"Hey norm, can you shut up and take things seriously for a few minutes?" Roy gives Xannder an exasperated, disgusted look. "Let's pretend for a moment that you're not being a dumbass, and that Dom and I know what we're talking about. We've got a pack of werewolves in the area that are tearing people up, and they seem to have some sort of mage in their midst to help lay down curses and such. It's what we in the business call a big pile of--you get the picture."
Roy sighs and sits against the wall. "Look. This is bigger than most of the stuff I've dealt with, and the idea that seven other Hunters already got killed in the field isn't exactly helpful. But we've got to take things one step at a time, starting with a plan for how we're going to do this."
He slides back up to a standing position. "I'd say let's try and figure out who's who in this town, especially finding out who's a werewolf and who isn't. To that end, it's going to take some legwork and some asking around--covertly. We don't want those FBI goons down there keeping tabs on us, especially if there's Dep Seven along with them. I'm not a people person, so I'll try and do some research on activity in the area, if there's any Internet. If not, I'll just do some poking around of my own. Agreed?"
Xannder drops his hand's immediately and cowers similarly to a dog with it's tail tucked firmly between it's legs.
Alisha nods to Roy and says, "Indeed, that does sound like a prudent approach. To fight these werewolves we need to know who they are first. I am afraid I am also not one for diplomacy but I am no stranger to field work and investigation. I will do what I can to get to the bottom of this. As for the mage being involved this could be a potential quibble. I am a scholar of Arcane Lore and Mythology but even I do not have the power to weave the power of magic. I hope to learn magic someday as having that as a resource could be a boon to future hunts."
"Ah, lay off the new guy, Roy," Dom said with a smile. "He's just asking questions. Better he ask him here, rather than find out the hard way."
“As for you, Miss, you may be new to hunting, but you already sound more professional than half the yahoos I’ve had to deal with. And don't let Roy fool you. He's good people. A bit of a jackass,” he said with a playful smirk in his direction, “but he’s reliable. You couldn’t have found a better person to bring you in. And don’t knock yourselves. You and Xannder here didn’t turn tail when you found the camp. Most folks would have.”
"But magic is a tricky thing. I'm not going to stop you from learning, but in the short term you might do better off with a gun at your side.
“And it's worth mentioning that I haven’t actually confirmed if it’s Department 7. I'm mostly going on a hunch. But, well, it makes sense that at least some of them would be. You know how they are about damage control, Roy. And a freaking castle showing up out of nowhere isn’t exactly discrete.”
“And I have a suggestion. I got about fifty rounds of silver bullets in 9mm. But I only got a single Beretta on me. Reena’s pop was a hunter though. She could have some stuff for you to take. And, frankly, I would like you guys to talk to her. I’m a pretty good investigator, but I’m too close to this. I could have missed something. Fresh eyes might do the trick.”
"If nothing else, she could give us a lay of the land to help us find this Pack."
“Granted, this could get a bit awkward since the last time I saw her, she told me to do something anatomically impossible to myself,” Dom said with a wince.
“If you got a car we could swing by there tonight. But if you’ve been on the road, sleep is probably a better idea.”
“As a matter of fact –- Roy? You mind taking lead on this case? Like I said, before, I’m too close. And I’ve already got too many folks on this killed.”
Roy snorts at Dom's comment--"Yeah, I'm the jackass"--but nods at the man's statements. The norms are doing better than most, I'll give them that much.
"I've got some silvers for my Beretta, too, but you're right--getting some extra gear would be good. I'll swing by there, see what's going on and if she can help us out. It's been a long time since I had any contact with Reena, things shouldn't be too bad. If you want to take the norms around on the legwork part, see what's going on--you've got a way with people, Dom. Most people, anyway." Roy shrugs. "I can check out what's going on at Reena's."
The Hunter steps toward the door, then turns back to his friend. "And Dom, this isn't your fault. Any deaths are on the lycans, not you, not me. Blame the idiots who didn't coordinate and whoever's helping out the werewolves. You and me and the rest, we're doing the best we can." With that, he makes his way to the room and returns a few minutes later.
