Underground Rumble (Harvest's Oneshot)

[Riot]
(So as with other STs, I've come across some rules for my scenes that should be pretty clear:

1) Please feel free to ask me any questions and specifics concerning the scene at your leisure. If I don't answer, IM them to me and I'll get to them quickly enough.

2) From here on in, I'm adding a mandatory 3 Line minimum to all declaration rolls, giving me an idea on what your character is doing for their actions. This does not need to be extensive or explanatory of EVERY little detail, but it does give you the opportunity to explain position, attack type and location on the enemy. also gives me a chance to adjust the difficulties and dice pools in favour or against for everyone, depending on how creative you get.

3) Keep track of your Tempers. If you believe your character did something or was afflicted by something to regain points in one of them? Let me know, if I haven't already.

4) Questions, Concerns, speak up.)

[Riot]
The World is often times a mockery of the Nation's ideals:

Definition plays itself off in slight of hand manners and ways, describing vast scenes and broad scopes through which to view the world, perspectives multiplying into factions, sects and designations all adhered to with the strictest sort of discipline, zealotry and faith. The Garou cannot afford to waffle and wane. To question and doubt. That's how the last generation dies and the Wyrm wins.

So it is, that even the smallest of details, out of place, become the topic of consideration. It is not the stagnancy of normalcy that creases a Garou's brow, so violent and hostile is his every day, but the presence of that which goes against the grain. Stands out from the crowd. Disturbs the peripheral.

Wherever they come from, or wherever they have gone, the collective of Garou are left open and exposed in one manner or another, to a sound:

Soft, almost melodious and low. A soprano by design, it wafts into the air and catches at ears. Most of the young and hip crowd that populate the busy 'Village' area of Lakeview, where the Art, Fashion and Culture mingle freely and experimentally, would not think twice of the sound but the Garou do.

It creeps up through storm grates and from beneath metal grid panels, drowned out often by passing traffic and rushing cars, only for the ears to perk and pick it out again a few moments, or a half minute later, further down a street corner. It extends for miles beneath city streets.

It is broken and stuttering and somewhat disturbing, if only because the High Tongue was never something wholly based in sound, but also in body language. No wonder it sounds like skipping CD.

[Brother of the Lost]
This was his territory. Well, no. It wasn't. But until one of the other packs stepped forward and laid a claim on Lake View proper, La Familia would be the ones looking north from their territory, keeping their sense sharp and their nerves alert for any threat coming their way. And that's exactly what he was doing, patrolling, when his ears caught the sound of something odd and out of place.

The Uktena thrive on curiosity. They make their mark by seeing and feeling and hearing these strange things and seeking them out. He didn't grow up on a reservation. He didn't claim the blood of Uktena heroes in his veins. But that didn't stop what he was, and that doesn't stop what he does.

The only difference here is that its not the curious wolf walking down the street, one that once poked into secret corners at a distant caern. Its a Boy. A teenager at most. But still he wanders curiously, crooking an ear at storm drains. Subtly pointing a nose at Grid panels. What was that, he seemed to wonder, as he tried to find a source.

[Face of Death]
They're not exactly out on patrol. Joey brought Charlie out this way because there are batting cages nearby. Even though she can no longer help him with his claustrophobia desensitization, she still wants to teach him sports. Today they've gone back to how to swing a bat. How to keep an eye on the ball to hit a homerun. Or at least not hit a grounder.

That's why she's dressed as she is, in jeans and sneakers that aren't high tops, her newer, thicker purple hoody with the white embroidered filigree, and a grey knit cap tugged low over her ears. Her bat bag is strapped across her back.

Whatever conversation they were having, it stops when she does. Joey comes up short, holds out her arm to arrest Charlie's forward momentum.

"D'you hear that?"

[Lights Out]
Charlie has better hand-eye coordination than one would expect someone who smokes as much weed as he does to possess. Either that, or he's a quick learner; he's picking up the basics of baseball at a decent clip. He isn't nailing them out of the park just yet, but he hasn't accidentally thrown the bat or smashed the ball into the ground yet, so that's better than a lot of newcomers can say they've accomplished.

It's another dreary day in Chicago, the humidity high enough to make breathing feel a chore, and Charlie is wearing a sweatshirt to guard against the chill rather than running around in a t-shirt. Granted, his sleeves are pushed up to his elbows and his hood is down, but he's at least acknowledging that it's cold.

This really isn't smart, spending this much time together, but they're not touching each other and they're not looking overlong at each other, and they're not technically alone, so they ought to be safe. They're in the middle of talking about something they saw at the batting cages as they walk down the sidewalk, and as soon as that sound cuts through the air, a frown seizes the Theurge's brow. He runs right into Joey's arm, but doesn't startle.

Does he hear that.

"Yeah," he says, his voice faraway, his attention parsing itself. A beat, and then, "Where's it coming from?"

[Face of Death]
[WP]

[Brother of the Lost]
WP diff 5

[Lights Out]
[WP]

[Riot]
...The song is easy to follow:

Streets come and go, forcing the trio to stop and go. A game of red light, green light, as the music is drowned out by a sudden flush of traffic or presence of people, going about their business. The process is slow and frustrating by most circumstances. Humans would grow a little tired of the game and probably wander off to do something else unless they were particularly dedicated.

