Aimless. Feels bad.

[hazlogs]

It is currently 19:36 Pacific Time on Sat Jul 29 2017.

Currently in Saint Claire, it's a sunny day. The temperature is 82 degrees Fahrenheit (27 degrees Celsius). The wind is currently coming in from the northwest at 8 mph. The barometric pressure reading is 30.12 and falling, and the relative humidity is 40 percent. The dewpoint is 56 degrees Fahrenheit (13 degrees Celsius.) For more detail, see: http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=98501

Currently the moon is in the waxing Half (Philodox) Moon phase (41% full).

Caern: The Stone Firepit

A subtle undulation of the land forms an curious, natural spiral in the open ground. One side of the formation rises to create a half-circle or crescent of earth surrounding and encompassing the spiral. The ground is littered with rock and flagstones, both large and small. Someone has carefully gathered up a trove of these and erected a clear fire pit. Flagstones with smooth surfaces have been laid along the upper lip of half circle of earth around the fire pit, turning it into a nice seating area. All debris and flammable material's been removed from within the spiral, and a fire has been laid. Just beyond the spiral's edge, wood has been collected and piled for future use. Surrounding this, the rugged walls of the canyon have been half buried by the Wyld surge, making the upper slope of the valley more gentle than it was before. Stands of Douglas fir and white pines mix with hemlock, lodgepole pines, and western larch trees to fill much of the open space, but the trees here are not nearly as dense as they are in the surrounding forests of the bawn. The sparse woods allows a partial view of the sky, and both sun and moonlight filter down to create enigmatic and beautiful shadow patterns on the forest floor. That floor is blanketed with a thick, soft rug of shed pine needles, lichen and leaf debris. The moss-covered relics of old, dead trees occasionally mark a place where once great sentinels loomed above.

The caern expands in two directions from here. The escarpment wall and raised dais form one point of the new triangle, while the center of the caern and its gigantic, Wyld-influenced tree marks the other. The only obvious way out of the caern is the valley slope that leads to the central bawn.

At the center, Karin made most of the trip from the Greek House in lupus, though she resumes her birth form when she gets to the caern proper, so as she comes near to the Great Tree, she's back on two legs again. Some things are easier to search for visually, as appears to be the case today, and she's clearly searching for _something_ as she works her way around a portion of the tree's base, climbing carefully over large roots or moving around them when necessary. As she catches sight of Copperhead, she's not quite sure whether to offer a greeting or let the Uktena rest, so she opts to wave and see if she gets a response rather than call out.

At the center, Copperhead stirs as she notices someone clambering on the roots, and she crawls up and out of the nook she'd been in, stretching and yawning. The latter is seriously unnerving. Yawn completed, she then speaks. ~Hello there. Were you looking for me? Am I needed?~

Ruin prowls into the caern, ears tilted backwards and tail hanging limp. She sniffs the ground as she wanders the perimeter, looking moody.

At the center, Karin says, "Well, I actually came out here looking for one of the species of mushroom that grows in the dark spaces around the tree, and has healing properties when properly prepared. But finding you is an added bonus, since I'd hoped to discuss the Guardian pack you're forming."

At the center, Copperhead looks quizzical. "Something that Mother's Touch could not handle on its own? Who was injured? Do they need to be Sensed for Wyrm? Show me where to go," she requests of the Fury. "We will speak of the guardian pack along the way."

Ruin lifts her head and peers toward the center.

At the center, Karin doesn't appear to have noticed Ruin as yet. To Copperhead, she shakes her head. "No one is injured. I'm the Keeper of the Land -- that makes it my responsibility to know the flora and fauna of the caern, and how they might be useful should the need arise. The Mother's Touch is more potent, but not always readily available, so having alternatives is useful."

At the center, Copperhead winds down as there's no immediately urgent situation, but she definitely acted as if she were prepared for one. ~I do not know much of herbs or mushrooms or plants that have medicinal properties. This is something that interests you greatly? You wish to be a powerful healer that others look up to?~ She seems to notice the other caern occupant at about this time, vertically slit eyes focusing on Ruin over by the fire pit.

Ruin sniffs the air a few times before padding over to join the other two near the central tree. Her manner is cautious and aloof. Hello.

Caern: The Center Tree

The center of the caern is devoid of the thick vegetation that inhabits the rest of the forest. The ground is flat and well trodden, its rich, dark soil nonetheless still carrying the scent of the woods--moss and peat mixed with pine needles, detritus, and the dampness brought from life-giving rain. The wide, empty clearing is dominated by one living exception to the absence of vegetation: an impossibly gigantic and ancient tree growing out of the ground near the very center. The tree defies logic. Grown in the span of a single year, it nevertheless has the size, apparent age, and character of the greatest and most ancient of forest sentinels. It looms over everything, silent and watchful. The backdrop to this commanding presence is almost as remarkable. Spanning the entire length of the old caern's chasm and completely encompassing the southern half is a colossal remnant of the wasp nest built during the Wyld surge. The towering walls of the nest are as strong as the earth into which they're built, their surface smooth to the touch and colored in shaded swirls of beiges, browns, yellows, and reds in a hypnotizing, pleasing way. Oval shapes bulge from the wall in places, while others sinks inward, giving the whole thing a haphazard air.

The caern's triangle extends out from here in two directions. On one side, the escarpment wall with its natural dais can be seen. The opposite side holds the stone firepit.

(Copperhead)
What's wrong with her head?!?

