Echen contorts and blurs as he is transformed.
You shift into Lupus form.

Maury looks solemn and attentive.

Chris McDowell watches intently, tensely.

Echen closes his eyes and howls quietly, a note of hope and promise colored
only slightly by sadness. As the note fades on the wind, the silver light
from the crystal shimmers and illuminates a faintly glowing path of pale
blue-white light. The path leads off, away from the Caern, nearly due east.

Echen turns back to Maury and Chris and smiles slightly, his eyes sparkling.
Quickly. We travel the Moon Path to our Homeland this night. Without another
word, or a look back, he steps up onto the path and starts eastward.

Maury steps after Echen, hesitantly, with a shy, nervous smile at Chris as
she does.

Chris McDowell lays a gentle hand on Maury's shoulder. "Here we go," he
mutters, and follows.

The trip along the path seems to last for hours, the terrain to either side
of the blue-white track quickly growing indistinct and unrecognizable.
Finally, the path ends, the terrain solidifies.

Fianna Homeland: Standing Stones(#2360RFJ)
A low, rolling hill amidst an emerald-green meadow, this is a place of
pastoral beauty. The air is as warm as a summer's night and is heavy with
the scents of midsummer. The light of the moon bathes then landscape in its
light, the grass of the meadow rolling in silver-green waves with every soft
breeze. Atop the hill is a rough circle of standing stones, delicately
carved with all manner of runes. The ring forms an enclosure about the top
of the hill, the only space in the circle due east, towards where the sun
would rise. Further east, just past the foot of the hill, lies the edge of
a light forest; the broad leaves of the trees flash silver in the moonlight.
A faint path, running between the two largest trees, leads into the woods.
Contents:
Maury
Chris McDowell
Obvious exits:
Path  

Echen smiles a little and paces around the interior of the circle of stones,
where the Moon Path ends. He tosses out his mane and then lets the Change
come.

Echen contorts and blurs as he is transformed.
You shift into Homid form.

Maury walks around the circle, too, clockwise, instead of the counterclock-
wise way of the Caern.

Echen sits down, his back to one of the stones. "Welcome to your Homeland,"
he says softly. "We have but two laws here: you must not violate the Litany,
and..." His smile widens a little. "And you must not speak of mortal
politics to anyone you meet, here."

Chris McDowell looks around, shivering slightly. He chukles softly at the
second law.

Maury opens her mouth, looking unsure, then shuts it.

Echen leans forward and folds his hands in front of him. He narrows his
eyes thoughtfully. "I will accompany you no further. Your Rite lies along
the path, there. I'll await your return here, amongst the stones." His
smile widens further. "If you've no questions, then all that's left is for
me to wish you luck."

Maury says "Do we count as mortals? Garou, I mean?"

Echen lifts his shoulders in a shrug. "Mortal politics... like the IRA. To
keep us all from fighting about nonsense here."

Maury quirks a grin, and nods, and looks at Chris.

Chris McDowell smiles wryly. "I'm ready. Or, if not, I think I'll be able to
fake it."

Maury laughs. "We don't have much choice now, do we, Chris?"

Echen frowns a little. "Oh. One last word. Beware the Hunt... it patrols the
borders. If you hear a hunter's horn, just be careful."

Maury nods, soberly.

Chris McDowell frowns, nods.

Echen brightens a bit. "Go on. You'll both do fine. I'll see you soon."

Maury grins, a tremulous, nervous grin, and looks at Chris; she takes a deep
breath, hugs Echen, and then steps out along the path.

Maury has left.

Nia> Maury has arrived.

Chris McDowell clasps Echen's shoulders, says simply, "Thanks. For every-
thing." He follows Maury.

Chris McDowell has left.

Nia> Chris McDowell has arrived.

Nia> Maury indicates the lights in the trees with one hand, eyes wide
and observant.

Nia> Chris McDowell walks alongside Maury, looking about, half wary and
half awe-struck. Slowly, he says, "I know this. I shouldn't, but I know
this. Somehow."

Nia> The path continues for some twenty minutes walk. It's dark here,
oddly... in the Umbra, it would be light out. The only light comes from
the waning gibbous moon and the lights dancing amongst the trees. Sounds
of music and revelry come from ahead on the trail, and the lights seem to
almost move in time with the sound. Slowly, one light, larger than the
rest, flits into the air in the middle of the trail.

Nia> Nia simply floats, wings beating rapidly, in the middle of the path.

Nia> Maury stops as the light comes into the trail. "Um. Hello?"

Nia> Nia smiles broadly. ~Welcome, children,~ she says, her voice light
and musical. ~You're new here, aren't you.~

Nia> The lights in the trees seem to move a little closer to the path, as
if watching. Nia shoots them an accusatory glance and they back away quickly.

Nia> Maury shifts languages immediately. ~Yes... This is our first time
here.~

Nia> Chris McDowell gazes at the hovering figure curiously. ~We are new
here, yes.~

Nia> Nia nods a little and darts through the air around Maury once, then
Chris twice. ~Well, it wouldn't do for you to go without a guide. I'm
called Nia.~

Nia> Maury watches as the little figure dart around, eyes wide, but
manages, "I'm Maury."

Nia> Chris McDowell smiles slightly. ~I'm Chris,~ tone befuddled.

Nia> Again the lights in the trees slip closer to the edge of the trail.
You're almost certain you can make out tiny peals of laughter. Nia sighs
softly and stomps her foot a few times in midair. Immediately, the other
lights back away again, seeming to dim a little with the chastisement.

Nia> Maury ventures, with a glance at the other lights, ~We amuse them?~

Nia> Nia smiles apologetically. ~You must forgive them,~ she says lightly,
casting a glance over at the other lights. ~They've no sense of how to
treat guests.~

Nia> Chris McDowell glances around at the other lights again, half-nervous,
half-amazed.

