fosternhood.

[Ewan]
Spindoctor headed to the caern and started looking around for Wyrmbreaker. Nothing demanding or harried. Just looking for him when the other wolf would have a few minutes. Letting the guardians know that if they see him come in, to let Lukas know that Ewan was seeking him for something.

[Wyrmbreaker]
He'll find Lukas in one of the abandoned hangars, brushing a mountain of fresh-poured sand flat on the floor. This is not the challenge circle, but this was the site of an impromptu sparring arena a week or so back.

The Shadow Lord's overcoat is off; the sleeves of his sweater and thermal are rolled up. He turns and faces the Glass Walker as he enters, leaning on his floorbrush. "Spin Doctor. What can I do for you?"

[Ewan]
*The Glasswalker bowed his head to the Shadow lord and spoke, respectfully.The strange accent from having learned High tongue before English tinting his words*

"If you have some time, I've sought you out, to challenge for my Fostern rank. The spirits hold my accomplishments as to a level that would indicate that it's finally time.

Of the Ahroun we have remaining, I've fought with you, and have found your leadership to be sound. So I seek you out as the best of the Fostern Full moons to challenge. "

[Wyrmbreaker] Lukas laughs quietly, then pushes the handle of the broom away from him; lets it drop onto the newly spread sand with a soft thump.

"No need to flatter me, Spin Doctor. I'm aware of your renown amongst the Nation, and I'm glad to accept your challenge."

A pause, thoughtful.

"I've seen Rory Tongue-Twister, Irene Until-Death, and Annie Hard-Knocks in the Caern today. Go find them and meet me in the challenge circle."

--

When all are gathered:

"Ewan Spin-Doctor of the Glass Walkers is challenging for Fostern today. An Ahroun of the second rank must be swifter, stronger, more cunning and more honorable than one of the first.

"Spin Doctor, you will prove your fitness for your new rank by proving yourself superior to the Garou of your old. You will stand in combat against three Cliath Ahrouns of three Tribes not your own. You must stand alone, and they too will face you one by one. You may heal yourself if you can, but you will only have ten seconds to prepare between combats.

"Combatants may use any weapon, form, maneuver, tactic, fetish, talen, totem, gift, or temper. Your task is to win; to demonstrate your superior combat prowess. Your task is also to demonstrate, through the means and methods of your victories, your superior honor and wisdom in combat.

"Needless to say, none of you are to permanently maim or kill your opponent. This is an honorable challenge, and it is not personal. There is no inglory or dishonor in losing.

"Ewan, you may choose the order of your opponents. Begin when ready."


[Okay, just a quick clarification:

One on one, each match. Anything goes, but they may not maim or kill each other. Between bouts, Ewan has 10 seconds, i.e. 3 rounds, to prepare as need be.]

[Ewan Selwyn] *Ewan looked to Wyrmbreaker then the three ladies and nodded* Ok. *Looking over them* I'll take the one I know the least about first, so that I'll be in the best shape to adapt to the unknown.

*He motioned to Hard knocks. Shifting to his birth form he rotated his neck, then pulled out a bloody bandage and stuck it on, channeling some of his spirit into the talen. Then shifting down to his hispo form and stepping forward*

(( Spending a Gnosis to activate the Bloody bandage +3 health levels))

[Ewan Selwyn] (( 1 wp for resist pain too))

[Hard Knocks] "Hi. I'm Hard Knocks, Cliath of the Bone Gnawers," she says with a grin, popping gum as she speaks. She's a little thing in her birth form - five foot nothing, and skinny looking. She looks weak, but is scarred, and her body sings of pent up motion. "Nice ta meetcha!"

It's easy, natural to shift up to Crinos as she goes; she watches her opponent, studies him, sizes him up. And, perhaps oddly for one who bounces with near hyperactivity, she waits, raking claws across a handy rock. (And yes, even in Crinos, she works that gum. It's odd, maybe funny.)

[1 Rage, activating Razor Claws.]

