Carlos is also sitting on the stage, quietly studying a map, while absently rolling a marble around between his fingers.

Signe greets Joey with a glance and moves to hop up on the stage, take a seat, and wait.

Sepdet walks in the door with Kristine, speaking to her in a low voice. "So, in other words, we're only scouting, this time. Try and get an idea what banes are in the area, any weaknesses or strengths they have, where they're clustered. We're looking for information. It may take us /months/ to clear out the sewers, but we've got to start somewhere, so we're starting with Harbor Park tonight."

Kristine nods slowly as she listens to Sepdet, pausing just as they enter the building proper. "Sounds like what Me'n Tec tried doin' a while back. Turned kind'a ugly."

Joey dashes out another cigarette in the ashtray on the stage, swinging his legs. He lights another one. No, he's not nervous.

Reggie lumbers into the Rialto, a not so faint smell of burnt canine hair wafting about, and looking nearly twice his already large size from static electrity fluffing out his grey fur coat and singed eyebrows. Moving off into some corner, he regards the gathering crowd with a look that's sometimes inquiring, sometimes dubious.

Sepdet nods to Kristine. "There've been a few preliminary attempts, but we haven't tried to organize all the city Garou til now. So. Tonight's goal is scouting, information gathering, and killing Wyrm only if they look ripe for the picking. We're paving the way for a future hunt. Katina's gotten us a couple of light talens, so we're going into the park, then under it, to examine the banes as far as its perimeter. Assuming we've got the numbers tonight, I'm taking a team umbraside to check there. That's why I wanted you." She claps the Fang theurge lightly on the shoulder as she proceeds into the Rialto.

Joey gives a glance over to Signe. "Ok, we get ourselves into our smaller groups now, to see who we're still waiting on?"

Kristine grins and places a hand over the hand on her shoulder, "Hey, that's me, white shiney Umbral cannon fodder." She jokes lightly, then more or less follows Sepdet, obviously uneasy in this environment.

John enters quietly, slightly hunched in his coat. His face remains as neutral and expressionless as ever, and he moves towards the gathered Garou.

Sepdet raises an eyebrow at Kristine, expression dancing between worry and amusement. "I hope not. Can you make the Fang-shine, though? That may help us."

Junior moves to stand next to Joey.

Megaera makes her way into the Railto, briefly wrinking her nose at her surrounding before heading over to Sepdet. "Evening."

Kristine shakes her head slightly, "Unfortunately not. I've looked every where, but I can't find one of my tribe who has it. It disturbes me." She frowns slightly.

Joseph comes through a moment or two after Sepdet and Kristine, the Wendigo looking a little out of place even with his new jeans and flannel shirt.

Carlos pages to the room: Can someone illuminate a poor uneducated guy in what this rite or procedure is called? I seem to remember reading about it in the book, but can't find where.

Yi isn't too far behind John in timing, showing Julie the headlight-flashlights she made as well. The switch flicks on and off pretty easily, the whole contraption looking much like a wire-frame held together mini-searchlight. She keeps the beam pointing towards herself as they go through the door. "It's not as strong as yours I think," the nomoon explains, "but it should last somewhat longer. More for just seeing than actually hurting the banes with." The car headlights flicker one last time as she tests.

Sepdet dips her eyes at Megaeara. "Thanks for answering," she says in a low voice. "Remind me: are you more comfortable realm or spiritside?" She beginning to count heads.

Kristine inclines her head to Joseph, "Soulcatcher-rhya, It's good to see you here." She glances to Megaera, also nodding to her.

Megaera looks around at the gathered Garou, counting heads. "More comfortable in the Realm, though I can fight in the Umbra if need be."

Julie nods, holding one of her own makeshift lights, a flick of switch lighting the doorway so much so that Yi is a silhouette moving through it in a brief flash. She is shutting it off as quickly. "Yeah, mine's got those UV bulbs, for tannin' an' stuff, this shou'd burn the socks offa any little bane scurryin' 'bout down there."

Joey just winces, a little, from the light. "Hey, down in front," he calls, trying to be jovial. He's failing, badly.

Owen makes his way into the room, dufflebag slung from a shoulder. He nods to those here and finds himself a seat.

Kaz, hair dripping, emerges from basement, blinking a bit at all the people. "Hey Max," she calls down the stairs, "We got company."

Signe starts making a count of her own, quietly and thoughtfully, while everyone is still beginning to filter in.

Julie moves to the stage with her box of goodies, and plops it down near Signe.

Yi looks a little surprised to see Joseph in here too, and it's evident in her smile. The Canto-Gnawer goes with Julie though and sets down her 3 now carry-convenient headlights on the stage.

Sepdet informs John, "Good news, Walker. If the realmside groups will have you, I've got enough here, I think, to manage our hunt without dragging you off your native soil. Megaera, you're with me, Joseph, Yi, Kristine, Carlos, Allie. Might as well give you some practice, and a half-moon for Guides-the-Dead here to fight beside." She smiles thinly at the younger Strider.

