9/5/2005

12:21 PM
Logfile from GarouMUSH.

County Line Road, Railroad Crossing
A few wooden buildings dot either side of County Line Road, standing like faded sentinels on the southern edge of town.  The road, barely wide enough for two automobiles to pass, intersects a set of ancient, rusted railroad tracks; weeds sprout up between the ties and rails, evidence that trains no longer pass this way.  The old houses cluster around this intersection as if huddling for protection against the thicker woods to the south.  Aging oak trees and a few elms and maples loom over the clapboard buildings, as if threatening to reclaim this land for the forest.  In fact, the greyish wooden siding and slightly warped walls of the houses gives them an embattled, weary air that seems to proclaim victory for the trees.
To the north, County Line Road leads into Kent Crossing proper.  Southward, the trees thicken, spreading to block out the sky and cloak the road in greenish shadow.  The railroad tracks continue to the northwest and southeast, cutting a line through the woods.
Contents:
Dwight
Obvious exits:
Southeast on the Tracks  Northwest on the Tracks  North Into Town  South on the Road  

Rain comes down heavy, pouring off the roof overhang. Heavy green vines and enterprising grapes fur the whole building over, and twist up around the porch. It's like looking through the bars of a prison. Dwight likes to stand by the rotting posts and look out, as they talk.
"You need that gift," he says. "Who else's a Philodox, one that can teach you? Someone who don't matter."

Kenneth glowers out into the wilderness. "The only other philodox I c'n think of are Grey and Megan. And well, we all know what Megan thinks of Shadow Lords." His eye moves, sidelong glances sent towards the ahroun. "Grey, maybe."

"Get somebody to. You might even have to ask ole Muscles, but you was gonna challenge him, now weren't ya. Wouldn't work out right.. he'd make you swear not to challenge him if he teaches you. Course he could be stupid about it." Dwight scratches his chest absently, moving his grimy fingers across his muscle shirt. "Get somebody on the side, who don't stand in your way. Somebody you're willing to give something to in return. Got to be more philodox than just them. By the by. You know the aura, our gift?"

Kenneth turns from eyeing to staring. "Aura?" he echoes, a distant thunder. Then, back to staring at the wood. "I don't know 'bout any aura."

"You should. Good for your type." Dwight watches a stray frog out in the clearing, where the weedy ground has been turned to soup. "Might be, I'll teach it to you, after you learn your philodox gift."

Kenneth focuses on the frog as well, watching it like a cat to mouse. A cat with no interest, at least for now, for playing games. "Why?" he asks. "What's in it for you?"

"A blowjob." Dwight turns him a squinted eye. "Whatta you think, dumbass. Bein as you can count us on one hand, and you fresh outta grade school, I don't see no reason to go tit-for-tat. Course, wouldn't mind learning a tribe gift I don't know. What you got?"

Kenneth narrows his eyes right back, nose wrinkling and lip curling, indicating the sex joke he finds completely unfunny. The philodox's glare doesn't stay long, redirecting at the frog prince of the puddle. "A crow taught me 'bout spying. If it comes down to it, I hold my own in a fight. And if need be, I can cover up my wolf scent with human." It's like pulling teeth, but out they come. The philodox regains his neutral composure.

The warrior nods his head slowly. "Good," he says. "You'll need s'more. But tell me about your spy gift."

Kenneth replies, "Just makes spying easier. Extend yourself out, and it feels like you're right there sittin' in board meetings across the street, or standin' around watching drug deals at the corner."

Dwight just smiles. "That'll come in handy. Can think of a few things already." He rubs his fingers over his jaw. "Next item. Richard. Sure would be good if us all could get the credit for these talens. But best we have a second choice. Tamara, or that Jamethon Get. He sounds more capable. Month ago, two month, I ast the Glass Walkers if they could wrangle up any explosives. I'ma check back with them soon, see what. Best idea is have talens -and- hard stuff, you know what I mean."

"Gonna drop depth charges on the squid?" Kenneth glances back, sidelong. "Or 're you going for a repeat performance of the hospital?"

"Gonna throw some boom in, see if that works. Maybe soften it up some. Then hit it with magic. Can't go wrong with a one-two punch, and besides, best go prepared." Dwight licks his teeth, and frowns. "Maybe best off if you ask Witch Doctor Jim -and- Tamara both. But ask the mule for healing talens, something lightweight like that, that's within her ability."

