Sesh 2: Magics work thy Will. Ending 23rd Feb

"No spirit concerns the Ancient Forest Wardens for long" proclaims Autumn's First Hunt, "those that do find our jaws around their necks all sooner". Its clear now, from the context and body language, that the wolf is describing itself, and its pack, as the Ancient Forest Wardens.

"Our duty is to keep each spirit in its place, as ordained for it by Great Grandfather." Autumn's First Hunt explains. "Those humans we attacked, we attacked because they were foreign; their place is a place of human design, atop rocks. And those spirits who had claimed a human body, those are always out of place". The wolf bares its fangs at an imagined foe at this, and then remembers itself, yawning.

"As such, this is our warning. Whilst the spirits do not belong, we may fight, if they are out of place, but it is not our concern. If humans come bearing rocks, and the spirits atop those rocks enter Kallbacken, then Kallbacken's protector Kallaustri might fall, but none of us will bear fang to stop this, for it is the way of things. Inside your walls, you have always been allowed whatever spirits you invite."

Vasil waits until the Great Wolf has finished it's speech, before speaking.
Wardens, thank you for your help in the incursion, and for your invitation. I come to you seeking guidance. You,
He pauses to scan the ring of Wolves,
...knew about your connection to the flame when even I did not. It was with the help of my new friend,
Vasil now gestures to Winter's Third Bite, offering a kind smile.
...who helped me to understand this connection. I am a long way from my home, from my people. They know more about these powers, but I know little. If you would teach, I would be a most grateful student.

Taft waits patiently until Vasil's question has been answered, then speaks again.

"Thank you, Autumn's First Hunt, for reminding me of the way of the Ancient Forest Wardens. I had assumed that the People Whose Spirits Lie Atop Rocks* were also damaging the forest. They are so different than the people of Kallbacken. I imagined that their differences would extend to not respecting the balance we have fostered with the land around us. But maybe I am wrong, and if that is the case, I can understand why you would show no concern over the actions of humanity."

He turns to look at all the wolves now, and puts his hand on his chest.

"I must speak from the spirit within me. My heart hurts at the separation between Humans and the other Animals. I feel different than many of my brethren this way. When I walk in the forest and my toes dig into the dirt, I feel a kinship with the land, and I feel the spirit of other forest-walkers that have passed before me - human, deer, foxes and others. It is a faint, fleeting thing. But I believe that the differences between ourselves and you Wolves... I believe it has not always been this way."

"I ask you - why is there a difference between us?"

Shadow, who had been calm as Vasil spoke, now glances at Taft nervously. It remembers the meeting house in Kallbacken, and how different this situation is to that. Its tail thumps the ground in anxiety.

"Fire-tamer, your question is not one we can answer as you would like it. I knew you were a Fire-Tamer because you smell of the spirit. All Spirit Hunters who have learned Grandfather's Song can smell spirits, and you humans who share the power of the spirits bear their smell about you, thanks to their immanence." The thoughtful eyes of the giant wolf fix you in a curious stare. "If Winter's Third Bite helped you, it might be because it has learned too much of our enemies, the Ghosts, who know how to wield the power of spirits as if they were playthings." Its gaze flashes down to Shadow, and then back to Vasil. "We know little of the history of how these spirits came to be tied to your peoples, but they are, and the First Hunter knew it would be so."After Tafts says his piece, Autumn's First Hunt turns to the two-legs, and turns its head quizzically to one side. "The difference is not so great as that, Wind-caller, and it is not between Man and Wolf, but between Predator and Herd. The Spirit Hunters ensure Spirits stay in their place; that is our duty, and our concern. As wolves, we hunt along our territory, but that is not our calling, it is not what motivates us and gives us purpose. Spirits are our Prey." the wolf says, punctuating the word prey by showing off its Crushing Jaws. "But you humans, you have built your settlements, and asked the wind to blow for you. And long ago, we agreed that if Kallaustri, or any Spirit, is taken up by humans, then it can stay with them so long as it keeps to its duties. Spirits are your Herd."

"Those spirits walked the marsh near Kallbacken, they did not belong to Kallbacken, they were not in their place, and so we ended them. If they come with the new humans again, but in shrines, then they will not come as our enemies." Autumn's First Howl says, its voice firm. "We hunt our own fights, and have many spirits to watch over. We have not harmed humans, we do not fear them; we do not fight their battles for them."

Taft replies,

Ancient Forest Wardens. Although I have never heard about the hunting and herding of spirits, I understand what you mean.

The hunter is unsure of what he is going to say, but he knows there is something important that wants to be spoken.

"I came here to ask for your help, and to convince you that your fate is tied up in the fate of Kallbacken. I see now that I cannot convince you of this. I am not learned in the ways of the spirits, and I do not know the nature of the Spirits Who Lie Atop Rocks. I am swimming in the world of the senses, and you see far below and beyond the realms that I walk in. There are humans in my town who may speak to you of spirits, but I am not one of them. How could I possibly convince you of something that I barely know?"

"But I do know this - I am a hunter. And I feel keenly that my territory is threatened by something foreign. I smell the ashes of burned villages on the bodies of the People Whose Spirits Lie Atop Rocks. My people are herders, and they will wait to see if the invaders return."

Taft glances at Vasil, then addresses the smith and the wolves.

