Coyote Stories by the Fires - RPLOG
Participants
Date
9/5/2014
Log
Framed against the setting sun, looking out over the calm waters of Crater lake, an unusual figure looks out over the landscape. The deep reds of the sky mixed with the sandy features of the ground below as a few clouds roll by overhead. This person pokes at the campfire they have made hours ago, looking over it before reaching out to pet over the head of a remarkably normal looking coyote. "They will start soon, or rather you and your kind will start." The figure says, before looking out once more over the waters. "A full moon tonight, maybe I will tell that story this evening. The sun sinks, almost rapidly, into the horizian, staining the sky with oranges and purples.
A coated vulpine figure walks up to the remains of the vulcano 'Hm... Who could live here... This place is disgusting...' the jackal arrives in time to hear the last words of the figure near of what he guess to be dog at first sight 'Hm... Excuse? I'm... Interupting something?' The vulpine asks with an polite tone.
Lizzie strolls right up toward the figure wearing a full body set of green combat armor with the RSX logo on it and sits next to the fire. Her helmet is pulled off and pack placed to the side, hands digging into it and pulling out a self heating MRE. Slight snaps along the edges activate the heat unit to get things started, everything seeming pretty peaceful so far, and she looks right at the figure with cool brown eyes. "So, some assholes are askin' me ta drag my ass all the way out here to bum fuckin' egypt so... What the fuck brings ya all the way out to this fuckin' place? It ain't that bad a campin' but that ain't enough shit to usually get attention up in this bitch so why the fuck are the 'yotes payin' the fuck attention to ya like they are? Ya got some special sauce or shit like that to get their panties wet for ya or some shit like that?"
She eyes the vulpine moving up, giving a small wave to them with a little grin. "Hey, you get the damn call too or are you some yote bitch out lookin' for shit same as the others?" Her tone was rather jovial to everyone despite the rather crude language, something some took in stride and others hated. It was no matter to her at least.
A somewhat clumsy, and disorganized solar dragon struggles with the sack laden full of scientific instruments mutters under his breath. "Dam it times I told them, field work is not in my contract"
Given there seems to be more than just one human approaching the group... Albiet this one doesn't seem to be marked by any of the groups. Humming softly as he steps forward, the man looks towards Lizzie for a moment before he lets out a chuckle, the silver eyed man quickly turning his attention over towards the figure standing near the fire. Waving for a short moment, the man stands quietly as he observes the others, watching Mackenzie for a moment before he looks towards the Solar Dragon next. His hand comes up to rest upon the over the shoulder strap he has, repositioning the Steyr AUG upon his back for a moment before he lets it be... Pretty quiet, for some reason...
Crater lake? South-central Oregon? This is a very long way from home in the gullet of an extinct volcano. And especially in a national park. None of that past-tense stuff for that. Nanites be damned, the area is still a national park. But why the interest in this place? What made Zephyr send people to the middle of nowhere like this? It certainly wasn't to stargaze.
On that point, that seemed to be what the most recent arrival was doing. Wandering through the brush with eyes to the sky. A large 'felanoid' trying to be mindful of branches overhead (yet ironically not underfoot) getting near the camp and also mumbling. Nothing coherent, just bits and bobs about dull assignments and giving nurses more field work.
The arrival of more people makes the figure look around a bit more closely, "Ahh, more here to learn of the greatness of the First Warrior, the Spreader of Stars. Please, all take a seat. If you are hungry, I have a good amount of roasted rabbit to offer, and the lake is full of clean water." The person says. With all the furs they have on, it is almost impossible to pick out any distiguishing features. Their voice sounds somewhere between an alto and a tenors. "Please, no need for such, colorful phrases child, take a seat in the sands." Poking the fire though, their tone changes a bit, "Humm, though would someone be so kind as to go find some more wood for the fire?" The person asks. "As for why the coyotes come to see me, perhaps they just like my stories?" they say, taking a very long pipe out of a bag before lighting it.
The suit wearing man raises an eyebrow as he listens to the figure, though after a few moments he just looks towards the others. Shrugging, he turns back towards the figure. "I'll get the firewood." The man says plainly, looking about for a moment before he takes a short walk. He is always in view, but he starts his gathering as his assault rifle clatters against his back when he crouches. Must be wearing armor under his suit.