Kristine offers to Sepdet, "That sounds like a good group." One she feels comfortable with. She nods to the approaching Strider.

Carlos nods at Sepdet in acceptance.

Late, late, late. "I'm sorry!" Allie says as she basically runs into the auditorium, looking quite out of breath. She runs a hand through her touseled hair and blinks, but offers Sepdet a small smile and Kristine a grin. "Hi."

Joey looks over to the basement. He waves to Kaz quietly.

Signe eyes Julie's bag of goodies and asks, "How many lights do we have?"

"Yo, Sig, here's those special lights me an' JD worked on," Julie says as she starts pulling out fanny packs with wires and odd flashlight cases draping from them. "Four in all." They are then laid out in a row beside Yi's lights.

John eyes the motley crew apprehensively. And straightens slightly as Sepdet speaks to him, lowering one eyebrow. "Wherever people want to put me is fine." he replies impassively, but the set of his shoulders hints at an easing of the tension there.

The smell of burnt canine hair marks his route as Reggie wends his way to the tiny Strider, intending only a tap on her shoulder to get her attention, but a blue spark of static electricity jumps, and his hand jumps back in a twitch.

Yi looks each of the flashlights over and nods. "Can be carried in wolf, but mine will need some fingers to work the switches," she notes, dipping her head towards Kristine and Megaera before glancing to Signe.

Sepdet is holding up two white stones, apparently in answer to Signe, when Reggie zaps her. A strange look of deja vu crosses her features as she peers at the sparkling Garou. "Yes?"

Max can be heard running up the stairs before she emerges onto the stage from the wings and takes in those gathered. "Holy crowd control." The ragabash has intentional-looking black smears on her forehead, under her eyes, and slashing up over her cheeks and she, unlike Kaz, is utterly dry. She walks up over to Kaz and elbows her. "Seen the Terminator?" Her evaluative scan of the group settles upon John. "Hey Nightlight!" This is, apparently, a greeting of a relatively good-humored nature.

Megaera shows her teeth in a feral grin, eager to get started.

Kristine smiles widely at Yi, "Hey again." she offers in a cordial tone, then looks to Sepdet who'd just been zapped.

Kaz eyes the crowd dubiously before failing to oof at all from Max's elbow. Preparation is everything. She shoots a grin her packmate and shakes her head. "He's patrollin' t'night. Said he'd be here if he could."

"I heard you calling for talens", Reggie addresses Sepdet, "so I figure you're the one leading this thing and can find the best use for this", and he offers a thumb-sized glob of amber wrapped in coils of stripped copper wiring. "Spirit's feisty."

John turns slowly to Max, and eyes her humourlessly, one eyebrow raised. "Nightlight?"

Sepdet smiles, taking it gingerly and giving the spirit a soft greeting. "I know some of its cousins. Is this for damage, or light?" She jumps at a spark. "Or both?"

Signe gives Julie a grateful look and says, "See that Joey's roup has one and Kaz's group." Her eyes then shift to Sepdet, and the talens.

Kristine's curiosity begins to get the best of her as she attempts to angle her vision just so to get a good look at the talen that was given to Sepdet.

Joey looks between Kaz, Max, and Junior. "Ok, whichever of the three of you feels the best around spirits, take that. I ain't got the juice, I'm betting."

Owen starts sorting things around inside his bag, not really taking part in the conversation just now.

Julie nods, and pulls one of the fannypack/UV lights off the stage for each group and moves over to Joey first.

Kaz says, "Yo," at Joey. "I'll cover it." She just shoots a grin of the long suffering kind at John. "She names people. Can't seem to help it..."

Joey nods, thankfully, to Julie, and hands the gift over to Kaz. "All right then." He looks around, as if waiting for someone, looking a little impatient.

John tilts his head at Max. "I'm a pretty poor nightlight. Helios only shows me what I let myself see, because I greet him every morning with praise."

"Light", Reggie answers. "I was going to try for fire, but some people said with all the people in one spot, there'll be too much gas and a likely explosion."

Sepdet nods at Reggie. "Probably just as well." She looks over at Signe. "You got enough light for me to take two and give you one?"

Yi rubs the back of her neck a little before getting up onto the stage to have a better look at everyone milling around. Glancing over to Signe, she suggests, "Let's get together into our groups. Probably will be easier first to determine the leaders, and then distribute the items."

Julie gives Kaz a mild elbowing. "That'll be for fryin' little stuff if'n you run into any, an' maybe even temporarily blindin' the bigger stuff, if'n necessary. They only'll last 'bout 5 minutes, so's you can't go usin' them for lightin' yer way."

Kaz drifts over toward Joey and Junior, looking around herself. "Sig -- we takin' Jules, or're you?"

Signe shakes her head. "I'm not sure where I'm gonna be just yet. Jules, you can go with Kaz or Sepdet, whichever you prefer."

Sepdet indicates the five she's grabbed with a sweep of her hand; the little zap of a talen she's now holding sending gleeful sparks across her knuckles. "I'm set, Signe."

Carlos continues to tinker idly with several marbles, as he studies his map.

