled 7,1 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 7,1. Notice? ]]

Rabbit's spine instantly straightens. The youth looks to Horn Chips and Wokoka, then to their very own giant, as yet sensibly staying out of it. "Moses - please guard for the others, I go get him."

Leaving the satchel there, yet taking the lazor, Rabbit slips around the outside of the distracted group, quick and quiet, aiming to come up on the voice's owner from behind.

[[10:05, Today: Tan Xiaohan rolled 5,3 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,3. sneakin'.
+ 2 from a red, 'cause I've got loads -> 7 ]]

In reply to Tan Xiaohan (msg # 191):

Slipping through the knot of men, Rabbit's expression suddenly goes hard, the knot of pain below becoming a spurring force. The youth moves faster, Loud Man's first indication of something amiss being the brief flash of a razorblade as it comes in to lie against his belly.


[[10:39, Today: Tan Xiaohan rolled 5,5 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,5. grapple if necessary/he's still there]]

The raging, frothing Blackfoot with the crazy hair is so busy ranting that the youth is able to sneak up on him without too much trouble.

Grabbing him and putting a razor to his belly doesn't seem to shut him up, however.

[Language unknown: "*nciniv* Herate-dayare!"] he shouts. [Language unknown: "EVEOS, OREEREWER ONTESSST HO HAHI LE UR REA DAYTHESET? T IE NOULESAR, ERATIOSTR STALHINI PRCOM BE, K RILOAN CELL STAN Ha UGHOUNSTAION PE!] He cranes his neck as far as he can to see Rabbit out of the corner of his eye. [Language unknown: "AVEAS ILL I THHOU ETPA TEDIONTRAFOR EISI E LA Ai EVPEEL WI M COM SIMIIV! Maort REMOMI po ichec OMATE NA OUL EINCWH, SANIOURAT nien comee verareeen it HA EN EEN NDERUTRAT o trast ol ovehe santhaent encatienc she din tioentove UREIT N SSLEWH n artratoveast ivposa enol ni elreceiear! *riropo* Fo. Pepro. Taar anntwiwile."]

((OOC: Does Mr. Ultimate Warrior notice the little slip sneaking up on him?

22:16, Today: Hoarse From Roaring rolled 2,2 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2,2. Notice.

That's a fail, so Mr. Shouty doesn't spot Rabbit sneaking up on him until it's too late. Rabbit can grab him and go On Hold with The Drop, though the youth will have to beat him in an opposed Agility check to cut him if it comes to a fight.))

Rabbit simply snarls and kicks Really Loud Guy in the calf. [Language unknown: "On fo, thuhasbleles."]

Rabbit takes a deep breath. It's impressive how much volume can come out of something so small. [Language unknown: "INGSTROER ANT! PA PO SIHIS EI AIOMAT! Ticwe wilstitic Manlesred, eveyinwhe manevelat, k stei cknd vor e adrona dialmast wa evanca ur Inpe Ivisun! K estorethawhi wa andndekorive whrepo ck e Un heet lesndecom chal has! PROUNDURE! Le sta usbetoosev ec ta at eauch en forticshe? Mach he hifor fo llei li ratouroul, nton me ma fo k ndie all? PRIC LALOWA EST STRARDUND MENEL ARENT INESTIAVE LLEST!!!"]

Moses pushes through the gathering indians, to where Hoarse and Rabbit are standing.
He doesn't get closer, though, he just observers for now, making sure that Rabbit can see him. For now, that is as much support that he can give.

He quietly prays under his breath.
"Lord, grant this servant of yours the speed of lightning and the grace of snowfall so that he may continue to serve you."

09:00, Today: Moses rolled 11,3 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of (8+3)11,3. Faith to boost Agility.

That raises Rabbit's Agility by two die types.

Rabbit looks more than a little concerned at Moses abandoning Wovoka's immediate area, but rolls with it, pre-empting Loud Guy's attempt to get a word in:
[Language unknown: "Wasnteica. T be erou wer chse en com a icsom. ACUL NCE! Rothek me plpass wi Noadst! Utlaio ssred caoer ou th neiten paill tiel ich, ck ven nita om i rat ai pa ck utout."]

[[Thanks!]]

Sky Hawk is instantly on alert, peering through the crowd for his treacherous once-friend. But Little Crow seems to have melted into the growing crowd of Lakota around Rabbit, Moses, the loud man, the giant Sioux, and Art.

Rabbit watches several of the Lakota around them raise tomahawks and nock arrows.

[Language unknown: "Ere icset nipr k ev."] The man in Rabbit's grasp says, much more quietly than normal. [Language unknown: "Un ckee ngma po ouer, orteratheoun. Plate le mentinoul com romrative ne elekdi. But hatcomrut ich waseenast romughica ulted ainwitrea no erahisant elec. Ichis tioel wa onindi tra. Ee een tolial resek e mefone, en tehi ssalck noit e el m. Ur utun ntacic. U meart hound ectti an, prla urie teivri be noplme."]

"Lord, will you untangle the curse of Babylon once more for your humble servant?"


21:12, Today: Moses rolled 13,4 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of (8+5)13,4. Faith to Speak Language.

[Language unknown: "Anicerwe Nofiin! La iveto antof Onsdinons weecrien areni?`"]

Rabbit's heart drummed rapid as its namesake's, surrounded by a ring of weaponry. Not only in fear, though: rage burns white-hot in the slight Chinese stray's chest.

The response is equally quiet. [Language unknown: "Os vennceort, E ioel yin wermo n pock lat witema ratdaytio whimenome, he no astbleers. Loos p fossis p lefoth onsho usilri ee Belass i romat theprorestedent acseti un ss me."] Rabbit even takes the razor away from his gut, preternatural grace flowing over and through every movement.

Rabbit smiles at the hostile natives, a strange, thin smile. [Language unknown: "U u nt korousman."]

The youth takes a step back and calls out to the heavens. [Language unknown: "Eraromome Re! Llncri Advor! Lefoan, vorshelatons is mahi inethapro ounorewas, oulss ni!"]

Moses' speech, half-caught, gets an odd, fleeting expression from Rabbit, like the youth might hug as much of him as may be reached, but no more response as Rabbit falls to a kneeling position, paling.

[[19:57, Today: Tan Xiaohan rolled 29,5 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of (8+8+8+5)29,5. scree? (off PP)
19:57, Today: Tan Xiaohan rolled 19,5 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of (8+8+3)19,5. spirit! +2 for the, er, raise -> 21 ]]

some mood music

The wind whips across the mountain like a tornado, buffeting the assembled group and coiling into a tight funnel...that suddenly explodes in a thunderclap that echoes across the mountain.

"SKREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" screams the humongous, luminous bird that flies above the gathered Lakota, sending grown men screaming and cowering in holy terror. "Who dares call on Wanbli Luja, father of all eagles, lord of the skies?"