Kenneth sniffs. "She's an ahroun," he comments, "Healing isn't supposed to be her thing. But like I told Alicia and Nikolai the Fang, if they're gonna go in, then they should zap the fuck outta that fucker with a live wire or something. Blowing shit up attracts too much attention."

His brow furrows in a frown. "My mistake," he says. "Thought she was a knife moon. Got to be another first-rank Theurge around here somewhere. Get them to make up some healing talens for the sept. And let me tell you, I didn't see nobody round for fuckin' miles, when we was out at that inlet. You'd think -somebody- would notice all that shit. If our grenades go off underwater, it muffles it-- you won't hear it from too far out. Nobody is gonna come."
He adds, "Electricity is a damn good idea, too. I always thought, maybe we could get a little shock from grandad or a crow. Something to ask Cutter about."

Kenneth shrugs. "Aubrey, maybe. I'll ask Dakota... if she's ever out here." The halfmoon snorts. "The hell if we can find him. Takes over as elder and disappears just like that. Some fostern." Again, he looks to the ahroun. "If we can't find him, then what?"

"Then we don't find him," Dwight says. "Electricity is a tricky thing-- 'member it was marshy out there. Don't want to electrify everybody while we're at it. Also, Grandaddy mightn't look too kindly on us that's failed already. Bad for business. Bear those in mind. Find us another theurge of the same rank, who can make up some combat talens. Dunno much about those, but something to weaken it, or draw it outta there. Or.. maybe something as make us breathe underwater. They got those, right?"

Kenneth snorts. "You tell me, old man. You're the one who's got experience fightin' ninja and were-sharks out on the briny blue."

Dwight lets out a big husky laugh.
"Wanted you to win, ya know, dumbshit," he says. "But you ain't ready. Someday you'll get that office, and you hold onto it. Be good for us if ya did. Some day."

Kenneth huffs roughly, a half-growl scraping from his throat. "I don't care. I challenged his ass because no one else at moot was gonna step up and flip him a verbal bird. But he's a packmate, so at least there's an advantage to it."

"A good asset," Dwight agrees, "and an ally. I like him, that big lug. So long as he holds that office it ain't a problem, but it is better if you get it, or another-- Muscles got power of his own, as alpha of a war pack." He puts out his arm, past the overhang, and lets water sluice onto his hand. "We done for now. Less you got something to add."

Kenneth answers long in coming. "Yeah actually, I do." He straightens up from his slouch, facing the ahroun. "I don't like how you treat Xia like some lowlife. She's kin. We're supposed to respect 'em, even if they are beneath us. You trashtalkin' her, or lettin' Brom trashtalk her, really Pisses me off."

The ahroun runs his eyes over him a minute, and then laughs his husky laugh. "That's been eating at you?" he says. "Let me tell you bout something. Straight off I told lil Alice, I said to her, so long as she's here, I'll get her in on tribal matters. She'll pull her weight. I been all right to her, and she been all right to me.

"First thing I made her understand that we wasn't gonna have any little games. I ain't gonna fight nobody over her, I ain't even gonna screw her." Here a smirk from him. "God willin," he adds. "Told her I don't care who she's around, what she does, or who she goes home with. It ain't my job to guard her cunt, and, turns out, I don't care if she wants to go have a lil fun. What I don't want is her trying to play games with me. I told her that, told her to nod if she understood. She nodded. Then she tried to play games, -then- she tried to get me to fight Brom over it. Ain't gonna happen. So get over it-- Shadow Ladies know how to take care of themselves, boy, you'll learn that."

Kenneth tightens his lips grimly, wrenching his glare away, zapping invisible lightning bolts at the waterdroplets. "You should care. Her grandfather's told us to keep an eye on her. And she's got money."

"No shit," Dwight says. "One of the ways she'll be helping us. As for keeping an eye on her, I ain't gonna be chasing off her lil college boyfriends. Jesus Christ." He rolls his eyes up to god. "Let the girl have some fun. When she falls into a pit, or monsters come after her, then you call me, I'll rescue the everlivin' SHIT outta that damsel."

