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Post by Shehrazad on Mar 4, 2009 23:29:46 GMT 1
Kasiyas attitude did not go unnoticed, though the Valkyrie didn't choose to stop him, instead answering Danny. "She is weak and young, but has the will to overcome her flaws long enough to grow stronger. There are, I hope, Theurge less ignorant of the Fenrir amongst your Sept to guide her. A soft touch will breed weakness." The spirit thought little of talking so frankly of Anna in front of her. As the eldest and wisest of the Sept Danny is the only one in a position to ensure the young are rightly taught. "And weakness, in a place such as this, will bring death to you all."
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Anna
Garou
Der Wahnsinn ist nur eine schmale Br?cke
Posts: 672
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Post by Anna on Mar 5, 2009 0:01:36 GMT 1
Most of what was going on underneath the surface was practically missed by Anna. She wasn't bothered that they were standing there, talking about her as if she wasn't even there. She also didn't mind being called weak. She knew she was, especially compared to her pack, and especially now that she was tired and cold, and her shoulder was aching. Now that the initial exhiliration had passed, what she really wanted was a long rest. But she knew it wasn't over yet. They still had to finish the Rite, and she had to stay on her feet until then.
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Post by Danny on Mar 5, 2009 19:58:08 GMT 1
"I assure you," Danny said. He also spoke without looking at Anna. "Judgment-from-the-Skies has no place for weakness in his pack, and Bear has no place for weakness at this Sept. She will be taught in the way of Fenrir, to value strength and honour, and to be fierce and loyal."
He knew this wasn't his job anymore. He was not a Child of Fenris, after all. He had been her teacher until now, but she was no longer a cub.
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Post by Shehrazad on Mar 5, 2009 22:22:25 GMT 1
"I need no such assurance. I have no doubts that Judgement-from-the-Skies and Cloud-Dancer will steer her in the ways of the Get of Fenris." The spirit looks down at Anna, noting her exhaustion but not showing any concern. "I am concerned only for her auspice. This Sept lacks experienced Theurge."
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Post by Danny on Mar 8, 2009 19:18:57 GMT 1
"It is true that this Sept lacks a Theurge," Danny said. This Sept lacked many things, and not least of all a stronger and more assertive leader. He was well aware of that. He had no excuses. The Sept was small and its members young, most of them had only gone through their own Rites of Passage a year or two ago. "But Owl and Bear are wise and patient teachers," he said. "And my tribesmate, though young and inexperienced, understands the gifts and Rites that make a Theurge. We will do our best." Though it might not be enough. This Sept needs a Ritemaster.
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Kasiya
Cliath
Treads the Darkest Path
Woof.
Posts: 598
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Post by Kasiya on Mar 23, 2009 22:01:05 GMT 1
Only a few moments later, Kasiya returns, slipping through the gauntlet with characteristic ease. He barks his greeting, directing his communicaion to the Valkyrie:
"They come."
Doing stupid human things like talking and getting things they don't need.
It might be hard to tell from a bark, but the few moments away seem to have tempered his churlishness. He'd had a moment to realise that in this Rite, as all rites, he was asking the favour of the spirits. He had no place to judge them whilst asking for help, no matter how different their beliefs and values. He does his best to behave.
Waiting for the rest of Anna's Pack Kasiya shifts to Homid. Somehow whilst everything else felt most natural as a Wolf, Rituals felt right when he was human. Perhaps because of his dual nature, perhaps just because the Ritemaster that taught him had been human-born.
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Post by Danny on Apr 11, 2009 20:31:37 GMT 1
With a short thanks to Kasiya for playing messenger, Danny fell silent. His conversation with the Valkyrie over now that the others were here.
They didn't have to wait long after Kasiya joined them in the Umbra for the others to show up. Vasara, Saxon, Kamut and Nadya arrived together. Though not officially a pack yet, they arrived as one. Their scars and badly stitched-up wounds were signs of the previous battle, and the fact that they were walking still was a sign of (relative) victory. Sure, the rats had blown the building to bits and sent them running for their lives, but they had done what they had gone to do.
(OOC: Hope you all don't mind me moving you out here. But we can't keep the Valkyrie waiting.)
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Post by Shehrazad on Apr 11, 2009 22:19:03 GMT 1
The Valkyrie turns to the arrival of the others and speaks to Vasara. "I judge this child worthy to become a Cliath of the Fenrir. You must observe the conclusion of her passage." She turns her icy gaze on Kasiya. "And you will now complete what you have begun."
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Anna
Garou
Der Wahnsinn ist nur eine schmale Br?cke
Posts: 672
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Post by Anna on Apr 19, 2009 13:26:25 GMT 1
Anna tried to look a little more impressive and less tired and pathetic when the pack arrived. Like them, she carried a battle wound, and she was rather proud of it. She had gotten it while fighting alongside a war wolf of Fenris, and for the first time it made her feel worthy to be in a war pack.
She looked up at Kasiya and waited for him to complete the rite. She was ready for it.
