Semi-random log from late last evening at the caern. Included in the extended scene are a) a demonstration of Eochaid's unique "curse," b) a retelling of the Turtle and the Hare story for those ignorant of it, and c) a semi-philosophical discussion between Moon Otter and Casey Scott. Thought it might be interesting on the Logs page in between all those glorious battle scenes. :P ========== (November 13, 1995. Late evening) (The Caern of the Wheel Renewed) [...] Eochaid's smile drops as his tone turns serious. "Me, I couldn't fight my way out of a wet paper bag, and not through a lack of trying either." Bitter-Water regards Eochaid for a few moments and then flicks an ear, honestly curious. No? How'd you manage that? Rholeen nods towards Eochaid, her expression also serious, sorta. "I would avoid wet paper bags then." Eochaid shrugs helplessy. "I think it's a curse, a geas or something. It's hard to explain. I could show you, if you wish. We could spar." Bitter-Water wuffles. Okay. Here? Rholeen shakes her head, "Folks? No fighting by the table stone, huh?" Bitter-Water glances at Rholeen. Uh, sure. Where, then? Near the Pool, Always Hungry appears in a glimmer of light. Rholeen looks to the northwest, "Well...the Talons seem to like to use the earthen mound over there. Less chance to scuff up the place I suppose." Eochaid guestures over to the mound, as he begins to take off his jerkin. "Glabro all right with you?" Bitter-Water contorts and blurs as she is transformed. You shift into Glabro form. Eochaid lightly drapes the jerkin over his army olive duffelbag. As he walks up on top of the mound. Eochaid contorts and blurs as he is transformed. Eochaid heads northwest to the mound of earth. Eochaid has left. On the Earth Mound, Eochaid shifts into Glabro form. Casey Scott pushes back her hat. In near-man form, her forehead is graced by a sharp, if stumpy, pale horn. She shrugs off her jacket and limps over toward the mound. You head to the northwest, toward the rising mound of earth. Earth Mound Contents: Eochaid Obvious exits: Forward Back Center of the Wheel At the center, Rholeen follows along, unable to resist even the slightest possiblity of entertainment. Even watching golf on tv would interest her at this point. At the center, Rholeen heads northwest to the mound of earth. Casey Scott lowers herself into a slight crouch, resting most of her weight on her right foot. Eochaid drops himself into a familliar fighting stance, raising his arms at the ready. Casey Scott starts off with a nice, straightforward move. She hop-limps forward a step and swings a meaty fist at the Fianna's face. Rholeen sits down at a safe distance, pulling her backpack off and using it to lean on. Eochaid makes a graceful and practiced move to block the strike, and to counter-punch. However, as he moves his foot forward, it hits a muddy patch on the mound and slips out from under him, pitching him forward. His face solidly connects with the fist and his feet fling out from under him as he lands flat on his back, briefly unconcious. Casey Scott blinks. Then she blinks again. "Fuckin' hell!" The Metis limps forward and crouches down over the felled Fianna. "Fuckin' hell of luck." Rholeen finishes getting comfortable for the fight, and then turns to watch the match. She then looks incredulously at the results of what she missed. "Hey! I demand instant reply!" Casey Scott stares. "Fuckin' /hell/," she says again. She looks at Rholeen. "Dude knows /how/ to fight. Dexterous sucker, shoulda hit me easy. Instead he /tripped/ and smashed his face into my fist." Near the Pool, Always Hungry heads into the center. At the center, Always Hungry heads northwest to the mound of earth. Always Hungry has arrived. Always Hungry comes over to watch what is happening closer, though not too close. On the southern curve, Moon Otter comes in from the woodland to the south. Eochaid blinks, clearing his vision. "Ugh. Aye. It took me three years to survive cubhood before I realized that I was never going to be able to really fight." A hand delicately touches the rapidly appearing black eye. He flashes a wry grin up at his apponent. "You see why I wanted glabro, eh?" Casey Scott chuckles. "That woulda been a smooth move otherwise," she says admiringly. "You cursed?" Eochaid struggles up into a sitting position. "Ugh. I've reason to suspect so." Casey Scott remains in a crouch, one hand resting on the ground for added balance. ~That sucks, man,~ she says, switching to Garou. ~How do you fight the Wyrm, then?