Kaz does oof, this time, at Julie, and then shoots her a grin. "Hokay. Cool."

Julie shows Kaz how to strap the fannypack around her waist and where the switch is to turn it off and on, then she points at Kaz while answering Sig. "I'll go with her this time." Then she glances back to Sepdet. "You wanna use one o' m' lights? It ain't a talen, but it might do a bit o' good inna pinch." She holds one up to show her.

Sepdet shakes her head at Julie. "No time to dedicate now. Keep 'em for your people."

Kaz checks the switch. Twice. And then watches Signe, for the moment.

Signe says, "We'll keep it to one team umbral and one team Realm, with one or two people anchoring each. Reggie and John can back up the umbral team, and Owen and I will stay in the realm."

Julie nods, then keeps another for her group, the other two for Sig are left on the stage for them to distribute. As Kaz flips the switch, everyone gets a wonderful dose of UV light...twice over.

Kaz mutters, "Sorry," and stops fiddling.

Signe nods to Sepdet, "If you're set, you can take your team through the mirror downstairs and work your way to the park?"

Joey is just about letting out a relieved sigh, then winces. "Ow light," he admits.

Sepdet winces slightly at the Gnawers playing with artificial lights.

Carlos looks around, trying to spot Banecruncher before he has to go.

Owen looks up towards Signe and nods, then eventually pulls out the fireman's axe from the bag, it's handle thickened with duct tape. "I believe I'm ready now."

Kristine cracks her knucles, getting prepared for the jaunt.

Allie muses, "I'm ready."

Joey hops off the stags, hitting the floor with both feet. "'Kay," he says. "Let's do this."

Reggie, while still blinking away spots from lights going on and off, looks up at his name being tossed around, looks slightly relieved that he's not going with her, and looks around for anyone who might be wearing a label with 'Hello! My name is John' on it.

Signe smirks in a good-natured way at the other Get, and gathers up her things as well. "The est of us will try and look..natural..as we walk the streets." It's something of a joke, but the Get doesn't look all that humorous right now.

Yi offers towards Signe. "Grab a few buddies, and stroll over that way," she chuckles. Yi must be on something, to have a reason to laugh.

Sepdet purses her lips, looking over her people. "Right." She heads for the stairs with a wave. "Time to dance."

John looks up at Signe. "If Sepdet doesn't want me for the Umbral group, can I tag along?"

Kristine turns and follows Sepdet, starting her pace with a slight jog.

Signe shrugs at John. "Sure. Fine with me."

Reggie deduces John's identity from his question and reaches to tap him on the arm, sending a small shock. "She'll want you. Come, let's go."

John nods, and eyes the other Garou. "Good luck." He ducks his head and follows Signe.

Julie follows Junior out, wearing the other of the group's special lights.

Carlos stops next to Banecruncher and scratches behind his ears while whispering something softly to him. Then follows Sepdet's crew.

Umbra: Harbor Park
The Umbral ground beneath your feet here is lush with vegetation, an oasis of life amidst the concrete and webbing of the scab. Trees stand proud and tall here, their branches full of leaves. Shrubs line the outer edges of the park, tangled with encroaching webs. There's no plywood cage around the fountain here, its shining white marble reflecting the silvery glow of Luna's light. Still operational here, a soft flow of water bubbles from the fountain, gathering into a serene pool. The river banks the east shore of the park, bridged by a massive rusty bridge. On this shore, the glade seems to have spread out on to it, vines winding around the supports. Further across the river, the bridge melds into the scab again, flaked with rust and covered in webs. The river itself is clean within a few feet of the shore, but black ooze seems to encroach menacingly from the murk of the rest of the river.
A walkway leads out of the Glade-like atmosphere of the park from just north of the fountain. Eastward, the dark span of the bridge stretches over the vile river. Dark streets lead west and southwest into the blighted Umbra of the city.
Contents:
Carlos
Allie
Reggie
Kristine
Joseph
Sepdet(#4138PJce$)
Obvious exits:
North Southwest West Bridge

Sepdet passes out Talens, keeping the ill-tempered one supplied by Reggie for herself and offering the two glowing stones to Yi and Megaera, arbitrarily. ~All right. Yi, you're being creepy and quiet ahead of us, but not too far ahead. Joseph, rearguard, me front: we can hold banes still in a pinch. The rest of you take left or right, but when we go underground we may have to go single file. If we get in trouble, Joseph or I will howl retreat. /No one/ stay then. Joseph and I and any other theurge who can, make the banes stop still, but we book it for the bridge as fast as possible and regroup there.~

From afar, to the room, Sepdet gratefully takes Yi's offer. And btw, anyone who really wants talens, feel free to take. Note that whoever takes 'em has to use a point of gnosis to activate 'em, so if I've given 'em to someone liable to need to use gnosis for gifts tonight, pass 'em to someone else.

Kristine nods, taking the left of the Strider, "Roger that, niner."

Yi takes the stone, clenching it in her hand with some respect and maybe a wish for good luck from it. "And try not to make, a sound..." she adds. "If it is wide enough in there, I suggest going by twos."

