Litany Lesson

[hazlogs]

It is currently 17:44 Pacific Time on Sat Dec 7 2002.

Currently in Saint Claire, it is foggy. The temperature is 39 degrees
Fahrenheit (3 degrees Celsius). The wind is currently coming in from the
northeast at 3 mph. The barometric pressure reading is 30.25 and falling,
and the relative humidity is 100 percent. The dewpoint is 39 degrees
Fahrenheit (3 degrees Celsius.)

Currently the moon is in the waxing Crescent Moon phase (21% full).

Farmhouse: Kitchen and Dining Room

Homey is the first word to come to mind when looking at the farmhouse's
kitchen. Dark, wood-paneled wainscoting covers the walls to about waist
height, dark beige wallpaper continuing to the ceiling. Twin refrigerators
occupy the north wall, facing the large six-burner stove on the south. The
kitchen counter runs the length of the eastern wall, broken only by the
double-basin sink. Cabinets run above and below the counter and a
twin-pane window is set in the wall above the sink. A small pantry is set
into an alcove alongside the refrigerators, presumably holding the deep
freezer as well as shelves of dry goods.

Some twelve feet above the floor, a large chandelier hangs from the
ceiling, lighting the dining room and casting long shadows over the bar to
the kitchen. A long table occupies the center of the dining room, three
chairs setting along each side, and one on each end. On the west wall, a
large window looks out on the trees alongside the western pasture. Set
into the north wall is a large cabinet, its glass doors closed on shelves
containing a full compliment of fine china and glassware as well as a few
decorative nicknacks. On the east, a wide bar separates the dining room
from the kitchen.

An opening in the southern wall allows passage to the front entryway of
the house, while a sliding glass door in the kitchen opens to a clearing
behind the house.

Renee steps in though the sliding glass doors, Craig in tow. "Hey," she
says to those gathered. "Mom let ya come up fer a visit?" She directs
toward Catherine, while making a bee-line toward the fridge and helping
herself to what is inside.

Kansas arcs a brow towards Ashley. "I am a Philodox, I guess s'what it is
called." she looks again to Catherine for verification. "Some kind of
judge and that sort." The Get of Fenris Philodox is really talk active
now, apparently.

Salem stalks into the farmhouse only moments after the two Bone Gnawers,
bringing with him a brief chill from outdoors. He's tugging off his gloves
as the door bangs shut behind him, and gives the others a brief, flat
glance as he moves past toward the hall closet.

Craig waves to his fellow cub as he follows Renee. "S'up, Cathy?" he says
over his shoulder, rubbing one arm to drive away the cold as he waits for
Renee to emerge from the fridge.

Ashley, seated by the kitchen table on the edge of her seat, glances up at
all the new arrivals. Her pale green gaze flashes with recognition at
Salem, but no one else.

Catherine tilts her head, then perks up. "Craig!" she almost chirps.
"C'mere 'n sit?" she adds, dragging a chair out for him. "I changed!" She
then subdues a little as she spots Salem and Renee, going back to quietly
sipping her cola.

Renee finds a package of hotdogs and buns. She puts these on the counter,
and tosses an apples in Craig's direction. Something for him to munch on,
while she boils the psudo-meat weiners. Some water is set to boil and a
poot put on the stove, before the Cliath turns and leans against the
counter. Facing the small group. Basicly, she ignores the Walker. "Hey
Catherine. Ya did, did ya? That musta been somthin' of a surprise. Cool
fer you, though."

Salem's eye seems to linger on the gathering, though it's difficult to
pinpoint any one face that grabs his attention in particular. Then he's
gone, out to the hallway to get rid of the big heavy black coat.

"Shit, cool Cathy," Craig replies, catching the apple, then grabbing a
seat at the table. "Hey, M' Craig, Ragabash cub of the Bone Gnawers. They
call me 'Takes-Chances'," he says, nodding to Kansas and Ashley.

