They volunteered for this, right? At the moot, after the Elders of Forgotten Questions, to many the only true Elders and leaders of the Garou of Denver, stood and snarled and called for the so-called leaders of Cold Crescent. Afterwards these others stood and offered their services as interim Guardians, wolves to walk the patrols and hold the line between the night and the light of the tower spire. There were songs and tales after that, sad ones, funny ones, and then there was that mournful, keening Revel.
And now it's Friday night and it's late. The sun set, and the shadows of the mountains stretched across the city, and as they darkened and they deepened, they swallowed it. Elsewhere there are Theurges still working to clean and cleanse the city, to soothe and calm the spirits roused by Champion of Honor's horrific display. There have been a few reports, mentions here and there of spirits showing up on this side of their own volition, doing the things that spirits do but on the wrong side of the Gauntlet.
And so this is how our heroes enter into this conflict. A trio, all leaders in their own right, all with their own strengths, and their own weaknesses. Banded together for a night to make sure those shadows stay back.
A few streets over the city is awake and alive. It's hours still before the mainstream establishments start closing their doors. Crowds move from bar to club to restaurant to show and what have you.
This is not that alive and awake street. This one is blank and quiet. The buildings stretch up above them, half the size of New York or Chicago but no less silent and intimidating.
A couple walks arm in arm, bodys leaned together as though this will keep them safe from the terrors of the night.
A young man in a knit cap and a flannel shirt, thin scarf twined around his neck, and tight red jeans walks alone.
Few cars pass.
This is your patrol, gentleman.
Echoes of the Lost
Hector can't judge another adult male-person for wearing flannel and red skinny jeans in August. He's wearing shit-kicker boots and black jeans and at least his shirt isn't buttoned up and accompanied by a scarf... today... but the young Uktena alpha makes plenty of questionable choices of his own on a regular basis and not all of them have to do with fashion.
Like agreeing to patrol a city he knows nothing about and prefers to avoid if he possibly can. He has his kinswoman's number queued up on his drug-dealer phone the way some folks keep their phones primed to call 911 when they have to walk to their cars after dark. His thumb isn't on the green-handset button but it may as well be.
He trots along behind the two Fosterns and keeps his mouth shut just to see what that's like.
Javed Anubis-Sight
Javed is perfectly comfortable on patrol with Hector and Tommy. There are far worse people to go out patrolling with and while somewhere out there an insanely powerful group of Spirals is ready to strike at any moment, he is at ease. Observant, but at ease because...well, when you're Arabic and seem scary-angry and your every motion sends Americans into suspicions that you're about to detonate an explosive, you learn to be at ease with just about anything.
Javed is many things, but one of them is the (relative, for an Ahroun) calm in the middle of a storm, even when that storm is one his presence inspires.
He has just that one same set of clothes (again, don't worry; he washes them) of a heavy jacket, loose pants and boots made for hikes (long, long hikes). He looks around as they turn the corner onto the street, and he pauses there to let his single eye take it all in. Of course, it does take him a touch longer because...well, one eye. But still, he tries. He's not one to rely on others for his vision as a rule.
Afro Daddy
He had been patrolling before their revel, before their promise at the moot, and perhaps before the guardians had done themselves in. He was a predator of two worlds: men and women (yes, its true) who preyed on their own kind, feeding off the weakness of the desperate and downtrodden; and the world true underworld of his own kind, filled with the kind of Rage the others only dreamed of. Both of these worlds required him to hold down territory. Literally, hold it down and, if necessary, beat it into submission.
Tonight he was all business, the large halo of hair combed and tamed, tied down into corn rows, and dressed for the night. His well worn jeans, his work boots, and his jacket, too big for his slender frame, hiding the weapons underneath. He made his way on his route, patrolling from this group of thugs to the next, keeping them on their toes.
All the while he kept his own eyes open for the wrongness that they probably couldn't handle, constantly aware of the Dessert Eagle on one hip, the large blade on the other, and hoping he would have no use for them tonight.
{shadows}
The Spirals who have made it their life's purpose to bring Denver to ruin haven't been seen - or at least, those who may have seen them haven't been able to come and tell the others - since that fight broke out on Evans. Perhaps they're taking a breather to replace the kinswoman and child that were taken from them. Perhaps somewhere a couple of cubs have been found to replace those wouldbe members who were also taken away from them. Point is, they're not here, thank goodness.
Those that are here on the road with them don't stand out much. Just a few mortals trying to get home after a night out on the town.
The Garou that walk together like they're ready for war are quiet. It makes it easier for them to hear when something is amiss, like a scuttling slither in an alley or the skittering cheeps of rats.
They hear these things and they don't seem amiss, not tonight with the moon above nearly full and shrinking little by little as it makes its rounds arund the sun.