~ On the southern curve, Moon Otter pads in from the southern woods, breath fogging in the cool air as he slows his pace to a leisurely speed and settles back upon his haunches in the center. On the southern curve, Moon Otter heads into the center. Eochaid smiles brilliantly at Casey, the kind of smile that would make weaker women faint. "I charm them into a false sense of overconfidence, maneuver them into a position where my packmates can off them." Rholeen gets back up, and pulls her pack back on after dusting it off. She then waves over to Oscar. "You just missed the quickest spar I'll ever seen. Well, actually I missed it too. It was that fast." Casey Scott returns the grin. ~That works. You in a pack, then?~ At the center, Moon Otter quirks an ear at the Strider. Oh? Eochaid nods. "Aye. That I am. Me and Brian and Eamon and, maybie, Rik, under Morrigan." Eochaid's black eye is already beginning to fade into nothing. Casey Scott looks wistful. ~Brian. I met him. Ahroun Fianna, right? Black hair, leather duster?~ She grins. ~I thought he seemed pretty cool, even if he didn't have much good to say about the Alpha.~ Rholeen nods to Oscar, "Yep. I thought I was bad, but at least luck favors me." Eochaid chuckles. "He /is/ the Alpha, last I heard." Casey Scott looks taken aback. Then she laughs. ~Oooh-kay. Must be some kinda Fianna thing, or he was trying to make sure he didn't get on a high horse.~ On the eastern curve, Brittany makes her way out of the woods to the east. At the center, Moon Otter splays his ear slightly. Then may your luck not run out. On the eastern curve, Brittany quietly makes her way from the East, turning directly to the fire pit. On the eastern curve, Brittany follows the Wheel to the Fire Pit. Near the Fire Pit, Brittany circles the Wheel, arriving from the eastern curve. Rholeen nods, wondering if Oscar's always sounded like a fortune cookie. "Um, thanks." Eochaid grunts as he gets to his feet. "Probably a bit of both. The other Alpha... the one he replace... I found her to be rather full of herself." He stops and considers the Child. "Have I introduced myself fully to you?" Casey Scott gets up, shifting back to Homid. "Nope, don't think so... wait." She pauses. "So many names I've had to learn lately... Heartbreaker?" Casey Scott contorts and blurs as she is transformed. You shift into Homid form. Eochaid nods affirmatively as a hand goes up to check the progress of his black eye. Satisfied that it's, for the most part, gone, he shifts back into Homid. Eochaid contorts and blurs as he is transformed. Eochaid shifts into Homid form. Eochaid says "I was named that after my Rite of Passage." Casey Scott cocks her head, still grinning slightly. "Broke a few hearts?" Near the Fire Pit, Brittany warms her hands at the fire, and isn't sneaking a peek at the comraderie of the others in the least as she tries to keep warm. Always Hungry listens to the talk of those here and seeing that there is no more fights, moves to get warmer. Eochaid says "Aye. I was to go out and take the heart of a leech. So I did. I wooed her, and charmed her." He chuckles wryly, "this wasn't what the Ritemaster had in mind."" Always Hungry heads into the center. Casey Scott giggles slightly. At the center, Always Hungry heads northeast to the fire pit. Near the Fire Pit, Always Hungry chuffs a greeting to Brittany. Near the Fire Pit, Brittany looks up and flashes a hesitant smile, then back to the fire as she says, "Hello, cub. You must forgive my inability to find time for our lessons, but the human world is uinusually hectic right now." Eochaid begins to pick his way down the side of the hill, heading back to the center. "After being pummeled mightily, and after a long talk with his elders he