Helios huh, listen bud I appreciate the help but just who the hell are you?
Erik finally tired of shivering gets closer to the fire, only mustering a simple "Thanks." toward "Big Bill".
Bill grins and takes a few more steps. Suddenly the storm dies down. The area around his cabin is perhaps a sixty foot diameter where the snow only falls lightly once more. From the cabin smoke rises from the chimney. Erik and Kindo rush right inside and to the fire.
Bill looks at Guides who was following along through the woods and heavy snow but is suddenly exposed! "Ya c'n change back now unless ya like bein' a wolf friend".
He winks at Sylas, "I already told you, I'm Bill". He motions once again for you all to follow him.
That said he follows Erik and Kindo into the house leaving the rest of you in the, bubble is perhaps the best way to describe it, outside of it.
"Where are we exactly? Because I know we aren't on earth."
Bill grins at Howls, "Quite perceptive Howls, We are indeed not on Gaia any longer. Long have my ancestors protected and cultivated this near Umbral realm. Certain Spirits aid me in its maintenance.
It allows me to hide when needs be or use it as a place to give others succor. Tonight, it shall be used to give your young pack such a place.
Come, sit by the fire and we shall share stories with one another. If you hunger I can give you good grub as well".
If possible, Guides jaw would drop in surprise - is this man garou, spirit or something else? But this confirms this suspicion that this man is related to the theurge in some way. He gladly (but not TOO gladly, as he had endured privation before and better than these homids!) gets within the bounds of the Holy place, although he remains in lupus form. Once inside, he sits by the fire, and inclines his head in thanks m
Sitting by the fire and trying to warm up " Big Bill- thank you. It's been a strange day."
Kindo rubs his hands together, then stretches them out to the fire. He simply nods, not looking away
"Indeed. If not for your timely rescue. We would be lost for sure. Werewolf, spirit, at this point i do not care. All i can say is, we are very grateful for your help"
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Bill smiles and sits in a large old chair that groans beneath his weight.
"Tell me, how did you come to be so far north in that Blizzard? I heard Howls echo through my Realm here so loud and forceful that my curiosity got tha' best of me. Then I find all of you. Yet none of you have Wendigo blood coursing through your veins or Wendigo ancestors embedded within your souls".
"We were suppose to go to some trial... then the Wendigos, who were suppose to help us, kicked us out because someone teied to frame our sponsors, by killing Wendigos... thats as much as i can tell." still trying to watm up properly
-Posted with Wayfinder
we were here for our trial and met with fox who gave us a gift in return for help with some banes. When we woke the pups of the wendigo had been slain and a token from the sept of the green was left near the bodies. The rage took them then and they intend to war with all those who support us. We were trying to go warn them in time to stop slaughter.
He frowns, "Then your Rite of Passage has not begun". He looks at Kindo seemingly puzzled, "But why would you..." He pauses then continues hesitant at first, "Consider this a lesson young pups, a lesson that many of your ancestors have learned but long forgotten. Those of the changing breeds must be the masters of our Rage and not mastered by it.
Indeed, the ego of the wolf has caused then to believe they are the chosen breed and driven them to hunt many of the others to brink of extinction!" He finishes his thought with a hard edge to his voice.
"Now though, before it is too late, your people must learn from your mistakes! Treat allies with respect and join with them to defeat the wyrm that threatens to devour our Mother. Perhaps you are the ones who will be able to do just that". He sighs, "Forgive an old man I do not mean to blame you, you have been slandered enough this night. Rest here, in the morning I will feed you and teach you one last lesson".
He gets up and you all hear howls in the distance they are similar to those you heard at the Caern. He frowns yet again and shakes his head saying nothing further as he goes to his room.
"You sound as if you are personally affected by this, are you a member of one of these changing breeds? "
Bill pauses and shakes his head affirmatively, "Remember it is a Son of the Bear that brought you in from the cold this day. Remember that I would do it again though many of your people would kill me, if they could". He lingers a moment more as if if awaiting more questions but unsure if he truly wants to answer them.
Erik looks up from the fire after hearing Big Bill's words.
"I can't speak for any of the rest of us, but I know I'll remember that. You've treated us a hell of a lot better than our own kind, Bill. Most appreciated." Erik says, genuinely beginning to take a liking to the old man.
we need to find a rite of passage to be accepted among our kind. Any ideas Bill?
Bill grimaces, "Your Rites have begun. The younger Wendigo will ignore tradition and hunt you. The wyrm haunts these woods. Someone has framed you and your Elders for murder. Survive this and all of you will have earned the respect of the Garou Nation. Those whose respect is worth having anyway..."