Hector has no room to critizise a young man wearing flannel and jeans in the middle going on end of summer, which is good. The young man is guilty only of sacrificing comfort for a fashion trend. That couple on the other hand...
They lean on each other and watch the road with wary, fearful eyes until, quite unexpectedly, they stand up straight from each other. They execute perfect ninety degree turns that would make a Marine envious, and they walk into a dark alley.
[percept+alert diff 7, plz]
Echoes of the Lost
[aw shit?]
Dice: 4 d10 TN7 (1, 2, 3, 3) ( fail )
Afro Daddy
[Wuzzat?!]
Dice: 5 d10 TN7 (1, 2, 4, 7, 8) ( success x 2 )
Javed Anubis-Sight
[[Per+Alert; One Eye]]
Dice: 5 d10 TN9 (2, 3, 4, 8, 8) ( fail )
Echoes of the Lost
When the couple disappears into the alleyway the moondancer doesn't dispense portentous words of warning to the two Fosterns walking ahead of him. He sees it and he ought to know what it means but it doesn't register as being out of the ordinary even though the military discipline is so out of place it ought to hit him right between the eyes.
The Cliath laughs.
And for the record: Hector normally laughs like he's at a D&D session with the rest of the AV club virgins. At least tonight he tries to tamp it down.
Javed Anubis-Sight
You know what sucks about having one eye, face blindness and occasional times where your vision focuses on something in the Dark Umbra instead of the plane of existance you're on? Sometimes you miss stuff. Case in point: now. The Iranian passes his limited field of vision over the main landscape, his eyes passing over things that may be suspicious.
"The night appears to be quiet so far." It is said not with relief or disappointment. He neither loves war nor hates it. He's simply good at it (when he can see it).
Afro Daddy
"Aw hell no..." Says the tall man, and the look on his face is a combination of confusion and annoyance. He jerks his head in the direction of the couple headed down the alley but he has yet to move.
"You didn't see that? Something wrong with their shadows."
He's eyeing the alleyway, the streetlight, the other light sources and the buildings around.
"Narrow space. One way out."
He's reaching into his jacket, readying the hand
"No choice but to check out this trap is there?"
{shadows}
The Cliath laughs not like there is some serious business going on, but like he's back in school or wherever, sitting around a table while someone pantomimes the seduction of an elf princess.
The Ahroun, thanks be to Gaia's harsh punishment of those who charach and the freaky deaky abilities members of his tribe are sometimes born with, notices nothing out of the ordinary.
The Philodox notices, because damn it, he's a city Garou, a dirty urrah, he better notice when weird shit happens in the cityscape. Cockroach would straight up abandon him here, because sometimes even roaches know worthless scum when they see it. He notices, though, and so he gets to stay with the Glass Walkers.
No choice, he says. They have to check out this trap, because that's what it is, right? Something is luring these Garou, right?
Meanwhile, there is a sickly squelching noise that comes from that alley, and a couple of heavy thumps.
Echoes of the Lost
"Ah, crap."
Okay, Cliath. This is your time to shine.
"Let me do it. There might be eyeball-eating ravens. Or something."
He's an Uktena packed under Fog. What could possibly go wrong with that brilliant-ass plan?
Javed Anubis-Sight
He follows the way that Afro Daddy is looking, his brow furrowing into a frown. He didn't see it, but he certainly trusts the Glass Walker in his own city, and he knows that his own eye is occasionally suspect.
Hector suggests going in to check it out, and Javed looks back. "Safety in numbers. If it is a trap, it is one that we should face together."
Again, he's economical with his words. He looks to the Philodox, since he was the person who actually noticed people with wierd shadows. His city. While Javed will happily lead the way if desired, the Walker gets the choice here. As soon as they start moving, he's moving with them toward the alley.
Afro Daddy
"Volunteering to take a peek? Aint gotta twist my arm, kid. But do NOT engage without us, hear?"
He approaches the mouth of the alley, easing up along the wall of the exterior building as he does so, and signaling for Javed to do the same.
Echoes of the Lost
[dex + stealth: GHOSTING. +1 die because Fog.]
Dice: 6 d10 TN6 (2, 3, 6, 9, 10, 10) ( success x 4 )
{shadows}
[alert 1]
Dice: 6 d10 TN6 (2, 4, 5, 5, 7, 9) ( success x 2 )
{shadows}
[alert 2]
Dice: 6 d10 TN6 (4, 5, 7, 8, 8, 10) ( success x 4 )
{shadows}
[alert 3]
Dice: 6 d10 TN6 (1, 4, 8, 8, 10, 10) ( success x 4 )
{shadows}
[alert 4]
Dice: 6 d10 TN6 (3, 3, 3, 5, 7, 8) ( success x 2 )
Echoes of the Lost
So he creeps down the street and up to the alleyway without bringing all the ghouls of the night raining down upon their head. The two Fosterns don't lose track of him in the shadow because he doesn't actually turn invisible but if they were not paying attention to him and his movements they might have not even seen him at all. He manages to peek around the corner into the alleyway and they can see him pull a face that says eugh!! even at their present distance and then he turns and tiptoes back to them.
