This quiet clearing among the dense forest is home to soft mosses and lichen, the loam a mix of dark soil, old but still prickly pine needles, and dead leaves and other organic matter. Near the center stands the Story Tree, a short and squat ponderosa pine with broad branches. Normally the ponderosa is a giant of the forest, but this little tree seems content to dominate only this little clearing. Nevertheless, the Story Tree has thick branches, and one in particular crooks downward to form a convenient climbing hold for those that which to sit among the strong lower branches. Care should be taken, however, for this pine's needles are sharp.
The bawn's forest lies in all directions. A pathway leads through the central part of the bawn towards the caern.
Compact is the word for him: wiry, maybe 5'6" in his beat-up black combat boots, with a sense of compressed energy and imminence like a coiled spring -- or a cocked gun. Never quite still for long, balance flowing through the balls of his feet. There's a striking intensity to his narrow blue-green eyes, the colour contrasting with his fair skin and spiky copper hair; just below the left is what at first appears to be a faint mole, but closer inspection reveals as a small, long-healed scar. His features are appealing, with high cheekbones and a good jawline, but it's the confident mien and roguish smile that most often seem to draw people in.
He's in a well-worn biker jacket of the traditional sort, all fairly closely fit black leather and silvery zippers and snaps. Beneath it, he's got nicely-fitting dark indigo jeans with a plain white tank, its ribbed cotton skimming close enough to hint at the musculature beneath. Over that, he's wearing a long-sleeved, navy blue shirt, unbuttoned; judging by the white-on-red number patches on the left arm, the flag patch on the right shoulder, and the round fleur-de-lis patch to the left of the collar, it was once part of someone's Scout uniform... probably not his. Okay, the 'Boy Scouts of the USA' patch over the right pocket's a hint, too. There's a couple leather-and-bead bracelets on one wrist and a length of ball-chain disappearing beneath his collar; his nails were apparently painted black some time ago, since they're starting to show chips. Late teens, most likely, and when he speaks it's in a mellifluous, southern-accented baritone voice.
Thane isn't a man who's appearance stands out much. He's caucasian of skin tone with a faint swarthiness should he stay out in the sun long enough to catch a tan. His bones are pronounced, giving him the appearance of leanness despite having a solid, even musculature that speaks of someone who's gained his athleticism through rounded activity versus focused weight training. His hair is a tawny brown in most lights and usually kept in a short style. Often, there's a good day's growth of beard on his face which seems to hide small nicks and old scars. His eyes are a mid-tone blue, often held under pensive brows.
There is a look to him, the weight of something undefined. It's like looking into the eyes of a man who has seen terrible things and was never quite was the same after. It's even more haunting considering his blind right eye is couched in scars like an attack from a bear.
Usually, he's casually dressed but cleans up when the need calls. He's never seen among the normal public in anything but long sleeves regardless of the weather, underneath showing massive scarring on on his forearms. They don't seem to restrict movement, but the oddly darkened scars are numerous like lightning bolts across his skin. Another deep slice runs at the upper portion of his abdomen.
It's cool but still a good bit from warm as the winter sun is hidden behind passing banks of clouds on their way to drop snow in the mountains. On occasion they sprinkle down some rain that's defrosted on the way down, but otherwise it's an uneventful day. Thane is on his usual patrols around the bawn, though having gotten word the young Galliard needed to see him he's loitered at the story tree to await his arrival.
And, indeed, here comes the Galliard in question! "Just the man I was lookin' for!" Felix greets the Shadow Lord cheerfully, "You got a bit?" His hands are already going to his own neck as he approaches, finding a leather thong and separating it away from the length of steel ball-chain that's always there.
Thane holds out his arms in a gesture to his surroundings, "The bawn isn't going anywhere. At least it better not, but one can never tell with this place. Spirits do enjoy rearranging it at interval. So, sept business or personal business? I know you were being sent on the most honorable and beloved of Galliard traditions: Pestering."