[Hard Knocks] [+7]
Dice Rolled:[ 1 d10 ] 6

[Ewan Selwyn] Inits +9
Dice Rolled:[ 1 d10 ] 4 (Failure at target 6)

[Hard Knocks] [1a) claw
1b) claw again.]

[Ewan Selwyn] 1 rage spent

1a Bite
1b Bite
R1 Bite

[Ewan Selwyn] Dex+Brawl=10, -2 (( first split action)) Diff 5
Dice Rolled:[ 8 d10 ] 1, 2, 4, 4, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10 (Success x 3 at target 5) Re-rolls: 1

[Ewan Selwyn] str7+2(hispo bite)+2 (Non dodged))
Dice Rolled:[ 11 d10 ] 1, 1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 7, 7, 9, 10 (Success x 2 at target 6)

[Hard Knocks] (Soak)
Dice Rolled:[ 7 d10 ] 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 6, 9, 10 (Success x 3 at target 6) Re-rolls: 1

[Ewan Selwyn] Dex+brawl=10-3 second split action diff 5
Dice Rolled:[ 7 d10 ] 4, 4, 5, 7, 9, 9, 9, 10 (Success x 6 at target 5) Re-rolls: 1

[Ewan Selwyn] str7+2(hispo teeth)+5 non dodged
Dice Rolled:[ 14 d10 ] 2, 3, 4, 6, 6, 7, 7, 8, 8, 8, 9, 9, 10, 10 (Success x 11 at target 6)

[Hard Knocks] Soak
Dice Rolled:[ 7 d10 ] 1, 4, 4, 5, 8, 8, 9, 10 (Success x 3 at target 6) Re-rolls: 1

[Wyrmbreaker] Standing at the edge of the challenge circle, Lukas watches intently; unflinchingly.

When Hard Knocks goes down, the Fostern tenses slightly. When Ewan draws back, leaving the Cliath breathing -- barely -- he relaxes.

Wyrmbreaker says nothing. Terms were already given. Now he's just observing.

[okay, indicate who's next and how each of you are spending the 3 rounds of prep time (if you're using it)!]

[Hard Knocks] Annie sharpens claws she doesn't get a chance to use. Hispo jaws made for rending and tearing leave her barely alive in seconds flat, and Ewan's on to his next opponent.

[Ewan Selwyn] *Ewan pullls back and looks to the two remaining.* ~WS~ Untill Death next, of the two, I've had a Fury in my pack longer than the Fianna. I've trained with her tribesister longer. I'll know a touch more about how they fight.

[Until Death] When Spin Doctor had found the Black Fury earlier this evening, Until Death had been smoking a cigarette and staring off into the lake, as though waiting for something. That something had come in the form of a request to participate in a rank challenge, and she had accepted, pinching off the cherry of her Camel and pushing it into her jacket pocket before following the Glass Walker to the challenge circle.

In homid, she's tall and blond and wiry, like someone who was born to perform menial manual labor rather than something of any great importance. That is how she listens to the terms of the challenge and watches the first fight, is in homid, chewing on the inside of her lip and watching without expression on her face as the metis cuts down the Bone Gnawer in two bites flat. When it's clear that it is her turn, she stands away from the edge of the circle and shucks off her jacket before preparing herself.

He may very well be expecting the Fury teenager to pull a labrys before the fight starts. She does not do this. She folds her jacket over a nearby crate and pulls a handful of talens out of her pockets, systemically and almost ritualistically preparing herself, doing so silently.

[-1G to activate Bloody Bandage, +4 health levels.]

[Wyrmbreaker] [that's like 1 round's worth of prep so far -- anything else?]