"Dude," he says in a harsh almost-whisper. "The shadows ate them. I'm not making this up. That gross noise before? They flattened them before they ate them."
[dex + stealth: don't piss off the shadow beasties on the way back]
Dice: 6 d10 TN6 (1, 3, 8, 9, 9, 10) ( success x 4 )
{shadows}
[alert 1]
Dice: 6 d10 TN6 (1, 1, 2, 2, 5, 8) ( success x 1 )
{shadows}
[alert 2]
Dice: 6 d10 TN6 (1, 2, 6, 6, 7, 9) ( success x 4 )
{shadows}
[alert 3]
Dice: 6 d10 TN6 (2, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10) ( success x 3 )
{shadows}
[alert 4]
Dice: 6 d10 TN6 (4, 4, 8, 9, 9, 10) ( success x 4 )
Javed Anubis-Sight
The Silent Strider's one good eye narrows. "The shadows ate them, you say." He is not a fan of shadows as a rule. They're not, like, say, cobras or anything. But shadows are tough to see in, and Javed has it difficult enough as it is. Active shadows with appetites doesn't sit well with him.
"Did they seem to have form? By that I mean, can we hit them, or should we take this to the other side?" He says it while he is removing his jacket and setting it behind something nearby, so it's out of sight.
Afro Daddy
"Shadows, huh?"
He digests that for a moment. Just a moment, He's still looking to Hector, waiting for his answer. Freaky shit and Uktena usually go together.
Echoes of the Lost
He swipes his hair back out of his face and turns to look back at the alleyway before answering Afro Daddy's question.
"Yeah. Four of them. They started out thin but then they ate the two we saw go into the alleyway and they got fatter. One of them was pulling itself out of the wall."
Afro Daddy
"Well then, lets surprise 'em while we can. I'll take draw 'em out. Hit em hard soon as you can."
And with that he's striding out to the mouth of the alley, giving his patrol-mates swinging room for when those things came shrieking out of the alley. There he stands, drawing out the gun, leveling, and unleashing the sound of thunder.
That ought to get their attention.
Javed Anubis-Sight
The Strider nods a little bit and moves to the right of Tommy, forward so that he's not in the way of the bullets (duh), but he is on a potential intercept course. He shifts up in the empty streets to his Anubis-esque Crinos form, dipping low as he walks to rake his claws against the street. One tank, coming up.
[[Razor Claws!]]
Echoes of the Lost
Stealth ceases to be an element of the Uktena's plan of attack long before the Glass Walker discharges his weapon. The shadow-creatures didn't see him but the alleyway isn't very large and they have to stop them before they find another victim upon which to glut themselves.
The Cliath shifts to Crinos shortly after Javed does and moves towards the alleyway.
{shadows}
Shadow 1: +7
Dice: 1 d10 TN6 (8) ( success x 1 )
Javed Anubis-Sight
[[Init+18]]
Dice: 1 d10 TN6 (8) ( success x 1 )
{shadows}
Shadow 2: +7
Dice: 1 d10 TN6 (8) ( success x 1 )
{shadows}
Shadow 3: +7
Dice: 1 d10 TN6 (7) ( success x 1 )
{shadows}
Shadow 4: +7
Dice: 1 d10 TN6 (9) ( success x 1 )
Afro Daddy
+5
Dice: 1 d10 TN6 (10) ( success x 1 )
Echoes of the Lost
+8
Dice: 1 d10 TN6 (10) ( success x 1 )
{shadows}
Round One: FAIGHT
Javed 26
Hector 18
Shadow 4 16
Shadow 1 15
Shadow 2 15
Tommy 15
Shadow 3 14
Declare in reverse, roll the other way.
Shadow 3{shadows}
Shadow 3: 1/2 Claw Tommy x2
{shadows}
Fix eet!
Afro Daddy
1a: Dodge
1b: Shoot Shadow 3 (point blank)
{shadows}
Shadow 2: 1/2 Claw Hector x2
Shadow 1: 1/2 Claw Javed x2
Shadow 4: 1/2 Claw Tommy x2
Echoes of the Lost
1:
R1:
R2: all claws on Shadow 4 because always protect your sniper? Will switch to Shadow 2 if he messes up Shadow 4 really fast.
Javed Anubis-Sight
[[2 Rage
1a: Claw Shadow 3
1b: Block Shadow 1 Claw Attack
R1: Claw Shadow 1
R2: Claw Shadow 1]]
Javed Anubis-Sight
[[Claw Shadow 1]]
Dice: 5 d10 TN6 (1, 2, 4, 6, 10) ( success x 2 )
Javed Anubis-Sight
[[Damage]]
Dice: 10 d10 TN6 (1, 2, 2, 3, 5, 5, 5, 7, 8, 10) ( success x 3 )
Javed Anubis-Sight
[[One more]]
Dice: 1 d10 TN6 (10) ( success x 1 )
{shadows}
Shadow 3: EEP! Soak!
