Stavanger Bay (pack activity) Once upon a moon... [round 6 ends may 7]
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Pack activity! :) Next round starts March 30th! The first round takes a week to give everyone a chance to join up, subsequent rounds will take 3 or 4 days, to keep the story moving along and everyone's inspiration fresh, so try to keep up to keep the story as interesting and multi-character-told as possible :D

Round 1: Arrival -> monday march 23 - sunday march 29
Round 2: Storytelling -> monday march 30 - sunday april 5
Round 3: Storytelling -> monday april 6 - monday april 13
Round 4: Storytelling -> tuesday april 14 - monday april 20
Round 5: Storytelling -> tuesday april 21 - sunday april 26
Round 6: Ending -> thursday april 30 - thursday may 7

  @Thistle Cloud @Ragnar @Aesop @Spectra @Atreyu @Lyric @Onyx @Levi @Rosco @Gunnar

Charon had planned this for some time, because he wanted to give his pack a good time with pack mates and good stories. He had considered telling a story himself, but then he remembered the way that Osprey had told him the story when they had first met: by asking him about details, and incorporating them into the story. Charon thought it a good way to tell a story with the pack; instead of boring old listening, the rest of the pack would be able to help tell the story.

Though Charon was currently not on great standing with all of them, when he lifted his nose to call the pack together, he called for all of the pack. He might not have got off to a great start with some of them, but whatever, they were still packmates at the end of the day and he would protect them, so they deserved to be here.

After he had howled, Charon waited on a clearing near Thistle Cloud and Ragnar's den while the sun set the sky ablaze; it would be dark soon, because Charon preferred story-telling under a starry sky. He'd picked this spot not only because he lived nearby, but also so that highly pregnant Thistle Cloud would not have to go far to get here, and get home afterwards.
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Initially, Charon's call was disregarded by the yearling, who was far more interested in a hole that he had discovered in one of the rocks littering the Bay. As if it was the most fascinating thing in the world, Atreyu circled it with his tail waving at his flanks, pawing at the opening hoping some sort of creature would make itself known to him. He wasn't entirely keen on seeing what shenanigans the kid had planned for them. He had called for the whole pack which meant it was some sort of...bonding activity. Atreyu inwardly scowled, both at the thought of having to interact with the self-righteous youth and the fact that nothing had come forth from the little crevice.

He waited impatiently before the rock for a few more moments before giving up and striding away, begrudgingly heading towards where the pup's call had come from, having nothing better to do before the night snuffed out the last of the daylight. If he was lucky, it would be another sort of game that Aesop had organised, one with mud and blood and fighting. Or some sort of spar? Excitement rising, the boy picked up the pace, only to feel his mood sour again as he saw Charon sitting expectantly by Ragnar and Thistle's den.

With a skeptical, almost challenging gaze trained upon the freckled boy, Atreyu strode into the clearing and sat with exaggerated force right in the middle of it.
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A howl echoed through the sky and Lyric's ears twitched. The howl came from the pup she had met a few days before. They hadnt exactly hit it off. Mostly her fault. She waited patiently for the message. HE was calling for the whole pack. She wondered what for. A bonding activity. A hunt. A battle. Out of the three she hoped it was the first. She didn't like hunting or fighting.

She began to bad in the direction the howl came from. She padded into a clearing near Thistle Cloud and Ragnar's den. She spotted Atreyu who had quite promptly placed himself in the center of the clearing. She smiled slightly. He didn't seem to want to be here either. 

Lyric took a seat nearby but not next to either wolf. She glanced around waiting patiently for the others to join them here. 
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The call that rent the silence of the trees ripped Aesop from his pleasant nap.  He had spent far too much of his time the past few days sleeping, regaining the energy lost on his journey in relative isolation.  It had been a while since he last had a good conversation with Spectra, as he was often out of the den early and back in late, if at all.  In the warming days and nights, though, he found much of his pleasure sleeping beneath the stars.  Or, more often than not, the clouds.

He shook himself off and listened to the howl, piecing the information he missed in his daze together based on that which he could hear.  Though he and Charon had not parted on particularly good terms, he was still comfortable with the idea of attending the event.  Perhaps him putting in the effort would help mend their rocky... whatever they had.

