Post by Decimus on Feb 16, 2011 11:29:15 GMT -8
Insane. He was certain that nearly every Fera he had encountered was absolutely insane. Fascinated by the ability to dictate the terms of their own end, justifying further Rage of their kin by staging their own execution at the hands of the Garou, the Fera were not welcome in most Septs for very good reason. He had learned their collective folly centuries before, realizing their utter failure when Bat itself shrieked at the death of the last Camazotz, when the Storm Eater had been unleashed and caused unforseen chaos.
He had watched the proceedings with curiosity, hopeful that this Gurahl would not make the mistake that so many others had, that her challenge would vent whatever frustration she had bottled up while hiding from his Alpha. The vast majority of the sept had watched as she fled, for reasons that mattered not, had left the Caern grounds entirely according to the Spirits on the outskirts of Herne's bawn. They had watched as quite a long time after this retreat, she struck with Silver. They watched as she struck with overt attempt to murder Lightbringer, the Ahroun that many seemed to conveniently forget used words as often as claws.
And still the Sept watched as each decisive strike had little effect on the Gurahl, that still struck in attempts to kill the Garou. And they watched when the Uktena's Grand Klaive found purchase and the bear's tricks failed her. And then, a very curious thing happened. The Sept chose to forget. They forgot that the Gurahl left. They forgot that she struck first with attempt to kill. They ignored the fact that so many strikes did little more than tear at fabric, scratch the skin. Instead, they held to End, not the Means. The Theurge shook his head, remembering what supposed-leaders made what grave errors. Crow demanded they answer for them, and Crow's faithful hand would ensure that each did so.
The Lord saw that Orion did not maintain the same terms as his own invalidated challenge with the Silver Fang months earlier. She had left the bawn, as confirmed by the spirits outside Herne's boundaries. That complete inactivity had passed for in excess of half an hour, so long that Lightbringer had time to monologue in front of the Sept, had he so chosen.
He saw that Carries-the-Burden, his own packmate, had failed to remember what his eyes saw. It was no rumor or occasional happenstance that Garou often lost themselves in the heat of battle, that unintended deaths had occurred. By the Uktena's own word, verified by the Silver Fang himself, he had not intended for the Fera to perish in their challenge. Yet, he chose to push the agenda of punishment? Perhaps, then, he would punish Orion in the failed mission that led to the death of his own Packmate. The former-Warder obviously had not done his research -- or, if he had, chose not to inform others as to where they were going -- and the Garou had suffered because of it. Perhaps if punishment would be Carries-the-Burden's agenda, he should look outside simple mistakes.
The Keeper of the Land, even, thought that removing the more-than-competant Ahroun from Warder was a wise idea. The Warder who had lost not a single Garou in conflicts that he had planned or led. That the other Garou would be so distraught over the loss of a Fera -- a Fera -- that they would not follow Lightbringer in conflicts against the Hive. There would always be some young Cliath or Fostern ready to honor a Caern by cleaning up the land, by tending its bawn.
And still, he was disappointed. He was disappointed in Johnny, who sought to cause as much of a scene over an accidental death that was brought on by the deceased. He was sure that the younger Lord would think to explain to others that it was duty, informing the Council that he was to leave to attend to the care of the corpse. But snake-oil traders didn't sell to eachother. Car salesmen didn't sell their products to one another. And so, too, were the obvious machinations of a Lord made further obvious to himself.
He was disappointed in the Corax, Vinny, as well. He had seen the flinch towards Lightbringer. It was obvious that the other Fera sought to cause further harm to his Alpha, to murder him because he was unhappy with the outcome of Maya's own challenge. The challenge that she had made so many mistakes along the way towards. He was disappointed that the Corax failed to see that the Gurahl poisoned the minds of the younger Garou. Disappointed that younger Garou listened to the Gurahl on how to be Garou. The Raven would need to be tested, he would need to be guaranteed to be stable of mind if he were to make it from this conflict unscathed.
No, he was certain after this challenge -- its lead up, its conclusion, its fallout -- that the Fera, by and large, were insane. That their insanity was infectious. Their infection would only impede the duty of Gaia's chosen, Her warriors, Her defenders.