Catherine hehs at Renee. "Surprise ain't the word," she agrees, then
cooool's at Craig. "'ma Ragabash too!" she enthuses. Clearly, she's still
at the 'shiny new' stage of Cubhood.

Ashley blinks once at Craig's introduction, then lowers her eyes and goes
back to drinking her water. Wordless.

Kansas looks around her, suddenly overwhelmed by the number of people in
the kitchen. She watches Salem quietly has he vanishes into the hallway.
Seems like something grabs the Philodoxs attention about the Glass Walker.
As people are being introduced, Kansas mutters, "Kansas. Philodox of the
Get of Fenris cub."

He's dour, he's got that 'nobility and pure breed' thing going, and he's
the tallest member of the bunch. What's not to notice? Salem returns
shortly, pulling out a chair at the end of the table and settling into it
with a grunt. "Talked to your mother, Catherine?"

Water boils and Renee sets about pouring the hot water into a mug. To
that, she adds the contents of a glass container, which she pulled out of
a pocket. The container disapears, just as quickly as it came into view.
"Hey, who wants hotdogs?"

Craig grins. "Cool," he replies, leaning back into his seat and taking a
big bite out of the apple. "How'd it happen?" he asks, nodding to
Catherine as he chews.

Catherine nods at Salem. "Yessir. She dropped some clothes 'round for me
yesterday, Salem-rhya, along with some books 'n a walkman. She's also
pulled me outta school an' blown a smokescreen for me at the trailerpark.
She's cool like that." Then, sideling to Craig, she makes a face and
notes, "Got chased by a dumbass /raccoon/."

Ashley sits silently, the still eye in the center of the storm. Both hands
wrapped around her water glass, she keeps her eyes downcast.

Salem arches a brow at 'raccoon'. "Hnh. You made short work of it,
anyway." He leans back in the chair, stretching his legs out under the
table and folding his arms across his chest.

Renee shrugs and dumps the entire package of hotdogs into the pot.

Craig snickers. "A coon gotcha? S'crazy," he says, smiling a little
hopefully at Ashley before taking another chunk out of the apple. "You
been stuck out here since then?" he asks.

Catherine hehs at Craig. "It was all frothin' and poisoned and shit.
Laura-rhya said the bites were tainted, an' she had to do this weird
ritual to stop 'em stinging and get rid of a rash." The cub shrugs and
then adds, "S'only been a few days...but yeah, been here since."

Ashley gives Craig no reaction other than a blank, cold stare.

Renee scoops hotdogs out of the pot and onto a plate. She puts them on the
table, along with a package of buns. "Somethin' eatin' at you?" She asks
Ashley, before turning around and getting some ketchup from the fridge.

Salem tilts a look over toward Ashley, studying her for a moment, and then
turns a similar regard over to Renee.

Ashley glances aside at Renee. The waifish girl narrows green eyes
slightly, then counters, "Do I know you?"

Craig's eyebrows hike up at that stare, and he refocuses his attention on
Cathy, occasionally glancing at the other girl. "Cool," he replies. "Your
buddy been t'visit? The Wendigo you were talkin' about?"

Catherine nods. "Yeah....he was here yesterday for a bit. Said as long as
my Tribe people didn't mind, I could continue learnin' with him. S'cool.
So, how've you been?"

Renee shrugs placing the ketchup on the table and helping herself to one
of the hotdogs. Putting it in a bun and squirting ketchup on top. "Nope.
I'm Renee. Cliath, Galliard, an' a Bone Gnawer." Renee carries the hot dog
over to her previous spot. Leaning against the counter, she picks up her
mug and sips from it. "Ya seem ta be in a sour mood, is all. Jus' curious
as ta what is buggin' ya."

Craig gets up to grab himself a hotdog. "Been good. You want one of these?
I've mostly been practisin', learnin' wolf-talk and the Mother Tongue,
that kinda stuff. Y'know, the boring shit," he grins at Renee. "Oh yeah,
and fallin' on my ass a lot. S'what I did today."