So he came to the clearing, offering an easy greeting to each gathered, and found himself a place among them.  He did not sit so far back, like Lyric, but he also did not place himself right in the middle as Atreyu had.  Absently, he wondered if the two had patched things up or not.  It did not seem like they had, but Aesop was not about to spoil whatever this event was by trying to force things.
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Story telling was something that Ragnar, as a Viking could appreciate, for their culture was big on their wild saga's, and perhaps overly exaggerated storytelling tendencies. Too many times he'd heard his fellow Berserkers telling their wives or children how they battled ten frost giants single handed and stole a kiss from a Valkyrie in the aftermath. Ragnar had never partook in it, usually too busy seeking a conquest in one of the women willing to fawn over him, though his Berserkers told his story for him in his stead. The stories about him always seemed to be the most outlandish. Still, the idea as his young ward's call rang out for the entire pack brought with it nothing but memories of fondness. Charon had an imagination to compete with the best of the saga weavers of Odinn's Cove and thus this was a skill that Ragnar encouraged in the young Ostrega.

The one eyed Northman wasted no time altering his course towards the den he shared with his budding family, singular eye touching those who had gathered thus far: Lyric, Aesop, and Atreyu. At the head of the meeting area Charon was situated. The three who were already in attendance seemed to be spread out, and seemed to be lacking a certain enthusiasm. Unaware that his son was not on well terms with them, Ragnar found this unusual but did not remark upon it, instead he settled in silence upon his haunches near Charon, wanting to see the gathering, as the natural head of his family though the spotlight belonged to Charon.
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Thistle Cloud drug herself from her resting place. And heaving her large rotund body, to her feet. She went towards the happy excited call. She loved stories, though she couldn't promise she would stay awake the entire time. After all, her due date was coming, and it was coming fast.

She made it to the clearing, noticed the spread out wolves. She brushed a soft muzzle touch to Charon's head, smiled and greeted the rest of the pack, by name and settled to her haunches next to her husband. Pausing to nip at his shoulder. She lay down immediately, and got comfortable her large belly rippling as the babes kicked and frolicked inside. She watched the ripples, with a soft hum. Waiting patiently for Charon to start.
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Gunnar was often running about the pack lands, more than he was at home. Though, he was home for this occasion and he ran towards the sound. He stopped gave both his mother and his father a quick nudge. He then settled next to his mother, excitement in his movements. He liked stories, his father used to tell some awesome ones. He still did sometimes, his mother she was not a big story teller, but she could when she wanted to be.
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round two ends thursday april 2; a new round starts friday april 3. (feel free to hop in if you missed the first round :-) )

 @Gunnar @Ragnar @Thistle Cloud @Aesop @Lyric @Atreyu


Charon waited after the call, to see who would arrive. To his dismayal, Atreyu was the one to arrive first. He arrogantly planted himself in the middle of the clearing, and Charon decided to ignore him in awkward silence. Lyric was second to arrive, which didn't make the uncomfortable situation much better. She took a spot at the edges of the clearing.

Aesop was next to arrive, which was a much friendlier sight. Charon nodded to greet him in silence, and then continued to wait. Ragnar and Thistle Cloud arrived next -- Charon was glad that this was an activity that Thistle Cloud could participate in, despite her very round and big current state -- and Charon greeted them with a wag of his tail. Gunnar followed suit, who was also greeted amicably.

To Charon's disappointment, Spectra didn't show up anytime soon, so he decided to just go ahead and start off the activity. "We're gonna tell a story today," Charon explained, "But it's not like a story that I'll tell and all you have to do is listen, we're gonna tell the story all together. Everyone says a few sentences to make the story go along until we've got the story finished. And you gotta finish with half a sentence so that someone else can finish it!" Charon briefly looked around to see if everybody understood what he was saying. "I'll start it off."

Charon cleared his throat and then started off the story: "There was once a brave wolf knight who lived in Stavanger Bay. He liked his pack and everybody got along well. Everything was great until one day..." Charon looked briefly over the gathered wolves, waiting for someone to continue the story.
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Aesop watched each new arrival with interest, and rightly so.  First comes the man, the myth, the absentee leader, Ragnar.  He does not disappoint, an enigma turned flesh, albeit missing an eye.  Not long after, heavily pregnant Thistle Cloud arrived, looking just as round as she had when Aesop last saw her, if not more.  He knew that any day now she'd burst.  Rather, birth her pups, and soon they'd have a new wave of hellions taking up residence in the forest.  Finally came a youth, the only other member of the pack that he had yet to at least see.


