someone pass the Raid.

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] Okay, this will be a pretty straightforward dice scene. Ergo:

1. 10 min per post OR LESS. Preferably less. If we're dicing, declare in 3 min. Roll in 2 or I'll roll for you.
2. No posting order, but please post ONCE for every post I make.
3. Keep track of your own health and tempers.
4. Questions in the chat. Don't IM me. If I don't see the question, repeat it until I do *LOL* If I don't respond for minutes on end -- I'm probably posting. You should wait, unless it's absolutely urgent, upon which you should PM me once.
5. PM me your applicable flaws. This includes stuff like nightmares and phobias and hatreds and compulsions.
6. If there are any off-limits themes, imagery or events you do NOT want to see in a scene, PM 'em to me now.
7. I'll post us in!

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] "A few weeks ago," Lukas says as the pack and the kin are walking into Grant Park from where he parked his car, "we ran into some enormous, unfriendly spiders here in Grant. It took Iona a while to track them down, but we're pretty sure we've found the nest.

"I asked Dr. Slaughter to join us both because of her martial expertise," that might be said as a courtesy, "and because of her county connections. If mundanes happen by, I thought it'd be useful for an official to be present to divert them.

"The mother hunts right after sundown, returns sometime in the night. We should have enough time to clear out the eggs before she gets back, but be prepared for anything. There's also suggestions that Dancers might be cultivating the nest, so I'd be ready for a few guards."

They've left the museums and fountains rather far behind now -- deep in the midst of the park where some foliage and greenery grows. Up ahead, out of place in the otherwise well-groomed urban park, a large stand of trees that the moonlight does not penetrate.

"Let's get ready. Theron, if you want to summon anything, go for it. Asha, do you know how to make Bloody Bandages?"

[Imogen Slaughter] Wyrmbreaker says that she has been invited because of her martial expertise. Another kinfolk might glow at that. Imogen lifts an eyebrow, a bare stir of reaction, a notation of scepticism, or perhaps, disbelief. He continues and her expression stills again. She stands a little apart from the Garou - her breeding sharp in the air, her mouth an even seam. She is not pack, she is not even a kinfolk associated with any of them. In body language, that speaks clearly. Both in the good doctor, and one assumes, in the reactions of the others around her.

Her guns are easy, and for now, they stay in their holster. The kinwoman is dressed in jeans, a t-shirt, a short-cropped leather coat. Her hair is back, the style utilitarian - coiled into a bun, held in place by an elastic band. There is a badge hooked into her pocket, displayed outward.

There is not much for her to do to get ready. She is not Garou, she has no gifts to activate, no spirits on whom to call. No totem to which to connect.

She waits for the Garou to prepare.

[Kalaratri] It is a cold spring night. The temperature has fallen below freezing, and at last half the local weathermen are calling for snow to fall sometime between midnight and dawn, over the greening grass and the spring bulbs, the fresh-turned earth and the pock-marked, pot-hole covered city streets. The dark-haired, dark-eyed, dark-skinned Silver Fang paces with the rest of the loose group, taking one and a half steps for ever single stride Wyrmbreaker takes. Slight though she seems, she is a handsbreadth taller than the good doctor - and something about the length of her arms and legs suggests that she is not yet finished growing.

The sharp-eyed creature is dressed almost entirely in serviceable black - black suede boots, tight black skinny jeans, a black leather coat thrown over it all, expensive, sleek and fitted precisely to her frame. The crisp line of her white menswear style oxford is evident only at the cuffs and collar of the coat. Her hair is pulled back from her face tonight, secured in a tight little French knot on the back of her head. Not surprisingly, given their objective, Asha's ubiquitous sunglasses are absent tonight, tucked away somewhere in the coat, perhaps, or left behind entirely.

"I know how." Asha replies, quiet, her shoulders straight, her body tense beneath - a certain eager gleam evident in her dark eyes, whenever they catch what light lives in the dark shadows of this stretch of the park. "I have one."

There is a hint of something - winding and unwinding in the darkness as they move.

[1 Gnosis - Spent to activate bloody bandage!]

[Oncoming Storm] Theron nods "Yeah I've been stopping by the Park recently just to keep an eye out. Didn't manage to find anything though. " He gives Iona a nod and smile "Good work"

The Theurge offers the Doctor a polite greeting , having met the woman a few weeks ago "Evening Dr Slaughter, pleasure to see you again. " further conversation could occur later about his work with the Hill House clinics.