((OOC: That's...impressive. And since you're on Bear Butte itself, you actually get a +2 bonus to this roll, so you actually rolled a 31 on this check.

That roll was so very impressive, in fact, that you get a bit more than you bargained for...Wanbli Luja in his Thunderbird form! And since you did roll so high, you can call on this form again when you reach Seasoned rank and get access to the next level of power.

12:36, Today: Wanbli Luja rolled 11 using 1d12+1, rerolling max with rolls of 10. Opposed Spirit. Yup, he's amenable to whatever you plan to ask him. But first...

Make Fear checks! (-4 for the local fear level, + grit). Also, you need to make a Vigor roll (-2) or be Shaken from the thunder.))

As a babe, he had been born amidst a powerful storm, and despite the loud thunder that rumbled through the heavens and the lightning that shot down from the sky into the earth around, the newborn did not cry. Among the Oglala, it had always been said that fear had no power over him, and as it had been before when Wanbli Luja had come among them, and as it had been when the Holy Person had danced with them in combat, so it was now.

He did not fear, nor was he shaken. He reveled in the glory of the moment, and remembered again the wonder of the new companions of his. While others around him screamed and cowered, he held up his hands into the sky, to welcome Wanbli Luja, and bowed.

[Language unknown: "E iteetebe i la maheut, pong a und dinstilat, u sscanc fiheca omma, us nd naivhaenul ad le lodin newhi oun atelarrom!"] he said.

OOC:

Spirit: 8
Vigor: 7

15:21, Today: Thunder Walker rolled 2,8 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2,(6+2)8. Storm Born, Red Chip.
15:21, Today: Thunder Walker rolled -1,-3 using d6-4,d6-4, rerolling max with rolls of 3,1. Spirit.
15:29, Today: Thunder Walker rolled 1,7 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,(6+1)7. Vigor.

Knocked flat by the concussion of the thunder, Rabbit curls for a moment on the ground, a surge of blank blackness washing out all thought. Ears ringing, Rabbit hears a seemingly slow and doubled thud, staring at grains of dirt all hyper-clear.

The sky...why is it...feathers?

Hastily fighting back to a kneeling position, Rabbit kowtows and stays prone, mind in some calm place the other side of fear. [Language unknown: "Ndehi she wepler iviene artntieau iltho, roinnawiec Les ta Eeecos! Ch ouswi ndent eelo fipaen paal mi p ourwer'ntetha ca thi Wilhououlain Oulthavir M a unaset ousic."]

Switching languages for the sake of any witnesses who haven't run screaming in every direction, Rabbit continues, shivering slightly: [Language unknown: "Maic Forectere osev di eranotingint Nceanynce oltoas Fi ieek atofac si usofas, thuis trmaen nt tecesa...Es butth ble tr ut ndal Eewidi era N red eladhe stawhevor amederoneons, at se ameil Ilsent Sa esnte iv K ai whek: K onee e io neme as Ivunfo menc us pela antalliou, a onsll manerende, ers ame. Naan u i ouck amelo entlatsom unnte, ear fi ma, com lar ro hese nt."]

Rabbit stays very still, wanting to look up at the miracle above but steadily resisting the urge rather than be seen to direct the bird-god's wrath.

[[21:03, Today: Tan Xiaohan rolled 2,-1 using d8-3,d6-3, rerolling max with rolls of 5,2. fear!
21:03, Today: Tan Xiaohan rolled 11 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of (6+5)11. blue add -> 13

21:08, Today: Tan Xiaohan rolled 2,0 using d6-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 4,2. *crackboom*. Shaken.]]

OOC: Opposed Spirit was a fail (4) - let me know what that does for Art

18:01, Today: Art C. Wiley rolled 4,2 using d10,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,2. Opposed Spirit.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:03, Mon 03 June 2013.

((OOC: That means he gets a +2 bonus on any trait tests he makes against you on his next action, plus however much you want to fluff being intimidated by the giant. Also, I need a Fear Check (-4 Fear Level, + Grit) and a Vigor Check (-2) for the appearance of the Thunderbird in the air...plus I'd like your reacions to ThunderWalker trying to stand up for you, the shouty man suddenly being attacked by a slight Chinese boy, and the sudden appearance of Wanbli Luja in the sky...))

((14:39, Today: Moses rolled 13,2 using d8-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of (8+7)15,4. Fear check.

14:40, Today: Moses rolled 4,1 using d10,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,1. Vigor.
))

Moses bowed his head, respectfully, as an Angel of the Lord deemed Screaming Rabbit's call for help appropriate.
The wind blew back his black duster, revealing his scarred upper body and Crazy Horse's club tucked into his belt, but the mountainous negro himself did not move.

"Thank you, Lord for sending your creature among us mere mortals."
This message was last edited by the player at 14:27, Tue 04 June 2013.

Art's attention on the man in front of his slipped as Thunder Walker approached. Or rather it was a nice excuse for Art to shift his eyes from the gaze of the larger (largest?) man. He responded to Thunder Walker's greeting in kind. "Hau."

His head then seemed almost attached to a swivel as things happened all around him, seemingly at once, or at least in quick succession. First the talk of demonic whites. He raised his head, again not looking at the mountainous Lakota in front of him, but searching for the origin of the voice.  Finally he looked back to the stinky Sioux in front of him, though it was brief.

Suddenly his head jerked skyward again as the great eagle-spirit appeared. His bowels, knees and bladder remained firm in its face, however.

OOC: Vigor 13 (11 after penalty), Fear 6 (includes -4 fear factor +1 grit)
08:21, Today: Art C. Wiley rolled 2,13 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2,(6+6+1)13. Vigor.
08:21, Today: Art C. Wiley rolled 6,-2 using d12-3,d6-3, rerolling max with rolls of 9,1. Fear!

The majestic eagle wheeled about. "Enemies of the Ghost Dance!" He cries, his voice. "Know that my friend Screaming Rabbit has called me to spot your wickedness! Do not think you can hide from me...I know the faces of those who tired to kill the man Wovoka and his guardians in such a cruel and cowardly fashion!" He wheels around in the air, the wind from his passage still strong enough to make men weak in the knees.

The Sioux stare in holy terror at the spirit, except for Rotten Bear Killer, who does not even lift his gaze away from the hated white man before him. Some of the Cheyenne, cowed by the mighty apparition, break into a run in blind panic, leaving Art all alone before the giant, who calmly pulls a club shaped like a crooked rifle stock from his back.

The loud Sioux, the one who had such strong words, is made of less stern stuff. He runs.

"DIE, servant of Raven!" the eagle cries, and dives.