Megaera takes the Talen with a nod, holding it firmly in one hand. "Thank you, Sepdet."

Carlos accepts a talen also.

Joseph looks displeased with being rearguard, but the city's umbra has the Wendigo disconcerted enough he does not argue with Sepdet.

Kristine gives a slight concerned look to Joseph as he moves into position, but glances over to Sepdet.

Yi passes her talen to Carlos, glancing over the group, and then up to the moon.

Reggie, after crossing the Gauntlet, regards the scenary with lips compressed, seeing nothing immediately worthy of battle, and locks his fingers together, stretching his arms, then nearly too late, remembers to unlock his fingers as his form shimmers and shifts to the form of the giant wolf, the fur coat slipping and sliding around his torso, patching itself up to form the wolf's coat.

Romper Room(#3370RFJU$)
Just a generic room, until @emits give it a more definite look.
Contents:
Kristine
Joseph
Allie
Sepdet(#4138PJce$)
Rags
Megaera
Carlos

Sepdet lets the distance between herself and Yi, designated scout, expand to half a block as they near the park, scanning for any unwanted spiritual party-crashers as they make their way from the Rialto basement. She looks ahead searching for changes in Harbor Park's meadow, although their evening's goal is beneath it. Beside and behind her the rest of the pack falls into position, with Kristine next to her, then Megaera and Allie, Reggie, and Carlos and Joseph guarding the rear.

There's a screeching howl of metal on metal that sounds almost like a sentient scream, as they pass the north-south road a block away from the park.

From afar, to the room, Sepdet in the meantime provides incidental music.

From afar, to the room, Carlos sings, "Chim-chimminage chim-chimminage chim-chim garou..."

As they reach the Park, Yi waits for them to gather and has her voice lowered now, though clear enough to reach the rest of the Garou. "As I remember, things are almost pitch black. We have these talens, but don't use them until there is trouble, that will help light our path out. Any screeches, and howls you hear, try to ignore them..." she says momentarily as something just reaffirms her words.

Kristine frowns a bit, glancing about, but tries not to show her trepidation, instead, trying to appear strong, and collected.

Neon goes dire wolf and takes his place with the others.

Megaera growls softly under her breath in response to the screeching, form shifting into Glabro.

Joseph shifts down to the dire wolf, as well, his form shrinking and taking on the tawny colored fur quickly.

Silent is the half-moon Strider, who -- in the mean time -- follows the rest of (at least the most of at present) Garou in shifting into the dire wolf form. Guides-the-Dead allows a vague growl to come from her chest.

Sepdet glances northward towards the sound with a sigh. ~The city never sleeps. Focus on our goal. Harbor Park, long a meeting-place of city Garou, once a fair glade cleaned by the first pack of the sept, Crossing, a bit of Gaia's green in the darkening world of the scab. Tonight we begin from there, journeying down into darkess and Rat's domain to bring light to dark places.~ The Strider has no special gifts of inspiration, but there's a certain quiet assurance to her voice as the ghostly fence of Harbor Park looms up before them.

Yi seems pretty calm for city umbra, as she looks over the group. "I've not been down in these shadow sewers, but try to keep calm. I used the water drips to form some idea of space. If you are attacked, we head towards the bridge, like Sepdet says. One light talen in the front, middle, and back to light our way." She glances to Sepdet and arches a brow if the Strider has things to add.

Kristine glances about, and decides to get a bit more mass to her form, shifting up to glabro, and nods to Sepdet, and turns to keep an eye on the Gnawer heading this team.

Sepdet nods to Yi. ~Very good.~ She falls quiet, halting to give the scout room to move forward.

Long distance to Nemo: Yi will be packposing for the group, unless you prefer another form.

Neon tries to get comfortable holding the talen in his jaws, and moves to take up a position near the rear.

Nemo pages: That's fine. :)

You paged Nemo with 'Ok. :) The way we are going, is from Harbor park sewers and heading north for osprey circle fountain. Yi will be up front, followed by Kris and Sep, then Megaera and Allie, and in the back is Carlos, Reggie, and Joseph. Megaera, Sepdet, and Carlos have light talens. I'm going to use Blur of the Milky Eye.'.

You paged Kristine, Soulcatcher, Rags, Megaera, Guides-the-Dead, Neon, and Sepdet with 'This ok now? :) I think I have everyone now. Yi will be using Blur, but if you all get a good look at her right now, the gift is negated for people who see her.'.

Rags shuffles along in the congo line snaking its way to the park, and as people pause to discuss the history of the park and fall-back strategy, he takes the time out to add screeches to the sounds crowding the air as he sharpens his claws on a nice hard piece of pavement.

Nemo pages: Are the light talens going, I presume?

You paged Nemo with 'No, not activated yet. They are for our escape should we have to. :) Yi will have Blur on. Rags invokes Razor Claws.'.

The tunnels on this side of the Gauntlet are almost pitch-black, having no access to the main Umbral light source, Phoebe herself. The group starts making their way north slowly, mostly feeling their way along through the tunnels.

