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17:17, 28th March 2024 (GMT+0)

Chapter 5.3: Ghosts and Dreams ((Bear Butte))

Posted by The StrayFor group 0
Tan Xiaohan
Screaming Rabbit, 918 posts
Born to run
P5 T5 W0 F0 Cha 0 W1R1B0
Mon 3 Oct 2016
at 21:13
  • msg #14

Re: Chapter 5.3: Ghosts and Dreams ((Bear Butte))

"Ah..." Rabbit rubs the spot under the queue, thinking. "You don' mind they swear like crazy people...there not real law there, just understanding, so they swearing a lot instead of gunfight a lot. Like dogs go to bark at each other, instead of always attack the throat. You keep Kira near you - she good, big dog for mining men to make the fight with, then maybe sausages."

Rabbit lip-bites a moment. "Sometimes there go Raven men there, for liquor and bitches. Most guys there for that even before they to bath and get food for camp. Whores on Deadwood street steal wallet, though. Whores own by Swearengen and Huang Li mostly dragon-chasers, use by everyone that go there; they half dead with diseases, give you the syphilis and all the rest. You drink the miner drink from stockade people, you test with the fire first, or go blind drinking that, but they sell cheap anyway. They bad people. It is a bad place."
Art C. Wiley
Finally Listening, 323 posts
Speckled brother
P6 T5 W0 F0 Cha0 W0R2B4L1
Mon 3 Oct 2016
at 22:14
  • msg #15

Re: Chapter 5.3: Ghosts and Dreams ((Bear Butte))

Art nodded at what Rabbit conveyed. "I heard me pappy swear enough - pleasant enough fellow, but if somethin' hurt 'im....well, haven't practiced it much lately, but mebbe I can swear like crazy at Moses on our way there.  Just ta be ready ta speak like a local an' all. I will keep Kira very close, thanks again fer the warnin'." Art turned to look at where his loyal pooch was loitering, and smiled at the dog before returning his attention to the other matters.

He shook his head and leaned a little on his shillelagh. "I will no be visitin' any whores while there, an it be sounding like I better no have a drink, either, or be very careful if I do."

He raised an eyebrow. "Anything you be wantin' us to do while there? Messages you want delivered and the like?"
Tan Xiaohan
Screaming Rabbit, 919 posts
Born to run
P5 T5 W0 F0 Cha 0 W1R1B0
Mon 3 Oct 2016
at 23:24
  • msg #16

Re: Chapter 5.3: Ghosts and Dreams ((Bear Butte))

Rabbit looks at Moses, then back to Art. "That would be mean...maybe you just swear in your own head, but...a lot? Or swear at Little Crow, he deserve it and probably not understand it anyway," Rabbit advises.

There's a slight untensing of Rabbit's posture at the declaration of clean habits. "That good...one of the brothel owners, she a cat-devil - don' kick any of her cat friend, or she bite you to make you love her, then scratch you to death for extra mean. Drink pretty okay in Celestial Alley, though, or from bottle with the label, if you see it opened."

Rabbit takes a long, seemingly casual moment to get entirely wrapped in blanket again. The pain, fear, and rage within swells and washes through every corner of the shamen's soul and away, silent as held breath, as Rabbit's hidden hands dig into the earth. Let. Go. Or. Be. Dragged. Survive. Act. Breathe.

"I..." Rabbit looks up with a pleasant half-smile. "I-if you see Caramity Jane, you tell her the flying Chinaman made it to the Nations."
Art C. Wiley
Finally Listening, 325 posts
Speckled brother
P6 T5 W0 F0 Cha0 W0R2B4L1
Tue 4 Oct 2016
at 12:55
  • msg #17

Re: Chapter 5.3: Ghosts and Dreams ((Bear Butte))

Art smiled at Rabbit's suggestion of how to practice his language for the coming trip to Deadwood. He nodded his head one time. "In me head, then. Or maybe a bit at Little Crow. Though maybe Moses needs his own practice, or would find me profanity-laced speech ta be funny?" Art shrugged, seemingly satisfied with the consideration they'd given the subject.

