The Awen Moot

[get_off_my_lawn]

Who: Taryn Shadow-Walker, any members of Awen and visiting fellows
What: The Moot aka Awen Court
When: Backdated to the night of June 27th because I suck (half moon)
Where: Alilany
Warnings: there will be some combat and bloodshed

Notes: Here is a reference for how Moots are done in the Werewolf: the Apocalypse canon that Taryn is based off of. There are some differences, like being held on the half moon instead of full moon and the structure is a lot looser. Anyone that ICly looked into what a 'moot' is will find some very old tales mentioning wolf 'beastmen' and how they would gather every month to reaffirm themselves. And that's about it.


Alilany was always a rustic, peaceful city in Lerrian, full of beastmen, fae and some humans. Very tribal with little technology, more magic, and sense of home to any that were able to relax in the forests that surrounded the capital of Awen. Even the Warders, the special beastmen guard the capital were rarely seen, blending into the environment easily. But with the Moot, it was different.

Now, the spiritual center that Alilany was became more pronounced as the shamans went about cleansing the city and preparing it, as if the receive Gaia herself. Who knew, perhaps Mother Earth would grace the Moot with her presence. Earthy music filtered through the air - drums and pipes, but mostly drums - and the large clearing in the center of the city was ready for those who wished to participate in the Moot - be it spiritual communication, airing of grievances, petitions to the Ar-Righ, or simply the Revel at the end. The Warders were far more visible, meeting and greeting any foreign dignitaries that chose to attend. Weaponry was allowed at the Moot, for only a fool would draw their weapon at a Moot outside of formal challenge, so there was no need to ban them. Awen was, after all, a strong nation if small.

There was no throne in the clearing for the Ar-Righ to sit upon. No, that wasn't how Taryn or her lineage did things. Instead, there was a large boulder containing some of the gemstones from Arird to the southern end of the clearing, big enough to serve a similar function as a throne, with torches on either side and trophies from the battle with the Raiders on display. In the very center of the clearing was an impressive bonfire, easily controlled by the shamans nearby. Musicians to one side, others were seated on the ground or standing around and there was no specific place for the foreign dignitaries. If they were expecting special seating, they wouldn't find any favor, though if they moved to position themselves close to the rock, Taryn would have room made for them.

With a loud howl that carried and echoed off the trees, Taryn called the Moot with the ceremonial tribute. Beastmen of all sorts raised their voices to join her, howling, growling, warbling and even some of the humans mimicked the wolf's howl. The drums and other music faded so all that could be heard was the beautiful chorus of the people of Awen calling out to the land. After a few seconds, the Opening Howl ended and there was silence save for the crackling of the bonfire and any quiet muttering from those visiting that didn't know what to expect.

Comments

Inner Sky

[get_off_my_lawn]

Taryn walked to the fire in the center, the shamans tending it backed off, and the flames died down some. Flickering light illuminated the Ar-Righ as she held her arms out to her side and turned her head up toward the night sky. This is the religious, most ceremonial part of the Moot.

"We have gathered in this sacred place of Gaia, having called our brothers and sisters of Gaia, and we now call our brothers and sisters of Luna."

Taryn turned to the east. "East Wind! Bringer of the dawn of clear air! East Wind! You who showed us the mirror side, the other side of the Velvet Curtain, come to us! We thank you for your clear thought and bright light."

As she spoke those words, a cat beastman wearing a mask of the East Wind steps from that side as starts to dance about the bonfire. Taryn then turns to the south. "South Wind! Bringer of the eternal fire! South Wind! You who gave us the fire of rage within, that we may strike swiftly against our enemies, come to us! We thank you for your fiery anger and your guardian protection!"

Jumping out from behind the Ar-Righ's rock, a lizard beastman wearing a mask of the South Wind appears with a ferocious hiss and joins the other dancing about the bonfire. Taryn then turned to the west. "West Wind! Bringer of the rain! West Wind! You who gave us the Changing Ways, come to us! We thank you for the many shapes you've shared with us!"

