The Thunder Cave's Secret

7/25/2006

07:52 PM
Logfile from GarouMUSH.

Currently the moon is in the waxing New Moon phase (2% full).
It is currently 19:39 Pacific Time on Tue Jul 25 2006.
Currently in Saint Claire, it's a sunny day. The temperature is 79 degrees Fahrenheit (26 degrees Celsius). The wind is currently coming in from the north at 6 mph. The barometric pressure reading is 29.93 and steady, and the relative humidity is 48 percent. The dewpoint is 58 degrees Fahrenheit (14 degrees Celsius.)

Thunder Cave(#1410RA)
Once you enter this cave, you see it is much larger than you originally thought. From the small opening it widens and takes a sharp turn, providing a natural windbreak. Looking around, you see a spacious chamber, long ago carved from the limestone by running water. Quartz veins scintillate in the light. In the center of the room, a small fire burns, more for light than heat, as the room is quite well insulated. Looking up, you see the smoke drawn through small cracks and holes that allow for more than adequate ventilation. This cave used to be the home of Distant Thunder, a Shadow Lord Galliard, and some say that his spirit still lingers here, protecting this spot.
You can leave the cave by crawling out the cave entrance to the south that leads down to the clearing below. A passageway leads deeper into the cave. No one is sure how deep it goes.
Contents:
Stacey
Obvious exits:
Clearing  

"You sure your patrols aren't going to miss you?" Kenneth eyes the ahroun beside him from the corner of his eye, a sense of doubt in his tone. Why today of all days, to show the Coggie his wilderness cave? Well, the day was as good as any. As he continues leading the way, the dying light of day slowly disappears behind them. "Hang on, I gotta light here somewhere..." he says as he pauses to note that lack of light. The Shadow Lord lifts out a small camping lantern from behind a small formation of crystal and rock, kneeling down to light it with a match. "You said... you saw this place in a dream?"

"Kenneth, if I can take the time to visit the Farmhouse or Wendigo territory, then this is more than fine," Stacey answers, not really returning his gaze as she's too busy looking about the cave as they move further in. As the lantern's is lit, Stacey takes her time before responding, turning about in a circle as she takes in the cave. "It's similar to what I saw, yeah. Although a lot prettier in the dream and larger."

Kenneth waits patiently, himself even taking the time to inspect and admire the cave they're in. Only when Stacey seems like she's ready to move on, does he turn and lift the lantern towards a darker, blacker shadow in the cave. "I was just makin' sure. The thing about this place is, you might lose track of time here. And that's 'cause... well, there's more. This way." The philodox's voice turns a bit more reverent, a nuance that even the ahroun can pick up on. This isn't an adventure like those kinds in the mystery books. It's a solemn kind of procession as the two make their way. There are no markings to indicate where exactly Kenneth is going either, but he seems to have traveled this route enough to know. Then he pauses and turns, facing the ahroun. "I'm going to show you, maybe what you already have seen. But it's real, Stace. And I don't think anyone else really knows about this place yet. I haven't told anyone else, and the Shadow Lords who did know, they've all gone away. So now it's you and me. I don't think Lucas even knew about it." The halfmoon swallows down a thought. "Even if he did, though, I don't think it'd have changed a thing." His hand waves, and they move on, stepping out into the threshold of the cave's secret.

Main Passageway -- Thunder Cave(#3030RLU)
This winding passageway, long ago carved out of rock by running water, twists and turns as it runs deeper and deeper into the mountain. Numerous side passages and caves branch off, each with their own wonders, but the vast majesty of the passageway remains with you. Thousands of scintilating rock formations catch your eye. Stalactites, stalagmites, everything seems perfectly formed. Truly this cave is a work of Gaia.
Many tunnels branch off of this one, but if you head to the south, you'll eventually reach the entrance, and if you head north, eventually you'll reach the Grand Cavern.
Obvious exits:
Grand Cavern  Cave Entrance  

Grand Cavern -- Thunder Cave
This cavern is the most amazing part of Thunder Cave. A huge, soaring cavern, larger than almost anything you may have seen. First there is a wide, flat area that could hold dozens of people without any problem. A huge chasm fills the rest of the area, stretching down into the depth. In the center of the cavern, a small outcropping of rock juts over the chasm, making it a natural podium/altar. But it is what can be seen beyond the outcropping that is truly amazing. In the last weeks of his life, Distant Thunder spent all his days working on a cave mural in the style of the ancient Garou. He succeeded. The mural fills the wall, showing the five auspices of the moon on the top. Below that are a series of portraits of Garou, representing each tribe. The portraits show the most notable traits of each tribe. Even the Croatans, Bunyips, and yes, the White Howlers are included. Below this is a mural of Distant Thunder's most compelling work. To describe why Garou must fight, he drew two pictures of the Caern of the Wheel renewed. On one, the Caern is as we know it, glowing with Gaia's power and beauty. In the other, the Wyrm has won. In the center of the mural is a representation of the Triat, the Wyrm, Weaver and Wyld, forever and eternal.
The main passageway is on the south wall, and leads back to the surface.
Obvious exits:
Main Passageway  

