The Challenge Pack Meets

8/9/2007

04:40 PM
Logfile from GarouMUSH.

Currently the moon is in the waning Crescent Moon phase (26% full).
It is currently 16:36 Pacific Time on Thu Aug 9 2007.
Currently in Saint Claire, it is a cloudy day. The temperature is 66 degrees Fahrenheit (18 degrees Celsius). The wind is currently coming in from the west at 6 mph. The barometric pressure reading is 30.06 and rising, and the relative humidity is 54 percent. The dewpoint is 49 degrees Fahrenheit (9 degrees Celsius.)

The Sept Compound(#2075RAM)
Sweeping branches of trees form a sort of natural roof overshadowing most of this clearing. In the center of the clearing is a fire pit with several old logs polished from use for seats. A stack of firewood is discreetly piled up at the base of an old spruce under a tarp. At the edge of the clearing and extending back a bit into the woods resides a rough wooden structure with a slate tile roof. A stone slab rests off to one side of the clearing in a place of some prominence. The meadowlike profusion of grasses and other plants has an unusually high concentration of brilliant flowers, which attract a number of bees and butterflies. (+view works here)
A faint trail leads off to the east, and a bit north.
Contents:
Aja
Lune-Calmer
Stacey
Kaz
Stone slab
Obvious exits:
Forest  

Though unseen at the moment, Luna turns her knife-edged face toward the world tonight. Perhaps this is the reason that Lune-Calmer, in his accustomed Crinos form, is pacing back and forth near the quartz slab. He looks about every now and then and scents the air, searching.

Stepping in from the woods, Stacey walks forward into the Compound with a manner that's both excited and confident. Spotting the Metis near the stone slab, she offers a smile and lifts a hand in greeting. "Hello, Lune-Calmer!"

The thin moon makes for a slightly calmer touch, in contrast, on the Shadow Lord philodox who slips his way into the compound from the east. The black fur about him gets a shake, and he renews his test of the wind. The wolf trots forward, issuing a rough woof by way of self-announcement.

Striding in from the opposite side of Stacey's and Kenneth's path, Aja makes her way towards the gathering, letting out a lion of a yawn as she moves. Covering her mouth with her hand. "Yo," she manages sleepily after a moment.

Lune-Calmer jerks his gaze over as he's greeted. ~Walks-Middle-yuf! Are the others coming? I have news from the Shadow. The Wyrm hides many places!~ As more people arrive, unfamiliar faces, the Metis shrinks down someone on himself, hunching his shoulders.

[look Lune-Calmer (crinos)]
 This creature is right out of every child's collective nightmare about the Big Bad Wolf. He (for it seems to be a male) stands at better than eight feet in height, and must weigh in at somewhere over a quarter ton. Lupine features blend in disturbing perfection with humanoid ones. Long arms are tipped in razor sharp claws, each easily two inches in length. The sharp muzzle holds a mouthful of fangs meant to rend and little else. The tail provides a solid center of balance for the beast.
  The fur that covers the muscled frame is one of the few features that might actually be considered beautiful. It's a lustrous grey in color, very nearly as though each hair were dipped in silver before being affixed. Less attractive, however, are the eyes. They're disturbingly lucid in that monstrous frame, a dark blue in color. Worse yet, there's more than two. A third eye rests above the first two, centered in the forehead. For all the nobility hidden in the savage (and it is indeed there to be found), that third eye is a damning mark.

Stacey looks toward Far-Cry with a widening smile as she hears his announcement of arrival, nodding to him before she looks toward Aja, nodding and grinning to her. "Most of us are here. There is still one, Kaz-rhya, who will be coming, should she be able to. Otherwise, she'll have to be filled in later."

Finding herself recognizing Stacey and a bit of Kenneth, Aja grins before she looks towards Lune-Calmer. She stares at him openly for a moment or two until she finds her voice again, "Whoa, so that's your mark..." Clearing her throat, she lets out a low breath, "Uh, not that I mean anything by it." She flashes him a wide grin, although she can't stop staring at that one eye. Clearing her throat, she manages to finally tear her eyes away to focus on the others.

Far-Cry flicks an ear at Aja's arrival, but as the three-eyed metis turns those eyes on him, the philodox growls thinly. It's obvious he fights to keep his comment on it to himself, and instead sits forcibly, silent and listening.