"Little from column A, little from column B," Felix replies, pulling the necklace out of his shirt and off over his head; the length of leather proves to have a white fang hanging from it, and he offers the item toward Thane. "Sept first. THEN Pestering." A quick grin. "So, first off, Jacinta asked me to bring this back to you, since it belongs to the Sept and she an' her pack's leaving town for an indeterminate time. You know the details on that?" He glances for an indication as to whether they're needed or not, even as he continues, "There's another of these; she says Esther currently has it, an'll continue usin' it in the best interest of the Sept, to track down the enemy, if you allow it."
"No." Thane says in response to the question about Jacinta's pack and his expression seems undecided on being annoyed or indifferent. "But then I doubt she is keen to speak to me if absolutely possible." He takes the thong and the fang. "Ah, Wyrm fang. Brom mentioned he brought one of these as chiminage years ago. I have no qualms with Esther having it, long as it is used for its proper purpose. They're relatively useless in the cities with how much corruption there is, which is no doubt why they've been in the hands of Guardians."
Felix nods. "That's the impression I got," he agrees, "an' she said it was intended to be in the hands of the Guardians, or the Warder, in the event he doesn't have the Gift himself. If Brom brought one, I dunno where the second one came from... but, anyway!" He shifts his weight back on his heels, briefly, "Yeah, mostly likely she ain't. Can't say I think she was =super= keen to speak to me. But, here's the deal: Clear Water, the Wendigo caern she was trained at, it's got trouble. Long time ago, the native tribes, they defeated a great enemy, put it to sleep and bound it deep in the earth. Been keepin' it sleepin' all this time. But lately, the oil companies, they been winnin' against the local kinfolk protests an' got to drillin'. An' the beast, it's wakin' back up. Tan'geq Eluciq, she called it, an' Darkness Maker. But, while it was thrashin' an' dreamin', it corrupted the Weaver's kids too... an' they're comin' to its defense, lendin' their power. So it's more dangerous than ever, an' risin', an' they ain't even got all three tribes to fight it this time. She says, when she was Alpha, her duties were here. But now she ain't, the spirits've made their wishes clear, an' now she's needed more there. If the spirits determine that it shall be so," probably a quote; has anyone ever heard him say 'shall'? "she'll come back once it's beat again. They're leavin' soon, once the moon's a bit bigger. An' that, I reckon, is about the size of that."
"Probably another chiminage, but one doesn't sneeze at gift fetishes. Unless they come from Spirals." Thane says with a shrug. "She's not keen on most anyone, so I wouldn't feel offended." He utters a faint snort at the story, though it seems more at the content. "While I am not happy to see one of our Athro Ahrouns leave when we're going to need firepower, from the sounds of it this is verging on Storm Eater territory. So, if that is where she is being summoned then so be it. Perhaps the spirits will feel generous and throw us a bone in return. Thank you for the memo, though. I would have rather she informed us herself but there are larger arguments to save effort for."
"Well, hey, what am I for, right?" Felix says, as far as being the one to bring that news. "Now, let's see. Speakin' of Spirals. We ain't the only ones interested in the riots, I'm sure you ain't surprised to know. There's a newish guy in town, introduced himself to Salem as Zach Penn. 'bout six foot white guy, dark haired, does Tai Chi in parks an' shit. He was lookin' for Nick at the time. Salem sniffed him first time we ran into him, said he's a Kami; I ain't never seen one of them before. Anyway, 'bout a week back me an' Justin were hangin' in Harbor Park when Nolan showed up, first time we saw him, an' while we were tryin' to make with the secret handshake shit, Zach showed up too. The riots'd come up, an' he wanted to chip in on that. The point bein': he thinks they're bein' fed an' controlled by someone or ones for their own ends. Which of course he's right. An' he thinks thinks what they want is, an' this one's a quote, 'Resources. Places where the breath of the earth is close.' Says he's lookin' for the puppetmaster, that's where to end shit. Also says if the guy's in front of him, if he's got people he touched directly, he can sniff him out. So, I dunno for sure what he knows about what, but seems obvious there's SOME shit he knows, an' sounds like he's prolly on the right side of things. Prolly. But that ain't exactly my department." Almost as an afterthought, "Also, Nolan reckons we oughta figure out how to cut the ability of whoever to influence the people who end up bein' the mobs. But like I basically said at the time, I don't reckon 'find an' kill the dude at the top' or 'figure out a way to interfere with the manipulation' count as startlin' new insights. =I= can come up with that much of a plan. That ain't even twelve percent."
