9/3/2005

06:13 PM
Logfile from GarouMUSH.

Big Red Barn(#3420RA)
The barn is built in the old style, a vast three level structure that is greater in height than a mere three stories, actually closer to five. Great wooden posts support the weight of the upper levels and roof, sunk into the hard-packed dirt floor of the first level like a sparse forest of regularly spaced, naked trees. The stalls and flagstones which once were here have been torn out to leave a rather open area where even crinos Garou may roam freely without fear of running into anything but the supports or the walls or the ladder at the back which allows access to the other two levels.
The first two levels are relatively open to each other, the second being only little wider than a catwalk going around all the walls but the front one, which has massive, twenty foot tall doors set into it. The third level is a true second floor except for a place cut out that allowed hay to be tossed down to the ground floor when the farm was actually worked. Now, it is a hayloft where Garou can sleep outside of the house.
(Non-Garou, please "+view curse")
Contents:
Alicia
Dragon's-Blood
Obvious exits:
BarnYard  

Kenneth slips into the barn, the philodox soaked front and back with sweat. His white shirt is tied around his waist. Brushing his hair out of the way, the halfmoon closes the door, eyes intent upon the punching bag.

It would be hard to miss the white mass of scarred wolf curled up on one of the hay bales, nose tucked under the thick brush of his tail. At the sounds of the door opening, ears slowly pan towards the noise and one blue eye cracks open, staring over the tufts of white hair to see who it is.

Kenneth also smells - not just of sweat, but of the putrid scent of carrion. Like perhaps, he's rolled in it. The white wolf is hard to miss, true, but that does not deter the Shadow Lord from his original goal. Once he reaches the bag and eyes it measuringly, the halfmoon glances once more behind him, eyeing the Fang from the corner of his eye, before laying a fist right into the middle of the bag. Alas, he doesn't make much more than a slight dent.

The Fang's muzzle wrinkles at the offensive smells of the Lord, ears twisting back as he gives his head a shake to try and clear the stench from his brain. What did you roll in? The Ahroun sneezes, tucking his nose back under his tail. You smell like the dead. Even more than a Strider.

Kenneth, seeing as he's not looking at the Fang but at the punching bag, completely misses most of the lupe's language. The philodox levels another punch, and then another. None of them are particularly hard impacting or impressive. It's the sneeze that causes the Shadow Lord to utter a "Bless you" on reflex. That's when he pauses in his workout though, and turns back around to look at the Fang. Only the dead wouldn't mind smelling as such.

Dragon's-Blood snorts slightly at the lack of reply but repeats himself, lifting his nose clear of his tail. You smell like the dead. Flicking out his tongue, he licks his nose as he uncurls himself on the hay, laying in a better position to see the Philodox.

"That's 'cause I rolled in it," Kenneth replies, a 'duh' tone slipped between the matter-of-fact. He turns back to the bag again, sizing it up once more.

Dragon's-Blood pulls his lips back in a rather disgusted lupine expression before he lays his head back down with a gruff snort, looking away from the Lord and towards the barn door.

The barn doors get pushed open to reveal Alicia as she strides inside, hands swaying haphazardly at her sides as she gives a quick toss of her head. Her eyes narrow slightly for a moment, before noticing Kenneth, then the big white wolf. "Hey." She says simply as her brow lifts up.

Kenneth punches the bag again, continuing along the lines. "Pardon me if I don't want to be smellin' like milk and honey when I'm hunting," he growls, sarcasm dripping. "Maybe you Fangs just need to say 'Stop Moving and Let Me Eat You' to any beast you come across and they'll lay down and die, just for you. But I don't get it that easy." He lets go a short flurry of punches before glancing towards the door at who entered. He nods but once to the Child.

To the Shadow Lord, Dragon's Blood utters a low, rumbling growl in the base of his throat warningly, ears sliding back until the arrival of Alicia catches his attention. Turning, he sniffs in her direction, blue eyes narrowing as he tries to place her and fails.

"I see you are in a chipper mood." Alicia says to Kenneth as she returns the nod, then glances over to the large white wolf, brows furrowing. "Who're you?" She asks, arms crossing over her chest.

Kenneth half turns at the Fang's growl, lips partly peeling back to reply but stopping himself. With a grunt, he goes back to bag punching.