finally grudgingly aquiesed." Near the Fire Pit, Always Hungry looks up at Brittany in confusion. Casey Scott grins and follows Eochaid into the center. It's obvious that she's taken quite a shine to the Fianna. "Cool," she comments. Eochaid heads into the center. You leave the rim of the Wheel and return to the center of the place. Center of the Great Wheel Contents: Eochaid Moon Otter Table Stone Obvious exits: Windy Spot South Pool East Fire Pit North Earth Mound West Casey Scott flops down a few feet away from the table stone and waves to Moon Otter. "Hi again." Near the Fire Pit, Always Hungry lays down near the fire. Moon Otter inclines his muzzle in greetings to the CoGgie. Eochaid picks up his jerkin and dons it, carefully doing all the knots to tie it togeather. Casey Scott grabs her leather jacket and slips into it, zipping it up slightly against the cold. "I'm also called Casey Scott," she adds to the Ragabash Lord. "Can't say that in wolf, though." Near the Fire Pit, Brittany sighs, softly, with words meant only for Always. "Be glad that all your battles can be met with tooth and claw, girl, for the others will leave scars no one can see but thee." Eochaid nods. "Casey. I've always liked that name." Near the Fire Pit, Always Hungry looks at Brittany, ~Rhya, one wishes you would speak mother tongue, one doesn't understand more than a word or two of English. Casey Scott flashes the Fianna another grin. Moon Otter chews briefly at an itch on his flank. Where do you come from and how did you learn of the sept here? Near the Fire Pit, Brittany smiles to Always, and settles for giving out a scritch behind the ears. "Do not trouble yourself with my thoughts, cub." Casey Scott shrugs. "Here, there. Rumors, stories." She tilts her head. "This place has quite a rep, ya know." Moon Otter has... not been elsewhere, yet. He was unaware. Casey Scott nods. "All signs point to weirdness," she says. Moon Otter lolls his tongue. /That/ this one could easily believe. Casey Scott chuckles and holds a hand out to the young black wolf. "You're a Guardian, right? I hear things are gettin' rough." Moon Otter extends his neck slightly to sniff at the offered hand. There are problems, yes. Hopefully, they will be solved soon. One way, or another. Casey Scott nods. "I'd like to help out, if I can. Figure it's the least, right?" Near the Fire Pit, Brittany stands, re-wrapping herself tightly. "Time for me to depart, I think. Fare thee well, cub, we shall talk on the morrow." She looks across the Wheel, and, to Oscar, says, "Guardian, I take my leave tonight. I shall not be followed. Good night to you." Moon Otter turns to huff a farewell to the Fang and turns back to the CoGgie. Help would be greatly appreciated. What are you good at? Near the Fire Pit, Brittany follows the Wheel west, away from the fire pit. On the northern curve, Brittany circles the Wheel, coming from the Fire Pit in the south. On the northern curve, Brittany turns to the north, and leaves past the rim of the Wheel. Eochaid gives a curious glance over to the fire pit. "Bloody strange. And I thought I talked strange." Casey Scott shrugs. "The bum foot makes me slow, but the turtle still won the race by keeping steady, remember? I can fight, too, claws or no claws. I also know the Mother's Touch, which is useful after the gore is over." Moon Otter tips an ear back in inquiry. Turtle? Casey Scott wiggles her fingers. "Tortoise and the hare, remember that story?" Moon Otter is not familiar with a great many of the Garou legends, no. Eochaid picks up his duffelbag, slinging it around his shoudlers. "Anyway, I've got to go and feed the cat." He grins, then mimics, "Catch you on the morrow, eh?" Casey Scott chuckles. "It's a Homid story," she says, blithely assuming that Otter is a lupus. She waves to the Fianna. "See ya!" Back to Otter, she offers, "I could tell it. S'what Galliards are for." Moon Otter gives a quick look over the forest treelines, then settles back onto his haunches to better pay attention to the storytelling. Oh, wait. Perhaps the Fang cub would hear the story as well? Could you do it in the Garou tongue? Casey Scott grins. "Sure." Casey Scott contorts and blurs as she is transformed. You shift into Crinos form. Moon Otter's attention shifts, unwittingly, to the horn on the other Garou's head. Bitter-Water tosses her head slightly, the two foot long spike of her horn gleaming lethally in the moonlight. She catches Otter's look, and shrugs. ~No claws,~ she says, wiggling talon-less fingers. ~So Gaia gave me another weapon, see?