Shoot. I got me three Aces.

((OOC: Two of which are the same Ace, mind...

Manitou Hole cards: QS, 7C.

AC, KH, JH, QS, 7C. The manitou has squat. Moses wins the point of Dominion. Make a Spirit roll with a total of a +4 bonus, and give me a nice IC post to go with it. Remember, the Manitou could still win this one if he gets a really lucky roll.))

17:57, Today: Moses rolled 4 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4. one more red.
17:57, Today: Moses rolled 1 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1. Red chip on top.
17:56, Today: Moses rolled 8,7 using d8+4,d6+4, rerolling max with rolls of 4,3. Spirit for Dominion.

That's... 13. Spending a white chip for a full re-roll.

17:58, Today: Moses rolled 18,15,11 using d8+4,d6+4,2d6, rerolling max with rolls of (8+6)14,(6+5)11,2,(6+3)9. Re-rolls!
Wow. So that's... 18+11, 29. That's what I'm talking about.
Down to one red chip now.

Moses opens his mouth, as if to reply, then closes it again. He looks around once more, slowly turning his whole body.
Then he starts to chuckle. The chuckle turns to laughter as he regards the creatures of hell, monsters and abominations, lost and damned souls, gathered around them, intently watching.
He looks up into the sky. "Thank you Lord! Thou art most gracious!"

He turns to regard Rotten Bear Killer.
"A madman? Maybe. Out of my depth? Possibly. But the Lord is on my side, fiend. And I do the Lord's bidding. And this gives me power over you."
He picks Rabbit back up and walks closer toward Rotten Bear Killer, raises his left hand and uses it to push Rotten Bear Killer back a step or two.

"I claim Thunder Walker. You will renounce your hold on him. For you are too, part of the Lord's creation and you will bow to his will. I am not a madman. I, Moses, am the Lord's hand."

He raises his voice, so that all present may hear.
"And an awesome wailing was heard throughout as the terrible hand of the Lord struck down upon the earth. And as Almighty God created you, now he calleth you home. Begone! BEGONE!"

The manitou snarls at Moses, but cannot stand before the holy man's power. He and all the dead around Moses begin to break apart into mist, crumbling away into the fog until only the bloody body of Thunder Walker remains.

Thunder Walker feels consciousness returning, and a great weight being lifted from him somehow. That sliver of hope he clung to had kept him afloat. He'd survived.

The graveyards fade once all the spirits vanish. Even the body of Rabbit vanishes into mist. Soon, all that is left is bare earth and an eternally grey sky.

((OOC: 00:22, Today: The Stray, for the NPC Manitou, rolled 1,3 using d10,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,3. Dominion. Yeah, no chance of him beating that. You win and win hard. Of course, now you've made an enemy...the manitou will return eventually. But that's an encounter for another day.))

Moses nods, as if understanding, then he extends a hand towards Thunder Walker.
"It is time, now Thunder Walker. Your soul is safe."

Slowly, steadily, Thunder Walker rose to his feet. He took Moses's hand and help to steady himself, the man being an anchor here both to how he felt physically and spiritually at the time. He blinked at the change in their environs and the disappearance of the Rabbit. "You are a great warrior, Moses. Again, I have failed, but you have brought us success. You are strong with the spirits indeed - I wish I could tell the others this, but I am still struggling to understand how all this is. Where will you guide me next?"

As Thunder Walker speaks, he and Moses realize they aren't quite alone in the mist.

A pair of figures approach them, growing clearer and more distinct as they draw near.

One is a ghostly figure with sorrowful eyes, an Indian of indeterminate tribe with long black hair just beginning to grey, tied back with eagle feathers. There's a mass of scar tissue on his left breast, where his heart would be.

The other is wrapped in a coyote skin that covers his head completely, his head hidden beneath the fur cloak. Pouches, feathers, and beads hang off his belt, as do a carved stick, a flute, and a long-stemmed pipe.

The figure in the coyote skin is laughing. "Stupid!" he occasionally mutters between chuckles. "So, so, stupid!"

Thunder Walker watched their approach cautiously. So far, nothing good had come in this place, save for Moses and Rabbit. Almost everything that had approached or appeared before them had been deadly dangerous.

[Language unknown: "Hi pro ckng?"] he demanded.

The man in the coyote head finds this incredibly funny for some reason. He laughs so hard that he doubles over. He doesn't seem to be pausing for breath, except to interject the occasional "Stupid! So, so stupid!" into the mix.

The other, more solemn figure, raises his hand. "Peace, Thunder Walker." he says, in a voice that isn't so much heard as felt in the back of the mind. Both Moses and Thunder Walker recognize him, now...he's the ghostly figure from the hilltop, from just after they had rescued Wovoka. "Your trials are over."

"Or just beginning." The coyote-cowled shaman chuckles. "Funny how that works out, sometimes. But you don't need to fear us. We are from Wakan-Tanka." He looks over at his companion. "Or at least, I am. He...well, he is something else."