Art looked over at Kira again. "Right, don't kick no cats and I probably shouldn't let Kira chase 'em either."

He scratched the left side of his face as Rabbit pondered what message might be good to send. "I will find this Calamity Jane fer ya, an' let her know." Both eyebrows raised after he made the statement. "Anythin' else?"
Tan Xiaohan
Screaming Rabbit, 921 posts
Born to run
P5 T5 W0 F0 Cha 0 W3R1B0
Tue 4 Oct 2016
at 19:08
  • msg #18

Re: Chapter 5.3: Ghosts and Dreams ((Bear Butte))

Rabbit leans to look back inside the tipi the others had used the night before to see if Wolf Runner had simply gone back to sleep after breaking fast. "...you sell Wolf Runner's guns, and, uh...if Custer has got there already, maybe you capture him?"
Art C. Wiley
Finally Listening, 327 posts
Speckled brother
P6 T5 W0 F0 Cha0 W1R3B4L1
Tue 4 Oct 2016
at 20:26
  • msg #19

Re: Chapter 5.3: Ghosts and Dreams ((Bear Butte))

"Sell guns, yup and..." Art's eyes went wide and he had to laugh at the last. When he was finished, he still had a wide smile and shook his head. "Yeah, if Custer be there, well, I be owing him a good...capturin'. No promises there, though."
Tan Xiaohan
Screaming Rabbit, 922 posts
Born to run
P5 T5 W0 F0 Cha 0 W3R1B0
Wed 5 Oct 2016
at 20:38
  • msg #20

Re: Chapter 5.3: Ghosts and Dreams ((Bear Butte))

"For serious," Rabbit tries to get in over the white giant's laughter, then when he has finished: "If you see him and beat him with your stick so he die, or the Raven men do, then the bluecoats will go all over to be outlaw in the countryside. If he go on doing as he is, as a free man and a general, we go at war with the United States right now...maybe if you do see him, and you have any spirit friend that fly, you ask them for help."

Rabbit shifts a little on the spot. "Last night I dreamed things were well, that clarity and much food come to the land here...but I saw that Deadwood was half burned, and did not see if there was anyone living there. I hope it was the more wicked part that burn away, but I think maybe because Custer there, he destroy all good will for his people - your people - and it happen as everyone go against them for self-defense."

Art C. Wiley
Finally Listening, 330 posts
Speckled brother
P6 T5 W0 F0 Cha0 W1R3B4L1
Wed 5 Oct 2016
at 21:09
  • msg #21

Re: Chapter 5.3: Ghosts and Dreams ((Bear Butte))

Art nodded. "Yeah, me stick be good for handin' out beatin's. It also be good at callin' fer help - mebbe a flyin' spirit be one of those that answer. But what do you mean about Custer and me people?"
Tan Xiaohan
Screaming Rabbit, 923 posts
Born to run
P5 T5 W0 F0 Cha 0 W3R1B0
Wed 5 Oct 2016
at 21:51
  • msg #22

Re: Chapter 5.3: Ghosts and Dreams ((Bear Butte))

"All the Devon, Cornish...all the white men there, they make the settlement for United States," Rabbit tries, wondering if switching to the local tongue would help. "If Custer start shit, say he the hand of United States...it become only good sense for everyone not of there to drive off or kill all the settler before they do same as the man who say he is their chief."
Wovoka
NPC, 40 posts
Paiute Messiah
P5 T8 W2 F0 Cha +6
Wed 5 Oct 2016
at 22:02
  • msg #23

Re: Chapter 5.3: Ghosts and Dreams ((Bear Butte))

"Eagles Floating in Gentle Breezes told me that there was a disturbance in Yellow Hair's army." Wovoka says. "There was a man--one named Manning--who was sent by the Great Father in Washington to capture Yellow Hair. But in the battle that followed, he was grave wounded and not able to complete his mission. Is this true? You were there."
Art C. Wiley
Finally Listening, 331 posts
Speckled brother
P6 T5 W0 F0 Cha0 W1R3B4L1
Thu 6 Oct 2016
at 13:26
  • msg #24