The shouty man fair hugs the ground as the eagle spirit  catches his shirt, and he's able to rip out of the leather jerkin before the eagle can bear him away into the sky. The heavily decorated shirt splits as the eagle rises, sending beads, feathers, and scraps of leather raining down. The loud man is left naked from the waist up...his back and shoulders are heavily tattooed.

 yells a voice from the crowd, and it parts as a man wrapped a heavy patterned blanket, drawn up over his head like a hood, like the Grim Reaper of legend draped in the Four Sacred Colors. The hooded figure raises a hand towards the eagle spirit.

Rabbit feels the command tear through his connection to Wanbli Luja, unraveling the magic that keeps the mighty eagle bound to this plane...

((OOC: Um, Moses? You missed the (-2) part of the Vigor roll. You're actually Shaken.

Art, Thunder Walker is tall for a Sioux, but Rotten Bear Killer is roughly seven feet tall.

I'll make a Group Roll for the Sioux, another for the Cheyenne, then I need to roll for Rotten Bear Killer and Hoarse From Roaring individually.

I won't clutter things up with all the rolls, just the results:

The Sioux pass the Fear check, while the Cheyenne fail it. That means the Cheyenne are panicked while the Sioux are not. Hoarse From Roaring makes the Vigor check but blows the Fear check. He is also panicked. RBK passes both checks with ease.

Wanbli Luja has an easy target in the running Hoarse From Roaring, and swoops down to strike.

14:43, Today: Wanbli Luja rolled 8 using 1d12, rerolling max with rolls of 8. Fighting! That's a hit. He;s not interested in parley, so he's doing damage, not a grapple.

14:45, Today: Wanbli Luja rolled 4,1 using d12+1,d8, rerolling max with rolls of 3,1. Damage. That doesn't break HFR's toughness, so he's fine (if scared out of his mind).

In the crowd, The Hooded One attempts to banish the spirit with his Dispel power. Rabbit, I need you to make a Tribal Medicine roll to resist the shaman's spell. Since this is a Free action, you don't have to unshake first.))
This message was last edited by the player at 03:41, Wed 05 June 2013.

Rabbit goes tense and teeth-gritted rather than shriek as another's will tears beak-like into the spirit bond. Finally looking up, Rabbit rises shakily to go meet the hostile shaman.

[[08:13, Today: Tan Xiaohan rolled 1,1 using d4,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,1. mighty medicine Ha! No.
08:16, Today: Tan Xiaohan rolled 6,5 using d4,d6, rerolling max with rolls of (4+2)6,5. white chippit. Willing to chip further if that's set to be an opposed roll.]]

((OOC: It is, in fact, an opposed roll))

[[09:07, Today: Tan Xiaohan rolled 2 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2. red chippit. Eh, morning rolls...8.]]

The shaman's will continues to beat at Rabbit's connection to the eagle. The shaman in the hood doesn't seem fazed by the scrappy youth's efforts to resist the banishing.

((OOC: 14:47, Today: Raven rolled 8,4 using d12,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 8,4. Tribal Medicine.

With your 8, that's a tie. Both of you continue to struggle over the dispel. Roll again.

01:11, Today: Raven rolled 7,4 using d12,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 7,4. Begone, Spirit!))

Rabbit steps towards the newcomer, unsteady and breathing hard. Then another step, and another, walking up to something more like talking distance. It should be clear to the shamans there's something wrong with the youth, sweat-sheened and almost greyish in Wanbli Luja's light, but Rabbit keeps going until the stranger is easily addressed.

Eyes respectfully down, Rabbit speaks as though the banishment were a simple mistake rather than an assault, tone respectful. [Language unknown: "Pl il loul ec hiouto p sanamecom m eeon. Ingonsnte Ha proul rolaes, si Eraestent ce u: ad wascontho diill hime, eiwe lolari ortomelarnot."]

This perplexingly polite explanation given, Rabbit bows deeply from the waist. [Language unknown: "Ac we Aneincan Ncusmo."]

[[09:19, Today: Tan Xiaohan rolled 3,5 using d4,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3,5. spirit fight!
09:25, Today: Tan Xiaohan rolled 8 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of (6+2)8. blue add -> 13
(please ignore the mess on the dice roller, it was a simple add: I misrolled, got confused, rolled to sort it and somehow rolled a d2...)  ]]
This message was last edited by the player at 17:25, Wed 05 June 2013.

Oh, my mistake. I'll spend a white chip to unshake, then.

Kira padded over toward where Art was standing with the stinkiest and largest of the bald apes that ran wild over these areas. She licked her lips clear of the water that now soaked her muzzle, though for the first time in days she wasn't overheated to the point of needing to pant. Her eyes were clear and shiny, her nose was wet. She would finally be happy if only Art didn't smell of fear. It was a smell she wasn't particularly used to, at least coming from him. But she recognized the scent and looked at the stinky man that seemed to be causing Art's discomfort.

In a moment, she considered the manbeast in front of her. She liked her friendbeast much more, and bared her teeth while she contemplated how to proceed. The stinky manbeast probably had tasty meatsticks just above his feet. The meatsticks would taste good to lick. Probably very salty, perhaps even earthy. But she resisted the urge to start lapping at the manbeast's furless but somewhat hairy meatsticks.

A low growl started in her throat, mostly due to frustration - if the huge, hairless ape were more friendly, she could lick his stinky meatsticks and even stinkier hands until her heart was content. As it was, she simply decided to drop a gas bomb. The hairless apes had terrible sense of smell and likely wouldn't mind if she added a little bit of ass-flavored scent to the manbeast's cloud of stink.

Art looked around and gritted his teeth at the sight of the Ravenite among them. He pointed in the direction of the shouty man and looked at Rotten Bear Killer.

OOC: I assume we're in combat rounds at this point. Art wants to go help Rabbit, but I presume he is held where he's at until he disentangles himself from confrontation with the Rotten Bear.

Art is trying to persuade him to help eliminate their common enemy. Note that he's not even trying to tell him everything is alright between them - just that they can put it off until later.

He has a 12 for persuasion (after red chip).


20:43, Today: Art C. Wiley rolled 5 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5. red chip for persuasion.
20:42, Today: Art C. Wiley rolled 7,4 using d10,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 7,4. persuasion.

