Starwatch - Alpha Meeting - July 24 2025
Moonscape Glade - Umbra
Into the ethereal glow of a portal created of bent and twisted vine between two trees, beckons a sacred umbral garden within to explore. The air is alive with the sweet, heady scent of blossoming otherworldly flora, their delicate petals shimmering like stardust in the flickering light that dances across the landscape. Down a set of stone steps carved into the earth, a tapestry of glowing wildflowers stretches towards the sky, their stems swaying gently in the breeze like nature's own ballet. The petal colors are muted as they unfurl, yet vibrant at its core, as if the flowers have absorbed the essence of the stars above, radiating a soft, luminescent hue that seems almost otherworldly.
Beyond the floral display, a serene and crystal-clear small body of water glimmers like a secret glade winding its way and fed by smaller trickling waterfalls on its own path. Its surface is adorned with a scattering of celestial bodies - moon-winged firefly gafflings, that have fallen to earth to play about the rocks and water. The water's edge is lined with an assortment of unusual, hanging flora in beds of dark green moss, their leaves and petals reflected perfectly in the water's glassy surface, creating an illusion of symmetry. Deeper into the garden, the trees adorned with vines and iridescent leaves, seem to lean in, as if sharing a long-forgotten secret. Overgrown tree roots dip into the water and drink deep down to the surface below. The atmosphere is heavy with an air of mystery, as it holds a soft, pulsing glow that permeates every aspect of this mystical glade.
Kristos chuffs and greets those coming in to meet within the Moonscape Umbral Glade. He sits on his haunches upon one of the flat rocks overlooking the watering pool of water. His wolf keeps a strong presence overseeing the glade while here. <<We moved the meeting here because the cavern was stifling warm. We'll be keeping things somewhat casual for a discussion but this evening we want to share that the Sept Council feels it's time to crack the mountain open early and get a recon team down to the Spirit Gate.>>
He shifts back to his homid form and squats down to place one hand on the cool rock. "Poppa Joe is going to tell you about some tests we ran this past week and Jean has some information to share on the Aetherial Harp."
Poppa Joe corrects lightly with a grin while he scratches at his scruffy white haired ears. "Moonstrung Harp. It's a gift from an ally of ours from the Aetherial Realm yes, but Jean can tell you so much more about it than I can. He's done most of the work here on the communication device. Anyway, we built a scarecrow out of meat and turkey legs, and bacon. I know. Abuelo Joe must be crazy pants, right? Well, Jean did his thing with the harp and we parked the Meat Scarecrow outside the gate, and now we've found a method to where they aren't attacking meat bags, or namely us. Win win."
He motions over to Jean, "Can you please tell them about your method and the experiments we ran?" Taking a seat near Kristos, he rolls up his pant legs and sticks his feet into the pool.
Having gotten here through the Umbra, Gabriel settles down somewhere and listens, the Che Vuoi Alpha adopting the usual 'listen first' approach to things. He nods a greeting to those present but otherwise does not seem vocal.
Etienne has already tucked himself near the edge of the pool, right in the thick of the coolest rocks. He might be used to this hot, sticky weather, but even he can overheat when he runs out this far. He turns his attention to Jean, saving any questions for now.
Jean stands up and and nods, "Of course. The music I played first is the song that the Hungry Ones sing, onyl sped up so that it is intelligible to us--and a couple of octaves higher. It calls to them, they respond to it...and seem to think that those who play it are...allied with them? Part of them? In any event, they can, but stood outside, and did not go after the food we left as long as I played." Jean taps a finger, before continuing, "I shifted the key from minor to major, seeking to give them hope, and peace. I ended on the dominant rather than the tonic--sorry, a fifth up rather than the base of the key--inviting a response from them, but they did not respond, only heading back, but leaving us in peace. But so long as their song is played, so long as we are in musical dialog with them that makes sense, they are peaceful and interested. Beyond that? We would need to learn much more."
Kleio settles in on one of the rocks as well, quiet and unobtrusive as she listens, looking between each as they speak.
Poppa Joe plucks up a big leaf growing beside the water pools here and begins to fan himself with it before eyeing over at Samson. It might be a hint for him to aide the rest of the group with his special gift.