A Garou? Well...

Charlie and Boy managed to keep themselves together mentally throughout the process, as they approach the source of the situation. Joey on the other hand...

...A young girl wonders by laughing and screaming 'I know, right?! Right?!' into her phone at an equally vacuous young woman on the other end.

...A brutish collection of young men, grin and nod and crowd a little too close, eying down Charlie while 'appreciating' Joey's own 'yummy' (Their word as they were walking away).

...Every time Charlie stopped her to listen it seemed as if the Traffic would pick up almost immediately, horns blaring and cars whizzing past.

By the time the Three of them turn their respective corners and spot one another at a block's distance, Joey's been battered from all sides by life's little annoyances (+1 Rage).

The street they walk along is another small busy one, night shops for coffee goers and the occasional clothing boutique, populate the opposite side of the street they are on, while a girded wrought iron fence, surrounded and interwoven with decorative plant and vine combinations, obscures the view of the stone ravine just on the opposite side, leading off into one of Chicago's broad sewer tunnels.

The Song is faint, distant but definitive in it's direction down the tunnel in that Ravine. It's a good twenty foot drop to the ravine floor below.

[Brother of the Lost]
They all seem to converge on the same spot, and Boy gives each of the two a slow nod of understanding. He doesn't ask what they're doing here, nor does he give them a hard time about being so close to La Familia Territory. For whatever reason they were in the area, they were here. The reason went without saying. The words 'You hear it too' see to be etched in his eyes, and perhaps in the slightly-too-long stare he gives each of them.

He moves to the gate, tugging at the vines and overgrowth, until finally he gets his hands on the gate itself. Its been here a while, he'd wager. After checking for some sort of lock, he gives a good tug on that as well, hoping to force the thing open.

[Face of Death]
Life, the city, Gaia, something was trying to get in the way of them finding the source of the song. At least, that's how it felt for Joey. Every time she tried to listen for the sound, something came to interfere with her hearing. The annoyance of it all was getting to her, and was manifesting itself in a gradual increase in the burn of her rage.

Until the young men jostled past. There was a definite spike then, when the young woman stopped and glared after the group. Her rage, normally faint, nearly nonexistent when compared to that of most other Garou, is now on par with Charlie's. She's still in firm control, still is able to keep herself from lashing out at the next person screeching into their cell phone or the next car blares its horn. But she is more irate.

And so she openly groans when she sees that they need to go into the sewer. She sees Boy, returns his nod of greeting slash understanding. Like they're all beat cops who heard the same message over the radio.

Ten four, good buddy, and all of that. Or was that for trucker CB? Regardless, she goes to where Boy is, to help.

[Lights Out]
One day he's going to stop registering surprise when he's out in the city and finds that he is not the only one in the area when something ungodly decides to rear its head and beckon the warriors of Gaia into action. That will probably be the day that he is the only one in the area when something ungodly decides to rear its head.

Next to him, Joey is struggling with a sudden spike in her Rage, a spike that is abnormally strong for the young woman; down the street, he spies the Alpha of La Familia. The Theurge cracks one side of his lower jaw, then the other, before he walks forward to meet the teenager at the barrier between the sidewalk and the ravine.

"We all going?" he asks, the unspoken alternative being the sending of a scout ahead of the rest of them. None of them are packed; only one of them is in a position of leadership within the Nation, never mind whether Charlie is challenging for a Sept position or whether his Alpha had essentially left him in charge during his absence.

[Brother of the Lost]
"I'm going." Boy said evenly, flatly. With the barrier pulled aside and resting at the mouth of the sewer entrance. It looked to be about...twenty feet or so. He could make that, he thought, and nodded at the sewer entrance as if to confirm this.

"This is close to my territory, and makes it my business. If you two are planning on following I'm gonna ask that you submit to my authority."

[Face of Death]
Joey's head snaps up, and she looks at Boy, brow furrowed and eyes slightly narrowed. This close to my territory does not equate to ON my territory. Joey is not stupid, however. She recognizes that the two she's with are both Cliaths while she's a cub in the eyes of the Nation. Boy is a Philodox, and the alpha of a pack. He should have the ability to lead them in this thing they're getting themselves into.

The blonde quirks a brow, glances to Charlie, and then back to Boy. "I'll follow you," she says, more shortly than she might have intended.

[Lights Out]
Born into the society that the two teenagers beside him had to be introduced to, Charlie does not bristle or posture when the Uktena makes his claim. It seems to need no explanation, to Charlie, why the youngest of them would assume the mantle of responsibility in this situation. Close to my territory may as well mean my territory, period, to him.

Joey says she'll follow. Charlie just nods, and steps back to let Boy in first.

[Lights Out]
[Athletics+Strength (+1): Jump!]

[Face of Death]
[dex + ath, diff 7 - 2 (ability aptitude: athletics)]

[Brother of the Lost]
For a moment there's a look that's leveled on her, one as deep and curious as usual but with slightly narrowed eyes. Thankfully, his eyes move to Charlie as he nods instead.