Lune-Calmer falls quiet for a moment. Then he seems to muster himself, and gives a hoarse clearing of his throat. ~Gaia's shame. Yes.~ He keeps his gaze away from Kenneth at the growl. ~Should we wait?~

Stacey takes in a breath, looking between the three. "If there are no introductions to be made, then we could begin." She nods to Jonathan, moving to claim a seat on one of the logs. "I am eager to know what news you bring."

"That's pretty cool," Aja blurts out, "I mean, for a shame. I mean, in India? You'd be like...enlightened and shit. You have /the third eye/ and you're a Silver Fang? You'd be a frickin' god on earth or something." Coughing and clearing her throat, she decides to let the issue at hand be discussed.

Far-Cry flattens his ears back at Aja at first, his jaws snapping together. A mule is a mule is a mule. There is no denying its existence. The philodox looks back at Lune-Calmer, but lashes his tail once and snorts. But we are not here to judge you as a mule or a Fang. Speak of what you heard, theurge.

Kaz, mule, comes wandering down the trail, whistling quietly.

~Yes, yes.~ The somewhat distracted Theurge manages a grateful (if somewhat confused) look at Aja before he plunges onward. ~I went into the Shadow to talk to the spirits around this place and in the woods nearby,~ he explains.

Stacey grins at Aja's words, amused by her tribemate, but the look is sobered by Far-Cry's words. "Still, actions say more than looks any day." Speaking off, she glances over from where she sits as Kaz approaches, smiling. "Welcome, Kaz-rhya!" she calls in greeting, then looks back to Jonathan. "/Now/ we are all gathered. What did the spirits say?"

At Far-Cry's look, Aja cants her head a bit before narrowing her eyes, but thankfully she keeps her lips shut, glancing back towards Lune-Calmer in order for him to continue. At the whistling however, Aja turns towards Kaz and grins broadly, enough to split her face in two.

Kaz tosses a small paper bag in Aja's direction, and then settles into a seat nearby. Creakily.

Far-Cry resumes his statue like stillness, waiting for the theurge to spill. An ear turns towards Kaz, flicks, and turns back.

Lune-Calmer looks over at Kaz, adding an enthusiastic greeting for the Gnawer. He seems prodded into what he says next possibly more by Far-Cry's stare than Stacey's kind words. ~There were many spirits I met who would not help. They would say it was our job to find and take care of Wyrm things, or else they would simply scuttle away in fear. But some did answer. The first was a squirrel spirit I met in the woods. He was friendly. Quite talkative. He told me the most wonderful bit of gossip about the-~ He looks up, looking somewhat abashed as he cuts himself off. ~He said a 'Bigwolf' had saved him from a Griffin spirit, recently. He couldn't be any more precise, though. He also described a cave in the mountains. His word for describing the cave was 'full of paindarkbitingdarkdarkandfear', if I recall it perfectly.~

At the brown paper bag, Aja's grin broadens even more if possible, snagging it and mouthing her declaration of undying love towards the Bone Gnawer. Pulling it out a cigarette pack, she slides it across the grass towards Kaz before placing the bag next to her. No need to make noise. Her eyes return back to Lune-Calmer. At Lune-Calmer's mention of the cave, she automatically glances towards Far-Cry before frowning. "Well, sounds rather suspicious."

Far-Cry wrinkles his nose with the scents [marijuana and bagels!] he can smell. Aja's glance at him gets a stare right back. Again, the halfmoon has no comment.

Stacey focuses on Lune-Calmer's words, listening intently as he begins to tell of what he heard. "Suspicious is putting it lightly," she says, frowning softly. "Did he say anything else about the cave?"

Kaz seems to expect what she finds in the pack, as she shoots Aja a grin and a thumb's up. But she doesn't light up. (Yet.) "Love alla that dark that bites," she mutters.

Lune-Calmer shakes his head. ~He skittered off shortly after saying that. Talking about it scared him. But. There are others, too.~ He wrinkles his nose at the scent of pot on the air. ~That is not tobacco. I've never smelled that before. What is it?~ The question, once asked, almost seems forgotten. ~A rather overly-friendly spirit of Rat's brood told me of the 'rot tunnels' beneath the city. He would not say what exactly was there. There was an infurating flock of sparrow spirits, too. They said there was a place in the town nearby...the Crossing, I think. It had 'many mouths' and 'graspythings'.~

Kaz shakes her head. "Them sewers have enough Wyrm shit t'sink a pack of our size. I'd think we oughta go after somethin' a little less blight-like. But that other thing-- Kent Crossing. Suburbs."