"Here." He hands an object to each of the others--a walkie-talkie. "These aren't great, but they're all I could get last time I thought to grab 'em. Only a few channels, and not closed, so only use them if you need to. Channel 4 is what I run on." That said and done, Roy heads off to Reena's.
Dom’s head dropped when Roy told him it wasn’t his fault. He knew that, on an intellectual level, at least. That didn’t stop the guilt from hitting him hard.
Roy then gave his plan, offering to see Reena himself.
“Wait, Roy! Hold up. Before you go, there’s something you need to know. The reason Reena and I got into it was -- well, she had her dad buried. I told her Hunters should be cremated, but -- well, she didn’t take well to that. I know how prickly you can get, and it’s best you know that going in.”
“Also, I don’t think any of us should be going anywhere solo.” Dom looked thoughtful for a moment. “Take Alisha. Not to sound sexist, but, well, maybe a woman might make her feel more comfortable.”
He shrugged apologetically in Alisha’s direction. “Sorry, but we need to take every advantage we can take. And dealing with grieving folks is a part of the job you’ll need to get used to.”
“If Xannder’s up to it, I can take him with me to see the sheriff. I’ve been avoiding doing that, for obvious reasons. But, desperate times and all that. The local LEOs have been cut out since the Feds arrived. But I’ll bet you anything they’re still doing their own investigation on the side.”
"And one last thing. I'm afraid walkie-talkies won't work here."
He flipped it on to prove his point, turning it to channel 4. All that could be heard was static. He indicated for Roy to do the same, and after a moment they both discover that indeed the walkie-talkies are useless.
"But the Feds' walkie-talkies seem to work fine," Dom said. "That's why I think at least one of them might be Department 7."
Alisha says, "I am certainly willing to come along and help you speak to the sheriff. I have already made a good impression during our first meeting and I believe I could aid in the diplomatic efforts with the local authorities. As for fighting the werewolves themselves I expect to be given a firearm at that time rather than see you guys horde them in the battle. I am not going to fight a werewolf with a pocket knife."
“Ah, don’t worry about it. We wouldn’t leave you defenseless. But I don’t have a spare piece on me. Hopefully, Reena can set you up. If not, well, I guess we could go play credit card russian roulette to see if we can get you a weapon. I might not be maxed out yet. A handgun would be impossible to buy though. Legal or otherwise. Not much of a black market in this one Starbucks town.
“But folks will look the other way if we get you a shotgun. We might also consider getting you a crossbow. Lots of folks use them around here for deer hunting. And you’d be surprised the punch those suckers carry. We might even be able to jury rig a silver bolt. Roy and I know a guy who swears by nothing but medieval weaponry. It’d be funny, if he wasn’t still out there kicking ass.
“And I had a taser in my ex-wife’s car. Useful suckers. But that’s gone now. Along with the car.”
Dom sighed. “Man, I am not looking forward to that phone call.”
”And, sure. If you’d rather come with me to see the sheriff, that could also work. Your call, Roy.”
Roy nods. "It's not that I don't trust you, girl, but we don't have a lot of guns on us at the moment, and you said yourself you're an academic. You ever shot a rifle, or even a handgun?" He does agree with Dom's suggestions, though. "Hah, yeah. Crazy bastard. We'll tell you all about him some time."
He pauses for a moment, then shrugs. "Let's get to the sheriff, if we want to do that. I may as well come along, and safety in numbers, all that. The other Hunters got killed because they were lone wolves. We won't make that mistake."
As the group makes to head out, he flips through all the channels on the walkie. "Damn. No service, no radio... Definitely Dep Seven, Dom. And that's no good."
Great, our choice is between the town law who probably has something to prove since almost the whole towns already gone missin. And an on edge woman who recently lost her father. Sounds like a wonderful time!