"Good. I'll go down first. Then Lights Out, then Laughs in the Face of Death. And that's the order we'll keep moving in."

And with that, he hops on down.

[Dex+ath, diff 7]

[Riot]
The Trio land with equal thumps, grace and the strength of weathered limbs, keeping each in relative comfort, with barely a twinge of strain that fades into pins and needles which returns to normal in seconds as they straighten again:

The ravine is simple and straight forward, moving in two directions. The West/Right side is a gradual curve that takes them around the block and on toward the distance of Chicago's lakeside, where the run off no doubt heads toward Lake Michigan.

The East/Left side is a short fifty yards to a broad steel tunnel, fitted into the side of a massive concrete wall that leads up to a busy street/bridge, railing low enough to watch cars turn onto the bridge and pass by, as well as the occasional pedestrian wandering by on the sidewalk next to the railing.

The tunnel itself is dark but broad, a pair of Crinos bodies more then capable of standing back to back and reach out with a couple feet still between their claws and the steel wall. The floor is flattened by a concrete overlay, a small slant to either side, providing a funnel for the excess trickle of dark liquid to travel down and into the outside of the ravine itself.

From within the darkness, the soft hum of that melody continues to burn, interrupted every now and then by a breath of silence, only to pick up once more.

[Face of Death]
[percept + enigmas + 1 (Twister), diff 7]

[Lights Out]
[Enigmas+Perception]

[Brother of the Lost]
[perc+enigmas]

[Riot]
The Three, now that they have a source for the song, can pick up minute traces of it's distinction. It is slightly garbled and twisted, broken into sections of earnest, even eloquent demand. The sounds arrive with rumbles and twists of a skilled tongue...

...A Galliard speaks.

[Riot]
to Brother of the Lost, Lights Out
...A Galliard speaks and within that broken voice, some sense is made:

He is singing to the Spirits. Describing the offering and Tribute. Demanding the payment and sacrifice. A ritual.

He is marking another. Two others. Depicting them in the scars of birth. Or re-birth.

It is a Rite of Passage.

[Brother of the Lost]
Boy steps forward, craning to listen for that song which was suddenly so much clearer now that they were closer to the source. His eyes are wide when he turns back to Charlie and Joey, and he licks his lips tersely, almost anxiously as he whispers.

"Three of them. An elder and two Cliaths. Not gaian."

And then he looks to Charlie specifically.

"Can you see anything on the other side? There may be guards."

[Lights Out]
Can he see anything on the other side.

The Theurge merely looks completely distracted by the chanting and the singing going on within the tunnel. When Boy asks if he can see anything, he sharply shakes his head and retrieves his dedicated hand mirror. It's a small white plastic affair, could have easily been pulled out of his sweatshirt pocket, and his eyes go far away as he looks into it.

[Gnosis: I SEE YOU!]

[Lights Out]
[Occult+Intelligence]

[Face of Death]
Joey brings up the rear of their tiny expedition. The song is stronger down here. She looks around their surroundings, taking note of space for fighting.

Not Gaian, Boy had said. Joey nods once. She slides her bat bag, unzips a pocket, and removes a brown and black button her packmate made. The pocket is zipped, the bag is settled against her back once more, and the button gets pinned to the collar of her hoody.

[soak talen go go go!]

[Lights Out]
When he drags his gaze back from the other side, the Theurge lowers his hand, the mirror disappearing back from whence it came, and sniffs as he collects his senses back about him. His eyes go directly to Boy.

"There ain't anyone over there," he says, "but it's not safe. It's crawling with Banes."

[Brother of the Lost]
Boy nods once to Charlie, only glancing at Joey as she readies herself.

"Then we go as quiet as we can."

For him that meant shifting down to his lupus form, which is exactly what he does. Then he heads on, moving cautiously. It seemed they had the element of surprise on their side. He wasn't about to waste that if he didn't have to.

[Lights Out]
[Stealth+Dexterity (+2): Sneaky!]

[Face of Death]
[dex + stealth, diff 8]

[Brother of the Lost]
Stealth 1 of 4

[Brother of the Lost]
Stealth 2 of 4

[Face of Death]
[again!]

[Lights Out]
[Part deux!]

[Brother of the Lost]
[Stealth 3 of 4]
HAIL KAHSEENO!

[Lights Out]
[Part fuck.]

[Lights Out]
[Kahseeno, I will eat your face.]

[Riot]
The Three crawl into their Lupus shapes at the edge of the Tunnel mouth, just before the darkness seems to reach out and envelop them. Almost instantly, the sounds of the city are diminished beneath the power of the tunnel's interior. Very little lives here below the surface of Society, crawling through the excess and throw off of humanity and eking out a living on what can be caught, scavenged or simply stolen.

As the trio of Lupus push into the sewers, the dank smell of mildew and rotting water begins to creep into their senses, obliterating any chance of sorting by smell, but careful steps, treading the outside of the tunnel's steadily widening concrete floor, ensures their passage is silent, against the backdrop of the Song that continues to play and cut in and out ahead.