Re: Chapter 5.3: Ghosts and Dreams ((Bear Butte))

Art nodded once at Wovoka's statement.[Language unknown: "Na tooun uschno Diweek. Utusng esiv ssilto a maeiosleis, n on saect. St Ecwabe eraes ut ticdintha m handdi ch venredred on ar manic antineers Lellha. I isatnd onevte intichratlin i ntlepl p mo. Bewaus e encineineove k p wh na el Icanic. I ulain man out il st fi. Ard Ur heme Paommi, o uleve ndrom ect orean onssheoun. Not pro ore orter e ol isstos?"]

OOC: I re-read the end of the thread - Manning was alive and well when Art had to leave him, right? Or was there something stated elsewhere that I'm not remembering (it's been a while...)
This message was last edited by the player at 16:21, Thu 06 Oct 2016.
Wovoka
NPC, 41 posts
Paiute Messiah
P5 T8 W2 F0 Cha +6
Thu 6 Oct 2016
at 15:44
  • msg #25

Re: Chapter 5.3: Ghosts and Dreams ((Bear Butte))

"Then he may be someone you can turn to to help capture Yellow Hair. For he should be captured if possible. If he is killed, the Great Father in Washington may make him a...is the word martyr? Yes, they would make him a marytr, and send in more blue coats, this time with the Great Father's full blessing. and if he is not captured, and winters in Deadwood, the calls for war will be loud indeed. Already I hear calls for some sort of retaliation for Yellow Hair breaking the treaty. Screaming Rabbit fears that the braves will wipe out all the white men, rather than just Yellow Hair's long knives. I fear the death of the Lakota people, and the mighty nation they have built."

((OOC: I'm assuming Eagles Floating told Wovoka about Manning, which is why he knows, but yeah, when you guys left he'd been healed up but wasn't able to stop Custer's forces.))
This message was last edited by the player at 15:45, Thu 06 Oct 2016.
Art C. Wiley
Finally Listening, 332 posts
Speckled brother
P6 T5 W0 F0 Cha0 W1R3B4L1
Thu 6 Oct 2016
at 16:28
  • msg #26

Re: Chapter 5.3: Ghosts and Dreams ((Bear Butte))

Art nodded and switched back to his Irish Brogue. "The word be martyr, sure. Describin' a man killed fer a cause. Sometimes killin' only incites more people rather'n silencin' folk, don't it? I do no be sure that his death doin' things against the will o' the Union president be somethin' that make him so. But best if Colonel Manning can do what he was tasked wit. I'll find him as well. If nuthin else, Kira'll remember his scent." 
Wovoka
NPC, 42 posts
Paiute Messiah
P5 T8 W2 F0 Cha +6
Thu 6 Oct 2016
at 16:44
  • msg #27

Re: Chapter 5.3: Ghosts and Dreams ((Bear Butte))

Wovoka nods. "Then go with the spirits, Finally Listening." He offers his arm.
Art C. Wiley
Finally Listening, 333 posts
Speckled brother
P6 T5 W0 F0 Cha0 W1R3B4L1
Thu 6 Oct 2016
at 17:06
  • msg #28

Re: Chapter 5.3: Ghosts and Dreams ((Bear Butte))

Art grasped the arm and bowed his head. "My thanks. I trust the spirits will watch over me and guide me."

He turned toward Rabbit and inclined his head politely. "Farewell. I look forward to the next time our paths be crossing."
Tan Xiaohan
Screaming Rabbit, 924 posts
Born to run
P5 T5 W0 F0 Cha 0 W3R1B0
Thu 6 Oct 2016
at 18:55
  • msg #29

Re: Chapter 5.3: Ghosts and Dreams ((Bear Butte))

Rabbit approximates a sitting bow in response.

