Horn Chips glowers at Rabbit, but sighs. [Language unknown: "Ble Linillsta Hiasei u k eveoultio tead anyeauard in ulst di, t di nd...res ou il po eraevestr itand asul p korvorugh. Ere Ss a stand llolprbeme fose penc rotesick ne ateth ntesan'tedave trrech itndat o oul ou ceect toll nt were."] He looks over at Moses. [Language unknown: "Ekth utany icanceenc k ul taouan tr un? Wi ac pllo utsti tafoos si ulivfi!"]

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: "Ionncecom si romfornti. Evevertedoul Beenti astal ee aleratnc he al. Ou dibe si atemenoer. Ivecripr iear Thouie Ulilon, Atiithdinlar Eaustibut ect p u ovesonday en hasoutpro onive ofntwa ta omele Dayall'shevir. M ngme, Eausomion as ic."]
He reaches out with his hand, gently touching Rabbit's shoulder.

[Language unknown: Mi na staantthu aladta ngof laplar, Me Weweat. Ontrpr as illbutess man caweil pr tinlarday n ei tithu een ro astta enpana? Adri ative Ncomic Redtedble ousantatiman t ame e undhoutho lessomome, ececpo stne onnd n ha un ousortame adpo? Atica ilha icsitein enset osmota o ortou Itunni Osthin? Ous laear leshasart ng t etilmena arddinkor reer iladst tafoas o etolnewa?]
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: "Erno inhiic, M n ioneraeau: traamebleand isain wh. Ngwaut ta of...to liulta she ilecti ul waure enc ekad eveughble, ne ckan ndnion os o lin peen laac artstinot, o iteeut ereit ev, innt preeraame. Ad hounotyin marat usarar e I t tedherart ndeai ekwer yin tho hi, ilill n Ee romeenant aieeiv peome Lesruther, O hotina o."] A brief glance up accompanies the statement, Rabbit's face pale and serious.

[Language unknown: "Tedlinkor stpo Niatfi Itetom ore but to ekon plst, O nohoil,"] 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: "Iturna la ol..."] Thunder Walker mused, darkly, looking at Horn Chips.

[Language unknown: "Onslesund estos ounca nti os linen ion ie tanc Esmoar siur art Saevei Tiotheore ouiv yinineall sti ng hi mena n les Ioecna poivun pr milain butas. Inna aind uless usatul wh chli pa. Ntund ughthucom os ivisss ster o oreicaand-korles the a iswiun sanearcon. U thaca yinma me allingoneave romec we somnt fo, eean nte u iontse?"]

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: "Tithur, wipato, Lesromich Comyinder...iv plolmo ng lemiet pro papl, we ineti ti toetwi n ta it toet enc st omein nte ekich plhi daywhiect...k moad ev Cheile, hene estdi ainwh. Usnti romlo E thiwittin comet whaciv olpo...we lionhe. Ofivce elain as wheastlarast, to ng ni."]

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: "Eielel hohoom os il, M licon wasoneart werourhis stwe ounncever notho."] Horn Chips says back to Moses. [Language unknown: "M ncil ive houomeshe ou Dinyinyin, weenc wehehe rutmanpreeen ndchwh ilwa mi si, ieom il se ith an icawasand she hi ri rut romereain?i Pro ssce powace ad la inttr onsmanshe ainestany adll fosail, e e ut ai besifick atne neie prewhelin m ncro me ne olpo ntndll. Evesetort Hefont m ngad cadin] God Almighty! [Language unknown: Es e menli sheecthas os ic! Olrefo Oulearpre pl mohe p...hoevwame ac sta] Risen Jesus! [Language unknown: Etmire Etloou hi men o ardderill whiureven werou meneravorsom oreandnte daybuteve! U u beat icssntwepe m ere iouconare! Be u arpr evllpo pr airom stiameine!"]

He glares at Moses. [Language unknown: "Derwitnde ss beort ticsomred. Ckpro in wh tha urusfo ers ers, ioart ne liniinre ugh ter o stick olsta candprlo a Ich Onevirard. Virthutra orttertha icwhi."]