As the trio draw closer, a light forms in the curve of the tunnel, following the Lake's own symmetry and before long, the three can piece together a broad hollow in the tunnel's length:

It is a broad, rectangular cavern, a maintenance way-point, with access well overhead, into some thick iron grates that shine a mean orange light down into the depths from wall mounted spot-lamps. The chamber itself is like a small ampitheatre, a raised level around the four walls that comprise it (with the tunnel continuing uninterrupted ahead of them), with a simple lowered floor upon which is settled the congregation.

A pretty young woman, dark hair, straight and even, long, narrow features and a razor thin mouth over pearl white teeth, stands dressed in nothing but streaks of black swirling tattoos, breasts glistening with a patina of sweat, her arms held high overhead, long black fingernails daubed with some sort of thick ichor.

To her left, is huddled another younger girl, slightly pudgy, dressed in the gothic trend of fashion, a plaid mini-skirt the only splash of red colour on an otherwise, black on black ensemble. Her hair is a dark purple, cut short about her ears, while the skin is a pale pale white, almost snowy. Her back is to the trio.

To the woman's right, crouches a Crinos, huddled on it's haunches, hands tucked between it's legs and clawed fingers splayed out on the ground. It's head is ducked and it's fur is a glittering black, body humming with some restrained energy.

In the centre of the three figures, sits the gutted remains of what might have been a homeless man, his entrails spread out and around him, over his body and splashed on the floor, nearly touching the various feet and hands of the three creatures, a pattern and design both arcane and indecipherable to the Trio in the Tunnel.

The Woman's song continues in the high tongue, her skill with such evident in the homid shape, though it remains garbled and somewhat half-formed for the lack of appropriate body parts to give it full description.

[Lights Out]
[Primal-Urge+Perception]

[Brother of the Lost]
[Wits + leadership]

[Face of Death]
[percept + primal urge, diff 8]

[Brother of the Lost]
Re-roll

[Riot]
to Brother of the Lost
Tactical:

The Tunnel carries sound with fierce distance, crafting disturbance of a whisper and warcry of a conversation. Her song was audible from blocks away, what would their own words be so close here?

The room itself is a broad thing, the distance ahead capable of being covered easily, but not before being seen by the Galliard woman in the garish orange lighting over their heads.

The Ritual seems to be wrapping up slowly. Not long now but still some time.

[Brother of the Lost]
He was the type to look before he leaped. Those eyes, in fact, said that he was the type that probably preferred looking to leaping period. He had a Ahroun in his pack. There was a reason why he deferred to her at times of war.

Boy carried himself low in the muck, the grey and brown wolf watching the proceedings with exceeding curiosity. He does however turn to each of them, to the Fenrir and the Fury, and gives a silent lift of his head to each, as if asking what they thought of the whole thing.

[Face of Death]
Joey's hackles rise and her lips peel back from sharp teeth on sight of the human sacrifice, but she does not growl. She does not move forward to attack. She told Brother of the Lost that she would follow him. So far he's done nothing to prove himself an unworthy leader.

The turning point is now, however. She waits to see what action he will order them to. Not Gaians, he'd said. There's the evidence of a human sacrifice on the floor before them, and what looks like an initiation taking place with a Fostern Galliard at the head.

When the Uktena turns for their opinions, he'll see the stocky grey and white wolf poised to fight, to leap forward and rip out the Galliard's throat. But she holds back, waiting waiting waiting. She is not the one in charge here.

[Lights Out]
None of them are wolf-born. While this form is just as natural to them as any other of their acquired forms, this is not how they learned to communicate with other Garou, and this is not how they were used to seeing the world prior to their First Changes.

Charlie seems to realize this, and so he attempts to convey as much as he can through body posture as he does through huffs and quiet growls.

Full Moon protects Moon Dancer. Rage heavy.

[Wits+Expression: Be Quiet! Diff: 9 - Stealth.]

[Brother of the Lost]
Boy's eyes change with that knowledge. They become hungry. Ravenous. His Rage twitches darkly, tingles at the two by his side as he turns that dangerous gaze toward the Crinos full moon, lifting lightly off his haunches, nose and tail in a straight line. He doesn't growl. Doesn't snarl his intention, but its clear who he was going for.

And in the next instant he took off, bolting into the fray, but not unannounced. This cavernous opening made a war cries out of whispers and as he ran, using his Rage to change from a small four-footed runner to a snarling beast of war, he let out his own war cry, hoping the cavern would make an army of the three.

[Brother of the Lost]
[Charisma+Intimidation, diff 7, 1 WP]

[Face of Death]
It's clear who Boy is going to target.

Joey trots forward to nudge her friend. They're not pack, yet. But Joey has fought with Charlie more than anyone else in this city. She trusts him in a fight like she would trust almost no one else.

She brushes her shoulder against his, and points her nose in the direction of the Crinos full moon, and hopes her intention is clear.

Focus fire.

[Lights Out]
Brother of the Lost goes tearing into the amphitheater-like junction in the tunnels without giving any further instruction to the two non-packmates who have agreed to follow him, and Lights Out cuts a quick glance to his friend right before she nudges him with her shoulder.