Yi contorts and blurs as she is transformed. You shift into Hispo.

From afar, to the room, Sepdet verifies with the GM: We're checking to make sure Harbor Park looks okay topside, first. So I assume there's nothing there? And then we were going to go down under the fountain and see what it looks like there. Signs of Wyrm? Infestation? After that, yes, we'd start checking the tunnels.

Nemo pages to the room: Anyone using Sense Wyrm? :)

Nemo pages to the room: Or are you just feeling around in the dark to feel signs of Wyrm presence, or activating one or more light talens, or using jury-rigged spotlights, or what?

You paged the room with 'Pretty much feeling in the dark. If she wants light, she'll ask someone for one. :)'.

Long distance to the room: Three-Blades will, I mean.

From afar, to the room, Neon will tough it out too, and sense wyrm.

From afar, to the room, Kristine shores and was gonna be silly anyway, "Sense Wyrm."

Aboveground, Harbor Park seems to be fine. There is, perhaps, some degree of small taint, but no more than tends to be pervasive throughout the rest of the city. Down below, the tunnels are pitch black, leading Sepdet to concentrate on the bit of wire-wrapped amber she is holding. It glows faintly, much like an orange streetlight that's gone too long without being changed.

From afar, Sepdet would prefer to assume we're still under the fountain and examining that big room first before we start trying tunnels, but maybe there's nothing in it. :)

For now, the Garou group is carefully examining the Umbral room around them just under the fountain. Yi's form can be seen to barely shimmer with her blurring gift in the dim light. The group makes do with their senses.

The small room directly beneath the fountain is pretty baeen, even on this side. There are occasionally small epiphs that float through, though telling what they are without interrupting them is difficult. This area seems, at least, to be fairly clean.

Yi, the sole nomoon of the group, first scouts the pipe heading towards the river to make sure their escape path is clear. She nudges one of the Garou with the sensing gift, to sniff for taint in their escape route. Sepdet examines the vaulted chanmber under the fountain as best she can by the dim light, holding it up. She waits for the others to gather before bracing herself and checking again for the enemy's scent. Kristine keeps a close eye/feel on Sepdet, not wanting to lose the Theurge. She's constantly darting her eyes about, periodically sniffing for Wyrm taint, and bracing herself for an overload when it is on. She keeps on guard, constantly. Megaera stays close to one wall, using it to help guide her in the darkness. Attempting to watch ahead of her and her feet at the same time, just incase there is anything to trip over. Rags squeezes into the tunnel, playing blind man's bluff in this darkness by following nearly on the heels of Meg, whos just ahead of him. Neon stays next to one wall with a shoulder, constantly alert for anything, and ready to pull his senses in on overwhelming wyrm-presence, or activate the light if needed. Soulcatcher keeps his head down, his nose and ears twitching for any advantage in the darkness. His hackles remain raised, a nervous, out-of-place cast to the Wendigo's posture as he tries to be ready for anything.

You paged Nemo with 'We sent Allie back Realmside, to the bridge near the river to act as lookout.'.

Nemo pages: That works fine. :)

Long distance to Rags: Three-Blades thanks you ahead of time for your suggestion about sending Allie to the bridge.

As the group slowly creeps north, the tunnels seem to be anything but quiet. There are low moans from off in the distance ... someplace. Epiphs of sadness, loneliness, and despair float through the air, occasionally catching one of the Garou in an overwhelming emotion for just a moment before continuing to meander along. The darkness deepens as the scouting group continues toward thenorth, and more than once, those testing for Wyrm have to stop for a few minutes as they get deeper into the sewers and into the city.

The group checks extensively around the pipes in the northern edge of the park first. Knowing that Signe only wanted them to check the park first, she goes no further, for a minute or so, quietly listening, and ignoring those pangs of sadness that seem to creep along. Sepdet continues to hold up their dim emergency-light and scan for Wyrm at regular intervals, with no qualms about gripping the Fang's shoulder when the nausea gets too strong. She tries to guess the direction of the moans, ears swivelling erratically. Kristine Takes a breath as she continues forth, shrugging off the feelings of sadness, trying not to let it affect her. However, she's more taken aback as the Wyrm Sense causes her to pause, but that too, she shrugs and moves forward, staying as close to Sepdet as politely possible. Megaera pauses for a second and siver runs through her body, as a feeling of lonelyness and dispair washes over for a few seconds. Shaking her head as if to clear it, the Fury continues. Staying close to Kristine. Not expecting Megaera's stop, Rags bumps into the Fury, and recovers his balance with a grumble. Soulcatcher does his best to keep a sense of where the others are in ront of him. he also checks the escape route behind them regularly. Otherwise, he remains tense, scenting and listening as best he can. Neon keeps towards the rear, looking for the enemy to creep up on the group. He represses an involuntary growl as his hackles raise at the sounds around him.

You paged Nemo with 'For the most part, we are keeping at the very northern edge of Harbor Park and checking for Wyrm. If it is mostly clear, we'll head up half a block.'.