~ Near the Fire Pit, Always Hungry heads into the center. Moon Otter flicks an ear in acceptance of the explaination. Always Hungry looks at the Horn interested. Bitter-Water nods and settles back in a relaxed crouch. ~Now, there was Turtle, and he was slow, what with that big shell on his back. And there was Hare, all speedy and quick. Hare was a cocky bastard, and one day he started teasing Turtle for being so slow. Turtle's a nice guy, but even he has his temper, and finally he told Hare that he could beat him in a race. Hare laughed at that, but when Turtle persisted, Hare said, 'Okay, sure, Rock-Back. We'll race tomorrow and everyone will see how stupid you are!'~ Bitter-Water says, ~And, oddly enough, Turtle agreed.~ The Metis gestures grandly. ~So, the next day, all the other people of the forest came out to watch the race, all of them wondering what had possessed Turtle to think he could beat Hare in a race. To make it fair, they got Bear to be the judge of the contest.~ Always Hungry says, ~That is fair, the bear would eat the slower one.~ Bitter-Water straightens up, lifting one hand. ~And so Bear lifted his paw, just like this, and growled, 'Go!'~ The Galliard shoots the interrupting cub a hard look and drops her hand down sharply. ~And, just like everyone expected, Hare went /zoom/ off down the path before Turtle could even get two small steps done.~ Bitter-Water holds a finger up. ~Now, like I said, Hare was a speedy fellow, but arrogant. About halfway down the agreed track for the race, he stopped and looked back down the trail.~ She cranes her neck and peers all around in imitation of Hare. Then she hunkers down again. ~No sign of Turtle. So, Hare figured he could take a little nap.~ The horned Crinos flops down onto her side and curls up. ~Wasn't long before he was snoring away, fast asleep.~ Moon Otter casts a furtive glance around at the treeline, then wraps his tail close around his left side and turns his attention back to the story. Bitter-Water rolls to her feet again and crouches on all fours. ~While Hare was sleeping, along came Turtle. He was slow, but he never stopped. Step, step, step, down the trail he went. Step, step, step. And he passed the sleeping Hare and never stopped. Step, step, step.~ Bitter-Water says, ~Eventually, Hare woke up and looked around again. Still no sign ot Turtle, and you know why?~ Bitter-Water looks from one to the other, grinning. Moon Otter thinks it was because the turtle had gone past him already? Bitter-Water woofs! ~Right! Not only that, but Turtle had /passed/ the finish line and won the race, all while Hare was napping!~ Moon Otter lets his tongue loll out in amusement. Bitter-Water taps the side of her muzzle with one clawless finger. ~Slow and steady is better than quick and inconstant. And, though slow, I'm still steady, you get?~ Moon Otter does see, yes. A thing that is there when needed, and the sept is in need. How frequently do you visit the scab? Always Hungry looks at Moon Otter. Bitter-Water contorts and blurs as she is transformed. You shift into Homid form. Casey Scott shrugs. "I live there. I have a part time job there. Why?" Moon Otter twists an ear to one side, then forwards. There is a need for more Guardians, though it would be best if you were to wait a few turnings of the moon before it would be acceptable for you to assist. There have been problems with Dancers recently. From within. Casey Scott grimaces, tugging down the brim of her hat. "I heard about that, yeah." Casey Scott tugs her jacket closer about her body and frowns slightly. "Ever watch television?" Moon Otter is not sure of all the bits and pieces of the story as he was watching over a pack of wolves. He should know