The Sept of the Moon's Blessing is a caern at Cumberland Falls, Appalachia. The site was discovered by Artemis Silver-Dawn, a Black Fury of the Freebooters camp, around 1900.[1] Galileo Crosses-the-Stars became Master of the Challenge of the sept following the disappearance of the previous Master of the Challenge in 1993.[2]
History[]
Before the coming of European settles to the Cumberlands, the forests of eastern Kentucky provided the Cherokee and Shawnee with fertile hunting grounds and many ancient trails through the mountains attest to the wanderings of these native people. Competition for the verdant lands resulted in war between the Cherokee and Shawnee, and eventually the Shawnee conceded the hunting grounds and left the area.
French explorers discovered the Cumberlands nearly 100 years before Daniel Boone made his famous forays into the eastern Kentucky wilderness, paving the way for permanent settlement of the area by disgruntled and land-hungry people from the British Isles and other European nations.
Although coal mining operations covered most of eastern Kentucky, the major coal fields lay to the east of the forest; here, timber proved a valuable commodity. In 1937, President Roosevelt enacted a proclamation creating the Cumberland National Forest, although the forest's name was later changed to the Daniel Boone National Forest in honor of the area's most inveterate explorer. The Cumberland Falls State Resort Park was created in the 1930s through private funding to protect the natural wonder from industrial interests. Some of the funds set aside for the park came from Kinfolk of local Garou, who had already discovered the unique properties of the falls and were determined to preserve it from desecration by Weaver-inspired business or Wyrm-tainted polluters.
The Sept of the Moon's Blessing has been in existence for nearly a hundred years, since a Black Fury Freebooter, a Ragabash named Artemis Silver-Dawn, discovered it during a vision quest as a cub. Unwilling to tie herself down to any one spot, but recognizing the treasure that had been dropped into her lap, she gathered together some Garou she had met in her travels through the mountains and took them to the mighty falls. When the caern was opened, the totem spirit of Woodpecker contacted the Garou and agrees to lend her assistance and blessing. The relative ease with which Moon Bridges can be opened here make this caern a natural headquarters for Appalachian Garou, and provides swift communication between it and the other caerns within the mountains.
Culture[]
For many young Appalachian Garou, the Sept of the Moon’s Blessing is the location of their first moot. The sept is something of a hub for the region, with moots attended by Garou near and far. It has a welcoming reputation, its packs taking the time to help newcomers figure their place among the Garou. New arrivals come in, wondering at the Cumberland Falls like any human tourist, and meet new Garou, perhaps with the expectation of dancing, drinking, and howling long into the night. It might be a disappointment to some that, often, the first thing a newcomer has to do is peel potatoes. No freeloading young layabouts tolerated here![3]
The sept’s philosophy is that everyone contributes, from the rawest of newly-changed cubs to the most storied elders. Everybody makes the moot together. Some young ahroun believe that such tasks are beneath them. Making broth when they should be killing enemies of Gaia! Yet, the sept has a strong reputation in the region, and there’s always plenty of Garou willing to come to its defense should it be threatened.
Old Hattie Thunderwife believes in engaging with the community, and that means idle Garou risk being tasked with helping locals, humans and Garou alike. Particularly with young packs, these tasks may sometimes almost feel like hazing, but that’s just the Moon’s Blessing way of teaching each new pup that the only way to succeed in the fight for Gaia is through community and compassion.
There are advantages to the sept’s work culture too. Its moots are legendary — each participant is deeply invested in the communal Rites because everyone has worked together to prepare for them.
Sept Geography[]
The sept is organized around a caern at Cumberland Falls in Kentucky. Such a location has its upsides and downsides. It’s a famous natural wonder, with symbolic power reminding the Garou of what they’re fighting for. It’s also a tourist destination, forcing the Garou of the sept to be wary of hikers and other random passersby every time they hold a moot. Its location in a resort park also gives it legal shelter from whatever capitalist ambitions might otherwise loom over it.[3]
Sept Members[]
- Hattie Thunderwife: Children of Gaia Ahroun, Sept Leader
- Josiah Windford: Silver Fang Ahroun, Warder
- Gayle "Leafbright" MacMullain: Fianna Philodox, Keeper of the Land
- Lugh ("Lew") Light-on-the-Water: Fianna Theurge, Master of the Rite
- Galileo Crosses-the-Stars: Stargazer Ragabash, Master of the Challenge
- Billy Jo Russel: Silent Strider Galliard[3]
- Dagnar Icedottir: Get of Fenris Philodox
Former Sept Members[]
- Artemis Silver-Dawn, Black Fury, Ragabash, Freebooter
- Maya Wordweaver, Black Fury Galliard, Gatekeeper
- Caitlin Dooley ("Songmaker"), Fianna Galliard, Songkeeper, Lorekeeper and Storyteller, left caern
References[]
- ↑ WTA: Rage Across Appalachia, p. 54
- ↑ WTA: Rage Across Appalachia, p. 54
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 WTA: Shattered Nation, p. 60