Nia> Maury giggles a bit. ~It's all right, Nia. They don't bother me.~

Nia> Nia nods once to Maury. ~Well, they -are- easily amused. But then,
they're part fae. -Everything- amuses them.~

Nia> Maury nods, as though she expected something like that.

Nia> Chris McDowell's brow furrows. He smiles slightly. ~Still...we
probably don't look quite...impressive at the moment, do we?~

Nia> Nia lifts her shoulders in an airborne shrug and darts a bit down
the trail. She waits for the pair to catch up before continuing on, almost
a wellspring of energy. ~So... what are you two here for?~ She smiles
brightly. ~Wait, let me guess. Ryodan's party? Wonderful. I'll take you
there... it's just up ahead.~

Nia> Maury trails after Nia, and gives Chris a look. ~Ah.. Yes. Ryodan's
party. Who's Ryadan?~

Nia> Chris McDowell walks alongside Maury, shooting her a comradely glance
of perplexion.

Nia> Nia grins at Chris. ~About as impressive as I look, probably. Think
about living out your whole life a foot tall. Hard to look impressive.~

Nia> Maury flashes a smile. ~That depends on how tall the others around you
are. It also depends on how silly they can be about height.~

Nia> Nia purses her lips and looks at Maury. ~Ryodan Cliffgrazer, of course.
He's here with most of his Sept. Not like it was a long trip... they just
came from Eire.~

Nia> Maury walks down the path a little more. ~Oh. I should've known, I
suppose.~ She doesn't sound like she thinks she should've known.

Nia> Nia gives another airborne shrug. ~You'll meet him soon enough.
C'mon... it's just up ahead. If there's one thing you learn to love around
here, it's the parties...~ She darts forward along the path, almost
impatiently.

Nia> Maury follows Nia, not too far behind, after giving Chris another
nervous look.

Nia> Chris McDowell keeps pace by Maury's side, looking about continually.

Nia> Nia continues to lead along the path, stopping occasionally to make
certain that the pair are still behind her. The sounds of music and laughter
grow louder and louder until, finally...

Nia> Fianna Homeland: The Party
Nia> A large clearing ringed by the same mighty oak trees that guide the
path here, this place is dominated by the massive bonfire in its center
that throws sparks high up into the night sky. All around the fire are
revellers: man, woman, human, wolf. Some bear harps, flutes, or drums; some
dance and sing; most drink deeply from carved wooden mugs and slim-necked
earthenware jugs. Riotous laugher echoes back and forth across the clearing,
mixing with the music and the crackle of the fire. Across the clearing, to
the east, is a massive stone menhir, almost a gateway to beyond.

Nia> Nia leads, proudly, to the edge of the clearing, near a brace of
earthenware jugs. ~See?~ she says. ~I told you they throw great parties
here.~

Nia> Maury gives Nia a nervous smile.

Nia> A tall man looks up from a crowd of revellers. He's leanly built,
handsome in a rakish sort of way, and moves with the easygoing manner of
one whose nerves are gentled by liquor. He rises to his feet with a grin
and steps over towards you both. ~Hullo!~ he says.. ~I'm Ryodan Cliffgrazer.
Moon Dancer. Who might ye both be?~

Nia> Chris McDowell smiles, extends his hand. ~Chris McDowell, Full Moon.~

Nia> Maury puts her right hand over her heart and bows. ~Maury, called bard
by the old names.~

Nia> Maury adds, wryly, ~I don't understand why; I'm a half moon, not a
gibbous.~

Nia> Ryodan grins and accepts the proffered hand, shaking it firmly. ~And a
pleasure t' meet ye.~ He takes Maury's hand and raises it to his lips,
kissing the back of it gently. ~Both of ye.~ He smiles broadly. ~We've been
expectin' ye both, I think. Yer Echen's cubs, yes?~

Nia> Maury colors as her hand is kissed, and looks a little startled at the
identification, but nods.

Nia> Chris McDowell blinks, nodding. ~We are.~

Nia> A young woman with a mane of golden-red hair looks up from a nearby
group of musicians. She blinks in surprise. ~-Echen's- cubs, Ryodan?~

Nia> Ryodan laughs silver and gestures you both towards the fire. ~Aye,
Eithne,~ he says. ~Echen's gone respectable, it would seem.~ Peals of
laughter echo across the clearing at this, and the woman called Eithne
colors visibly.

Nia> Chris McDowell chuckles softly, and takes steps toward the fire,
casting a look Maury's way.

Nia> Maury starts towards the fire, pauses, and offers her arm to Nia
questioningly.

Nia> Nia grins broadly at Maury and settles down on her shoulder. ~You'll
love this,~ she whispers loudly. ~I've never met anybody who didn't love
Ryodan's parties.~

Nia> Maury giggles, and then walks over to the fire. "Ryodan," she pauses,
then starts over, "Ryodan-rhya, what do you mean, gone respectable?"

Nia> Ryodan turns towards Nia and smiles a bemused smile at her. ~These
aren't here for a party, Nia. Much to my regret, of course.~ He takes a
deep breath and narrows thoughtful eyes at you both. ~You are here, cubs,
on a journey to adulthood. If you're truly ready to walk as adult Garou...~
His smile widens a little. ~Well, as adult as Fianna can be, anyway... we'll
see it proven before the night ends.~ He chuckles softly at Maury's
question. ~Echen didn't tell ye we'd be here? Well, p'raps you'll commend
me to him. These are all his kin. His old Sept. He's the tribe Elder, he
said to me.~

Nia> Maury nods, and flicks a look at Chris. ~Acting Elder. Our Elder has
disappeared, several months ago. We chose him to act for us...~

Nia> Chris McDowell nods. ~That he is.~

Nia> Ryodan wrinkles his nose. ~Disappeared, eh?~ He frowns. ~Sad times.
Well, at least you've the big oaf in charge,~ he says, a trace of fondness
in his voice. ~You could do worse, I think.~

Nia> Maury nods.