"I brought some shit of my own, got a bottle of mead too if ya want a hit." Lizzie says, eyes flicking from the MRE she had to the rabbit. The chicken scented thing going to be eaten first since it seemed rude to just get some food from there without letting everyone else have a go at the rabbit first. "Just the way I fuckin' talk." She says, staying where she already sat near the fire. Most of the others she didn't recognize, although Anbessa got a little wave of recognition from earlier encounters. "The fuck is it with solar dragons and research. Every god damn one of em."
Seguro Some what fidgeting, turns to the small humanoid before taking a seat " I look forward to hearing your stories"
Seguro Snorts somewhat insulted at lizzie's comment.
Mackenzie nods to Lizzie and stretches a hand 'Dr. Mack, new researcher from the RSX. Also, is a pleasure to met you too...' he says with an air of superiority.% % 'Storys? Well... I have a few scatered across my body...' He says to the figure as it touches the fire, pointing to one of his exposed hieroglyphs. 'So... What do you tell us?' the jackal reverently asks.
Anbessa smiles as he soon enough finds the firewood kindling he needs, turning back to the group as he walks on over. Waving back to Lizzie with his free hand, he takes care to set the dry kindling into the fire. Letting out a sigh, he looks towards Lizzie before he pads on over towards the woman. "Nice to see you again, Lizzie." He says, reaching over to playfully pat the top of the woman's head before he sits right on down, looking towards the figure before he looks towards Mackenzie. "All of us have those kinds of stories." He points out, raising his hand to point to the slash scar upon his cheek. "Though I prefer spoken stories instead of painful memories."
The odd figure gives a nod to Anbessa as he goes off to find more wood for the fire. In the distance though, the sounds of many canines howling, yapping, and calling out echo through the sandy land. "Ahh, tis a wonderful night for stories of the Great Trickster." He says, taking a puff from the pipe and looking around to Kori and Seguro. "It is not too late, you two could still change your minds. It is coming, and when it happens, you will not want to stand against the tides." He says, a look to Mackenzie as well, "We shall start with the story of fire." She continues, "Surely you have heard it before. Of how Coyote saw man and how he battled against the cold and chill, trying to use his poorly developed fur against it. However, he was not able. Coyote took pitty over man, saw his plight." The coyote setting next to the woman starts to wag his tails, "Oh! I love this one!" He says, voice sounding fairly young. The man in the furs continues, "Seeing the plight of man, Coyote looked about for something to keep man warm through the winters, and there, up on a mountain, he found them, creatures guarding the secret of Fire." She takes a long pause, and a long draw from his pipe. "No meed for me think you for the offer though."
Lizzie ignores the snort from Seguro and rolls her eyes at the comment by Mackenzie. At least there were some other people who didn't take things too seriously or sounded rather pompous. "Heya Bessy. Plan is ta smoke us out with kindlin' eh?" She teases back, tearing open her chicken MRE and digging into it with a fork from her pack. "Oh, this one. Ain't this the story from back over just fuckin' east of fairhaven in that damn camp? Neat fuckin' story and weird ass visions ya get through that. Might as well hear it again."
Seguro Looking somewhat puzzled as the dragon join the rest of the group "Could elaborate on what you meaning? Your response was cryptic?"
Kori catches earful of a lot of profanity as shi gets into the firelight. It pulled hir away from stargazing with how much of it was being used by one person. And the story too got hir a little off put. "Can we keep the profanity to a minimum? We're not angry sailors here. And I find these stories somewhat dubious at the moment. Trickster gods... Can't say they can be trusted or not. Logic circles are everywhere with them."
As Lizzie talks about already knowing this story, the figure gives a slight nod of her head. "Ah, perhaps you would like to finish it then? I do not mind, would you care for the pipe as well?" He asks, as he pulls a hand over to pet on the coyote a bit more. While waiting for for Lizzie's answer though, and glances to Seguro. Even when looking directly at someone, it is hard to tell with the wrinkled face and large hood who, or what even, this person could be. "You have picked the wrong side, at least you look much as if you have, but it is not yet too late, for any of you, but soon, soon it maybe. It is going to happen, and you won't want to be still on the wrong side." She says.
A slight nod over to Anbessa as well, "Thank you child, it was very helpful of you."
