Center of the Caern
Contents:
[Garou from the October 2000 Moot] Obvious exits:
Rock Slab Windy Spot WaterFall Steam Vents

Seeker remains silent and deep in thought, as if preparing for something.

Rides-Fire moves restlessly as the Garou pause in the center. The tall ahroun seems unwilling to sit, instead walking around to the other side of the clearing and returning.

By the waterfall, Julie nods faintly, her shoulders relaxing slightly as she sighs. A grunt is given Soul's chuffed greeting, despite her seeming despondency, she is aware of what's going on around her, and makes it a point to acknowledge the others when they go past.

Nightflash rumbles softly as he lets the change overtake him, then begins threading his way among his packmtes, sniffing and searching, making certain that each is prepared for the battle. To each in turn, he asks if they are injured or unprepared in any way. If there is anything they need for tonight.

Seeker shifts suddenly to lupus and howls loudly.

Rides-Fire indicates a negative, though he starts as the Silent Strider stops being silent.

Megaera watches as Nightflash moves amoung his packmates, then looks sharply at Seeker as he howls.

Soulcatcher follows Nightflash up into hispo, and then further to the war form. He greets the Gaian, and the rest of the packmates. The questions get answered; he's ready for battle and doesn't need anything.

Sepdet bounces restlessly on her toes before shifting up to war-form, indicating her condition more by the eager gleam in her eye than her gruff, ~No; ready to run.~

Seeker's howl trails off and he sits back on his haunches, quietly watching the gathering.

Nightflash pauses mid-step as Seeker howls. He bares his teeth in unfocussed agression before completing his circuit and returning to his spot near the stone.

By the waterfall, Elan looks to the others entering and quietly moves off with Julie up into the woods.

Sepdet returns Milah's cheerful greeting a bit gruffly, focused as she is on the war party forming up. "Westchen't-Ma'at," she growls.

Sepdet tentatively runs clawed fingers through Soulcatcher's ruff and looks down at his eyes, searching for something.

Heart-of-Fury joins the others of his pack, shifting into crinos, and waiting impatiently to begin.

Robert waits patiently near the stone at the caern's heart, watching the other Garou gathering for the Revel.

One-Rage pads into the center, fluffing out his fur as the powerful hispo muscles flex within his body. Goldeny orbs flash brillantly for a moment as he draws in a deep breath, taking note of who's hear. Canting his head, he looks about for Banecruncher.

Julie finishes her talk with Elan, and hurries back to the gathering. She shifts up to her own warform just as she reaches the center.

Nightflash gives Heart-of-Fury the same checking-over that he gave the rest of First Strike. Padding slowly around the Fianna, he comes to a stop before him. ~Are you prepared for tonight? Uninjured?~

Dante jogs down to the center, heading right towards the rest of his pack, flashing a grin.

Rides-Fire has not yet gone to a war form. While the others mill, he finally seems to strike a decision. Moving back into the throng, he finally shifts into hispo after reaching Robert. Giving a brief dip of his eyes, the ahroun says straightforwardly, ~Firewatcher told me you might know Rite of Passage.~

Heartsight approaches One-Rage, then growls a greeting, her head bowed, ears splayed.

Seeker stands and shifts to his full crinos height. ~Garou of the Hidden Walk, tonight we revel. Three years ago, this sept destroyed a great balefire bane and numerous smaller banes in the umbra of the hospital in the city. It was a great victory, but the taint was too deep-rooted to be entirely cleansed from the place in one blow. Tonight we seek to improve that condition and once again assault that haven of the Wyrm and Weaver. We have ignored the festering blights in the city too long. The time has come to wipe it clean of the Wyrm. Tonight we begin!~

By the steam vents, With a loud sigh, the earth seems to settle momentarily and the steam clouds dissipate somewhat.

Leda enters the caern to join the Revel, her eyes searching the gathered Garou.

Seirian claws her hair into a ponytail and gives a grin to Dante in welcome.

Robert frowns sadly, shaking his head at Rides-Fire. "Unfortunately not, though I can perhaps ask around and find who else does."

Heart-of-Fury narrows his eye at his pack's alpha. ~I am fine,~ he replies in a steely growl. He offers a short howl toward the Wyrmfoe and looks anxious to begin; eager.

Heartsight snarls roughly, adding her support to Seeker's words.

By the steam vents, even as the howl is being made Finds-the-Lost comes tearing into the caern, dead certain he was going to be late for the 'festivities'. He slows to a trot as he heads into the center to seek out his packmates, chest heaving slightly from the run from the farmhouse.

Banecruncher rumbles softly. Impatiently, even.

Megaera shifts into war form, eager to head toward the hospital.

Sepdet growls something under her breath distractedly, then falls silent, hands clenched, turning to face Seeker.

Walks-with-Maat shifts up, her eyes bright with anticipation of battle.

Rides-Fire's ear droops in disappointment, thought he offers a short, neutral chuff. ~She said Heartsfire also knew it, of our moon,~ the Stargazer continues. ~I will find him, when the battle is done. My thanks.~

By the waterfall, Adam has been patrolling his territory, and sees that the time is approaching. Slowly, the young Halfmoon walks down into the area of the Caern. He doesn't enter the Center proper, but stays by the waterfall, watching.

Leda also assumes the war form, and moves towards Megaera with a nod and chuff of greeting.

Silver rumbles lowly from her position, looking about at who is assembling with much interest.

By the steam vents, Jamethon steps up the edge of the valley into the caern proper, checking on who is already there before heading to the center.

Stephen sits quietly to the side of the gathered, near, but not too near, First Strike's gathering. His legs are crossed and his eyes are closed, his breathing comes very evenly.

Nightflash snaps his jaws at Heart-of-Fury, not in anger, but in reaction: feeding off his packmate's rage and returning it.