Far-Cry's nose continues to twitch with the investigation of scents coming from the bag, but his attention remains on Lune-Calmer. Given a few moments to think, he comments, Two are in dark, small places. Cave. Tunnel. Not good for fighting in war form. The other is near twolegs, humans. But what is it?

"Remind me to show you the experience of herbal remedies later," Aja informs Lune-Calmer, "It'll open that third eye of yours a bit more." She leans back to rest against the palm of her hands, eyeing the brown paper bag for a moment in thought before she finally offers; "There have been sightings of Black Spiral Dancers in the older parts of town; east of Kent Crossing I think? - but I think Wildfire is trying to scale an attack there once they have the information.

Stacey nods to both Kaz and Kenneth. "The sewers would be a daunting task, likely too much for us to take on, as Kaz-rhya says. The cave holds more possibility, but I know from experience how difficult fights can be in such places. Still, it's possible. Do you think the Sparrows were speaking of the Spirals?"

Lune-Calmer looks back and forth as the people speak. Aja gets a nod and a notable look of interest at the promise. ~Just so, Ears-rhya. I do not know what the Sparrows meant. But Spirals do...not sound likely? They may have many mouths, but the 'graspythings' sound like tentacles. Or worse. They said they don't like to fly there. Which makes me think it is something that can either fly or reach them.~ The Fang settles onto his haunches.

Kaz quirks an eyebrow. "Huh. Pity we don't have any Furies, here..."

Far-Cry wrinkles his lips back at the mention of Black Spiral Dancers. Their territory does not go that far does it? The Shadow Lord cants his head in Kaz's direction next. Furies? Why?

Falling silent as she frowns, Aja continues to stare at the brown paper bag as if it has all the answers and her eyes can get it via osmosis of some sort. "The cave sounds the most promising," she finally ventures, "And I can explore it a bit more thoroughly before we go in." Her eyes flick towards Far-Cry as she frowns, "I doubt the Dancers care where their territories expand towards."

Kaz explains to Kenneth, "Distance weapons. For, you know, flying opponents... Though I got some guns, Stacey, if you ain't averse to 'em. But I can keep 'em at home if they don't suit your notions of propriety."

Lune-Calmer clears his throat briefly. ~I should mention that all these places lay in the Shadow. The spirits were not interested in what happens in the 'hard world'. It is our job, they say. But if it comes to it, I have a bow for flying things.~

Stacey nods to Lune-Calmer. "That makes sense. Wouldn't be the first tentacled wyrmthings to show up around here. Either one, Aja, I'll probably ask you to scout further, to get us a better picture of what we'll be up against." She considers Kaz's words, then looks to Kenneth, checking his reaction. "Personally, I do not have a problem with using guns." Back to Kaz. "If they could be dedicated, to take into the Umbra. Would they do much good against what we'd face, though? A slight advantage from the very beginning could be what tips the scale in our favor." She nods also to Lune-Calmer. "If we face these 'grasping' foes, that wouldn't be a bad idea to have the bow along."

Kaz chews her lip. "Can't dedicate a /lot/ of ammo... But might be useful. Plus, it does occur to me that I can, like, remove shit from caves. So we got /that/ advantage."

Aja bobs her head curtly at Stacey, "Will do. I am not very good in the Shadows however, my knowledge of the spirits is lacking - so I wouldn't mind some company until the lip of the cave. I can take it from there, though." She assures Stacey.

Far-Cry's reaction? Thundersticks work best when one doesn't want the world to know it was claws and teeth that killed. Apparently the halfmoon doesn't have too much issue. Tail ticking to the other side, he looks back at Lune-Calmer. Shadow fights could use spirit help. Would spirits help? And then to all, the Shadow Lord makes a generalized remark. If we rid one threat and are not satisfied, we can always go after another. Terms did not state how many battles Walks-Middle was to lead us on. Only to find a target worth the rank, lead us to defeat it and take of it something to show the Warder.

Lune-Calmer is busy nodding his head in agreement. ~Yes, yes. I can help you to the cave in the Shadow, if you need.~ He looks over at Far-Cry and gives an eager smile. ~The spirits might be able to be convinced to help. I will also see what I can do to arm us. There are tools we may use. Bane Arrows. Difficult to make, but they kill the Unmaker's spawn with ease. Even one might be worth it.~

Stacey blinks at Kaz, then grins. "That's /right/. I remember you used that to call the Spirals to us in the battle north of the bawn. Should we go to the cave, which sounds to be the popular option," she adds, glancing at each of them to check, "then that would certainly be a possibility. The rest of us could wait, Lune-Calmer with his Bane Arrows, if he can make them in time, to injure what foe we face as it comes out. Those that can use guns could, too. And then we fight." She then nods to Aja. "You'd not be left to travel the Umbra alone, no."

