5/18/2004

05:40 PM
Logfile from GarouMUSH.

The Sept Compound(#2075RAM)
Sweeping branches of trees form a sort of natural roof overshadowing most of this clearing, no more than an open space of grasses and beaten earth in the heart of the forest. Some pains have been taken to keep wear and tear on the area to a minimum, so the firepit tends to shift from time to time. The firepit, several sawn logs polished from use, and a stack of firewood discreetly piled up at the base of an old spruce under a tarp, are the only signs of constant occupation. However, a student of such things might think that some minimal landscaping or planning has been done, for the meadowlike profusion of grasses and other plants has an unusually high concentration of brilliant flowers, which attract a number of bees and butterflies.
A faint trail leads off to the east, and a bit north.
Contents:
Paws
Stone slab
Obvious exits:
Forest  

Things are much like the last time Yi stopped by. Paws is resting next to the place Squeaks is sleeping. Though this time, she is nested with some ratty blankets, and is surrounded by toys.

Yi comes along much like last time as well, but this time she's got a large sun-bleached deer femur with her. It's carried along, at times swung like a club, and the end of it clunks with a hollow sound against one of the trees at the edge of the compound. Once again she sees Paws and Squeaks, and gains a thoughtful look.

Paws perks his ears up as the sound of footsteps approach, waking quickly as she arrives in the clearing. He's up on those huge paws of his in a flash, but relaxes when he recognizes yi. He trots over, tail wagging a bit. Hello.

Yi tosses the femur over, which lands with another thud in front of the hispo. "Just bringing something that isn't made of rubber." The ragabash glances past the hispo briefly, before returning her gaze to the cub before her. "But, what's all this?" She motions with a tilt of her chin to the multitude of toys.

Paws leans over to sniff the femur, and snatches it up in his massive jaws, carrying it over and adding it to the pile toys. Thank you. He nods his shaggy head to her as part of his thanks and flicks his ears at her question. He paws at the ground a bit, thinking a moment. To help her. She fights a lot. Toys might calm her. He looks back over at the sleeping metis, chuffing softly.

Yi shrugs at that. "She will have to fight a lot, in the future." Near or far future, she thinks. "So, have you gotten a chance to go to the caern?"

Todd takes a moment to shift up to Homid so he can speak more concisely. "Not yet. I'll be going into the city again pretty soon, though."

Yi headtilts as the hispo shifts. Either way, both forms are bigger than her in mass or in height. "Oh? Not liking the woods, or just missing home?"

Todd weaves his fingers together and cracks his knuckles, noisily. He sighs softly and shakes his head. "Its not that. You know how we're setting up a new Gnawer HQ?" He puts his hands on his hips and leans, popping his back, too. "Well, we need a place to put Squeaks there, and I'm gonna weld together a cage for her."

Yi arches a brow there. "You know how to do that?" she asks, curious to the origins of that knowledge. But it's a thought, looking back at Squeaks. "More cages," she sighs quietly, even a bit angrily.

Todd nods to her question. "Vocational courses. Wonders of the educational system." He, too, turns to look at Squeaks. "We don't have much of a choice, do we? Not until she gets older."

Quieted, Yi shrugs there. "She is young. What are we trying to teach her by caging her all the time? Only now does she have a large area to live in. What will she think of us? We are very cruel."

Todd stays silent, looking at the metis sadly. He seems forlorn. "Only when she is alone. Small children stay in playpens or cribs when they are left alone. Why is this so different?"

"Alone?" Yi snorts at that. "She will never be left alone. Good, or bad as it sounds... we cannot leave her alone, ever. Especially in the city. I can support a pen, a cage for the sake of keeping her from running away. But I cannot find a reason to bring her back to the city. It is too much of a risk."

Todd shrugs a bit. "Well, I just want to help. Olga wants a portable cage made, so I offered to do it."

Yi nods then, but the pensive expression hasn't gone away as she continues to look in the metis's direction. "I can understand that. It is good you are being so helpful." The ragabash smirks faintly there. "It shows your 'newness' to this world of ours."

Todd rubs along his upper arm, shrugging with the other shoulder. "I don't see how. My tribe, my family, needs something. It wouldn't be me if I didn't offer to help."
Echoing the shrug with a slight hitch, the cliath merely replies with, "Sometimes, a Garou who has been in this fight too long will... become sad. They see no more reason to continue on. Do you know what we call it? In the Garou and English tongue, it is 'Harano'. Maybe you have heard this word already?"

Todd shakes his head. "Nope. Never heard of that before. What is it?"

Yi looks from metis to the ragabash. "When you stop trying to help, that is Harano. When you stop questioning... that too, is Harano. It is when a Garou loses their will, even loses their Rage. When all you feel is emptiness inside. That is Harano."

