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The Shrine of Ascension.
A smattering of clouds fills the sky, lacing it with spiderwebs of grey. 
Sturdy white oaks form a ring around the highest peak in the Siroccian mountain range. 
Their jade-green leaves contrast crisply against the trees' silvery-white bark. 
Small acorns lie scattered across the dark and loamy ground. Though the wind at this 
height can be fierce, the ring of oaks protects those within it from the brunt of the 
elemental onslaught. A strange, gauzy mist drifts through this sacred space, softening 
the edges of the primeval power that pulses here. The shorter peaks of Mount Sinope 
and Mount Callisto, named for the twin children of Maya, can be seen off the southwest 
edge of the mountain. A giant ram's horn rests on a rough stone altar. A shrine stands 
at the centre of the ring of oaks, formed from smooth, dove-grey marble.
You see a single exit leading down.

A fiery portal opens in the air before you.
The Dragon Aztecia thunders in from the ether.
You say, "And then a dragon came from the skies."
The corners of your mouth turn up as you grin mischievously.

Deepest Stygian night steals over the land as the symbolic hourglass empties and turns, 
ready to begin a new day.
It is now the 12th of Mayan, 398 years after the fall of the Seleucarian Empire.

People there: Ravien, Coamenel, Tamar, Baraka, Tohran, Julya, Elowen, Aithon

With rolling gait the wolverine lopes in from the down.
A vicious wolverine slashes Julya viciously.
"Eep!", you scream in fright.
Tohran strikes brutally at a vicious wolverine, and shreds his flesh.
A vicious wolverine slashes Tohran viciously.
Tamar roars fiercely at a vicious wolverine.
A vicious wolverine looks up curiously.
Tohran strikes brutally at a vicious wolverine, and shreds his flesh.
You spring forwards onto a vicious wolverine, and maul him viciously.
A vicious wolverine slashes you viciously.
Elowen lays her hands gently on Julya.
You spring forwards onto a vicious wolverine, and maul him viciously.
The final blow proves too much for a vicious wolverine, who expires, pitifully.
You have slain a vicious wolverine, retrieving the corpse.
You give a fearsome roar.
Elowen lays her hands gently on Julya.
You kiss Julya passionately.
Sentinel's Sweetheart Ravien Vas'amaen, Cephys Siren says, "Go defense team!"

You say, "Ok the Wolverine says it's time to start."
The corners of your mouth turn up as you grin mischievously.
In the crystal clear night sky, the stars twinkle and glow brightly.
Sentinel Cub Tohran says, "Damn party crashers."

You offer up the corpse of a vicious wolverine to Maya, the Great Mother.

You say, "We are gathered here today, on the 12th of the month of Mayan in the year 398."
You say, "Winter is starting and the end of the year is near."
You say, "In honour for The Great Mother Maya we gathered here to pay our respect."
You say, "Here at this sacred place where Lord Sarapis passed on the torch of Creation."
You say, "Lady Makali, Goddess of Destruction and Lady Maya were called upon and merged to 
become The Great Mother."
You say, "Lady Maya was and is the Mother of the human race."
You say, "Now She is The Mother of All Creation, Mother of all of us, everything around us."
You say, "Destruction and Creation combined one."
You say, "Like the cycles of Nature the destruction of one helps the renewal of another."
You say, "The hunter hunts the prey, the young tree fertilised by the fallen oak, the waves 
eroding the cliffs....."
You say, "Creation has many multiplicities and complexities and is all around us.... in us
.... us."
You say, "And so is Nature, Nature is an important part of creation, the most important 
for us."
You say, "And we The Sentinels of Nature have all sworn to protect and defend Nature."
You say, "With our hands, our heart, our life, and our death. All in the service of Nature!"

You say, "Hail Nature! Let me hear you! Hail Nature!"
You cast a suspicious eye about your surroundings.

Bailarina Elowen Lashyr-Windsong, Sweet Foxtrot exclaims, "Hail Nature!"
Coconut Sentinel Coamenel Ardashyr says, "Hail nature!"
Sentinel Cub Tohran says, "Hail Nature!"
Sentinel's Sweetheart Ravien Vas'amaen, Cephys Siren says, "Woo Hail nature!"
Aurelian Shadow Aithon Aystiir says, "Hail Nature."

