Finn nods respectfully and pulls his pack over his shoulder. Time to go back and get some rest.
"Never leave home without 'em," Pádraic said, plucking at his coat. "I try to keep it changed up on the regular, for the practice. I'd go in starkers with a vest, but I got the feeling we don't have time for a rite. No trace is no trace, like."
He took a moment to methodically empty out his pockets, down to his keys, phone, and wallet.
"No sense to leaving anything out there someone might sniff after, if it can be at all helped."
The flash of fire creates a wave of heat on your face. There is a squeal of pain, indicating that you have at least singed whatever it was that was sneaking up on Chloe.
Her chanting abruptly stops and there is a yell, half in fear, half in defiance, as she spots whatever it is that is in the clearing
There is a cruel laugh as you hear a thick thud as something connects with a solid bone. You hear a body crumple to the forest floor, then something vaguely in front of you speaks in a gibberish language. Though you can't understand it, the mocking tone is easy enough to understand.
"We haven't heard from them in three weeks, give or take a few days. The whole sept had been called into the Caern for a ceremony honoring Tadhg Ó Dónaill. Have you heard of him? Big shot Fianna, really big," Grafton says, his voice carrying the weight of true admiration.
"They've vanished in the wake of that meeting. I don't think the Irish Garou know what to do and they're having a grand concolation of all the septs in attendance to hash out a plan. Our lad Jerome will be your point of contact. Hopefully he is arranging things right now with the sept chieftains. The plan is for you to be welcomed as the official envoy of the Austere Howl, and by extension our entire tribe."
He flashes a sheepish grin. "Err, no pressure, of course. Sorry."
He too leaves behind identifying information, then opens a drawer to reveal single burner phone. "Typical, Cathal and Conor took the rest, didn't bother to tell Roberta. Sorry kids, I guess I'm the one with the emergency phone tonight." he says, scooping the phone into his inner jacket pocket.
"All right, let's move out", he says, then leads the way back to his SUV. "Well park a couple of blocks away and approach on foot, try to stay quiet if you can. Oh, and if we get separated, it's best to rely on howls. Probably the most secure kind of communication we have."[b]
The SUV pulls into the warehouses surrounding the docks of the city, then continues down some narrow lanes. The smaller warehouses here are made of stone cracked with age, looming over the tiny streets as reminders of the early 20th century when they were built. Eventually Brick Arm pulls the car over.
Without a word he nods to the Ó Dónaill siblings, then gets out of the car. He indicates that you two should remain slightly behind him and he begins to make his way around the backs of some of the warehouses, sticking close to the walls.
He whispers back to you [b]"Just around the corner," holding up his hands for you to stop.
Again, it takes some time for the young man to find his focus. Thoughts of his recent encounter run through his mind. Eventually he fades back into the real world and looks around. It's late. Is the cable car still running? A short walk later tells him it's been closed for the evening. Ah well, don't want to wake anyone. Mornin' will come soon enough. He puts his pack on the ground and lays down, taking out another bottle of water.
The next day he rises early and waits till the cable car opens up operation, takes it back to the mainland and hops back into his beat up old car to drive back home.
Following Brick Arm's lead, Mairy leaps out of the vehicle, doing her best to stick next to the dirty walls. This brings me way back..., she thinks, as memories of sneaking behind old apartment blocks, chopshops and warehouses appear in her mind, before she shakes them off. Cracking her knuckles, she nods as she sees the warning to stop, leaning on the wall.
Pádraic let Brick Arm have the lead he wanted, then padded off the same way.
Reenadinna Wood, Killarney National Park, Munster: June 16th, 2017 9:08 PM (Danny Greedy)
Danny growls and assumes Crinos form!
Calling upon his Ancestors to fill him with the spirit of Combat, Danny strikes.
Claw Attack
Claw Damage =
23 Charles Street, Mayfair, London: June 16th, 2017 8:45 PM (Konstantin Volkov):
Konstantin listened to the Duke intently as he spoke what he knew, although what the Duke knew was too little for Konstantin's soundness of mind. Of course, if more was known, then why would they need to send someone to investigate?
"The whole...the whole sept has gone silent for three weeks?" He sounded surprised and a little horrified by this. Of course, he feared agents of the Wyrm having a hand in it. He shook his head about Tadhg Ó Dónaill - he might have heard the name and a smattering of stories, but little else. "Is the big shot Fianna disappeared as well, then?"