Dropping down from the trees at the western edge of the clearing was a hawk beastman wearing the mask of the West Wind. He spread his wings out and bowed to the Ar-Righ in a flourish then joined the other two in dancing about the fire. Turning the to the north, Taryn continued.

"North Wind! Bringer of cold from the mountain! North Wind! You who brought us the Gifts and the Sacred Ways, come to us! We thank you for your great wisdom and great strength!" And with those words, from the northern part of the clearing came a white wolf beastman wearing a mask of the North Wind. With an icy howl, he, too, joins in the dancing.

Taryn then raised her hands above her and looked up to the sky. "Inner Wind! Bringer of blessings from Gaia, from within us! You who hold our Mother's power within us, come to us all! We thank you for your spirit, and your inner peace."

All four dancers stopped then at their respective cardinal point as all present felt a swelling of power, of a connection to the land around them. They could feel the hum of the earth beneath their feet, the whistle of the wind in their ears, and if any present had never felt like the land itself was alive... there was a first for everything.

"Now is the time to offer your own personal prayers to Gaia. Perhaps she will answer, but know we are never alone. Take a few moments to speak from your heart with her. And then I will hear matters of business as we crack the bone."

The bonfire roared back to full life as the shamans returned to tending it. The silence of the drums and flutes would remain for now. All four beastmen wearing the masks were in deep prayer until the Inner Sky was over, then they would put the masks away.

[ooc: Anyone who wishes to offer prayers or question them during this time may. Any gods that wish to stop by may. Any visitors that want to talk to each other over the strangeness of the Awen Moot can do so. Taryn will be available to talk as needed.]

Inner Sky

[greyerrant]

Garviel watched the display, shifting a few times, obviously ill at ease amongst the very wild nature of the Moot. His own struggle with his Beast has taken up enough of his time, and appearing here as anything other than a raging Berserker took an act of control. He stands, in a gray cloak over white demi-armor, something akin to the lorica segmentata of the few men from Rome he has brought with him, warriors, veterans of the fights against Avshar and the Raiders. They are not in crusade company colors our bearing their iconography at the monent, this is clearly a Roman affair.

As the sounds of the earth, wind, and the other effects of the moot play over him, he is reminded forcibly of the Vlka Fenryka his long-lost brothers, the sons of Russ. Their Gothi would put on similar shows, sometimes dramatic and powerful, sometimes to no effect that he could discern.

He keeps his mood as phlegmatic as he can, and his stony face shows little, as all around him, the others turn a little more energised.

[nibelungvalesti]

[There is a watcher amongst them -- a small human woman, dressed demurely, her only standout feature the plait of silver-purple hair that reaches the ground.]

[She is not used to those with keener senses or greater perceptions than normal, and that is why on the spiritual plane she is a beacon of divine energy.]

[get_off_my_lawn]

[After a few quiet moments, Taryn's head comes up and she sniffs the air. Being Garou, a werewolf of half-human, half-spirit, she has a strong connection to the Other Side. And that was a new scent.

...she's not a crescent moon, though, so she can't pinpoint exactly what the scent is telling her about this woman. But Taryn walks toward her.]

...not sure why I swapped to action tags, what was I thinking?

[nibelungvalesti]

[She looks up -- the woman is TINY, really -- without any hint of worry or fear, then inclines her head slightly in respect.]

Habit? No worries.

[get_off_my_lawn]

[Taryn, being seven feet tall, is used to people looking up to her. But some people, she felt weird towering over. Her goddess, Viridi Gaia, was one of them. And this woman... Tary gets a similar feeling. So, her voice is quiet when she speaks.]

Welcome to Alilany. We've not met before. What brings you to the Moot?

[nibelungvalesti]

I wished to witness it. I know little of your people or their customs.

[Her voice is hard as steel and imperious without trying to be. She's trying to be casual, but even in this guise, her soul remains inescapably itself.]