Xannder says sarcastically. Nevertheless he follows the rest from the room.
"Yeah, that pretty much sums it up." Dom slapped Xannder on the back good-naturedly. "Welcome to hunting. It sucks."
You take a short ride and find the police station. The place is extremely crowded around 30 or 40 people are gathered around the entrance.
Holy hell, you'd think we were at a Star Trek convention. Xannder says when pulling up to the station.
Alisha parks her car in a legal location, lets everyone out, locks the car and then walks toward the crowd and approaches a random citizen and says, "Hello there. Why is there a large number of people piled outside the police station? Does this have something to do with those murders I have been hearing about in the area?"
Dom looked miserable as he stepped out of Xannder's car. He was pretty sure he knew who these people were. The family members of the missing. The people he had failed to save.
Dom shared a meaningful look with Roy. They were both Hunters. They both knew this was the hard part. Being confronted with the results of your failure to protect someone. In this case, 20 people and 7 hunters.
He shook off the guilt. Depression could come later. They had a job to do. He walked over to where Alisha was talking to a random person in the crowd.
A man turn around at Alisha's question. "We don't know for sure it's murders yet, no bodies have been found. Were not allowed to go out and search the woods because the cops and feds say it's too dangerous so we wait here hoping for word. It's all we can do right now." he says
Alisha says to the man, "I only hope your loved ones are alive. My condolences. Fortunately the FBI is on the case and if anyone can break the case, they can. Anyway could please let myself and my colleagues have business inside the station."
You push pass the grounds and make it into the police station. The place is also quite busy and noisy and there is an officer sitting at a desk at the entrance.
"Excuse me officer, we were hoping we could speak to someone in authority. It seems that someone stole my car. And I'd like to report it. Well, actually," Dom said with a put upon sigh, "It's my ex-wife's car, and... I just don't need this kind of hassle. You got to help me out, here. I know everything's going nuts, around here, but if I don't at least get the Stolen Vehicle Report, my ex-wife's lawyer is going to have me for breakfast -- again."
The man at the desk looks over to you "A stolen car? Right...Well see what we can do." he clicks a few things on his computer and prints out some papers. "Fill out as much information as you can and I'll see if we can get someone to talk to you...it might be a long wait."
Dom took a pen and started filling out the information right next to the police officer.
Maybe, if he needled him in just the right way...
"Yeah, officer, it was the oddest thing. It just seemed to go missing right before all the sad business with the missing people," Dom said nonchalantly.
"I didn't want to bother you guys with it, really. But now that the FBI is on the case... Well, it must be a big relief to be able to sit back and let someone else deal with it."
Roy parks his motorcycle next to the cars, also legally, and walks over with the group. When the man turns around at Alisha's question, Roy nods and brushes past him. "The cops and feds are right for once--you should stay put." He continues moving through the crowd and enters the station with the rest, standing to the side and waiting patiently, if anxiously. He pulls up his bandana and smirks as Dom speaks--Work your words, brother. Maybe it'll get your mind off what's gone wrong.
"Were not exactly sitting on our asses doing nothing but I'll see what I can do just fill out the form." replies the officer at the desk.
About twenty minutes later and officer comes along. "So your car was stolen two weeks ago? I'll spread the word and ask our people to keep an eye out for it while they're searching but you really should have reported it sooner, it's probably long gone by now. he says.
Alisha Quinn enters the station and looks around. She thinks on some way to perhaps create a cover story in order to get a venue to speak to an officer and get some further information.
"Well, I'll level with you, officer. At first I hoped I had left it somewhere around town in a, well, less than sober state."
"You see, my friend, Reena, she just lost her old man. You may have heard of him. Anyway, she and I sort of had a spat. I kinda went to the local watering hole to work my way through it."
"Anyways, once I cottoned on that it was really gone, that's when all the disappearances started happening. I didn't want to intrude."
Dom smiled innocently.
"But, hey, having the FBI here must mean you guys can just sit back and let the pros handle it."
