Meeting Lee Kuang (May 7, 1996)

On the southern curve, Lee Kuang comes in from the woodland to the south.
On the southern curve, SwipesAtSalmon wwhuffs guardedly after shin, at least 
  the semblence of a Talon farewell, and heads south.
On the southern curve, JJ Malone comes in from the woodland to the south.
On the southern curve, Stormcloud follows Swipes.
On the southern curve, Stormcloud heads south, out of the Wheel and into the 
  forest.
On the southern curve, SwipesAtSalmon heads south, out of the Wheel and into 
  the forest.
On the southern curve, Lee Kuang moves out of the forest, preceded by the 
  quiet footsteps of one not well-used to the woods...And a gust of wind that 
  plays about his heels, ruffling the grass just behind his feet and erasing 
  all hint of his passage.
Anne nods calmly, and turns to head southwards, hand lifting to gesture at 
  Cristoph. She pauses again, as JJ comes in. "Hey, look. No tracking needed, 
  Cristoph."
On the southern curve, Steele comes in from the woodland to the south.
Robert turns and raises an eyebrow at the presence of newcomers. "Bonsoir," he 
  says, coldly polite.
On the southern curve, Lee Kuang stands taller than his height would suggest 
  at the edge of the forest, looking slowly around the clearing with an 
  assertive gaze. He keeps his hands clasped casually behind his back and feet 
  slightly spread in the open-chested 'I have no need to defend myself' stance 
  adopted by European kings. He waits until he has the attention of most of 
  those he can see before speaking.
On the southern curve, Steele enters the Wheel a scant yard or two behind Lee; 
  he remains by the edge of the clearing, almost lurking in the shadow of one 
  of the trees that ring the caern. He doesn't look frightened or intimidated; 
  far from, in fact.
Cristoph glances up at those entering the wheel, eyes darkening in the general 
  direction of the south.
Anne stays facing Lee, dark eyes snapping a little with an emotion that quirks 
  her lips upwards occasionally, but does not otherwise soften the slight 
  scowl drawing her eyebrows down.
Robert's forehead furrows slightly at the appearance of Steele, though his 
  expression stays mostly neutral.
On the southern curve, JJ Malone has come in behind Lee and on the opposite 
  side of him from Steele, scowling darkly as she spies Cristoph. Her chin 
  comes up in cool confidence, and she moves to light up a cigarette while she 
  waits.
On the southern curve, Lee Kuang says "I am Kuang Lee, Crescent Moon of the 
  Glass Walk, Architect of the Lands that Guard the Sept of the Gull. In the 
  East, I am known as Gold Sticks To Him. In the West, I am He Who Cleanses." 
  he pauses, "I make my claim formally known: My hand protects the City of St. 
  Claire, and the Walkers-on-Glass within it." He smiles faintly, "Including 
  one known as Remy, the Fiery-Hand. Now...Who speaks for this Caern?"
Anne says instantly, "I do."
On the southern curve, Lee Kuang mutters quietly under his breath, and the 
  winds stirring and nipping at the hanging tails of his coat cease. His thick 
  Georgian accent picks up where the winds left off, "I do not believe I have 
  the pleasure of your acquaintance, Madame."
Robert says simultaneously, "I do." Robert and Anne look at each other, shrug, 
  and say, "We do."
Anne inclines her head slightly. "I am Anne, called Nimue, or 
  Guides-the-Misguiding. He who is our Alpha is not here."
On the southern curve, As he stands where he is at the edge of the caern, 
  Steele's eyes wander the clearing. None of the wonderment that one might 
  expect a newcomer to display is evident in his expression; indeed, he looks 
  upon the Wheel much like a bored museum patron might look upon a pretty, if 
  typical, painting.
On the southern curve, The corner of Lee's mouth twitches at the division and 
  unification taking place in the caern's heart. "I see, and greet you." His 
  eyes wander to the figure beside Anne.
Robert smiles slightly before continuing in his own slight French accent, "I 
  am Robert deRath, Full Moon Warrior of Gaia, Guardian of the One World, , 
  Gatekeeper of the Wheel Renewed, known as Keeper-of-Peace among the Garou, 
  both East and West. You are welcomed into this place. And your companion?"
On the southern curve, Lee Kuang 's stance relaxes very slightly. "Gatekeeper. 