His attention focusing on Lukas now as he describes their plan and the nature of the foe they are dealing with. When instructed to summon something, the Theurge nods and starts making preparations.

[Iona McNevin] "Aye, thanks." She was ahead of the rest of the pack, and was keeping her voice down. She was following the trail she had taken before when hunting down these creatures. "Tis nah far off." She pulled up some webbing. "Maybe 50 feet o' so ahead is as close as I could be gettin'." With that, she calls forth her war axe that seemed to slide into her hand from her arm.

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] Wyrmbreaker had teased Asha about that when he picked her up at the curb of her house: What, no sunglasses? But how will you see? The car trip here had been mostly lighthearted. At one point, Iona and Lukas fought over the radio stations. Celtic punk sucks! he was shouting as they pulled into a parking space.

Then they got out, met Imogen, walked into the park. A seriousness settled over the small group. Perhaps it was there all along, under the surface. They could die tonight. That's always a possibility. But to give into it entirely, to always be alert, vigilant, tense: that wouldn't be living, either.

"Here," he says, and hands her another two. "It's good to carry more than one."

Imogen has fought with Garou more than once. Most of them do not do this. They fight on the spot, on the drop of the dime. They don't tend to track prey to the lair, watch for patterns and timings, prepare, call spirits, take the time to apply talens and tricks. They'd find it somehow less glorious, or perhaps simply too time-consuming.

Then again, a good number of the Garou Imogen has meet in the past year are dead. And Lukas is not. Yet, anyhow.

"If battle is joined," he says to the kin, "I may not be able to communicate easily with you. Try to keep your distance. Use your firearm if you think you can fire without hitting one of us. If enemies -- or humans -- approach, call out."

While Theron goes about summoning, Lukas passes out talens: soak talens to all who do not have them, two Gaia's Breaths each to Iona and Theron, if they aren't carrying any of their own. Then he takes another few steps into the dark and shifts. In the darkness, they can hear his breathing: slow and steady, the timbre somehow different when air passes through a hispo's lungs, a hispo's throat.

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] [OK, go ahead and roll whatever preps you're making, including the summons! I'm gonna go home (10 min or so). Most likely my next post will be inits-time!]

[Iona McNevin] Activating soak talen
Dice Rolled:[ 4 d10 ] 2, 3, 7, 9 (Success x 2 at target 6)

[Imogen Slaughter] Imogen has never fought with Garou like this. Not planned. Not invited.

When Lukas had called her, there had been a pause before her agreement. It had been a considered decision, a calculated risk.

She attends the Ahroun while he speaks to her, her gaze even, unwavering. A flicker of something sardonic crosses her mouth as he tells her to stay back, a passing wryness. No smile, but a shift in the line of her mouth. In the end, she only nods.

As mentioned before, she has little by way of preparation. Instead, she watches the others as they do their own. The blue glow of gnosis as they activate their talens. The way Theron summons the Spirits, if he does it on the way side.

It is a clinical curiosity, nigh onto reluctant. A muscle in her jaw moves, then settles.

[Kalaratri] They are cast in darkness, though pale cut-strands of light diffuse through the undergrowth and catch the small group at odd angles. Here is a band of light across the throat, like a remembered blade. Here the curve of a cheek, here the sharp triangular shadow of a crooked elbow, looming like a moving geometry lesson across the susserant shadows. Asha accepts the tokens Wyrmbreaker offers, the talens he has carefully crafted, hoarded, feels the thrum of the spirits things within, whispering against her skin like cilia. The life in the soak talen makes her blood spark and sing somewhere beneath the promise of bloodlust to come and though she is still there, waiting, she is always moving, her wide-set dark eyes gleaming like an animal's direct, flat gaze, her lush little mouth set in a terrible little bruising smile above the fine line of her aristocrat's jaw.

The creature holds the soak talen to her mouth, then - cracks it in half, breathing in the power inside as if it cold be inhaled, as if the toughness it granted her hand a scent to be savored, singing in the darkness. When all is done, Asha, too, shifts - the slight if still-growing girl melts onto all fours, still sleek, but no longer slight and no longer dark - silver fur catching every passing thread of light, the gleam of the mad kings, Luna's chosen to lead and rule, evident to the Garou in every line of her powerful warformed body.