"You may have figured out my plan, but I still will take over the earth, silly Lizzie... And no problem at all." Anbessa responds in kind, sticking his toungetip out at the human woman before he returns his attention towards the man covered in furs, letting out a chuckle at the younger 'yote's excited response. Nodding his head in agreement with Lizzie, he reaches up to scratch behind his head. "I did that too... The people there were really nice, though the visions were a bit..." He looks downward towards his right hand, frowning as he rests his left atop of it. "... Vivid." Gripping at air for a moment, he soon enough just returns his attention towards the man. "Plus, I hang around enough 'yotes that I have heard the story once in a while from them too... Though, what is... Uh, 'Coming'?" The man asks, furrowing his eyebrows for a moment as he looks up towards the person in the furs, looking towards Kori and Seguro before he looks towards Lizzie... Was the warning directed towards them both as well?
Mackenzie chuckles "Actually the story is unknow by me till now... But it looks like an old tale I heard long ago... 'He stole the fire from the gods and spread it bless across the worlds'... Good story too' his hands adjusting his white lab coat before he sita on the sand 'I am a acquainted with gods... One of them tried to turn me into his servant...'
Seguro Waves a claw " oh no, I 'm quite happy in the service of the solar Lord, he as dental plain and 401(k)"
Lizzie chuckles at Anbessa and reaches over to hake the pipe, puffing on the end of it and calming herself. It would take every bit of effort to keep her swearing to the minimum but it was a myth that was rather interesting to tell. "Sure, I'll tell the damn story. Just correct me where I get things wrong and all that." She puffs on the pipe and blows the smoke toward the fire, letting it twist in the eddies of heat and current as if to draw the listener into the story itself.
"Long ago, before nanites, before cities, when man had just come into the world and was one of the happiest bastards of all. Those were the days of spring brushing through the reeeds, children ripening with blueberries in the summer, goldenrod blooming in autumn haze." She blows another line of smoke through the fire at the word haze to make it dance in the darkness there. "But autumn evenings grew more chill and the sun was showin' itself for shorter periords of time."
Anbessa perks up as he listens to Lizzie's story, glancing towards the pipe for a short moment before he looks back up to the human woman. Smiling, he starts to smile as he tries to recount his personal experience with the story... Though he pauses as he grips his right hand again, wincing with a small bit of phantom pain going through him before he shakes his head, looking towards Mackenzie, then towards Seguro... Raising an eyebrow at the solar dragon. "I think you can't turn in a 401k after the apocalypse... And nanites don't let our teeths rot." He points out, scratching behind his head before he looks back towards Lizzie, listening quietly.
Sitting back to listen to Lizzie now tell the story, the unusual person seems to lighten up slightly. Pulling a cup from her pack, he scoops up some water from the lake to drink it. "You tell it well child, please do continue." he says, before looking over to Seguro, next to Anbessa, "They are come children, and you should listen to the stories of old, for they may come to save you today. The mighty dragon of the sun is indeed a force to be reconned with, as is the Lord of the Afterlife, and the Divine Mother, but The First Warrior will be here anytime now, and I will stand by him. As should you all." He says, "Now, listen to His stories." Looking once more to Lizzie.
Kori coughs, not really interested in the story. So many variations of it and its all roughly the same in the end, just different in presentation. But being more polite than to interrupt the story for those who do care to listen, shi deicdes to mumble hir responce to the hooded man, whoever he is. "What 'side' I'm on doesn't matter. I am, for the moment, a neutral in the extraplanar affairs of the ancient gods. Besides, I didn't choose this, it chose me. Family heritage, as it was explained. And the perk of being able to shut down my female reproductive organs on a whim is better than having to take pills to prevent pregnancy."
Lizzie grins toward the stranger, the light of the fire seeming to dance before her eyes as if coaxing the story from her body. "Thanks, just hope I can do this shit justice." She says, taking another puff and pressing on. "Man saw winter moving closer, fear and terror gripped his heart. His fear was fore his children, for the elders who held all the fuckin' knowledge they had accumulated over the years. Most of them would die in the cold icy grip of winter." Her voice dipped lower, speaking in colder icier tones as the sunlight danced across the crater.
"Coyote, like the rest of the People, like you!" She says, pointing at one of the coyote's with their furry hides near the fire. "He didn't need the fire. He never thought of it until one spring when he was passin' by a human village. Songs of sorrow and moruning for those who died rang through the air, a death dirge for those who died in the darkness of the frosty nights. The moans pickled the hairs on Coyote's neck with the voices on the wind."