  A pleasure. My companion is my blood and kin...And my right hand. When he 
  speaks, it is with the words of my tongue. When his hand moves, my will 
  guides it. What he sees and hears, I see and hear. He is Steele, and aptly 
  named."
Anne asks, "And his auspice?"
On the southern curve, Lee Kuang smiles at Anne, "And your own?"
Robert nods at Lee Kuang's introduction. "Steele. I thought I recognized him 
  from somewhere. Gulf War, was it, Mr. Steele?" he calls.
Anne lifts her shoulders. "I am an Artisan of the Furies, charged to keep the 
  memory of this place, and its history. What is his auspice?"
On the southern curve, Lee Kuang brings his hands forward with casual ease, 
  several cylindrical rolls of coins idly clasped within his palm. He fingers 
  them almost absentmindedly, looking at Anne. "I repeat, Fury, he is my blood 
  and kin."
On the southern curve, Steele introduces himself without moving further into 
  the clearing. "Richard Steele. United States Naval Academy, class of 1987. 
  Resigned a commissioned rank of Lieutenant Commander following the Gulf War. 
  MBA, Harvard Business School, 1994. Currently Vice President of Operations, 
  Kuang Environmental." He rattles this off as if ready to present a business 
  card, and seems to add, as an afterthought, "Kinfolk to the Glass Walkers. I 
  don't have an auspice." At Robert's words, his eyes narrow slightly and his 
  brows knit together. "Yes, yes. I was there before, during, and for a bit 
  after."
Anne's eyes narrow at Steele's introduction, and she says, voice quiet but 
  pitched to carry. "Excuse me, Mr. Steele, Mr. Kuang, but I am afraid that 
  this is not a place for Kinfolk."
On the southern curve, Lee Kuang looks at Anne thoughtfully for a few moments. 
  "You are not excused. This is my right hand."
Robert nods once again at Steele's introduction, ignoring Anne for the moment. 
  "I try not to forget the names of battlemates, when I am told them. Your 
  actions Realmside against Salamander are to be commended, Mr. Steele." After 
  a brief moment, he looks back to Lee Kuang, smoothly asking, "Your business 
  here beyond introduction?"
Anne pauses to let Robert speak, but says, coolly, "This is not your caern or 
  your land, Mr. Kuang."
On the southern curve, JJ Malone leans over to mutter something to Lee.
On the southern curve, Lee Kuang's gaze returns to Robert, his body language 
  and expression dismissing the Fury's statements as utterly inconsequential 
  in the presence of the Gatekeeper. "My business is the business of the Glass 
  Walkers. Particularly one Remy St. Sauvage, sometimes known as Fiery-Hand."
On the southern curve, Steele offers Robert a polite smile of appreciation at 
  the compliment, but reserves most of his attention for Lee. Aside from a 
  brief scratch at his hip, he is otherwise still.
On the eastern curve, North Star makes his way out of the woods to the east.
On the southern curve, Lee Kuang idly spins the rolls of coins around his 
  fingers. Casual prestidigitator, long digits weaving the bound cylinders of 
  stamped metal with offhand laziness. He doesn't even glance back towards 
  Anne, now, reserving his almost amused attention solely for Robert.
*** Robert has disconnected.
Anne doesn't move, not even to straighten her shoulders; she drawls, "Mr. 
  Kuang, there is still an issue of respecting our territory." The longer As 
  and slow speech, in contrast to previous sentences, speak for her New 
  England background.
On the southern curve, Lee Kuang doesn't look away from Robert, who apparently 
  is willing to hold silent and let the Fury have her say. "Do you mean, 
  honeychile," he drawls, "That -you- have an issue with my blood and kin?"
Anne rolls a shoulder in a shrug; the New England accent deepens. "Nope. Why 
  should I? What I have a problem with is his presence in the caern...as 
  you've already been told this is not a place for Kinfolk."
On the southern curve, Lee Kuang's smile is serpentinely patient, "Spirits 
  guided him here. Spirits concealed his passage." He says this as if it were 
  all the acceptance needed, which to a theurge, it may well be.
On the southern curve, JJ Malone's eyebrows go up over her sunglasses although 
  this might be hard to see in the dim lightly. Her irritation grows again at 
  the wait, in contrast to either Lee or Steele's patience.