You say, "We help creation by watching over Nature. Tending and caring for Nature helps 
Nature to grow, to flourish, to create..."
You say, "And creation flows through all of us."
You say, "Those of Sentinel class create traps from out of the gifts of Nature to protect 
Nature, we brew concoctions helping us in our fights."

You put a valerian leaf in a finely carved heartwood pot in preparation for boiling.
You put a goldenseal root in a finely carved heartwood pot in preparation for boiling.
You put a ginseng root in a finely carved heartwood pot in preparation for boiling.
You put a ball of myrrh gum in a finely carved heartwood pot in preparation for boiling.
You drop a finely carved heartwood pot.
You rub your hands quickly on the exterior of the bowl and the inside heats up. From 
the sides of the inside of the bowl, water pours in and quickly begins to boil.
With a sudden slow pulsing of white light, the liquid and floating bits of plant matter 
in the pot combine into an elixir of health.
You pick up a finely carved heartwood pot.
You carefully pour the last of the liquid in a finely carved heartwood pot into 
a silver oak vial.

You say, "And now with the many others classes in our House we create even more."
You say, "And maybe the best proof that creation flows through us can be found in the 
many great artists and writers that keep on bringing honour to our House."
You say, "May we keep on creating and keep on protecting."
You say, "The creation of Nature we hold so dear!"

You tickle Baraka mercilessly!
You say, "And now our friend Baraka is supposed to light the campfire."
You cough softly.
Pretend Paladin Baraka Op'Shae, the Snackman says, "Yay lag."
Pretend Paladin Baraka Op'Shae, the Snackman says, "Oh."
Baraka coughs softly.
Pretend Paladin Baraka Op'Shae, the Snackman says, "Could someone lend me a tinderbox, 
please?"
Ravien gives a soot-blackened tinderbox to Pretend Paladin Baraka Op'Shae, the Snackman.

Baraka takes some wood and lights it with his tinderbox, causing it to erupt into 
a soothing fire.
The warmth of the merry campfire drains away your tensions and worries.

You have emoted: Tow warms his hands on the fire.

You say, "May the fire of Creation fill your hearts!"
You say, "Sentinels, I ask you, call upon the Spirit of the Owl!"

You are surrounded by a shining corona of blinding light as your soul is transformed by 
metamorphosis.
A sense of inner wisdom and peace spreads through your mind as the spirit of the owl works 
its influence.
Coamenel throws his arms wide and a piercing cry rings from his lips.
Tohran trembles and shakes uncontrollably, gasping for breath.
Coamenel is surrounded by a shining corona of blinding light and the shimmering image of the Owl 
momentarily overlaps him.
Ravien throws her arms wide and a piercing cry rings from her lips.
Tohran throws his arms wide and a piercing cry rings from his lips.
Ravien is surrounded by a shining corona of blinding light and the shimmering image of the Owl 
momentarily overlaps her.
Tohran is surrounded by a shining corona of blinding light and the shimmering image of the Owl 
momentarily overlaps him.

You have emoted: Tow starts swaying back and forth his body as he was going in some kind of trance 
and starts chanting. "The woods are musty in the dark,".
You have emoted: Tow chants "damp with the clinging spore of dew."
You have emoted: Tow chants "It's the hour of night."

You have emoted: Tow grabs the edges of his feathered cloak and spreads out his arms. The sound of 
a great bird spreading its wings. Casting a shadow resembling an owl over the Altar".

You have emoted: Tow chants "Spring from ivory claws into the soft sky,".
You have emoted: Tow chants "Beat silent wings in silent incantation of the gods of flight."
You have emoted: Tow chants "The breeze brings scented messages from far into the night."
You have emoted: Tow chants "The forest floor down below, no movement unseen."

You have emoted: Tow spreads his arms towards the sky and throws his head back looking 
up into the sky.

You have emoted: Tow chants "Moon-painted wings cast no shadow,".
You have emoted: Tow chants "Moon-forged wings make no sound."
You have emoted: Tow chants "Moon-sharpen talons only seen too late."
You have emoted: Tow chants "You drift on the wind for pure pleasure..... Great Spirit of the Owl."

You kneel humbly on the ground, uttering prayers to the Gods.
You say, "May the Spirit of the wise Owl stand us by and guide us."
You say, "The Great Grey Owl, symbol of the Mother of Creation, Maya."

You say, "Have fun Sentinels in this Year of Lady Maya and the Spirit of the Owl!"

With a flourish of your arm, you bow deeply.