The morning after. [Many - Bai]

[Edwin Morr] "Let's just say I'm keepin' my options open right now. Dunno all my alternatives just yet."

During the whole of the inspection, I'd kept that idle grin restin' on my lips. No sense not bein' pleasant about things, I figure. Whatever had her ire up, and I could tell she wasn't real happy 'bout somethin', I didn't care to make things worse. Like I said, I didn't know nothin' about her yet save her title and her tribe.

The one of those alone was bad enough, but that's not an opinion I cared to share at this very instant.

Besides, you can't really fault a person for the tribe they're born into. It's not exactly something about which any of us'd had much choice. Still... That isn't to say I was tickled about the matter either.

Just then, I saw one of the folks I recalled from the other evenin' walk in. I nodded and grinned to him, a pleasant greeting as those things go.

"All the same, I agree with Eve that it's an honor to meet ya. A better name for me would prolly be Leaves-No-Trace..."

[Bai Chou] Bai glanced to Edwin...the others, gave a nod to Linnea and Eve. As for Ferdinand...this one...he didn't recall. He moved to a seat, sliding it around and sitting down.

"...how's things going, Wyrmfoe?"

[Eve Monarchos] Eve gives Bai and nod of her head and even a small, shy smile. She had wondered where it was he had gone to that evening they had crossed over into the Umbra. She seems glad however that he is alright and unharmed.

Placing a gentle hand on Edwin's arm, she glances up at him a moment, then back to the floor before her.

"The evening is growing late, and I must be going. Good night to you all..."

One step, two, three, Eve takes these many steps back before turning her back to those present. She puts down the untouched cup of tea on a nearby table on her way out the door. The theurge wants to stay and talk, she really does, but the museum opens early enough in the morning to warrant a retiring.

[Linnea Bartlett] "Thank you," to both Eve and Edwin, the creature's pale gaze encompassing them both in the thanks, which are leavened with a sudden flash of a friendly grin that seems more natural on her round face, no matter how marked by rage, by passion, by the full face of the moon she might be. Her narrow shoulders, wired with tension, relax minutely, although her spine never does: straight and ramrod sure. "I trust you'll introduce yourselves quickly. We've had too much - " she begins, stops, swallows the words and the sorrows that live with them. " - the Sept was attacked, you know. Two moons ago." She pauses, her eyes half-lidding in thought.

"No," she corrects herself, the moon livid in the sky above them. "three. Three moons ago, and we need every hand, and we cannot afford to have strangers wandering. I don't mean - " that smile again, and another glance at her packmage, " - I expect to see you both at the moot, if you plan to remain in the city. Ask Mr. Lennox to introduce you as soon as possible."

Bai enters, and the teenager looks up, past Ferdinand to the Uktena. Her gaze narrows, searching the strands of her memory, seizing upon recognition that doesn't translate, immediately, to a name specific. How embarrasing, after all they've lost, she should know every name. Her smile tightens, but she returns the glance. "Fine. Uh - you?"

[Linnea Bartlett] And at the end of it, the girl waves a farewell to the departing Eve.

[Bai Chou] "...its doing alright..."

He places his arms over the back of the chair as he glanced to the guy and Eve's departing form.

"I take it they mentioned the little romp into the umbra and factory...maybe even them fighting a few scrags?"

[Ferdinand Corozon Jr.] Ferdinand watches Linnea continue to speak of the problems that have come over this Sept. Teh betrayals and the loses that came down upon the nation. Looking at Eve as she was about to leave. And then nodding to the arrival of a new person. Smiling to the chinese individual that came in.

[Edwin Morr] "Wouldn't miss the Moot for the world. It was good meetin' ya."

I grinned and nodded, a tad deeper than usual, pleased that this hadn't turned into the rather dark mess it could've been. Daggonned moon was too big fer anyone's good. Well, it wouldn't last overly long I don't figure. I could keep out've trouble well enough 'til then.

Following Eve toward the door, I nodded again to the one in the nice duds and to the Asian fella whose name I couldn't recall before getting too far ahead of myself. This wasn't the night to insult anybody by forgetting pleasantries, not even accidentally.

A part of me wondered if that wasn't what I'd done to tick the alpha off at first, but all's well that ends well.

As we made our way into the evening, I said my goodbyes to Eve and made my way back to the hotel.

Looks like I'd need to get a bit of religion real quick...

[Linnea Bartlett] "Oh, they were with Lennox," she murmurs, mostly to herself, a faint sound chuffed out beneath her breath. "Wait - you were there too," the girl's eyes narrow, faintly, "but not to the end. I assigned Stormhelm that duty, guarding the escape routes while we cleaned out the place. He said that they fought well, but that you left them - "

[Bai Chou] He nodded slightly. "...I didn't trust the fence that was there. So...I investigated while they were doing that. They apparently engaged the things while I was looking for another route in. I found out two things that might be of some importance..."