Anne says, clearly, "Nevertheless, those are the rules our Warders have in 
  turn laid down. He is welcome elsewhere, but no human comes to the caern 
  save, perhaps, by the Warder's invitation."
On the southern curve, Steele draws a breath, and takes a step forward, 
  seeming to rue the necessity of having to speak. "Miss," he says sternly, "I 
  am here at my employer's request, but I come of my own free will, and at my 
  own risk. I have done no harm. I have given no indication that I intend to 
  do harm. So as near as I can discern this 'policy' you're quoting is 
  standing on antiquated notions of what's proper and what's not. Allow me to 
  enlighten you. I've fought Banes. I've killed a Black Spiral Dancer. I've 
  shed more blood for Gaia and king and country, I'm sure, than several of the 
  teenagers you mistakenly refer to as 'adults' around here. I've taken part 
  in your reindeer games before. And I'm sure you and Mr. Kuang both have more 
  important matters to discuss than my presence or absence. I would recommend 
  that you discuss them rather than continue this posturing."
On the southern curve, Lee Kuang says quietly but crisply, "_Mister_ Steele."
On the southern curve, Steele takes the same step back, issuing an apologetic 
  look to Lee, if not to Anne. He scratches a bit at his hip again.
Anne gives Lee a nod. "Thank you, Mr. Kuang." She turns, nevertheless, serious 
  brown eyes onto Steele. "If you've done all that, then you know both of our 
  Litany, and that the Warder's word is law about the caern. I am not the one 
  who makes the decision; I am simply informing you of the understanding I 
  have of our rules, and asking if you will abide by them or not." She turns 
  her head fractionally, back to Lee. "Mr. Kuang, I assure you, if Robert 
  knows of your kin and speaks for him, he is as welcome into our lands as you 
  are. I have a duty to tell you, though. I _am_ an Artisan, a Galliard."
On the southern curve, Lee Kuang shifts his eyes away from Robert to the 
  Galliard. "You," he says evenly, "Are someone who meddles. Or do you advise 
  the Gatekeeper in who he welcomes and who he does not? And sing later of who 
  listened to your words of wisdom...And who did not? There are laws that 
  govern Garou. There are laws that govern men. There are laws that govern 
  those who go between. I deal with spirits, who are concerned with what is 
  and what must be. Not with parroting traditions written in stone that cracks 
  before the oncoming Apocalypse."
Cristoph does roll his eyes, now. He takes a restless pace to one side.
Anne says, dryly, "I deal in the past, Mr. Kuang. A storyteller does. We are 
  neither of us no moons. Your business, you say, is the business of the Glass 
  Walkers, particularly of Remy. I presume that is what draws you here tonight 
  specifically?"
On the southern curve, Lee Kuang closes his hand around the rolls of coin with 
  a click, expression tightening slightly. "It is. I understand that he is in 
  your realm of dealing."
Anne turns her head slightly away. "So I am told," she says. "I am sorry for 
  it; I had hopes, though I was angry at him of late. He should not have been 
  killed." By the time she turns her head back, it is smooth again, but the 
  regret briefly visible in her profile lingers in her voice.
On the southern curve, Steele simply shakes his head scornfully before 
  muttering something quietly to Lee. He scratches at his hip a third time.
On the southern curve, JJ Malone suddenly scowls, face flushing with anger as 
  she looks towards the center. Steeele's comment doesn't get a reaction.
On the southern curve, Lee Kuang's voice belies his words, "I wouldn't want to 
  dismiss your grief," he shifts the rolls of coins idly from hand to hand, 
  weighing them. "But I was looking for something more resembling news from a 
  Galliard." He pauses a moment, then adds, "Preferably factual, without the 
  deed embellishments. Who. Why. That sort of thing."
On the southern curve, Lee Kuang nods to Steele.
Anne takes up a storytelling stance, head up to look at the trees over the 
  Walker group's heads rather than at them. "The deed was, from the admission 
  made to me, done by a Gnawer, like Remy a member of this Sept. She is held 
  for judgement, which I understand is to be rendered by our philodoxes 
  tomorrow. From what she said, she had not originally meant to, although 
  several of her tribemates had planned to...kick his butt. She killed him - 
  as she admitted - when he was unconscious."