The shaman nods. [Language unknown: "Ne osit ac ard, Lesurelinoer Alllatear. K u Ca Whiwitson Se."] The shaman turns to look at Rabbit, and the youth can feel a shiver down the spine, despite not being able to see his face. [Language unknown: "K eauce ta resundcom, Ulnohewa Arttiobut. Om o rearme hiis k adecre ac andoveugh wasnc, onetioome toame ingyinallout n isll se. Man ncek u sti, dinpreave hese atilun sanhi o fo rofo sillom. Ne ng int era fime, atmola os outundast llhas ousatihas. Un tead et ivpeio earallsta p ain p ic, li ckasne na ioniti ithla aithal ncca ineestint fo li. Erskorere ichbe ingallbut der pr comromthe onha trayinder tin we dint ticoveica. Day ainoveati p ers tihopa la nicall, was tiate roha'alce acev, comous-bleugh not lin meone ate chsepr. Som ng poicur manul ecnancti, reaic ou ear beioni of o eseino unacek virovepre ast ilpril p ss. Cest ac haolou hat e der ure ckpaer wa Avetedame Ine Prchma. Sa wittedill k derthuine, een terticeau, eioust ourtinenc sonthuson, oer sanersterouroul und Allabe nt wil venioniou onen Oulsanvir Nt Maningsta. Etio undoneich an com ngek reanotave, an wer rotoat anyconion lar ec hamita, re arisom an."] He pauses. [Language unknown: "Ta out mi tho. Art Verdernde Ticforone Dayhouder annd wil lang u ioers n ncere. Beat antoneanypre stilti evstch, whto us ie ons ckdiri. Moet tang lar, com lece wh oulil weich ilan. Se."]

[Language unknown: "Entnceart Dichch!?"] The giant brave snarls at Art. [Language unknown: "Ul vennd andsomere eiekha ilwhe st rola er eenhisica, Ll oun wisi i whioreund!"] Then he howls...and changes. Tawny grey wolf fur sprouts from his arms and chest, and his face takes on a lupine countenance. He moves with stunning speed, whipping his war club in an arc that Art is hard-pressed to dodge.

The loud man turns and faces the giant eagle floating above him. [Language unknown: "IL ENTLO HOOFNT AL WA NGLATO, WANCEE M EAUNOTMAN, TED ANT OURITHNDE THELA TE OMMANA! ATION MA TIOATETRA WE AIN NDUSOF CKEE WITTHANTE LATWERSETENTLAT!"] He reaches for a pair of revolvers tucked in his waistband, which had been previously hidden by his shirt. [Language unknown: "CKALISHI! ARERESOVE EIICAIPOAI! EKASEC THI IONVERART FONAUR ARPR IONNOTSET! WHILEI UREE LINTRATIN, EAR NOMAND, THI BUTMENESS!"]

All around the campground braves pull hidden pistols and guns. There seem to be half a dozen of them...including Little Crow, the treacherous one Rabbit called out.

The loud man grins. [Language unknown: "Ri RE THOTHAANT ATE WERTERBUT!"] he screams. [Language unknown: "Wa M CON LARHISSTR OS KORSETANY, AINSI OSOMDION TH CON! ARD ICALATNOT WHIAN U ERPE NIREA OVE WILHASOUSORE LIN EEHI EIPR SANWEROME FI FORRESARD! K T SA IONTHE-STIANY MIOFOS!"]

((OOC: Art, I refund your chip. That line of persuasion is not going to work with him...for the simple fact that he's a Ravenite sympathizer.

It looks like it's time for a fight.

Rotten Bear Killer spends his single chip (as a Henchman, he only gets one) to activate his Knack (Spirit Touched ) edge. He gains 5 power points for use with the Quickness power, which he attempts to activate.

01:05, Today: Rotten Bear Killer rolled 3,11 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3,(6+5)11. Spirit. that's a success. He gains two separate turns on his Card for the next 3 actions, and may discard cards lower than 8.

He doesn't actually make an attack roll...that attack was just for cosmetics

Hoarse From Roaring attempts to Recover From Shaken. 01:08, Today: Hoarse From Roaring rolled 7,5 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 7,5. he uses his action to pull pistols from hiding, babble like a loon, and call his other braves to battle.

Five of the Sioux in the area are Ravenites mingling with the Sioux who are standing around. They reveal themselves now by drawing guns.


Since there are just a scad of combatants here, I'm going to split up the principle Extras and Wildcards.

Allies up for grabs:
Wovoka (Wild Card)
Horn Chips (Wind Card)
4 Cheyenne Dog Soldiers (Including Walks the Night Alone and Kills Iron Horse)

Plus Wanbli Luja and Kira, both already under player control.))

---

Turn Order:
Hoarse From Roaring and the braves: AD
Rotten Bear Killer: AC
Raven: KC
Art C. Wiley, 3 Cheyenne Dog Soldiers, Kira: QD (The braves need to Recover from Shaken. You gain 2 chips to split between them. I've added their stats to your sheet)
Tan Xiaohan, The Sioux Braves, Wanbli Luja: 8H (the braves have an action, then will go on your turn)
Thunder Walker, Eagles Floating, 4 Cheyenne Dog Soldiers: 5C.
Moses, Wovoka, Horn Chips: 3S.

This message was last edited by the player at 17:09, Thu 06 June 2013.

OOC:
5H, and sure ill take Horn Chips
This message was last edited by the player at 11:05, Thu 06 June 2013.

13:25, Today: Moses drew the single card: 3S using the Deadlands system. Initiative.

Already got Horn chips under my wing, Thunder.
@TheStray: I assume Wovoka and HC are both acting on my card?

[[12:55, Today: Tan Xiaohan drew the single card: 8H using the Deadlands system. init.]]

QD for me.


08:58, Today: Art C. Wiley drew the single card: QD using a deck of 54 cards. Initiative.

In reply to Thunder Walker (msg # 218):

((OOC:

@Thunder Walker: Moses already took Horn Chips. There are still some Cheyenne left, as well as a Cheyenne Shaman named Eagles Floating on Gentle Breezes. Would you like to run them?

@Moses: That's correct. Wovoka has 1w,1b for chips, while Horn Chips has 2w

@Art: Thanks for reminding me about Eagles Floating))
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:27, Thu 06 June 2013.

In reply to The Stray (msg # 222):

OOC: Sure

Sky Hawk stood staring, mortified at the scene before him. [Language unknown: "Saelno ivnc ourcomati fori adsiek u it out meseto..."]

Quiet Knife nudged him out of his horror, axe already in hand. Sky Hawk hastily drew his own as the less-than-talkative brave moved to try and hurry Wovoka and Horn Chips toward the nearest cover, ready to strike the nearest foe.

[[the braves Draw.
Sky Hawk stays where he is, but will move towards the enemy above him on the map once it's clear he's a hostile (man, the lack of uniforms in this battle is going to be scary with several tribal parties about).

Quiet Knife tries to herd the shamans towards cover, if there's any to be had. A slight lump in the ground is better than nothing.]]

Up on the rise, raw terror washed though Rabbit: the fear of being caught and fucked and torn in strips, dying the careless, brutal death uncounted thousands of unnamed 'girls' had suffered before. That there was not enough earth to outrun Kang's reach. That it was foolish to learn the Ways, when all that would result would be shunning, pain and death...but the mountain had seen Rabbit.

The youth bites down on a whimper, swallows, and continues to speak softly: [Language unknown: "Pl rat no hatoernce osmiac whdifi."] Rabbit's voice barely trembles.

