planning for the nyst.

[Armstrong] She had planned. Or rather, she had managed to come together, to think, and then lay out her thought processes. Her focus was on the Umbra at that moment; on figuring out where they were going to plan and how they were going to get things together. White Eyes had been focused; she could catch up with Zeke later. He knew what was going on Top Side, she had made her focus on the other.

So, she had paced, she had thought, and soon she was in the second floor common room, with pack mates (because some said they would be there and Mindy said she'd catch them up) and others present. Or, rather, some still arriving. So, there she was, pristine and focused. Her attire was simple: black turtle neck and a pair of jeans. Mrena had those boot/house shoes on with her pants tucked into them. She was comfortable, and as far as so many were concerned, she was still her ever-present confident self.

[Andrew] He came out of his room at the end of the hall and his footsteps could be heard making their way down to the common room. He appeared in the doorway to the common room and paused there for a moment. His attire was a little worse for wear. His sweatpants and sweatshirt had some spots of blood on them. He hadn't had a chance to acquire new clothing yet. The arm of his sweatshirt was pulled up on one side and he had a bandage wrapped around it, just to keep the bleeding down.

On the other forearm was the piece of snakeskin, stretched over a leather armguard, that Mrena had helped him make. Around his neck hung the rattlesnake head and tail, tied to leather thongs.

After a moment, his eyes roaming around the room and assessing the layouts of packs and relationships, he entered and found a place to stand, a proper distance from the others. Eyeing them all and waiting.

[Sampson Musembi] Sampson... appears. One minute he was not there, and in the next, he is, taking a step as if from out of the wall itself.
He likes that effect.
He even has a scent, his own, just for this occasion, and to put the other garou at their ease.
Their pack comes together in the chaotic way that the Talons of Horus move, as if randomly. His movements bring him to the fridge for a beer, face to face with Mrena though he says nothing out loud, to beside Katherine, circles the other side of her to a preferred spot, where he pops the beer open with the sucking hiss of glory-- and waits, quiet for now.
Every so often, he does indeed, exercise the first part of his Tribe's name.

[Bellamonte] Katherine was present, or rather she was present in body if perhaps her mind seemed elsewhere engaged. She had been sitting with Mrena as the Theurge paced, and sat down before rising and pacing once again and now the Philodox of the Unbroken Circle -- pristine in a white sweater and jeans sat in expectant silence with her long legs tucked beneath her body, one arm resting along the arm of the sofa as pack-mates and spectators alike began to trickle into the common room area.

"Well, Mrena. I do believe the floor is yours." Katherine Bellamonte drawled with a small expression of humor.

[Armstrong] "Alright," she started.

She looked at everyone gathered and took a breath. She was confident, yes, and she seemed to have her ducks in a row. White Eyes could talk, and would talk, about planning with them. "So, for those of you who were not aware. There's something growing in the umbra on the Mile. It's an egg sack, of sorts. Nysts function in a way that they are protected and supported by something else and then? Once whatever is inside was been fed enough, it can hatch. These things exist so that something that normally can not exist in an area can, eventually, thrive. Some are of Gaia, and some are not. This particular one? Is not."

The floor was hers, and so, she was using it. "So now, we have the joyous task of getting to this thing in the umbra and making sure that it Does Not Hatch. Any questions so far?"

[Andrew] He shook his head briefly, assuming she'd likely have more to say. Then the real questions began.

[Sampson Musembi] Sampson Is a Ragabash. Duh.
"What will this one become, when it makes adulthood? Where is the parent? Is it protected by the parent creature? Why is the egg sack going to be so difficult that so many of us are needed to kill it? Do you want a beer, Mrena? Are we there yet?"

Yes. He had questions.

[Armstrong] "I do not know what it could become, nor what its parent is, but I do know that there are banes protecting it that will, eventually, also function as its food source once it hatches, and it's going to be difficult because of the number of banes and the lack of knowledge of variables. Because of its location, Gaian spirits have been avoiding the area and I haven't been able to see the place as closely as I would like yet but it's a little unwise to do this reconnaissance alone. I would love a been, and we're almost there."

[Armstrong] (beer, even!)

[Andrew] One of the many reasons he stayed a certain distance away from the rest of the group was so that he couldn't reach out and smack annoying Ragabashes. It was a good thing he was where he was, at this point. "How many are guarding it?"

[Lukas] Lukas has been here all along, really.

For now he's quiet -- listening.

[Bellamonte] Katherine absently trails her fingers in her hair, her eyes wandering from Sampson -- with a small roll of her eyes heavenward -- to Andrew and back to Mrena. "What do you have in mind, Mrena?"

[Sampson Musembi] The opened beer switches owners, but the Raggie doesn't go fetch a new one. Instead, he waits to see what Mrena will do with what he's given her.
If she will drink it, or not.
She might not.

[Armstrong] "Outside, the banes kept to the shadows. Those particular ones weren't exactly fans of light- moonlight, sunlight. Just light in particular. There were at least seven outside but, again, they were simple, flawed creatures. Inside may be a different story. So, I propose that we deal with this on two fonts. It's located in the basement of a club on the Mile, so I propose that some of us gain access to the basement of the club from topside, be that after business hours or not, and come through to the umbra from there. There's an outside entrance slash exit, solid steel door. If we could get through from there though, we wouldn't have to make a ruckus inside of the club. Either way, we need to find some way to get in first."