Kaz nods. "And if we scout the turf ahead of time, we can find good places t'secure ourselves an', you know, have th' terrain advantage."

Aja falls silent at that, regarding the group before focusing her eyes on Stacey. Her lips curve up faintly at the corners before she slowly bobs her head, "Sounds like a plan. Scouting is a bit easier to do when you have the advantage of course. Being in a cave will be a bit harder to mess around with, but hey, if it's big enough for /them/ to fly and have tentacles, shouldn't be that hard to be in hispo at least. Just as long as it's not a cheap hentai movie set."

Far-Cry looks back at Aja, his tailtip snaking around to his leg. You are a no-moon, skilled in ways of sneaking, he reminds. It is not spirit knowledge we look to you for, but your other talents. Maybe ways to encourage the enemy to grow angry, foolish, make mistakes in battle. Distraction. Insults. Anything that shows our group a better, stronger, tied force.

~The cave sounds best,~ comes the response from the Silver Fang. ~Especially if you can call them out, Ears-rhya.~ He nods along to Aja's words, ears perking forward. ~Hen-tai.~ He tests the unfamiliar word, frowning.

Kaz tells her fellow metis, "Tentacle porn."

Far-Cry explains, for Lune-Calmer's sake, and with a grump at those about. It means strangeness. But stronger. Perversion.

Stacey nods again, although it's a moment before she speaks, as she also frowns at this new porn concept, shaking it off with a shudder. "Exactly. We'll want to know the area outside especially. Aja, if you do scout within the cave, be careful, okay? And get out of there the moment things start seeming heavy. You have the gift that makes you harder to see?" She also nods to Far-Cry. "If you can think of anything along the trickster lines to aid us, Aja, that would be great as well."

Lune-Calmer wrinkles his muzzle again. ~Tentacles?!~ The Theurge sounds scandalized. A shudder visibly wracks his shoulders. Far-Cry gets the lupine equivalent of a raised eyebrow. ~Perversion. With tentacles. Fomori created this, yes?~ He falls silent as Stacey speaks.

"Oh, yea, what they said," Aja murmurs as she remembers that most of the people about aren't as exposed to pop culture as she is. Clearing her throat, she flashes them a little grin before bobbing her head in Far-Cry's direction. "Exactly, that I can do. Flushing them out should be no problem. Heck, I can even persuade them out - do a little dance of the pure of heart that they despise so much..." She beams at that before nodding towards Stacey, "Yup, I do. It doesn't work so well when you're moving, but if you're careful to move on certain times, well, it works. But yea, I'm not about to fight them on my own, I'll leave that for the Ahrouns..." Aja then glances towards Lune-Calmer before she returns sagely, "Depends on what you think of the Japanese."

"We don't /really/ need two of us riskin' our necks t'drag 'em out, I'd think. But whichever, we can figure that out once we get the lay of the land." She grins at the Fang. "Possibly."

Far-Cry growls deeply at Aja, somewhere along the lines taking offense to her comment regarding that last statement of hers. He gets up to all fours, ears pushing forward.

Lune-Calmer looks more confused by the explanations than he did before them. The growling causes him to shrink back, eyes fluttering in unison.

Stacey also somewhat stiffens at Aja's last words, glancing toward Far-Cry, but she lifts a hand. "Please, we have a purpose here... Aja, I'd actually rather have you not lead them out, but scout out the terrain first, maybe see if you can spot the enemy within, but don't engage in any way. You are all honoring me by joining me in this fight, and I do not want to offend that by putting anyone at unnecessary risk. Kaz-rhya, if you could see about getting those guns, as well as be willing to perform that wyrm call, I would be grateful. Lune-Calmer, see about making the Bane Arrows or, failing that, another tool that could aid us, preferably something ranged." She looks toward Kenneth, gauging his reaction to her words. "Anything I miss?"

Lune-Calmer nods at Stacey. ~I will start tonight, if I can find the right spirits willing to help.~ Seeing the rising tension in the protopack, the Silver Fang simply drops into the wolf-skin. This one will find you all soon. Apparently not much for long goodbyes, the Theurge is already moving off.

A flash of fang, and Far-Cry snorts loudly. In response to Stacey, he rumbles, We will not know more until we know better which and what it is we face. I will go with the no-moon, if she needs a second to watch her back.

Kaz nods. "Sounds like a plan, boss."

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