He blinked several times with his eyes wide. He was to be...the official... "Are you CERTAIN you wish to do this? I am happy to investigate but...making me...that..." He lowered his eyes. "I am but a lowly Ragabash," He'd almost said 'humble' but that wouldn't have been quite right. "far from home and his...family."
He gave a shrug of his shoulders. "And they call ME crazy!" He looked back up and grinned fiercely. "When do I leave?"
Other than that, to both attack and change forms you will need to spend a rage point.
As you leap forward, claws outstretched, to assault whatever is attacking the ritual, you are met with what feels like the wooden haft of a weapon. There is another hoarse squeal of surprise as whatever it is was not prepared for the fury of the attack.
The creature backs off a little, then you hear the swish of a descending weapon on your right.
Once you return to the mainland, your beat up old car is enough to get back to Glenfesk, a small town just outside of Killarney National Park- the location of the sept's caern. You pull up along a gravel path to the old farmhouse. With it's sagging gray wooden boards and peeling white paint, fields laying fallow all year where, it's not much, but it is where the cliaths of Musnter without a pack are permitted to stay for free. Right now it is home to only you and the metis, Danny Greedy, who doesn't seem to be there.
The materials you were sent to fetch for Larney Deepcreek, the sept's Master of Rites, need to be delivered either today or tomorrow, but otherwise you remain the subject of benign neglect and were not given a more detailed schedule.
When Konstantin asks if Grafton is sure he wants to do this, there is brief pained look in the Duke's eyes, but it passes quickly. "Yes, we're sure. I mean no offense to you, of course we would want to send someone who is a member of our court, but as explained already... there extenuating circumstances that make if difficult. As for your departure, the concolation is in Killarney National Park, beginning on Monday night. I'm not sure if you just want to show up there or see Jerome first, I suppose it is up to you."
From around the corner, you hear a grunt of annoyance, then a sigh, then a sound of footsteps growing closer.
"Be ready, he's heard us," Bill says. He raises his hands menacingly, getting ready to grab the guard when he rounds the corner.
Reenadinna Wood, Killarney National Park, Munster: June 16th, 2017 9:08 PM (Danny Greedy)
Danny is struck from the side by another assailant - Soak His tough Crinos hide shrugs off the damage. He grins as he now knows that he has more than one foe to deal with.
Roaring with Rage he attack both opponents as only an Ahround Warrior could do!
Attack #1 Primary Opponent - Claw Attack DC 8 -
Attack #2 Secondary Opponent - Claw Attack DC 8 -
Attack #3 Secondary Opponent - Again - Claw Attack DC 8 -
Claw Damage = 6 damage Aggravated, last attack was Aggravated as well.
Page 285, "any Garou can shift to her Breed form instantly". Thus, no need for a Primal Urge roll or the use of a Rage point to attack and act. However, if you house rule different, no worries for me!
Damn it all...
Pádraic darted over and hid himself against the wall. Whatever came wouldn't expect him. Might make all the difference.
23 Charles Street, Mayfair, London: June 16th, 2017 8:45 PM (Konstantin Volkov):
Konstantin slowly nodded to the Duke as he listened to the man. He mulled over the importance and direness of what seemed to be the situation. An entire sept disappearing was a big deal regardless, but a bunch of Silver Fangs going missing? That was huge, and something someone would be asked to investigate - it just normally would have likely been someone a bit more experienced, influential and powerful, probably a couple of someones really considering the nature and extent of the disappearances.
He wondered about the Duke's pained look and the meaning behind what is really going on. But he nodded. "I will go. Seeing Jerome first might be a good idea."
He made sure the Duke had his number just in case, and inquired, "Should I go through Jerome for everything or contact you directly if I should learn what happened or have requests?"
Glenfest, County Cork, Munster: June 17th, 2017 10:00 AM (Finn McCaskill)
What's Danny up to, I wonder? Finn shrugs and grabs a bottle of water from the fridge, drinking it while he plans his day out. Once done, he takes a shower, cleans up a bit, and puts on some new clothes and tosses the old in the wash. What else am I doing? He tosses his pack over his shoulder and heads out to deliver the reagents.
Nodding, Mairy moves closer to the corner, standing next to Brick Arm. Well I don't want to be that guard., she thinks, as she cracks her knuckles, ready to pounce at the guard as soon as Brick Arm takes the lead.
Your claws press against, wrinkled, parched flesh that feels grimy to the touch, drawing some kind of liquid that can only be blood.