Heartsight swipes a clawed hand at Bane, growling a light greeting, her eyes shining with anticipation for the battle to come.

Seeker says, ~Many banes still reside in the hospital. Collin of my tribe has discovered horrors in one ward of the place and there may still be banes in the lower levels where the balefire bane once lived. I have no specific strategy other than to destroy any Wyrm creatures we find. Volunteers to help defend the caern during the revel will be greatly appreciated.~

Storm-Singer greets the assembled garou as he pads into the clearing. By the waterfall, Adam lifts his eyes as Seeker mentions the last part.

Finds-the-Lost circles around to where Rides-Fire is, bumping lightly against the scarred Stargazer in greeting. My tribe has a new cub.

Banecruncher growls and bats at Heartsight's claws. Gonna bite some butt.

Dante gives a short glance to Rides-Fire and Robert as he overhears their conversation, his brow furrowing in thought.

One-Rage chortles softly and nudges Bane, glancing over to HeartSight with a cant of his head.

Silver snarls at nothing as she shifts, tense but ready for a fight.

Quick listens sharply to Seeker's words as he joins Storm-Singer.

Heartsight swats at one of Bane's ears, ~Crunch some banes!~ she snarls, lips drawn back in a toothy grin.

Dante then assumes the war form in readiness for the fight, the wounds covering his forearms suddenly plainly visible.

Heart-of-Fury's growls again, his talons flexing and unflexing with great slowness; the kind of idleness that misstates his anticipation. He offers a wide grin, full of teeth to Nightflash. ~Let us begin, then, Wyrmfoe,~ he calls out.

Walks-with-Maat stands near Seeker and her pack, feeling the tension in the crowd and clenching her talons in anticipation.

Winter's-Talon moves closer to Quick to say something quietly to him.

Seirian growls in the back of her throat and takes the war form as well, stretching and looking ready.

Jamethon steps into the center with Quick, Jarred, and near Signe. He looks pissed, not just in anticipation of the fight, but at something seperate all together. "Fucking cub stalled me." He says simply with a growing scowl of violence.

Rides-Fire turns away from Peacekeeper, after again offering a respectful--if tense--salutation. Padding to Stephen's side, he brushes the cub with the guard hairs on his left side, a ghost touch the homid might not even notice if not for the tred of his walk and the harshness of his breathing.

Storm-Singer puts a cold nose on Jamethon's arm. Do not worry about it. Enjoy the revel, packie.

Walks-with-Maat casts excited glances at Dante and Seirian and grins toothily. ~I like Seeker's strategic tactics. Ready to rumble?~

Seeker nods. ~The Gauntlet in the scab is too thick to risk crossing there, so we will travel there from here. Revelers, with me!~ He walks to the pool to reach to the umbra.

Quick's nod to the Talon is short and sharp, as he exchanges a few words with her.

Leaves-His-Past quickly follows the Wyrmfoe, along with his packmates.

Jamethon makes with the shifting to Crinos a moment later and growls savagely, giving a brother-in-arms type of clap on Storm-Singer's back. ~One plans to!~

Heartsight snaps her ears back and bites the air, moving forward to join Seeker and the other revellers.

As Rides-Fire brushes him, Stephen's form shifts and changes to half-man, apparently brought on by the rage around him.

Song-of-Fury snarls to Jamethon. ~Good. Let us go.~

Luna-Singer heads southeast, towards the waterfall. Luna-Singer has left.

One-Rage follows after the others as he plods along his massive paws, quirking an ear.

[hi ho, hi ho, to smash some wyrm we go...]

Big Generic GM Room(#3813RFJ)
Contents:
[Lots of the previously mentioned Garou.]

Rides-Fire turns to the Get ragabash. A pleased look filters through the overlying mask of rage. ~Good. My cub has come to me and asked for his Rite of Passage. Tonight, he fights with First Strike.~ The ahroun's voice grows louder, to let the whole pack hear that last.

With Rides-Fire's words, Runs-Far moves to stand with First Strike. Heartsight stands with the main group, just to one side. Neither part, nor solitary. A perpetual snarl curls her lips as she waits for battle, ready to tear up some ass where needed.

Seeker leads the amassed garou on a wild run through the bawn to the the city Umbra. Weaver spirits and small banes scuttle out of the revelers' path, not wanting anything to do with such a large group. Eventually the path leads to the sickly Umbra of Hilliard Memorial Hospital.

[This is where I cut off Sepdet's log, and begin my own. :) To make a few notes more, the combat itself involves a lot of havoc-paging OOC. Most of it has been cut out, for spammish sake.]

Seeker leads the amassed garou on a wild run through the bawn to the the city Umbra. Weaver spirits and small banes scuttle out of the revelers' path, not wanting anything to do with such a large group. Eventually the path leads to the sickly Umbra of Hilliard Memorial Hospital.

[Nemo pages to the room: Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, I'll be your GM for the evening. Gather yourselves into groups and designate a single point of contact/poser (not poseur) for each group.
Sepdet pages: (last pose). Oh. Custom here to deal with large battles: join up with a group of 3 to 5 folks, if you don't have a pack, and then pick someone among yourselves to @emit poses for everyone in the group. You page them with what you're doing, and they compile all the stuff they hear into one block of text, to cut down spam and confusion. Helps the GM keep track of who's doing what.
Seeker pages to the room: It'd be a good idea to put pack affiliations in your scan doing, too.]

Seeker pulls up and stands to survey the scene when they are still about a block from the hospital. ~Night's Talons, to the air. We will scout from above and return. The rest of you, advance on the hospital.~ The Strider's great Owl's wings unfurl and he leaps into the sky.

Mist-Walker grunts, as she watches Seeker leap into the umbral Sky. Owl packs are always impressive in that regard. Nearbye, Leda drags her claws across the ground. Causing them to create a scraping noise, as the sharpen.