Todd hmms. "I see. Sounds like it totally sucks. can it be reversed?"

"Of course," Yi answers with a little tweak of her lip turning up at the corner. "You have heard of depression, I'm sure. It is similar, but for a Garou to lose their spirit is much worse. Some Garou never recover, and they lose their wolf -- their inner spirit. It can be bad enough that they can no longer shift." She pauses at that, as if remembering something distantly. "But, it can be reversed. It can be as simple as a good word from an elder, or as complicated as... something."

Todd nods. "Ah. Well, I hope I never fall into this, 'Harano." He turns to look at Yi, smiling a bit. "Thanks for being so nice to me, Yi."

Yi shrugs at that modestly. "Be grateful the Bone Gnawers don't expect anything of you except to survive this life," she chuckles. "Well, maybe a little more than that."

Todd smirks a bit, chuckling softly. "Expectations are that high among the other tribes?"

Yi laughs off the thought. "Expectations are different, but not necessarily higher. But, I wouldn't say that to the face of any of the other tribal elders, yet."

Todd smirks and steps up closer to Yi, careful of her personal space. "I'm pretty careful around elders. I don't want to get my ass kicked."

Yi nods slowly, but sucks on a tooth. "Pick your fights wisely, yes, but don't be afraid of it. Ragabash are expected to question everything. It is how we show our strength. So even if you must be punched in the face to get your own point into some Garou's head, then you must decide whether to sacrifice your health for a touch of wisdom."

Todd hmms. "I think I may understand what you mean."

"Great! Then that's all you need to know," Yi says, standing up and making to walk off. She turns to look over her shoulder after a couple of paces. But, she stops, hands hooking together behind her back.

Todd seems somewhat startled by her sudden departure, brow furrowing. "Thats it? I doubt thats everything." He begins to walk towards her, expectantly.

Yi shakes her head. "No... no, I think that is about all there is." Then she fully turns around, gazing at the cub. "Unless you think there's something that's missing."

Todd makes a frustrated sound. "Questioning and making points is all well and good, but shouldn't we be changing things? You know, in comparison to just bitching about it?"

"What would you propose?" Yi asks, finally chipping at the mask of seriousness.

Todd pauses, taken aback by that. "Fuck. Uh.....I'm not quite sure right now. Ask me again when I know more."

Yi shrugs. "You know enough already. You have begun to make a difference, by volunteering to watch Squeaks. To build her a cage. It shows you know about the Veil, and its dangers. You know about the Wyrm, and even though you've never fought monsters, you have already begun your fight."

Seeker pads into the sept compound and chuffs a greeting to Yi and Todd.

Todd nods to her, look a bit pleased with the praise. At the chuff, he turns and gives the lupus a wave, eyes darting to check on Squeaks and her multitude of toys.

Glancing towards the chuff, Yi dips her head to the lupus. "Good evening, Seeker-rhya." The cliath makes a motion to Todd. "Have you met our caern Warder, Todd?"

Seeker settles back on his haunches. We have met, yes.

Todd nods. "Yes. He taught me a few things about the Veil."

Yi smiles. "Great. Anything else?" she asks, glancing between the two. "Maybe you've gotten Seeker to tell you things about his tribe that he wouldn't tell anyone else."

Seeker cocks his head slightly at Yi.

Yi chuckles at the lupus, but reveals no ulterior motives she may have that came with the comment. Who knows what she's thinking?

Todd shakes his head. "Nope. He's been really secretive. Wise, though."

"Wise?" Yi asks, curious now. "And what sort of wisdom has the good Warder shared?" It's an innocent question, even if she looks to the Strider with a brow arching.

Seeker says nothing, but watches Todd carefully.

Todd waves a hand dismissively. "You know, some good ideas to help keep the Veil whole. That sort of thing. Though I suppose he needs to know that sort of thing, being a Warder and all."

Yi mmhms, nodding her head complacently. "Well, all that is well and good to know. I've heard and seen Seeker-rhya in action. He would be a good teacher to learn from." Another smile, this one more sincere, goes to the Warder. "It would be good for you to learn about more other tribes as well, so don't be shy about asking." Then she turns to Seeker. "How is your Guardian pack coming?"

Seeker shifts a bit, uncomfortably. Slowly. I have had little response to my invitation.

Todd takes a step back, shutting his mouth. He's not one to interrupt his elders at this point when they are speaking.

Yi frowns a bit there. "Do you feel there is a lack of Guardians?" She glances momentarily at Todd, before beckoning him. "You might be a cub, but if you have something to say, then say it, Todd."

Todd walks back over, looking mostly at Yi. "I don't know anything about packs at all. How exactly do those work?"