Kenneth looks away, licking a tooth. "Just as long as you know none of her college boyfriends are some tainted ass fomor or some dumbshit like that," he mutters. "Then I got nothin' more to say."

"Good. Now we're clear on it. I need Alice, just as I need you. She's got a part to play in this, but damn if it all it's gonna be is keeping my dick warm. I don't -need- her like that, there's plenty of people to get off with, who -aren't- known to be schemers and liars." Dwight snorts. "Or who don't got kickass grandaddies." He's stepping out into the rain.

"Don't talk to me about gettin' off," Kenneth comments flatly, turning in towards the rundown shack. Seems like this Shadow Lord will be staying dry awhile longer.

His back hides a smirk from Kenneth, as Dwight starts to walk away in the rain. "We'll talk bout it," he says, "but another time. Do what I told you." A hand half-raised for a wave.

[...later...]

Currently the moon is in the waxing New Moon phase (14% full).

Farmhouse: Kitchen and Dining Room
Homey is the first word to come to mind when looking at the farmhouse's kitchen. Dark, wood-paneled wainscoting covers the walls to about waist height, dark beige wallpaper continuing to the ceiling. Twin refrigerators occupy the north wall, facing the large six-burner stove on the south. The kitchen counter runs the length of the eastern wall, broken only by the double-basin sink. Cabinets run above and below the counter and a twin-pane window is set in the wall above the sink. A small pantry is set into an alcove alongside the refrigerators, presumably holding the deep freezer as well as shelves of dry goods.
Some twelve feet above the floor, a large chandelier hangs from the ceiling, lighting the dining room and casting long shadows over the bar to the kitchen. A long table occupies the center of the dining room, three chairs setting along each side, and one on each end. On the west wall, a large window looks out on the trees alongside the western pasture. Set into the north wall is a large cabinet, its glass doors closed on shelves containing a full compliment of fine china and glassware as well as a few decorative nicknacks. On the east, a wide bar separates the dining room from the kitchen.
An opening in the southern wall allows passage to the front entryway of the house, while a sliding glass door in the kitchen opens to a clearing behind the house.
(Non-Garou, please "+view curse")
Obvious exits:
Hallway/Living Room  Back Door  

A low 'itadakimasu' whispered over a cold roast beef sandwich signals the start of Kenneth's dinner. Just some bread, a few slices of beef and lettuce, no cheese. In lactose substitute, a glass half full of milk sits beside the deep blue plate. A towel is slung over the Shadow Lord's shoulders, in addition to the wrung out tanktop that clings wetly to his body.

The sounds of the front door opening and then closing cannot go unnoticed in the big, old, creaky farmhouse. Suprisingly, it's Dakota, who's not often seen in these parts anymore with buisness at home and in the caern proper.

Kenneth looks up with the sounds of entrance. Right in the middle of chewing, he leaves the bitten sandwich upon its blue plate and sweeps up the milk to take a quick sip. Wiping any remnants, the Shadow Lord scoots his chair back and moves to stand momentarily in the hallway, peering at whoever it was who came in. Seeing Dakota, he nods to her, and turns back towards the kitchen... only to pause and try to swallow quickly. In lieu of saying anything, he flags her down with a 'come over a moment' wave of his hand.

Dakota glances up at the motion and give her head a nod to note she sees him. She passes the living room and then heads for the kitchen where the Shadow Lord is. "How are you, Kenneth?" Asks the Theurge. "Dinner, I see."

Swallowing first, answering after, the Shadow Lord washes down the decent dinner. "Decent," he tells the theurge. "And yes. You want half?" He looks to her, nudging the plate over with a finger. The sandwich itself, sliced neatly in two.

Dakota regards the sandwich but shakes her head. "No, thank you." She says and takes a seat at the table across from him and lets out a breath. "Quiet here." She murmurs.

Kenneth nods in agreement, picking up his bitten half of the sandwich again. "It is. I have a message to pass on to you," he notes to the theurge. "Though you probably already know, Touch Deer's lookin' for some spirit-types to make talens, and get back at the Wyrmthing from the Great Hunt." He takes a small bite from the sandwich, chewing a good deal. "Can you?"

Dakota scowls slightly as she slumps in her seat. "I tried to learn the Rite but it failed. I can assist, but I cannot make talens yet. Much to my great annoyance."