Catherine's eyes light up at the mention of food. "Sure," she agrees. "I
learned how t'walk in different forms yesterday. Laura was real nice, an'
made my clothes so they woulden't rip when I change, and they'd come back
when I'm homid again."

Renee finishes off her drink and places the mug on the counter, before
taking a bite out of her hotdog.

Craig chuckles, putting together a hotdog each for himself and Catherine.
"S'cool. Havin' clothes tends t'like, come in handy," he says, handing
over the food to the Gaian cub.

Catherine takes a bite from the hotdog, chewing and swallowing hungrily
before murmuring, "Yeah. Goin' out to the barn to practice shiftin' in a
bit. Still got lots to do."

Renee takes another bite out of her hotdog, chewing slowly and watching
the cubs. "Hey, Craig, would ya like me ta leave ya here fer a few days?
Get ta know the other cubs?"

Craig looks out the window, then back at Renee. "That'd be pretty cool,"
he replies, taking a bite out of his hotdog. "Nice change from th' yard,
anyway," he adds, turning to get a drink.

Catherine munches quietly on her hotdog, getting about halfway through
before musing, "So how's things in the city, anyway?"

Renee watches the Gnawer cub as he stands and gets himself a drink. "Okay.
Be good fer ya. You've got mosta the basics, already." The Galliard
finsihes off the last of her food and looks over at Catherine. "Not so
good. Least I got a new lead on those UL pills."

Salem eyes Renee. "You mean the warehouse? Or something else?"

Catherine cants her head to the side. "Oh?" she prompts the Gnawer elder.

Craig shrugs at Catherine's question, grabbing himself a drink and another
hot dog before taking a seat at the table again.

Renee nods at Salem. "Yea. The warehouse. Gonna be sniffin' 'round it
Relm-side."

Renee shifts her attention to the Gaian. "May have figured out where those
UL pills are being made. Need ta work on learnin' more."

Salem continues to regard the Gnawer Galliard steadily. "Hm. Be careful."
Like it needs to be said.

Renee grunts. "No shit. Alicia asked if she could join me. Was kinda
pissed when I didn't say yes."

Catherine finishes her hotdog and sips her cola, listening intently to the
discussion.

Salem rubs at the side of his nose. "Yes, well. I'm not surprised." He
purses his lips slightly. "How have you been feeling?"

Renee tilts her head to one side, eyeing the Walker strangely. "Fine."

Salem stares right back at her, his gaze direct, his expression...
difficult to read. "Good."

Renee turns her eyes away, unwilling to meet that direct gaze for very
long. She sets about making another mug, of whatever it was she was
drinking eariler.

The Walker's eyes follow her across the room, then turn away and settle on
Catherine. "What else have you learned so far?" he asks the cub, unsmiling
but quite pleasant in his tone. "Been briefed on the Litany yet?"

Catherine clears her throat. "Not by a Garou, no, Salem-rhya," she replies
quietly. "Mom taught me the theory, or at least the rules, though I don't
really understand many of them."

Salem nods, shifting his weight slightly in the chair. He leans forward,
resting his arms on the table and folding his hands together. "All right.
Tell me which ones you know."

Catherine rubs her hand over her nose. "There's one that says Garou can't
have children with other Garou...there's another that says to kick the
Wyrm's ass....um....one that says we can't talk about this kinda stuff in
front of non-Garou or non-Kin....an'....I forget the rest."

Renee boils more water and pulls out that glass container. Sprinkling the
last of its contents into the mug. She eyes the empty container with an
annoyed frown, then makes it disapear into a pocket.

Salem flicks a sidelong, brief glance at Renee, then focusses his
attention back to Catherine. "Mmn. Fine, we'll start at the beginning.
Nice and formal. Garou shall not mate with Garou. Were you told about the
different breeds?"

Catherine mms, sipping her cola. "Homid and Lupus...there's one more,
isn't there....I don't know the name of that one. The one that happens
when two Garou have a kid."

Renee takes her mug over to the table and settles down into one of the
chairs.