With a screech of fury whatever it is that is attacking you swings its weapons again.
You feel the cold touch of rusted metal scrape against your hide, but the supernatural toughness imbued into you by Gaia fights off the blade's cutting edge.
You arrive on the island and make your way to its center, where a small clearing is the heart of the Munster sept. To the untrained eye, it looks just like any other glade. You know that the branches of the trees surrounding the Caern are carefully carved and re-carved constantly by the Master of Rites and other sept members with First Tongue runes praising Red Deer, Gaia, Stag, Unicorn, and other spirits, asking for their protection.
Sure enough, the sept's Master of Rites, Lawrence "Larney" Deepcreek and Finds-through-Fog, are there along with a few other Garou preparing Caern for the ardfheis. Though Finds-through-Fog is the official Rite Master of the Caern, Deepcreek has the unusual position of being Rite Master emeritus, having "retired" from the position due to his advanced age. In reality the two essentially share the position.
The official and unofficial Master of Rites are deep in conversation, standing next to a small wooden table that has a few pieces of parchment laying on it.
Though made of fine cardstock, it just has GRAFTON printed on it in big, block letters. Underneath in slightly smaller printing is the phone number 01842 766362.
"I suspect Jerome will be more available, though, since he lives right there in Dublin."
The Duke gives a little cough. "I don't mean to impose on you more than I already have, but I don't suppose there's sewer access in the house? Disgusting and all, but I don't think it would be a good idea for me to go back out into the streets," he says.
Sure enough, a few seconds later, the guard rounds the corner. A stocky black man with a shaved head, he is dressed in nothing more than a white tank-top and old jeans.
Much more frighteningly, he is sporting a drawn CF-05 submachine gun. However, it is clear from the casual way he is holding it he expected the noise he heard around the corner to be nothing more than a stray dog.
Brick Arm immediately pounces on guard and attempts to rip the gun out of his hand. With surprising agility the guard manages to roll just to the side, avoiding the grab, despite Brick Arm's blinding speed.
Though the dodge has cost him precious time, the guard manages to press the trigger on his SMG, spraying Bill with bullets. The big man takes two right to the chest, grunting in surprise.
Despite seeing a man take two bullets to the chest and not go down, the guard seems largely unperturbed and is already preparing to fire again.
Glenfest, County Cork, Munster: June 17th, 2017 11:15 AM (Finn McCaskill):
The young man waits, standing far enough away that he can't hear the conversation. Subconsciously he edges forward...
...but catches himself and backs up again, shaking his head slightly. He shifts the pack on his shoulder, and leans casually against a tree. The look upon his face as patient and calm as ever, lost in his own thoughts.
Dear Gaia, that thing's loud! And it needs to go. Now. Pádraic rushed up and schoolyard brawls came back to mind. He aimed a hard punch to the man's groin.
Reenadinna Wood, Killarney National Park, Munster: June 16th, 2017 9:08 PM (Danny Greedy)
- 6 Damage.
---
Danny is enraged that the foes still has not fallen, he knows that Chloe's life hangs in the balance and once more... Rages!
Attack #1 Primary Opponent DC 8 - Claw Attack DC 8
Attack #2 Primary Opponent DC 8 - Claw Attack DC 8
Claw Damage - Attack #1 - DC 6 - 3 Damage.
Claw Damage - Attack #2 - DC 6 - 4 Damage
Man my damage rolls on that last two are for shit...
Seeing gunshots land in Brick Arm, Mairead nearly panics. Not used to firearms herself, she sprints out from behind the corner, a barely coherent roar leaving her mouth. "You shot him!", she howls as she stampedes towards the man, heavy boots ringing through the courtyard. Her sprint ends in a vicious punch, as she swings her massive fist towards the guard's face.
The fist lands, straight center into the man's face, the accompanying sound of bones and cartilage breaking bringing both fear and frenzy into Mairy's head. The man flies whole two feet backwards, as his head impacts the pavement, accompanied by a red-white spray of shattered teeth and blood. Mairead breathes heavily, her bloodied fist still curled. "Jesus! You okay, Bill?", she hisses, rushing towards Brick Arm to stare at the bullet wounds, panic in her eyes. "That cunt shot ye, didnae he?", she starts patting the big man for injuries. This is why we shouldnae have guns on the streets!, she thinks. "Ye're... Ye're going tae shift, aye?", she scratches her head, turning to stare at the man lying on the ground. The thought of making sure he's still breathing ends when she can't decide whether she wants him to live or the reaction to finish him off for attacking her pack.