Song-of-Fury rallies the members of Owen's new pack and, watching the striders take to the air, begins advancing steadily on the umbral hospital.

As the Owl pack takes to the air, some dark forms detach from the roof of the Umbral structure, wings unfurling as they lift into the sky towards the flying Garou. One emits a loud screech--perhaps of warning, perhaps of Rage--as the shapes start towards the Garou.

Nightflash begins advancing, only happy to lead the way into the blight, and his pack falls into place in fan formation behind, Steven and Ethan bracketing him, Soulcatcher back with his spear on the left, and Sepdet at his side. The two Stargazers take right flank, conversing tensely in low tones.

The Gnawer pack quickly makes their way on as HeartSight pushes up against them, nudging with encouragement. Three-Blades gets a butt in the shoulder and quickly she's on her paws, following along as well. One-Rage rumbles deeply in his chest, Ahroun rage smoldering within his rage filled veins, mentally preparing himself. Banecruncher motions with his head slightly, the pack heading towards the Hospital's disposal area.

Owen's pack, led by the two mighty Shadow Lords, Quick and Song-of-Fury, advances on the structure, feral eyes keenly scanning the shadow for signs of taint.

Seeker draws his khopsh and arrows toward the dark figures on the roof with the rest of Night's Talons close behind. He urges the garou on the ground forward with a loud roar. In the air, the Owl pack divides, with Seeker and Walks-with-Maat flying toward one flying shape and Dante and Seirian toward another. Luna-Singer soars in high and Dante low, the Gaian ragabash growling, ~Thank you for flying Night's Talon's airlines, please remember to put your tray table in the full upright and locked position in the event we kick your asses back to Malfeas.~

Owen's pack veers off sharply, heading directly for the ER. Song-of-Fury leads, flanked closely by Jamethon and Quick. Kaz and Winter's-Talon take up rear-guard positions.

Nightflash howls, ~Two-Paths!~ the same name he announced the previous night, then charges forward. Heart-of-Fury and Finds-the-Lost continue to flank Nightflash, though as the site of battle is neared the latter shifts up into crinos, a more familiar warform for him. He lets the much more experienced ahroun take point, following his lead and alert for targets. Rides-Fire answers Nightflash's call with a wordless snarl, his heavy hindquarters pushing him into a following lunge. The scarred ahroun's good ear plasters to his skull, giving him an oddly lopsided look. Runs-Far bares his fangs, but remains quiet, striding along beside Rides-Fire. He keeps his eyes to the right, watching for any sign of danger on his flank. Soulcatcher's chilling howl joins that of the pack as he scans the shadows before them, but the Strider at his side is silent now as battle looms.

As Night's Talons dives towards the roof, the other flying shapes separate, coming into sharper focus as five distinct shapes, though they seem to blend somewhat into surrounding shadows. When the Owl pack separate into two groups, so do their opponents, three and two. Below, three large shapes leap off the roof, thudding hard into the ground before the building, somewhat concealed by shadows cast by the building itself, but they are evidently easily as large as a normal crinos, and bulkier.

The Gnawers head towards the Hospital's Disposal area as his eyes and ears scan for targets to aim the pack at. As they converge quietly, even the shadows seem to hug this urban born tag team. HeartSight glances about, growling deeply as her gaze snaps up to where the airbourne garou are. ~I watch Sky Too~ She says in a throaty rumble. Three-Blades flanks One-Rage, staying close to her brother as the older Ahroun snarls softly in his throat, golden orbs flashing brillantly in the darkness. Mist-Walker snarls at the flying creatures, frustrated that she can't get at them. Turning her attention towards the ground level off the hospital, she moves towards it, looking for anything to battle. Leda does the same as the twin furies rumble deeply in heated ferocity. The Get of Fenris J.D flanks the group, her eyes open to the 'sides' of the group.

As the Gnawers converge towards the area, Banecruncher continues to lead, rumbling softly to the others, pushing forward, his eyes and ears alert as he readies himself to lead the pack into battle when need be.

Within Owen's pack, Quick greets the arrival of the welcoming committee with a snarl, and he advances on them, eager for battle. Winter's-Talon almost jumps with every step forward, eager to tear into something. Her low snarl turns to a loud roar as she finally spots her enemy. Song-of-Fury bellows in rage and bears down on the interloping figures standing between his pack and victory.Jamethon dips his head at something that troubles him and turns to gaze in the direction of an inaudiable thump, growling deeply. ~Something is here, our Prey!~ With that he waits for the Pack to make the move and with quicksilver action jumps into the frey alongside his packmates, going for the largest form he can see.

Nightflash alters course as the enemy makes itself seen even before the packs have entered the hospital. He heads directly for the middle creature, urging his packmates onward, the Get and Fianna right on his heels. Soulcatcher readies his spear to strike high and from behind just after the claws and teeth of the first three make impact. Sepdet puts on a burst of speed, trying to get around to the rear and aim for hamstringing (if it has feet?) Rides-Fire needs little urging, angling toward the chosen prey with Runs-Far at his side.

Seeker meets the flying thing closest to him with a downward slash from his curved blade while Milah snarls and flies close on Seeker's left flank, breaking off to slash at another flying bane with her claws. Dante and Luna-Singer attack the other two banes who broke off from the main group. Dante falls silent with concentration and dives into a shadow-thing with fangs bared. Luna-Singer growls in the back of her throat and narrows her eyes, arrowing in on one of the incoming shadow-shapes with her claws spread.

Owen's pack darts toward the Hulking monstrosity on the left, claws and fangs bared in feral ferocity

The groups on the ground close, getting a better look at their opponents. Their bodies look ursine, bulky with brown-black fur. Their arms, however, have some sort of feathers cascading down from the arm, like a vestigial wing, ending in a bizarre mix of talons and claws. Their heads are avian of some sort, with a dull ivory beak curled downward, an intellignet madness in their red-rimmed eyes. The flying shapes, as they are attacked, resolve into deep black avians, easily recognizable as owls by the pack they're fighting.