Stacey gives Kenneth a curious look, intensely interested after his speech, and then follows him back into the Cavern. The Child stands there for a good long while, just staring at the mural, mouth open in amazement. "The drawings." She reaches out a hand, as if to touch it, almost a gentle mimic of the dream-Kenneth's clawing, then lowers it, silent once more as she tries to take in the different bits.

Kenneth stands there alongside, looking up at the depictions as if they were vibrant with life. He then draws closer to the ahroun as she approaches the mural, almost protective of the old work. There are, thank Gaia, no Ragefilled clawmarks that have damaged the cavern walls. "Here," he says, offering the lantern to her to take. "I'll start a fire. You can look with this."

Stacey glances away only long enough to take the lantern, and then she holds it up to get a better view while he starts a fire. "Gaia... This is amazing. I can see why this has been kept a secret. So many things are not kept pure enough within this Sept."

Kenneth takes a few matches to start, but eventually he does have a small blaze going near enough to the wall to light it with its flickering flames. Someone's prepared, complete with a previously unseen stack of firewood gathered nearby. "I found it one time, when I was still here as a cub. I'm sure the other Lords knew about it, but no one ever said anything. It's just.. one of those things, I guess." He starts to point out some of the odder things, like the lost tribes, and the caern as it was. Then his eyes settle on the image of the Wyrm's Victory. "You never did really tell me what your dream was about. But I guess it doesn't mean anything to anyone but the dreamer." His tone gets quiet, before he asks, "So, what do you think?"

Stacey is also looking between the comparisons of the Caerns once the fire is lit, finding the sight both inspiring and sobering. "It warned me that you were going through a change. Fighting within yourself..." She clears her throat, then looks back at him with a smile. "I'm really glad you showed this to me, Kenneth. I think... I needed to see this." Perhaps he wasn't the only one fighting.

"A lot of people should. But, not many would get it," Kenneth replies with a slow nod. "This is one of those things, I guess." Stepping forward, a hand reaches up to touch the mural over a bane's twisted features mockingly repressing the dying Garou beneath its jaws. "And I think it's important someone else knows about this place. At least, someone I know I can trust with it." He turns his gaze to the fullmoon, watching her as carefully. "Another secret between you and me, eh."

Stacey watches as he touches the mural, almost wincing as if it'd somehow be marred by the contact, then gives a small smile and nods, turning her head to return his look. "Seems to be a trend with us, huh? Yet I agree. Not everyone at the Sept would be ready to understand this."

Kenneth cants his head back, and then his hand drops. A rare, tired sigh leaks out from the philodox as he bows his head. It's just for a moment, and then it's back to a feeling of business. "I'm living at Xia's new house these days, but I come out here when the moon's big." A random statement, and yet it's a prelude. "She and I... we get along." His eyes flick up, checking the ahroun's reaction to this.

Stacey tilts her head and raises a brow. "Getting along?" She lets out a sigh, looking down at the floor of the cave. "Did she tell you she spoke with me? And what I told her?"

Reluctance is the best way to describe the Shadow Lord's reply. "She did." Kenneth turns more fully towards the Child now. "I don't know what kind of ideas you were puttin' into her head, Stace, but ... God, of all the things to tell her. Why? It's like she believes it."

Stacey narrows her eyes at that response, lifting her chin proudly. "Fine. Don't believe our secrets? I won't believe yours. This cave doesn't exist," she says, as if to demonstrate how strongly she stands behind her words, and starting to turn away.

"You know that's not what I meant," Kenneth snaps back quickly, and just as swiftly regretting his kneejerk reaction. "I mean, it's your tribe's homeland. /Your/ tribe's place, somewhere in the Umbra. And how do you even know it exists? Or how to get there? At least, this cave... at least you can touch it. At least you know it's here."

Stacey turns back, also regretting her instant reaction, then puts both hands to her chest. "I know it /here/, Kenneth. Just as surely as I know all the rest of what we're taught is true. You probably feel it yourself, that your homeland is out there, somewhere. Dakota and Alicia told me about them." She puts out a hand to touch the wall, then sighs. "And sometimes, there are things more real, more true, than just what you can touch."

