Welcome to Gaia! ::

*It couldnt be that easy. As he moved away, the packs initial instinct was of course to follow him. The alpha even trotted up to his side and growled, stepping between him and Raoul, hackles raised.*

They have come to trust you. You defended them, renewed their borders, attacked their enemies... screwed their female. They will follow you unless you tell them not to.

*There was something odd in Raoul's tone, and he hadnt looked back. He did stop though to wait for Iden to deal with his furry companions*

Romania is full of woods Iden. I will not mention it once this entire episode is over.

*Glancing up at the sky, Raoul continued walking*

We go now to the village the men you killed hailed from. Their bodies have been found by their kinsmen, and two weeks is the time frame they believe surrounds the dark god their men went to pacify. We are going to be that god. Believe it or not, this is for the GOOD of these people, and if you wish to regain your human form any time this century and go home, you will do as I say.

*Behind them, the earth wall began to crumble, leaving Iden's erstwhiel pack to spin and deal with the fact that in a few minutes, Garou would be after them once more. Taking one final glance at Iden, the alpha female whined slightly, then snapped at the Omega and started to run, heading around the lake and away from the father of her pups.*

Seeing what it is to live in the 'Land Beyond the Woods'. Come.

*Raoul piced up his pace, soon enough, he was running and leaping down a steep slope at the same speed Iden's current form was famed for. For a paperwork laden old man, he moved like the wind, flowing through the woods like he was made ot be there, his feet almost silent in the leaf litter as the lights of the town below became clearer and clearer, torches waving in the darkness.
As they got closer, 'town' revealed itself to be two crossing streets of primative housing, ad the lights were the torches of a mob, men preparing to head to the ruins. Raoul stopped in the tree line, glancing back for Iden*

Stay at my side, and sit when I stop moving.

*then Raoul stepped out into the moonlight and slowly approached the village perimeter, his arms spread wide. It would be moments before he was seen*

*Raoul's presence seemed to have mixed effects on the populace. The women clutched their children to their full, colourful skirts, while the men closed ranks in front of them, holding their torches aloft.
Then they saw Iden.
The men crossed them selves, then held out their hands as horns, warding off the evil eye as Raoul stoped, expecting Iden to sit by him. Reaching down he woudl grab the rifle from Iden;s back, then hurl it to the floor, kicking it into the group of men, while snarling in a most animalistic way.
His voice broke into harsh, gutteral and heavily accented Romanian, but some of it would be understandable to Iden.
Essentially, it went along the lines of Raoul deploring the village. Something about sacrifices was mentioned, a spokesperson pushed forwards by the village to bow low and plead their case. Whatever the villager said was in even more heavily accented Romanian, but Raoul seemed to understand.
The arguing went back and forth for some time, gestures and fear, anger and motion piercing the night until Raoul suddenly seemed satsfied*

Come with me. They believe you are my familiar. We are going to a house to see a young child. The sacrifice must be renewed.

*And Raoul strode forwards, framed on either side by the villagers, heading for the biggest of the houses*

*The procession led around the house, to the back garden area, a functional space filled with herbs. At the back, a circular stone area was rigoursly maintained, surrounded by red flowers. It was to here that Raoul stalked, gesturing Iden to sit at his side.
A moment or two later, a young girl was led out towards Raoul, crying and scared, wiggling in her fathers arms.*

You think ill of all this, dont you?

*the question was blandly asked, whiel Raoul watched impassively as the girl was stripped and presented to him, kneeling, trembling, her father just as scared*

At least you have the decency to state such, and not tell me Im doing something wrong. There is more beneath the surface. I will explain in a moment.

*Raoul's attention went to the girl. She was quivering even more as his hand descended, lay on the back of her neck, then drifted down to her right hip. Then Raoul looked at the fatehr and directed a few sharp questions. Quivering answers were given, then an old woman stepped forward.
Walking serenly up to the Prince, the other villagers drew back until she stood before him, tears in her eyes but smiling as she reahced up with hands aged 90 and traced Raoul's face, his own eyes turned into hers as then HE bowed, and kissed her weathered hands. Romanian flowed like a brook between them, then Raoul smiled at the girl and tapped her hip. WHen he pulled his hand away, a small wolf tattoo lay in its wake and he nodded.

Turning to the men who stepped forward to reclaim the girl into the ranks of villagers, eh barked out some harsh commands, then mad ethe sign of the cross over the old waoman. After that... he snapped his fingers to Iden and stepped away from the circle, into a fog which sprung up form nowhere*

And now we leave.

*soon enough, they were at a precipice, a cliff edge. Raoul sat down, lit a cigar, then patted the ground next to him*

That... was my family.

*He didnt look at Iden, just looked at the sky as he spoke*

When I was Embraced, my family became scorned. Romanians are very superstitious. It was... a long time ago. In time, when I knew what I was and saw what had become of my mother... my sister... my DAUGHTER... I had a choice. I could kill those responsible, or I could fix things for those that were left. I chose the latter.
I set up the folk tale about the spirit in teh ruins. A man who always appears with a wolf and never ages. When my family does well and does right by teh village, the spirit does not apear, but when the traditions begin to slip.. he claims terrible vengeance.
Last year, my many times great grandson betrayed the family. And not in a little way. HE was a mruderer, a rapist... a swine. I killed him two months ago. No one from my family dared come to teh ruins the night we were there. And that is why I had to come. In every generation, one of my descendants bears my mark. The little girl will grow healthy and privaledged for all I scared her tonight. I will visit her often, and when she is the age of her grandmother... she will also be the only one to greet me as a man, and not a monster in their midst, and I will bless HER grand child in turn.

Do I still seem so inhuman to you now?