"Go well, return safe, Finally Listening." There's a small quirk of a smile at the new name, but it's clear the sentiment is genuine, previous annoyance forgiven.
The Stray
GM, 1681 posts
The Marshal
'round these parts
Fri 7 Oct 2016
at 21:09
  • msg #30

Re: Chapter 5.3: Ghosts and Dreams ((Bear Butte))

((OOC: Moses? Anything more to say?))
Moses
player, 489 posts
A prophet or a lunatic?
P6 T8 W0F0 Cha-2 W4R1B2L1
Mon 10 Oct 2016
at 08:32
  • msg #31

Re: Chapter 5.3: Ghosts and Dreams ((Bear Butte))

The huge black man had leaned heavily on his staff, his eyes closed, either nodding off or listening intensely.

Now he speaks, his eyes still closed.
"Finally Listening shall be Moses' keeper. And Moses will be Finally Listening's keeper. And together, shaman and prophet shall return safe to you, Screaming Rabbit."

He opens his eyes now, looking down at Screaming Rabbit. He licks his lips, as if searching for words, then smiles.
[Language unknown: "Olatte lian p wil haofme ectai notiontha re Inngthme. Es ver sheameardvor."]

He tilts his head slightly as the wind rustles the leaves on the ground, then nods.
[Language unknown: "Iouad Hiof tedanyeen Asbeul tra om ficeth ndllho, manhisfor ss. Ekunto artna arof Earvenvor a ceaiie asad os ate chone ch ntsais, Llntchad Instck? P hacom ou chdiac ie Ha, petha is lack e Herainiou ereen ri day str. Itus Iles meatch a ineateevekor omeeenredatesom o ur was shekorure eenterant, ro di sta al itpa ha."]
Tan Xiaohan
Screaming Rabbit, 931 posts
Born to run
P5 T5 W0 F0 Cha 0 W3R1B0
Mon 10 Oct 2016
at 18:22
  • msg #32

Re: Chapter 5.3: Ghosts and Dreams ((Bear Butte))

Rabbit's eyes widen, then get bright with sorrow and soul-deep gratitude both. The small shamen bows to Moses. [Language unknown: "I...ck..."]

Rabbit takes a deep breath and falls into a sudden silence, eyes closed hard for several seconds, not breathing. When the youth looks up the gaze is as hard as the gleam of a straight razor. [Language unknown: "Cengha Witpronceiou A p any Ouhe Ountiooun trass ei tra dinio ughli e foone o ousus korck derndehas esla."

"Undte ilsi voroutred wi maus ti ureini com no butre eveca Ortasture io u areil eesewa...ta ti sated outet Ospein assom onun, alna ast riceal adain, se ilmeio o ac ave rat for tioli iveios illai not ard p dinaretho e ountr ut eve comlo maom. Iene atwe i ri nteartoul a ekndul ad usetro utou io m mante is ear larevehat in n lo she t ofes pesses tece thuersect heutiv ence ie undratous ndthi esnte pated seme comasture antliname th art n voronskor. Was ev asno u me lesousillvor moarng, stin m witvorugh iv llos ti ortousichnti ilard lollma latartder ratoulred ck natha ameousbut omeainhou."
]
Clearly, Rabbit has been thinking about this a lot.

[Language unknown: "Ichntemen Ermeella romfortha. M fi t nce p ristwi io n unter k p os. Lecom ame ntloic Pe le ec ofati ilad icerut prebe th trmen, icou atiyinantany ha in nt teund whompl etti Somureall, eenameresard ort pawe ectwa ie. E ndeve ssvir ndwer iotrha Atica sebe wier adck m we streauich, lo ionof oulse mo."] Rabbit's voice runs raw with hope.
Moses
player, 491 posts
A prophet or a lunatic?
P6 T8 W0F0 Cha-2 W4R1B2L1
Mon 10 Oct 2016
at 19:07
  • msg #33

Re: Chapter 5.3: Ghosts and Dreams ((Bear Butte))