Feathers fly as Seeker's khposh cuts into one of the dark owls, lopping off a large chunk of one wing, though oddly the injury seems to have no effect on the spirit's flight. The rest of Night's Talons cut viciously, and the air around them begins to fll with floating feathers, cutting off part of the moon's light. Down on the ground, First-Strike attacks with the precision of a pack, Sepdet cutting at the beast's legs as the rest of the pack attacks from the front. The creature screeches in rage, and its claws lash out at Nightflash and Steven, scoringmostly superficial scratches on both. To the left, the other mission pack closes at another of the creatures, while the third heads to flank First Strike.

[Nemo pages to the room: Five flyers: Mostly dealing with NT. Three critters on the ground: FS on one, nameless pack on one, one flanking FS. JD scouting for other opportunities.]

In Owen's pack Jamethon leaps forward, raging into the frey, making sure (in the way packs do), that he is fighting a target that both a packmate can get to as well, or one can defend him from behind. He leaps forward and swipes down on the landing in a high overhead swing. At his side on the approach is Crinos Song-of-Fury, who blurs suddenly into Hispo form, tearing into the enemy's lower extremities with gnashing teeth and bared claws. Quick darts in as well, snapping viciously at the Owl-Bear's legs. Ears and Winter's Talon, somewhat later than the others, hang back momentarily until the front guard has had their say on the owlbear, then dart, or in Kaz's case lumber, in as a second wave, attacking where their packmates have left free.

Nightflash roars again as the battle is finally joined. The hispo rises onto his hind legs and throws his full weight against the larger spirit, claws raking across its chest while his teeth seek purchase. Rides-Fire hits low while his twice-now pack alpha hits high, moving with the surity of many coordinated battles. Still, the Stargazer ahroun's attack has an uncontrolled edge new to the darting thrusts of his snapping jaws. With the speed only the swollen mood grants, he also lashes out with his oversized front paws, though he concentrates on laying waste with his teeth. Finds-the-Lost lets the ahrouns mount the forward assault, and circles around the massive creature, delaying his attack some with the movement to strike from behind with rage-sped claw strikes. Runs-far likewise fights complementary to Rides-fire and Nightflash, striking at gaps left when the creature attempts to pull away from his elders' strikes. Meanwhile, Heart-of-Fury emits a series of bizarre yips, whines, and growls, waving his arms like a madman, and then plunges headlong into the fray, veering off to leap for the unclaimed hulk. Soulcatcher and Sepdet join him, the Wendigo driving into one side with his spear, the Strider diving with a snarl into hispo at the last second to lunge and sink jaws into a lower leg.

The 'Junk Yard Dogs' continue its assault upon the back of the hospital, pushing past the discarded refuse of the hospital's buisness. Banecruncher continues to lead, rumbling softly ~We should run into trouble shortly~. One-Rage dips his head in a nod as he strides side by side with his Alpha, darting his eyes from left to right as he goes, black claws clicking in anticipation. Three-Blades slinks and flanks along her quick, stealthy hispo form, thinking that its too quiet around here. The two furies continue to grumble with each other, glancing about from side to side, keeping their eyes wide open for danger as J.D. picks up the rear.

Seeker is momentarily horrified as he sees what he just attacked, but he sees how the Wyrm's taint has twisted his totem and the rage in him erupts again, slashing twice at the black owl. Milah continues to attack her owl, shredding it with crinos claws. Echen joins the battle as well, winging in from out of the sky to slash at the third owl on Seeker and Milah to even the odds. He growls out an order to form into one group and attack the owls as one. Dante does a flyby on the bane he was attacking, swooping past it and reaching out to slash at it with his claws. Luna-Singer snaps her jaws at an owl, trying to tear a chunk out of its wings with her teeth.

As Jamethon leaps, the creature lurches to one side, causing his attack to rake almost futilely through its fur. Song-of-Fury and Quick manage to attack more effectually, slashing wounds into the creature's thighs. It stumbles back, flailing wildly, but it manages to slash at Winter's-Talon, a long scrape down the Garou's right arm. Opposite, First Strike explodes in fury at their pair of creatures, Nightflash and Rides-Fire ripping into one, tearing out chunks of ephemera, while the Stargazer cub actually managed to get a bit of a nip in on the beast. The Wendigo elder's spear stabs into the second's shoulder as it screeches at the Fianna galliard's antics, Sepdet's teeth burying into its calf. Above, the khopsh bites into the owl once, but the corrupted spirit wheels to avoid the second blow. Echen's sudden presence comes as an utter surprise to his owl, and more feathers fly at the cut. Dante cuts ineffectually as the owl proves its greater experience with aerial fighting, diving to avoid the slash, though Luna-Singer does rip off half of a wing. Again, though, there is no change in the spirit's flight. As the owls are further injured, the area around the battle above is shrouded in darkness caused by the feathers. As the Stargazer cub leaps in for his small nip, though, the huge thing's claws rake across his back, leaving three parallel gashes.

In Owen's pack, Quick takes advantage of the creature's temporary imbalance by pressing on in the attack, ferociously tearing at the creature's support by ripping away muscle, flesh, and tendon from the bone of its legs. Song-of-Fury snarls in encouragement to Quick as the two continue to savage the Owl-Bear's lower half, rending and shredding whatever comes within reach of their snapping jaws. Jamethon spins on his heels as his slash misses and dives back at the animal from behind, ripping into the back of it's legs with his teeth then strafing upwards with a vertical leap, teeth still tightly cleched as well as going for a double handed rake up the thing's back with both claws. Winter's-Talon reels for a moment from the force of the blow, then sinks back on her haunches to leap again with the Gnawer. When the way is clear again, she leaps with teeth bared, launching herself at the avian's exposed belly. Ears, meanwhile, pushes through Quick and Song-of-Fury (attacking the upper legs and hips) and rushes, snarling, for the Owl-Bear's lower legs, with both jaws and claws, the lessons of her old totem hard to break.