Seeker glances at Todd, wondering what he has to say, then chuffs quietly. Garou form packs, just as wolves do. They live and fight together, sometimes for a specific purpose, sometimes not. They are led by a totem spirit. Each pack has an alpha and an order, just as wolf packs do.

Yi decides it better to at least be comfortable. She sits near the metis but not loomingly so, speaking quietly. "In a way, a pack is sometimes even closer than family. Garou can come together for many reasons when forming a pack, but usually for a common purpose. For example, Seeker is looking for a pack of Garou to serve as Guardians for the caern. As Guardians the pack patrols the caern's territory, making sure that any dangers are kept out. The Garou in the pack also have a spirit ally, which Seeker's called a totem, to watch over them, help them, and link with them. In a sense... the totem is also another pack member. Garou in a pack often have a very strong bond amongst them, even if they may be as different as black and white."

Todd nods. "Oh. I can see how that works now. All makes sense." He turns back to Seeker. "So, why aren't those pussies clambering to join your pack? Protecting the caern, our stronghold of spiritual power is paramount. Without the Caern, we lack the territory we need to hold the city against the minions of the Wyrm."

Yi eyes Todd a bit at the words the cub says, a mix of a smirk, a smile, and a mild feeling of indignation all showing in her eyes. "Because to be a Guardian means to be bound to the territory of the caern. If you were to be a Guardian, it would be your duty not to leave the Bawn. It would be expected of you to stay in the forests, and you wouldn't be able to travel to the city."

Seeker's eye narrows slightly at Todd's words. Caern Guardian is an honorable position, but being a Guardian requires a garou to be restricted to the bawn. Many garou would rather be free to fight the Wyrm outside the bawn. Any sept member would gladly give their lives to protect the caern. I admit that I feel restricted by my duties. I am a Strider, after all.

Todd shrugs. "Well, we all have to give up something in our fight. Besides, don't the other Garou hate the city? Besides, it doesn't fucking matter if the city is clean if Wyrm-things are squirming in the Caern, polluting the bosom of Gaia."

Yi does turn her gaze back to Seeker though. The two of them both were at the caern's fall, and at the resurrection. "Grandmother always though Striders were a strange group, but she always listened to the stories they talked about. I admit, I don't know much about you Seeker-rhya, or why you chose to be Warder for this caern." At Todd's words, she shrugs lightly. "There is your argument for the second law of the Litany. Combat the Wyrm Wherever It Dwells and Breeds, is it not? And the city has the worst of it. While yes, we do need Guardians to watch over the caern, we do also need Garou who are free to fight the Wyrm outside of the caern." She glances again briefly at Seeker. "And hopefully, the fight outside will not come back in, ever again."

Seeker chuffs. Not if I can help it.

Todd shrugs. "I just think its important for patrols. But I'm just a cub, so whatever. Its not responsibility. Yet."

Nodding at that, Yi looks to the Strider. "Are you going to require patrols from the Sept? I feel Sepdet-rhya had a good idea, those days before."

Seeker flicks an ear at Todd. It is important, of course. He glances at Yi. Perhaps, if I am unable to organize a pack, or until a permanent pack is in place.

Todd lets them talk, though he pays close attention.

Seeker gets to his feet and stretches his legs, arching his back with his forelegs splayed out in front of him. I must be going out on patrol now. Goodnight.

Yi considers something, her mind tossing around suggestions, theories, and whatever else - like dinner plans. "Then, maybe Jamethon may consider having Scourge at least take a part of the Guardian duties." She nods as Seeker gets up, lifting a hand. "See you later, Seeker-rhya."

Todd waves Seeker off. "Bye, Seeker-Rhya."

Seeker chuffs to Yi and Todd, then turns and heads out into the bawn.

Once the Strider heads off into the woods, Yi runs a hand through her hair. "Well. So, what do you think? If you had to choose a life of a Guardian, or a life of a Garou with no ties, which would you pick?"

Todd hmms and shrugs a little. "Well, I'm not sure. I'm not too good at fighting, so protecting a Caern might not be the best for me. I won't really know until after my Rite."

"That I wouldn't be so sure of. Because, even if you don't fight well... Garou are meant to be Gaia's warriors. Every one of us must learn how to defend our body, and Gaia." Yi finally stretches and rises to her feet. "Sometimes our fighting is done in different ways." She gazes at the cubs, contemplating. "Don't worry about your Rite yet, Todd. There is still some time, and still lots to learn."

Todd yawns, almost ready to sleep. "So what am I to do for my Rite? Do you know?"

Yi notes the yawn, stifling the compulsion to yawn herself. "As I said... don't worry about it." She grins a bit then, before turning away and starting to head off. A hand sticks up in a wave. "I'll see to it you start some good training, soon. Good night."

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