But first, Crow would have his way. For now, the old Lord just closed his eyes, listening to the Caern's whispers. Listening to Crow's guidance. Listened to his own thoughts.
He had watched the proceedings with curiosity, hopeful that this Gurahl would not make the mistake that so many others had, that her challenge would vent whatever frustration she had bottled up while hiding from his Alpha. The vast majority of the sept had watched as she fled, for reasons that mattered not, had left the Caern grounds entirely according to the Spirits on the outskirts of Herne's bawn. They had watched as quite a long time after this retreat, she struck with Silver. They watched as she struck with overt attempt to murder Lightbringer, the Ahroun that many seemed to conveniently forget used words as often as claws.
And still the Sept watched as each decisive strike had little effect on the Gurahl, that still struck in attempts to kill the Garou. And they watched when the Uktena's Grand Klaive found purchase and the bear's tricks failed her. And then, a very curious thing happened. The Sept chose to forget. They forgot that the Gurahl left. They forgot that she struck first with attempt to kill. They ignored the fact that so many strikes did little more than tear at fabric, scratch the skin. Instead, they held to End, not the Means. The Theurge shook his head, remembering what supposed-leaders made what grave errors. Crow demanded they answer for them, and Crow's faithful hand would ensure that each did so.
The Lord saw that Orion did not maintain the same terms as his own invalidated challenge with the Silver Fang months earlier. She had left the bawn, as confirmed by the spirits outside Herne's boundaries. That complete inactivity had passed for in excess of half an hour, so long that Lightbringer had time to monologue in front of the Sept, had he so chosen.
He saw that Carries-the-Burden, his own packmate, had failed to remember what his eyes saw. It was no rumor or occasional happenstance that Garou often lost themselves in the heat of battle, that unintended deaths had occurred. By the Uktena's own word, verified by the Silver Fang himself, he had not intended for the Fera to perish in their challenge. Yet, he chose to push the agenda of punishment? Perhaps, then, he would punish Orion in the failed mission that led to the death of his own Packmate. The former-Warder obviously had not done his research -- or, if he had, chose not to inform others as to where they were going -- and the Garou had suffered because of it. Perhaps if punishment would be Carries-the-Burden's agenda, he should look outside simple mistakes.
The Keeper of the Land, even, thought that removing the more-than-competant Ahroun from Warder was a wise idea. The Warder who had lost not a single Garou in conflicts that he had planned or led. That the other Garou would be so distraught over the loss of a Fera -- a Fera -- that they would not follow Lightbringer in conflicts against the Hive. There would always be some young Cliath or Fostern ready to honor a Caern by cleaning up the land, by tending its bawn.
And still, he was disappointed. He was disappointed in Johnny, who sought to cause as much of a scene over an accidental death that was brought on by the deceased. He was sure that the younger Lord would think to explain to others that it was duty, informing the Council that he was to leave to attend to the care of the corpse. But snake-oil traders didn't sell to eachother. Car salesmen didn't sell their products to one another. And so, too, were the obvious machinations of a Lord made further obvious to himself.
He was disappointed in the Corax, Vinny, as well. He had seen the flinch towards Lightbringer. It was obvious that the other Fera sought to cause further harm to his Alpha, to murder him because he was unhappy with the outcome of Maya's own challenge. The challenge that she had made so many mistakes along the way towards. He was disappointed that the Corax failed to see that the Gurahl poisoned the minds of the younger Garou. Disappointed that younger Garou listened to the Gurahl on how to be Garou. The Raven would need to be tested, he would need to be guaranteed to be stable of mind if he were to make it from this conflict unscathed.
No, he was certain after this challenge -- its lead up, its conclusion, its fallout -- that the Fera, by and large, were insane. That their insanity was infectious. Their infection would only impede the duty of Gaia's chosen, Her warriors, Her defenders.
But first, Crow would have his way. For now, the old Lord just closed his eyes, listening to the Caern's whispers. Listening to Crow's guidance. Listened to his own thoughts.