The older one nods. "We are...caretakers." He grimaces briefly. "Forgive me...my time is short. But longer here, than before. Hex is...distracted, now. I can speak, for a short time, before he begins to cut again." He winces again.

Moses regards the laughing and the wounded man solemnly. He looks up again, a wistful smile on hus lips. Clearly, those two had been sent by the Lord.

He opens his mouth to say something, then closes it again, as if he changed his mind.T Then he asks, softly: "How can we help?"

He lets himself be slightly more at ease, as the voice from one of them calms him, while the other one seems designed to rile. But they said they were from Wakan-Tanka. Were they truly?

"If your time is short, tell us what you must. We have seen you before in the hills, I think, Caretaker."

"I...am trapped." The Caretaker says. "The manitou does not know what he has in his grasp, otherwise I would already be given to Raven. There is a hole between the worlds. A path to the mirror lands lies in the heart of the lodge of the grizzly. I would ask you to help me, if you could. In Deadwood, there is one who has walked this path before. She can help you find it." he winces, and begins fading. "I cannot stay. I will help as best I can, when I can, to aid the Ghost Dance, but I can do little until released."

The coyote-skinned one watches the old man fade away, and sighs. "I wish him well." he looks over at Moses. "If you can convince the council the let Wovoka show them the dance, there will be many who could be swayed. But the Ravens are watchful, and even here on the holy mountain they perch. They will try to stop you, or break the dance in some way." He looks at Thunder Walker. "You can stay in my den until the Ghost Dance calls to you. Then you can decide if you wish to return or move on to the Hunting Grounds. The Shadow Brave will not trifle with you for a while, I think, but he will probably be waiting."

I believe it is the Lord's will for the Ghost Dance to happen. As His humble servant, I shall follow his will."

He turns to Thunder Walker. "You have earned your place among the Lord's host, Thunder Walker. But if you were to return to the land of the living, many would rejoice."

He gently puts a hand on the brave's shoulder. "We will see each other any way. Sooner or later."

He nodded with respect to Moses. "Go in peace, Moses. I will remain here in the Coyote's den, until such time as Wakan Tanka wills for me to return to fight by your side and help free the Caretaker from his prison."

The coyote-cowled shaman nods, and leads Thunder Walker into the grayness, leaving Moses alone.

Moses finds himself wandering, following a barefoot girl beside a stream that flows around the world. They speak of many things, though their mouths never move, as the most peculiar things vanished over the horizon -- pretty little beings that floated beneath a yawning sky and spoke of God as though they could define music to the deaf or color to the blind. Moses was just bout to ask the barefoot girl where his face was when he was shaken out of the dream and back to waking world by a band of Sioux, who were prodding him with spear butts and looking at him nervously.

Moses yawns and stretches, then slowly sits up, smiling.
"Thank you, Lord."
Then he looks at the Lakota, if noticing them for the first time.
"Thunder Walker's soul is safe. Moses needs to speak with Wovoka. Take me to him."

The Lakota braves turn at each other, confused by his speech, but once Moses is able to call on The Lord and ask him to remove Babel's curse from him yet again, they slowly nod and lead him back to the encampment.

By this time, it seems to be growing late. The Cheyenne party and the Ghost Dancers have mingled together, preparing the camp for the evening. A Cheyenne man dressed in what Moses has learned are traditionally women's clothes nods at Moses as he nears, but turns hir attention back to the cookfire.

Wovoka approaches Moses not long after he arrives. The Paiute seems worn, much older than his years. "Friend Moses." He says wearily. "I had heard you were grieving for our fallen friend."

Moses shakes bis head. "Why would Moses grief? He went and guided Thunder Walker's soul to salvation. Our friend rests now. He might return after the Ghost Dance... or later, during the Reckoning, if he chooses so. He'll be an ally most valuable in both outcomes. But if he returns, his soul will be untainted."

The giant seems very sure.
"Moses was asked to help make the Ghost Dance happen. But during the Ghost Dance, he shall need go to Deadwood. To find someone who can guide Moses to another Lost Spirit. What can Moses do, to help you, prophet Wovoka?"

Wovoka nods, seeming to quickly grasp Moses' meaning. "I see. It is good that you have helped him."

He's quiet a moment. "The Ghost Dance is not this one dance, Moses. It is many. We are here because I wish to show the wiscasas the dance, to gain permission from them to teach it to other shamans. To do what I foresee we can do will take many, many more dancers than we have. It will be many months before we are ready for the greatest dance, to waken the sleeping spirits of the land. My hope is that we can keep the Lakota and the bluecoats from war until then. But it is hard. The calls for war are very loud, though it would be folly to go to battle in autumn. There will be skirmishes--rash young warriors looking to count coup, old and angry men looking for vengeance for the loss of loved ones and the fading of their way of life."