[Kalaratri] [Soak talen!]
Dice Rolled:[ 3 d10 ] 1, 5, 9 (Failure at target 7)

[Kalaratri] Ancestors! -> Brawl
Dice Rolled:[ 2 d10 ] 9, 10 (Success x 3 at target 8) [WP]

[Iona McNevin] While the preparations by the others are made, she breaks the soak talen for herself. Guess there's a first for everything.

[Kalaratri] [Resist Pain - 1 WP
Inspiration - 1 Gnosis!]

[Oncoming Storm] [ Activating Soak Talen - 6d6]
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 2, 2, 3, 4, 7, 9 (Success x 2 at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] [1WP - Resist Pain
1Gn - Soak Talen +3
1Gn - BB
1Gn - Luna's Armor]
Dice Rolled:[ 9 d10 ] 1, 3, 5, 5, 6, 6, 7, 7, 7, 10, 10 (Success x 5 at target 7) [WP] Re-rolls: 2

[Oncoming Storm] [ Gnosis vs Gauntlet with Mirror - 6d6]
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 2, 3, 3, 7, 8, 9 (Success x 3 at target 6)

[Oncoming Storm] [ Summoning Earth Elemental - Wits + Rituals - 6d5]
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 3, 5, 5, 6, 8, 10 (Success x 5 at target 5)

[Oncoming Storm] [ How Friendly are they ? - Gnosis - 6d6 ]
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 10 (Success x 1 at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] All around the sole kinswoman, the Garou are preparing. Talens are snapped, gnosis gathers in miniature implosions of energy. In the darkness, Wyrmbreaker begins to phosphoresce. To Kalaratri, the gift of Luna looks familiar, yet different: the quality of light is darker, somehow, than the incandescence she would expect from a fellow Fang. A Fang's armor would ward off blows, turn damage aside altogether. Wyrmbreaker's looks as though it might simply absorb it, soundlessly, like light into a singularity.

Then Kalaratri's mind isn't even her own anymore. As she reaches for her past, the echoes of a thousand generations crowd into her. The heroes of her ancestry, those mighty Ahrouns and warriors, the rajas that beat back the Wyrm, the mad mothers whom Shiva himself would not have been able to gentle: they share her mind and her body, guide her hands, imbue her and absorb her.

Meanwhile, the Theurge begins to summon, turning his attention across the Gauntlet, calling to the spirits of the earth.

The summons ripples through the immediate vicinity like a cool breeze, raising the hairs on the backs of their necks. The earth groans faintly beneath their feet... and then is still.

The spirit will take its time.

"Never mind it," Wyrmbreaker growls from the shadows. "Let's begin before Mom comes home. If it joins us later, all the better. If there are enemies, let me take the brunt of the blows. Kalaratri, attack from behind. Banshee and Oncoming Storm flanking.

"Let's go destroy some eggs."

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] [ambush!]
Dice Rolled:[ 8 d10 ] 1, 3, 6, 8, 9, 9, 9, 10 (Success x 5 at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] [percep/alert!]
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 1, 1, 4, 5, 8, 10 (Failure at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] [That was actually 1 succ -- -1 diff in hispo!

SURPRISE ATTACK! +3 from ambush, -1 diff from dropping down!]
Dice Rolled:[ 10 d10 ] 1, 1, 4, 5, 5, 6, 7, 10, 10, 10 (Success x 6 at target 4)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] [damage +5!]
Dice Rolled:[ 11 d10 ] 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 8, 9, 10, 10 (Success x 6 at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] [soak +bonuses!]
Dice Rolled:[ 15 d10 ] 2, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 5, 6, 6, 8, 8, 9, 9, 10, 10 (Success x 8 at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] The downside of standing in front of a Wyrm lair and preparing, of course, is that they're very likely doing the same thing.

The second Wyrmbreaker sets foot inside the cave, a Dancer drops on him like a ton of bricks. It's all a blur. The Ahroun never sees it coming; by the time his friends see it, it's too late to shout. There's an impression of gnashing teeth, hairless, blotchy skin, one enormous, bloated, bloodshot eye.

And cackling. Like a hyena's.

Wyrmbreaker rolls to his feet, bristling, shaking the blow off. Out of the darkness, flanking their brother, each more deformed than the last: two more Dancers. Two in Hispo, one in Crinos.

The one in Crinos lifts what looks like a hunting horn to its mouth.

[regular inits!]