He could not revel in solved mysteries yet, though, as Charon gathered their attention.  He explained their game for today, one Aesop thought he would enjoy just as much as he had enjoyed their last.  It catered to his more refined side, he thought, and would build different, but equally strong bonds.  Charon began the story, and Aesop waited a polite few moments before picking up where Charon had trailed off.  "... everything wasn't so great.  A shadow fell over the pack.  A nameless, fearless monster had moved into the nearby mountain.  So the pack picked a hero, and..." he trailed off to allow someone else to pick up, pleased with his addition.  Some good conflict would get this story running, he thought.
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Thistle did not say much, but she watched and listened. She had to smile at Charon, this would be a good building bonds activity, and it would be fun. The story had potential. Thistle listened and thought of her own addition. conflict or love, were two of the most notorious things, so she decided to add some mystery. She spoke softly, This hero was brave and true, and everyone liked him. He had many friends, and he was the best choice. However, this hero had a secret..... 

She stopped there hoping that someone, could pick up where she left off. She wondered what they would make the secret. Would it be a good one, or a mediocre one? She lay panting softly, listening and watching.
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Thankfully, it didn't take long for the others to arrive. The second member to make an appearance was the girl who had caught him eating a flower not too long ago — Atreyu looked nonchalantly over in her direction with a wave of his tail. Aesop, who earned a toothy grin from the boy, was next, taking his place within the clearing. Inwardly, he laughed at the formation they had taken up, with each wolf sitting further back then the last. If they were the only ones to turn up, things could get a little awkward.

Fortunately, however, two more wolves strode in, and Atreyu sat up a little straighter, offering both of the leaders a respectful nod. He hadn't seen very much of either since he was accepted, and so was equally surprised at both the missing eye of Ragnar and the...rather full-figure Thistle had acquired. Of course, he had heard a little about the Jarl sacrificing his eye, but still furrowed his brow when he saw it. Why would anyone would willingly disable themselves?

As the Jarl and his heavily pregnant mate took their place (who Atreyu resisting laughing at, watching as she lowered herself and her rotund middle to the ground), they were joined by a final pack mate, a boy he hadn't seen for a while. Wasn't he one of Thistle's kids? After a moment of two as everyone settled, Charon then spoke up, and Atreyu swung his head to face him. Of course it would be a story-telling activity. But with a twist, apparently. Although he was disappointed it was not a more physical sort of game, the yearling was still intrigued with the concept. Maybe this might be entertaining. Maybe.

Charon started first, setting the stage, followed by Aesop. Ah, conflict. Atreyu opened his mouth to quickly add in his own addition to the story but the Alpha was faster. She offered some intrigue. Grinning, the boy then quickly thumped his tail on the ground so they knew he would be next, pausing for a few beats as he tried to think of what to add. "He had been cursed as a pup by, uh, an evil sea-witch. On his third birthday, he was doomed to...to turn into a fish!" Perfect.
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going to just make each round 1 week of length from now on to give everyone ample time to reply :)

Round 3 lasts til monday april 13 so don't forget to get in your replies! ^^

@Gunnar @Ragnar @Thistle Cloud @Aesop @Lyric @Atreyu

Charon was glad that others picked up the story and added to it. Aesop was first to speak up, adding that things were not going well, that a monster moved in nearby, and the pack needed to pick a hero. Thistle added to the story that the hero was brave and that everyone liked him. Charon identified with the story, completely imagining it was all about him, saving Stavanger Bay from dramatic things and being liked by all.