[Until Death] [Gnosis: Soak Talen, -1.]
Dice Rolled:[ 3 d10 ] 2, 7, 7 (Success x 2 at target 7)

[Ewan Selwyn] *Ewan waits. Watching Untill Death. The preperations from his first round would still hold true and he waits for her*

[Until Death] [Gnosis: Resist Pain Talen, -1.]
Dice Rolled:[ 3 d10 ] 6, 6, 7 (Success x 1 at target 8) [WP]

[Until Death] [-1 Rage, snapshift to Hispo.
+10]
Dice Rolled:[ 1 d10 ] 2

[Ewan Selwyn] Inits +9
Dice Rolled:[ 1 d10 ] 5 (Failure at target 6)

[Until Death] [1a: Bite.
1b: Bite.
R1: Bite.
R2: Bite.]

[Ewan Selwyn] 1a Bite
1b Bite
R1 Bite
R2 Bite

[Ewan Selwyn] Dex+brawl -2 =8 diff 5
Dice Rolled:[ 8 d10 ] 1, 3, 4, 4, 5, 8, 8, 9 (Success x 3 at target 5)

[Ewan Selwyn] str7+2(hispo teeth)+2
Dice Rolled:[ 11 d10 ] 2, 3, 3, 5, 5, 5, 6, 7, 7, 7, 8 (Success x 5 at target 6)

[Until Death] [Soak: Stamina +3 (Hispo) +1 (Stheno) +2 (talen).]
Dice Rolled:[ 9 d10 ] 1, 2, 3, 5, 9, 9, 10, 10, 10 (Success x 4 at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker] [just remembered *cough* declaring for the record that each round, lukas is effectively initting in (not rolling, so counting it as his lowest possible init, 8+10(SotF)+1(1d10) = 19) and then holding all actions. this is so he can essentially see everyone's intentions -- i.e. declares -- and also intervene just in case someone frenzies.]

[Ewan Selwyn] Dex+braw-3
Dice Rolled:[ 7 d10 ] 1, 2, 2, 8, 9, 9, 9 (Success x 3 at target 5)

[Ewan Selwyn] Str7+2(hispo teeth) +2 non dodged
Dice Rolled:[ 11 d10 ] 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 6, 6, 6, 9 (Success x 4 at target 6)

[Until Death] [Soak: Stamina +3 (Hispo) +1 (Stheno) +2 (talen).]
Dice Rolled:[ 9 d10 ] 1, 2, 2, 3, 6, 9, 10, 10, 10 (Success x 4 at target 6)

[Until Death] [1a: Brawl+Dexterity (+2): Bite! -2 pool (split).]
Dice Rolled:[ 8 d10 ] 5, 7, 8, 8, 8, 10, 10, 10 (Success x 8 at target 5)

[Until Death] [Damage: Strength +3 (Hispo) +1 (Stheno) +2 (bite) +7 (suxx). Pulling at incap.]
Dice Rolled:[ 16 d10 ] 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 4, 6, 6, 6, 6, 7, 8, 8, 9, 10 (Success x 8 at target 6)

[Ewan Selwyn] soak
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 1, 3, 5, 6, 6, 8 (Success x 2 at target 6)

[Until Death] [1b: Brawl+Dexterity (+2): Bite! -3 pool (split).]
Dice Rolled:[ 7 d10 ] 1, 3, 5, 6, 6, 9, 10 (Success x 4 at target 5)

[Until Death] [Damage: Strength +3 (Hispo) +1 (Stheno) +2 (bite) +3 (suxx). Same.]
Dice Rolled:[ 12 d10 ] 1, 2, 2, 7, 7, 8, 8, 9, 9, 10, 10, 10 (Success x 8 at target 6)

[Ewan Selwyn] soak
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 1, 2, 3, 3, 9, 10 (Success x 1 at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker] Four ferocious bites later, the Glass Walker hits the ground and the Black Fury backs down.

Wyrmbreaker waits a beat. Then he says to Irene, "Bring him around."

--

Whatever method she uses -- slapping him in the face, healing him, dousing him with fresh lakewater -- Wyrmbreaker watches to see what Ewan does when he comes around.