The white wolf pushes himself up to a sit, tail curling around his haunches as he rights his position stiffly, scars and pure breed written on him like a violent and mystical book. This one is called Burned By the Dragon's Blood. Cliath born of the dark full moon and warrior of the first tribe.

Alicia nods her head slowly. "I heard about you. You have made quite a buzz already." She squints her eyes at him and introduces herself. "I am Alicia Jackson of the Children of Gaia, Elder, rited by the name of Guards-The-Flame, fostern, born on the Galliard's moon. At the moment I lead the honorable stag pack of Resonance, temporary Sept Alpha while my pack mate, Megan O'Brien, Firewatcher, Adren and Elder of the Fianna takes time away to tend to her pregnancy. Welcome to the Hidden Walk Sept. I trust you have caught up with your family here. You plan on staying?"

Kenneth smacks the bag again, harder this time, letting out a frustrated growl. The Shadow Lord pays little attention to introductions behind him.

Dragon's-Blood slowly rolls himself up through the forms until he is in homid, stretching out his arms. Then he offers a dip of his head to the Galliard. "I heard of you too, from Touch Deer when he and I spoke. I had to ask him who served as Alpha here and he said you did for now. To your question, yes, I do plan on remaining and am currently working on Chiminage with Jervis."

Alicia nods her head slowly. "Gotcha. So, what's your story? You got a Russian accent, not native to America or something?"

Smack. Smack. Smacksmack. The Shadow Lord continues without comment, focused on the bag before him.

Nikolai raises his brows slowly, a bit of suprise coming to his expression. "You have heard of me but not why I am here?" Slowly, the Ahroun sits down to the hay. "My ancestors were among the first Kings, slayers of the Wyrm from Fomori to Dragon, but I did them a grave injustice. Two years this end of autumn, my home caern of the Citadel in Russia, throne of my father and grandfather, fell to the Wyrm. All died but me, only because I fell to the fox and fled. I lost my rank and honor for it and am here to restore it."

Alicia nods her head slowly. "Alright." She says with a furrow of her brows in thought. "Well, welcome to culture shock. Over here in the Hidden Walk we're a melting pot of Garou without any tribe dominating over the other. Have you been prepped on what is going on as far as our situations in the field?" She asks, clearing her throat to Kenneth.

Kenneth huffs, teeth grinding as a few more punches to the bag prove no less worthwhile than when he first started. The Shadow Lord is not really listening, apparently.

Nikolai shakes his head to the Child. "No, I have heard nothing, save this sept is nothing like I am used to. I have quickly discovered that for myself."

"Well, currently we had our hospital blow up by accident, or so that is the assumption we are under." Alicia says with a nod. "It was a festering Wyrm pit for ... well before I came here and everytime we tried to make a dent in it, we just got our asses handed to us. Had a Nexus Crawler perched on it. Now there is a tire fire going on in an old yard and it doesn't seem to want to be blown out. We have a pack that should be looking into it, or at least they better be."

Nikolai frowns at the news. "The Wyrm is everywhere. I have yet to find a place where some part of it has not been corrupted. The world is in a poor state. What of the Nexus Crawler? I saw one, once, in the Wall of Heroes at the Crescent Moon sept. Even a living tale of the monster is terrifying to witness, let alone the real thing."

Kenneth stops the bag, finally, knuckles white in some places, red in others. He turns to the other two, black gaze scrutinizing. "And which pack should that be," he asks testily, settling on Alicia for a moment before looking a touch off to the side.

"Birdseye, unless you feel it would be something for Requiem to take part of." Alicia says to the Shadow Lord, letting the conversation flow to him for the moment. "Though, I'd trust a scouting pack over a war pack for such missions."

Nikolai turns his eyes from Alicia and lets them settle on the young Lord, falling quiet for the time.

"Requiem doesn't back down from the opportunity to fight," Kenneth answers, straightening. "If there's something you need us to take care of, then just spill it."

"Birdseye is going to do a recon, thats it. Peek in and peek out of the Umbra, see what we are up against, from there, we will call upon the steroid jockeys to clean house, cool?" Alicia asks as she shifts her weight some. "May want to bring Dragon's Blood here with you."

Nikolai narrows his eyes thoughtfully. "If my claws are needed, the sept only needs ask. I have already promised support to Touch Deer to remove the materialized Bane."