"Metis," the Walker supplies. "Metis are the main reason for this law.
They're also born sterile and deformed in some way. There are a dozen
other reasons you'll hear given for the first law, but that's the
practical one. Metis are a dead end, genetically, and sometimes a
liability. Plus, they die in Crinos form, are born in Crinos form, and
sometimes have to spend years in Crinos form until they learn to shift.
And the mother usually has to be in Crinos form for the last trimester. In
other words, a walking Veil breach. You see?"

Catherine nods a bit, making mental notes of this. "What about with other
breeds, Salem-rhya? If a Garou woman is gonna give birth to a Lupus cub,
does she have to be in Lupus form for the last bit?"

Salem rubs at his chin. "Generally, yes. As the pregnancy progresses,
transforming becomes increasingly hazardous to the unborn child. Or
litter."

Catherine ahs. And then, cautiously, "What does '-rhya' mean anyway?"

Renee grunts and blows across the top of her mug, before taking a sip.
"Nasty buisness." The Gnawer snorts in amusment. "Jus' a term of respect,
Catherine."

Salem's lips thin. "A rather formal one, but in more frequent use here.
Anyway. Next law. Combat the Wyrm wherever it dwells and whereever it
breeds. Fairly self-explaining, but with a wide range of interpretation.
Generally, it means that you should not forget why Gaia made you and why
you're here. To fight a war."

Catherine nods, chewing on her lip-ring thoughtfully. "I guess. Laura said
she expects great things from cubs...does that mean great deeds sone in
this war against the Wyrm?"

"Everyone's expected to do great deeds in the war against the Wyrm," Salem
says, rather dryly. "That's how you rise in status, after all."

Catherine smiles a bit. "Not straight away though, right Mr Salem?" she
checks. "I'm having trouble walkin' properly in Crinos, let alone
fightin'."

"Craig is dealing with the same issues," Renee notes, before draining off
some of the liquid in her mug. "Should practice that kinda thing with
him."

Salem smiles thinly; it doesn't reach his eyes. "You'll be properly taught
how to swim before we toss you into the deep end," he assures the cub.
"Ready for the next law?"

Catherine nods, sitting back and sipping more cola. "Yep."

"Respect the territory of another," Salem recites. "A wolf thing, put into
stone for us... less-feral types. Territory can be physical location, and
usually is, but can also be more... abstract. Basically, try not to step
on someone else's toes, or at least ask before you do."

Catherine frowns in thought, though nods eventually. "Like knockin' on the
door before comin' in," she muses, translating it into her own
understanding.

Renee nods. "S'bout right. Jus' the way the junkyard is my territory.
S'ware I live."

Salem nods curtly. "Precisely. Next is to accept an honorable surrender.
If you're in conflict with another Garou, one who _isn't_ of the Wyrm, and
your opponent shows throat, either literally or otherwise, accept it.
Allow the other to back down gracefully." His eyes narrow. "We're far too
few to go about killing each other."

Catherine's brows raise slightly, though she nods. "Okay? Why do Garou
fight eachother?"

Renee glances over at Salem and presses her lips together in a thin frown,
before returning her gaze to Catherine. "Disagreements. Punishments. Shit
like that."

Salem doesn't look at Renee at all. "We have tempers." He delivers the
understatement perfectly straight-faced.

Catherine shrugs a little, letting it drop. "Ok? What's next, Mr Salem?"

"Submit to those of higher station." Salem shrugs a shoulder. "Another
wolf instinct, really. Show respect to your elders. You may dislike them
or even disagree with them. You may even hate them. But you _will_ show
respect to them." His tone's quite serious. "We are not a democracy, nor
an egalitarian co-operative. There's a pecking order to follow, lines of
dominance, ranks of status."

Catherine hrms thoughtfully. "I guess that makes sense. Like in the army,
where they have the chain of command, an' people are made to respect the
higher rankin' officers. An' I guess this /is/ an army, so..."

Salem inclines his head slightly. "Exactly."

Catherine sips her cola. "An' the next one, Mr Salem?"