After that, Atreyu added that the boy had been cursed by an evil sea-witch -- Charon imagined that to be stupid ole' Blythe, or whatever her name was, who had mislead him and smelled of the ocean. Luckily, his third birthday was quite a while away. Charon continued the story with, "So even though he had this secret, which nobody knew about, the hero decided to face the monster that lurked in the mountains. He had no choice, because his pack depended on him! So on the dawn of his third birthday, mere hours before the sea-witch's curse would turn him into a fish, the hero set off towards the mountains that hosted the nameless, fearless monster and..." Charon looked around the group to see who would pick up the story next, hoping that those who had not yet added to it would also speak up and add to the story, as well as those who had spoken in last round.
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Gunnar had nothing to add in the first round, but he did now. He listened ot the words of others, and he racked his brain. What could he offer them, he hoped he could offer something of a good story. He met many challenges along the way. He persevered in them, until the last one, and that was the most challenging yet..it was. 

He waited and looked around hoping that other wolves, hoping they could add something to his own design.
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Aesop listened to each addition with mounting excitement.  He liked this game, he decided.  It provided interesting insight into each of the wolves gathered, and together they were spinning a story that they never would have come up with individually.  He thought it enriched the process, made it more interesting.

Gunnar spoke, and Aesop decided to pick up again there, drawing his inspiration from older tales.  "It was a beast with two heads, one of which could only tell truths, while the other would only lie.  Our hero had to decide which was which, so he..."
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Thistle listened, her tail beat a rhythm on the ground. She was enjoying this immensely. She tilted her head at the words that came from Aesop, and their oldest son. She had to smile, oh she could get behind that part of the story. She imagined a creature with two heads, and in her mind it was nothing short of hideous. She had to chuckle, and she twitched her tail again and spoke up. 

[b] He determined that he would need to ask a question of it. To prove which side was which, the question was though, what question should he ask? He looked it deep in the eyes and he asked, "
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This round ends Monday april 20! As always, no post order (:

tag/ @Gunnar @Ragnar @Thistle Cloud @Aesop @Lyric @Atreyu \tag

Charon listened as Gunnar, Aesop and Thistle Cloud added more to the story. However, it proved that the route that was taken with the two heads was a bit difficult for some, for after Thistle Cloud said that the hero needed to think of a question to decide which head was which, all fell silent. Charon looked across the wolves, who all seemed very thoughtful and wondered what the hero could ask, how the hero could outsmart the beast with the lies and the truth. Charon didn't know the answer either, but he would have to salvage the story anyway.

"The hero asked many questions. He asked 'are you honest?' and both answered 'yes', which did not bring him much further. The hero thought and thought, considered lots and lots, and then decided to chop off one of the heads. The other head shrieked in fear and said 'I admit, I am the liar, please don't hurt me!' and then the hero growled at the beast and then he moved past, able to move on now.

"At last, our hero faced the great beast in the mountain, overcoming all of the challenges to get there. The hero stood in front of the beast's cave and shouted..."


Charon looked around at the other wolves, waiting for someone else to fill in again and continue the story. He figured that only a few more were needed to add to the story before it could be finished, either by Charon or another wolf. The riddle was solved a bit unconventionally, perhaps, but Charon couldn't think of a good question and this worked.
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Thistle shifted and spoke softly, He shouted, i'm the roughest toughest of them all. I've killed ten more than any other. I've traveled far and wide, I've protected the weak. My name is.... and. Thistle then stoppped, who didn't like to brag. A boasting party was always a good thing. Sometimes you could scare off those that wanted to do your harm, just with your words.

She wagged her tail, waiting quietly for someone else to take up the mantle. She hoped that someone could, it wasn't everyone that was good at bragging. She tilted her head, ears splayed apart waiting, a happy wolfish grin on her face.
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Aesop grinned at Thistle Cloud, enjoying the boasting she added to the story.  "My name is, uh... Amadeus? he shouted, and then he charged into the darkness to face his foe.  And what he saw when he entered the inky blackness was..." He left it off there, deciding to let someone else decide what the monster was.  Charon and the others had done well with the two-headed guardian, so Aesop was looking forward to see what else they could come up with.
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starboy
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next round ends april 26. probably the last storytelling round, i'll probably finish with my next round start. so it would be great if you can all reply again for a collaborative ending! :-)

tag/ @Gunnar @Ragnar @Thistle Cloud @Aesop @Lyric @Atreyu \tag

Not many others were chiming in, Thistle and Aesop the most interested of them all, it seemed -- and after Thistle and Aesop had talked again it fell silent once more. Charon was frustrated about this, but he didn't share his feelings on the matter. Maybe the rest of the wolves gathered were just not that imaginative, or something.