23 Charles Street, Mayfair, London: June 16th, 2017 8:45 PM (Konstantin Volkov):
Konstantin gave the Duke a nod, gratitude most likely. "Understood, and thank you. I shall endeavor not to need you directly." He smiled slightly at that, even as he looked over the card he'd been given. He gave another nod, to the card, and put it in his bag.
He chuckled slightly and nodded a third time. "Yes, no problem. We get you out of here unseen, but please be careful. Sometimes things are in the sewers as well." He waved a hand, "But you already know that, apologies."
He lead the Duke to the basement and to a draining grate there that together they could unseal and lift, and it was barely big enough for a person to fit through. "Have a better rest of evening."
As you have been reminded time and time again, blindness is a hefty drawback for an Ahroun, and your opponent seems to have come to that realization itself. Though you attack it with your full fury, it seems to dodge out of the way of your blows at the last moment; you can feel the tips of your claws just scratching it as it leaps away.
You momentarily lose track of the creature as it darts away from you, only for you to feel the cold, crusty stab of its rusty blade into your lower back a moment later. A chortle dripping with hate follows from your assailant as your life's blood flows out of the wound.
Finds-through-Fog takes a few extra moments looking at the papers, then gathers them into a small portfolio. He looks up to you and waves you over.
As always, his tone is polite but not friendly. "Finn, I see you are back. Did you get the reageants from the pool spirit?" he asks, getting straight to the point.
"Oh, I do know, but usually they tend to go a little deeper than storm drains. I can go big-bad-wolf down there too, if need be, without getting my picture all over the tabloid on the next day," the Duke says with a smile.
Once you and the Duke open the drainage grate, the Duke offer his hand to you for a shake. "It was a pleasure meeting you Konstantin. I have a feeling we will be seeing each other again before too long," he says.
Assuming you return the hand shake, the Duke sits and swings his legs over the edge of the drainage sewer access. As he begins to slide down it, he says, "Ah, the privilege of peerage once again redounding to my benefit," his voice echoing away the farther he gets down the pipe. You eventually hear as sludgy splashing sound as he hits the bottom.
(1 success)
(Botch)
Pádraic pops out of the shadows and lands a direct blow on the guard's sensitive parts. You can practically see the man's eyes pop out of his head in pain, and suddenly he is covered it sweat. He doubles over, vomits, and passes out, falling directly into his own upchuck.
Mairead, winding up for a brutal punch, is left with nothing to do.
As she moves to check on Bill, he is already shifting into Glabro form in order to make use of the Garou's regenerative capabilities. In an instant he becomes more hirsute, his fangs extend slightly, and he begins to bulge out of his suit.
He lets out a little cough of blood. "I'll be fine Mairy, I've been shot dozens of times, there's no need to fuss. Those gun shots have probably tipped off whoever is inside, plus maybe the guards too," he says.
Even in the time it takes him to say these two sentences, you can see that one of the bullets put into him has already been pushed out onto the ground. He stoops to pick it up, then looks over at Pádraic. Instead of a word of praise for Pádraic's timely intervention, he instead focuses on the mission ahead. He says,
"Let's hope that guard has a key so we don't have to rip off the door. Pádraic, pat him down and see if he's got one. We need to get inside, now!"
Reenadinna Wood, Killarney National Park, Munster: June 16th, 2017 9:08 PM (Danny Greedy)
Danny Soak Spend 1 Will for 1 Auto Success. - Two Damage. -1 All actions.
Danny growls and strikes back spinning around eve further enraged! Spend 2 Rage for 3 attacks.
Claw Attack #1 - DC 8 - Miss
Claw Attack #2 - DC 8 - Botch
Claw Attack #3 - DC 8 - HIT.
Claw Attack Damage #3 - DC 6 - 9 Damage.
23 Charles Street, Mayfair, London: June 16th, 2017 8:45 PM (Konstantin Volkov):
Konstantin did indeed take and shake the proferred hand. "Fair enough, and true enough." He smiled. "A pleasure to meet you as well, Duke. I have no doubt."
Several things flashed through his mind at the Duke's last words and descent. He discarded most of them and only whispered, "Descend only to rise again reborn."
He shook his head, re-sealed the grate, and then called Jerome while he began to make sure the place was once again tidying back up to his Aunt's exacting standards. He had much to do and little time to do it in.