more soon. His pack is.... will be.... of Magpie. The picture box that glows? Yes. Why? Casey Scott grins wryly. "There's this show called _Babylon-5_. Everytime I watch it, I wonder how many Garou and knowing Kinfolk are writing and working for that show. The Shadows are moving, both there and here. The ancient evil." She shakes herself roughly, causing the spidery, sinister-looking spacecraft on the back of her jacket to appear to shimmer slightly. Then she shrugs. Moon Otter slowly cocks his head to one side, regarding the CoGgie curiously. This one is unfamiliar with ... these Shadows. "An ancient race," says Casey, tugging absently on one glove. "Dark. Blackness. And /evil/. Dormant for a thousand years, and rising again to swallow all, using others as its pawns." She pulls off the glove suddenly and looks at her rather pale and wrinkly fingers; she has no fingernails. Moon Otter flicks an ear in wry mirth. Shadow Lords. Casey Scott snorts. "Naw. Worse, a million times worse." She pulls the glove on again. "Word of warning, though. If someone asks you, in earnest, 'What do you want?', beware." She smiles slightly, though it seems she's only half kidding. Moon Otter spends a good 15 seconds trying to puzzle out the meaning to that advice and completely fails. Why? Casey Scott looks deadly serious all of a sudden. "Because when evil knows your heart's desire, it can use that knowledge against you." Moon Otter considers this. Yes, but what if they were to give it to you and you did not say what it is you wished for most? Casey Scott tries to parse that and fails. "Eh?" Moon Otter tries again. If someone were to ask what you want, and you did not tell them what was true, you might get what you asked for and it would not be what you most needed. Casey Scott considers that for a moment. "Problem is," she replies finally, "what's the price for getting your heart's desire? A 'small' favor?" She smirks. "Small favors can come back to bite you in the ass." Moon Otter thinks this one over. This is true, yes. Some things are worth a nip on the haunches. Others are not Casey Scott nods. "So, like I said. Beware when someone comes up to you and asks you what you want. Especially if they persist." A slight, crooked little grin punctuates her statement. Moon Otter splays his ears slightly. Have you found a place to den? Always Hungry rises and slips away to hunt. Always Hungry heads north, away from the center of the Wheel. On the northern curve, Always Hungry turns to the north, and leaves past the rim of the Wheel. Casey Scott nods again. "I'm crashing at a friend's place right now, until I can convince the landlady to let me rent a room as well." She stretches slightly. "Sleeping in a Datsun is hell." Moon Otter suggests, There is plenty of room in the forest, or even around the fire. Casey Scott grins. "Yeah, I've been known to do that, too, sometimes. I suck when it comes to hunting, though." Moon Otter's gaze falls to the metis' lame leg, briefly. This one sees. Others would provide if you wished, though this is probably not acceptable to you, is it? Casey Scott grimaces. "That'd be lame, 'scuse the pun. I mean, while I can get grub for myself, it's better I do, you know?" Moon Otter inclines his muzzle. Yes, this one would probably feel the same way were he to wear your weaver-pawpads. Casey Scott smiles warmly at the Ragabash. "That's real cool of you, amigo." Moon Otter adds, Just do not let pride rob Gaia of one of her warriors. Casey Scott cocks her head. "Eh? How you mean?" Moon Otter shifts to a different position on the ground. If you are in great need, others will help you to get better. Correct the Weakness. You say "In great need, sure. I've managed to be able to manage the lame foot, though." She yawns suddenly, cupping her gaping mouth with one gloved hand. "Fuck, it's late. I'm gonna head back." Moon Otter huffs a farewell as he turns back to Guardian duties. Wear the wolf when coming or going from the sept. Casey Scott contorts and blurs as she is transformed. You shift into Lupus form. Bitter-Water wuffles. Easier travelling this way anyhow. Keep well, Moon Otter.