Immediately outside the area of Harbor Park's direct influence, the epiphs of fear become more prevalent. They are larger and easier t avoid, but still Kristine and even Sepdet almost turn around and flee, only being stopped by the press of other Garou around them. The scurrying gets a little louder, but no closer. It looks as though Harbor Park itself is relatively clear, at least for the moment.

Three-Blades, being about 3 seconds run from the rest of the group, pauses again at the scurrying, ears swiveling as she listens to what direction their coming from, and trying to determine if that scurrying is just the sounds of ratspirits or not. Sepdet braces against the mental assault with bared teeth and has to divide her time now between scanning the area and taking deep breaths to fight against the fear-spirits. Kris steels herself against the urge to run, pausing momentarily, repeating some mantra in her mind over and over again. She is encouraged to finally move along when Megaera bumps into her from behind. This is beginning to get hard. Megaera frowns faintly, as she sees the effect that the fear spirits are starting to have on the people in front of her. Not that she herself in immune, not by along shot. Looking ahead of the group, the Fury tries to catch sight of Three-Blades. Rags nearly falls behind by half a pace and in an undue state of hurry, makes up the length to Meg's heels, where he remains as if glued. Neon creeps along near the end of the group, stepping carefully, keeping alert for the enemy, and resisting the urge to run howling back the way he came. Soulcatcher bares his teeth as the closeness of the fear spirits keeps him wary. He again checks behind them and the moves with the group forward.

You paged Nemo with 'How loud is the scurrying... and what sort of scurrying, like, grating against metal scurrying, or patter of little feet?'.

Nemo pages: Patter of little feet. :)

From afar, to Kristine, Soulcatcher, Rags, Three-Blades, Megaera, and Neon, Sepdet suggested to Nemo: Our plan-- Go north a few blocks. See what type of banes are about, try to see if there's something causing them to gather in an area like a dump or somethin'. Come back. Go west a bit under Regan Street. Repeat check. Come back. Check south. And, also, if the realm group hits any banes, they may dematerialize and land on us, in which case we shred 'em. Then call it a night. So fast forward us through the empty bits o' that.

You paged Nemo with 'Is it coming towards Yi's direction, or just echoing sort of off the pipes?'.

Nemo pages: Sort of echoing, mostly.

Cautiously continuing north for a few dozen more feet, the ragabash hears odder noises ahead, like oatmeal being poured from one bowl into another. The rest of the scouting group follows, after convincing one another to continue scouting despite the epiphs. At the moment, most of the noises seem to be retreating, though not far, and some sound like they are going into side tunnels. The tunnel iself is more slick here, the walls feeling something like covered in mucus.

You paged the room with 'How wide are the tunnels right now, Nemo?'.

Nemo pages to the room: About two lupus or homid wide. Two glabro would be pushing it. One crinos or hispo. Crinos would have to hunch over somewhat.

Feeling the floor and walls beneath her rather drippy, Yi is cautious enough to lower her nose about a foot to sniff at the floor and walls. Her ears continue to swivel around, focused towards the sound of something...rather mushy. Like rice porridge simmering from the pot as it's poured. Her eyes widen a little in the dimlight, so she can try to see what is covering the walls. Her paws take her as silently as she can to move about a yard forward. Her fur rises a little, so she can get a feel for the air around to sense if it is humid like it was underneath the fountain of Osprey Circle. Sepdet's ears flatten as the things skitter away from the group, some to the sides of her. She holds up briefly to let Yi get ahead and away from her noisier fellows, then stalks on, measuring the distance in her mind to a block or so from the edge of the park. Kristine pauses to eye the walls warily, then turns her head towards the oatmeal-like sound. Frowning, she falls back half a step behind Sepdet, waiting for Yi to finish her sniffing before taking any other action as she uses her gift of sensing taint briefly. Megaera was occasionally touching a wall, to give her a better sense of where she is. This practice stops very quickly and the tips of her fingers become slimed, lips pulling back in disgust. "Lovely," she mutters to herself, while keeping an eye on Three-Blades progress. Neon grunts softly ~Lupus to fit or Hispo for trouble?~ The Wendigo definitely does not like the slick, slimy nature of the tunnels, and he lets out a quiet, displeased whine. He lets a few feet drift into the distance between him and the closest other garou. Rags gets considerable slime dewing his fur as he cranks his head to the side, attempting to get some view other than Megaera's legs. His stomach rumbles at the sound of breakfast being made.

You paged Nemo with 'Are there any side tunnels here, or is it just one straight tunnel?'.

Nemo pages: At the moment, it's one straight tunnel. Side tunnels ahead, though.

You paged Nemo with 'Does the slime smell like anything flammable, gas, ammonia, sulfur, phosphine?'.

Kristine goes to her knees, overwhelmed by input from her Gift, giving out a sudden cry. At the cry, the scuttling sounds stop, then a few seem to slowly approach the group, though not coming within the light yet. More mucus drips from the ceiling, falling into fur and splashing into the water at the feet of the Garou.