Dice: 5 d10 TN6 (1, 3, 3, 5, 5) ( fail )
Echoes of the Lost
dex + brawl: WAPOW EAT IT S4
Dice: 8 d10 TN6 (1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 7, 9, 10) ( success x 5 )
Echoes of the Lost
+4
Dice: 12 d10 TN6 (1, 5, 5, 6, 6, 6, 7, 7, 8, 9, 9, 9) ( success x 9 )
{shadows}
Shadow 4: o_o
Dice: 5 d10 TN6 (4, 4, 5, 5, 5) ( fail )
{shadows}
Shadow 4: x_X deaded, Hector declared moving on to 2, so no penalty for switching targets
{shadows}
Shadow 1: 1a: Claw Javed, dex+brawl -2
Dice: 5 d10 TN6 (3, 4, 6, 8, 10) ( success x 3 )
{shadows}
Dam: str+1+2, lethal
Dice: 5 d10 TN6 (1, 1, 5, 9, 9) ( success x 2 )
Javed Anubis-Sight
[[Block Shadow 1 Claw]]
Dice: 4 d10 TN6 (2, 5, 5, 7) ( success x 1 )
{shadows}
Dam: str+1+2 suxx -1 block
Dice: 4 d10 TN6 (3, 5, 6, 10) ( success x 2 )
Javed Anubis-Sight
[[Soak]]
Dice: 7 d10 TN6 (1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 9, 9) ( success x 3 )
{shadows}
Claw #2: -3
Dice: 4 d10 TN6 (2, 2, 6, 10) ( success x 2 )
{shadows}
Dam: +1, lethal
Dice: 4 d10 TN6 (2, 4, 4, 7) ( success x 1 )
Javed Anubis-Sight
[[Soak]]
Dice: 7 d10 TN6 (2, 2, 4, 9, 9, 10, 10) ( success x 4 )
{shadows}
Shadow 2: 1a: Claw Hector, -2
Dice: 5 d10 TN6 (1, 3, 4, 9, 10) ( success x 2 )
{shadows}
Dam: +1+1, lethal
Dice: 4 d10 TN6 (3, 8, 8, 10) ( success x 3 )
Echoes of the Lost
[soak!]
Dice: 6 d10 TN6 (1, 2, 3, 6, 6, 8) ( success x 3 )
{shadows}
1b: -3
Dice: 4 d10 TN6 (2, 5, 6, 7) ( success x 2 )
{shadows}
Dam: +1
Dice: 4 d10 TN6 (1, 1, 4, 8) ( success x 1 )
Echoes of the Lost
[did somebody sneeze?]
Dice: 6 d10 TN6 (2, 2, 4, 6, 6, 10) ( success x 3 )
Afro Daddy
[ch-chk! Ka-BLOW! Dex3+Firearms3 -2]
Dice: 4 d10 TN6 (4, 7, 8, 10) ( success x 3 )
Afro Daddy
[Desert Eage DMG 7+2]
Dice: 9 d10 TN6 (2, 5, 5, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 9) ( success x 5 )
Afro Daddy
[Correction DMG5+2]
Dice: 7 d10 TN6 (2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 6, 8) ( success x 2 )
{shadows}
Shadow 3: Soak!
Dice: 5 d10 TN6 (3, 3, 7, 8, 10) ( success x 3 )
{shadows}
Shadow 3: 1a: -2
Dice: 5 d10 TN6 (1, 7, 8, 8, 8) ( success x 4 )
Afro Daddy
[Dodge Dex3+Ath2-3]
Dice: 2 d10 TN6 (7, 10) ( success x 2 )
{shadows}
Dam: +3-2, lethal
Dice: 4 d10 TN6 (1, 4, 4, 7) ( success x 1 )
Afro Daddy
SOAK!
Dice: 4 d10 TN6 (1, 7, 8, 10) ( success x 3 )
{shadows}
Shadow 3: 1b: Claw Tommy -3
Dice: 4 d10 TN6 (2, 2, 3, 3) ( fail )
Lola Hawkes
One might wonder why they let a renegade Kinfolk volunteer for patrols around the city. More than that, they might be astounded that they not only allowed her to participate, but were totally okay with her doing so alone.
It's unsafe!, one might protest. Even for a Garou, this is a terrible time to be out alone!
The city Garou weren't quite as familiar with the Hawkes family, though. The Hawkes' have been at this game for a while, protecting the Sept of Forgotten Questions for generations. They were bred for patrols, they were a family of people who could walk all day, run all night, and never complain about the blisters and busted jaws they got from their encounters along the way.