"Thanks Jean. Let this be a lesson to us all in why we have a diverse group of fera working together as one in this community. Jean's special insight into music and mathematics has broken us into territory we otherwise might not have understood." Another appreciative nod is given to Gabriel in credit for helping to make it happen.
"On this note, let's keep things simple. We have the action plans everyone submitted earlier in the month. We know what to do. So let's discuss amongst ourselves now strategy. We know how to find the Gate because Wiggy, the Bat was there. Some of you have worked on side projects for this already. We will need rock climbing gear and the people who know how to use it. And light sources. And quite possibly a recording of the right music to go down with them. I have no issue reshaping the rock to get a group inside."
Samson rolls Manipulation + Primal Urge (Total: 7) vs 6 for 2 successes. => 1 2 3 5 6 8 9 <-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============-------------> <OOC> Samson says, "well a 10 degree drop ain't nothing"
"You sayin' they got another song layered under the one who been hearing at the Mountain?" Etienne asks Jean. "Or this another song your group find when you did de investigation?" He scratches his chin when Poppa Joe speaks. "Todd and the Corax got equipment for recording music. How many these harps we got? I know they too big to be moved."
Kristos looks way more comfortable now when Samson brings the glade temperature down. He takes a seat on one of the larger rocks by the pool and eases into his listening pose. And the Sept Leader looks right at Jean to put him on the spot after Etienne asks his question. He makes a small gesture with his hand.
Samson catches Poppa Joe's look and takes a moment of concentration before a sense of coolness cascades out over the clearing taking the edge off the sweltering heat by about ten degrees. The he's thinking over what's discussed "I do wonder, If the dwellers under the mountain can he held off by a change in the music mayhaps we're not the first ones to think of driving them this way. Not a harp or whatever but some source of influence driving them against us needs to be sought out."
Jean shakes his head. "Nothing new. It is their song, just sped up to proper tempo. Any embellishments I do...It is...what I have learned about music. What feels right to play. We just have about three hours of their music recorded, and the main themes from those are what gets their attention, Etienne," Jean replies. "I have recording equipment as well, and we can record and play. I can perform so that others can listen and record. As for harps, there is the one here in the Forest that Meep spun and made. Then there is the one out near Ft. Kick Ass that Gabriel and I made. Now...I can easily make another--as many as are needed--but they would just be...for training. Shells. They must be in a place with the correct spiritual resonance, and with a spirit in them to function properly."
Gabriel continues to listen silently, making no comment on the Harp for now, but nodding along. He's half lost in his own world.
Poppa Joe sticks his index finger into his left ear and itches for some ear wax while listening. "Gabriel turned the one at Base Camp into a fetish. It's also a communication device that can resonate back to the Forest Caern to send messages. There's a cipher now for sending coded messages so the Wyrm can't tap in or other Kumo out there. That's Wyrm Spiders. Never know who's bitty legs are out there listening to vibrations. We're lucky so far nothing has come to investigate the Camp, but nothing says they won't when something gets curious."
He adds in, "So here's the kicker too. Samson I thought the same thing. Could be intentional or not. Either way, we now have a key to interacting with them. If this works, and the recon team going down inside isn't attacked then we have our answer. Not only will they protect what is down inside based on the harp we have, but potentially these creatures could become dangerous allies against the Hive, or Wyrm who could show up at Camp. Which means we've culled their overgrown size and numbers but now we go in the mountain and see what's left. And if we consider it a worthy cause, we could try to restore the balance there. But we won't know all these answers I think until we get inside the gate itself."
Kristos attempts to bring Poppa Joe a warning. "I know you want this to turn into something to win the war. We all do. But it may be premature to be thinking we can use these creatures for anything at all. Let us not forgot the bites they took out of you, Winking Moon."
Samson is trying his best not to be too smug but he certainly feels vindicated from all this supporting his previous advocating for finding another way. Then, sobered a bit by Kristos' comment even though it wasn't directed at him, Samson will add "But let us do our due diligence at least. If the enemy needs to compel them then perhaps they are not entirely lost."