Nightflash blinks into the stronger crinos form and slashes again. He rakes his claws across the deformed spirit's chest and calls, ~Fire. Drop it.~ Rides-Fire, at his packleader's command, surges toward the creature's throat. Oddly, the Stargazer doesn't attempt to lock on with his jaws, instead leveling a heavy paw-swipe at its chest area while distracting it with a snarling, snapping attack. Finds-the-Lost continues his attack from behind, a swipe of the claw followed by a bite as he briefly drops to all fours. He's concentrating on keeping mobile back there. Runs-Far's yelp of pain quickly turns into a snarl of rage as the creature rakes him. He lashes out reflexively attempting to savage the retreating limb. Heart-of-Fury plants his feet with a sudden snarl, apparently fighting some inner struggle. Soulcatcher whirls and thrusts again with his spear, aiming for the thing's throat. Sepdet digs in with her teeth and shakes her head from side to side in violent jerks, as her forepaws scrabble to find purchase and brace.

Night's Talons breaks off their respective single combatants and begins to attack as one, all five garou focusing on one owl at a time. They pick one tainted owl and tear at it together with claws, teeth and blades, Echen especially slashing thrice at the thing with rage-fueled speed.

Banecruncher sniffs and wrinkles his nose at the dark webbing that looms before them in the darkness. Their feral instincts up, senses alert to those about them. Banecruncher steps forward carefully, using his heightened senses to pierce the gloom. ~Watch for Spiders, if it moves, kill it~ The pack doesn't need anything more then that to get the picture. ~Not like this...Too quiet, need to tear, to rip to SHRED!~ Heartsight looks like she's about to peak, her warform's face locked in a grimace, arms tense at her sides as she moves forward, slightly crouched. Three-Blades lifts a lip in a disgusted snarl, lifting one paw at a time, trying not to touch the webs. Keeps-Faith picks up the rear, saying nothing as a low growl rips through her throat. One-Rage continues forward, keeping stride with Bane as he darts his eyes from left to right, squinting cautiously towards the webbing, his claws up at the ready, glinting dangerously. The darkness has a dark, forboding feeling, but the pack continues pressing on. The slimy black webbing covers everything in sight, a disgusting wrapping to the weaver clad building. Mist-Walker continues to follow up along side her pack sister as J.D. silently makes her way, keeping herself on guard.

Back to the left, the mission pack rips into the beast, more ephemera being torn off in chunks, especially as this time, Jamethon's attack is very effective. The creature doesn't attack back, though--rather, a black mist oozes from its wounds, wafting toward the Garou around it. As a tendril touches Song-of-Fury, a patch of his fur turns grey and the skin beneath it shrivels; near him, a similar effect happens to Quick. As First Strike continues its attack, the first beast goes down under Rides-Fire's shove, but not before Runs-Far scores a vengeful cut and Finds-the-Lost rips out a large chunk of ephemera between his jaws. The thing shrieks in Rage, lashing out to snap at Rides-Fire, snapping deep into the Stargazer's right side. Soulcatcher's spear embeds itself in the other creature's throat, but still it opens its mouth and screeches at the Wendigo as the Strider attached to its leg pitches about. Above, One dark owl explodes in a puff of feathers under the coordinated onslaught of Night's Talons, as two other owls screech at the pack, more dark mist coming from their beaks, some settling near Leaves-His-Past, some ahrouns Seeker.

[Fights-For-Hope pages to the room: About how large/heavy do these Owlbear's seem now that we have a good look at them?]

Nightflash leaps atop the downed foe, shredding with his hind claws and tearing with his front. Rides-Fire sounds a deep-chested snarl as the creature bites into him, leaving a stain of blood as he attempts to rip free. Torn muscles glisten where the Stargazer's fur has been ripped away, appearing almost black in the shadowed light. Rides-Fire unloads in righteous indigation on the downed foe, near-exploding in a flurry of teeth and claws. Finds-the-Lost's initial urge is to leap for the downed spirit as well, but as the two ahroun seem to have that well under control the Get pulls back, with obvious visible effort. Tense with rage kept in tight check, he takes the opportunity to survey the Umbra landscape, a visual sweep across and then up. Runs-Far holds back, allowing his elders to rend the miserable creature. Joseph loses his hold on his spear momentarily as the creature screams at him, and freezes as he fights against the mental battering. Heart-of-Fury lunges past him and lays into the beast with vicious clawstrikes. Sepdet loses hold and gets flung like a furry frisbee, lies stunned for a breath or two, then picks herself up and hurls herself snarling at the creature's back, raking with claws.

[Nemo pages to the room: 'Bout 10, 11 feet tall? Someplace in the 1-1.5 ton range. Big suckers.]

Around back, there are almost constantly /things/ skittering in the shadows, moving from one place to another nearby, little bits of movement out of the corner of one's eye. Suddenly, from the side, a mass of the shadows coalesce, and a dark tendril reaches out to slap at Three-Blades with a leathery crack, sending the Garou tumbling.

[Nemo pages: 2 non-agg.]

In Owen's pack, Jamethon goes for the takedown tactic now and leaps up from behind the thing onto it's back, arms locked around it's throat and teeth biting hard into it's shoulder, pulling back with all his weight. Song-of-Fury howls in pain and deepening fury, shifting to Crinos and barreling into the Owl-Bear with all of his might, double-raking even as he goes for the creature's exposed throat. A prematurely greying Quick flinches, howling in pained reaction, then redoubles his attack as he revenges himself on the creature. Ears and Winter's Talon continue their 'fade-back then leap forward' approach, the Talon again raking at its belly, the Gnawer again going for the legs in concentrated ex-Weasel fashion.