Lola was the last in this family line, and she'd trained her whole young life for this precise duty-- the patrol, the hunt, the fight. Folks who knew the Hawkes family knew that up until about 16 years old the Kinfolk and her whole family were convinced that she would Change, that she would be an Ahroun no less. When the Change never came it was confirmed that there was a mistake in the reading-- that she was a Kinfolk. All that meant to Lola was that she had to work harder, perform better, and learn to get damn good with a gun.
With all of the havoc that wrecked the city's Sept, Lola had been temporarily transplanted from her home out along the border of the Sept of Forgotten Questions's Bawn to a motel room in Denver proper. She despised the cramped conditions, so she was always out patroling either on foot or in truck. Tonight she opted for the truck.
She happened to be cruising, as luck so had it, some three blocks away when her phone buzzed and Lola checked it at a stop sign. It was from Hector, and it read in hastily typed letters:
Killer shadow spirits at xxxxcordinatesxxxx. Annie get your gun
She took a second to process where she was in accordance to the street numbers that were in the text, cussed, and whipped the truck around in a U-turn. About one minute later the big white 1989 pick-up truck rumbled to a stop against the curb a dozen or so yards from the mouth of the alley. Hector said to bring a gun, so she reached under the bench seat and seized her plain black Remington 700 rifle from beneath it. She didn't bother with the strap, didn't bother to lock her truck door. She just jammed the keys into her pocket, adjusted the brim of the baseball cap she was wearing to keep her hair free from her eyes, and with the rifle in her hands in plain sight jogged into the alleyway.
The gunshots she heard up ahead only encouraged her to ready the gun to fire immediately.
Lola Hawkes
[Declare: Single shot at nearest shadow thing!]
Lola Hawkes
[Shot: Dexterity 3 + Firearms 3]
Dice: 6 d10 TN6 (2, 4, 5, 6, 9, 9) ( success x 3 )
Lola Hawkes
[Damage (L): Base 8 + 2 Suxx Carry-over]
Dice: 10 d10 TN6 (2, 2, 2, 3, 4, 6, 6, 6, 7, 9) ( success x 5 )
{shadows}
Shadow 3: Soak!
Dice: 5 d10 TN6 (1, 1, 1, 5, 8) ( success x 1 )
{shadows}
Shadow 3: x_X deaded
Javed Anubis-Sight
[{Claw Shadow 1]]
Dice: 8 d10 TN5 (1, 2, 2, 6, 6, 7, 8, 10) ( success x 5 )
Javed Anubis-Sight
[{Damage]]
Dice: 15 d10 TN6 (1, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 6, 7, 7, 8, 9, 9, 10, 10) ( success x 9 )
{shadows}
Shadow 1: o_o
Dice: 5 d10 TN6 (3, 3, 3, 5, 7) ( success x 1 )
{shadows}
Shadow 1: x_X deaded
{shadows}
If there were people on the street at the start of this endeavor, they would run immediately as soon as the quiet Iranian man surged up into a ten foot tall monster straight out of Egyptian legend. He drags his claws across the concrete, sharpening them to razor points.
And Tommy, leader of the pack tonight, strides forward, firing into the alley and drawing the attention of those...things. Shadows made corporeal. They are thin, sort of resembling those colorful cloth wind socks car dealerships sometimes used to draw attention and draw in customers. Except that these are black, black as night, black as the void, black as nothingness.
Two of them swoop toward Tommy, the other two break off to go for the other two wolves. They shouldn't have divided. Javed shreds the first one, cutting it literally into ribbons. Pieces of dark shadow break off and hit the ground and turns to smoke. And Hector, gangly goofy Hector who tells wonderful stories and ribs his friends and looks like he maybe just graduated from high school yesterday, in an effort to impress the kinswoman he knows is on her way, he lets loose. He drags his claws through another, and as it shreds and tears it instantly turns to smoke as well.
Here's the thing, though. That smoke? It hangs. It waits.
Meanwhile, the battle rages. Cavalry arrives in the form of one lovely Uktena kinswoman, tough as nails and sporting a rifle. She appears as if from nowhere, levels that gun, and fires. Another shadow shredded to smoke , and now that smoke begins to move. Javed cuts apart another one and by now they must be feeling pretty triumphant. A handful of seconds, a peppering of gunfire, and it seems this skirmish is almost over. Excpet, that smoke. It bubbles and boils like ink in water. It writhes, and it
coalesces.
It wraps around the so-called body of the final. Absorbing the other shadows, this one grows. It bulks up. There are shapes that could be eyes. A shape that could be a mouth, sharp and pointed looking as it grins down at them, long, slender, needle-like fingers flexing with new strength.
[Slight stat change. And continue the Rage round!]