Thane listens to everything with quiet patience, clearly mulling it all over and sorting the details as they're given into their proper mental filing cabinets. "Kami... those are an old legend. Gaian fomori, to use a crude analogy. Hm. That will warrant investigation. Nolan... that one is interesting. That's quite a lot of investigation he seems to have done. A lot for a Cliath, but then I don't know the story of what brought him here. A Fianna elder would be helpful in that department. I don't know how tightly the riots are linked with Tower, if beyond principle since they're both here. I know the revolts went quiet. It also is no secret they want caern sites, if that's the 'breath of the earth', but then they always do. They need the power as much as we do. It sounds like he means something more by it, though, or why the metaphor? And he claims he can identify the strings of those being pulled? ...unusual. There's more to this Ragabash than face value, I suspect. Something feels different about him."
"That's what I got told," Felix says, nodding to the Kami definition, "Tiff said Kami are like the Wyld version of Fomori, an' the Weaver kind are called Drones. But she ain't never seen either of those, just Fomori-Fomori. Somehow I imagined 'em bein'... weirder. Salem said he saw one other once, an' it was a pile of sentient earthworms. Now, =that's= nice an' weird." He moves a couple steps over toward the tree, giving one of those lower branches a rather clear 'I am very tempted to climb you now' sort of look. "Well, it ain't a secret if you know about caerns, anyway. I s'pose Kami prolly would? He mighta just been bein' metaphorish 'cause ain't none of us actually been properly introduced, then. Well, 'cept me an' Justin to each other, obviously. But J was nappin' durin' mosta that anyhow. Far's Nolan... he ain't one for volunteerin' nothin' 'bout himself, far's I can see. Couldn't get him to admit he was 'rou then, even sideways, an' it ain't like his breedin's =subtle=. Admitted he was from Boston, not that the hoodie weren't a hint there, wasn't so big on sayin' anythin' about where he'd been in between. Seems to me he pays attention, though..." He does start climbing the tree partway through that, and settles himself to sit on one of the lower branches, regarding the Alpha again.
"Oh, those sound delightful. I think the Wyrm has ones that look pretty similar." Thane mumbles and shrugs up his shoulders. "I leave the spirit bit to the Theurges. My job is to kill things, and now organize plans to kill said things and smack heads around when Garou willfully ignore or ruin said plans." He does not go climbing the tree but he does look up at the Gnawer in it. "Well, I would find fault in any Ragabash who didn't pay attention, but it's more the gears turning while he does it. He's a good Ragabash, albeit it in a most traditionally frustrating fashion, but he has a story. Far more than a 'rited and off to see the world'. It'll come out in time. Speaking of stories, how is the challenge coming along?"
Felix nods, getting comfortable on the branch. More than seems reasonable, as usual. "Now if he'd just tell it to the nice Galliard," he says, grinning. "Ah, an' then we get to the less Sept an' more Personal bit. The Pesterin'. It's goin' okay, li'l slower than I'd maybe prefer, but I reckon I still got about a week before I gotta start gettin' real pushy. An' of course, seein' as you're three of the folks I gotta see, I was hopin' you might even now be up for lettin' me know if you've got news for the Nation outside our borders. ...an' also whether you happen to know where Uncle Bob might be hangin' these days. Lookin' a few other ways too, but I reckon there's no reason not to ask if you happen to know. Never know."
"Well there you go. Get yourself something juicy as some bonus renown." Thane says up to him before listening to the challenge part. "I can't say I know this Uncle Bob but I wouldn't expect to. Different circles. As for news, probably nothing more that isn't already out there. I doubt you will be sent anywhere with a large Shadow Lord population. It is not common knowledge, but there are groups of us who work specifically with infiltration into the Wyrm's nastiest activities, vampire havens, all of the nasty underworkings of the world. It is a brotherhood more than a camp. My connections among them are of the European branch, so they will be of no help here. I need to remedy that sometime. In any event, I would encourage any Garou with knowledge about this Nothing, the Queens, or the riots to provide what they know. If others inquire, let them know Nephandi, Wyrm mages, may be involved with the other Towers as one is here. I don't know the truth of it but I don't see why not. Anything that was discussed at the new moon moot is public knowledge. So share what of it the other sept may need to know. It's not News, I know, but all I can encourage right now is to keep lines of communication strong."
