Shifter/Starwatch

ST'd by Silverfall

Note: Umbral, Lost Spirit Gate

Summary

Plot Summary

Starting 5/25/25.

A long, long time ago, there were Spirit Gates within the Umbra that were once common and were guarded by Lunes, allied spirits, or other Shapeshifters. In our day and age, many of them are gone, and the lost doorways are rumored to be of legend. No one knows how they were made, or crafted. Many old lore keepers say that the mysterious portals of old were mistrusted, and rightly so, by mostly the Werewolves. With the lost lore, they could no longer be regarded as safe methods of travel. One would never know where they'd end up if they stepped through one. The old star maps that contained such gate mapping has been lost over centuries.

Plot Details So Far

Detail 1: A secret in the umbra has been found.
Detail 2: Poppa Joe has asked Che Vuoi pack to start preparing for an umbral mission that is coming! He won't say what it is yet.
Detail 3: Father Abe has been getting dreams from Momma Rat. Are they prepared for what's to come?
Detail 4: Todrick has been building war art and showed it off to Poppa Joe. PJ has asked him to build more ambush art against enemies. How many? A horde... he said.
Detail 5: Momma Rat has visited Brent. Are the Bone Gnawers getting visions for the near future?
Detail 6: Poppa Joe announces the secret finding of a Lost Spirit Gate - 5/25/25
Detail 7: Packs are requested to submit action plans for getting down into Hungry Mountain within the next few weeks.
Detail 8: A Spirit Gate is said to be located at the bottom depths of the mountain, where the Zarak-Ur currently live.
Detail 9: The Zarak-Ur are thought to be cannibals who have warped over time from living too long inside the Mountain.
Detail 10: Mountain Travel - A transportation pillar is located in Juniper to travel to the Mountain directly.
Detail 11: Sept Council asks to keep this a secret from Spirits and have the Wyrm not overhear by talking in the streets.
Detail 12: Kristos and Poppa Joe sponsored an Action Plan contest for how to best handle the mountain threat.
Detail 13: Sept Alpha Meeting scheduled 6/15/25. See +events. Winners to be announced.

IC Rumors

Rumor: Poppa Joe returned in the early Spring to the Sept of the Holly King after he completed his challenge for Athro. There's been no story for his winning the rank, and when asked about it he chuckles and shakes his head. "You'll know soon enough. At the next Sept Meeting, there will be an announcement." There's subtle rumors that he was sent to seek something lost to the Gaians, and was challenged to find a way to help turn the tide of war against the Wyrm.

Rumor: Back in the day, the old timers, would say stories have been passed down that when Spirit Gates were used properly, they allowed instant travel from one area to another, even between the Near Realms. At one time, it was thought that all the Near Realms had Gates leading to other Realms at one point. Yet like all war casualties, such gates have mostly been destroyed by the Weaver or the Wyrm. And with the lost knowledge, their secrets were lost as well.

Rumor: The rediscovery of such a Spirit Gate, one may hope would lead from Wolfhome to Pangaea, or anything leading to the Summer Country, might yet tip the scales in Gaia's favor. And back in the day, activating a Spirit Gate was a simple matter, according to some legends. They opened to creatures with strong spiritual aspects, like Gaian Shapeshifters. One would concentrate, calling upon their Gnosis that ties a spirit to Gaia and the world. And once the Gate were to flood open, the traveler would experience sensations out of this world. Some might feel like they are sinking like they are riding a descending elevator. Others may sense a tingle, and a rising glare behind their eyes like a head rush. But it always ended in sending them to a new place. The first few trips through a Spirit Gate are disorienting, but eventually the traveler would learn to master the new sensations. -- Umbra * The Velvet Shadow Pg 40.

Rumor: No one wants to challenge CV for the first mission. Will CV go in guns blazing and draw all the Zarak-Ur down upon them with the fireworks and noise? Kristos awaits for a solid action plan. If it's no good, he's warned another pack will be chosen. No one wants to see packs fall, especially the Sept Leader. Everyone in the Sept is asked to help and create ideas and plans for all going to be successful. (OOC: Clearing Hungry Mountain is a Risk 3 Operation).

Rumor: Poppa Joe is circulating and listening to ideas. He's approachable and everyone knows he wants to see this done before he eventually goes on his Long Walk. This may be his last hurrah.

Rumor: Lucien went on a Mnesis quest to uncover memories of the mountain's past. His vision was cut short by the Na-Dene, but before it was he was able to learn where the Spirit Gate leads, and how it can be opened.

Rumor: Li also looked to the past for some answers. What he found was an old Chinese tale about the origin of the Heavens, the tale of the Empress T'ai-Shen, the ever-hungry serpent Kung-Kung and the wolf named Pan Gu - said to be the first Stargazer. It speaks of the hunger of the serpent and how it was defeated by the wolf.

Na-Dene is secretly visiting members of the Sept. Will you be one of the chosen?

Those Currently Involved

Father Abe
Gabriel
Francesca
Enzo
Poppa Joe
Kristos
Todrick
Etienne
Lucien
Li
Brent
Namkhai
Rue
Todrick
Ryen
Maarten
Medina
Archimedes

Locations	Missions	Objectives	Rewards
	Spirit Gate (SG-1) Spirit Gate	Recon SG-1 Into the Depths
	The Other Side Through the Gate	Locked The Unknown

Past Scenes / RP Logs

Pending.
Pending.
Pending.

How to Get Involved!

(Select What Applies to your plot)

Add yourself to the list, this plot is wide open to the entire venue.
Check the involved player list and see if any players currently involved can bring you in.
Check out your own skills and open a ticket for the STs with ways you think you could get involved.
If not selected for an Away Mission, you can contribute to the return team by offering aide.
Warg packs may challenge each other for the right to go on specialized missions.
You must be in a Warg pack to volunteer for Starwatch Missions or request to take an empty seat in one.
This story has elements for Risk 2 and Risk 3.
Group Play +Request Tickets are encouraged! You earn more points for Missions if you display teamwork.

How to Utilize this Plot Page

I know things I want everyone to know. How do I get that out there?: Add an entry below, under IC Rumors. Feel free to specify a context under which you did or would tell people. Do you just tell every PC or NPC who asks, so the rumor is getting around? You don't have to post anything you don't want to, and are free to require people to seek you out for RP to get information, but if you're tired of explaining the same things over and over, put it up here.
I was just in a plot scene! Now what?' If you have a follow-up, submit a ticket! Even if you don't, it would be great if you could add to the Plot Details and Summary sections above to help keep everyone on the same page with what's being shared IC.
How do I connect with others related to this plot: Please review if the plot is open, and how to get involved. If you are already involved, please reference the list of other characters involved in the plot.
Don't assume everyone knows what you know, even if it was in a public scene. If you have plot detail that isn't listed below, add it.
- This is the documentation of your IC information sharing. Take ownership of it. Include important information that took place in scenes, even if there is a log. Not everyone reads logs!
Do I have to share what I know? Of course not. You're free to operate at any level of shady and secretive that you like, but generally the most people have fun when information-sharing is collaborative, and plot resolution tends to progress a little more quickly. The choice, of course, is yours.