Echoes of the Lost
R1: HOLY SHIT WHY IS IT GETTING BIGGER
Dice: 8 d10 TN6 (1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 5, 8, 10) ( success x 2 )
Echoes of the Lost
[+1]
Dice: 9 d10 TN6 (1, 1, 2, 4, 4, 5, 5, 6, 7) ( success x 2 )
{shadows}
Shadow Master: Soak!
Dice: 7 d10 TN6 (1, 1, 1, 2, 3, 7, 7) ( success x 2 )
Javed Anubis-Sight
[[CLAW RAWR DIE SHADOW KING YOU ARE THE WORST X-MEN VILLAIN (okay not really, that's Sugar Man. Seriously, SUGAR MAN? I mean, REALLY? What the fuck, Marvel.]]
Dice: 8 d10 TN6 (1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 6, 8, 9) ( success x 4 )
Javed Anubis-Sight
[[Damage]]
Dice: 14 d10 TN6 (1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 6, 7, 9, 9, 10) ( success x 5 )
{shadows}
Shadow Master: Soak!
Dice: 7 d10 TN6 (3, 3, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) ( success x 2 )
Echoes of the Lost
[R2: WHEE]
Dice: 8 d10 TN6 (3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 5, 6, 8) ( success x 2 )
Echoes of the Lost
[COME ON HECTOR JESUS]
Dice: 12 d10 TN6 (1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 4, 5, 6, 6, 9, 9) ( success x 4 )
{shadows}
Shadow Master: Soak!
Dice: 7 d10 TN6 (1, 1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 10) ( success x 1 )
{shadows}
And just like that combat shifts. So close to victory, the wolves find themselves facing something bigger and sturdier than before. They shred it, Ahroun and Galliard. They tear at pieces of it and still it looms over them, huge and hulking and ominous. Where they shred it smokes and filters and dissipates this time. There's nowhere now for that smoke to return to, except to go away.
It feels no pain as it looms there, watching them claw at it. What could be its head shifts to look where Javed's claws take a chunk of it, and then Hector, and back again.
Then it roils and shifts. And it moves for a new assault.
[re-init!]
{shadows}
Shadow Master: +9
Dice: 1 d10 TN6 (1) ( fail )
Echoes of the Lost
[ACK +8]
Dice: 1 d10 TN6 (4) ( fail )
Javed Anubis-Sight
[[Init+18]]
Dice: 1 d10 TN6 (4) ( fail )
Lola Hawkes
[Dex 3 + Wits 3 +]
Dice: 1 d10 TN6 (4) ( fail )
Afro Daddy
+5
Dice: 1 d10 TN6 (7) ( success x 1 )
{shadows}
Round Two: FAIGHT
Javed 22
Hector 12
Tommy 12
Shadow Master 10
Lola 10
Declare in reverse, roll the other way!
Lola Hawkes
[Rifle Shot: Called shot to head, spending WP]
{shadows}
Shadow Master:
1a: Stab Javed
1b: Stab Hector, targeted shots +2 diff, +3 dam if successful
Afro Daddy
1 WP to activate Resist Pain
1 Rage Shift to Hispo
1a Bite
1b Bite
R1 BITE!
Echoes of the Lost
1:
R1:
R2: SLICE. let's not embarrass ourselves in front of Lola this time.
Javed Anubis-Sight
[[1a Block Shadow King attack aimed at Hector
1b: Block attack aimed at Me
R1: Claw
R2: Claw]]
Echoes of the Lost
1: YIYIYIYIYI
Dice: 8 d10 TN6 (1, 1, 2, 2, 5, 5, 6, 7) ( success x 2 )
Echoes of the Lost
[+1]
Dice: 12 d10 TN6 (1, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 7, 7, 8, 8, 9, 10) ( success x 6 )
{shadows}
Soak!
Dice: 7 d10 TN6 (2, 5, 6, 6, 7, 9, 10) ( success x 5 )
Afro Daddy
[Bite: Dex3+2+Brawl3-2]
Dice: 6 d10 TN5 (1, 4, 4, 7, 7, 9) ( success x 3 )
Afro Daddy
[Dam: 2+Str3+3]
Dice: 8 d10 TN6 (3, 5, 5, 5, 6, 7, 8, 8) ( success x 4 )
{shadows}
Soak!
Dice: 7 d10 TN6 (1, 4, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9) ( success x 3 )
Javed Anubis-Sight
[[Block 1!]]
Afro Daddy
[Extra 2 for Hispo Damage]
Dice: 2 d10 TN6 (6, 10) ( success x 2 )
Afro Daddy
[Bite: Dex3+Hispo2+Brawl3-3]
Dice: 5 d10 TN5 (3, 3, 5, 7, 8) ( success x 3 )
Afro Daddy
[Dam: 2+Str3+3+Hispo2]
Dice: 10 d10 TN6 (2, 4, 6, 7, 7, 8, 8, 9, 9, 9) ( success x 8 )
{shadows}
Soak eet! o_o
Dice: 7 d10 TN6 (4, 8, 8, 8, 9, 10, 10) ( success x 6 )
{shadows}
1a: Stab Javed, dex+brawl -2, diff +2
Dice: 7 d10 TN8 (1, 4, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9) ( success x 2 )
Javed Anubis-Sight
[[Block 1!]]
