Grasses beside Moon River.
The bright sun shines down, blanketing you with its life-giving warmth. This
small area of grass leads from the Alabaster Road down to the banks of the Moon
River. The road to the south is a line of white stone, threading beneath the
tall trees that crowd around it. Moon River to the northwest, however, is a
wide expanse of water, a massive river that cuts a path through the trees and
forces them apart. Gravel lines the banks as they slope down to meet the
river's edge. Two concentric circles of stones are set out in the grasses here.
A mature oak tree stands proudly here. Reaching up as high as the eye can see
looms the awesome presence of a living totem. A proud, golden stallion with
shimmering green wings stands firm here. Barrow-keeper Akui Talnara is here.
Serenguard Valar is here. Serenguard Bellarin Diodorus is here. Chieftess
Milae, Jaguar Scout is here.
You see exits leading south and northwest.

Milae chews on her lip, deep in thought.

Everiine breathes in deeply and exhales.

Everiine slings his overstuffed pack off of his shoulder.

A shaft of silvery light falls across Milae's face, who bows her head in
reverence.

As the sun passes below the horizon's edge, Mother Night unveils her terrible,
shadowy beauty, spreading darkness across the land.

Everiine carries the pack up to Milae.

You ask Milae, "Take care of this until I return?"

Taking Everiine's pack and settling it safely beside herself, Chieftess Milae,
Jaguar Scout says, "I shall."

You remove a black leather loincloth.

You give a black leather loincloth to Chieftess Milae, Jaguar Scout.

Milae nods her head at you.

Everiine exhales again and, taking his bowl of tea, walks to
the center of the stone circles.

You sit yourself down.

Chieftess Milae, Jaguar Scout pulls fresh furs from her pack, draping them
across her left forearm.

Chieftess Milae, Jaguar Scout bows her head in quiet contemplation before
straightening.

Milae bows her head and gives a faint sigh.

Chieftess Milae, Jaguar Scout says, "I bring the Totem Spirit of the Rock."

Chieftess Milae, Jaguar Scout says, "I have been shown what I must ask of you."

Chieftess Milae, Jaguar Scout asks, "Everiine, Great Chieftain of the
Serenguard, what is it that keeps you as steady and firm as the moutains
throughout your life and can you always remain steady for the tribe?"

Everiine closes his eyes and contemplates the question.

You say, "All my life, I have lived a life of service. Though I have at times
served in high profile posts, I have always strived to take the post humbly and
serve the needs of my kin."

You say, "It hasn't always been easy, and I've made mistakes... but I keep
moving."

You say, "I hope I can indeed always remain steady for the tribe. It is what I
live for."

Everiine nods, satisfied with his answer.

Milae nods her head at Bellarin.

Bellarin nods her head emphatically.

Serenguard Bellarin Diodorus bows her head breifly, her body straightening as
the Wolf Spirit enters her.

Serenguard Bellarin Diodorus says, "Everiine, I bring the Totem Spirit of the
Wolf."

Serenguard Bellarin Diodorus says, "You stand before me, Great Cheiftain of the
Serenguard."

Serenguard Bellarin Diodorus says, "My question, i ask you, is how you have
handeled your fear to make it this far."

You ponder the situation.

You say, "I cannot claim to have conquered fear. The sight of a few Demigods
rampaging through the Ethereal Plane sends chill air through my bones even
still."

You say, "Everyone at some point runs because of their fear. The mark of
bravery is given to those who turn around and return to face their fears."

You say, "We won't win every time against fear. But if we keep returning to the
fight, to face what we fear, then we are mighty."

You nod your head emphatically.

Barrow-keeper Akui Talnara kneels slowly, then opens a small net, releasing a
snake.

Akui kneels onto one knee, demonstrating her humility and respect.

Akui stands up and stretches her arms out wide.

Barrow-keeper Akui Talnara says, "I bring the spirit of snake."

Barrow-keeper Akui Talnara says, "Everiine, to know Snake is to know the nature
of venoms that poison the body and mind. Not all such venoms come from the
fangs of a serpent, or the sting of a scorpion. How have you delt with those
times when the danger comes not from a threat that can be faced with blades,
but from within, from yourself, from the commune, or your bretheren?"

Everiine blinks a few times and looks down at the ground,
gathering his thoughts.

You say, "That is not an easy question to answer... how does one know when
something one has cherished for so long has become a threat? It is a fine line,
one that, when crossed, is difficult to return to."

You say, "I guess the only way to deal with such a poison is with trust. There
have been times where I have felt the sting of a threat not of blade but of
word and vendetta. But I trust in powers higher than I-- in the mutual respect
and love of the Serenguard, in the rightness of the Seren way of life, in the
wisdom of the Spirits."