[Imogen Slaughter] (+9!)
HAIL KAHSEENO!
Dice Rolled:[ 1 d10 ] 9

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] It should also be mentioned: the cave itself is not large. They can see the back wall perhaps twenty feet in. However, every inch of the rock wall is covered in pale, sticky, ovaloid eggs. There's got to be thousands inside -- enough that the Dancers within aren't even particularly worried about trampling a few in their eagerness to taste Gaian blood.

[Kalaratri] +9! Hail Kahseeno!
Dice Rolled:[ 1 d10 ] 10

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] Ugly +8
Dice Rolled:[ 1 d10 ] 2 (Failure at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] Uglier +8
Dice Rolled:[ 1 d10 ] 10 (Success x 1 at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] Ugliest +8
Dice Rolled:[ 1 d10 ] 8 (Success x 1 at target 6)

[Iona McNevin] 6
Dice Rolled:[ 1 d10 ] 6

[Oncoming Storm] [ 1R Spent - Snap Shift Hispo
Init 7+]
Dice Rolled:[ 1 d10 ] 1

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] Lukas +20
Dice Rolled:[ 1 d10 ] 1 (Botch x 1 at target 6)

[Iona McNevin] 1R to Snapshift Crinos

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] Lukas 21
Kalaratri 19
Imogen 18
Uglier 18
Ugliest 16
Iona 12
Ugly 10
Theron 8

Declare in reverse!

[Oncoming Storm] [ 1a Bite Ugly
1b Bite Ugly ]

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] Ugly - currently close to mouth of cave, behind Lukas
1. Claw Wyrmbreaker in the back! (Note: this will put his back to others at mouth at cave)
R1. Again!
R2. Burrow!

[Iona McNevin] 1a) Slice Uglier
1b) Slice again

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] [FYI:
Uglier is at back of cave, with horn.
Ugliest is near front of cave, but in front of Wyrmbreaker.
Wyrmbreaker is between Ugliest and Ugly.
Ugly has his back to the outside of the cave.]

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] Ugliest
1. Wyrm Hide!
R1. Bite Iona
R2. Bite Asha
R3. Bite Theron

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] Uglier
1a. Blow horn
b. Bane Protector! -1 Gn

[Imogen Slaughter] (3rb Uglier.
one shot, uglier +wp)

[Kalaratri] [2 Rage. 1a. &+2342;&+2375;&+2357;&+2344;&+2366;&+2327;&+2352;&+2368; ; 1b. &+2342;&+2375;&+2357;&+2344;&+2366;&+2327;&+2352;&+2368; ; Rage 1: &+2342;&+2375;&+2357;&+2344;&+2366;&+2327;&+2352;&+2368; ; Rage 2: &+2342;&+2375;&+2357;&+2344;&+2366;&+2327;&+2352;&+2368;

Translation: all bites! Starting on Ugly, moving on toward Ugliest if he goes down!]

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] Lukas
1a. Spur Claws on Ugliest!
b. Turn to face Ugly!
R1. Bite Ugly
R2. Bite Ugly

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] Spur Claws -2!
Dice Rolled:[ 8 d10 ] 2, 3, 5, 7, 7, 7, 7, 8, 10 (Success x 6 at target 6) Re-rolls: 1

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] Damage +5!
Dice Rolled:[ 14 d10 ] 1, 3, 4, 4, 4, 5, 6, 8, 8, 8, 9, 9, 9, 9 (Success x 7 at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] [Ack! Soak!]
Dice Rolled:[ 7 d10 ] 3, 3, 3, 5, 8, 8, 10 (Success x 3 at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] b. Turn!

[Kalaratri] &+2342;&+2375;&+2357;&+2344;&+2366;&+2327;&+2352;&+2368; 1a. Bite! Ugly! -2
Dice Rolled:[ 10 d10 ] 1, 1, 2, 4, 6, 6, 7, 7, 8, 8 (Success x 5 at target 3)

[Kalaratri] Damage!
Dice Rolled:[ 12 d10 ] 1, 2, 2, 2, 5, 5, 8, 8, 8, 9, 9, 10 (Success x 5 at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] Ugly soaks!
Dice Rolled:[ 7 d10 ] 1, 1, 2, 5, 7, 7, 8 (Success x 1 at target 6)

[Kalaratri] &+2342;&+2375;&+2357;&+2344;&+2366;&+2327;&+2352;&+2368; 1b. -3
Dice Rolled:[ 9 d10 ] 1, 3, 5, 5, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10 (Success x 7 at target 3)