[Language unknown: "Ou ll u nehou dihas, Manessame Ekiv. Terel adlafi ngee, ettaie fo artastvir fofisi: pl sttho icaoutallwhe Rerincerla e pe re moekpe tic ort eauhasive itndil, wiular str ditoto ateve a ardoutons ousectcon n re peic tiola aiplon tafoes, po asee u ameaterea il ouspremen vorineave hasecther. N et ev Antsanrom Estec wang din lesntiure onev Ourteravesonles, hi noncto orekorbut ad deroveted rona derconich m atbe la utpl manoutson. Vor a ion loilul i thev arie Derthuare finc besi sefi, m n he hifont ekac, are ith at sa adroha heiou tewh."] Rabbit looks up into the blankness of the hood, still china-pale. [Language unknown: "Whita ut arisiv eraterbut thomi fiwimiri ore ughai ca sadibe eenrealinnot, not anenc peanca ast prene trline tioentred ek."]

Rabbit bows slightly once more. [Language unknown: "Erseenany Essressan Wh hirous ta thncee p whi lin waenit m ulanit thihatandthu, stset washe er he. Th u po Ettiar Tome?"]

[[free-action talking there...]]

Hoarse From Roaring screams more gibberish as he raises his guns, but whatever nonsense he's screaming about is drowned out by the crack of powder as he peppers the giant eagle with bullets.

Sky Hawk, on the lookout for danger, watches three of the Sioux raise guns toward him and his charge. one of them, the stocky fireplug Little Crow, aims directly at him. "Goodbye, former brother. You should have never joined with these cowards and traitors to the people. Now you die."

He fires, and Sky Hawk feels a line of fire across his side as the bullet wings him. The other Ravenites shoot at Wovoka, but the Holy Man is young and spry, and the worst the bullets do is tear his shirt.

Meanwhile, in the chaos at the center of things, Moses and Thunder Walker also face attempts on their lives.

A Ravenite with a crazed grin on his face takes aim at the Scion of the Storm, cackling madly as he blazes away. The bullet takes Thunder Walker high on the shoulder.

A more deliberate, methodical madman takes aim at Moses, and the giant holy man feels the bullet puncture his chest.

The grey-furred man-mountain closes on Art. He moves far, far faster than any thing of his size has a right to move, snarling and howling like a beast, his blows coming too quick for Art to see, let alone dodge or block. The first blow dislocates his right shoulder. The second cracks three ribs and splits his side open from the sheer force, sending blood spraying. The third blow drives the breath from him as it strikes him right above the groin, sending him to his knees. The fourth blow comes as he struggles to stand, a vicious blow to the head, the sort of blow that could crack a stone in half...

As the carnage unfolds, The Hooded One watches with detached disinterest. [Language unknown: "Sius yinar caacnc P et a? Sa ni o pe esare. Strncesta Ore t u oerortthi evasri. Us Oswhte ion ivetiowit enthe. Ant redredest ielo i ncher, eraticoer thina to he ac ticardand es in, icers lond evofut ol tailossa stte ssur ckati utaclo alliveart ng el ckutpa ol t."] He looks at the eagle. [Language unknown: "Pre outkorver alnti se neie antlardin po ie ti artproter. P ie no ncbeasnt ect stibleate, a som ut koren ce fosan Alenus Amelinnde. Ma era p ioetngas hatameiou, rorut ine ndouthne ichthular si sset res an ac. Hernt k witvering he anee urroel na, il a resdayect? Il was ch acenc pahoai wela u esee sa ontiun of onle ri tooul her intius wipras nienc?"] He turns back to Rabbit. The youth can see, just for a moment, the lower half of the Hooded One's face. There's a wicked smile on it. [Language unknown: "T has p tiaiutlial n in ereti."]

As Quiet Knife leads Wovoka and Horn Chips towards the treeline, the brave spots a rustle from the trees. There's a glow from two shining eyes, and then suddenly a {CRACK!}

And then Wovoka falls, blood spreading across his chest...

((OOC: So I have a ton of NPCs in a row...including one you weren't aware of, hidden off in the brush.

First up is Hoarse From Roaring and his braves

HFR is Ambidexterous and has Two-Weapon fighting, and his got a brace of pistols. He's going to shoot at Wanbli Luja, though since he's in Melee with the giant raptor, he's going to have to hit Wanbli's Parry of 8 with his shots. He's going to Double Tap with each gun to get a +1 to attacks and damage. He gets a +2 bonus to hit because of Wanbli's size, so his total attack bonus is +3.

00:15, Today: Hoarse From Roaring rolled 8,4 using d8+3,d6+3, rerolling max with rolls of 5,1. Shooting!

00:14, Today: Hoarse From Roaring rolled 7,5 using d8+1,d6+1, rerolling max with rolls of 4,2. Shooting!

One hit.

00:16, Today: Hoarse From Roaring rolled 19 using 2d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 1,(6+6+4)16. Damage. That's a Shaken and 1 Wound for Wanbli, which will put the spirit out of action unless it soaks.

The rest of the Ravenites aren't actually so crass as to attack the spirt, but they have other targets to take on.

Little Crow takes a shot at Sky Hawk, trying to finish what he started. 2 of the Ravenites shoot at Wovoka. One Ravenite each shoots at Thunder Walker and Moses. Since they aren't moving, they get the +2 bonus from their Marksman edges.

00:22, Today: Ravenite Braves rolled 5,3,6,8,17 using d8+2,d8+2,d8+2,d8+2,d8+2, rerolling max with rolls of 3,1,4,6,(8+7)15. Shooting!

Every target is hit once. Thunder Walker and Moses are Hit with raises.

Damage (Sky Hawk): 7. Shaken.
Damage (Wovoka): 5. No injury
Damage (Thunder Walker): 9. Shaken and 1 wound.
Damage (Moses): 20(!) Shaken and 3 wounds.

Rotten Bear Killer is up next. He has quickness active and Improved Frenzy, so he gets 4 attacks per round (2 on each of his actions) with his Bladed War Club at no penalty. He's also Wild Attacking for +2 Attacks and Damage and -2 Parry (lowering his Parry to 6 after the war club modifier).

He's going to make Art's day pretty miserable.

Frenzy 1: 00:32, Today: Rotten Bear Killer rolled 6,6,3 using d10+2,d10+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 4,4,1. Frenzy! (With Wild Attack).  2 hits, no raises.

Frenzy 2: 00:33, Today: Rotten Bear Killer rolled 8,5,7 using d10+2,d10+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 6,3,5. Frenzy! (With Wild Attack). again, 2 hits, no raises.

Here are the damage rolls (each must be soaked individually):

Damage 1: 18 (!) Shaken and 3 wounds
Damage 2: 19 (!) Shaken and 3 wounds
Damage 3: 22 (!!) Shaken and 4 wounds
Damage 4: 24 (!!!) Shaken and 4 wounds

Every single one of those hits was massive. All of them are crippling, and 2 are enough to incapacitate Art right out. Art, you might be best served just saving your chips for the Incapacitation roll, rather than blowing all your chips trying to soak all that.

