The Nakarruma'rwan

(Nah-car-ROOM-a-ruhwhan)
The Nakarruma'rwan is the only construct resembling a building that the "organized" weres lay claim to. It is used for any activities that call for a large gathering and a roof and walls, be it a council meeting or a cage wrestling match. Though there are several smaller tents, hollows, or caves used for the same purpose, the Nakarruma'rwan is used to accommodate the most people. It is often where those challenging for the First Alpha will battle, among hisses and cheers of their peers.

Inside, it is a huge chamber resembling the coliseum in both size and shape, though instead of stone; the seats are made from wood polished by generations of behinds. The ceiling above is patterned with mosaics of the weres' lore. Inscribed in bright stones are seasons of peace and carnage, the legacies of their fathers that seem to flicker with life in the torches that hang in brackets along the walls. In the center of the huge design is a hole that both lets out the smoke and lets in the sun, moon, or starlight. In the center, where the sun and moon shine is said to be where the Ancestors are buried, and is considered hallowed ground. The Alphas, too, will be buried here, and in times of revelry, the brown, hard-packed dirt of the Nakarruma'rwan is where the celebration is held. The weres tend to believe that the Ancestors smile most upon the continuing life of their kin, and are happiest when they, too, can enjoy life by watching the stretch and strain or the jubilation of their children.

From without, the Nakarruma-rwan is far from imposing. As a matter of fact, it looks more like a hill poking a bit of its head out of the Northern side of the bowl that holds Veksle with a warren of tunnels leading to the center and an odd, perfectly circular hole drilled through its bald top. The floor of the Nakarruma'rwan was actually dug from the earth itself, and the entire building made from an upswell in the bedrock. Though hundreds of generations have passed, the "building" has still survived

Tari melted down the stairs to the hard-paced dirt in the center of the gigantic dome. Here, many of the Council members were already gathered, lounging in the early morning rays. The Alpha met each of their eyes, nodding silently in greeting as he sat, cross-legged in his accustomed place. Settled, Tari let his icy eyes slide closed. All around him, through the misty whispers of his comrades and the soft rustles of the wind far above, the were felt the throb and hum of the earth.

Among the comfortable chords that sang Life's perfect harmony, Tari heard - as he had for some weeks, now - the whine of growing discord. Something in this earth was changing. It smelled like the awful calm before a typhoon, tasted like the fear before a fall, and felt like the sudden opening of a deep, dark rift in what one had thought was solid ground. The Alpha was not the only one to notice these changes, although he was the one who felt it strongest. For weeks, the weres of Veksle had been sending messengers to every registered clan or Lone to discern what was upsetting the balance; they even decided to check with several contacts within other cities. Nothing. The only solid answer that they could find was that something was brewing. What was it? No one knew.

Now, with still no answer, the Council had convened to discern a way to absolve themselves of this worry once and for all, either by debunking it or discovering its source. Not but three days previously, after the troublemaker Quall and another strange were had made the Alpha late for a similar meeting, it was proposed that the First himself set out to find the source of the "wrongness" that he felt. Now, Tari waited simply for the verdict; it was a risky move to send the Alpha from the city at such a potentially crucial time, but it also had its advantages - the Alpha was welcomed far more places than many a common were, and he was reknowned for his impressive instincts. The were let his eyes drift open to glance around the cycle of clan leaders and account for all of them.

"Well, my brothers," he rumbled, his deep voice the roll of a thundercloud, "What is our decision?"

Leon sat in his seat thinking. His long brown hair fell in his face as he looked down at his crossed legs. He contemplated Tari's question for a moment thinking about his own clan. He looked up from his seat. "I believe we should find out what is going on." He looked over to Tari and then looked to where the ancestors lay. "We all can feel it and we owe it to all of the clans of weres to try and figure this out." He stood. "That is my final decision let the others state their opinions."

A rumble of agreement echoed around the chamber, though none seemed too eager to be the first to send the Alpha away on such an arduous, perhaps monotonous, and dangerous task. Tari could see that the Council was still conflicted on the idea of sending the Alpha away, but now was not the time for hesitation. He pinched his lips into a thin line as the clamour died down again, raising his hand to speak.

"Brothers, I ask not of this; this was decided almost a moon ago. I ask whether we ought to send me to seek for myself the answer," the Alpha demanded, spreading his arms wide with the rustle of a thick jacket and a bow of his head.