Nia> Chris McDowell smiles slightly, and nods.

Nia> Ryodan lifts his shoulders in a dismissive shrug, and sits down, cross-
legged, in front of the fire facing you both. He hefts one of the jugs
into his hand and takes a long pull from it before speaking again. ~Bear
in mind that this is not a test for my benefit, or Echen's, or your Sept's,
or even our tribe's. Rather, it is a proving of yourself to yourself. A
time to leard of yourselves. Don't sqander the opportunity... there shan't
be another like it.~

Nia> Maury nods, eyes going around the fire to watch the others with open
curiousity.

Nia> Chris McDowell listens, frowning slightly.

Nia> Maury asks, hesitantly, "Is there anything in particular we ought to
be doing?"

Nia> Nia looks hopefully at Ryodan. "Can I go with them?~ He shrugs in
response. ~They'll need a guide. Take them to Cormacc, then Berach ui Finan,
then Guaire. After that, let the trail lead you.~ He smiles back at both of
you. ~Simply travel with Nia, and learn. You'll know when your Rite's at an
end... the land will know, and'll send you back to where you started.~

Nia> The golden-haired girl approaches you, now. ~Might I ask a favor of ye
both?~

Nia> Maury hesitates and looks at Chris.

Nia> Maury glances at Nia on her shoulder, and nods. ~Ask, of course.~

Nia> She nods a little, a hopeful smile playing across her lips. ~Could ye
tell Echen that Eithne said hello?~

Nia> Chris McDowell smiles, and nods. ~Of course.~

Nia> Maury nods, too.

Nia> Ryodan rolls his eyes at Eithne. ~Never give up, do you, lass?~ he says
quietly, gently chiding. He turns back to both of you and smiles wide.
~Above all else, ye pair, enjoy yerselves. Off with ye, now.~

Nia> Nia grins and springs into the air again. She bounds across the
clearing, alighting on a head here, a shoulder there, finally coming to
stand, midair, just before the stone dolmen. ~C'mon,~ she says. ~We have
to go see Cormacc.~

Nia> Maury puts her right hand over her heart again, and bows to Ryodan.
~We thank you for your welcome, Ryodan-rhya, and your advice.~

Nia> Chris McDowell nods to Ryodan gratefully, and smiles down at Maury.
~Okay, sis. Let's get this show on the road.~ He looks back to Nia, curiously.

Nia> Ryodan smiles gently and nods. ~It is my pleasure, m'dear.~

Nia> Maury starts after Nia, with a grin at Chris. ~Righto, brother-mine.~

Nia> Nia grins at Chris and darts under the dolmen, back into the woods. Her
light is momentarily lost amidst the trees, but you can hear her voice
calling over the din of the party: ~Are you two coming already?~

Nia> Chris McDowell shakes his head, chuckling, and follows.

Nia> The sounds of the party are soon swallowed up by the woods behind you.
They seem a bit darker here, the canopy of leaves thicker and not letting
as much moonlight down onto the path. Nia stays closer, her own light
brightened despite the rather oppressive woods around you.

Nia> Fianna Homeland: In the Forest
Nia> You stand amidst the mighty oak trees that make up the forest; the
woods have grown steadily thicker as you've travelled. Still, moonlight
pierces the canopy of leaves above the trail, and shafts of soft silver
light illuminate your path. Lights of soft pastel hue dart here and there
amongst the trees beyond the trail's edge, a dance of color just beyond
your reach. A glance behind, and the path has all but vanished, swallowed
up by the trees; there is no turning back.

Nia> A sudden, rippling snarl echoes off to one side of the path. The lights
in the trees vanish almost instantly, and you're left in near-darkness.

Nia> Maury freezes; her voice sounds half worried, half calm. ~Nia?~

Nia> Chris McDowell's head snaps around to the noise, glittering eyes trying
to pierce the darkness with ill-effect.

Nia> Nia frowns a little and slows her pace. Her own light seems to dim
with her mood. ~Umm, it's nothing. Nothing at all.~ Then, under her breath,
she adds, ~I hope.~

Nia> Chris McDowell looks less than convinced.

Nia> Maury picks up her pace just a little until it brings her close to Nia,
then slows to match her. Dubiously, she says, ~If you say so.~

Nia> Another snarl, louder and closer, sounds from just up ahead along the
path. You can vaguely make out a massive hulking shape amongst the trees, a
gaiant beast on four legs.

Nia> Nia swallows and settles on Maury's shoulder. ~Umm, Cormacc? That you?~

Nia> Chris McDowell stops by Maury's side and slightly ahead, tense and
ready for surprises.

Nia> Maury stops with one foot in front of the other, the back foot
shifting automatically to brace her as her knees bend, very slightly.

Nia> The massive shape steps closer along the path. A single moonbeam
illuminates it fully: a -huge- wolf, reminiscent of a Garou in Hispo. His
fur is a dusky red and his every move drips menace. ~Nia,~ he growls.
~Why've you come into my woods?~ He pauses and eyes you both. ~Garou, eh?
Well.~ He sits back on his haunches. ~You've come to bother old Cormacc.
What do you want?~

Nia> Maury puts her hand on her heart and bows, slightly, not taking her
eyes off the form. ~Ryodan sent us to speak to you.~

Nia> Nia darts a bit back, eyes wide. She claps a hand over her mouth.

Nia> The huge wolf paces closer. ~Ryodan, eh?~ He chuffles, the sound like
tired laughter. ~No doubt wants me to enlighten you about reality. Garou
have their heads stuck up in the clouds so much, these days. Not like they
used to.~

Nia> Chris McDowell watches the hulking beast with wary but unwavering eyes.