Etienne nods at Jean's responses. "Goan have to get with you and learn them songs. I can play anythin' that got strings. Shame Ajax ain't part of the Umbral group, he real good with harps." He grimaces at the idea of Wyrm spider-skins, but this can't be a surprise for the Uktena. Grandfather Serpent lays many traps for the unwary.
He listens closely to Poppa Joe's words about the Zarak-Ur. "Kinda worried 'bout the other things that lie in de Mountain. Like that giant skull, made outta metal and flesh. Weaver and Wyrm together, that was somethin' I ain't expect to see there."
Poppa Joe opens his mouth to answer something for Etienne but he's interrupted by Kristos right away. He taps his old knee with the tear in his pants and seems rather patient for an Old Theurge.
Kristos gives a low rumble when the Big Head is mentioned up again. "It's true we don't know if another one of those Heads is down there. Todrick and Medina investigated the head and samples were taken. They were handed over to Rue for further communion. For now, the radiation isn't lethal and it's been buried a distance from Base Camp. We can dig it up again if we have to but right now that thing is put to rest."
Poppa Joe sneaks back in and asks Jean, "Can Etienne and Ajax be trained on the harp?"
Jean nods. "Oh, of course, and I am glad to do so." He pauses, "I will have to adapt to a different form, since the harps are meant to be played by something in the shape of a giant spider, but that is easy enough. Gardener Rue can play them as well. Etienne, let me know when is good for you. And if anyone knows how to contact Ajax, let him know as well, please?"
"Ajax runs with the Guardian pack," Etienne remarks. "Leave a message here, he'll get it. But I'll put out word to everyone, so he don't get missed." He thinks a bit and asks, "What powers the Moon Harp got, just talkin' to the Zarak-Ur? And what kinda spirit you got bound in de Fetish?"
Samson nods at Jean and considers "Perhaps a pair of humanoid players could do it if they coordinated with a mindspeech gift? And maybe some sort of tool or prosthetic could be made to assist them in making up the difference?"
Poppa Joe gives a nod back to Jean as if pleased he's able to teach a few others. "It's like teaching the community how to run a new type of telephone." He smiles wide. "Jean can answer more on the harp's abilities. But I wouldn't call these creatures Zarak-ur exactly. Whatevery they are. Mountain People. Zarak-Ur? After studying the dead, I think we might be looking at something new. If it was either of them, it might be something that has mutated over time. Just like their Moaning song was mutated over the years from wherever they heard it first. My guess from where they've heard is the one thing sitting down inside the Mountain. It is the big mystery though!" Hee hee.
He hears the Bear give some creative advice and looks over at the Glass Walker in the glade. "That's interesting."
Kristos looks over the Alphas gathered and those of the Sept Council listening. "If anyone has any other suggestions or questions, now is the time to bring them forward. You've seen what we're up against. On my end, I'd like to get us down inside the mountain and wall a secure area in around the Gate itself. Move the transport totem pillar outside the Gate directly, and we by-pass all the other obstacles and larger area we've had to patrol and protect. But once down inside we're going to need the Recon team to bring us back intell. Pictures of the Gate. Accurate descriptions, where we can come together again and dicuss our next options. Because we've been told there's a circular device on the Gate itself that looks like where a key may need to be inserted. Not modern keys like we use today but much older."
Jean thinks a moment, "Having two people work together is possible," Jeane says after musing. "I have seen piano four hands before. It can be done. And...this device on the Gate...is it a single circle? I recall seeing one that had multiple elemental aspects," Jean says. "Trying to recall now."
"It's a relay as well," Gabriel tells Etienne. "You can send messages to and from stations with the harp and they'll be played. It's good for communication."
He pauses, that said. "Like Winking Moon said, Jean can teach how to use it."
"At this point I have no suggestions other than waiting for further information." The Theurge states to the Sept Alpha.
Jean snaps his fingers. "It is a circle with three sections within like pie slices. One is Amber--Earth? Another Sapphire--Water? The other was clear, but with wavy lines for Wind. So we may need to get things with those elements to unlock the door."