[Kalaratri] Damage!
Dice Rolled:[ 14 d10 ] 1, 1, 1, 2, 4, 4, 5, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 10, 10 (Success x 3 at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies]
Dice Rolled:[ 7 d10 ] 3, 3, 3, 5, 6, 6, 8 (Success x 3 at target 6)

[Imogen Slaughter] three round burst!
dex+firearms-2+3

HAIL KAHSEENO!
Dice Rolled:[ 10 d10 ] 1, 2, 2, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 9 (Success x 3 at target 6)

[Imogen Slaughter] Damage!
HAIL KAHSEENO!
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 3, 7, 7, 8, 8, 9 (Success x 5 at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] In seconds, battle explodes into chaos. Snaps and growls everywhere. The squish and pop of eggs bursting underfoot.

The grinning Ragabash, whose drop onto Wyrmbreaker's unsuspecting back has put him in an advantageous position behind the Ahroun, suddenly finds his advantage turning against him.

He's surrounded suddenly. His Ahroun packmate has taken a heavy wound; looks unlikely to help him anytime soon. He's facing the wrath of two or three Gaians.

Ugly decides to to amend his plans.

[Ugly changes actions!:
1. Burrow, pop up near Ugliest
R1. Claw Wyrmbreaker in the back! Maha!
R2. Again!]

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] [Uglier - soak!]
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 2, 3, 6, 6, 7, 10 (Success x 4 at target 6)

[Imogen Slaughter] dex+firearms-3
HAIL KAHSEENO
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 1, 3, 3, 4, 6, 9, 10 (Success x 3 at target 6) [WP] Re-rolls: 1

[Imogen Slaughter] damage!
HAIL KAHSEENO!
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 4, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9 (Success x 4 at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] Uglier - soak!
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9 (Success x 4 at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] Four bullets barely manage to put a dent in the Crinos with the horn. Insult to injury: he takes the time to loll his tongue obscenely at Imogen before

blowing the horn with all his might.

It's not a sound anyone would expect from a hunting horn. It's not a single, long note, nor even a harmony. It's a raucous, earstabbing shriek -- and they can all imagine what it's meant to summon.

None of them can hear anything approaching yet. But maybe that's not a good thing, either.

[Uglier: 1a. Blow horn!
b. Bane Protector! -1 Gn, -3 dice]
Dice Rolled:[ 4 d10 ] 3, 7, 7, 9 (Success x 3 at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] Meanwhile, the largest Dancer -- and the ugliest -- pounds his forepaws into the ground. Eggs burst and splatter between his toes, turning his fur soggy. He snarls and taunts, and as he does so, his hide thickens supernaturally.

[Using the BotWyrm version: +3 soak!]

[Iona McNevin] 1a) Slice Uglier - War Axe
Dex 7 + 2 Diff 7 - 1 Flank
Dice Rolled:[ 7 d10 ] 1, 3, 3, 4, 4, 8, 9 (Success x 1 at target 6)

[Iona McNevin] Damage
Dice Rolled:[ 10 d10 ] 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 5, 6, 7, 7, 9 (Success x 2 at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] [Soak!]
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 3, 3, 3, 5, 5, 5 (Failure at target 6)

[Iona McNevin] 1b again
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 3, 5, 5, 6, 6, 10 (Success x 3 at target 6)

[Iona McNevin] Damage
Dice Rolled:[ 12 d10 ] 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 4, 6, 7, 7, 9, 9, 10 (Success x 4 at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] soak!
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 2, 3, 4, 7, 9, 9 (Success x 3 at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] Ugly: Burrowing!
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 4, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9 (Success x 4 at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] [That was diff 9, actually -- solid rock. But he made it! Everyone's attacks on him are now frontal]

[Oncoming Storm] [ 1a Bite Ugly - 3d5 ]
Dice Rolled:[ 3 d10 ] 2, 6, 10 (Success x 2 at target 5)

[Oncoming Storm] [ Dam - 7 + 1 d6 ]
Dice Rolled:[ 8 d10 ] 2, 3, 4, 5, 5, 6, 9, 9 (Success x 3 at target 6)

[Oncoming Storm] [ 1b Bite Ugly - 2d5 ]
Dice Rolled:[ 2 d10 ] 4, 4 (Failure at target 5)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] Rock splinters as the ugly metis suddenly dives headfirst into the ground. A second later he bursts out in a shower of dirt and pebbles and cracking rock -- just in time for Theron's jaws to meet his flesh.