Nia> Maury doesn't answer beyond a slightly helpless shrug; she tries to
copy Chris's expression, with some fair success.

Nia> Cormacc growls softly. ~To get anywhere, Garou, you've got to be
warriors. You've got to fight, and you've got to win. You've got to be
brave, no matter what the odds. You've come from a race of warriors. Get
used to being one. That's what Glory's all about.~

Nia> Cormacc sits, deliberately, back on his haunches. ~I shall be valorous.
I shall be dependable. I shall be generous. I shall protect the weak. I
shall slay the Wyrm.~

Nia> Maury listens, carefully; surreptitiously, she eases her feet into a
slightly better position for balancing - or for fighting.

Nia> Cormacc stands again and paces closer, eyes narrowed. ~Glory's about
killing. You kill, and you get respect. Think about it: the greatest
warriors of your Caern are the most respected Garou. Nobody likes a coward.~

Nia> Chris McDowell remains balanced. His mouth quirks in a brief, start-
lingly feral smile. The blood knows.

Nia> Cormacc tosses his massive head, baring huge teeth that glint white
in the light of the moon. ~Fight to your last breath. Fight as much as you
can, as often as you can. Fighting is the only thing that can save your
race. And nothing measures your ability to fight like your Glory.~

Nia> Maury listens, head tilting just a little; for a moment, she looks
like she wants to ask a question, but she subsides, and holds her peace.

Nia> Chris McDowell's eyes burn with controlled fire as he listens, the
words speaking to blood and his spirit.

Nia> Nia tentatively works her way back up in front of you both. She cringes
momentarily at a growl aimed at her by Cormacc, but proceeds nonetheless.
~I have to take them to Berach ui Finan,~ she says with quiet determination.
As response, the massive wolf bares his teeth once again, then turns and
lumbers back into the dark woods. A moment, and he turns back to you both.
~I suppose it would be polite to see if you had questions.~

Nia> Maury takes the opportunity as granted, not surprisingly. ~You said to
fight every chance we have. Many in our Sept fight each other when there
is no - no Wyrmspawn to fight. Does _that_ bring glory, too?~

Nia> Cormacc growls quietly. ~To fight is to earn Glory. You are warriors.
Never forget that.~

Nia> Chris McDowell's eyes narrow. ~Everything is battle. I fought for
almost fifteen years to bury that which I was deep inside, every single
day. Was that...Glorious, or does Glory only come from battles that shed
blood?~

Nia> Cormacc lifts his massive shoulders in a shrug. ~Glory comes from
battles you fight with others, not with yourself.~ He snorts, almost
amused. ~I can't believe I'm hearing about a Garou that denied his nature.~
He shakes his massive head in disbelief. ~I shall be valorous. I shall be
dependable. I shall be generous. I shall protect the weak. I shall slay
the Wyrm. -These- are what earn you Glory.~

Nia> Chris McDowell's eyes blaze, jaw tightening as he listens. He nods,
the gesture holding respect even through the seething. ~I understand. And
I deny nothing any longer.~

Nia> Cormacc paces towards you both once again, pointedly ignoring Nia.
~Can I answer any more questions for you, little Garou?~

Nia> Maury shakes her head in answer. ~No, Cormacc-rhya. We thank you. We
will remember what you said.~ She looks at Chris to see if he has other
questions.

Nia> Chris McDowell shakes his head silently, the reflexive anger fading
into thoughtfulness.

Nia> Cormacc nods once, and again lumbers into the woods. He does not pause
this time, simply disappearing amongst the dark trees. Nia breathes an
audible sigh of relief as he vanishes from sight, her light brightening
again. ~Great Mother. He's -such- a jerk.~

Nia> Maury shakes her head, and musters up a smile, her stance relaxing.
~I've met worse.~

Nia> Chris McDowell relaxes slightly, chuckling at Maury's words.

Nia> Nia darts on up ahead, some of her good nature returning. ~C'mon.
You'll like Berach ui Finan much better.~ She leads onto a side-trail, the
leaf canopy up above thinning again, the woods lightening. The will-o'-wisps
in the trees reappear after a time, and, through the trees, the gentle
strains of delicate harp music can be heard.

Nia> Fianna Homeland: Clearing in the Woods
Nia> Just to one side of the path is a tiny clearing in the forest, ringed
by plain, low standing stones. Moonlight shines down here, casting a soft
glow across the entire area. In the midst of the ring is a larger stone,
its rough natural shape smoothed by the passage of years into its current
shape: it almost resembles a sort of chair.

Nia> Maury follows after Nia, eyes thoughtful.

Nia> A lone figure sits on the middle stone, a harp cradled lovingly across
his lap. Tall, thin, and pale, his fingers play a soft, sad, longing melody
to woods that he must believe empty. He does not notice you as you shatter
his solitude.

Nia> Chris McDowell listens quietly, loathe to disturb the music.

Nia> Nia flits, quietly, over in front of the figure. ~Umm, hello, Berach,~
she says softly. ~I brought you some visitors.~

Nia> Berach's fingers hover over the harp strings for a moment. He takes a
deep breath and sets the instrument aside, turning to look at you both. He
smiles faintly. ~Good evening,~ he says quietly. ~I'm sorry... I wasn't
paying attention. I didn't see you come in.~

Nia> Chris McDowell looks a bit uncomfortable. ~No apologies needed, except
perhaps ours, if we're intruding.~

Nia> Maury gives a nervous smile. ~We didn't want to disturb you...~

Nia> Berach waves a hand dismissively. ~I've been playing for a hundred
generations. A few moments will hardly make a difference.~ His smile widens
a little. ~What brings two of my kin into this lonely wood this night?
You've come for something, certainly...~

Nia> Maury bows again, as she has been, with hand-on-heart. ~Ryodan sent us
to learn from you, I think.~

Nia> Nia flits around behind Berach and whispers loudly: ~They just got
through talking to Cormacc.~

Nia> Berach takes a deep breath and nods slightly, looking at you both
through eyes narrowed thoughtfully. ~And I imagine the Dire Wolf told you
about Glory. So Ryodan must've sent you to old Berach to hear about Wisdom.~
He scratches at his chin for a moment, as if a little unsure of how to
begin.