Kristine pages to Soulcatcher, Rags, Three-Blades, Megaera, Neon, and Sepdet: I KNEW I recognized this junk! It's what Tec, Elan, Collin and I ran into during our first foray into the Sewers--oh, did I mention our covers blown?>

You paged Nemo with 'Is there any stop to the oatmealy sound?'.

Nemo pages: With the cry, yes.

You paged Nemo with 'Does the oatmeal sound start again after the cry?'.

Nemo pages: Not yet.

Yi about 4 seconds run ahead, freezes, pivoting her ears back a moment at Kris' cry. Then, she homes her ears in on the scuttling sounds, again trying to determine 'what' is making them. She moves aside one step as slime drips down with a wet splash. She gives no command for retreat...yet. The nomoon goes forward another yard, surprisingly silent this entire time despite the grumbling and cries of the group behind her. Her dark fur stands on end, every strand alert of the surroundings. Her intent is to reach that oatmeal sound and see what it is. Sepdet spares a quick glance down and sideways at Kris, reaching down to grip her shoulder so she won't fall, then peers sharply into the side tunnel where the creatures are lurking. She hisses softly under her breath, almost a growl. Kristine groans a bit, after the cry goes down, holding her head which now sports a mild headache from that lovely backlash. She gets helped to her feet and she's murmuring, "Stupid bi--" Another groan as she finally gets to her feet and frowns at the slime's dripping, and avoids it, "We should at least get away from the slime.." Megaera gives Kristine an alarmed look, and crouches down to help the Fang back onto her feet. Looking around as she does so, lips pulled back in a silent snarl. Rags shakes out his fur, already bristling from raised hackles, to keep the slime from sinking in, as forward process gets halted. The Fang's cry brings Soulcatcher's head and ears up. His teeth show in impatient agitation, but he only continues to guard the rear escape. Neon stops in his tracks, and directs his attention to the rear of the group, searching for any signs that the minions of the wyrm are approaching from behind. He snarls softly for a moment, fur bristling all over, and he also shakes himself off.

You paged Nemo with 'Sepdet will use the gift Command Spirit if one comes in range. Her command: Come here. Show yourself. (Trying to get it to come just into the light and freeze.)'.

You paged Nemo with 'She spends 1 Gnosis.. forgot that. :)'.

The scuttling approaches closer, and suddenly Sepdet barks out "Come here. Show yourself." The sound stops for a long moment, then begins approaching slowly again. A green rat with red bulbous eyes comes into view, climbing along the wall, disregarding the slime totally. It stares balefully at the theurge, its huge beady eyes glaring.

You paged the room with 'Sepdet did that.. er.. in a very quiet, Command spirit.'.

Long distance to Nemo: Three-Blades thinks she is ahead of the group, and probably wouldn't have seen what the rat was, but would have heard it pass by?

Nemo pages: Yup. You probably turned as it came by, but it's not very light in here, even with the not-great distance from Sepdet's talen.

You paged Nemo with 'Would I have made out the shape?'.

Long distance to the room: Three-Blades asks for the group, how big is the rat?

Nemo pages to the room: It's about rat-sized. Largish rat-sized, but not nastily unnaturally so. Well, not unnaturally for a green rat with red bulbous eyes. :)

You paged Nemo with 'Has the oatmealy sound returned?'.

Nemo pages: Nope.

You paged Nemo with 'One of the rats approached the group, are there any more sounds of skittering ?'.

Nemo pages: Occasionally, yeah.

You paged Nemo with 'How far are we from the park now, about two blocks?'.

Nemo pages: Maybe roughly. Hard to tell exactly. Distances are sometimes weird in the Umbra, even in the Penumbra.

You paged Nemo with 'What does the air smell like?'.

Nemo pages: Slightly acrid.

Yi didn't see the rat go by, but an ear swivels when she freezes and it approaches the group. Then, she proceeds forward some more, concentrated on finding where that sound of squishy oatmeal came from. Sepdet focuses on the rat with narrowed eyes, taking its measure, and letting the others worry about in front and behind. Again she growls low and soft, a grating edge to her harsh whisper: Whom do you serve? Kristine leans against Meg, though she can make a sudden move to retreat if she wanted to. She eyes the rat carefully, then glances to Sep, trying to remain very very alert. Megaera stays where she is, helping to support Kristine and returning the spirits baleful glare. Able to only see glimpses of whatever's holding the group up around Megaera and Kristine, Rags can only bristle as his patience shortens from an already short fuse. Neon, satisfied that nothing is following them, at least for the moment, turns around to see what all the commotion up front is about. He crouches low, trying to catch a glimpse. Soulcatcher continues to skulk in the back and keep an eye on th rear.

The rat glares at Sepdet. It squeaks at the theurge, then starts, -I work for....- The spirit gets no further than that, however, before some of the mucus on the wall forms a set of pseudopods which wrap around the rat and squeeze. The spirit dissipates, the the musuc-slime in that area grows a little greener.

You paged Nemo with 'Is there a chance I might've seen/smelled/heard the sound now that the rat is gone?'.

You paged Nemo with 'The oatmeal sound.. or whatever is making it.'.