The Fury and the Fenrir have known each other for almost three months, now. They are still miles away from complete understanding of why they act the way they act, but in battle, they've come to trust and rely on each other. All Face of Death has to do is indicate the direction that the Uktena has gone, and a chuff leaves Lights Out's sinuses. A few loping steps forward, and he's abandoning his wolf skin for the hulking body he was born in.

[Face of Death]
[+10]

[Lights Out]
[+7]

[Brother of the Lost]
7

[Riot]
(Klosk the Ahroun: 5 +...)

[Riot]
(Grislak the Annoited: 6 +...)

[Riot]
(Rassah: 8 +...)

[Riot]
BSDs are all at -4 init

Joey: 20
Boy: 16
Charlie: 13
Rassah: 13
Grislak: 10
Klosk: 5

Declare Reverse.

[Riot]
Klosk

A rumbling bellow erupts with sudden fierce surprise, as the Ahroun whirls in place to receive the collection of Gaians, Ahroun instincts are battle strong and fierce, but he seems to have been unsuspecting. He lunges to his feet, ready to meet Boy's charge, claws out and arms spread, to catch him in a great hug.

(initial Action: Bear Clinch, Boy.
Rage 1: Use Boy to block Joey
Rage 2: Bite Boy's head)

[Riot]
Grislak

The naked woman screams in response to being interrupted, the scream of surprise turning to a shriek of outrage, even as she levels a finger at the Intruders. Her gaze tracks through them suddenly and viciously, even as a snarl rips through changing lips, the Crinos shape forming around her.

(Intial: 1 gnosis. Curse of Hatred on Joey)

[Riot]
Raasah

...And the small pudgy girl, whirls in place, blanching openly as she back peddles into her Hispo shape, coming down on her haunches and readying for a lunging snap at Charlie's mid-section.

(1 Rage: shift to hispo.
Initial Action: Bite Charlie's ribcage.
Rage 1: Bite Charlie's leg.)

[Lights Out]
[Split Action: Flank Klosk/Claw Klosk/Claw Klosk. Rage Action: Claw Grislak.]

[Face of Death]
[1W activate Resist Pain, 1R shift to Hispo
split: bite/bite Klosk]

[Brother of the Lost]
DECLARE!

Reflexive - 1 WP: Activate Resist Pain, 1 Rage: Snapshift to Crinos

1a: Body tackle Klosk
1b: Block for Joey
1c: Block for Charlie

R1: Claw Grislak's eyes out

[Face of Death]
[1a: bite Klosk: dex + 1 (Twister) + 2 (hispo) + brawl -2 (split)]

[Face of Death]
[damage: str + 1 (twister) + 3 (Hispo) +2 + 2]

[Riot]
(Soak)

[Face of Death]
[1b: bite Klosk: dex + 1 (Twister) + 2 (hispo) + brawl -3 (split)]

[Face of Death]
[damage: str + 1 (twister) + 3 (Hispo) +2 + 0]

[Riot]
(Soak)

[Brother of the Lost]
Dex+Str, -3 for split

[Brother of the Lost]
Stay up! [Dex+Ath]

[Riot]
(Dex + Ath, Klosk to remain on his feet. Diff. 9)

[Brother of the Lost]
Damage: Crinos Str +2

[Riot]
(Soak)

[Lights Out]
[Second Split Action: Brawl+Dexterity (+1): Claw Klosk. -4 pool (split), -2 diff (part. immobilized).]

[Lights Out]
[Damage: Strength +1 (Bear) +4 (Crinos) +2 (suxx).] [A]

[Riot]
(Soak)

[Lights Out]
[Third Split Action: Brawl+Dexterity (+1): Claw Klosk. -5 pool (split), -2 diff (part. immobilized).]

[Riot]
Rassah: Bite Charlie's ribcage. Dex 6 + Brawl 1. Diff 5)

[Brother of the Lost]
Block -4

[Riot]
(Strength 5 + 2 hispo + 2 sux)

[Lights Out]
[Soak!]

[Riot]
(Grislak the Anointed: Curse of Hatred on Joey. Manipulation 3 + Exp 2. Diff 4)

[Riot]
(Klosk: Changing Initial Action: Claw at Boy's legs. Dex 3 + Brawl 3. Diff 6 + 1)

[Riot]
(Str 8 + 1 sux + 1 claw)

[Brother of the Lost]
Block -5, 1 WP

[Brother of the Lost]
Rage Action: Claw Grislak's eyes out

[Dex+Brawl, +2 diff]

[Brother of the Lost]
[Damage: Str+1(Claw)+2(Called shot)+2(Suxx)=12

[Lights Out]
[Rage Action: Brawl+Dexterity (+1): Claw Grislak.]

[Lights Out]
[Damage: Strength +1 (Bear) +4 (Crinos) +2 (suxx).] [A]

[Riot]
(Raasah: Bite Charlie's leg. Dex 6 + Brawl 1. Diff 5 - 1 Flank, due to Charlie's attention split between other two BSD)

[Riot]
(Str 5 + 5 sux + 2 hispo)

[Lights Out]
[Soak!]