Kenneth glances back to Nikolai, sniffing despite his carrion-stench about him. "Maybe. Depends if he can handle us, 'steroid jockeys'. And if Brom wants him around." The Shadow Lord's brow furrows a touch. "Materialized bane?"

"You talking about the Great Hunt monster?" Alicia asks curiously.

Nikolai doesn't make any comment to Kenneth, instead nodding to Alicia. "If that is when you fought it, yes. The monster that slayed Tobin."

Kenneth grunts, turning back to the punching bag. "Touch Deer was askin' for help to go back and kick the monster's ass. Whatever it was we fought during the Great Hunt, that is. The monster that killed Tobin might be the same, might not. Thought they killed those two during the revel."

"The monster that killed Tobin was taken care of already. The Great Hunt monster is something else." Alicia says with a tilt of her head to the pair. "That is the one Touch Deer wants to get his revenge on."

Nikolai nods his head once. "Regardless of which it is, I have promised funds for weapons he may need as well as my claws." Says the Fang as he crosses his arms across his chest.

"Touch Deer was askin' for theurges. Somethin' about talens," Kenneth adds in, still looking upon the bag. "Maybe we should invest in a water pump." The Shadow Lord smirks a touch.

"If we end up going into the Umbra and tangling with Fire spirits, we will need the support of wind on our side, or maybe.." Alicia squints her eyes, then peers at Kenneth directly. "Storm crows."

Nikolai furrows his brows as he looks between the two as they discuss spirits, never a strong point of his. "What is this creature?"

Kenneth straightens again, feeling eyes on him and turning to eye the Child back. "What?"

"I'm saying, when we go to actually throw down at the tire fire yard and put out the flame, pending the Crawler isn't sitting there, we could use storm crows to summon the rain for us and help us out." Alicia quirks a brow out. "Far as the other creature goes." She explains. "We don't know what it looks like. I'm thinking a large fomori squid or something. Has tentacles, lives in murky, polluted water in a basin along the river bed. We got dragged under and that was about it."

Kenneth snorts. "If you can dig Cutter out of wherever the hell he's holed himself into, be my guest. Stormcrows." He goes back to punching the bag at hand. "Why don't you get some kind of electric spirit shit and takoyaki the fuck outta it? The squid that is."

Nikolai goes quiet again as he listens, eyes gone slightly blank as though he were thinking hard to himself.

"Because the creature is not in the Umbra." Alicia explains. "Its either not a bane, or, its a fomori of some sorts." She rocks her shoulders back. "Though, electricity is a good idea." She hums to herself, brows furrowing in thought.

"So?" Kenneth asks. "I thought the talen thing was supposed to work inside and out. Or is that not part of the deal? 'Cause unless you gotta giant tank of propane lying around, I doubt you're gonna get anything big enough to fry an inlet."

"As I told Touch Deer, to use weapons to slay this beast is one thing." Nikolai says as he rubs at the deep scars on his jaw. "To destroy all of Gaia around it is another. It is not much of a victory then, especially if your tactics draw unwanted attention."

"Talens would be useful, sure, if we can get someone to make them. Dakota was trying to learn the Rite off Aubrey but I believe it wasn't as successful as they hoped it'd be. Dakota would not stop bitching to me about it for a week." Alicia says with a tilt of her head, making mental notes. "Kenneth, if you can by some miracle, try and get in touch with Cutter and what not. I will speak to James and Aubrey, and.." She trails off. "And that Fenrir, Gunnar."

Kenneth turns from the bag to look to Nikolai. "Well unless you got a really big fishin' boat and a big ass shovel to dredge the bottom of that inlet with, you ain't gonna see that beast. It's smart enough." He shifts his gaze to Alicia a moment, eyes narrowing. Though he looks as if he were going to snap off something else, the philodox holds his tongue and turns back to the bag. "I'll see if he's around."

Nikolai lets out a slow breath, cracking the knuckles of his hand briefly as he stares down at the joints. "I will speak more with Touch Deer when the time comes." He murmurs, resting his other arm across the tops of his legs which he uses to lean on.

"Could always just brain a hair dryer with batteries." Quips Alicia teasingly as she lets out a soft breath, wettening her lips. "I think we all need to get together with Touch Deer and see what his plans are." She starts making her way for the doors, pulling her hair back over her shoulders. "Speaking of which, let Seeker know I need him if you guys run into the Warder before me."