Nia> Berach tilts his head slightly. ~The true battles aren't won with tooth
and claw, my kin. They're won with a sharp mind. Too many of our people
fall into the trap that is mindless, useless violence against an
intractable, unforgiving foe. Wisdom is the ability to see things clearly,
for what they truly are. Judgement, foresight, and clarity of thought.~

Nia> Berach hefts the harp up onto his lap again. ~You've both heard the
expression 'fools rush in where angels fear to tread'? It's true. Only the
unwise would be so rash as to leap headlong into battle against insurmount-
able odds. Wisdom is how we measure each of our success in exercising sound
judgement, being just, and thinking clearly. Wisdom is also prudence,
caution, and temperance: cooler heads need prevail more often than they
tend to, with our people.~

Nia> He plucks a few notes, absently, on the instrument, then smiles
slightly. ~Would you ask any questions of an old man?~

Nia> Maury looks at Chris as she speaks. ~Being wise enough to not always
fight doesn't mean you have to never fight, does it, Berach-rhya?~

Nia> Berech nods slowly. ~Sometimes we have to fight, child. But a wise
person who seeks to exhaust all other possibilities before fighting a battle
that he cannot win.~

Nia> Chris McDowell looks thoughtful. "Wisdom is...fighting only the
/right/ battles?"

Nia> Berach smiles a little and nods. ~You're both wiser than you think.
Yes. That's part of it. Part of it, also, is to know which battles are
right and which are not.~

Nia> Nia hovers, silently, a few feet away from Berach. She watches him
longingly, a silly sort of smile on her face.

Nia> Maury says to Chris, ~That's what I tried to ask Cormacc-rhya. It is
not normally wise to battle against others of our kind. I think.~

Nia> Berach plucks the lowest string on the harp, a thrumming note trav-
elling through the little clearing. ~The Dire Wolf is a warrior. You must
remember that, and take his teachings as such.~

Nia> Maury nods, and looks at Chris again.

Nia> Chris McDowell nods slowly. ~The blood calls for battle more strongly
in some of us.~ His words are thoughtful, more to himself. ~I think auspices
are actually beginning to make sense to me.~

Nia> Berach smiles quietly, almost to himself, and his fingers begin tracing
lightly against the strings of his harp again. The previous melody picks up
exactly where it left off, the somber notes echoing through the little
clearing.

Nia> Maury nods seriously. ~You are for battle, and I am not. Not as much.
But there are times when I too fight.~ She looks at Berach, then Nia.

Nia> Chris McDowell chuckles. ~And there are moments where I have to use
my head. Fair enough.~

Nia> Nia blinks, almost as if awakening from a reverie. With a last, longing
stare at Berach, she floats over to you both again and begins leading you
down the path. ~He's -so- cute,~ she murmurs. ~And -such- a good harpist.~

Nia> Maury laughs as she walks after Nia. ~He is a good harpist. Gibbous,
I presume?~

Nia> Chris McDowell follows, chuckling.

Nia> Nia shrugs helplessly. ~I don't know,~ she breathes. ~But I could never
get him to notice me. Not in a million years.~ The path continues through
the woods, the trees opening up a bit more. Moonlight spills down upon the
path: the gibbous moon, waning in its last night, is high in the sky.

Nia> Fianna Homeland: At the Bridge
Nia> A small stream cuts across the path here, perhaps no more than a few
feet wide. Nevertheless, a small arch of stone bridges the easily-jumpable
expanse. The waters of the stream rush gently on their course, appearing
molten silver in the moonlight that spills between the canopy of leaves
above. In the soft earth near the stream's edge are a variety of animal
tracks, some familar, some not.

Nia> Maury stares at the bridge, frowning.

Nia> There, at the water's edge, drinking delicately from the stream, is a
magnificent, mighty-antlered stag of purest snowy white. Everything about
him is familiar, and he looks up at you and smiles slightly.

Nia> Maury goes utterly still, grey eyes widening in something between shock
and awe and joy.

Nia> Chris McDowell gazes at the stag in muted wonder, looks to Maury
questioningly.

Nia> Nia sucks in her breath. ~Guaire.~

Nia> Guaire turns, and, in a single, fluid motion, leaps across to the other
side of the stream. He turns back to you both and dips his head so that his
antlers touch the stone of the bridge. ~Come closer, children,~ he says
softly. ~Ryodan sent you to me, did he not?~

Nia> Maury steps closer, approaching the stream's edge. ~Y-yes.~

Nia> Chris McDowell falters slightly, but keeps pace with Maury. He nods
silently.

Nia> Guaire lifts his head, antlers gleaming in the moonlight. ~And you have
been with the Dire Wolf and your ancestor already, this night? And they have
spoken with you about Glory and Wisdom?~

Nia> Chris McDowell nods again. ~They have.~

Nia> Maury blinks, eyes showing startlement, but nods agreement with Chris.

Nia> Nia darts through the air to the other side of the stream, then backs
slowly away from the stag and comes to sit on the edge of the bridge.