He leaned back, looking to her and waiting for her prompting.

[Linnea Bartlett] "And?" she prompts, promptly.

[Ferdinand Corozon Jr.] He didn't say anything, he just stood there, if anything moving towards his Alpha. The wyrmfoe had to get all the information possible if it meant dealing with the minions of the Wyrm. And it was better to listen and learn before jumping into it.

[Bai Chou] "First...the fence is a ritual. Its like a barrier....but its meant to hold something inside rather then from people getting in. I'd almost say it was meant to control a large spirit....scrags seem to be able to get through it with little resistance. Kind of like a sithe...helps catch the big stuff, but not the small things.."

He rubbed his jaw slightly, yawning.

"...the second...is I have the Spiral's name that apparently did this ritual..."

[Linnea Bartlett] "Whatever it was meant to control isn't there anymore," the girl mutters, mostly to herself, shooting a sidelong glance at Ferdinand as he draws abreast of her. Then her breath catches, pale eyes narrowing. "What's the name?"

[Bai Chou] "Well....there's one thing to that...the name is practically useless to you. Though...I can track it down at my leisure. I know a rite that's more powerful then the Questing Stone....more centralized. But...I could go ahead and give you the name....in return for something later..."

[Ferdinand Corozon Jr.] He waited until the moment came down to it where he would speak up and question several aspects that might find challenging. Wondering if maybe there is something more to this factory or not. Maybe they should look over theumbral side once more. Working over the issues of this ritual and such.

"And what about this ritual, is it still in place, even after the cleansing. Does it feel, or seem to be wyrm-tainted or something else, Weaverish, or maybe even a trapped Gaian?"

[Linnea Bartlett] I could go ahead and give you the name....in return for something later...

Perhaps Bai can sense it: the whipcord certainty of attention, the coruscating fire that ignites in the Wyrmfoe's pale gaze. The way something else watches from the windows of her eyes, all that long and endless line, all those names, all that history. It - DeathWatch's voice is a slivering whisper of sound, like serpent's scales on a dry stone floor, but it ricochets in the familiar compartments of her mind, nestled into the dark imperfect folds. wishes to bargain. For the safety. Of the sept. Her shoulders stiffen, muscles bunching. She rubs a hand over her mouth, bites her tongue, rubs her eyes roughly, takes in a deep breath. Sighs it out. Another. Another: controlled, so controlled - enough to please even Ferdinand with the close reins of her restraint.

"Godslayer-yuf," the girl replies at last. "You may bargain for your knowledge and your skills. You may not expect to bargain for the safety of the Sept to which you belong and from which you gain sustanance. The name you wish to bargain with belongs to me as Wyrmfoe of the Sept of Echoes, it belongs to the Sept - if a Black Spiral Dancer performed this rite and erected this fence, it was among those that attacked the Sept. You will tell me the name, because it is your sacred duty to do so. I will remember it, because it is my sacred duty to remember it." Needless to say, the whole and undeniable force of her breeding is behind the words, spoken clearly, firmly.

Leadership 2 + Totem 2 + Charisma 3 + Pure Breed 4 = 11

[Bai Chou] "As far as that part...I don't know. I didn't get to stick my snout around it for too long before a scrag showed up. Being by myself...its not wise to fight a spirit that tends to roam in packs...even a gaffling bane like it."

He looks at her, eyes narrowing slightly before he spoke.

"Its name is Isss'laktha."

[Linnea Bartlett] "Thank you," the girl replies, filing the name away, some of the tension bleeding from her body. "If you perform your rite, I trust you will inform me of the results."

[Ferdinand Corozon Jr.] He was taken back from the moment Linnea demanded what she wanted of the one known as Godslayer it seemed. And it impressed him. The raw material of a girl to be leader was coming along quiet swimingly, even if Lady Justice had aided her in the ways of Leadership. However she still had a little bit more to learn to be a remarkable leader. One that the nation as a whole would most willingly follow.

It made him smile even more.

[Bai Chou] "...if I perform the rite..."

He inclined his head, looking at her.

"But...whether that name will aid in the safety of the sept or not is debatable."

[Linnea Bartlett] "It can't be debated without facts. If the name proves useful, I'll ensure that the Sept knows your part in revealing it." The girl glances toward Ferdinand, her brows lifting in an are you ready sort of question. "Before then, though, you might speak with Michael Lennox. He was - disappointed that you did not remain with them. Perhaps what you learned will help him get over it." With that, the girl turns toward the door.

[Bai Chou] He snorts slightly.

"...tell Lennox he can bring it up at the moot. I'm not part of his pack and he's not my alpha."

[Ferdinand Corozon Jr.] He watches her eyes without any semblence of looking to debate this moment. When that look is given to him, he does indeed just nod and remain in the position of waiting for his Alpha to make the next move.

But these tales would need to be told at the next moot, most definately.