Whether answered or voicemail, "Jerome! It's Konstantin! Ever since I become friends with you, I keep getting in to trouble and difficult situations." A chuckle. "But thank you for the introduction and ticket. It looks like I will be closer to seeing you once again soon enough."
"I know one place it's not hiding," Pádraic said, bending over to search the man and trying not to get any puke on his hands.
Glenfest/Brown Island, County Cork, Munster: June 17th, 2017 10:00 AM (Finn McCaskill):
The young man quickly trots over and sets down his pack, carefully taking out the reagents. Yes, he responds simply, seemingly unperturbed by the tone. In fact, he seems to prefer it.
Mairy nods rapidly, sighing in relief as the bullets get pushed out. Sure. He looks fine. Or at least pissed off enough. She grumbles, then grins at Padraic. "Well ye seem tae be able tae handle yerself.", she shrugs, before looking at the building. "Should we hurry? They're nae going tae call the police, 'cause they're smuggling, right?" Clearly lost, Mairy decides to take a couple of steps forward towards the door, and peek through any windows she might see.
"I think it was him that got handled, like," Pádraic said, grinning.
You ferociously attack your opponent, but in your anger you accidentally close your claws around its blade, slicing your hand open!
Incensed, your last blow silences the creature, as with a grunt its madcap cackling ceases. The wood is suddenly silent except for the sound of your own heavy breathing.
The heady scent of a sublimating spirit hits your sensitive nose; though the scent is off- not wyrmish, but this was no Gaian spirit. If so inclined you could harvest the power of your fallen foe to help restore the power of your Gnosis, but you don't know what effect consuming a non-Gaian spirit would have on you.
Finds-through-Fog nods curtly, taking the items and placing them in a box carved with scenes of frolicking deer that he takes out from underneath the table.
"Very good, thank you Finn. Did you have any trouble at the pool? You were there quite a while," the elder Theurge says.
"Ahh, Konstantin, sorry, I didn't look at my phone when I answered."
"Oh, yeah, no problem man. The ticket's courtesy of the Austere Howl though, can't take any credit. Really busy here, I'm guessing Grafton has told you about our big emergency meeting. When you get into Dublin, just take a car or whatever out to Killarney, that's where the meeting is going to be. Well, in the caern there which is out on a little island in one of the lakes."
The young man barely takes a breath between words, and you can hear the heavy tapping sound of keystrokes on a computer as you talk.
Bill shakes his head at Mairead's question. "They won't call the police, but if anyone else heard the gunshot, he probably will."
Pádraic finds the keys in the thug's pocket easily enough. Bill holds out his hand and you toss it to him. "Mairead, if you'll drag our friend into an inconspicuous corner, I'm going to check the door." The Glass Walker quickly moves over to the door and unlocks it, peeking through before he gesturing with his hand for you two to move forward.
Brick Arm heads inside ahead of you. The door opens up into the back of a relatively small warehouse filled with wooden crates marked with Chinese characters; it looks like the goods have already been removed from whatever shipping containers they arrived in.
Leaving his gun holstered, Bill sidles up to the crates and attempts to get a hold on the room's contents.
He turns and whispers back to you two saying, "I don't see anyone, but something feels... off. We're going to need to start looking through these crates for the pills, unless one of you knows how to smell the Wyrm with a Gift"
Glenfest/Brown Island, County Cork, Munster: June 17th, 2017 10:00 AM (Finn McCaskill):
Finn nods, A bit. He frowns as he continues, There was something else waiting with the spirit. Waiting for me. It gave me a riddle from my Uncle Lachtna...and a ring. His tone is quite matter-of-fact, as if there were no threat at all. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out the small golden claddagh ring, It's interesting, don't you think? Seems like he could have just asked... Finn trails off as he tilts his head, staring off in thought before shrugging again.
Reenadinna Wood, Killarney National Park, Munster: June 16th, 2017 9:09 PM (Danny Greedy)
Danny growls at the spirit and leaves it be for the moment. He takes a moment to let his wounds heal fully then approaches the body of Chloe laying his healing hands upon her:
Mother's Touch
"Then we have a search to do," Pádraic said, sighing. He set to it.
23 Charles Street, Mayfair, London: June 16th, 2017 8:45 PM (Konstantin Volkov):
Konstantin shrugged his shoulders before remembering that Jerome couldn't see him. Force of habit. Later during Jerome's long and quick speech he nodded as well a few times, though he didn't consciously notice.