[soak the first!]
Dice Rolled:[ 7 d10 ] 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10 (Success x 3 at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] Lukas, R1: Bite Ugly! Taking -2 dice for whack-a-mole target.
Dice Rolled:[ 8 d10 ] 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 10, 10 (Success x 6 at target 5) Re-rolls: 3

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] [dam]
Dice Rolled:[ 14 d10 ] 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 3, 3, 4, 5, 6, 6, 7, 8, 10 (Failure at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] [soak]
Dice Rolled:[ 7 d10 ] 2, 3, 4, 4, 7, 7, 10 (Success x 3 at target 6)

[Kalaratri] Rage 1: &+2342;&+2375;&+2357;&+2344;&+2366;&+2327;&+2352;&+2368; !
Dice Rolled:[ 12 d10 ] 1, 3, 4, 5, 5, 5, 6, 6, 7, 7, 8, 9 (Success x 8 at target 5)

[Kalaratri] Damage! HAIL KAHSEENO!
Dice Rolled:[ 15 d10 ] 1, 1, 3, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 6, 6, 6, 7, 7, 9, 9 (Success x 5 at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] soak!
Dice Rolled:[ 7 d10 ] 2, 3, 4, 6, 6, 7, 10 (Success x 4 at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] Ugliest
Bite Iona!
Dice Rolled:[ 7 d10 ] 1, 2, 2, 2, 8, 8, 9 (Success x 2 at target 7)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] Damage +1
Dice Rolled:[ 9 d10 ] 1, 2, 3, 5, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 (Success x 3 at target 6)

[Iona McNevin] soak
Dice Rolled:[ 7 d10 ] 5, 7, 7, 8, 8, 10, 10 (Success x 6 at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] Ugly
Claw Wyrmbreaker!
Dice Rolled:[ 7 d10 ] 3, 3, 6, 7, 7, 9, 10 (Success x 5 at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] Damage +4!
Dice Rolled:[ 10 d10 ] 1, 1, 5, 6, 6, 8, 9, 10, 10, 10 (Success x 5 at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] [Soak!]
Dice Rolled:[ 15 d10 ] 1, 1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 6, 7, 7, 7, 7, 8, 9, 9, 10 (Success x 7 at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] Lukas
Die Ugly!
Dice Rolled:[ 10 d10 ] 2, 2, 2, 3, 5, 5, 6, 6, 7, 9, 10 (Success x 7 at target 5) Re-rolls: 1

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] [Damage +6. Mei says it doesn't make a diff but I'M STILL SPLITTING IT.]
Dice Rolled:[ 10 d10 ] 1, 3, 4, 5, 5, 6, 6, 7, 7, 8 (Success x 4 at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies]
Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 1, 4, 5, 7, 10 (Success x 1 at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] [soak!]
Dice Rolled:[ 7 d10 ] 1, 6, 7, 7, 8, 10, 10 (Success x 5 at target 6)

[Kalaratri] &+2342;&+2375;&+2357;&+2344;&+2366;&+2327;&+2352;&+2368; BITE!
Dice Rolled:[ 12 d10 ] 1, 2, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 6, 8, 9, 9, 10 (Success x 6 at target 5)

[Kalaratri] Damage!
Dice Rolled:[ 14 d10 ] 1, 3, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 6, 6, 9, 9, 10, 10, 10 (Success x 6 at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] [nooo i want to liiiive!]
Dice Rolled:[ 7 d10 ] 5, 6, 6, 6, 7, 8, 10 (Success x 6 at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] Ugliest
Bite Asha!
Dice Rolled:[ 7 d10 ] 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 6 (Failure at target 7)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] Ugly
Claw Lukas once more!
Dice Rolled:[ 7 d10 ] 3, 5, 7, 7, 9, 9, 10 (Success x 5 at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] Damage +4!
Dice Rolled:[ 10 d10 ] 2, 3, 3, 5, 5, 6, 6, 6, 9, 9 (Success x 5 at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies]
Dice Rolled:[ 15 d10 ] 2, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 5, 6, 7, 7, 9, 9, 10, 10 (Success x 7 at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] Ugliest, Rage 3!
Bite Theron
Dice Rolled:[ 7 d10 ] 1, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 (Failure at target 7)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] It's a stalemate of sorts. Though the Gaians aren't badly wounded -- aren't wounded at all -- they can't seem to bring the Dancers down.