[Until Death] When she shifts back to her human skin, the Cliath's face is smeared in blood. She isn't even out of breath as she looks over to the Shadow Lord and nods, once, before going to her jacket again to pull out a few small clay gourds. She kneels beside the unconscious Glass Walker, cracking open the first of the gourds and sprinkling the dust over his wound.

[-1G, activate Gaia's Breath.]

[Ewan Selwyn] *Ewan rolled over. And rose to his feet as the Gaia's breath heals him up a bit. Blood still pouring from him he nods his thanks to her. Then applies a bloody bandaage (( +5 health levels)) Then his last bloody bandage (( +5 health levels)).

Shaking some blood from his fur he looked to Lukas and tilted an ear, to see if the Fostern was going to call it, or if he shall fight the last*

[Wyrmbreaker] [for the record:
+1 rage to Hard Knocks when she comes around
+2 rage to Ewan
+1 rage to Irene

1 round for Until Death to bring Ewan around; +4 health there. Another round for 2 bloody bandages (since he's spending gnosis, will just count that as a split action rather than two full actions), which do not stack overall, so Ewan's overall health is 7+5 = 12.]


Wyrmbreaker looks levelly back at the Glass Walker, giving no indication whatsoever what Ewan should do at this point.

[Ewan Selwyn] *He turned to the Fianna* ~WS~ Tongue Twister.... if you will. Lets finish the dance.

*He crouched low. Eyes narrowing as he looked at the red head*

[Tongue Twister] It is her turn. She has watched those before her [first, as they should be] fight from her position crouched on the edge of the circle. Her head is tipped, fiery curls tumbling, un-contained, un-containable, in a red halo about her face. She watches, noting how they move, where Ewan strikes, how he strikes.

And when it is her turn, and he chooses to fight, she nods once, stands, and stretches as her form bends into Crinos first, and then falls to all fours in hispo. Most would expect them to fight in breed form. She does not know Ewan's reasons for not doing so - but she has her own, that the observant might note. [[and if they do, ask me in IM]]

The observant might also note the sudden appearance of a gash along her right hip and a sudden sharp spike in a rage level that is already higher than most as she steps into the circle. She is ready.

[Primal Rage -1 health = +2 rage.]

[Tongue Twister] Inits +8 [H]
Dice Rolled:[ 1 d10 ] 7

[Ewan Selwyn] +9
Dice Rolled:[ 1 d10 ] 7 (Success x 1 at target 6)

[Tongue Twister] Declare: -3 rage!

1. Bite
1r. Bite
2r. Bite
3r. Bite!

[Ewan Selwyn] 0: Reverting to breed form when he sees her coming. Instant reflexive. 1 Rage for Spur claws. 2 rage to actions
1 Claw
R1 Bite
R2 Bite.

[Ewan Selwyn] Dex+Brawl=9 adding wp
Dice Rolled:[ 9 d10 ] 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9 (Success x 4 at target 6) [WP]

[Ewan Selwyn] Str8+1(claws)=3(( non dodged))
Dice Rolled:[ 12 d10 ] 1, 1, 2, 3, 3, 5, 7, 8, 8, 8, 10, 10 (Success x 4 at target 6)

[Tongue Twister] Soak! Sta+Hispo = 4+3=7
Dice Rolled:[ 7 d10 ] 2, 4, 4, 5, 5, 6, 9 (Success x 2 at target 6)

[Tongue Twister] Dex + Brawl + Hispo = 3+4+2= 9-1 (ow) diff 5 +2 (spur claws) = 8 d7reroll 10s + spending wp!
Dice Rolled:[ 8 d10 ] 1, 2, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 8, 10, 10 (Success x 5 at target 7) [WP] Re-rolls: 2

[Tongue Twister] Damage: Str + Hispo + Bite + (suxx-1) = 4+3+2 = 9 + 4=13
Dice Rolled:[ 13 d10 ] 1, 3, 3, 5, 6, 6, 7, 8, 8, 8, 9, 10, 10 (Success x 8 at target 6)