"Da. I have been informed of reason for my travel. I did not think to visit Ireland so soon, and on pressing business no less. Ah well. I have heard is beautiful country, if I get to see some of it and am not running for my life most of the time there." He let out a chuckle.
"Very well. I will try to visit you while I am there if I can once things are calmed down hopefully. I will let you get back to your typing. Goodbye, Jerome."
Barring anything further from Jerome, he hung up and went to pack.
Nodding, Mairy carefully drags the man from the forming puddle of lunches past, dragging him into the corner. Taking the liberty of tying the man's arms with his own shirt, she moves back to the rest, seeing Brick Arm peeking through the window.
"Uh, Bill?", she asks in a hushed whisper, staring at the crates. "Ken ye what they usually ship the weird stuff in, like?", she says, pulling out her phone with a smile. "'Cause we can read what's on the crates, if that'd help. Lemme just downlood the app, like.", she hisses, staring around the room for any additional guards, cracking her knuckles.
You hear the short rush of wind as Chloe awakes with a start. "Ugh, what happened? Did... did I anger the spirit?" she says, her voice still woozy with unconsciousness.
Finds-through-Fog looks incredulous for a moment, then takes the ring from you to inspect it.
"Yes, definitely a fetish of some kind. What was the riddle that he gave you with it?" he asks, turning the ring over in his hand, looking at it intently.
It is getting on rather late and you have to decide whether to buy the plane ticket at the gate, buy it online right now, or find some alternate method of getting across the Irish Sea.
Bill shakes his head "I'm afraid we haven't figured out their marking system yet, I think they just check the crates themselves when they arrive. All of the boxes should be marked along the lines of "toys" or the like."
In order to demonstrate, Brick Arm lifts the top of one of the crates, revealing a plethora of the kind of cruddy plastic toys that can be found in vending machines at the backs of supermarkets.
"Still, any help... gah!"
As Bill is explaining what has happened, he's suddenly tackled by some kind of giant spotted monster that comes out nowhere.
It passes by in a blur as it crashes itself and Brick Arm through a stack of crates, spilling the tiny plastic toys everywhere; the two are gone from view in an instant.
Immediately after, four black men round the corners of the boxes, equipped with Chinese sub-machine guns like their compatriot outside. Two are attired like the guard, but two are more heavily armored in black heavy leather jackets. They immediately open fire on you two.
23 Charles Street, Mayfair, London: June 16th, 2017 8:45 PM (Konstantin Volkov):
Konstantin texted Jerome to ask if he should come see him first or just show up to the meeting instead.
He muttered to himself in Russian, not angry per se, but normal unhappy about having short notice and the high stakes of being a handed a mission of grave importance.
Once answered, he went online and went through the process of purchasing a ticket.
Glenfest/Brown Island, County Cork, Munster: June 17th, 2017 10:00 AM (Finn McCaskill):
Finn tilts his head and says, I don't remember how it goes, specifically. I am...a creator, I think? I begin at night, or sundown. I make odd things, but to me they are not fake. I create, but it is not my will. He shrugs, Something like that. The answer was a dreamer...do you know the riddle?
Reenadinna Wood, Killarney National Park, Munster: June 16th, 2017 9:09 PM (Danny Greedy)
.
Danny shakes his head, "No, I don't know what happened a mad cackling spirit appeared... out of thin air... I suppose and attacked you. I fought it, a fairly powerful spirit or perhaps in my blindness I am not as up to the task as I like to think I am.
Regardless, I have defeated it, it may still linger if you wish to question it. Are you alright?"
"Shi...!", comes out of Mairead's mouth, before the sound is drowned in the cacophony of gunfire. Ducking to the ground, Mairy feels a heavy hit in her left shoulder, but doesn't feel the burning feel of pain until a part of a second later, when a bullet jabs itself in her gut. Letting out a scream of pain, she stares at the man in the heavy leather jacket, as she starts sprinting towards him. Kill!, she thinks, as mid-run her clothes sunder at the seams, as a ten-foot tall ginger Garou pounces forward away from torn clothing scraps, a paw the size of a car tire flying towards her assailant.
It's all gone tits-up now, like. Them or us. Pádraic felt Rage boiling up inside him and forced it down as he shifted.
He charged the nearest gunman, aiming for the groin again.
"Thank you Danny," she says, climbing to her feet. "I'm afraid I don't see it, thought I do smell the ephemera now. Its body must have already dissolved back into the Umbra."