Dice: 5 d10 TN6 (3, 7, 7, 9, 10) ( success x 4 )
{shadows}
1b: Stab Hector, -3
Dice: 6 d10 TN8 (2, 2, 2, 9, 9, 10) ( success x 3 )
Javed Anubis-Sight
[[Block 2]]
Dice: 4 d10 TN6 (3, 5, 6, 9) ( success x 3 ) [WP]
Lola Hawkes
[Headshot: Dex 3 + Firearms 3-- +2 diff for called shot, spending WP]
Dice: 6 d10 TN8 (4, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10) ( success x 4 ) [WP]
Lola Hawkes
[Damage (L): Base 8 + 3 Suxx Carry-over, +2 Headshot]
Dice: 13 d10 TN6 (1, 2, 2, 2, 4, 4, 6, 6, 7, 8, 8, 9, 10) ( success x 7 )
{shadows}
Soak? Maybe?
Dice: 7 d10 TN6 (1, 8, 8, 9, 9, 9, 9) ( success x 6 )
Javed Anubis-Sight
[Dex+Brawl]]
Dice: 8 d10 TN6 (4, 4, 5, 6, 8, 8, 9, 10) ( success x 5 )
Javed Anubis-Sight
[[Damage]]
Dice: 15 d10 TN6 (1, 1, 3, 5, 5, 6, 7, 7, 7, 8, 8, 8, 9, 10, 10) ( success x 10 )
{shadows}
Last soak roll, for funsies because he is so dead.
Dice: 7 d10 TN6 (1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 5, 6) ( success x 1 )
{shadows}
This new abomination is tougher than when it was divided.
What, is that a metaphor? Something perhaps to take and think over regarding the divisiveness of the septs, or the separation of tribes, or the segregation of kin and Garou, perhaps?
Well, if anyone wants to argue whether a kinfolk can hold her own alongside the Garou, let Lola Hawkes be an example of Sit Down, Bitches, You Don't Have This. She levels that rifle of hers, sets her sights on the void-like darkness of the creature's head, and shoots. A chunk of shadow billows away, only to reform almost completely again. Almost.
It tries to stab at them. It pulls its three finger-like fingers, longer than Tommy's arm if Tommy had decided to shift to Crinos, into one point and it makes to strike for the Ahroun's heart. Unfortunately, it's like Javed's a Fostern warrior or something, because he blocks it easily. He even blocks the strike intended for the Galliard, because he's kind of a badass. No wonder this metis, this sin-born creature has gained rank among their people.
And Tommy. Tommy who has decided he is tired of this bullshit, he lowers his weapon and he takes up the ones that Gaia gave him. He bristles up into his Hispo form, all long-limbed and lanky and terribly powerful, and he snaps his jaws, snapsnap. Each one nips away a bit more smoke, sends it disappearing into the air.
And Hector, oh Hector. Did so well before his lady friend arrived. He tries to tear his claws through the smoky shadow creature, and he succeeds only in tearing away small ribbons of darkness that curl away.
Back to Javed, remember that badass? He, too, has decided that enough is enough. With a flexing of powerful, razor sharp claws, he drags his long fingers through the creature, right through the center of it. Wisps shred and curl and disappear and finally
finally
the streets of Denver are quiet. For now. They're still on patrol, after all. There are other streets to check, to make sure are clean and clear and safe. At least this neighborhood is safe for another few hours.
Javed Anubis-Sight
As the shadow-thing curls off into nothingness, the Anubis-headed Crinos stays stoic and ready for a few moments, to ensure that nothing else is going to attack. Once he is certain, a low rumble sounds before he sinks down to Glabro and them Homid. He looks back at the others and gives one of those rare smiles.
"We fought well. All of us." Yes, that makes an Ahroun happy. Go figure.
He makes his way back to where he had stowed his jacket, pulling it out and looking it over. He starts dusting it off a bit before he slides it on.
Echoes of the Lost
Hector needs to dedicate something besides his boots and his jeans and all that jewelry he sports.
Not that it isn't super impressive when he shifts back into his man-skin and he's shredded all the fabric he was wearing above his waist ten seconds earlier as he does now. It's going to be winter one of these days. Plan ahead, man.
When he turns to assess the health and wholeness of the Fosterns he sees his kinswoman standing behind them and opens his arms all wide to her like she got his invitation after all he's just so pleased to see her.
"Hey!" he says. "You made it!"