[Andrew] He frowns. "Cross over, get in, cross again." Then shrugging his shoulders. "Or rip off the door."

[Lukas] "If we can stay in one group," Lukas speaks up at last, "I think that would be best. If we knew the layout of the interior a pincer attack might be ideal -- but we don't. And I don't like the idea of splitting our already small force into two.

"Would it be possible to rip the door down? Considering we may not be able to take the warform while we're outside?"

[Sampson Musembi] "For those outside, who of us can bring Light? Gifts, with Light? Talens, with Light? Spirits, of Light? Those do not sound so difficult to overcome What is inside might be quite a nice challenge."

He does listen to Andrew's words, but does not respond to the suggestion himself. Lukas will evaluate their ideas. Organized, this pack.
"what of this club itself? Why is this nyst here, and not elsewhere? What woudl we find, were we to set watch on it and those inside it, while we combat this nyst and its guardians?"

Sampson is created in part to question, and to cause questioning. Mrena likes questions. To a point. The journey to that point is ever changing, adn always worth the trip.

[Armstrong] "I can see if Zeke has that information. He might now the layout well enough to recreate it, until then this is what we have to go with. We could block the street side view from sight and sound, taking the door off completely would be a viable option. This is completely possible," she said.

Lukas liked the idea of staying in one group, she nodded, and then went to answer Sampson. "It is where it is because that is where it can be fed. The club up top has some rather illicit activities going on. The place is a den of corrupt activities and general degradation. The wyrm grows because it is fed, and grows in places where it can be fed."

[Lukas] "Then it's worth getting the kinfolk to see into the club's activities itself. See if we can get it shut down for," Lukas smirks faintly, "tax evasion or something; I don't know."

He's been sprawled on the couch in his usual place; he sits up now, swinging his feet onto the floor. "Otherwise," he adds, "it'll just be a matter of time before something like this crops up again."

[Andrew] "We should destroy the club too." Glancing over at Lukas for a moment. Tax evasion? Paper. Puh. "Yes, make sure it does not come back. Burn it."

[Bellamonte] "An undercover operation?" Katherine raises an eyebrow at the notion. "Were it not for the dangers involved to them, I'd suggest sending a kinfolk into the club itself. It would certainly make getting inside easier."

[Armstrong] "John's a vice detective," Mrena paused, then elaborated. "John Thornton, Fenrir kin. He should have the connections necessary to deal with some of the fall out of the place. Burning the building wouldn't necessarily solve the problem of its patrons. We clean the place out in the umbra, someone sends an anonymous tip, and there we go."

[Sampson Musembi] "Or! What if! we leave the club there, to catch fools who might return to the same space? For otherwise they will do so again, out of sight of our eyes and knowledge. Though, only fools indeed would return to the same space.
The kin can determine if they are such fools or not. My kin, however, are not suited for that sort of endeavor. They are! Runners, and public speakers, and! Very good organizers."

[Sampson Musembi] "I mean, rather, elave hte buiilding, and not burn it, not to leave hte activities. That would be foolish."
(Whoops, clarification!)

[Andrew] He grunts. "Leave dead bodies in basement. Tell police. They will shut down."

[Lukas] (a little belated!)

A shake of his head, "We can't just burn a club down in the middle of the Magnificent Mile, Andrew-rhya. That's the heart of the city. The humans would investigate. Better to let the kin take care of it. Anyway, Agnessa's been itching to organize the kin and put them to work. Might as well hand it off to them.

"It'll give us some time to watch the place, too, and see if we catch any more of them."

[Armstrong] She looked at those gathered for a moment, then nodded. Mrena still had Sampson's/her beer in hand. White Eyes took a drink and then handed it back to him.

"Alright, so, the general consensus seems to be letting the kinfolk deal with the club's dealings?"

[Sampson Musembi] "Yes. However-- one of us! With the gift of seeing to the heart of one! Could go in as well, and make sure! There are none who would steal our kin from us, none of the Black Spiral Dancers. Or, is there NO sign of them? Is it impossible? that they should be there too?"

He is protective of kinfolk, this man from the tribe with so very, very few left. Maybe that's why he hordes his own kin.

[Andrew] Nodding a bit. He seems fine with that idea. Let the kinfolk do it. And if they screw up... they could always burn down the building.

Which left cleaning out the infestation.

[Sampson Musembi] (fire bug Andrew!)

[Andrew] (Hello? Dances on Fire?)

[Sampson Musembi] Well. Nearly a plan.
"So. We need! reconnaisance. Myself, Edward. The rest of the pack and strength near, for backup, if we get into trouble or find that we Can take them immediately? For time! is not our friend. The eggs will hatch. How long, do you think, till they do hatch? Have you any idea? Or! will this be something which we also must determine in our scouting?"

[Armstrong] "It's not impossible, it would just take some more planning and time for execution," she said. "I believe a time for hatching may be determined through your scouting, though, Gaian spirits are starting to avoid the area so you may not have much time left. I trust you both to do what is necessary."