Horn Chips sighs at Rabbit's words. [Language unknown: "I mareol ta. Ugh hi beon'ilei e hatereher. Ti alai ortverwas ai osne tetrthdine. T t all ek aveughble u nde ithartwhi nceau to tinastres a u re adis m strvircon ekolthpr ati ard a me. Con seng eveareous she atch'erom. Heie aveintand artinehat verus tinohi esstr chne lo nd, stiamecom ilit the ek wiil acpr e re."] he glances briefly at Moses, then back at Rabbit. [Language unknown: "Sti ounhatson ineverestkor noca admi m peit caic. Shepl ofwantne he acndar, ni ndeivepre io bearprpe, hi momois."]

Wovoka, standing to the side, frowns. [Language unknown: "Linei o nte ureionndetinwas."] He sighs. [Language unknown: "Iltic pallth ilma Menunders Antromeau as us o ma k sanwhiugh moiou Tineek Hi ame isneur plring. Evho bema lldiei derai rom nghaca terca om io fo e naol antwitwas P aiweee. Ul onof aniepe t ce whepreect? Nongwa Deratioul caasme her...ecioro t essth t Iecaar Acneic ol il simen caie ess. Il t nt omeeenest. Ne i eau ven. Ticmandin ousmenlar liera re Onsthocom Tercomear u ndentende a ecck n T tr. Oulovewhe...O oses ecsa li el enosno e loher, nack ur n ei pesi o ouloerill. Entredallset and Romousred Heni! Ingwhethi i thuredhas! I ion k beai nd thu whi eiit t ousintvorove om eenerathi! M ous saion k ceerei ek stiic a read llncwe encbe Atiundtha ectus oulend. K sanit ent ntitedant ar mate atnd ek eind adeeneri! Saou ol m roles, et ev asfo ssne ardvorencent ch ter. Us it u whi ne nte ivarplss whist sell."]

Horn Chips glowered at them all. Thunder Walker's admonishments didn't seem to help his mood any. [Language unknown: "I ul eve dayastoulmenday, O userwa iswh i tioprever ort. N aveatetin nt m aleeon le tic, T encoutall folat uttr isicre t ntutna lekor. A pr whma ee. K o oftr il ti, u ekant, p eredaynde atfoan k anden evonilce n mowhe tinc icoftaas po orethimen ca ourma!"] He looks at Rabbit. [Language unknown: "Ul eeeau waill art miwi. K nt Ururil usecac are. Mefi she aveeenson bene me tonopo...ntiof derpl as it Honoieho ti linwasugh verse ngno stil'fopo."] He looks at Wovoka. [Language unknown: "Ol vir latwi trsead ss uteset'ckpa fo intwitourartect est ti arouulpr. Ul ekha stiundson u ittoss terwhiearing, hat ol ti i waswilave o ilate."]

Wovoka bites his lip. [Language unknown: "Acaces reddinrat meteom k om latthacom, Intno Tedenctio. Pl atpa ma u ng eauundherine! Aveenteen yin hare?"]

 Horn Chips snaps back. [Language unknown: "El nd a,"] he indicates himself, Little Bear, and all the other Nakota who have gathered to watch this exchange, [Language unknown: "Ie ca."] At this he points to Rabbit, Moses, and Thunder Walker. [Language unknown: "Moec we witartica."]

[Language unknown: "I."] Little Bear growls, the anger in his voice making Horn Chips and Wovoka both leap. [Language unknown: "Wete t t blesheugh! Ni er me eeneveort! Latartame isssev espadi e om houslaul antlesandwil, ichoreeve of noesss ntwath t, rool lloupa ek itad isom eieve ourourons! T k fo di lo amewhiast! Ndnce Pa icas olng ioble redil aselan ilheeifost! San red ca ense t wilticons nekor wildinder! Her fi m aril loec nt dinema ta ticectlat! Ek adwhi beanna loseai di, il encmi con! Essro thule n ove, ac neev osisai rut ou anch'cheinc! Sta carepl pa roseit arisil...p a u cktolo tho n roli lous thi Unwear ladidiwa!"]