Kenneth grunts again with the askance, before he turns to look back to the fostern. "I've also talked to Circle Keeper and Tamara," the philodox mentions.
Alicia pauses and turns, raising up a brow. "And what did you figure out?" She asks curiously.

"Unless I get permission from a Guardian or complete Chiminage, I doubt I will see him." Nikolai murmurs with a slight frown, resting both arms on his knees. "I have not met a Guardian since I arrived here, and not even then."

Kenneth looks over his shoulder towards the Fang, blinking. He makes no comment, though, instead answering Alicia. "Tamara wants to drop it. She came up to me before moot, said she had no more beef with Circle Keeper."

Alicia crosses her arms over her chest, then furrows her brows some. "Well, as the Philodox in charge of this situation, what do you think?"

Kenneth folds his arms over his chest, turning to fully face the Child. "Circle Keeper admitted to attacking Tamara when she was leaving, but this is because he was told, by his 'Sister-Alpha', that people that turn their back on you is a sign of disrespect. He took it as a challenge to his dominance. It doesn't help one friggin' bit that Tamara's dumb enough to go and apologize for defending herself, but she's a metis - it's expected." He pauses a moment, considering. "That doesn't, though, excuse the fact that Circle Keeper attacked her from behind. He is dominant, as Guardian on the Bawn, but being a Guardian doesn't give you an excuse to attack any Garou just 'cause they piss you off. Apparently Circle Keeper's yet to learn that one."

Alicia nods her head once more to the Shadow Lord and says. "Well, you need to speak this over with Seeker and Jacinta at the same time if possible and let them know what you have found. If they do not like what they hear, you bring them both to me."

Nikolai listens but doesn't speak, except when this Guardian is mentioned. "A Guardian who attacks without just cause?"

"He thought Tamara was challenging him by her leaving, turning her back on him. You should also know," Kenneth clarifies and adds, "he got royally pissed at me for questioning him about this. And he said he was told by Megan, that you don't gotta go to the Master of the Challenge for every challenge. Now I don't know what line of bullshit that is. Maybe he means the little shit like dominance challenges, or whatever the fuck is goin' through his mind of what a 'challenge' is. As far as I'm concerned, if there was a challenge made, Tamara lost by leaving, backing down. Circle Keeper didn't accept her surrender 'cause his internal wiring's twisted to all hell with his pretendin' to be a lupus."

"So, respect those beneath ye, and... accepting an honorable surrender, huh? Well, do what you have to do, just let Seeker know ahead of time." Alicia says, then turns her attention to Nikolai. "Just.... a ape who went feral. Scrambled eggs for brains half the time."

Nikolai frowns slowly, eyes darkening as he takes in the information. However, he says nothing, only murmurs a single word in Russian to himself and picks at a piece of hay.

Kenneth exhales roughly. "Thinks he's king of Turd Mountain out there," the Shadow Lord growls. "But /you're/ the one who came to me to ask about it, Alicia."

"I know I am, aren't I the manipulative shit? My word doesn't weigh as much as Seeker's, which is why I talked to him before I talked to you." Alicia says with a smile on her face, nearly glowing. "He has approved of every action I've made and is glad to know you are working so hard on the job for us. He's your contact now and he is eager to hear about what you have gathered. I'm not CK's boss, he is, remember? I'm just the fire starter."

Kenneth snorts. "Makin' trouble's for the ragabash," he mutters with a roll of his shoulder. "You know I hate him, but you ask me to judge him. Kind of pushin' it, aren't you?" Nikolai gets a quick, fleeting glance to keep track of the Fang ahroun.

"Megan is unavailable, Layne is MIA, and it came down to you or Brom. You hate him, but Brom would kill him, and, where would the lesson be learned?" Alicia says with a grin, then pushes the door open. "Take care of yourself you two." With that, she slips out.

Kenneth tilts his chin slightly when the Child leaves, adding a short, "Later." He then considers the galliard's words, uttering a little, "Nothin' sayin' I won't kill him one day either." He glances back to Nikolai, and then starts for the door himself. "Gonna go wash this shit off me. Later, Dragon's-Blood."

Nikolai utters a brief goodbye to the both of them as he remains sitting there, looking lost in his own thoughts.