Back from the moon and what the hell...?

At the end of the month, a shimmering radiance in the Umbrascape at Love Canal signifies a return. James Redleaf, having spent the month who-knows-where in service to Seline, is back.

After a quick cup of tea, he settles down to commune with the local spirits and find out what's been going on. Needless to say, his expression goes from serene to shocked very quickly, and from there proceeds right on into "stricken."

Grabbing his field pack, he quickly heads out the door and along the Umbral riverbank towards the Caern...excuse me, former Caern...of Falling Waters.

When he arrives at what was once the Bawn, he slows, unsure of what to do next.

Speaks walks over. "It's too late"

" She is dead, " Liam says simply.

For once, the riddler is without words.

He sits down, heavily.

Speaks sits down beside him. "Hope looks bleak for us. Lives have been lost. And yet..." Her voice catches.

"How?"

He starts to say more, but words still escape him. He gestures to the Falls.

"Anthelios.....we destroyed him by..." Speaks starts sobbing.

"Anthelios destroyed it? No...that wasn't what you said." He turns to look at Speaks, then at Liam eyes wide. "You destroyed Anthelios?"

"The Maid gave her life for us to win...the loss of life was far less had we failed. Gaia......she blessed five of us with a choice.... Be returned to the life stream or return to this life to rebuild and die twice for Gaia.............myself and two others choose to continue the fight." As she talks, she sounds lost.

Erikson carrying a large load in glabro halts seeing redleaf

"Redleaf my friend, it is good to see you well! Much has happened in the short time you were gone... i have chronicled the last stand of Falling Waters and would tell you the full tale"

"And I would hear it," the Qualmi answers. "But first, it looks like you have work to do. I would help with that, if I can. What can I do to be of assistance?"

"I could use some assistance in digging up any bits of local lore and legends, if there are places of power, hauntings, hives of leeches or fomori, any leads on our enemies are of vital importance"

Speaks just gets up and walks off to finish her work, sniffing.

Redleaf speaks as she gets up. "I wish I could give you answers...but I don't know that there are any to give. All any of us can do is take the chance we have been given to make a difference."

Speaks pauses, "Gaia gave us the chance to stay.....how is that not a sacrifice in itself."

"It is. Assuredly. Let none say that the Garou of Falling Waters have not sacrificed, and sacrificed much. But Gaia asks the most of those who do the most, and she asks the greatest sacrifices from those who have sacrificed greatly."

*continues with his labors moving away*

Redleaf nods to Erikson. "I will let you know what I find."