Seguro shugs "Yesh no one get pre P day humor any more? I joined the service of the solar lord, for the purpose of protecting others. That does not mean that I have to close myself off to wisdom from outside sources"
Mackenzie eyes the smoke floating across the air, taking a deep sniff of it, his nose burning with the strong scent 'Ugh... What do you have in that thing?' He asks to the stranger, his nose still feeling like if it is being burnt. 'And... You are doing great friend, knowledge ia never wrong, just seaw in an different point of view' He says eyeing Lizzie, reffering to the facg of her not exactly knowing the story so well.
The pipe is passed on, awaiting someone else to take it, meanwhile the figure smiles wide, leaning up more and looking to Lizzie, "You tell it almost as if you were Coyote himself, I'm proud child." Looking over to Anbessa next, "You have heard this story before, or rather, lived it there. River and his do a good job of spreading the tales. Though, his plants are a bit strong for my liking." Ripping up at the rabbit, "Passing the pipe passes on the story, who would like to tell part of the tale next?" He asks as Lizzie gives the story off to someone else next.
A nod to Seguro and Kori however, "Then your choices have been made. I do not envy you, nor pity you for what will happen when He whom gave us Fire comes."
Lizzie passes the pipe over toward the next person, relaxed and serene with the dancing light across the water and fire crackling nearby. Once the pipe was taken she picked up her mead, sipping at the sweet drink to quench her thirst as she lets the story continue on. "Gotta preserve the past or we'll just be even more fucked than got kicked off when p-day crippled everyone not lucky enough to get into someplace like woodfield or the like." She says, rather proud she got such praise for some reason. The story was an old one but it was a bit of humanity from long before she liked to remember. "I like ta collect old stories to ya know. I ain't just a mouth spewin' bullcrap all the time despite my best efforts." She says toward Mackenzie with a grin, having missed Seguro's joke while tied up in telling the story.
Anbessa looks up towards the figure as they address him, the man nodding his head... "I was out for a good half of a day in the vision... And that being in the dream got a parting shot on me before I drove the spear into it..." He says, wincing as he grips his right hand, Lizzie almost able to see said hand is pitch black from her view for a few moments, despite everyone else able to see it just fine. Shaking his head, he soon enough looks towards Lizzie as he reaches his left over to take the pipe next. Shutting his eyes, he promptly takes his huff of said pipe before he lowers it, soaking in the taste before he begins to speak.
"And so, Coyote in the next few days took it upon himself to ask the forest animals he lived with for assistance. Quickly planning, the clever Coyote and his friends brought their plan into fruition, and stole the fire from the guardians in the night. Taking their gift, he brought man the divine gift of fire..."
His eyes stay shut as he finishes, taking the pipe back up to his mouth as he takes yet another puff, feeling his muscles relaxing slowly... It may have been a while, but it was a slightly familiar feeling...
Looking to Mackenzie, the figure smiles, "Just some of the local plants, nothing dangerous, or, well, too strong." She says. A gentle nod to Anbessa, "A good summory yes, very, perhaps the one about the stars next? Or, would you rather talk-" cutting off for a moment, they throw some odd dust into the fire, making it leap a moment! "the future?" He asks. She then gives a slight cackle, "The clay is wet, and even steel is waiting to be molded! He who Formed us from the Clay will come back and bring us all together in new ways. Who will stand along with The First Warrior? And who will stand in his way?" She asks. His eyes fall to each, though rest on Mackenzie, Kori, and Seguro most.
Seguro Takes the pipe, looking down proceeds to take a huff, for moment hir mind seems to be somewhere else. "The Radiant One only will himself if one goes out of their way to oppress those who lack the strength to defend themselves. And until you deem so otherwise the Radiant One will stand by you"
Mackenzie raises an eyebrow 'In case you are thinking... I'm not taking sides... Being one servant of the lord of the death isnt aomwthing I've choosed... It is a curse.' He says to the odd looking hodded figure 'The gods is something I dislike... Having someone looking over your destiny takes away your freedom...' the jackal golden like eyes glowing as he looks to the fire.