This female wolf is clearly the result of two individuals who broke the First Law. From the neck down, her body is a fine lupine specimen of of the Uktena tribe. However, from the base of the neck up, she has the head of a giant copperhead snake. When her jaw moves to speak or growl or hiss, it's immediately evident she is toothless--but a twin pair of venomous fangs are present--as well as a tongue that clearly belongs in a wolf instead of the forked snake-tongue most would have expected to see. Underneath the scales on the surface, where does the wolf end and where does the venomous snake begin? The overall effect, even if she's merely average-sized for a wolf, is simply disturbing.

She has but one accessory: a medicine bag on a cord about her neck.

(Karin)
There is still a hint of the ethereal about this young woman, though for those who saw her shortly after her return, not to nearly the same extent. She appears to be in her late teens or perhaps early twenties, and stands an inch or two over five feet tall. She's still thin, although less so than before, with pale, almost ivory skin, accented by pastel blue eyes that often have a faraway look about them. Her hair is dark brown, falling almost to her shoulders.

Her attire is typically casual. A plain t-shirt and a pair of blue jeans are most common, accompanied by a comfortable pair of sneakers, all of which are either on the older side or second hand. If she's doing any kind of work up close, she's almost certain to be wearing a pair of gold-rimmed reading glasses. In cold or inclement weather, she wears a deep crimson hooded cloak that is of far higher quality than the rest of her attire -- the material is similar in texture and appearance to velvet, but far more durable and water-repellent. The cloak is clasped with a silver-colored brooch engraved with a stylized Athenian owl.

Karin nods. "I fight, as all Garou do, though I cannot claim to be a great warrior. But my knowledge, be it of history or of herbalism...those are things that I can contribute to our sept." She glances over as Ruin makes her way in, offering the Shadow Lord a faint smile. "Hello. I know we've seen one another at moots, but that's not quite the same thing as actually meeting, so I'm Karin, Cliath Black Fury Galliard, and Keeper of the Land."

(Ruin)
This large, long-limbed black she-wolf appears to be a dangerous-looking creature. Her eyes are dark gold, intent and predatory. Her thick pelt looks healthy and is broken only by a pair of irregular rounded areas of ugly, hairless scar tissue on her temples, just in front of her pointed ears.

Copperhead follows with her own introduction. ~And I am Wodige Asgoli. Copperhead. Warder for the sept. Cliath theurge of the Uktena. Challenging for fostern soon.~

Ruin glances at Karin, then turns her attention back to Copperhead as if morbidly fascinated by the Uktena's appearance. But her hackles don't lift and her fangs stay un-bared. I am Brings-Ruin-To-The-Wyrm. Or Ruin. Metis Cliath of the Shadow Lords. Ahroun.

Karin says, "It's good to meet you, Ruin. Copperhead and I were about to begin discussing the Guardian pack that she's forming. Oh! And I'd also wanted to see what you thought of the idea of preparing Edgewood as a honeypot -- we know that agents of the Wyrm know of its location, and neither it nor the caern can be moved...which means we could make it into a trap for any future attackers. A place that appears more vulnerable than it truly is, perhaps."

~I like the idea of turning Edgewood into a trap, particularly since many of the Spirals got away. But who is it who owns Edgewood, would they be willing to do this, and would we need to give them a new house? I have no money,~ Copperhead explains. To Ruin, she inquires, ~Have you joined a pack yet? Or are you considering joining one or forming one?~

Ruin does not seem to have much of an opinion on using Edgewood as bait and doesn't seem to know the answers to Copperhead's questions about the house. The other questions, though -- she answers that she does not have a pack and would like to join one. Being without one is not pleasant. Aimless. Feels bad.

Karin says, "That is something we would have to find out. Back when I was a cub, the farmhouse was owned by a kin, but essentially run as an extension of the caern. I'm not certain if that's the case with Edgewood or not." To Ruin, she asks, "And what are your thoughts on a totem of Wisdom, possibly Uktena? There may also be less opportunities for glory as a Guardian, although there is great honor in the service, of course." More to Copperhead, she says, "I was also going to suggest Sphinx as a totem to consider. She is also quite wise, and a fierce guardian of those things that she protects."

~Can you find out about Edgewood?~ she asks Karin. ~That would be incredibly helpful. I tend to frighten kin, should not go where other humans might turn up, and my English and understanding of human society are not very good.~ She looks to Ruin and says, ~I think I will take up the task of promoting the formation of packs. The more packs a sept has, the stronger the sept, and the better defended the caern. There are too many garou here who are unpacked. It is not normal.~

Ruin readily agrees with the other metis. She adds that she would be pleased to join a Guardian pack -- or any pack with a strong alpha, and a purpose.

Karin nods her assent. "I will do that, yes." To the Warder's promotion of packs, she considers. "I would assume that Mouse-rhya and Jamethon-rhya both know the Rite of the Totem." She's not certain, but they _are_ the sept's two most senior Theurges. "Do you know of others here that can also perform it? That's going to be important as well."

~There is no pack with a greater purpose than a guardian pack defending a caern, and I will try to be the best leader I can be.~ The theurge-warder cants her head slightly, as if listeinng to something unheard, before she looks to the Shadow Lord. ~Where may I find you later, Brings-Ruin-To-The-Wyrm? We should speak more, and find a place for you.~ To Karin, she says, ~I will inquire with Mouse and Jamethon about the Rite of the Totem and who knows it. I apologize, but I need to go check on something in the spirit world. We can talk guardian packs again soon?~

Ruin flicks an ear. I live on the bawn and am usually around the caern and the compound where people meet.

Karin says, "Certainly. Until the next time, then." To Ruin, she asks, "Assuming you don't need to be elsewhere, would you have any interest in helping me search for mushrooms?" That is what originally brought her out here, after all, and she means to resume the task.