Nia> Guaire smiles quietly to himself. ~I suppose, then, it falls to me to
tell you about Honor. But what can truly be said? Pride, both in yourself
and in your fellows. Respect for -everyone-, even those who prove themselves
unworthy of such. Fairness and loyalty. This is Honor.~

Nia> Guaire dips his head to take another drink from the stream, then
returns his eyes to you again. ~You have heard the code, have you not? I
shall be respectful. I shall be loyal. I shall be just. I shall live by my
word. I shall accept all fair challenges.~ He pauses slightly. ~Be true to
what you believe is right,no matter what the cost. -That- is honor.~

Nia> Guaire looks at each of you in turn, a smile on his lips. ~Do you have
questions of me?~

Nia> Maury says, in a small voice, ~I thought we'd have a half moon to tell
us about honor.~

Nia> Guaire's eyes sparkle in the moonlight. ~Are you disappointed, child?~

Nia> Chris McDowell frowns thoughtfully, most of the words seeming common
sensical, but... ~'Even those who prove themselves unworthy?' How...how is
it just to approve that?~

Nia> Maury shakes her head violently. ~No, sir!~

Nia> The antlered head turns back to Chris. ~In showing respect to the
unworthy, you prove yourself better, that you hold yourself to higher
standards. That you are a creature of morals and ethics.~

Nia> Guaire smiles a little. ~A terrible creature of the Wyrm, a vampire, is
a sly, evil, backstabbing creature. And yet would it not be honorable to
respect your foe? To fight this creature fairly, even though it might not
uphold the same morals? To prove that you are -above- its level?~

Nia> Maury's head comes up. ~Are they _all_ like that? Vampires?~

Nia> Chris McDowell's brow furrows, not convinced, but also not knowing
how to answer that one.

Nia> Guaire pauses thoughtfully. ~Perhaps. Perhaps not. I cannot say, for I
do not know.~

Nia> Maury's eyes bleed gold into the grey as she speaks, but at the answer,
the gold slowly is driven back by the grey.

Nia> The stag lifts his head again, elegantly stretching taut the powerful
muscles of his neck. ~I will repeat the most important part of honor: do
what is right, no matter what the cost to you.~ Without another word, he
turns and darts off into the woods.

Nia> Maury watches the stag go with a soft sigh.

Nia> Nia smiles a little as she watches Guaire leave. ~He's really nice,~
she says. ~We don't see much of him, but nobody could ever say anything
bad about him.~ She leaps into the air and crosses to where the path picks
up on the other side of the bridge. ~Coming?~

Nia> Maury eyes the bridge. ~Nia, why is this stream bridged? It's so
small.~

Nia> Nia gives an airborne shrug. ~Maybe someone thought it'd be pretty to
put a bridge there.~ She smiles. ~Remember you're home? Nobody builds
something to hurt themselves in their own house.~

Nia> Maury nods, and steps across the bridge. ~I suppose so.~

Nia> Chris McDowell shakes his head as if to clear it, and follows along,
eyes thoughtful.

Nia> The bridge is surprisingly sturdy, actually, despite its delicate
appearance. Likely it could hold the weight of three or four people at once.

Nia> Nia zips into the woods along the trail again. ~Hmm. Now, Ryodan said
that after you talked to Guaire, we should let the trails lead us...~ She
stops suddenly after a few hundred yards. ~Uh oh.~

Nia> Fianna Homeland: Realm's Edge
Nia> The forest ends abruptly, giving way to a broad meadow. The grass here
is not as green as before, the moonlight oddly subdued, and an unnatural
chill hangs in the air. Clouds gather a few hundred yards distant, further
to the east: a storm brews there, the first glimmers of lightning barely
visible amongst the grey shapes of thunderheads. A dark shape looms just
above the ground at the front edge of the storm. Off to one side, further
along the edge of the forest, grazes a small herd of deer, oblivious,
somehow, to the bizarre weather a short ways distant.

Nia> Maury eyes the storm warily.

Nia> Above the rapidly rising wind and the occasional low rumble of thunder,
shouting can be heard... perhaps from the dark shape?

Nia> Nia slowly backs away, into the forest. Soon she's lost from sight.

Nia> A sudden flash of lightning clearly illuminates the dark shape beneath
the storm: it is a ship, a Norse raiding vessel, moored in thin air. For the
briefest of moments, you're almost certain you can see a band of figures
working their way down a rope ladder on one side of the vessel.

Nia> Maury stares, and then looks at Chris. "Chris..."

Nia> Another flash of lightning, and now you're certain: there are four
figures, and they walk wearing grey-furred Crinos shapes. One of them, pre-
sumably the leader, carries a broad axe. You can almost make out the leers
on their faces when they notice the herd of deer.

Nia> Chris McDowell mutters, "I don't like the looks of this either."

Nia> Maury says, softly, "Deer. Stag's children. Like us."

Nia> Chris McDowell nods. ~We protect them.~

Nia> Yet another stroke of lightning. From one side of you comes a familiar
snarl... Cormacc stands, glaring balefully at the Crinos who begin to
approach the deer. ~They are Get of Feniris. Their Rage is Wyrm-taint. They
are not -welcome- here. Glory demands that you slay them... they invade our
home.~

Nia> Maury looks dubiously at Cormacc, and then steps forward, two steps.
~We should get their attention, first.~

Nia> A thrumming of harp strings come from your other side. Berach smiles
slightly at the developing scene. ~Perhaps they can be reasoned with,~ he
says softly. ~We don't need to keep the old hatreds.~

Nia> Chris McDowell keeps by Maury, slightly ahead, confusion, determination,
and Rage all blending haphazardly in his expression.

Nia> A slight rustling from the trees behind you, and Guaire emerges from
the woods. He says nothing, merely watching you. Far off in the distance,
above the now-roar of the storm, you can barely make out the clarion call of
a hunting horn.

Nia> Maury gets out several yards from the edge of the woods, and then
freezes as the horn sounds.

Nia> The four Garou are moving faster now, the senseless bloodshed they plan
evidenced in their eyes. The deer, still oblivious to the threat, continue
grazing peacefully. The horn sounds again, perhaps a bit closer, but still
a -long- ways off.