"And as leadership has only recently changed here," Thane says with a faint bare of his teeth that might be a grin. "You are free to tell them that an Adren defeated the Athro warrior Jacinta in battle, then defeated an Athro challenger, Mouse the infiltrator of the Wyrm's forces at the fallen Green, all within the span of a day. The Triquetral Accord stands against the Wyrm on three sides, as we follow the three faces of the Triat, and we will continue to stand against all challengers."
Felix listens fairly closely, and when the Adren finishes, nods again, giving the older man a light faux-salute, two fingers to the temple and away. "Will do," he promises, "...though just so I'm clear, if it ain't common knowledge 'bout those groups, an' given y'all got Galliards too, I'm takin' it y'all don't particularly =want= it to be, yeah? That ain't part of the news? The rest, consider it got." A slight pause. "An' I feel you on connections bein' in the wrong place, you got no =idea=."
"Well, to put it more detailed," Thane remarks, "The Bringers of Light do not advertise themselves. The camp exists though. It'd be like painting a target on themselves otherwise. For example: Only two Garou of this sept knows I am one. Three now. They are who bound the lightning spirit into my arms. However I never got the opportunity to train much under them before I was called home and then the riots started. So I haven't been able to connect with the Lightbringers of this country. No doubt a fair number are dead and the rest otherwise occupied. However, if there is one nearby they may some information that can help us. As soon as I'm able, I intend to get the stormcrows involved to see if I can find them."
Another nod, and a very interested look at the arms. "It's hard to be sneaky if you're announcin' it," Felix agrees, "...well, unless you're doin' a weird kinda double bluff an' usin' it to distract someone from the way you're =actually= bein' sneaky, I guess. Do stormcrows an' raven-shifters get on? Maybe she'd've heard where some of the others might be... although I s'pose given the camp part ain't advertised, you'd hafta know specifically who you were lookin' for, huh?"
"Basic principle, yes." Thane says with a wave of his hand. "We have gifts that let us walk through the gates of Hell, quite literally, and the bouncers just let us in. The best of us come back. Being as I'm Alpha here now, it's not likely I'll be able to pull off any of the single-sneak tactics. As for finding them...more just drop the right terms and they might come to you, but I don't wager you'll find one. It's a small group. I have considered asking Val. She has a stormcrow ally. I just prefer not owing a Corax a favor if I can avoid it."
Felix shifts position, lying along the branch. "You know what's weird about people? If someone does a li'l favour for you, they like you more. Especially if they didn't like you too hugely much before. They done studies. Works better'n you doin' favours for them, even, how weird is that? But, yeah, reckon you'd wanna keep an eye on what kinda thing they could ask in return, 'specially if they were likely to. I ain't met a lot of Corax, really. One, briefly, an' two if you include Val. But also pretty briefly."
Thane gives a nod of his head to the Galliard's words. "She's doing quite a bit to keep me in the loop of things after I gave her access to the caern which Jacinta denied her over an old slight. Including about a new mage in town... who's name was Zach, come to think of it. It may not be a coincidence. But Corax are designed for gossip, it's their divine duty. So, there are things you want to ensure they do not learn or everyone will know. So keep that in mind."
"...so basically you already did her a favour," Felix says, innocently, and then grins again. The name thing gets a furrowed brow, and a, "Huh. ...could a Mage be a Kami? Or vice versa? I mean, it ain't that unusual a name, but still kinda weird if two of 'em showed up at the same time." He nods to the last bit, mulling things over. "...wonder if SHE might know what caern it is I gotta take this to. Hm."
"Well there are kin-mages," Thane says, "And tainted mages. I've even heard of fomori zombie Garou, Howling Shamblers they're called. I don't know how mages work and Brings-the-Pack likely isn't going to give me too much information. I know he's only telling me the basics, but I suppose I can't blame him for protecting himself. I am so very curious just Who he is though. It has to be one of the long time locals and known to at least some of the Garou. Mm, but Val is worth asking, certainly. She gets around. If not, one of the Theurges may be able to summon a spirit who may have heard of him."