[Riot]
(Klosk: Changing first Rage Action: Claw Boy's leg again. Dex 3 + Brawl 3. diff. 6 + 1)

[Riot]
(Str 8 + claw 1)

[Brother of the Lost]
Soak

[Riot]
(And Last Rage action from Klosk Changing: Bite Resilient Boy's hip and kidney area. Dice pool 6. diff 5 + 1)

[Riot]
(Str 8 + 4 sux + 1 bite)

[Brother of the Lost]
SOAK!

[Riot]
The Gaians lunge into battle, the Spirals turning with slowed reactions as Boy's warbling scream of fury, tears through the cavern's depths and bounces off the walls into ear canals:

As the Philodox descends, the Fenrir is already moving around him, low to the ground and gnashing teeth, yet find no purchase or puncture in the tough Ahroun's flesh, as the Crinos rears to his feet...

Only to fall backward to the ground with a head rattling thump, as Boy thunders into him with reckless force. The Philodox lands and takes his eyes off of the Ahroun momentarily, to bat at the snapping jaws of the young hispo digging at Charlie, a clawed hand swiping out to slap at the Spiral's head, pushing it aside enough that the teeth fail to penetrate through Charlie's toughened hide.

The Theurge's own claws join Boy's as the Rage plumes around them, Grislak's shrieks of outrage turning into cries of pain as she collapses backwards, a broad chunk cut across her ribs from Charlie's claws and her face a ragged and ribboned mess from Boy's own.

Yet the moment of victory is short-lived as the jaws of the huddled Hispo Spiral, lunge inward and snap around Charlie's right leg, gnashing down and twisting side to side in a brief moment of resistance, before they crunch through bone and blood begins to pour out of Charlie's severed stump, just above the knee, crinos leg falling to the ground twitching, as blood soaks across the Hispo Spiral's jaws.

Meanwhile, the Ahroun on the ground slashes clumsily at the air, missing and bouncing effortlessly off of Boy's hide, teeth snapping and dragging free of the Hip without any damage showing.

(Charlie: 4 Agg. Missing Leg. +1 Difficulty to all Dexterity Rolls.
Joey: Fine.
Boy: Fine
Grislak: 5 Agg. Blind.
Klosk: Fine (Healing 1 bashing auto)
Raasah: Fine.

Joey: +1 Rage for Charlie's injury.
Boy: +1 Rage for Charlie's injury.
Charlie: +1 Rage for Injury.
Grislak: +1 Rage for injury.

New Inits)

[Face of Death]
[+10]

[Riot]
(Klosk 5 +...)

[Riot]
(Grislak: 6 +..)

[Riot]
(Raasah: 10 +...)

[Brother of the Lost]
[+7]

[Lights Out]
[+7]

[Riot]
Raasah: 19
Charlie: 14
Boy: 14
Joey: 12
Grislak: 7
Klosk: 8

Declare Reverse

[Riot]
Grislak

Shrieking peels of pain rip free of the Galliard as she collapses backward, supported by one hand planted, the other to her ruined face.

"My Face! You Gaian Wretches![/i] A gurgled scream of heightening madness, before the Fur begins to sprout.

(1 Rage: Shift to Crinos.
1 Rage: Ignore Stun.
Initial Action: Call of the Wyld.
Rage Action: Anthem of War.)

[Riot]
Klosk

The Meaty ahroun finally begins to pull himself back to his feet, snarling and roaring as he lunges forward, the intent once again, to wrap Boy up in his embrace, jaws flicking drool to all sides.

(Initial Action: Get up. 1 full action.
Rage 1: Bear Hug boy.
Rage 2: Bite Boy's head)

[Face of Death]
[Seeing her friend's leg torn from his body, Joey lets out a snarl, and snaps her jaws at Grislak.

split: bite/bite/bite Klosk, WP on last bite
R: Bite Raasah]

[Face of Death]
[oops, that narrative should be for Klosk, no Grislak]

[Lights Out]
Hitting the ground, Lights Out does not stop swinging. He calls on Bear's gift to ignore the searing pain shooting up from where his knee used to be, and whips around to claw at the bitch who crippled him.

[Reflexive: -1 WP, Resist Pain.
Split Action: Claw/Claw Raasah. Rage Action 1: Claw! Rage Action 2: Claw 'gain!]

[Brother of the Lost]
Despite his efforts he couldn't keep them all from harm. Boy catches sight of the Hispo carting off the Theurge's leg and he feels his own hot Rage welling up in him. They had to end this quickly.

Declare:

1a: Bite and tear out Klosk's throat while he's still on the ground.
1b: Bite and tear out Grislak's throat
1c: Take a hit for Charlie

R1: Block for Charlie
R2: Block again!

[Riot]
Raasah

Blood still fresh on her jaws, the Hispo body looks almost as if it is about to Lunge forward at Charlie, when Grislak's shriek of madness reaches her ears, turning her attention briefly and swiftly from the Gallaird who would be her alpha, to the one seeking to do her harm again...

Jaws rake out and snap in quick succession.

(Split Action: Bite Boy/Bite Charlie
Last Rage: Bite Joey)

[Riot]
(Raasah; First split: Dex 6 + Brawl 1. - 2 dice. Bite Boy's mid-section. Diff 5)

[Riot]
(Str 5 + hispo 2 + 3 sux)

[Brother of the Lost]
Soak!