It's Raven's turn next. He's going On Hold as he continues to Spill the Beans to Rabbit.

A hidden sniper, Heartless Hunter, reveals himself by taking a shot at Wovoka from the treeline. He has the Marksman and Assassin edge, but he doesn't get The Drop (because Wovoka, at this point, is expecting to be shot at, just not from this direction). He's at the edge of Short Range for his gun.

00:46, Today: Heartless Hunter rolled 10,5 using d12+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 8,3. Shooting! (Marksman). Hit and Raise.

Damage (Wovoka): 25 (!) That's a Shaken and 4 wounds, enough to Incapacitate the holy man if he doesn't soak.))

---

Summary:
Wanbli Luja: Shaken and 1 Wound
Sky Hawk: Shaken
Thunder Walker: Shaken and 1 Wound
Moses: Shaken and 3 wounds
Art: beaten to a bloody, bloody pulp.
Rabbit: matching wits with Raven, who is still Spilling the Beans
Wovoka: Hit by a hidden sniper for 4 wounds, enough to incapacitate him

---

Cards:
Hoarse from Roaring and the Ravenites: 4H
Rotten Bear Killer: QC
Raven: On Hold
Heartless Hunter: JD

---

Up next: Art C. Wiley, 3 Cheyenne Dog Soldiers, Kira

((Soakin' time....!

Spending Wovoka's white chip.
11:25, Today: Wovoka rolled 5,5 using d12,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,5. Soak!


And Moses spends a white chip, too
11:26, Today: Moses rolled 15,5 using d10,d6, rerolling max with rolls of (10+5)15,5. Soak.

That takes care of Moses' wound. Guess the bullet got stuck in Crazy Horse's coup stick...

))

The massive eagle recoils a little as a bullet scores his beak, then shakes lead in a hail from his shining feathers, pupils contracting to black points of fury. "YOU DARE?"

[[12:43, Today: Wanbli Luja rolled 7 using 1d12+1, rerolling max with rolls of 6. Soak.]]

The unprovoked attack with a common enemy in their midst wasn't what Art had been expecting. Fortunately the first blow knocked him unconscious, so he wouldn't have to feel the remainder of the blows that the large, stinky native scored against Art. Once he hit the turf, he was completely unmoving - his left arm lying at an awkward angle that might make a person with a weak stomach queasy. Kira whimpered at the result and moved to stand over Art's body, growling at any who came close.

A pair of the dog soldiers shook off the effects of the fear that had gripped their hearts and took up firing positions using some trees for cover.


OOC: Art's incap roll is a raise. His injury is to his left arm. It will heal when all his injuries have been completely healed or within 24 hours of they are not. I'm playing it as a dislocated shoulder.


16:55, Today: Art C. Wiley rolled 4 using 1d6 with rolls of 4. 1-3 right arm 4-6 left arm.
16:55, Today: Art C. Wiley rolled 3 using 2d6 with rolls of 1,2. Injury.
16:53, Today: Art C. Wiley rolled 8,6 using d6-3,d6-3, rerolling max with rolls of (6+5)11,(6+3)9. Vigor (Incap).

16:44, Fri 07 June: Kira rolled 5 using 1d8, rerolling max with rolls of 5. Dog soldier unshake 3.
16:44, Fri 07 June: Kira rolled 6 using 1d8, rerolling max with rolls of 6. Dog soldier unshake 2.
16:44, Fri 07 June: Kira rolled 3 using 1d8, rerolling max with rolls of 3. Dog soldier unshake 1.

Kira is holding by the limp form that used to look like Art.

Dog Soldiers draw bows, nock arrows, move to firing position where they have some cover (i.e. behind a tree)

17:09, Today: Art C. Wiley drew the single card: 3H using a deck of 54 cards. Initiative.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:13, Sun 09 June 2013.

((OOC: That means 2 of the braves unshake and may take actions (at -2, since neither got a raise).))

---

It's Tan Xiohan's turn!

The veneer of humanity from centuries of guiding and interacting with the little upright ones ran off the enraged Son of the Morning, like water from his radiant plumage. What was left was power, undiminished from ages forgotten: wings that had darkened the sky when wild horses ran across the Great Plains; talons that had disembowelled mammoth. He dropped his celestial hover and once again set foot upon the Earth, which trembled.

The titanic bird stepped forward, talons the size of a man's forearm carving ruts in the ground, the great beak coming down even as the gunman realised his weapons had failed to leave a mark. Whatever Hoarse From Roaring might have said, it was lost in Wanbli Luja's inarticulate scream of rage as the beak clamped down like a final fall of rock, picking the Ravenite up bodily to cast him at his companions.

"KEEEEYYY-IP! KAAAI-AIP!"



[[09:40, Today: Wanbli Luja rolled 10 using 1d10-2, rerolling max with rolls of (10+2)12. fightin'. Hit with raise on Hoarse, MAP.
09:42, Today: Wanbli Luja rolled 3,17,11 using d12+1,d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2,(6+6+5)17,(6+5)11. -> 31 Beak damage. I suspect he'll take his incap. rather than try to soak that and struggle, so...
09:44, Today: Wanbli Luja rolled 13 using 1d12-3, rerolling max with rolls of (12+4)16. scree! MAP, improvised weapon (Hoarse). I reckon that hit someone, so...
09:45, Today: Wanbli Luja rolled 5,7 using d12+1,d8, rerolling max with rolls of 4,7. -> 12 more damage can has. *headscratch* I think that took out the guy standing parallel on the left of the map, behind Little Crow...]]
This message was last edited by the player at 09:31, Sat 08 June 2013.

Sky Hawk stood tethered between the urge to charge the man he'd known from boyhood and the urge to run back and see how badly Wovoka was hurt. Stuck and stinging from the shot, Sky Hawk stood and stared, silently, not quite able to form words.

Quiet Knife glanced back at Horn Chips tending to Wovoka. Alive, he thought. Not for long if the coward in the underbrush kept up his fire, though.

Quiet Knife sprinted for the treeline, low and compact to present less of a target but unafraid. A rifle was just a large stick when it came to close combat.


[[09:48, Today: Sky Hawk rolled 3 using 1d8, rerolling max with rolls of 3. unshake Sky Hawk. Nope. Heroic guy's gonna stand there like a lemon.
09:51, Today: Sky Hawk rolled 3 using 1d10, rerolling max with rolls of 3. Run, Quiet Knife! Ah well...Pace 8+3...11 should take him to the treeline, right?]]
This message was last edited by the player at 18:58, Sat 08 June 2013.