He sighs. "I have been speaking with the wicasas, but Red Cloud has fallen. There is no leader for the Oglala to temper Sitting Bull. Spotted Elk is with us, but Spotted Tail thinks the coming of the white man is inevitable and that the Lakota should sell their heart and their soul to Custer to keep the people alive. And Sitting Bull...all he talks of is war." He looks at the fire pensively. "I can call to the spirits of Red Cloud, and Black Kettle too, but I need all the shamans here to dance with me. The Ghost Dance is the dance of a whole village, not one man. It will take five days--if I am allowed to perform it. And then, I must have someone watching me, watching the dance, but who is not part of it, because I am certain The Ravenites will try to interfere or pervert it in some way."

He looks back at Moses. "I need you here, Moses. Screaming Rabbit will be dancing. The youth cannot watch for treachery. Nor can the Cheyenne. If you could find me someone to watch over and protect us, I could release you to go to Deadwood before the dance is done. Otherwise, I need you here."

Moses nods, grimly determined.
"The Lord wants the Ghost Dance, Wovoka. As his loyal servant, Moses will do what he can to protect you. But the Caretaker has offered his help for the Ghost Dance, too. And he seemed powerful."

He thinks for a moment, cocking his head as if listening to advice, then nods.
"Moses could go to Deadwood, then return in time for the Ghost Dance to watch over you and the others. It would be good to be here should Thunder Walker choose to return."
This message was last edited by the player at 09:20, Sat 12 Apr 2014.

Wovoka nods. "It will take you a day to reach Deadwood on a fast horse, and still have time to locate this guide. You can start in the morning...it is bad medicine to travel by night."

"The Lord will show Moses the fastest route. Friends are already in Deadwood, they might know where to look. And they might offer their help as guardians. If not against the Ravenites, then against the Bluebellies."
This message was last edited by the player at 09:12, Sun 13 Apr 2014.

Wovoka nods. "It seems as it should, then. Come, let us gather for the evening meal."

He leads Moses to the campfire, where a number of familiar faces have gathered. The Cheyenne who helped Moses battle the Ravenites nod, while Sky Hawk chats with Amazing Horse, who seems to have recently returned from his trip escorting the pilgrims back to Deadwood.

Also there is an older shaman, the one who stayed behind at the ravine to tend to the bodies of the fallen. Laughing Calf, Moses thinks. That was his name.

The elderly shaman seems to be trying to comfort Horn Chips, who seems quite upset over something.

[Language unknown: "K o asun m ur es kor naroel anpr ssis."] Laughing Calf says.

[Language unknown: "To loee ter ectratore. E ntstmo eau eiof. K ceai rere nomaol allughonskorvor caei Plsapo Untrck, n ta usrentad, m...ngilacwh!"] Horn Chips waves his arms, emphatically. [Language unknown: "An es red werkormen, sathi wead her, ic iveal outmannde ur stbut ro el e eenisess ieek! I iouwilany to verthoure at te din!"]

Another older shaman, the Cheyenne known as Eagles Floating, sighs. [Language unknown: "Stantewhi Ecut le paaice stshe la thostrith nd mo butmenrom onepl, Day Teolng. Ho ei eenomesan ica onca al ilulol. M acan t actapo strichpre."]

[Language unknown: "Il ateoutver tr ion ckpl."] Horn Chips growls. [Language unknown: "Erseensan, ekmotr, ho la ar."]

Had to re-read a few threads...

13:48, Today: Moses rolled 15,2 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of (8+7)15,2. Faith for Speak Language.

[Language unknown: "Hema Intvenare"], he starts, [Language unknown: "Thawhetio paere fihawe wheel Ulhear. We ckaspral, T thadinlin ure Iceipo Ort Stioerard nte Atiorters one Estiec Enplmi m Forwasnceset, i allallect acul ughsomnce, Ithsetlar Are. Eewhai taos wiioho me not eiand he Eeliei Nillna. Lece e dinortoul day ill onchng vir ckiothta nd oshias me Wilsheousman. Con ekeees con pl thiic na mi he Setwil'ardiou. El comionate ev outersartevethi somatiany in isre Koringill Erunri."]

He nods at Eagles Floating. [Language unknown: "P Heietr Lin tawemese ovefi, Tesan Mimack, Eeilse ilcane as om i riiou iveof fo our whoul llpl ha ou Mamiioom. Urusnd Sheiv thu adcatase isas ofwhi potic senamios."]

((OOC: Yeah, lots of continuity to keep straight.))

The older Cheyenne gives Moses a relieved smile. [Language unknown: "Eeican anfo. O ca os andpr thapo iclowi intasi o ceich."]

[Language unknown: "M mihotr, It Isal Lepr."] Laughing Calf says. [Language unknown: "P nc in ore, On osbe o arurre. Wi ng inederons nde estainous n vor. Diai tra evac a unasna, ic sheera'ichman etlaparo ngofta. K t ectoneenc, fi venwiltioall saac teta onethiint, priong en hisst usal enant tra lar aveesseau set ess icenchei wiwh arus ilio onsingugh. P et ousos ess asnt oremi wiilio onriek, prowa en laek ch korhas'eauousone. N no adwe tasewi diitos hangwi wer ne thon elenetat."]
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:54, Tue 15 Apr 2014.