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Roy smirks again. Oh, the pros are here. Just not the FBI.
The officer obviously isn't pleased with your comment. "Look we will look for your car but we cant promise anything now if there is nothing else you need to get going because we are actually very busy here. he says
"Oh, no, that's okay. I know that the statistical likelihood of my car being found is about on par with you guys finding Bigfoot. Basically, I just need the Stolen Vehicle Report for insurance purposes. Thanks."
Dom then walked off to convene quietly with Roy, Alisha and Xannder.
"The fishing expedition is going nowhere. Figures, we'd come to the one podunk town in America with professional cops. I hate it when they're competent. They get killed that way."
Dom sighed.
"I think we should try our luck with Reena. The cops here are keeping their cards close to the vest. Unless we want to induct one of them into our little horror show, I don't know what else we could do. That being said, if anyone has any better ideas, I'm all ears."
You leave the station behind and head to Reena's place.
She is currently staying at her fathers house on the edge of town, a fifteen minute drive from the hotel.
You arrive and see that the lights are on but you don't see any movement.
Alisha nods to Domingo and says, "Yes it does appear we have exhausted our leads at the station. Visiting this Reena might be the most prudent source of information."
Alisha drives her car to Reena's place and looks around before letting Domingo take the lead to converse with the occupants.
Xannder stays quiet in the police station, trying not to look suspicious or like he is breaking any laws. He simply nods when Dom mentions heading to Reena's.
They head back out to the car and Xannder looks at Dom.
You know where this place is? I will need directions.
When they arrive, he looks at the house and tries to see if he can find anyone home from the car.
Don't see anyone from here, maybe she's taking a nap?
"Maybe," Dom said doubtfully.
He exited the car, and took a look around.
Dom carefully approached the door, thought twice about it, and then drew his Beretta. He motioned for the others to draw their weapons as well.
"Please let me just be paranoid," he whispered to himself. He then put his hand on the doorknob and turned it.
Alisha lacking a firearm and having only a pocket knife in her jacket pocket does not pull out a weapon and instead stays back behind the people with guns. She is smart enough to not bring a knife to a gun fight.
Roy nods at the station when Dom suggests heading out. "I don't want to bring any more norms in on this." He returns to Atlanta and drives over with the rest.
At the house, Roy, too looks around nervously. From bad to worse. He nods to Dom and draws his Beretta as well, moving low and quietly to stand by the side of the door. He also pulls his flashlight and holds it in his other hand, crossed to support his gun arm at the wrist. He nods to Dom again, ready for the door to open.
You approach the house and Dom tries to open the door to find it locked.
You all notice a powerful stench. Roy looks up just in time to spot a group* of humanoid creature that have long, sharp teeth, and a pallid flesh stretched tightly over a starved bony frame as they climb down towards you. *(4 of them)
Since Roy spotted them he gets a standard or a move before combat starts.
Initiative everyone.
Oh my god, what is that stench? Holy hell, I think it might be that!
Xannder brings up his pistol and aims it at the creature waiting to see how the others react. If it make a threatening move, he will fire at it.
Alisha reacts remarkably fast to the newcomers and puts herself behind the armed people of the party. She then uses her vast knowledge to hopefully identify the creatures that have appeared. (What Skill?)
"Jesus! Roy, open fire! Xannder, get behind us! Alisha, get to your car! It's time to test out the Roadkill Method."
Full Round Action to use Coordinate. Barely made it. A (+1) to attack and skill checks to all allies within 30 feet of me, for 2 rounds.
Alisha being highly educated in mythology and things that are arcane has a strong recognition of what these creatures are.
"Ghouls!" Roy shouts, recognizing the creatures from past Hunts. Wonder what that means for Reena. He doesn't pause to worry about it just yet, though--he starts shooting.
Having fired once, Roy starts backpedaling to the cars, always facing the enemy and continuing to shoot with trained accuracy. "What's your plan, Dom?" he calls to the other Hunter. "The Roadkill Method?"