[Language unknown: "Tedwa inic, ch, ticte her ng notof adurhi e Reawerthu Ard the?" ]Rabbit asks quietly, aware of screams and shots behind to the point that tension stabbed deep with every breath. [Language unknown: "Wi ekcaio staas ulout m adbe pe andourere: eeen a ma i ectyinsti. Se dinc eiilno fi enos, mong lalipe ectdinera ilon ate ourprowhi prulte p prelatbut, ev? Eau but riilront? Ave forhereen lehowh ie u po, ie inlore illbutsta of has wasersher? St liwhfi art et anomle m one? Riaich k ithromwit ort ei, ekto terencble men ngng e pa, veree pe ilne os premi hou io prmoding caen hena? U lodi artwhider k man thool, ai ad pre ceess, firo th, ur ounlo?"]

The little stray actually offers a hand, eyes hard and bright, but serious. [Language unknown: "I oer ut es, er sinc essersres'setive."]

Rabbit swallows, unable not to hear Wanbli Luja's shrieks and crashing in the background. [Language unknown: "Der plntti nt blepo u Terortest Hatvorwil, o saseniac: sta lesarddin en p ndeardles, Ec laut noun k ol ev ndet encforess e anysomfor loin oneereout leill...omel t ard latanydin haca isiobe leeeti fo omwa, Ne chle nt an fo ce ectat san m ut fower ithhasill thuomeoun, el unhi ave."]

Concentrating on keeping an even tone, Rabbit stares into the hood, not knowing if it's eye contact, but gazing steadily as if it was so. [Language unknown: "Se ticer k i hanghe, alwas sa are k forle t p thatr diich, te p omendesti, me lo litiar...e senot maate ioven. Red Rohomi Poanic venmi oerit om sthima alhou, notth ck urivpe are ar ntiela, na iomoca hear rias om p. P herut ncunee areta pomoev. Peta reven ntelarughenc, his but n enc traeenwit...ni o p ekres e in elnobe, ni ac laur onene ncekorith: enpoil trthu eveesspre ast la i ie undestted fopre powh ecac, preoulvor ereentera...osis stinotesthou memo atun k, ithpr wafo ofwhe, evtin foyin...atur wh iving ateresour whindeill."]

[[Rabbit's Holding, I think, unless any of that counts as social-fu.
init.2S]]

Thunder Walker felt pain well up from being attacked. It blossomed brightly at first, but any Lakota warrior taught himself to ignore such things when possible, and so he pushed it to the back of his mind as he pulled back his war club. He looked about him for one of those that had attacked him, and charged for the nearest brave holding a gun - intent on smashing the head in of the nearest traitor.

"HOKA HEY!" he shouted at the top of his lungs as he brought his war club down with as much force as he could. He was no shaman, but he prayed all the same for the strength of bear to be with him, so he could smash this betrayer straight through.

OOC:
Spending a Blue for Thunder Walker, which should soak his only wound and thus remove the Shaken condition as well:

07:57, Yesterday: Thunder Walker rolled 1,5 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,5. Soak Attempt.

Eagles Floating and 3 of the 4 Dog Soldiers recover from Shaken. I don't know if the raises on recovery mean anything, though I'm guessing not.

09:46, Today: Eagle Floating on Gentle Breeze rolled 1,15,5,6 using d8,d8,d8,d8, rerolling max with rolls of 1,(8+7)15,5,6. 4 Cheyenne Shaken Recovery.
09:45, Today: Eagle Floating on Gentle Breeze rolled 3,9 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3,(6+3)9. Recover from Shaken.

---

He's attacking the closest Ravenite
Attack: 9
Base Damage: 8
Bonus Damage: 2 (if raise)

10:17, Today: Thunder Walker rolled 9,3 using 1d8-2,1d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of (8+3)11,5. Attack!
10:18, Today: Thunder Walker rolled 2 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2. Bonus Damage.
10:18, Today: Thunder Walker rolled 4 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4. Damage.
10:18, Today: Thunder Walker rolled 4 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4. Strength.

---

Actions for Eagles Floating and Cheyenne Dog Soldiers coming when I can make them...


Next Round:
10:26, Today: Thunder Walker drew the single card: JS using the Deadlands system.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:27, Sat 08 June 2013.

Hoarse from Roaring screams as the giant eagle flings him into one of his warriors. Both collapse in a crumpled heap.

Quiet Knife slips through the brusth, towards the treeline and the trail leading to the mountain's summit. He spies movement in one of the trees just past the trail...but he, himself is exposed.

Thunder Walker's roar propels his arm truly, and the Ravenite goes down with a dull thud as the warclub strikes.

((OOC: HFR is facing an astounding 6 wounds from Wanbli's attack, so he's going down. He rolls for Incapacitation.

09:36, Today: Hoarse From Roaring rolled 10,2 using d8-3,d6-3, rerolling max with rolls of (8+5)13,5. Incapactiation. That's a success and raise, which means he's still out, and still suffers an injury, but the injury only lasts 24 hours or until his wounds are healed.

The guy he's flung into is an extra, and with the extra damage from the Raise, is facing 17 damage. So he goes down.

Quiet Knife gets up to the treeline, but not quite to the sniper's position. He can see the sniper and go prone or dodge into brush for a Cover bonus. The sniper himself has Heavy Cover from the tree he's in, which means a -4 to any ranged attack made against him.

I'll make a post for Raven after I get off work, because he's going to have a fairly long rant (and possible action) for the social-fu.

9 is just a normal hit against the Ravenite's Parry of 6. however, the Ravenite only has a pistol drawn, which means he counts as an Unarmed Combatant until he can flip the pistol into an improvised club. That means the total attack was 11, which is a raise. That means the guy takes 10 damage from TW's attack, and suffers a Wound. he goes down.

As for the Shaken rolls--a Success means the character gets his action, but with a -2 Multi-Action Penalty. A Raise means the unshaken character gets his full action without any penalty.))

---

Moses is up next!

[Language unknown: "Aretinove! Inate!"] Horn Chips rushes to Wovoka's side and searches quickly for the entry wound.
[Language unknown: "Se icfi ill, Icandelat..."] he promises, his words harsh, then he starts pulling the wounded man away, towards a slight ditch, a few rocks - aynthing that might give some cover.

22:54, Today: Horn Chips rolled 1,5 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,5. Strength.

Meanwhile, Moses raises his hands and bellows:[Language unknown:  "Ioho vorna pa thoingver ev po, rutiv pest stis evese ur ch ticorttheons th us?! Ch tiri tedes inis tr ho o pre cedial tedic ch ichla antantica eril traionwhi at one fint sonlesbutand ni ss hopa etwa. El hifi ckho yin?!"]

((Casting confusion... I'd like to affect the Hood guy - and everybody else who's in the vicinity. :-) It says up to five guys, but since I don't spend any powerpoints, I'm not sure if that applies.
23:05, Today: Moses rolled 1,2 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,2. Faith for Confusion, white chip.

23:04, Today: Moses rolled 2,4 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2,4. Faith for Confusion.