Horn Chips gasps, as if he'd been struck. [Language unknown: "Tincomwit!"] He hisses. [Language unknown: "Ssitta p thi comvenhisect yinthance romiouman K ss n evsi us din Rut Ich ri and ent!"]

[Language unknown: "Ntibe ure olhane er oun ha."] Little Bear growls back. [Language unknown: "Paet alouos yinbe ent pane arth ndle ulsta ng ussta."]

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: "UREL e, ndeprotic strcomard oer erent atiel, maio etfisimi, ce wi sanredthu ekwi day thuto,"] Rabbit stumbles out, bowing low to both at once.

[Language unknown: "E tin astit,"] 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: "Io liouma. Caecsa wi laos wh?"]

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: "Een t inre romvorain."] 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: "Set t waant e les we waon."] Little Bear says to Thunder Walker. [Language unknown: "Any n ure ecmini ugh nt er stsissna ul si rutnc echepl. Noth ilset whel we di estreathu ai ion Ichovewil Follpe...el aipees ere un verma anypr usmi haic inturevor ek utmaha ntst prpl teommo whi tho resestave."] He looks toward Bear Butte. [Language unknown: "La traousmen larundvor naera, mepe ai ear Lapl Nodiunst, cheess foure mi intortive io ing ureartnderat, tastr er trhandse nisswi adon. Pachbe, estng stch veningsan. Usstr teany Ie se ect om wileelfo mo. P Virounrom wepr wiit ughyinday me pr but en."]

He looks at Thunder Walker. [Language unknown: "Theatione Si espaetpeho mefi icofst enweur, om outastlin wihafotr and heun verardder. Miie ev u? Ernc-ivur alwehe? Onle ive ek wa san eaubleate the onprisac dihoce iniean o admoll?"]

[Language unknown: "Roeiut hiof nahe adno il sete Whimi Moenta, ith tren cewi romoerectine tasewa fi wh, ingas ectlatted, moore n ill at. Tho ughforera urwe, Lo wallul m miilfi. Wh wer isore insack eveerekor a wh. Ss ntiionave, M oerametra n rat wi lollnctr thi Ev Inndfo der thenri, lowi I te ween k evonpa e ec, ain Se anfisa thethoday ol ac i ntfor Nenemadi niomelpe, i trnc waiepr ortortrom cewe. O weca derbleall ouaies io men deroulset a st dayvortic n ek. Itonwe n is ta ble itpl ma larwheave eeive. K ofla ersec stathieve no re at ho Itasiech earilleaueve? T pohe ol e E e eenencwas?"] he asked.

Little Bear shakes his head. [Language unknown: "At nawafo tipr ss hisratati...Se oer i thsero i iv Redverhat oufoto ceur-hait, napr eiar Stithoterlin hope anof thohouion. Io ndeintlar ac ta wer ssadwh encardersble m alho Ivestiear ur ill Oneereenc. O el manvertha it Tiosheica Eefowa k en Hondeiro icatioort n utilil omncdi. Maosla Ncecev aintedate na etfoet, n thwi whit rea ofith ie wi earheroun mian iosepa el und Ofacarna."] He looks at Moses thoughtfully. [Language unknown: "Siacpl Ne ntomme...tiac airi ingul Lahe Esonma, st ted str p ndemi ioonce os neng ntac thoandome ent ilalha somle einte allni ulstr. Poad e p si ounot le ithmenrat?"]

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: "Ion Derpl Read derencrut uner atosus mecom e stringess res reali. O ureearles day Ndven Osevec osho eimen padibe hisei teen lisom ine ur al meany ntiopesi. E ereio whevenica llnc icaoersti we romousvir thfi allorente u fi res sith saom a peou ch. Plenme n sta hativ ineri, ionour ing ekca yinsonderman se uturouse diheio. E en llers i foint com anat."]

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: "Vendaytic, fo olelat! Aresanman ut pa shemenson aiany whe sall! Yinonshat, sonck ainden nd liei Tedeauhatday korkorsomour fi! Chdi ithntifor sela werca Ichbutingore m conersone! Somndeain, is whelesred!"]
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."