On the southern curve, Steele brushes aside the edge of his coat as he turns 
  his back to the Wheel and walks southwards.
On the southern curve, Lee Kuang listens stonily, rolls of coin clicking 
  against each other between his fingers.
On the southern curve, Steele heads south, out of the Wheel and into the 
  forest.
Anne drops her eyes to look at Lee once again. "I do not know why the Gnawers 
  felt the way they did; I do know that two of our Guardians were involved in 
  some way, although I suspect it was not on the side of the Gnawers. I only 
  heard about it an hour before you arrived, myself, so I am afraid I have 
  little else in the way of factual information."
On the southern curve, Lee Kuang says flatly, again, "Who?"
On the southern curve, JJ Malone is the one to speak up. "Tommie."
Anne draws in a breath. "Her name is Tommie."
On the southern curve, Lee Kuang's eyebrow twitches at the impromptu chorus, 
  perhaps registering some surprise. "I see." He shifts the rolls in his 
  hands. "Since you are being so informative tonight, I trust you will inform 
  those who need to be informed that I would like to speak to her. And I would 
  like to speak to those who will be deciding judgement. As the elder of the 
  tribe of the deceased."
On the southern curve, JJ Malone subsides back into a glowering silence, 
  pinching out her cigarette to start up another.
Anne inclines her head. "As I say, I believe judgement is being rendered 
  tomorrow. I will tell them - when I find out who it is. You will, I hope, 
  leave me some way to contact you? You are welcome to come here again 
  tomorrow night, but since I do not know when, I don't feel justified asking 
  you to cool your heels here for possibly hours." She tilts her head, then 
  adds, "Besides, I should like to know who our Galliards should speak to of 
  the Walkers, when there's news to be passed."
On the southern curve, JJ Malone mutters something under her breath for Lee's 
  ears only, head ducked down.
On the southern curve, Lee Kuang says "I am easily reached in the city...By 
  anyone who can read a phone book." He frowns, "There are few of your moon in 
  the city, woman. Someone shall be in touch with you presently. Pass the word 
  you were given." He frowns, "Unembellished. I want to talk. Nothing more. 
  Nothing less. Before judgement is passed. And if that means staying the hand 
  of judgement," He shrugs, "Her throat will still be where it is the day 
  after tomorrow...But the End will be one day closer."
Anne says mildly, "I will pass information as Luna compels me. The spirits 
  will guide you back, or do you wish a guide who knows the woods? You will 
  need to speak with us in general, anyway. I should like some clarification, 
  but," she glances upwards, "it is nearing midnight, and it will take you 
  some time to return to the city."
On the southern curve, Lee Kuang's growl marks the first time he has raised 
  his voice since entering the caern. "You will pass information as the -duty- 
  you spoke of earlier -requires-, Talespinner. And as the presiding principle 
  and chief executive of the Walk, I -demand- that you pass on my words as 
  given, -before- judgement is made, or I shall know the reason why."
Anne's patience snaps, just a little. "I already _said_ I would tell them 
  before the judgement. Maybe you missed that?"
On the southern curve, Lee Kuang lets his voice smooth out again. "Far be it 
  from me to tell a Galliard of the Furies what she, herself, said." He 
  glances over his shoulder at JJ. "Suppose you're about ready to head back to 
  the city?"
On the southern curve, JJ Malone straightens, and nods crisply to Lee. "Yes, 
  sir, I think I am," she says in utter politeness.
Cristoph glowers at the southern half of the circle in silence, leaning on his 
  bow a bit behind and to one side of Anne.
On the southern curve, JJ Malone looks past Lee to where Cristoph glowers, and 
  nods satisfactorily. "I figured you'd heal," she says, perfectly politely to 
  him as well, then prepares to leave at Lee's convenience.
Anne raises her voice again. "JJ. I want to talk to you, sometime, too. Not 
  tonight. I want to hunt, not talk, tonight. Later this week."
On the southern curve, Lee Kuang turns with casual ease back towards the 
  forest whence he came, apparently considering the interview at an end.
On the southern curve, JJ Malone turns to follow after Lee, with no reaction 
  to Anne's request.
On the southern curve, JJ Malone heads south, out of the Wheel and into the 
  forest.
On the southern curve, Lee Kuang heads south, out of the Wheel and into the 
  forest.
Anne proclaims immediately, "Assholes."