She sighs and continues. "The ritual is ruined... and now it looks like the bawn has been compromised. Do you have any idea of what it was. A wyrm spirit? Something else?"
The Master of Rites shrugs and hands you back the ring. "I've not heard it, though when it comes to you uncle I would avoid and thinking the first answer you've come up with is the correct one."
"In any case, that ring is yours as he gave it to you. I'd be very careful with it. I am a little worried as we are all on the outs with Lachtna. It's not a good sign that he knew where you'd be. I wonder if we have a leak in the sept?" he continues, almost talking to himself.
"Well, if that is all, I don't have anything else for you today. I will have to bring this to the attention of Chieftain, so be ready to come if you are called," he says coolly, watching for your response.
Once she is safely in bed, assuring you the she is very sad that you cannot stay longer with her, you turn in for the night yourself.
Padraic notices that the gunmen do not immediately shit themselves and start crying like babies or trying to run away when Mairead enters Crinos form, which is definitely not normal. He is unsure of the reason why, it could be something wrong with Mairead, it could be because they have some relation to the creature that just tackled Brick Arm.
The hired killer that has shot Mairead stares down her charge to the best of his ability, but there is little even such a hardened criminal can do against a Crinos-form Garou. Her massive claws nearly take the man's head off, but he managed to just barely back away enough to merely get deep furrows scratched in his face, covering his face with fresh red blood.
Remaining cool under fire, the group again begins to shoot at the cliaths, filling the air with the rat-tat-tat of submachine guns. The one Mairead has mauled is nearly incapable of firing his gun through his grievous facial wounds.
Reenadinna Wood, Killarney National Park, Munster: June 16th, 2017 9:10 PM (Danny Greedy)
Danny shakes his head and tries to remember the exact sequence of events - sounds and smells to answer Chloe's question. . But it all happened so fast, "Sorry Chloe, damn my sightless eyes! It did not for lack of a better term feel like a Wyrm spirit but what else could it have been? That mad cackling..."
"Ritual ruined is bad yes but you dead Chloe would be much worse. I am just glad I was here..."
Also, ready to come together for sure!
Glenfest/Brown Island, County Cork, Munster: June 17th, 2017 10:00 AM (Finn McCaskill):
Finn tilts his head curiously, Thank you for the advice, he says, his tone genuine. I had not thought of that. He walks away, but stays in the area. Finn finds a shady place to sit under a tree and examine the ring with his one good eye, spending hours just turning it over and thinking.
23 Charles Street, Mayfair, London: June 16th, 2017 8:45 PM (Konstantin Volkov):
Konstantin bids his aunt farewell and helps her to bed since she is a bit tipsy. He makes sure he's all packed up and ready to go. There's nothing else to do but wait and be early for his flight.
Operation Hard Lemonade, Cork City, Viking Holdings: June 16th, 2017 9:45 PM (Mairead Kavanagh, Pádraic Meagher)
The barrage of bullets rains on Mairead, seemingly doing nothing to slow her down. In fact, a couple of bullets start dropping from the bleeding wounds, as she snarls viciously. "Behind me, Pad!", she howls at the smaller Garou, as she leaps forward, with seemingly no regard to safety. With a swoop, Mairead's hand grips the injured man's head in its entirety, as the half-foot claws embed themselves in the skull, raising the man above the ground. As she squeezes, a spray of red and gray sloshes onto the floor from the ruined head.
Throwing the mauled corpse several feet away, Mairy takes a leap at the second guard, bringing her other hand to bear. The guard reactively brings his weapon to block the attack, which does little to help against the Rage of a wounded Garou in the middle of her pack. The claw batters through the lifted machinegun as if snapping a twig, continuing downwards through the man's chest, where the blood-curdling sound of ribs, flesh and guts being severed and spilled on the ground. Wasting no time, she leaps towards the third man, teeth bared. Latching onto the man's shoulder, and pinning him to the ground, she rips out the arm with a snap of her jaws, sinking the claws deep into the man's screeching lungs, silencing him forever.
Not finished, she leaps once more onto the final gunman, pinning him under her massive bulk, her hands pinning her opponent on the ground. Her muzzle snaps at the air in front of his face, as blood droplets fall onto the man's terrified face. "Drop it!", she snarls, snapping her jaws once more to accentuate the alternative. Snapping her head back, she turns to Padraic, and then to stare at Brick Arm fighting the creature. "Subdue. Him. I'll help. Bill.", she grunts.