Renee yawns, leaning back in her seat. "Next one is: The First Share of
the Kill for the Greatest in Station. 'Nother wolf thing."

Catherine blinks a few times. "What's that one all about? Share of the
kill?"

"The 'mister' isn't completely necessary," the Walker notes. He gives
Renee a rather sharp look, lips thinning into a frown. Then he turns to
Catherine again. "Again, 'kill' could be literal, such as the meat from a
hunted animal, or figurative. Loot from a successful mission. Items of
power, such as talens or fetishes. Rank hath its priviledges... including
that of having first pick."

Renee scratches at her cheek and shrugs. "Yea, it does. So long as people
don't, like, go nuts the with the idea and start hoardin' shit for the
sake of doin' so."

Salem shrugs. "One of the responsibilities of being leader is knowing how
to properly allocate resources."

Catherine ohs, rubbing her hands together before crossing her arms. "I
don't really get that one...but I s'pose it's easy enough to follow."

"The next is perhaps the easiest to follow," Salem says. "At least for
homids. Do not eat the flesh of humans."

Catherine wrinkles her nose. "Eww. No way," she agrees. "That's gross."

Renee leans back, hands behind her head. "Yea. Stories saw that we used ta
eat humans. Long time ago. But it stoped being a healthy idea, so the Law
was created. Ya eat humans an' it turns inta somethin' of an addication.
Like cocaine. Once ya start, its fuckin' hard ta stop. Do it long enough
an' ya start gettin' a kick outta it. Do it even longer an' ya end up
tainted. Ya can see where I am goin', right?"

Salem notes, dryly, "Nobody ever argues that one. Ready for the next?"

Salem adds, though, "There's a better reason. Humans are half your
heritage, and therefore eating them is, morally if not literally,
cannibalism."

Catherine nods. "Like not eatin' wolves," she reasons. "Ok. What's the
next one?"

"Respect those beneath you in station," Salem says. "All are of Gaia. That
includes normal humans, kinfolk and otherwise."

Catherine rubs her nose. "Why woulden't I? I mean....eh. Yeah, ok."

Renee glances over at Salem. "Next one, The Veil Shall Not Be Lifted. Ya
touched on that one eariler. Basicly, don't do anythin' that might let
normal humans find out 'bout us."

Salem asks the cub, "Do you know what the Delirium is?"

Catherine cants her head to the side. "No?" she replies, sounding curious.

Salem rubs at his jawline. "Basically, if a non-kinfolk, normal human sees
one of us in Crinos, they'll... have a breakdown, mentally, and generally
not remember it afterward. But that's no excuse to be careless, because
some _will_ remember, and moreover we have plenty of enemies who are not
affected by the Delirium at all."

"Like Fomori?" Catherine prompts. "Mom told me a bit about those."

Renee grunts. "Yep."

Salem starts listening them off on his fingers. "Fomori, vampires, Black
Spiral Dancers. Mages. Disgruntled kinfolk who now hunt us. Et cetera, et
cetera, et cetera."

Leaves strewn in his hair, Gary bustles in from outside, and skids to a
halt at sight of the various people in the room. "Oh. Hi."

Catherine nods a little, then looks over to the second cub. "Hey Gary,"
she greets with a little wave, before looking back to Salem.

Renee looks up, as someone walks in. "Hey," she greets.

Salem looks up and regards the new arrival with a rather flat, passionless
stare. "Evening."

Gary says, "I'm Gary." Salem's stare seems to either unnerve him or bring
up urges he has to repress, since he mutters, "Silver Fang," and heads
over to the fridge.

"Jack Salem," says the tall Walker. "Philodox of the Glass Walkers."

Gary explains, into the fridge, "Cub and theurge."

Renee scratches at her chest. "Renee. Galliard an' Bone Gnawer."

Catherine giggles a little at Gary, before sobering again and clearing her
throat. "So...um...the next bit?"

Salem's eyes follow Gary for a moment more, then shift finally back to
Catherine. "After the Veil? Do not suffer your people to tend to your
sickness in death."