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Kasiya
Cliath
Treads the Darkest Path
Woof.
Posts: 598
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Post by Kasiya on Apr 20, 2009 21:28:54 GMT 1
Good. With Vasara here he wouldn't have to tear open his own wrist with inadequate human teeth.
Bowing his head to the Valkyrie, Kasiya turns to Vasara.
"Judgment-from-the-Skies-Rhya. The Cub Anna is dead. Before us stands she who would be Anna, Cliath Theurge of the Get of Fenris. She who will guide your pack along the path of the Crescent Moon. She who has gained the blessing of the spirits of your Tribe. Give me your knife so I may finish what we started."
Once he has Vasara's knife in hand, Kasiya steps up everso close to Anna. Not any taller than she, he can look her in the eye. He stands for a moment, taking in the moment, the feel of the group. Everything was in place. Right. Finished.
One moment, then he cuts deeply into his own arm, deep enough for the blood to run down and pool in his hand before the wound closes. Reversing the knife, he dips a finger into the blood which was so central to the egyptian forms of Ritecraft and reaches out to paint the three pictograms which would seal the Rite. The Crescent Moon he paints on her left cheek, the Glyph of the Fenrir on her right. With no consideration for modesty he paints the final pictogram above her breasts, cutting her shirt if needed.
Stepping back he raises his voice to just below a shout.
"It is done. With the blessings of your ancestors you are Anna, Cliath Theurge of the Get of Fenris! All here bear witness!"
He smiles.
"Go to your Pack"
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Post by Shehrazad on Apr 21, 2009 18:01:51 GMT 1
The Valkyrie regarded the odd group that had gathered to meet the new Cliath, and turned back to Anna as Kasiya completed his duty. "It is done, may your future be long." The Valkyrie began to lift away floating into the sky, and facing Anna as she did. "And your final battle glorious, before we meet again." Leaving the best wishes any true warrior of Gaia could hope for, she rose into the clouds and left them.
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Tony Vasara
Fostern
Judgment from the Skies
Manche f?hren, manche folgen
Posts: 648
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Post by Tony Vasara on May 4, 2009 18:53:00 GMT 1
Vasara had stood quiet and still until the end of the Rite, mostly to show his respect to spirit, only an ignorant fool would speak to such a great entity of Fenris unless directly spoken to first. He handed over his pig-sticker when asked and took it back as soon as possible, he didn't like the idea of "Runner-Tribe" holding his tool of battle but the Rite was more important than what he liked or what he didn't like.
He examined Anna from head to toe with the steely look of his good eye. Kid had grown up and looked like she had learned something valuable, something about resilience and stubborn refusal to give up. Something that every Fenrir must learn before given right to run as one. When the rite was over, Vasara nodded approvingly and with a small and sharp gesture of his hand he pointed her a place to stand amongst the Pack.
As the Valkyrie started to rise, he changed into his huge, gray and scarred Hispo form and howled a long and lowtoned farewell. He sang her an old song of war and desperation, of battles won and lost, and of the Final Battle when he would meet the Valkyrie again if he kept true and didn't fail as a Cub of Fenris.
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Anna
Garou
Der Wahnsinn ist nur eine schmale Br?cke
Posts: 672
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Post by Anna on May 4, 2009 20:38:39 GMT 1
Anna watched in silence as Kasiya completed the rite. She wasn't surprised or taken aback when he cut himself and drew the runes in blood on her face. She wasn't really a stranger to blood and pain anymore. She nodded to the Valkyrie when she gave her blessing. Then she took her place in her pack, and stood between Vasara and Saxon, and watched the war-spirit soar away.
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Post by Danny on May 4, 2009 21:11:29 GMT 1
Danny too watched the Valkyrie fly off, and Vasara give his parting howl. He placed his hand on Kasiya's shoulder, and gave him a nod to say well done. It had been a proper rite of passage, worthy of a Theurge and a Fenris.
He turned to face Anna, and Kasiya stood next to him. "You are now worthy of the rank Cliath," Danny said, facing the pack as a whole, but talking to Anna. "From this day on, you are no longer a cub. You are no longer a child. You are no longer Anna Walczak. You were reborn under the great ash tree, and you will carry its name in tribute. I rechristen you Anna Ashtree, Theurge of Fenris."
He turned his eyes from Anna to the rest of the group. They stood together as a pack would. Now he could do his job, and bind them as one under their totem, the great bear king. "Is this your pack, now?" he asked Vasara.
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Nadezhda
Cliath
Shodim s uma.
Posts: 356
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Post by Nadezhda on May 5, 2009 10:20:49 GMT 1
Nadya looks on, arms crossed, while she watches the new kid getting acknowledged. Anna looks like she's been waited on for too much of her life, but the new scar is probably going to be the first of many. Whatever reservations Nadya has about Anna looking like a weedy kid, the Valkyrie would not of allowed her to take rank if she hadn't been worthy. That's why Nadya just glares at Anna rather than mocking the whole affair, and pauses only to acknowledge Danny's question to Vasara. "Yeah."
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