Seeker and Dante cough and struggle for breath as the black mist encircles them, but they overcome the terror of asphyxiation and renew their efforts with claws and khopsh against the next black owl. Echen joins them, tearing twice at the owl. Luna-Singer joins in, slashing at the owl with her claws as Milah beats her wings furiously, trying to blow the black mist away from her packmates and back toward the banes.

The leader of the Junk Yard dogs barks out quickly. ~Keeps-Faith! One-Rage! Take it! The rest of you, watch for others!~ The smaller Ahroun quickly leaps forward as he lashes out with his claws, hoping to drive the creature to the ground, setting up the pack with a quick flurry of tactics. Leda turns on the speed as the world becomes a quick blur for her, nothing but buisness, four to the floor as she quickly aims with guided teeth and claw, her rage exploding into battle. Mist-Walker snarls loudly at the shadow-whip, watching Leda. If there's enough room, she will aid her sister in the fight. Three-Blades takes a stumble, shaking her head to clear the cobwebs. After regaining her senses, she snaps back with her claws, hoping to aid the two Ahroun's who drive into battle.

Above, another owl dissolves as Night's Talons rends it, Leaves-His-Past getting the fatal blow with a snarl of vengeance. Milah does blow the black mist away, though it seems not to affect the rest of the owls. Below, Nightflash and Rides-Fire shred the creature under their claws rapidly, though it does get one more grazing blow in on Nightflash before it fades. To their side, Heart-of-Fury cuts into the other beast as the Strider theurge opens gaping slashes in its back. To the left, the other mission pack slams into the creature like a wave crashing onto the shore, cutting into its bulk as one. As they do so, it screeches once more, a lound, sharp sound, almost deafening. Back behind, more tendrils slide from the shadows even as the massive attack on the one causes it to fade back. Another comes out to grab at One-Rage, wrapping around his midsection, while another snaps towards Keeps-Faith, but is attacked by Mistwalker.

~Where's the Center of it?~ Three-Blades chirps out to the pack as she fades back, gathering the power in her haunches, ready to spring forward from a crouch. Her eyes are looking through the blur of tentacles, trying to find the core. ~I'll find it~ One-Rage grunts, gripping his massive claws into the tentacle which offends him, jerking forward with all his strength, pulling backwards, hoping to drive it towards them. Banecruncher joins the fray, leaping out to slash at the tentacle which binds his brother, putting his weight into his claws, tearing and ripping. Mist-Walker helps out her tribal sister, quickly snapping her jaws down into the tentacle, then RIPS back, hoping to tear out a huge chunk. J.D rushes forward in Crinos, her pale eyes scanning for the heart of the beast, most likely having the best perspective on it due to being unhindered in the fray. Heartsight crouches, while shrieking in defiance of the Wyrm-Thing attacking. She repeatedly srapes wildly at the ground below with her claws, hoping to create sparks and light this thing on fire. ~BURN IT!!! FRY IT!!!~ Her wails pierce through the shadows, murderously.

Nightflash rises as the spirit fades, howling in triumph. Noticing his packmates still engaged, he calls in their direction. ~Ignore its cries! It has seen its death and it whines in fright. Remember who we fight for tonight. Huntress! Blue-Fur! Destoy that beast!~ Runs-Far joins the howl of triumph. Rides-Fire seems almost disappointed as his opponent disappears into mist. Still leaking blood, the ahroun turns to the remainder of his pack still in combat. Lunging forward, the Stargazer tries to find an opening to reach the foe with his teeth. Finds-the-Lost growls out a curt report from what he's managed to survey of the battle. ~What I can see is almost dead out here, but there's fighting behind the building. I don't see the Gnawers.~ The words are no sooner out of his mouth before he starts in that direction, too eager for another fight. Heart-of-Fury blows his rage wad with all the exuberance of his blood, teeth and claws blurring in a frenzy of mayhem. The little Strider keeps tearing into the behemonth's back with her claws, leaping again and again. Joseph apparently regains his composure and leaps for his spear, trying to catch hold and twist it loose.

In Owen's pack, Jamethon roars out in pain and rears his head back as a gout of blood pumps from his ears at the creatures unearthly screech, still gripping its torn neck. He shifts into Hispo to make use of his added weight on the thing's upper torso and using the strength of burnt rage, he pulls back, attempting to topple the thing over onto the ground. Song-of-Fury's eyes widen in sudden agony, as he was directly in front of the Owl-Bear's beak as it shrieked. He falls back, clawing at his ruined ear drums, attempting to regain his equilibrium. Red joins grey and black as blood from Quick's ears splatters atop black and grayed out fur, and the Lord struggles to continue past the pain, and slashes his claws into the Owlbear's belly to remove what entrails it may have left. Winter's-Talon shudders and reels to the side as the thing to her left cuts the air, and her ears, with its scream. She shakes her head hard, then looks a little confused at she quickly rebalances for another attack. Ears dives again for the Owl-Bear's nether reegions, tearing and slashing.

[From afar, to the room, Ears wanna sanity check. Who's whre, what banes are visible, etc. (er, visible to us, I mean.) Unless you just did it, in which case, bonk m on the head and tell me to scroll back.]

Night's Talons continues its relentless assault on the tainted owls, with Leaves-His-Past attacking low while Milah claws from above. Echen and Seeker attack head-on, rage fueling the Fianna's attack and Seeker's kopsh slicing at its shadowy form. Luna-Singer slashes her claws at the thing's left flank.

[Nemo pages to the room: Sanity check: Owen's pack on one beastie. FS just took down one; working on a second. NT upstairs with a couple more dark owls. Gnawers nowhere to be seen.]