"I have never said these words aloud, but they are the truest words I have spoken: My people are Herders, but I am a Hunter. I live to chase, to track, and to kill."

"My people would probably be frightened by what I say, and it is because I am not like them. I feel the forest like no one in my village."

"But I am also not like you, Ancient Forest Wardens. I am not a wolf. I am human. I am a hunter, and I am willing to range far from my territory, in order to strike, hunt and kill."

Taft feels the direction of his life changing as he speaks. If he stopped talking now, maybe he could go back. But it might be too late.

"Ancient Forest Wardens. Winter's Third Bite. Vasil. I see now that I must go outwards, beyond our territory, to hunt and kill the People Whose Spirits Lie Atop Rocks. I must ensure they do not return, for the sake of my pack. I cannot do this alone. You have asked us here. I need help. I cannot hunt alone.

Vasil listens carefully to Taft, there is a pregnant pause in which they hear only the gentle sounds of the forest. He looks to the circle of giant wolves.
My friend may be correct, to protect this place,
Vasil gestures, showing the forest around them, but also suggesting Kallbacken,
...perhaps we must leave. We know little of the group who came to these lands. We know not their size, their location, or what they really want. We do know that they will bring us no good.

Turning to Taft, Vasil continues,
You say you feel like a hunter among herdsman, I too feel out of place in this village we call home, for all of my trying.

Vasil turns once again to the circle of Wolves, looking up to their leader,
There is something else. If it is linked or not, I do not know. All things may be linked in some ways...

Vasil begins peeling away his layers of clothing, eventually exposing his left leg - his wounded leg. The flesh around the calf and knee are a mess of scarring. Though the scars are years old, they look like a wound freshly healed. Bite marks among pale, sickly flesh, as though wounded again and again.

Vasil trusts that beings as perceptive as these will understand the nature of the creature who delivered this wound. He expects it is a bitter enemy of the Forest Wardens.

I imagine that we share a common enemy, you and I. He finally declares.

THe wolves bare their fangs at the sight of the wound, and then theylook to their dominant for guidance. The gigantic wolf says "This is our territory. We will guard it from spirits, and the Ghosts, but have no need to meddle with humans. You hunt if you like, Wind-caller and Fire-bringer, but I will not let the pack, including Winter’s Third Bite, be swept up in your divisions."

Shadow feels the warm rush of anger under its fur. It curbs it quickly and pulls its ears back, dropping its head down and looking up at the dominant with big, sad eyes. "Dominant, the People Whose Spirits Lie Atop Rocks are hunting in our territory already. They are after these humans and Kallbacken, who are ours. Surely it is our duty to defend them as well? If we do not, these people will come to burn the forest and kill us too. But if we act now, we may avoid it. Please consider saving these humans."

Taft adds,

"Winter is almost upon us. While most animals slow down and rest, we humans remain busy. I know our kind. I know that the People Whose Spirits Lie Atop Rocks will be working and growing while the rest of the land's beings rest until Spring. If we wait until Spring, it will be too late."

"I also know that these humans are different than those in Kallbacken. Their spirits are not aligned with the land. When they burnt the nearby villages, they claimed that the Spirits Who Lie Atop Rocks will not coexist by the spirits of our villages. This means destruction and war."

"The great Barrens to the north were created by the last Human war. You know the place. Trees have not grown there for generations."

"I fear this will happen to our forest. Your forest."

Vasil approaches the circle.
"You might be thinking, 'why should we act? This is a human problem. We have our forests, they have their towns.'
I come from a long way away from here, but the forest guardians thought as you did once. It wasn't their issue, let the humans deal with it. Where I am from, there are no guardians. The trees stripped from the earth, so cattle may graze, the wood to make houses. What was forest is now town and farm. There is no room for guardians such as you in a place like that.

Kallbacken, how long since it has grown larger? Does it take more than it needs? We cut down some trees, hunt some animals - but never more than the forest allows.

What of these new people, do you, the guardians think they care for the forest? Will they take only as much as the forest can offer?"

Leaving the question open, Vasil steps back, hoping his words will away the giant beasts.

Taft nods sagely and watches the wolves' reaction.

"You know the forest, and we know humans. These ones are different. They burn and consume people and forests alike, like a wildfire. You must smell the fear on me. It is not the fear of you, though you are mighty and could kill me if you wanted. The fear you smell is the fear for all our lives, if these humans are allowed unimpeded entry into our lands."

Shadow glances at its dominant. "This man speaks the truth. Here, we are able to do our duty, and we run and hunt freely. This territory of ours gives us purpose, just as we give it protection. How could we live without it, and how could we let it be taken from us?"

The Dominant looks about, and asks, in its growling tone "As much as the forest can offer, as much as a tree weight, as long as the rive that flows? All of these questions. Kallbacken has its spirits, and they are protected. We protect them. Does that matter?

Rolling (from before)

As his companions fall silent, Taft speaks up.


"These humans are different than those in Kallbacken. Their spirits are not aligned with the land. When they burnt the nearby villages, they claimed that the Spirits Who Lie Atop Rocks will not coexist by the spirits of our villages. This means destruction and war."

"The great Barrens to the north were created by the last Human war. You know the place. Trees have not grown there for generations."

"I know humans, and I know this will happen to our forest. Your forest."

As Taft speaks, Shadow rolls over, displaying its soft, fuzzy underbelly to its dominant in deference and an effort to show that they mean well.