Kori rolls hir eyes at this odd man. "Look... I am what I am. I didn't chose this gift, it chose me. As for this event, I am not for or against anything. I'm neutral. As long as they don't push their views and "gifts" on me, we're golden. And as long as they don't turn the planet as we know it into a war zone, we're good." A bit of irritation in hir voice there. "The simple fact is that except for a small few, all of the old gods have their own agendas for our world. My "matron" has already warned me months ago that the barrier between our world and theirs is weakening more by the week if not by the day. The small cracks they already use to bring people into their embraces are widening and will, soon, let them cross over proper into our world rather than send sparks through it." Pause for a breath. Can't keep yapping like that nonstop. "So yes something big is coming. What will happen when that day comes? I plan to sit on the bleachers and go about my usual daily life as much as I can for I do not plan to take sides, nor does my Matron. Why should Bastet get involved in a large scale flood of old gods rushing to re-establish their worship in our world? She wants to help, and yes she used to be a warrior once upon a time, but she's a goddess of fertility now, not a fighter. Besides..." Shi finally sits down near the fire, coughing at the smoke from the pipe as it gets near hir nose. "I'm grounded more in sicence than magic. I liked the old world better for all its flaws."
Lizzie raises an eyebrow at strange oddness on the hand, shaking her own head after and blinking the odd vision clear. The stuff must be getting to her more than she thought. It was a quick little summery of the story that followed, faster than she would have told it but it was probably for the best lest she talk on and on all night just telling the old tale. Fun to do but not always quite appropriate.
The long bit of response that Kori had did draw a bit of a whistle from Lizzie, well spoken and quite well as the possibility that the stranger was Coyote in avatar form like the Kangaroo god entered into her mind. "Eh, I ain't picked no sides either yet. Lots of weird shit going on and Odin, Loki, and the rest have all been doin' shit lately. I remember some agents got caught up in that shit and built a temple and 'yotes have been havin' dreams lately. I wouldn't be surprised if the trickster himself started comin' and fuckin' tellin' stories out where his followers gathered to join in the fuckin' fun."
Anbessa looks towards the others, soon enough nodding as he tries to ignore how his hand looks to himself. "True... Conflict is a bit less desirable, but..." He pauses as he watches the figure toss the dust into the fire, him blinking, then raising an eyebrow in confusion as he watches the distorted fire in his vision... It looks very nice, though the pipe must be still making him feel pretty funny, him looking back and forth between the figure, and the others as he sits quietly.
Seguro Remains silent passively observing, the conversation. Occasionally jotting down notes.
Kori did not have the pipe, but it seemed shi wanted to speak all the same. Seguro, takes the pipe, smoking down a bit and telling of The Solar Dragon. With his coyote compansion, he looks to them both, "Interesting tales both ofyou, but, perhaps the time will come that all can be shown." He says, standing she takes her bag, "You have my sympathy, child of the Divine Mother, and child of The Radiant Sun. I hope you both will change your minds shortly, before it comes to pass. You speak well, and know much, but choose poorly. It is time for me to go back, my brothers and sisters call, but, do you have any more tales you wish me to tell before I go?" He asks.
"I ain't got nothin' else I think I need to know. You gonna be back to talk again? I wouldn't mind drinkin' a bit and listenin' to some bitchin' shit like the old stories again." Lizzie says as she sips at her mead further, eyes flicking toward the rest of the team as she pondered just what she'd be writing up in the report later. Facts of course, would make it in there from what she could remember, but the real question was which speculations to add in if any at all.
Mackenzie snickers 'I would also enjoy to tell the story from the Souls Guide... Anubis.' The winds have an strong brezze as the name is spelled 'But it seems that the story by itself doesnt want to be told... So no, I dont want to tell his history' the jackal keepa looking to the fire, as if it was calling him... How powerful coyote can be... The throught wanders around his mind.
Kori gets a little more irrate with the hooded stranger the more he repeats himself aboice choices. "What's with this repetition of 'poor choices'? You act like the only right one is to let a trickster or a warrior be our patrons. You're a coyote, aren't you. Wouldn't be a surprise. But still, I didn't make this choice of diety. She chose me. Much like the apple, it doesn't decide to be picked, a farmer picks it off the tree at random among all the apples in the orchard. And then there is free will to account for. That's probably what you are poking with that verbal stick. Why I didn't go somewhere else for magic right off." Enough grumpy speaking, Kori. Enough. Take a little rabbit and eat. Should keep hir quiet for a while.
Seguro look's curiously "I wonder what interest you would have in the tales of radiant one? "
A pause, a stutter in his step, but she turns back and gives a nod, "Then I'd recommend choosing coreectly." He says , sholdering his pack, "Enjoy the rabbit, and the fire, I should go back to the rest of my brothers and sisters, been gone from paradise for too long." He says, "Continue your own stories, maybe someday they too will be will be stories to rival the great Coyote."