Above, one owl goes down in a flurry of blows, while another simply explodes, its feathers flying around Night's Talons in a choking mass. A second creature goes down in short order under the combined attack of First Strike, though it does bite into the right shoulder of Heart-of-Fury before being taken down. To the left, the other mission pack reels collectively under the earlier shriek as Jamehont struggles vainly to topple the huge beast and Ears rips into the creature deeply. Quick gives it another gut wound and ephemera goes flying, but oddly, no entrails spill out. Back behind the hospital, Ethan rounds a corner just in time to see Mist-Walker rending a tentacle while another one pulls against One-Rage, neither going anywhere although bones snap audibly as the tentacle tightens around his middle despite Banecruncher's attack. J.D. pounces into a group of shadows as Three-Blades targets almost the same group with her view of the tentacles.

The leader of the Junk Yard Dogs follow the tenril he's clawing at, hopefully back to its heart. He slashes madly with both claws, razor like carnage hailing from the furious Ahroun. One-Rage growls out in pain as he feels the snap in his mid section, his breath catching all for a moment. Lifting one hand upwards, he sprays his claws outwards like a fan, then comes down on it furiously, hoping to tear into it like a saw. HeartSight blinks out of her fury, the snap of bones sobering her up as she glances about. Tearing forward, she dives towards the mass, off side of the center. The Asian Gnawer howls out in rage as she hears One-Rage's body begin to crumple. She blurs into the War Form of crinos this time and springs, claws ready to rend the base of the beast, more specifically, the tentacle which holds her brother. Leda continues her assault upon the tentacles visciously within her rage. IronJaw stays focused on the form in front of her, a rage-fueled leap towards its center as she makes to claw elbow deep in its mass. Mist-Walker looks about for something else to strike, preferably the heart of the mass.

In Owen's pack, regains his balance and, with a clear howl of rage, springs forward, locking his gaping maw onto the creature's neck in an effort go sever it from its monstrous body. Although digging doesn't produce any entrails, Quick seems gruesomely satisfied with the gore of ephemera and continues his mining of the abdomen. Ears continues her previous tactics, her snarls muted as she again bites and slashes at the upper extremities of the Owl-Bear. Winter's-Talon continues to leap in with Ears, rage boiling at this thing that will not die. Jamethon, too, is getting pissed at this bastard's stuborn refusal to die and bends his head to try to tear a chunk of flesh from the Owl-Bear's shoulder where it meets the arm; while he does this he rakes his hind legs down the its back, as though he were trying to run up its monstrous body.

[Nemo pages to the room: Sanity check: big cloud of feathers in the air. :) One damn wounded thingie that Owen's pack (sans Owen) are cutting into. For those who stop to listen, sounds of fighting from behind the building.]

With two of the owl-banes remaining, Night's Talons reforms once again. Seeker slashes at one of the things with his kopsh while Leaves-His-Past darts in and out of the fight acrobatically, snatching with claws here and there, wherever there's an opening. Milah and Seirian and Echen hang back in reserve until the thing commits to an attack against either Seeker or Leaves-His-Past -- at which point the latter two fall back, and the former three fly forward to rip at the thing.

Nightflash snaps out something to his pack as he stands back to survey the situation. Heart-of-Fury snarls as the creature digs in to his shoulder, and then howls as he stands triumphant (bitches) over the spirit. Turning, he charges toward the remaining spirit-creature, although he saves a glance for the departing members of First Strike. Sepdet belts out a howl of victory along with her rival and packmate. At Nightflash's command, she too whirls and races to help Owen's pack finish off their beastie. Rides-Fire pauses where he is, panting, as the second enemy disappears under his claws. His amber gaze darts around him, pausing on each pack member in turn, and lingering not least on Stephen. Finally, the hispo rumbles a question, loudly to cut through the noise, ~Finds?~ Rides-Fire's heavy head swivels around, scenting air that stinks largely of blood. Runs-Far motions, telling his Elder, ~This way.~ The two Stargazers head toward where Ethan disappeared, with Soulcatcher following. Inside, Finds-the-Lost rounds the corner with a triumphant howl, momentarily forgetting about the rest of his newly formed pack as the thrill of battle takes over. Rage drives him into the fray, and claws slash out as he attempts to work his way past tentacles toward the center.

In the sky, Night's Talons' pack-based tactics once again pay off as Leaves-His-Past and Seeker fall back as one of the owls soars at the Strider, the other three making quick work of it. Below, Owen's pack finally lets their frustratoin show, tearing and ripping and shredding at the unnatural beast just as Heart-of-Fury and Sepdet reach them to aid. Back behind, the tentacle gripping One-Rage fades under the onslaught of three Garou as those attacking the mass's center rip into shadow, but start feeling a numbing cold. As the pair of Stargazers round the corner, the cluster fades back into---well, shadow once again, though the feeeling of being watched doesn't let up at all.

In Owen's pack, Ears spares only a brief moment to notice the interlopers; most of her attention is focused on ripping the damn thing apart, with tooth, claw, and main strength of will. Song-of-Fury barely maintains his control as he savages the Owl-Bear's throat. Winter's-Talon is so far into the fight now she doesn't see the others anymore, just the blackish flesh she continues to try to tear away. Jamethon ignores the approaching help, not seeming to want nor care for their interference at all as he kicks off the beast's back with a rakeing of claws through the back of the thing's head and lands on the floor behind where the beast stands using the momentum of the drop to barrel forward into the Owl bane snapping with his jaws.

Night's Talons reverses its tactic on the final owl-bane, with Echen, Seirian, and Milah mixing it up, and Leaves-His-Past and Seeker hanging back to deliver the coup-de-grace once it commits to an attack. The Strider Ahroun's movements blur with the speed of Rage when he attacks.