Nia> Chris McDowell's fists clench, torn between approaches, and with little
time to decide.

Nia> Chris McDowell's eyes crystallize in determination, and he moves, a
vector planned to place him between the advancing Garou and the deer.

Nia> Maury moves along with Chris, but when she gets in range, she calls
out, ~Greetings, strangers.~ Her tone is carefully even, carrying none of
the fear that shows briefly on her face.

Nia> The four Garou stop in their tracks when they see the two of you. The
leader grins nastily as he three compatriots spread out in a pattern behind
him. He raises his axe menacingly and cocks his head towards the deer. ~We
eat venison this night!~ he shouts, a laugh rippling from his throat. His
comrades join him in laughter. The horn sounds yet a third time, definitely
closer now.

Nia> Chris McDowell's voice is firm. ~This is not your territory. You will
not.~

Nia> Maury spreads her hands out at waist level, palms down. ~Why?~

Nia> The lead Garou narrows his eyes. His comrades behind him flex massive
claws, their own eyes alight with impatience and anger. The leader speaks.
~Stay out of our way or we'll gut you too.~

Nia> Another flash of lighting, and a sound can be heard on the howling
wind: perhaps the baying of hounds?

Nia> Chris McDowell repeats. ~You will not.~

Nia> The axe-carrying Crinos' eyes flare, and he leaps at Chris, weapon
upraised. One of his comrades hangs back behind him, while the other two
make a beeline for the herd of deer.

Nia> Maury swears under her breath.

Nia> Maury contorts and blurs as she is transformed.
Nia> Maury shifts into Crinos form.

Nia> Maury moves to intercept the two heading for the deer.

Nia> Chris McDowell steps back, the Change coming instantly, fueled by rage.

Nia> Chris McDowell contorts and blurs as he is transformed.
Nia> Chris McDowell shifts into Crinos form.

Nia> Maury's voice is clear, even in this form. ~This is our territory, not
yours. By the Litany, we bid you return to your own.~

Nia> Nightmare darts to the side to avoid the charge. ~Have you no regard
for Honor, then?~ he snaps.

Nia> The axe drives into the ground a fraction of an inch away from
Nightmare, a few tufts of dark fur his only loss from the blow. The two
Crinos headed for the deer are fast-moving, but Maury manages to interpose
herself, somewhat, between them and the herd. The hunting horn sounds yet a
fourth time, and yes, definitely the baying of hounds mixed with the roar
of the storm-wind.

Nia> The two Garou facing Maury hesitate a bit in the face of the accusation.
The axe-brandishing leader, though, is lost to the Rage: he tosses his
weapon to one side and springs at Nightmare, claws flashing. His compatriot
behind him does nothing, merely watches.

Nia> Nightmare backpedals, dodges again with inhuman rage-fueled speed.
~Respect the territory of another!~ he snarls. ~Do you think that Glory can
be won when your actions go in the face of Honor and Wisdom?~ His voice is
not entirely his own, more primal.

Nia> Maury's eyes flicker to the leader, and then back to her own opponents.
~The third tenet of the Litany bids you to respect the territory of others.
Why do you not, this night?~

Nia> Talons rake red fire down Nightmare's flank despite his best attempt to
dodge, the Get warrior moving just as fast. The herd of deer look up as one,
startled, perhaps, by the fifth note of the hunting horn. The hounds are
close, now. Very close. The two Garou facing Maury snarl as they see their
quarry panic and flee. One of them turns back towards the vessel, but the
other springs at her, anger and hate in his eyes.

Nia> Maury's claws come up to block the attack; she courches a little, to
improve her balance.

Nia> Nightmare half howls, half snarls, twisting away from the raking claws,
blood and fur flying as this time he doe snot dart away, but in, driving a
flat-heeled palm strike against his opponent's chest with all of his
strength and precision.

Nia> The frenzied leader is hurled backwards as a massive hand is driven
into his chest. He lands heavily on his back, blood flecking his lips as he
coughs weakly for a moment. Only a moment, though. The Garou facing Maury is
both bigger and stronger: he lunges in at her and is stymied for a moment
by her superior positioning, but his claws find shallow purchase in her
forearm. A sixth note of the hunting horn... you can almost hear the
thundering feet of the pack of hounds upon the ground now, their baying
drowning out even the wind.

Nia> Maury bites back her reaction, and throws her free claw forward.
~_Will_ you go? The Hunt rides.~

Nia> Nightmare does not hesitate, lest his temporary advantage be lost.
Moving as fast as form and anger allow, he shifts with sickening speed to
Hispo, leaping onto his downed opponent, jaws snapping for purchase.

Nia> Nightmare leaps atop the fallen Get just as he rises to his feet. The
pair of them go down in a tangle of flashing claws and teeth. The warrior
facing Maury finds himself surprised as her claws drive against his shoulder
and tear bloody lines through the flesh there. His surprise, however, turns
to dismay and fear as, from the woods, bursts a pack of ten dusky black
hounds, licks of lambent green fire for eyes and tongues. Running behind
them, keeping pace easily, is a huge, dusky-skinned man with magnificent
antlers springing from his temples. He wields a massive iron spear with
terrifying ease, his eyes narrowed hatefully at the intruders to his
protectorate.

Nia> Maury snarls, ~_Now_ will you go?~

Nia> Nightmare wrenches loose from his opponent, leaping out of the im-
mediate range of his claws and fangs, bleeding from new wounds on chest
and shoulderblade. He backs away, shifting back into Crinos.

Nia> Maury takes back a step herself.