Moses nods, solemnly.
"If the Lord wills it, it will be done."
He bows, slightly, and turns around, flipping his stick forward and ramming it into the ground with every step.
The prophet seems cheerfully oblivious of the dangers that may be ahead of him.
The Stray
GM, 1696 posts
The Marshal
'round these parts
Tue 11 Oct 2016
at 15:16
  • msg #34

Re: Chapter 5.3: Ghosts and Dreams ((Bear Butte))

And with that, Moses and Art set out on their travels. Wovoka excuses himself to speak with Wolf Runner, leaving Rabbit rather alone.
Tan Xiaohan
Screaming Rabbit, 934 posts
Born to run
P5 T5 W0 F0 Cha 0 W3R1B0
Tue 11 Oct 2016
at 19:45
  • msg #35

Re: Chapter 5.3: Ghosts and Dreams ((Bear Butte))

...

Breathe.

It takes a few moments, simply breathing, for calm to return to Rabbit's soul: the small shamen picks it up from the cool earth and the sharp cold of the air, drawn in deep. Carefully, one by one, Rabbit lets go of the surge of hope and worry, the guilt, the uncomforted ache for one safe place, the unreasoning desire to throw off even the blanket's touch. She sits with the mountain some moments, no longer being dragged, then looks up at the flicker of some bird across the sky.

Rabbit gets up and pads over to Wovoka, awaiting a pause in his conversation. Wolf Runner looks so much stronger without the guns.

[Language unknown: "ilncei, Pa u toantr ites lenone leas Thiomi Lick naar," ]the youth interjects, then briefly shrugs the blanket back and holds it open on one side, the gesture showing the knife-belt worn more naturally, highlighting the female curve of hip to shoulder. [Language unknown: "Plel vorovesetsta, p io adstss," ] she says, and bows with a slight smile before heading up towards the Iron Dragon camp.
Iron Dragon Enforcers
NPC, 22 posts
Kung fu fightin'
P6 T5 F0 Cha 0 Extra
Tue 11 Oct 2016
at 21:12
  • msg #36

Re: Chapter 5.3: Ghosts and Dreams ((Bear Butte))

Wovoka nods. [Language unknown: "Unripa asere ast anekomnt ne."] he says simply. [Language unknown: "En m all na ensa al."]


The Iron Dragon camp is abuzz with morning activity. Men go about morning tasks. There aren't many women around, Rabbit notices.
Tan Xiaohan
Screaming Rabbit, 936 posts
Born to run
P5 T5 W0 F0 Cha 0 W3R1B0
Tue 11 Oct 2016
at 22:03
  • msg #37

Re: Chapter 5.3: Ghosts and Dreams ((Bear Butte))

In truth, Rabbit was not expecting a great number of women - besides the ghost girls whose flesh was interchangeable and expendable to their owners, few wives and genuine professionals made it across the ocean - but any that could be found, or smaller men willing to trade a shirt to Kang's shamen, she would approach.

Likewise anyone with a pot of rice, as her stomach was saying she had been up long enough already without food.
Warlord Kang
NPC, 45 posts
Railroad Baron
P11 T9 W0 F0 Cha -4
Tue 11 Oct 2016
at 22:41
  • msg #38

Re: Chapter 5.3: Ghosts and Dreams ((Bear Butte))

The cooks are active, so there is, in fact, rice to be had. Kang never asked for the gold coins back, just the papers, so Rabbit has plenty to trade for a meal from the cooks. A shirt is harder to find...Rabbit wanders around the camp, but none of the men seem quite small enough to have shirts that would be a good fit.

That's when Rabbit spies Kang himself.

The warlord is at the edge of the camp, slowly moving through the tai chi katas. Egg and Brick are standing nearby, keeping a watchful eye out.

There's another figure there, too. A dreadfully familiar figure 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, stands to Kang's side. Four native warriors stand near him, also looking on watchfully.

Kang and the Hooded One seem to be discussing something quietly.
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