Kenneth looks up from his sandwich, a touch surprised. "Hn," he replies while methodically chewing. Another swallow later, "You're Master.. Mistress... in charge of rites, right?"

"Yes, I am." Dakota says as she crosses her arms across her chest. "I learn what I can, teach what I know, and make sure Rites are being used and exacted correctly."

Kenneth nods again, looking thoughtful. "Then. I should ask you." She receives a quick, but intense gaze. "What kind of rites do philodox usually learn?"

Dakota thinks briefly on that. "The Rites of Punishment are the core of the Philodox's learning. Most of those, however, are of the second rank and more advanced. There are some less difficult rites, like Contrition and Reconciliation that many Philodox know, as well as the Rite of Cleansing which, though many of us Theurge's know, is a Rite of the halfmoons."

Kenneth gains a touch of colder glint at mention of the various rites. "The cleansing rite - you mean the one that was done on Lucas to get rid of the Wyrm's taint on him." He peers at the Child even closer. "You know it?"

"Yes, I know the Rite." Dakota says with a nod of her head to the Lord. "I learned it from Jamethon a long time ago. Why?"

"Why? Because." Kenneth puts down his sandwich half, eyes narrowing. "Because I should learn it, shouldn't I? It's a halfmoon rite. I'm a damn halfmoon. What more reason should there be?" The philodox looks back up. "Or maybe I should just say, because Cutter is AWOL, and even though I /did/ say I was willing to pay anyone back for a little tutelage, none of 'em want to deal with a Shadow Lord."

"If it makes you feel any better, there was many times I had to bite at the heals of the older Garou for lessons." Remarks Dakota with a slight shrug of her shoulders. "If you wish, then I can teach it to you. It is not always easy. Just because you want it does not mean you have the focus. I could not even Cleanse my own husband when he was Tainted because my emotions were too high."

Kenneth looks back down to his sandwich, the grim expression getting sanded down to pensive thought. After a moment, he replies, "I'll do whatever it takes." The Shadow Lord looks up, just his eyes shifting. "And whatever you want, in return."

Dakota shakes her head slightly. "I do not ask for things in return. I prefer knowledge, much of the time, but I like it just as much for others to share what they know. Take your time to gather your thoughts. Gather the purest water you can in a container. I find those made by your own hand from natural materials is best and most approved by the spirits. The rest will all depend on the circumstance and your own choices."

Kenneth frowns. "What's that supposed to mean? You want .. water?"

Dakota frowns slightly. "You will need the water. You are Cleansing the soul of a person or thing and water is a universal symbol of that. Some of the more violent tribes may use blood, but not me. Pure water works just as well."

Kenneth glances off, the frown not completely disappearing but twisting towards thoughtfulness. "Yeah. I just didn't realize you were startin' in on lesson one already," he notes as he looks back. "What about other elements? Fire?"

Dakota nods her head. "Often, it is practice to hold a torch, especially those of burning herbs sacred to Gaia. The function of the Rite is to drive the foulness from the person or thing, scaring it loose. Before you try, I will Cleanse you so you can feel what I mean. Once you know that, it is easier to know what must be done."

Kenneth narrows his eyes with focus again. "Sacred herbs?" he asks for clarification. "Like what?"

"Peyote, sage, some forms of mushrooms, and many of the things the Wendigo and Uktena already know and have used for centuries." Dakota replies. "It helps to purify the air."

"Shit," Kenneth curses quietly. "Guess I'll ask Michael about that stuff." Pulling the towel from around his neck, he scrubs a part of his damp hair, for the moment ignoring the sandwich on his plate. "So why not do a big ass Cleansing out in the city?"

Dakota shakes her head. "Some things cannot be Cleansed. It would take a massive force to even try and Cleanse that, but I am sure it would fail utterly. It cannot remove what is there naturally. Creatures like vampires and Spirals are hurt by the Rite, but they are not washed clean."

The theurge might notice the philodox's hand tightening against the towel at mention of the Wyrm things. "Understandable," he mutters. "And we're seeking a balance, not a total wipeout, right?" He looks back. "This rite's... not just for getting rid of Wyrmtaint either, but any kind of overdoing it feeling...?"

Dakota nods her head. "The Weaver and Wyld can taint you aswell. Marcus had been Weaver tainted at one point. The Rite is for small cures, designed to balance out the soul."