Gary gets a Coke and leans against the counter, listening.

Catherine nods towards Salem. "So what....suffer in silence, or...what?"

Salem rubs a finger along the bridge of his nose. "In plain language...
don't be a burden to your pack. What constitutes a burden depends on your
tribe, and I know that the Children of Gaia are more lenient than most."

Catherine mmfs. "So I should ask one of the other Children of Gaia about
that one?"

Renee grunts. "Probably a good idea."

Salem nods, leaning back in the chair and folding his arms across his
chest again. "The next two laws are linked. The leader may not be
challenged at any time during war. The leader may be challenged at any
time during peace. Now, we're rarely _truly_ at peace these days, so 'war'
is usually defined as active conflict. In battle, for example, you're
expected to follow orders, not debate them."

Gary mutters, into his Coke, "Common sense."

Catherine nods, absently chewing on her lip ring again. "I guess," she
agrees, echoing Gary. "Makes sense."

Renee yawns. "Last one is kinda common sense, too. Take No Action That
Causes a Caern to Be Violated."

Salem's eyes flick to the Fang cub and back again; he's unsmilingly
satisfied with their responses. He gives Renee another look, then nods.
"You both know what a caern is, yes?" This question is mainly directed at
Catherine.

"Caern?" Catherine prompts, cluelessly. "No?"

Gary just nods.

"Holy place," Salem explains curtly. "Part of Gaia's heart and soul.
Without them, the war is lost." He's got that tone of doom and finality
down pat.

Ashley makes not a sound as she descends the stairs and comes in through
the dining room. She looks almost relieved to see that most of the former
kitchen occupants are gone.

Gary adds, "So the broadness is sort of deliberate," before giving Ashley
an interested look.

Renee yawns and rubs at her eyes, then closes them for a second.

Salem glances over at Gary and cocks an eyebrow. "Broadness?"

Gary says, "Um," while not quite looking at Salem. "Well, you never know
/what/ action might have consequences. So it's a catchall law, is all I
meant."

Renee snorts and reopens her eyes. Her empty mug is given an annoyed look,
before she stands and carries it over to the sink. "Seeya Cath. Gonna see
if I can track down Craig."

Catherine smiles to the Gnawer. "Ok. Bye, Renee," she responds softly.
"See you 'round."

Salem makes a short 'hm' noise and scratches at his bearded chin. "True.
However, again common sense can be your guide." He pauses to eyeball Renee
again for a moment, then turns back to Gary. "Don't go letting random
strangers onto the Bawn or into the caern. Don't tell outsiders exactly
where it is. Et cetera."

Ashley has a folded set of clothes in her arms, as well as a set of
medical tape and a small cloth sack. She sets her cargo down on the
kitchen counter and moves to get a glass of water. Gary, though
unrecognized, receives a brief and defiant stare.

Renee frowns at the Walker, then shrugs and heads out of the Farmhouse.

"Problem is, Mr Salem, we don't know who's Garou and who's not. I mean,
one stranger from another....one's Garou, one's not...how do we tell?"
Catherine muses. "Or do we just challenge anyone we see that we don't
know?"

Gary says, "See you," to Renee, and is about to answer Salem when Ashley
stares at him. In vague exasperation, he asks, "/What/?"

"When in doubt, assume the worst, and get a ranking Garou," Salem says,
answering Cathering. "Paranoia helps."

Catherine mrms, chewing on her lip-ring again. "Okay?" she agrees doubtfully.

Ashley doesn't grace Gary with an answer. Instead, she leans against the
counter and sips her glass of water, turning attention to the conversation
at hand.

Gary's a few feet down from Ashley, on the counter; he slouches, evidently
annoyed. "Anyway, yeah, common sense, sure."

Salem stares at the back door, after the departed Gnawer. "Hmm." He
glances at Catherine. "That's the last of them. Excuse me a moment."
Frowning, he pushes to his feet and heads out after Renee.