Kenneth falls silent, watching the ahroun with an unblinking stare. And it keeps there, for a long while even as the fire continues to crackle away oblivious to the thick air between them. "Damnit Stace," he curses in reply, eyes turning away and onto the mural. The Shadow Lord's mumble is nearly inaudible. "Why do you always gotta say things like That?" He moves over to the fire, and crumples down to a sit beside it. "It's not worth it."

Stacey sighs, crouching down by the fire and hugging herself. "I... I can't help but try to fix things. I'm sorry. I know I shouldn't meddle as much as I do. Maybe you're right. I /know/ it's there... But explaining to the pack, to Vera, surviving the trip..."

Kenneth shakes his head. "It's not your fault. Hell, it's just how things went. If Xia's being here is just to find a proper suitor, then she should move on if there isn't one." His face slims into a grim line of expression. "Should tell her grandfather before he gets too pissed off. She's already gotten tainted... God knows what else might come after her." And yet, the philodox is disappointed overall. "Some fuckin' birthday, huh?"

Stacey abruptly stands. "No." The Child step over to Kenneth and reaches out a hand, almost pushing him. "You /love/ her. And she feels the same about you. It's like what I see between Dillen and Freya. If not this road, then take another, or you two learn to deal with it. Find some way, but don't give up on this. Kenneth... There's so little happiness in our world, why give up yours?"

Kenneth tenses up as Stacey stands. He glances to her hand, and then up to her face. "It might be like that with Dillen and Freya. But I'm not Dillen, and she's not Freya. It doesn't work, Stace."

The Ahroun sighs, taking a step back. "It just... makes me sad, seeing the two of you like this. It seems like such a waste, to throw it away." Stacey frowns, hugging herself once again. "Whatever chance you have at this love thing, at being happy, whatever your damn obstacles, it's better than mine. I probably won't survive long enough to date, remember?"

Kenneth's gaze shifts briefly into a glare. "Like what? A waste? You think I'm throwing it away?" The halfmoon hitches up to his feet, head tilting as his eyes stare hard at the ahroun. But he drops the argument, sucking in a breath between clenched teeth. "Says who... Stace? No one's stoppin' you from finding a guy."

Stacey's lips quirk into an amused smile for a moment, then she tilts her chin up proudly, eyeing him. "You tellin' me you aren't? All this talk about callin' grandfathers and Xia hookin' up with some other Shadow Lord, who'd probably be someone like Vera or Jarred. That'd be better? That's not throwing it away?"

Stock still, the Shadow Lord stands with a hand gradually clenching into a fist. "No," he replies slowly, "it's not any fucking better. But it's also not fair." His eyes focus on that amused smile on the Child's face, his own expression nothing of the sort. "What's the use, waiting like this? What good am I gonna do her? She's talkin' about kids, Stace. I sure as hell can't give 'em to her."

Stacey, of course, loses the amused smile quickly enough, once the moment has past, and shakes her head. "Do some research, Kenneth, find out if there is anything that can be done. You two need to sit down, talk this out, find a way you can live together. Don't go jumping to the drastic actions just yet."

Kenneth narrows his eyes at the ahroun. "Just what did you and her talk about, anyway," he says slowly, trying to draw more from the ahroun. No 'drastic actions' here, no.

Stacey gives a bit of an impish smile and steps away. "I don't tell secrets and I don't share girl talk with boys." She reaches into her pocket and pulls out a key chain made of blue, black, and white beads. "It's not much, but... Happy birthday, Kenneth."

Kenneth makes a face, half-disappointed, half expecting the response to be just that. He looks down at the keychain, and reaches out to take the gift. Examining the piece in the low firelight, the halfmoon gradually curls his fingers around the gift and nods to the ahroun. "Thanks." And in saying so, reaches inside a pocket to pull out a lone key. This he threads onto the chain and lets it hang down, metal glittering in the flames. "I'd ask where you get these things, but it's not like I'm gonna go into arts and crafts or anything." His gaze lifts back over the fire to the ahroun. "Guess we should be headin' back."

Stacey grins. "I may live in the middle of no where, but I've got friends that'll bring me stuff now and then." She nods, turning once more to look up at the mural one last time. "I never want to forget this."

"We can come back another time if you want," Kenneth says, also looking to the mural. Picking up a burning bit of twig, he lights the remaining bit of oil in the lamp and tweaks the knob to let it burn slow. The twig gets tossed back into the fire. After a long relative silence, with just the fire snapping and crackling, the halfmoon adds, "I'll try and talk to her again."