December: Cracking the Bone

[Samael]

Despite his clear and oft-stated desire to see the Cold Crescent re-opened--and his active participation in recruiting people to their cause, as well as his involvement in the small group taking up in the building--Javed does not step up to address the issue during the time when the Fosterns speak. There are two reasons for this. First, he has a student here at her first Moot and he wants to make sure that Ruby understands what is going on. So throughout the various challenges and disputes, he is quietly explaining to the cub the details of this greivence or that challenge, how it relates to the Litany and such. This precludes him stepping up in the middle of the conversation.

The second reason is a more calculated one. Erich and Javed have been in discussions about the Cold Crescent a time or two, and how to proceed. When Erich wanted to gather people together to address the issue, the Fostern suggested the general moot instead of another warmoot and they had agreed that it would be best for the Shadow Lord to speak first. Not only would it sound better coming from a Garou who was not a mule and a Silent Strider who might up and leave (he wouldn't, and no one who knows him well would think so but still...Striders), but there is a tactical element here in a Cliath bringing up the issue and then being backed up by a Garou of higher rank. Upward momentum is simply more effective than downward momentum.

And thus, Javed knows exactly who is speaking the second Erich begins discussing Cold Crescent. Even if he didn't recognize the speech patterns and movements of the man, he knows this is coming. He listens silently and calmly as Erich lays out the different things to bring up, and then rises. Hector speaks before he does; the Utkena volunteers to go back down to figure out what it is. He knows that there are others who can speak to that better than he and he is not a Theurge, after all. He will offer his own input on that after they do.

He takes the bone when it is available and turns to address the crowd. "Storm's Teeth speaks the truth, and I fully agree. There are a group of us--small, but growing--who have made no secret of our desire to re-open the Cold Crescent Sept. If we are to defend the city against the Wyrm--and, of course, we should--we will require a base of operations. Mistakes were made at the Cold Crescent previously. We knows those mistakes, and they are unlikely to be made again. Already the portal below the building is guarded, and it only makes sense to use the building that housed the Garou of the city for years without any risk, until a Black Spiral Dancer pack who were uniquely empowered--specifically, possessed--by nothing less than an Incarna of the Wyrm came in close proximity. That is the only reason that the Sept came under specific attack, and while members of that pack still unfortunately roam free the pack is shattered, the power of the Incarana gone from them. They do not have the ability to take it back."

He pauses there. These are arguments he has given before, to individuals. But now he explains their reasoning to the whole of the Nation within the Denver area and its environs. And he must be very precise. "There is another, more important reason to my mind in regard to this. A Sept is not just a base, a tactical striking point. It is a home. And for years, the Cold Crescent served as a home to many Garou, many kinfolk. No few Garou who are in attendence here tonight. And those Garou have been displaced from their home. That will not only make things more difficult tactically, it makes morale an issue. Displacing a population never plays out well. With all due respect to all, it would do those who gave their lives defending the Sept a dishonor if we were to abandon that which they died for.

"No Sept should be abandoned." He is more passionate here, this creature of great Rage who holds it deeply in reserve. He is not dispassionate; far from hit. He holds that great passion back behind walls and walls of honor and the laws of their people. And he lets that passion out as he speaks, lets his conviction hold true. "To give up the Sept of the Cold Crescent is give up ground. I do not believe that we should give that ground up, and there are those who believe that with us." He nods to Erich and his pack where they stand, looks at Avery. There are others too, but he does not single them out; it is their place to speak for themselves. "We must defend the portal. We must defend the city, and we must defend our home. That, respectfully, is our plan.”

A pause there. "Storm's Teeth has outlined concerns, and they are all valid. Patrols are taking place, though more help of course is always needed in that respect. I offer my services for any and all patrols when possible and when I am not engaged with pack or student. We need to raise the defenses again, both on this side of the Gauntlet and the other. Again, I offer my aid in however I may do so there. I am no expert in the ways of humans and I do not know the legalities of the matter. As to the pit...I believe there are others who can speak on that."

He lets a breath out, and looks to those Garou amassed. Higher ranking, lower ranking...all Garou get his look. And all with complete respect as they are due. "There are those who disagree with the idea of re-opening the city Sept. We are all aware of this, and we respect those opinions, even if it does not change what we feel we must do. Gaia willing, we will be able to surpass the doubts that lay out there regarding the Cold Crescent. We will not accept anything less of ourselves."

And with that, he hands the bone back and moves to sit.