The huge crinos of Banecruncher growls angrily and slashes at a nearby wall. ~Something is still here~ With that, he starts back in the direction the pack had been traveling before the tendrils came out. Mist-Walker eyes the area the shadow's mass was at a moment before, then shakes out her claws to attempt restoring feeling to them. HeartSigh ignores the numbing feeling, her fury keeping her blood boiling. A howl of impotent rage, and the young Gnawer backs away to follow after Banecruncher. Three-Blades curses in an incomprehensible form of crinos cantonese as the beast fades into the shadows. Her claws scrape angrily at the side of the alley. Turning, she growls out as she sees her Elder stalk off. Her fist clenches and unclenches, questioning. ~There is more, but we should take a moment to regroup, Are there healers in our pack?~ One-Rage stumbles as he's released, falling to his knees for a moment. Taking a breath, he grips his stomach, feeling the bones broken, yet, slowly reknitting. It will be a few days, but he should be fine. Up he goes, pushing himself to his feet, then follows after them, ignoring the pain inside his stomach. ~I'm fine~ He mutters. IronJaw thrusts a punch into the space that the beast previously occupied, an effort born of pure frustration and anger.

Steven and Sepdet make an unlikely team as they swing high, swing low, seizing any opening, each using the Rage of their totem to help bring the quarry down. Inside, Rides-Fire's ruff prickles as he suspiciously watches those shadows. His nostrils flare as he again tastes the air. Soulcatcher, beside him, flexes claws on his spear, searching the shadows accusingly as he seeks a target. Finds-the-Lost growls irritably at the Gnawers and others around him. ~Why are you waiting, it's still there, we have it on the run!~ He's still just itching to press the attack, but he's neither frenzied nor suicidal. For the moment, he reluctantly holds.

This time, the adren Fianna ahroun's claws prove deadly, and his packmates have no need to intervene as the last owl spirit vanishes, and the feathers fall slowly to the ground. Under the whirling claws and vicious tearing bites of parts of both Wolverine mission packs, the final creature shudders, raking at Ears before disappearing entirely, leaving three long, fairly shallow marks diagonally across her chest. Behind the builing, the darkness lingers, but nothing attacks the Garou.

The Ahroun of One-Rage is more then willing to continue forward with their attack as he shakes off the pain, stepping up to HeartSight and Bane as they continue to press further. HeartSight snarls, overhearing Finds, even as they head further in. ~On The Run?~ Three-Blades question. Her Rage still simmering inside. ~It's not running, its waiting. And we're going to jump right into the ant's nest.~ She growls, but follows after Banecruncher, glancing at One-Rage briefly. IronJaw thinks, actually, that the thing has retreated, and things are over for the moment, but thats just her.

The menace and sense of being watched is almost palpable, but nothing attacks nor presents itself fo attack. Once again, occasionally there will be movement in the shadows out of the corner of one's eye, but everything is still when looked at directly.

Song-of-Fury, Owl-Bear finally obliterated, shifts back to lupus and turns to the rest of his pack, administering an occasional lick to reassure them. You have all done well. Wolverine will be proud, as will Owen. Let us return to the Caern, now. We must heal and prepare for battle tomorrow.

Song-of-Fury contorts and blurs as he is transformed. Song-of-Fury shifts into Lupus form.

Three-Blades's eyes travel from one side to another, her ears pricking at Banecruncher's decision. She nods slightly, and steps to one side, allowing the Gnawer elder through before following behind.

One-Rage glances to Bane and dips his head in a nod, even though his gaze still focuses upon the dark confines of the alley. ~Ok..~ Is all he really says, rumbling, one hand searching his stomach once more, feeling the broken bones within. Turning, he follows after his pack, lumbering upon each solid footstep, flattening his ears to his skull.

Heartsight snarls in frustration, and lingers as the others depart, until their mutterings to eachother drag her away, also.

Heart-of-Fury slowly takes in breath as the final bane disappears under the onslaught of tooth and claw. The Fianna withdraws to reform with the rest of his pack. The Strider scans the remaining grounded combatants for injuries, teeth still bared and bloody. Finds-the-Lost waits until there is forward movement from Bancecruncher's pack. ~I'll go get the others, they should be done with the rest by now,~ he says, and starts quickly off to find the rest of First Strike. Rides-Fire's posture actually shows a flicker of fear, and he chuffs sharply to at least stop his packmate from following. ~More come,~ he then says sharply. ~Many, many, many.~ Soulcatcher snarls at the Stargazer's words and belts out, ~Get /back/ you fools.~ First Strike is leaving the building.

Night's Talons also withdraws to the caern, flying back through the Umbra. Rides-Fire shakes himself, anger growing. ~Wyrm. Thick.~ He then repeats, ~Many, many, many. OUT!~

Heartsight reluctantly goes home, following the rest of the retreat.

Silver takes a moment to calm herself and then happily shifts for the run home, eager to get out of the scab now that the fight is done.

Fights-For-Hope looks with a scowling dark look at where the owlbear his pack was fighting that got intruded upon by Echen, and steps past it without a word to check on the condition of his pack, seeing if any are seriously injured enough to require a quick healing. Noting that no one is damaged beyond personal repair he heads off to the caern.

Banecruncher follows the others to make sure none are left.

Nightflash regroups his pack, makes certain everyone can run, then heads back to the caern.

Three-Blades looks to Banecruncher, awaiting the signal to disperse back to the Realm.

One-Rage takes a deep breath, still annoyed he has a few broken bones in his body. They will heal, hopefully by the time he goes on the scouting trip. But at least he's not missing a limb, or worse.

Banecruncher makes sure the last of his pack has made it safely back to the better parts of the umbra before relaxing and shifting down to hispo.

As the last few Garou clear the alley under the urgings of Rides-Fire and Soulcatcher, the moon is finally cut off from the alley by the Umbral structur of the hospital and the sheer passage of time, and the entire alley plunges into a deep, unnatural darkness.