You say, "That trust can be broken, aye."

You say, "But one cannot let that fear overcome what may be the only way to
survive."

You nod your head emphatically.

With blue sparkling eyes , Serenguard Valar says, "I represent the Totem
Spirit of River. Through meditation it has become clear to me what I am to ask.
No life is without pain, just as any river is bound on both sides. Yet the
river flows on unhalted. Everiine, Great Cheiftan of the Serenguard, how do to
cleanse yourself of your daily pains?"

Everiine sighs deeply.

You say, "When life jabs and swings, sometimes leaving shallow cuts, sometimes
not, I have found that the best way for me to forget all of the troubles is to
spend time with one of our Braves."

You say, "A Brave is a like a seed. There is much potential in the hearts and
minds of our young kin. To see that potential, to know that one day the Brave
will take the knowledge they are just learning and grow up to protect our
people... that is a comforting thought, and one that keeps me going day after
day."

Everiine sighs deeply again and nods, accepting his answers.

Everiine waves a hand towards a fierce timberwolf, who pads
over to him and stands ready beside him.

Milae links hands with Bellarin, Akui, and Valar, forming a circle.

The Moon Circle performs a ceremony to bless this location to Spirit Moon. Soft
silvery light suddenly sparkles through the air.

Everiine turns his face towards the Moonlight and smiles briefly.

Chieftess Milae, Jaguar Scout brings out a small drum from her pack, leather
stretched tautly over a thin circle of hollowed wood. She begins to beat it,
slowly as she looks to the other members of the tribe gathered around you.

Barrow-keeper Akui Talnara joins in the rythmic beating.

Chieftess Milae, Jaguar Scout chants, "Everiine."

Barrow-keeper Akui Talnara chants, "Everiine."

Serenguard Bellarin Diodorus chants, "Everiine."

Chieftess Milae, Jaguar Scout chants, "Jaguar."

Serenguard Bellarin Diodorus chants, "Jaguar."

Everiine begins to sip the tea from his bowl slowly.

Chieftess Milae, Jaguar Scout while holding her drum in her left hand, she
steps forward just slightly to drape the fresh furs she draped over her left
forearm upon you then steps back to resume beating her drum.

Glorious rays of morning light burst forth from Father Sun's crown as it peeks
over the world's edge, announcing a bright and shining new dawn.

Chieftess Milae, Jaguar Scout chants, "Everiine, Jaguar, Everiine, Jaguar."

Everiine sips more tea from his bowl, his eyes starting to lose focus.

Serenguard Valar chants, "Everiine, Jaguar."

Clapping her hands to the beat, Serenguard Bellarin Diodorus chants, "Everiine,
Jaguar, Everiine, Jaguar."

Barrow-keeper Akui Talnara chants, "Everiine, Jaguar, Everiine, Jaguar."

Serenguard Valar chants, "Everiine, Jaguar. Everiine, Jaguar."

Moving to a faster tempo as she beats her drum, Chieftess Milae, Jaguar Scout
chants, "Everiine, Jaguar, Everiine, Jaguar."

Everiine finishes the tea and places the bowl on the ground. He pushes himself
to his feet and looks around the circles, though not focusing
on anything you can see.

Chieftess Milae, Jaguar Scout lifts her head towards the moon and then her
arms, as if pulling forward a rope, shafts of moonlight begin to appear in the
location, forming a ring around the gathered tribe.

Chieftess Milae, Jaguar Scout says, "Everiine, before you stands the trial of
Mother Moon."

Everiine flaps his wings strongly and prepares himself.

Solemnly, Chieftess Milae, Jaguar Scout says, "Shall you pass this trial, you
will go forth into solitude and return to us sucessful or having failed, we
will await your return."

Everiine places a hand on a fierce timberwolf, and with a sudden burst of
energy, darts towards the shafts of moonlight, weaving and tumbling to
avoid them.

You tumble out of the room.

Everiine sits upright, a stabbing pain surrounding his face as the Mark of Jaguar etches itself into his skin.

You stand straight up.

You give a fearsome roar.

Everiine roars, and with a flash of light the form of an ethereal Jaguar can be seen leaping from his body.

You feel overwhelmed by it all and faint.

Chieftess Milae, Jaguar Scout says, "You return to us with the mark of the Jaguar Warrior, Great Chieftain, may your sucess be a hope for all who follow in your footsteps."

Everiine opens his eyes, puts a hand to his head, and sits up.

Everiine gingerly touches the lines on his face and looks around the circle.