Kenneth furrows his brow, as if imagining. "And if it doesn't work?"

"...which, with all Rites, is a possibility." Dakota says. "Nothing happens and you'll know. There is no harm, but there is no improvement either which leaves a lot of material, time, and strength of the Ritemaster used up. Granted, if a soul is utterly poisoned, nothing can save it save perhaps Erebus."

Kenneth finally finds his appetite poking at him once more, and takes another bite. "Erebus?" he echoes, still watching and listening to the theurge. "Greek god, brother of Nyx? Part of the underworld of Hades?"

"The Silver River." Dakota says, voice touched with reverance and even a twinge of fear. "Purgatory, to us Garou, somewhere in the Umbra. Legends say that you can spend an eternity in there, burned nearly to the point of death but healing just enough to taste more pain, unable to escape due to the great three-headed beast guardian the entrance. It burns the soul clean and only then can you leave. There is even a myth a Black Spiral Dancer was cleansed. Rumor has it Touch Deer has been there, perhaps you can ask him more. I only know the stories."

Kenneth chews, but it is considerably slower. "Cerberus exists too huh. Go figure." The philodox finishes what remains of the half of his sandwich, downing also the half glass of milk. "Doesn't sound so great a place... but rumors about Touch Deer bein' at this Silver River." He snorts, but looks a touch more amused. "Some things.. make some real crazy stories don't they."

Dakota nods her head slowly. "It didn't take be long to believe anything is possible, especially in the Umbra. There is too much left undiscovered, who knows what secrets it has. As old as our kind is, we Garou are little more than child-like scavenger hunters compared to it."

Kenneth rolls a shoulder, finally standing up. "From what I figure, nothing's impossible now. Not even the Apocalypse." Gathering the plate up and swinging the towel over his shoulder, the Shadow Lord pauses as he turns. He looks back. "Sure you don't want this sandwich? I didn't lace it with poison or anything."

Dakota offers up a quick smile. "Nah, I ate before I came out here. Planned to stay late and catch up with things in the caern. I don't spend as much time out there as I should, being Rite Mistress and all. I like to make sure no one needs me."

"Suit yourself," Kenneth replies, putting the sandwich half away and washing out the glass. As he does so, he asks, "So who knows how to make talens around here then?"

"Aubrey, who I tried to learn from, Reggie, Jamethon, and Cutter I all know of." Dakota says. "Cutter gave me a few tips once and I assisted Reggie for his Fostern Challenge."

Kenneth dries the glass, grimacing. "Reggie? Great." Sarcasm switches on, humming through the statement. "And Cutter's hard to find. Jamethon, I'm sure, Touch Deer has talked to." The Shadow Lord puts the glass back, wiping his hand on his towel. "I guess you're gonna try to learn it from someone else other'n Aubrey?"

Dakota nods her head. "Once I have taught you, yes. I will seek out either Jamethon or Reggie and learn from them. Hopefully, this time, I am successful. In the meantime, I am preparing to run the Long Vigil for the sept. Heard of it?"

Kenneth combs a hand through his hair. "No," he answers simply. "There're a lotta things you don't hear about when your elders aren't around to tell you these things."

Dakota goes on to explain, "It begins at dusk, with Garou gathering with their trophies of the past year, telling the stories of how they were earned and those of Glory. At daybreak, the trophies are piled up and burned as a sacrifice to Gaia, Luna, and Helios in the hope of even more in the next year. It is help on the autumn equinox, the twenty-second of this month."

Kenneth huhs quietly, soaking in the explanation. "Doesn't seem like there's many trophy-takers out here," he comments.

"No, unfortunatly." Dakota says with a soft sigh. "Hopefully, there will be some to offer. If only tokens."

Kenneth twitches his fingers, counting quietly. "22nd. Plenty of time," he comments before turning for the glass door. "Wouldn't worry about it. I'm sure Requiem will have somethin' by then."

"There are pleanty of enemies." Dakota says, still sitting. "The challenge is killing them. We can start lessons when the crescent moon is high."

Kenneth looks up from the glass door, moon searching. "Alright," he replies, sliding the door open. Before he exits, the Shadow Lord pauses halfway in, halfway out. "G'night," he utters quietly before slipping out.