-First Target being the injured hitman.-
-Second Target being the other person firing at her.-
-Third Target being the hitman targeting Padraic. We gotta protect our Theurges. -
-Fourth Target is the man Padraic is attacking.-
Operation Hard Lemonade, Cork City, Viking Holdings: June 16th, 2017 9:45 PM (Mairead Kavanagh, Pádraic Meagher)
Damn it it all, this went to hell in a hurry! Pádraic did as he was told and got himself behind Mairy even as more bullets ripped into him. Praise be to Gaia, his healing kicked in and pushed two of them straight back out before he could drop.
"I'll do him for," Pádraic said. He aimed a kick at the man and missed badly.
I think I'm doing this right...
I think that puts him at 6 levels of lethal.
And that should get him up to 4.
And he shrugs that one off! Not dead yet!
In a somewhat unexpected development, Chloe embraces you in a deep hug. It appears she is still in human form, so she feels very small against your large Crinos body.
"Thank you so much Danny. You really saved me back there."
The hug ends but she lingers holding your hand for a moment.
"Come on, let's get back to the elders. We need to tell them of this; I'm sure they can figure it out. And I need to clear my head."
You hear her begin to gather up her things, and after a moment she is ready to leave.
Certainly there is a spirit in the ring, but without attempting to attune to it, not much more can be known. It is hard to say what your wily uncle may be thinking, but if you don't make use of the ring in some fashion, he has threatened your human aunt and uncle.
Mairead turns Pádraic, holding her victim at the ready for her theurge half-brother to pulverize, only to see that he has been severely injured by the assault. He chest is riddled with bullet holes and looks more like a bloody swiss cheese than anything else. In such a state, his kick at the thug barely has any energy behind it.
With a quick snap of her arms, Mairead simply punches the man in the head, knocking him out cold (though likely with a concussion).
With the immediate threat pacified, the carnage all around become apparent. The boxes and floor are splattered with the blood and viscera of the slain, literally torn apart by Mairead in her rage.
After this brief moment of calm, it takes a second to walk through the destroyed boxes where whatever that thing was tackled Brick Arm.
There, lying on the ground, is Bill, now in Crinos form. His mottled gray and red-brown fur is painted with crimson blood, and he lies on the floor. A deep gash in belly partially exposes his entrails. Though a wound of this magnitude would certainly be fatal on a human, Bill is a wake and gasping for breath.
A trail of blood lead to an exit on the side of the warehouse, where the door lies slightly ajar. Apparently his attacker fled he fight.
Bill looks at you two with desperate eyes, but it is clear he cannot speak through the combination of pain and being in Crinos form.[/spoiler]
Operation Hard Lemonade, Cork City, Viking Holdings: June 16th, 2017 9:45 PM (Mairead Kavanagh, Pádraic Meagher)
Taking a quick look at Padraic, Mairy's eyes widen, as the huge warwolf transforms back into Mairead, clad in a tank top, torn jeans and boots. "Jaesus, are ye okay?", she exclaims at Padraic, rushing forward to look at his wounds. "Ye'll be okay, aye?", she asks, seeing his wounds starting to regenerate with a breath of relief, before seeing Brick Arm lying on the ground.
"Should I go after... it?", she asks in a panicked voice, "Nod if aye?", she adds a second later, as the grunts from his mouth indicate he can't speak. "Oh, shite, shite...", she mumbles, staring at the carnage behind her, as her eyes look around the room for cameras. "I shouldnae've done that!", she continues, turning around to see the carnage. Oh, shite, shite, shite... Something rises in her stomach, as she turns paler than usual. "Padraic, what was that?", she looks at the young man with wide open eyes, hoping he'd know more about it than her. I'll go and tear that thing to shreds!, she thinks as she crouches down to Bill, biting her fist.
Operation Hard Lemonade, Cork City, Viking Holdings: June 16th, 2017 9:45 PM (Mairead Kavanagh, Pádraic Meagher)
"I'll live..." Pádraic said. "Hell of a thing, being shot up. Mam's like to kill me," He gingerly stepped over to Brick Arm, careful not to jostle his own wounds. He tried to think of something he could do for Brick Arm, but nothing would best Garou healing on its own.
Glenfest/Brown Island, County Cork, Munster: June 17th, 2017 10:00 AM (Finn McCaskill):
Finn concentrates on the Fetish and attunes to it. No sense in waiting. Might as well find out what my uncle is after.