Nemo pages: Maybe faintly, up ahead. If anything, it sounds like it's headed away from you, towards the north.

You paged Nemo with 'You mentioned earlier there were side tunnels. Does it sound like it's gone down any of them, or just went straight ahead?'.

Nemo pages: Down one of the side tunnels.

You paged Nemo with 'To my left, or right?'.

Nemo pages: Left, if you're facing north. Towards the west. Towards town, not the river.

Three-Blades restrains her quiet grunt, wary even now. The faint sound of the oatmeal monster echoes to her ears, sounding much like it is retreating further north and down a side tunnel. Taking a moment to sniff down each one a short yard or two, she then glances behind her to see she's gone pretty far ahead, and proceeds back to the group quietly, making a note of which way it went. Still cautious about the slime on the walls, she stays well away from them. Sepdet bites back a snarl and a lunge as the Wyrm answers for the hapless rat. She eyes the pseudopods as they schlorp back into the wall. With a sigh, she looks ahead towards the direction Yi disappeared. Kristine holds her hand up to her mouth and makes a face. She leans forward, eyieng the slime, "Perhaps this is a good sign to, y'know, go?" The Strider nods. ~Now,~ she whispers, waiting for her scout to return before they begin the cautious process of backtracking. Megaera only nods in silent agreement. Neon catchs a glimpse of the green rat, just as the mucus-slime attacks. He concentrates for a moment, whining softly, and the small rock in his jaws begins glowing dimly. ~Do we stay and fight?~ He seems very dubious about this option, ~Or do we return and report?~ Soulcatcher and Rags, both silent, wait as well for the scouting Gnawer to return.

You paged Nemo with 'If you'd like to call it a night here, we can go straight back to the Park. :) Not gonna follow Mr. Quaker oatmeal further into the city.'.

The tunnel is filled with a blinding light as the stone in Neon's hand flares to life with the brightness of a clear winter's noonday. The mucus ripples, then hardens where the light touches it, and the sounds of retreating scuttling can be heard from the tunnel ahead to the north.

Three-Blades pauses at the flaring of light, her body illuminated on the front half by the sudden glow. After giving her eyes a chance to adjust, she moves a little faster, quickly reaching the group, and eyes the walls. She takes a moment to knock on the hardened wall with her clawed paw. Sepdet blinks rapidly and squints from side to side at the slight crackle of solidifying muck on either side, waiting for her vision to clear before following the rearguard, now the lead, back to safety and clean air. ~Bringing light to dark places,~ she repeats in a low, pleased mutter. Kristine blinks suddenly and turns to go back the way they came, "Okay, if that isn't an opening for retreat, I don't know what is." Soulcatcher blinks in the sudden light. He growls an agreement and turns, leading the way back the way they came. Neon yips softly in surprise as the stone's light becomes so bright, catching himself before he drops or swallows the stone. Noting it's effect on the wall, he moves confidently forward a few paces, then turns to wait until the whole group is together before following Soulcatcher's lead back. Megaera and Rags both quietly nod, glad to finally get out of the Umbral sewers.

From afar, to the room, Sepdet takes this moment to thank the Nemo Foundation for bringing us this special documentary on slime, darkness, and scritchy crawling things. Funded in part by a grant from Eric. And special thanks also to the fools pulled randomly off the street who agreed to come along tonight. Your presence was greatly appreciated. :)

You paged the room with 'And GMs like you.'.

Neon pages to the room: Great fun guys! Thanks!

You paged the room with 'Shall we say we got back to the sewers and Umbra... er, someone should retrieve Allie too.'.

From afar, to the room, Kristine had fun. =)

Long distance to the room: Three-Blades nodnods.

Nemo pages to the room: 'Scool. Good to hear. :)

From afar, to the room, Kristine knew SW was Risky, but figured since it was going off and on...=)

From afar, to the room, Sepdet retrieves Allie from the bridge. She pouts about getting wolf-whistled by truckers and not being allowed to slash their tires.

From afar, to the room, Kristine shows Allie how to show some thigh.

Long distance to the room: Three-Blades thanks Nemo Profusely for staying up so late to GM a squishy thing.

Long distance to the room: Three-Blades thanks everyone who stayed up late night to go looking for a squishy thing.

Kristine pages to the room: And we still didnt; find any oatmeal, damn. and the slime killed our witness! ARgh!

You paged the room with 'The Holy Grail is found in the castle of.. AUuuuuugh.'.

Sepdet pages to the room: it's a friend freshly dumped by a bf. Goodnight all; I shall be gone sometimer. Thanks, Capn. :)

From afar, to the room, Kristine snuggles Seppie, then smooches the Capn. You Rawk.

You paged the room with 'G'nite Folks who go now. :) Capt, a quick question.. what happened to the wall I smacked with a paw? :)'.

Nemo pages to the room: Welcome. :) Some of the dried mucus flaked off.

You paged the room with 'Sankoo!'.

From afar, to the room, Neon ewws!

[And.... there was much talk about Garou Titanic. If you want that little bit of the log.. eh.. you'll have to ask me. ;) ]