[Riot]
(Raasah: Bite Charlie's Collarbone. Dex 6 + Brawl 1 - 3 dice. Diff 5)

[Riot]
(Str 5 + hispo 2 + 2 sux)

[Lights Out]
[Soak!]

[Brother of the Lost]
Block-5, 1 WP

[Riot]
(Re-roll Damage: Str 5 + hispo 2)

[Brother of the Lost]
Bite Klosk's Throat out, -3 for split, +2 called shot

[Brother of the Lost]
[Damage: Crinos Str+ 2 for called shot +1 for Bite=10]
HAIL KAHSEENO!

[Riot]
(Soak)

[Brother of the Lost]
[Bite What's-her-name's throat out, -4, diff ]

[Brother of the Lost]
DAMAGE +2 +1 +2

[Riot]
(Grislak: Soak)

[Riot]
(Grislak Rage back)

[Lights Out]
[First Split Action: Brawl+Dexterity (+1): Claw Raasah! -2 pool (split), +1 diff (he's got a leg off).]

[Lights Out]
[Stamina]

[Face of Death]
[1a: bite Klosk's torso area: dex + brawl -3 (split)]

[Face of Death]
[damage: str + 2 + 0]

[Riot]
(Soak)

[Face of Death]
[1b: bite Klosk: dex + brawl -4 (split)]

[Face of Death]
[damage: str + 2 + 3]

[Riot]
(Soak)

[Face of Death]
[1c: bite Klosk: dex + brawl -5 (split) +WP]

[Face of Death]
[damage: str + 2 + 4]

[Riot]
(Soak)

[Riot]
(Rage back klosk)

[Riot]
(Grislak: Changing Actions: Claw blindly. Targets in Range: Boy (Odds) and Raasah (Evens).

[Riot]
(clawing Raasah: Dex 4 + brawl 2. No wound penalties for frenzy. Diff 6 + 2 blind)

[Riot]
(Raasah: Bite Joey. Dex 6 + Brawl 1. Diff 5 - 1 flank, for Joey's split attention on Klosk and Grislak.)

[Brother of the Lost]
Block!

[Riot]
(Str 5 + 5 sux + 2 Hispo)

[Face of Death]
[SOAK + talen]

[Brother of the Lost]
Claw out Rasah's eyes, +2 diff

[Face of Death]
[bite Klosk: dex + brawl]

[Face of Death]
[damage: str + 2 + 3]

[Face of Death]
[MOAR DAMAGE: +5 dice]

[Riot]
(Soak)

[Riot]
The Battle rages and things grow desperate:

The Galliard climbs back to her feet, crinos lips peeling and drooping from the damage dealt, only to fall backward with an awkward gurgle as her throat is torn free by the reaching jaws of the Philodox Uktena, the issue of Rage slamming her into the ground, even as the burn of the inner fire, seals the wound partially and pulls her back to her feet, madness and hate in her eyes.

Hate enough to swing at her wound be packmate, though blindly and missing.

Boy's teeth dig hard 'round on the fallen Ahroun as well, ripping free his throat alongside his would-be Alpha's, the Ahroun falling backward with a gurgle of surprise, that is silenced forever by the snapping jaws of the Rotagar that comes down atop him almost a split second after the fall.

Charlie's breath is coming in short gasps, the flesh beneath his fur paling at an alarming rate as he pushes the pain to the back of his mind. Yet the constant strain and struggle, the sudden urge to continue...it proves to be too much, as the Metis collapses back to the ground with a limp sort of shudder, body wracked with vicious convulsions, foam beginning to peek from the corners of his jaws even as more blood surges from the wound.

And the quick Hispo, yet untouched but steadily growing more aggitated with events, takes a snapping bite at Charlie on the ground, only to be battered aside again by Boy's question arm, keeping her at bay from doing anymore damage.

(Klosk: Dead.
Grislak: 6 Agg. Frenzy.
Raasah: Fine.

Joey: Fine.
Boy: Fine.
Charlie: 6 Agg. bleeding out. Still stunned.

New inits.)

[Riot]
(Grislak: 7 +...)

[Face of Death]
[+10]

[Riot]
Raasah 10 +...

[Brother of the Lost]
7

[Riot]
Joey: 15
Grislak: 13
Boy: 13 (simultaneous as Gris)
Raasah: 12
Charlie stunned.

Declare Reverse)

[Riot]
Raasah

Her alpha gone insane. Her packmate broken and dead. The little hispo twitches in place momentarily, hesitating enough to slow her pace. Her growls grow vaguely whinish, even as the screams of madness from her would-be Alpha, surge around her.

She makes a desperate snap toward the nearest of the Gaians, an attacker, or if none, Charlie, before trying to escape.

Split action: Bite whoever comes closest/is closest/Run

[Riot]
(Grislak)

Shrieking Fury. Blind hate. A monster true with slashing claws and large steps.

(Initial Action: Claw.
Rage 1: Claw
Rage 2: Claw.