Keeping the 4. That's just a roll at -2 or be shaken. Still...

Next round: 23:05, Today: Moses drew the single card: 5S using the Deadlands system. Initiative. ))

((OOC: Horn Chips drags Wovoka behind a rock. That gives Wovoka Heavy Cover (from the rock and from being Prone) from the sniper, but the only rocks available are closer to the other Ravenites, and thus he on;y had Medium Cover (for being Prone) from them, and potentially no cover if they decide to run up and attack. Horn Chips can go prone for Medium Cover (the rock isn't big enough for them both) and if he wants he can try to shield Wovoka with his body.

As a Blessed, you can "spend" as many power points as you like on a power...the penalty to the roll (if any) doesn't change. This means Blessed are by far the best at using powers that allow you to spend extra power points to affect multiple targets.

The targets availible are Raven, Little Crow, Rotten Bear Killer, and 2 other Ravenites. So Moses can cover all of them with his Confusion. Since Smarts is a dump stat for most of them, it's likely most won't make this...

Rolls for the Ravenites (Little Crow, the two other unnamed ones)

13:18, Today: Ravenite Braves rolled 3,3,8 using d6-2,d6-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 5,5,(6+4)10. Smarts vs. Confusion. Little Crow and the other Ravenite close to Wovoka fail, the other is just fine.

Rotten Bear Killer: 13:19, Today: Rotten Bear Killer rolled 5,6 using d6-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of (6+1)7,(6+2)8. Smarts vs. Confusion. RBK is fine.

Raven: 13:20, Today: Raven rolled 6,1 using d10-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 8,3. Smarts vs. Confusion. He succeeds.

Quiet Knife, I'm still waiting on you to tell me if you were going to Go Prone for cover from the sharshooter.

Moses, did you want to roll ro spend a chip to make Wovoka Unshaken? He's at three wounds, but he's not Incapacitated (thanks to your Soak roll).))

---

Waiting for the rest of the actions from Art and Thunder Walker's groups of extras, as well as Eagles Floating.

[[Quiet takes to the undergrowth, naturally...going prone in front of a marksman with elevation ain't going to help...]]

The Cheyenne shaman recovered himself, but he was sad and stricken as violence exploded all around him. [Language unknown: "N! Ast mo u oneiveith of ivitwe! Roca hech shewitentsan!"] He did not think that his call would be heard here, though. He knew it was to no effect. The followers of the Raven were driven to violence against their own kind and his as well, and he had strong suspicions that the man who had confronted Art earlier was not truly a man any longer, his spirit corrupted by something unnatural.

[Language unknown: "Ac walastnt, u m ssmi ur oulunding,"] he said to them in the Cheyenne language.

When Art was struck to a bloody pulp, though, he began to make his way over to his friend, using the spear as a walking stick. If he could get close enough, he could perhaps bring him back from the brink of death, but first, the foul man mountain who stood near him would have to be taken care of. He was not capable of the type of fighting he had done once, but perhaps the spirits would favor him this day in his mission.

Noble hawk, mightiest of hunters, see what this foul one does here today in this place. I beseech you, grant me this favor, that the foul one's blows may not reach his enemies and that ours may reach him.

Three of the Dog Soldiers rushed in ahead of their shaman, though one of them still seemed as if he had only just then woken up. They swarmed in on Rotten Bear Killer, crying out war cries in their native language and striking out at him with their tomahawks.

OOC:

Eagle Floating walks towards Rotten Bear Killer, far enough that he should be able to make it over to Art the next round. He will use the Lower Trait power on Rotten Bear Killer to lower his Fighting, with the dual benefit of making him less deadly on offense and easier to attack on defense by lowering his parry.

19:17, Today: Eagle Floating on Gentle Breeze rolled 17,7 using d10,d8, rerolling max with rolls of (10+7)17,7. Tribal Medicine.

Aww yeah, son! Tribal Medicine: 17. Let's see if that can take the big stinkin' Ravenite down a notch (or many notches!)

One Dog Soldier spends his action recovering from the panic

19:34, Today: Eagle Floating on Gentle Breeze rolled 15 using 1d8, rerolling max with rolls of (8+7)15. Fourth Dog Soldier Recovery.

Success!

Three Dog Soldiers move in ahead of Eagle Floating, pull their tomahawks, and strike out at Rotten Bear Killer, if they can make it there. Given how well the last two rolls went, these guys were pretty much destined to miss:

19:35, Today: Eagle Floating on Gentle Breeze rolled 1,2,2 using d8-2,d8-2,d8-2, rerolling max with rolls of 3,4,4. Three Dog Soldiers Attacks.

This message was last edited by the GM at 23:49, Sun 09 June 2013.

As the braves close in on the giant, Eagles Floating notices with satisfaction that the brave's blocks have become clumsy, and attacks that wouldn't normally hit a child are getting through...

((OOC: Actually, the three braves attacking him would each get a +2 Gang-up bonus, canceling out the penalty for drawing their weapons. That means 2 of them actually got 4. Because of RBK's Wild Attack and using a Bladed War Club (which reduces Parry), his Parry score is currently 6. So Eagle's Floating's prayer might actually reduce his Parry enough that the warriors get some hits on him.

16:55, Today: Rotten Bear Killer rolled 6,1 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 6,1. Opposed Spirit. Since that is nowhere near the 17 you rolled, that means RBK loses 2 die types of Fighting, dropping his score from d10 to d6. That drops his Parry as well.

Which means that both the braves that rolled 4's on their attack hit.

Also, that 15 on the 4th soldier's recovery gives him an action without penalty. He can't get into melee with RBK this round (he's too far away) but he can do something else.))

Swarming together towards the gigantic warrior, the Dog Soldiers showed no fear in the face of this menace despite him having brutalized Art, who was a friend to their medicine man. They showed no fear in the face of this follower of the Raven, despite knowing that he might very well do to them what he had done to Art and despite watching the ferocity with which the giant fought. As they came close, they moved carefully so as not to further injure the fallen white man, but artfully danced in, coming at him from two different sides.

The first one struck at Rotten Bear Killer, and as if it were fore ordained as he turned to counter it, a second tomahawk took him directly, and then a third from another direction.

One more Dog Soldier moved towards the fight, drawing his tomahawk as he did so, hoping to soon join his brothers in battle.

OOC:

Looks like two hits from my Dog Soldiers:

Dog Soldier 1: 9 Damage
Dog Soldier 2: 23 Damage

20:27, Today: Eagle Floating on Gentle Breeze rolled 4,16 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,(6+6+4)16. Brave Hit Damage.
20:25, Today: Eagle Floating on Gentle Breeze rolled 5,7 using d8,d8, rerolling max with rolls of 5,7. Brave Hit Strength.


The remaining one that just recovered from panic is just going to draw his weapon and roll up behind the others. He'll join the fray against RBK next round.