[get_off_my_lawn]

Then I welcome you. [A pause.] You are a warrior of the Other Side. You honor us with your presence.

[nibelungvalesti]

[She weighs that statement for a ponderous moment.]

Your senses are keener than I knew.

[get_off_my_lawn]

I am a being with a strong connection to the Other Side, part spirit. If not for some unique circumstances, I could travel to the Other Side for short periods of time.

...your scent reminds me of there.

[nibelungvalesti]

That I knew, but I did not know you would be able to sense it here.

It is unseemly for the gods to mix with mortals outside of their chosen sphere. Only trouble results. [There is no particular humor in her smirk, thinking of the Reset Bomb in particular.]

[get_off_my_lawn]

Does that mean we fall within your area of influence?

[greyerrant]

The watcher is watched by the dictator of Rome. A being who never died... and has surpassed mortality by means of a deal with a magical force known as the Holy Grail. A hero spun out at the time that was needed, to fight for a humanity he barely understands anymore. To him, since he is possessed of no divine sense, and, indeed, is rather blunt in matters sorcerous and spiritual, she seems strangely out of place because she appears human, and delicate. He wonders what she is doing here, and moreoever, if she needs protection. That is his purpose, after all. To stand as an armored bulwark for all of humanity.

[nibelungvalesti]

Make no mistake, Tyrant of Rome; the goddess was aware of you. If the moot were a proper place to speak of such things, she would have words with you on the instant.

But that was not proper. Uncertain that she should even be visible at all, she offered no sign of her thoughts save for a look. The flash in her eyes ought to say volumes about her need for protections.

[greyerrant]

Garviel seems pleased by the ferocious look he's received. One less person to worry about, for the moment. He returns to his lonely vigil, waiting for the cracking of the bone and thus the only part of the moot he particularly cares for. This all smacks too much of corpse-whispering to him, the sort of thing that the Emperor himself spoke against during the Great Crusade. He gentles his sourness, though, after a moment. He has a mission to fulfill, for the good of Rome, and thus, for the good of all humanity. A war, or at the very least a hostile border must be averted.

[path_to_the_world]

Tyrnen had tried to dress accordingly, but he had not been sure what was appropriate so instead defaulted to what he had grown up with, fine clothes with ribbons and lace, elaborate embroidery, gloves and jewels. It was one of the few 'court' outfits he had taken with him and he seemed a bit out of place in them, especially since he was sitting on the ground.

Trynen had his back to a tree, the Book of Words, otherwise known as Ira. He was writing in her, all that he observed of the ceremony. He was a scholar at heart after all and this was a rare opportunity.

[forceofnature]

[The first bomb had been dropped. The earth had at last displayed the true extent of its fury, long pent up for the countless crimes it had borne in silence for so many years. Gaia had spoken. She had demanded change. Not just for her own sake, but for the sake of every single form of life that claimed Dagaria as its home, plants, animals, beastmen, and yes, even humans alike. The will of the earth had never made itself known more plainly than during this time, not since the beginning of creation itself when the gods had first breathed life into their children.

Of course, perhaps there might have been a more diplomatic means of announcing it.

Regardless, the deed was done. And as Viridi had promised to her most faithful child, she would not stop until the humans learned to revere nature like they ought. In times long past, all of creation had lived in harmony, coexisting, no one species dominating over the others. Harmony was not peace, but even so, the delicate balance of nature had been flawlessly observed. And she had been pleased.

The sole desire of the goddess was to see things restored. To the way they were. The way they were meant to be. And on this sacred day, under the light of the half-moon, with the respect and reverence for the earth hanging nearly tangibly in the air...

The trees shiver as a cool wind makes its way through the woods. The breeze is refreshing. It carries with it a certain scent... Of blossoms in spring, of rich earth and morning dew, of rain newly fallen and wood freshly cut.

The goddess of nature is present. And with the destruction of the raiders and the honor being paid unto her... she is satisfied.]