Charon continued after a short pause, not wanting any awkward silences: "He saw a tiny mushroom with a grumpy face, who held a sturdy tree trunk that amplified his sound, so it sounded like he was really tough!" This seemed like an appropriate plot twist, because surely everybody was expecting a strong, tough, giant monster now! "Our hero burst into laughter, when..." Maybe another wolf wanted to add another plot twist or just describe how the hero would take care of the tiny mushroom. Charon fell silent and waited for another to continue.
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Atreyu remained silent as the story progressed, furiously trying to think of what to add to each open-ended sentence. He was continuously beaten, however, by either Aesop, Thistle or Charon who seemed to have the more active imaginations of the wolves gathered. Or they were simply the quickest. Or loudest. He cast a glance over to the youth who was hosting the story-telling affair as he revealed the monster who lurked within the cave — a tiny mushroom wielding a tree trunk. The boy couldn't help but let out an amused laugh, which he then quickly withdrew with a sharp inhale, not wanting to give Charon the satisfaction (Gods forbid, this was a pack-bonding activity).

There was another lull in the story, and Atreyu used the time to sum up the tale again quickly. So this Amadeus is cursed, almost about to be turned into a fish, and heads up the mountain to defeat the fearsome monster that threatens Stavanger Bay, overcomes a two-headed beast, and uncovers the monster who really wasn't a monster at all, and...he paused for a moment, before a wide grin spread across his features. "When suddenly, he felt a little weird. With all this monster-slaying business, he had forgotten how much time had passed," Atreyu announced, his tail waving happily behind him. "Stumbling forward, Amadeus let out a cry, realising the curse was taking hold. His fur slowly began to turn into scales..."
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Thistle was enjoying this pack activity well. it wasn't often that she got to act as young as she was. Truthfully, she was only 3, it was strange that these things happened. And as time moved on and you aged, you forgot that you could have fun, despite that. She was determined to change that soon enough, if she could. Add a little more play to her day. Perhaps it would keep her young and stress free. Thistle laughed out loud at the mushroom, extremely tickled at such a monster. 

Thistle's eyes went wide at the twist in the story that ATreyu threw their way, but she grinned. She tilted her head and began again. Amadeus would need to figure out an alternate way to end this. Because he would die, a fish without water, is a dead one after all. So he looked at the little forest creature and he said....
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Last round ends May 7, it will be archived then :) Thanks for joining everybody! :D

Charon listened as Atreyu added to the story, revealing the curse was coming to fruition. Thistle added to that, and Charon considered how to go on. He thought the story had been going on for quite a while and there were mostly the same wolves who were adding to it: maybe it would be better to end it soon, before everyone really ran out of ideas to add. Charon considered for a moment how this could be ended, because they were at quite a cliffhanger in the story...

"He said, I'm really thirsty, do you have some water? The mushroom monster politely showed our hero a river just outside the cave, and just in time, Amadeus jumped into the water. Knowing the mushroom wouldn't be of any harm to the wolves, he let it live, and he slid down the river, now a giant wolf-like fish. The river lead to a big lake in the middle of his pack, where Amadeus lived out his life as a fish. He loved to swim, so he didn't mind his new appearance that much, and he could still play with his pack mates since he lived in the heart of the pack!" It was a bit of a choppy ending, but Charon figured that it was best to just end it here.

"Well, that's the end. Thanks for joining, everyone." Charon smiled appreciatively as he looked around the wolves and nodded. He stuck around a bit longer, saying good-bye to everyone (or, well, most wolves) and then he was off on his own again, in need of some alone time.
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Sorry I missed last round!  Quick post for me.

Aesop's brow furrowed as he tried to think of an addition he could make, but none came to him in time.  Atreyu and Thistle Cloud thought up some interesting additions, and before long Charon was bringing the story to a close.  Aesop thought that the ending was a bit clumsy, but far be it from him to comment on it.  The activity was clearly coming to a close, so Aesop said a quick goodbye to everyone attending, thanked Charon for running the whole thing to begin with, then left to busy himself elsewhere.
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