[Ewan Selwyn] soak
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 1, 5, 8, 8, 9, 10 (Success x 3 at target 6)

[Ewan Selwyn] Dex+brawl diff 5
Dice Rolled:[ 9 d10 ] 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 10 (Success x 5 at target 5) Re-rolls: 2

[Ewan Selwyn] Str+1+4
Dice Rolled:[ 13 d10 ] 1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 5, 5, 6, 6, 6, 7, 8, 10 (Success x 5 at target 6)

[Tongue Twister] Soak:

Sta+Hispo = 4+3=7
Dice Rolled:[ 7 d10 ] 1, 1, 2, 3, 6, 8, 9 (Success x 1 at target 6)

[Ewan Selwyn] *Surging up as the red hispo lunged, Ewan called on the spirit power taught by wasps and lashed out with venom dripping claws, they tore away from his hands stuck deep in the Fianna. She retaliated with a hard bite that tore some of his mystical strength away, Ewan's Teeth came to bear as his claws were still in her and tore her flesh to the bone, the chunck went flying and as she fell Ewan slammed on the breaks, his horrid teeth stopping an inch ffrom her throat and he stepped back, shaking his head to clear it.*

[Wyrmbreaker] Fresh blood paints the ground. Splatters over the onlookers. Wyrmbreaker, standing at the very edge of the circle, has red on his face, red on his clothes, painted on in spatters and streaks, arcs and sprays.

Impassively, he watches as Rory, too, goes down. Then he looks at Ewan.

Seconds tick by.

[Ewan Selwyn] *Speaking in the language of the wolves* ~WS~ I chose the one I knew least about to fight when at full strength, least she do something amazing and I not have the reserves to meet it.

I fought the Fury second because I had the most experience with her people of the remaining two.

The last I fought, having reserved anger (rage)) and my spur claws for the last, to help get me though when I knew I'd be at the weakest.

The first two I met in my hispo form to take tacticaal advantage of that form's teeth in combat, stronger than unaugmented claws... then in the end, let Tongue twister think I'd do the same as the first two, having laid out that pattern, then changed up my tactics and brought the spur claws in as a surprise to capitalize on what was 'expected' vs what I would do.

They all fought Well Rhya. *He nodded to each, including the fury that had ripped him up then healed him* I thank you all for honoring me in this challenge. I'd fight by your sides any day.

*Then looked to Wyrmbreaker. he had no more healing talens or he'd offer one.*

[Ewan Selwyn] *A beat* And I've learned that to assume you know a person, isn't the same as knowing them. I'll endevor to learn more about all foes before battle.

[Wyrmbreaker] But it turns out Wyrmbreaker wasn't necessarily waiting for Ewan to say anything. He waits exactly ten seconds -- and then he interrupts, wherever Ewan may be in his self-assessment.

"Ahrouns," he addresses the three Cliaths, "thank you for your service."

Ewan is then allowed to finish if he wishes. When he does, Lukas is quiet for a moment. Then the Shadow Lord says, "You have fought with honor. You have demonstrated adequate, if relatively unimaginative tactics. You have defeated two of your peers, both of which are strong and fast and fierce. You have persevered through defeat, choosing to stand and fight again. These are all to your credit, and with these deeds you have fulfilled many of the terms of your challenge.

"But you have not defeated all three Cliaths, and that was your primary goal. You did not defeat Until-Death when you first stood against her. Nor did you not try again.

"You did not come at Until-Death again with better tactics, purer ferocity, greater determination. In the End Times, courage, cunning and perseverance is as important, if not more so, than brute power.

"I cannot pass you to Fostern tonight, Spin Doctor. But you may return in a month to challenge myself, or another of my rank."

[Tongue Twister] Once she regains consciousness, she pushes to stand, shifting down to her homid form as she does so. Only then does she take the time to pluck the claws from her slender frame, tossing them to the side. When Wyrmbreaker thanks her for her service, she nods, and thusly dismissed, turns to walk away.