Bill pauses and shakes his head affirmatively, "Remember it is a Son of the Bear that brought you in from the cold this day. Remember that I would do it again though many of your people would kill me, if they could". He lingers a moment more as if if awaiting more questions but unsure if he truly wants to answer them.
Guides shifts into his homid form - naked- to better speak with this strange being.
A Son Of Bear? Always have my people spoken well of yours. I am in your debt.
He awkwardly walks over to Bill, heedless of his nudity, hand extended to shake.
Bill seems not at all uncomfortable. He shakes Guides' hand engulfing it Bill's is so large, "I thank you young one. I fear that I am not entirely familiar with all tribes from which do you hail?"
He grins for a moment, "I just realizes, I did not ask any of you your names. I am afraid manners are not all that necessary when dealing with most Spirits..."
Erik grins a bit, having taken a liking to the large man.
"Hi Bill. I'm Erik, Erik Talbot. I'm still pretty new to all of this, but from what KleWin tells me, I'm a Glasswalker. Thanks again for taking us in by the way."
"A bear you say? I am Howls-at-dawn of the Uktena. "
"I am Gentle Claws of the Shadow Lords. "
I am Sylas, my wolf name is Shadow of the silver fangs. Sylas will also shake hands and give Bill a smile.
Kindo bows, he keep his head down as he speaks, showing as much respect as he could.
"I am simply known as Kindo, revered Son of Bear. It is an honor to meet one such as your self"
Bill shakes Sylas' hand. His eyes go wide, "Interesting, none of you are from the same tribes it seems. Rare these days. I shall have to sleep on that. Please by all means my new friends, sleep and sleep well as you must be tired and may not find such relaxed shelter again soon. As I said, in the morning I shall make breakfast and provide you what information I can".
Bill heads to his own room leaving the living room to you all. Plenty of couches chairs and furs are in this room for you all to become comfortable.
If the rest do decide to go to bed, he will try to go have a conversation with Bill
And I am from the Red Talons, called Guides-The-Pack in the human tongue.
Sylas will put his clothing in his bag and go to wolf form and sleep in the furs and regain gnosis.
He bows again, keeping his head low
"Son of Bear, it is our wish to prove to the Garou that the other Children of Gaia can, and must be trusted. Or we will lose to the Devourer. I was sent so that i can show not only their kind and do their Rites. My elder deemed me worthy, and asked my that i show the wisdom of the Mokole to them. A young pack will not have the experience to root me out. So it was the perfect opportunity to embed me within the Garou" when he was finished with his explination he finally raises his head. A grin on his face. Seems that his demeanor shifted a bit from a scared human to something... more
"Son of Bear. My memory goes back to the Last Times... or as the Garou would say. The First times. It is an honor to meet you. My... mentor wished for this to be a secret. And I believe we can trust you. So from me, i thank you" he puts out his hand to Bill
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Uncloak the Hidden
Rank 1 Planetary Gift (Hakahe)
By concentrating on a person, object or area, the Garou can determine whether or not her target is hiding anything. The Garou can spot disguises, concealed weapons and wires; determine if a room contains trapdoors, hidden cameras, microphones and wire taps; or if someone lurks in a hidden passage. The Gift does not, however, allow the Garou to seek beneath the disguise, determine the nature of a concealed weapon or tell what lies within a hidden wall safe – this trick reveals only that a deception is present. The Garou must concentrate on the target in order to invoke this Gift.
System: The player rolls Perception + Investigation (difficulty 8). Extra successes might reveal more facts about the subject, if multiple secrets exist to be sought out. The Storyteller should inform the player of her characters’ knowledge in general terms (“That man has some sort of disguise”; “The floor contains a hollow beneath the floorboards”).
Source: Rage Across the Heavens
Bill teaches you this Gift. It will cost 7 XP to purchase it.
The night passes by peacefully and uneventfully.
As you all wake Kindo seems a bit tired but yet energetic.
Bill has prepared an amazing breakfast of eggs, bread, Canadian bacon, fresh honey (of course!) and apple juice.
As you sit to eat he shares with you a tale, "Many, many years ago, before the white man came to this part of the world, there was a great tribe of the wind-walkers who dominated this land and ran it like an ice ridden empire. The mightiest among these was a shaman called She-Cries-Ice, who fought a terrible evil spirit. The evil spirit was called the Narlthus and could not be bound into anything of this world. But She-Cries-Ice whispered to the sky and called down a stone from another world. The great shaman bound the Narlthus into this sky stone and it struck the mountains with great force. Thus, burying the Narlthus completely. Legend says that the mountain lies but north of here and that one day, the Narlthus will rise again to defeat the children of She-Cries-Ice".