Targets chosen at Random when actions come up)

[Brother of the Lost]
"PULL BACK!" Boy Bellows, even as he himself leaps forward, Horrbile arms grasping at the body of the Hispo wolf. "GET LIGHTS OUT AWAY!" He shouts to the only other person that can possibly hear him. Boy Drives with his shoulder, shoving the Hispo toward the Frenzying galliard.

Reflexive: Issue orders

1a: Grapple Raasah
1b: Shove Raasah toward Grislak

[Face of Death]
[Their initial target down, Joey is finally free to go after the one who hurt her friend. Boy tells her to drag Charlie away, but he's too weak to be moved in the forms they're both in. So she moves to guard the convulsing body of her friend.

action: Defensive stance: Meatshield for Charlie]

[Brother of the Lost]
Grapple: Dex+Brawl, -2

[Brother of the Lost]
[I SHOVE JOO!]

[Riot]
(Raasah. break Free, terrified of approaching alpha. Str. 5. Diff 7)

[Riot]
(Grislak: Claw. Dex 4 + Brawl 2. No would penalties. Random target: Boy = Odds. Raasah = Evens + 1 and 3.)

[Riot]
(Claw on boy)

[Riot]
(Strength 7 + 1)

[Riot]
(Raasah Soak)

[Riot]
(Same Random as before)

[Riot]
(Claw: 6 dice. 8 diff)

[Riot]
The Battle's last vestiges are a whimper and little else:

Boy lunges forward with a Howl of Orders, wrapping an arm around the small Hispo as it tries to wriggle free, only for the Philodox's strength to over power her just enough, as the smaller hispo shape intercepts the blow Grislak's blind lashing casts toward Boy. Raasah is torn open along the belly and flank, guts and internals spilling out onto the ground, a choking whine turned gurgle erupting as she falls to the ground between the Galliard and Boy.

Grislak gives one final surge of breathless fury, claws reaching into the air, before something sighs across her jaws and she falls forward across her would-be cubling's body, collapsing into death with a final wheeze.

The blood pumping from Charlie's severed limb is beginning to wane in amount, his pale flesh beneath the torn tufts of fur, growing ashen, his body cooling rapidly...

And silence suddenly reigns.

(end combat

Spirals: Dead.
Joey: Fine. 1 WP 1 Rage
Boy: Fine. 1 WP 1 Rage
Charlie: 7 Agg. Incap and Dying)

[Brother of the Lost]
Perhaps if she'd submitted, the Philodox in Boy would have taken pity on Raasah. Perhaps he'd drag her back to their caern and bring her before the guardians and the elders. Perhaps they could reform her, and with the secrets she knew, he could call her sister. Tribemate.

Perhaps, thats what he considers as he tugs at the limp paw of the young Hispo Spiral. Its not very likely though. The others probably wouldn't be that forgiving. And even if they were...he wasn't that kind of philodox.

Boy gives one last huff of satisfaction as he turns his back to the pile of bodies, still cautious that any one of them might rise up again. When he finally rejoins Joey and Charlie, he crouches in his birth form by the Theurge's side, still anger-hot eyes staring at the mess that's been made of him.

He looks up at Joey, a hint of doubt and worry in his eyes.

"Can you heal him?"

[Brother of the Lost]
[Int+Medicine, diff 7]

[Face of Death]
With the Spirals dead, Joey is now free to go about the business of literally putting her friend back together. She doesn't wait, doesn't listen to any orders Boy might give. Charlie is bleeding, the only thing that matters is keeping Charlie from bleeding out.

Her body shifts and contorts and becomes smaller, until she's a cute athletic blonde girl again, blood smeared across her lower face and dripping down her throat to stain her collar. A small clay pot is pulled from a pouch of her bag, which she sets on the floor.

There's a burn of rage, a sudden quick burst, and she's standing in her war form, and looking for Charlie's severed leg. When it's found, she sets it against the bleeding stump of his knee. She looks to the Uktena, motions for him to hold -- and perhaps correct -- the placement of Charlie's leg before she picks up the small clay pot, tiny and delicate in her massive clawed paws.

[Face of Death]
[-1 gnosis for 4 suxx on Gaia's Breath to heal the leg]

[Brother of the Lost]
Boy blinks at that, and then at Joey, and moves to take the severed leg in his hands, lining the bones, muscles and tendons up as well as he can. He nods to Joey when he's ready.

[Face of Death]
She waits until Boy is in place, and crushes the tiny clay pot between thumb and forefinger, sprinkling its remains onto the place where Charlie's shin should meet his leg. Neither Boy nor Joey are experts at this. The leg is not set exactly right, but it will have to do for now. Bone reattaches, ligaments stretch into place, and skin knits back together.

Joey shifts down into her birth form once again, and waits for Charlie to come to. There's a look that crosses her face as she waits for her friend's convulsions to stop. It's worry. The last time she saw him in Crinos after a fight, he had been on the brink of frenzy. His rage had been out of control for days after.

She remembers she's not the only one here, and turns to Boy. Her mouth quirking in something like a smile, "Thanks." And she pushes herself away from Charlie's prone body, removes from her bag the things she needs to cleanse the area, and sets about performing the ritual.

[char + rit]

[Brother of the Lost]
[Char+Rituals, diff 7]