Afro Daddy
He's panting when he stands on two feet again, after the bone popping and skin tearing and the constant, constant growling, the unsatisfied feeling of shadow-flesh in his teeth teasing at his rage. He's panting but he's smiling as well. A long arm shoots out to nudge Anubis Sight, whatever form he is in, in the chest.
"There's that strength!" He barks, and it sounds so...triumphant. "There's that muthafuckin STRENGTH!"
He turns that same smile to Hector, reaching out for that added physical touch to him too.
"Damn fine work, kid. You and your kin."
Because this one wasn't one of those to refuse the aid of kinfolk. Lola gets a respectful nod.
And when his clothes have finished fixing themselves back on the outside of his body, he pulls out a flask from the back pocket of those well-worn rugged jeans.
"Lets cleanse this alley just in case, and move on. Hopefully that's all the trouble we'll have for tonight."
Lola Hawkes
Lola had arrived like a force to be reckoned with. She had swung the rifle nozzle toward the first unnatural, pitch-as-night creature that she had seen, reacting only off the description of 'killer shadow' (which was fairly accurate) while doing so. She'd torn the thing to pieces, and a well actioned palm immediately, reflexively, slammed the bolt to reload, and swung about again.
Her stance was practiced, feet spread appropriately to balance the kick of the powerful rifle. Her arms held the weapon against her shoulder, one eye down the sight and the other reading the rest of the world out of focus. The shadows that had lingered in the air, things she assumed to be corpses, wrapped around the remaining figure and grew it to impressive, horrible sizes.
Lola answered by refocusing her eyes down the sight, lining up a shot in a quick breath's time, and blowing off a significant chunk of the Shadow King's head. She was satisfied until the shadows swirled back into place and the Shadow King refused to fall. She slammed the bolt once more, but by the time she could swing the rifle around to land another shot the Wolves had done their work and torn the thing to pieces.
The Middle Eastern looking fellow was adjusting his jacket, Hector was opening his arms wide to her, all flush-faced and bright eyed. It was his moon, she had made herself well aware of that hours ago. The unfamiliar black man barked triumphantly.
Lola, misty with sweat and dressed in a plain gray ribbed tank top, a pair of jeans, sneakers, and a Arizona Cardinals ball cap on her head (hair looped out the back in a ponytail), was still business. The gun was lowered to one side, and she joined where Hector and Tommy were standing together. She looped one arm around Hector's waist and snugged her side up to his, from hip to rib, but she parted quickly. Her face was bright, elated with victory, but there was still a flint of business there.
"We don't have the time. Do it later. We fired guns in the middle of the fucking city, and my truck's out there with license plates on it. Like, real ones. We need to go, now."
Javed Anubis-Sight
He slides his jacket on, nodding sincerely to Tommy. "One can certainly hope so. Though of course, I would rather it trouble us than others."
He gives Lola a polite smile and a nod, not having had the chance to do so before. He would remember her from the warmoot, but y'know. Faces. "Good evening. Excellent shooting."
He generally tries not to over-introduce himself in the city after he's been to a moot and a met several kinfolk. It's easier to apologize for not having introduced himself to a few people than to apologize for forgetting that he already had introduced himself before.
A slight nod. "She is right, we should probably move onto the next area."
Afro Daddy
In another form, the look on his face would be a snarl. On his homid face he's just slightly perturbed.
"Shit, that's right. Fucking yuppy neighborhoods. Alright then, we'll scatter. You need any help gettin gone?"
Lola Hawkes
The compliment that Javed had to offer was answered with a smile. The young woman wore no make-up on her face this evening, but the structure of her face was pleasant and her heritage was Pure (desert moons and red mountains and water serpents of lore). She was a Good Kin, or at least very well on her way to it. "Thanks, " she supplied.
Tommy got a low bit of a chuckle, and she nodded her head to the pair of the unfamiliar men. "I'm Lola Hawkes, and I protect the Sept of Forgotten Questions when I'm not here saving the Cold Crescent's asses." Each of them got an abbreviated but enthusiastic handshake, if they were to accept it.
"I'm gonna go, and take my Tribesman along with me if he'll come." She raised her dark eyebrows at the Galliard, having since loosened her arm from around him and stepped away from his side to go greet the Glass Walker and Silent Strider both. Whatever affirmation it was she received from Hector she accepted, and bade her farewell to the other two.
"It'll be good to see more of you guys, maybe outside of a War Moot next time." Yeah, Javed might not remember faces but Lola was decent at it.
With that, she and Hector scurried out of the alleyway. There wasn't anyone visible on the street itself to be worried about, it was possible they simply lucked out and the residents of the area tonight just couldn't be bothered to actually come check on who it was that might have died outside their windows. Their family was accounted for, anything else was someone else's problem.
With deadly rifle stashed under the seat again, the pair of Uktena drove away.
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