[Lukas] "We may as well scout the night we strike, then. Send the Ragabashes ahead, follow as soon as we know the details. It'll keep them from changing things around on us, too."

[Andrew] It's at this point, he figures, well, they'll figure out what to do with them. He reaches up with one hand, unties the stretched snakeskin from his arm. Then carefully lifts the rattle from his head. Pulling the thong up to capture the rattle in his hand, he flicks both of them over to Lukas. "The skin will help blows glance off. The rattle will make their strikes hesitant. Use as you want."

[Lukas] Lukas catches the talens midair, examines them with interest for a moment. Then he nods at the theurge.

"Thanks, Rhya."

[Lukas] (pssst. who's posting?)

[Armstrong] (sorry, didn't refresh!(

[Armstrong] "I suggest that we move by the end of the week," she said. Watching the Talens fly through the air, explanations given. The theurge nodded a quiet thank you, and couldn't help but be a little proud for a split second.

[Sampson Musembi] "Yes. I woudl think more days away from the darkest of the moon would be wise, if these htings love shadows. It is bad! To go to them in their strength, I think? Say, in several days, firmly in the Crescent Moon, as much as I would love to attack in MY moon."

[Lukas] "Agreed. Who else is joining us?"

[Andrew] He nods. "Agreed. I will fight." His hand raises, fingers going over the snakes head that hangs on a thong around his neck. He strokes it with one finger, then lowers his hand. "We will light. And healing plants. I will go prepare them." He turns. Apparently preparing to leave. ((gotta hit the hay soon))

[Bellamonte] Katherine twists one of her hands up into the air and waggles her fingers toward Lukas.

"Count me in, I do rather enjoy some cloak and dagger on occasion."

[Andrew] ((we will need light. sheesh))

[Sampson Musembi] It's done. They have enough to begin their new plan. Hell if Sampson's big ears dont grow bigger in his glee.
"Do garou not come forward for a good fight? I expect! more will join us by the day of our excursion. Then! After! We will party, and dance victory as we impale the trophies of our enemies on the Wyrmpole! And THEN! We will go home! And fuck our kinfolk!"

He DOES love a good fight. Its a win/win/sex situtation.

[Armstrong] "Seems that those confirmed are those of our pack and Andrew-rhya. I know others who would be interested, you say 'hunt' and people come running."

And Sampson says his bit about fucking kinfolk, and blinked. "Sounds like a fitting celebration to me."

[Lukas] "Speak for yourself," Lukas says wryly, regarding kinfolk and fucking. "As long as the hangers-ons know the plan, I'm fine with it." He stands up too. "Are we adjourned?"

[Andrew] He grunts and rolls his eyes at Sampson's comment. Of course, he would. He's an ugly bastard. Would any kinfolk even fuck him? It's hard to imagine they would. They'd have to stop retching long enough to say 'yes.' Or maybe they wouldn't.

He turns and heads back down the hall to his room. He's got more stuff to prepare.

[Andrew] ((Thanks for the scene! See y'all later.))

[Bellamonte] Katherine watches Andrew depart with undisguised amusement. "Apparently, we are."

[Lukas] (night man!)

[Armstrong] "We are adjourned," a solid nod of approval. Then? The theurge stood up and stretched a little. Beer in hand almost forgotten and then? Well, she took a drink. Mrena had almost forgotten about it, and who gave it to her.

[Sampson Musembi] Sampson's mouth slowly-- so slowly-- splits into a smirk. Then a smile.
Then a Very Wide, toothy grin, at Mrena, who drank the opened container he'd given her.
He's watching her rather intently, as if waiting for something to happen. Ass.

[Armstrong] When she saw that look?

Well, now. Mrena swallowed and then looked at the can for a moment and handed it back to Sampson.

"... should I be nervous?"

[Sampson Musembi] "Should I answer a riddle for a theurge?" He counters, and then leans against the wall, crossing his arms--
and waiting. Waiting for something. Something Mrena might not know. Something she might.

[Lukas] (I'm gonna bow outta this scene! Lukas grabs a book and reads. i'll stick around til bedtime to watch, though.)

[Armstrong] (that's cool by me, peace mister!)

[Armstrong] She put the beer can down and looked at Sampson. Just looked for a minute, then the beer can, then started to make her way back to her room... slowly. And now? She tried to remember if she had been Sampson take a drink of the beer too.

"Common sense will get you through anything... though it seems to be a hard sense to cultivate."

[Sampson Musembi] No. Sampson had not, in fact, taken any drink of the beer.
It was just her.
He'd opened it, handed it over, she'd held it, finally drunk. And THEN he'd been THRILLED.
Her packmate, omega, troublesome, beloved packmate, watches her go, not moving from his post, just as happy as he could ever be, grinning his fool head of at her.

[Armstrong] (okay, lovelies, I gotta get some food and then might hit the sack afterwards)
to Bellamonte, Lukas, Sampson Musembi

[Bellamonte] (guys, I posted on the pack forum, check it out when you can!)
to Armstrong, Lukas, Sampson Musembi

[Sampson Musembi] (night)