Nia> The Garou facing Maury shifts towards the lupus at the Fox overtakes
him. Yet even the speed of the lupus is not enough to save him from the Wild
Hunt. The hounds are upon him in an instant, and within the blink of an eye
there is nothing left but bloody tufts of fur. The two disengaged Garou are
running, now, full tilt back towards the ship. The iron spear of the Hunt
Master takes one of them in the back, and he sprawls noiselessly to the
ground. Nightmare's opponent struggles to his feet... in his frenzy, he
remains oblivious to the Hunt, and he attacks with renewed vigor, leaping
forward with the Berserker's clumsy rakes.

Nia> Nightmare dodges aside again, backing away. ~GO, fool!~ he snarls, the
power of Persuasion adding into his voice.

Nia> Maury looks, even in Crinos, sick as she sees the destruction wrought
by the hounds; she hesitates a long moment, then speaks, loudly enough to
carry: ~_Hunter_! Let them go, if they choose!~

Nia> The Hunt Master turns to face Maury, a hint of surprise registering on
his stoic features. The hounds hesitate with the Master's indecision, long
enough for the last fleeing Garou to clamber up the ladder of his vessel.
Nightmare's opponent blinks once, perhaps a moment of lucidity cutting
through the haze of hatred surrounding him. He sees his surroundings, and,
with a roar, launches himself at the Master from behind, crossing the
distance between them in an enraged blur. Even as his claws drive into the
Master's back, the hounds tear him to pieces. The Master smiles faintly as
he sinks to his knees, blood painting the grass red.

Nia> Maury looks a little more sick, but keeps her feet.

Nia> Nightmare breathes deeply, his rage fading. He moves over to Maury's
side.

Nia> The Hunt Master slumps forward, his body vanishing in a fine mist as
it strikes the ground. The bloody-muzzled hounds pauses a moment, then, as
one, lift their voices in a howled dirge. The sound trails off slowly, and
they turn and race back into the woods. As they go, though, in the distance
can be heard the single clarion call of a hunting horn, far away in the
night.

Nia> The massive drakkar begins to move. Slowly at first, it turns and picks
up speed, vanishing into the grey clouds of the storm. It begins to rain
here, big droplets striking the meadow grass and cleansing it of blood.

Nia> Maury contorts and blurs as she is transformed.
Nia> Maury shifts into Homid form.

Nia> Maury shrinks back into homid form, and then sits down on the ground,
huddling up and trying not to cry.

Nia> Nightmare contorts and blurs as he is transformed.
Nia> Nightmare shifts into Homid form.

Nia> Chris McDowell dresses in the tattered remnants of his clothing,
wincing. He sits by Maury and hugs her gently.

Nia> From the very edge of the forest, nearest the pair of you, steps Guaire.
His eyes linger on you both for a moment, and he turns back into the woods,
a trail opening up where he walks.

Nia> Maury tugs her sweatshirt sleeve up away from her arm, then huddles
against Chris. After a few more moments of trying, she calms down, no longer
shaking.

Nia> Chris McDowell rises stiffly, offering his hand to Maury.

Nia> Maury takes Chris's hand - with the uninjured arm. "One of them lived,
at least."

Nia> The meadow is otherwise empty. Of Cormacc and Berach there is no sign.

Nia> Chris McDowell nods. "And we protected the deer, and our Homeland. I
think we did okay." He sighs. "Wish we could have done better."

Nia> Maury looks at the spots where the others died. "We tried." She looks
at the path Guaire opened. "Shall we?"

Nia> Chris McDowell grins wryly. "Let's go."

Nia> Chris McDowell limps down the path after Guaire.

Nia> The trail leads, short and straight, through the woods. Soon enough,
you find yourselves standing at the base of the hill where you arrived.
Echen's asleep, sitting with his back against one of the stones.

Nia> Chris McDowell has left.
Chris McDowell has arrived.

Nia> Maury has left.
Maury has arrived.

Maury trudges up wearily.

Chris McDowell limps up the hill, managing the energy somehow to whistle a
sardonic version of "Hail the conquering hero."

Maury giggles.

Echen opens his eyes quickly at the sound of someone's approach. His broad
smile of recognition quickly turns into a frown of concern when he sees the
looks on your faces and the wounds on your bodies. He starts to speak, but
simply, quietly, rises to his feet and waits.

Maury looks down at her bared arm. "Eithne says hello, Echen."

Echen reddens a moment, but takes a deep breath and chews on his lower lip.
"You both need lookin' after," he says softly. "Back at the Caern."

Chris McDowell nods, smiling wearily. "Lead on."

Maury nods, eyes just as tired.

Echen smiles a little and steps onto the silver-blue of the glittering Moon
Path; it leads back west, back the way you came. Back home.

Maury trudges, more than anything else.

Shore Around Half Moon Pool
The shadowy canopy of evergreens recedes here, opening into a small clear-
ing. The grass underfoot is a vibrant young green, luxurient and seemingly
soft to the touch; small flowers, some purple and others blue or yellow, add
to the spread of color. Immediately to the east, the ground rises into a
small, rocky outcropping, at the base of which stands a large pool of crys-
tal clear water; the barest rivulet of a stream wends its way south and west
from the pool across the clearing, losing itself in the forest. This whole
area has about it a sense of peace and silence; the air is cool and fresh,
the scent of the flowers pleasant, the colors of the forest in seemingly
perfect balance. Anything not pristine or natural seems almost a world away
to you here. The half-moon shaped pool lies just to the east. A faint trail
seems to follow the little stream southwest into the forest.
Obvious exits:
Southwest  Half Moon Pool  

Chris McDowell has arrived.

Maury has arrived.

Echen smiles a little. "Welcome home. Cubs no longer."

Maury flushes a little, in pleasure; she frees her hand from Chris's, at
last, and goes to hug Echen again.

Chris McDowell chuckles. "What? No fanfare?" He rests one hand on Echen's
shoulder, the other on Maury's (nondamaged one.)

Echen returns the hug gently, careful of injuries; as he holds Maury tight-
ly, he looks up at Chris. "Congratulations."