Li had been there, quiet and observing. He had heard Jean had learned some secrets of the Harp, and how it had helped in the siege. A proud smile is offered over to his friend, a nod of thanks as well. As Gabriel finish his speaking, he stands and offers a nod to each person present. "Thank you all for allowing me to stand in - Archimedes is off on a mission, and I am next ranking in the Nightwatch pack." He explains. "I wanted to touch on the spirit Na-Dene." He looks around to the others. "Aside from being part of my quest to obtain rank, the spirit seems to hold crucial information that may further turn the tide of the siege. I implore all of you to ask your packs if they have had dreams, visions or even encounters with this Na-Dene. The more information I have, the better I can set a plan in motion to sway them to our side."
"Mindspeak a good Gift, but it ain't one I know," Etienne admits. "Went down de road of annoying the Enemy, me. But I can check with Ajax, see if he know that one," he assures Samson. He eyes Poppa Joe up and down with mingled curiousity and amused suspicion. Trickster shaman, best and worst kind.
His voice changes, taking on the cadence of a Songkeeper. "Yes. Noelle mentioned seeing part of the pattern on the Gate, when spirits showed that film to her and others in her pack," he confirms for Jean. "I have heard that a few times from others in the sept, but I have no context beyond her tale." He nods atv Li's words, having shared his vision already with the mokole.
Kristos seconds what Gabriel says. "We're all eagerly waiting for the next phase. I should prepare you all that when we do enter the mountain, the stench within will be rough. There will be decay and dead. And if we attempt to remove the dead, we do not know how the creatures will re-act. It's not our priority to dispose of them until we're more sure of what the harp can do in keeping them passive."
He turns his head to look at Li when he speaks and he listens. "This includes any dreams or visions on water. It's been brought up a few times now so you need to ask all your pack mates, and the kinfolk, Kleio, if any have been dreaming of water lately."
Kleio looks to the Alpha and inclines her head, "I have not had any, but I'm running a meeting with the kinfolk on Monday, so I'll ask around and report back."
Samson ponders "I did hear about a movie coming out in a few days, if you want to prompt people to dream about water. A new Kevin Costner flick called 'Waterworld'. Though I don't know if that sort of guided dreaming or attunement would be useful in this case."
"I will speak to the Corax, and see if they have heard anything else," Etienne says. "As we move closer to entering the Mountain, surely Na-Dene will speak to more of us. It is his purpose for us to find this Gate."
Li nods to all, smirking to Etienne. "Of course. I would hope the ravens and cats might be able to ferret out such secrets." A smile. "I have asked my pack, and expect they are collecting what they found with Lucien to pass on to me."
Kristos nods back to Kleio, "I'm glad you are taking lead of that. If they have had any contact with the unknown have them report straight to Li." He takes a deeper inhale of the cleaner air here and listens to Samson next. "If you want to invoke Na-Dene by watching a Water movie as a group, this should be something Li decides as part of his challenge. I can't see why you can't try new things to get the spirit to show his face. Poppa Joe, any words of wisdom here?"
Poppa Joe looks at Li after hearing Kristos, "You offer the right chiminage that is enticing and then you get loud about it. If this is something we want done, then you may want to consider something that involves all Sept members. When making major offerings some spirits enjoy the thought of something special only for them. I don't envy you this task. Na-Dene brought me nightmares that still haven't ended. His mark can sting, so be wary."
Li thinks on that. "I think it might be a worthwhile thing, the movie. We were shown a movie by the firefly spirit about the mountain and the hungry ones." He says, nodding to Samson. "It could spark something, or even draw Na-Dene to it based on the premise." A nod to Poppa Joe. "I would like to speak to you on your experiences with him, when you have time. And potential chiminage for the smoke spirit."
Poppa Joe gives a nod to Li. "You may, but it's not an easy subject for me to share. And it won't be for you either I imagine once you get sucked into this quest of yours. There's some darkness surrounding Na-Dene we don't understand yet." He still has his feet cooling in the water and he swishes his old toes around in it. "I think this is about all we had planned for this evening. So if you have more questions later on come and see us everyone. We're going to post a sign up for volunteers rather than picking people to go. Because there's still a potential significant risk that mishaps can happen. So keep an eye out for the posted sign up for the recon mission."
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