Felix's eyes widen at 'fomori zombie Garou'. "Man. There's gotta be some story there," he says. As for Brings-the-Pack, "I like him, an' course, I dunno a lot about how mages work either. But it is kinda weird to me he knows who we all are, an' most of us don't know who he is, though. I reckon if I was him I'd be kinda worried about it too, in case someone freaked out on him, but it's still kinda weird." He shrugs, pushing up to seated again. "I'll see 'bout catchin' Val. But I didn't think of askin' spirits. Dakota might help with that..." He trails off, thoughtful.
"I don't like not knowing who he is," Thane remarks. "But one battle at a time. There's bigger concerns and so far he's playing nice. Alicia didn't help matters much I'm sure by freaking out there was a mage that other Garou knew about and never bothered to speak about. Which I agree is bullshit, having one meander free about the caern without letting Garou know. Water under the bridge though. Try Val about Uncle Bob and if not you need to speak to Dakota anyway, so there you go."
"Yeah," Felix says, "'spose even if it's more the knew about an' didn't say than the mage around the caern part that was rilin' her up, if I =was= the mage around the caern I reckon it might be a mite disconcertin'. That sounds like a good idea, though, doin' it that order. Assumin' I can catch her, anyhow." He carefully gets to his feet on the branch, balancing, and grabs one higher, doing an experimental pull-up on it. It works all right, though really it's too thick to be an ideal bar; he swings a bit when he lowers, and drops down to the ground. "Tryin' to think if there's anythin' else I oughta be bringin' up while I gotcha... but I think it's pretty covered. Nick said he told you 'bout your kin droppin' by Edgewood, an' that seems about it for the moment."
"If anything comes up you know how to find me." Thane says to the Gnawer. "Bawn and howl or leave a note at Edgewood. Or find one of my pack and they can pass word. I obviously don't go too far. Dakota, when she's out this way, is at the caern or at the sept compound with Jamethon. Otherwise, in the city I suppose. So you may have luck crossing two off your list."
"Yeah, Jamethon I gotta catch, too," Felix says, "so, efficient if it works out that way. An' thanks." He pauses, looking at the Shadow Lord a moment before asking, "Seein' as you ain't gettin' into town so much lately... anythin' you want or need brought by, next time I'm about? Don't mind pickin' shit up."
Thane squints in consideration, even if he only has most of one eyebrow to do it with. "I can't particularly think of anything beyond being glad someone keeps beer in the fridge at Edgewood. Brom would be intolerable without or - or with too much some days. I brought all of my belongings out, though I admit a cheeseburger would be nice. There's just no making one like a fast food burger. It's a minor inconvenience though. As long as the Vault is still doing well that's my primary concern."
"...I usually ain't a big help keepin' beer IN there," Felix admits, "but I'll see what I can scare up." Another grin, "At least I been doin' my part toward keepin' him from gettin' intolerable off the other end. An' burgers, that I reckon I can do. If I was out here full time I'd miss 'em somethin' fierce. 'mong other things. But yeah, ain't been any trouble with the Vault, not so far. We're keepin' an eye out."
"Good." Thane says, sounding satisfied at the response. "A burger would be appreciated, I can drop some money at Edgewood to pay you. Also, if you or your pack need assistance, let me know. While I am not in the habit of owing anyone, I am glad you are watching over the territory. While I may not have as many gifts at my disposal that suits you as they may Justin, just let me know if there is something that I might be of help in."
"Thanks," Felix says, flashing the Adren a smile; it's subtly different from the more frequent grin. "...I reckon there's prolly an awful lotta things I could learn from you. I prolly oughta be puttin' some more thought into just what kinda things I oughta be learnin' these days... I mean, aside from tryin' to get more in touch with my spiritual side, an' I really wish I could think of a way to say that that didn't sound like I'm about to break out some coloured crystals an' talk about chakras or some shit. But I'm already workin' on that." Probably the getting in touch, although possibly also the thinking of a way. He stretches, and glances toward the sky. "For now I prolly better be gettin' back -- gotta pick Lilah up from work today, she's gettin' off after sunset. An' it looks like that's creepin' on up. So thanks -- again. I'll stop monopolizin' your time."