He pauses and snarls, "Is this mountain the source of evil that threatens my woods or has the Wyrm become so bold that it would enter these woods despite the closeness of the Great Caern of the Wendigo?!"
His face calms, "I do not know that answer to that. To the south and to the north lie animals who have become infected with the Taint of the Wyrm. If you wish to honor your agreement with the Fox, through these woods must you roam.
If you seek to find civilization then it is to the east you must go. There you will find a road that will lead you back to humans and their habitats.
Ware the Caern of the Wendigo.
West the woods become more Wyld, there perhaps you will encounter spirits if it is wisdom you seek.
I sense the Blizzard still rages outside of my Realm, the storm is... unnatural. Have you any other questions for me before we part ways?"
Kindo listens and waits. A bit hard for the young one, but he manages to finally grasp the complexity of the gift
"Thank you Son of Bear. I will use the gift wisely once i have mastered it"
Listening to Bill he looks at those around him
"If we still wish to honour Fox... i say we go and do so. And I believe it will help Bill in the long run too. Not just us and this place. But on a more wide spread effect. Maybe even help our rep with those Wendigo chaps?" he chuckles a bit before composing himself again
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I said I would help fox and I meant it, so I agree, let us go check out the mountain first?
"It does seem like the best place to start."
In between bites of food, " yes through the woods towards the mountain seems the best route.
Bill shakes the hand of each member of the "pack". He then escorts you from his home and into the glen. You all walk together, soon the snow picks up, so blinding and so hard you can no longer see Bill and barely see each other.
"Good luck and farewell"... your hear his voice trail off as the wind whipping swallows anythig further he might have said.
The Blizzard has indeed picked up in intensity, the weather is freezing and the snow feels like tiny needles striking your body.
"Man, this weather sucks..."
Erik begins shivering and thinks it best to shift into Lupus form to gain the extra warmth of fur and heightened senses beyond sight alone.
Sylas stays in lupus and will strap his bag across his large back and run with the new pack through the snow.
"So judging by... well... it should be obvious, right? North should be that way... yes. Im certain of it. Even if it isnt. I jist want to get away from the cold!" he was shivering quite badly
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Howls at dawn will also shift into Lupus and follow the pack.
Almost immediately Erik becomes hopelessly lost. If not for Kindo grabbing him and facing him the right way he may have been lost for a long time.
Gabriel and Guides assume Lupus form as well and stalk along with the group following the directions that Howls and Kindo give. Curiously, Kindo does not assume Lupus form and struggles through the snow in his Homid form bogging down the travel through the snow drifts quickly forming in the forest.
-Posted with Wayfinder
He hugged himself tight. Shivering as he trudged through the elements that was thrown against his body. He growled and stuttered. This was not his idea of fun...
-Posted with Wayfinder
I will shift into Lupus and follow the pack.
As I see Kindo struggle I will stop and shift back.
"You are going to freeze so shift so you can warm up. we can get there quicker. "
"I c....c...cant shift into a w....w...w..
Wolf..." he shivers more as he trudges along the path
-Posted with Wayfinder
"I c....c...cant shift into a w....w...w..
Wolf..." he shivers more as he trudges along the path-Posted with Wayfinder
Howls-at-dawn stops when he hears this, and turns towards Kindo, shifting back out of Lupus. "You should probably explain that right now, before we decide to leave you here to die."
"The leader of the Silver Fangs, Jakob Morningkill knows about this, he told me before I left, 'You have excelled despite yet experiencing your first change young Pup. I have been asked to provide one of my younglings for an "experiment". As you have yet to turn, I have selected you for this... whatever it is. You will go, you will pass and you will Change. If you do not come back a full Garou, I expect that you will not come back, is that understood?' so here i am, freezing my butt off so i can prove myself, that explanation enough?" he tried to sound threatening, but through the shivering, and the fact that he couldnt feel half his extremities, he just didnt have any heart in him to follow through
Sylas shifts to crinos and says growlingly if Jakob says you are here for such, then enough for me, but you may die before it, or you may just be a kin to our kind and never change. using his firat aid bag he extends the straps and then grabs Kindo and puts him on his huge back saying stay in my fur for warmth and dont let go. and then he will carry Kindo shifting back into lupus and using the bag as a makeshift holder/saddle for Kindo low on his back.