The balance is changing, though. The air splits open suddenly, vomiting dark lightning and a seething, serpentine bane, its head a blind seeking toothringed hole. And they can hear skittering insect legs -- many, many legs -- beating a tattoo across frozen ground, approaching.

Theron's spirit is still nowhere to be seen.

[Sumup:
All Garou/Kin OK
Ugly 5A
Uglier 4A
Ugliest 4A
Bane OK -- newly arrived
Mom -- here next turn
Earth elemental -- ??]

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] Bane inits! +10
Dice Rolled:[ 1 d10 ] 8 (Success x 1 at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] Lukas, reflexive dialogue:

"Focus your attacks! The Ragabash first! Then the one with the horn, then the big one, then the bane!"

--

Lukas 21
Kalaratri 19
Imogen 18
Bane 18
Uglier 18
Ugliest 16
Iona 12
Ugly 10
Theron 8

Declare in reverse!

[Oncoming Storm] [ 1a Bite Ugly
1b Bite Ugly
1R Bite Ugly - Switch to Ugliest if down ]

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] Ugly
1. Claw Lukas!
R1. Claw Lukas!
R2. I REALLY DON'T LIKE LUKAS!

[Iona McNevin] 1a) Claw Ragabash/ or whoever is next
1b) again

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] Ugliest
1. Bite Asha
R1. Bite Asha
R2. Bite Iona
R3. Bite Theron

Uglier
1. -1Gn Heal Ugliest!

Bane
1. Blast Imogen!

[Imogen Slaughter] (3rb, bane
1 shot bane +wp)

[Kalaratri] [Asha! 2 rage. 1a. BITE; 1b. BITE; Rage 1: BITE; Rage 2: BITE. Start with Ugly. Move on to Ugliest. Move on to Uglier.]

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] Lukas
1a. Grapple Ugly for everyone else to bite!
b. Held until everyone else's primary actions are done -- then bite Ugly!
R1. Bite Ugly!
R2. Bite Ugly!

Switching to Uglier, then Ugliest, then bane if anyone goes down.

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] 1a. grapple! -2 dice
Dice Rolled:[ 7 d10 ] 3, 6, 7, 7, 8, 8, 9 (Success x 7 at target 6) [WP]

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] Ugly - change action: ack resist!
Dice Rolled:[ 8 d10 ] 1, 2, 2, 4, 4, 8, 9, 10 (Success x 2 at target 7)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] b. held til end of primary actions.

[Kalaratri] 1a. BITE -2
Dice Rolled:[ 10 d10 ] 1, 1, 2, 2, 5, 6, 7, 7, 9, 10 (Success x 4 at target 3)

[Kalaratri] Damage!
Dice Rolled:[ 11 d10 ] 2, 5, 5, 6, 6, 6, 8, 8, 9, 10, 10 (Success x 8 at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] NOOO I WANT TO LIIIVE!
Dice Rolled:[ 7 d10 ] 1, 3, 4, 4, 7, 7, 10 (Success x 2 at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] ...and the stalemate ends.

Wyrmbreaker seizes the Ragabash by the fur of his back, wrenching him sideways to afford the rest of his pack, or would-be pack, a better shot.

Kalaratri doesn't need any more of an invitation than that. The Silver Fang makes an argument for the value of bloodline and ancestry: she seizes the ragabash by the throat and rips.

Blood splashes across eggs burst and intact. The Ragabash's head simply comes off, along with a good section of the spinal column. Farther back, the Theurge flinches --

-- and Wyrmbreaker goes for him, attempting to seize him as he had his brother.

[b. Lukas changed: grapple the Theurge!

Theurge: roll WP to stand and fight! +1 diff: AUGH!]
Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 3, 9, 9, 10, 10 (Success x 4 at target 7)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] b. grapple! -3 dice, +1 diff.
Dice Rolled:[ 7 d10 ] 2, 3, 5, 6, 6, 6, 9, 10, 10 (Success x 3 at target 7) Re-rolls: 2

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] [Resist!]
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 1, 2, 5, 5, 6, 10 (Success x 1 at target 6)

[Kalaratri] 1b. BITE THEURGE. -3
Dice Rolled:[ 9 d10 ] 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 8, 9 (Success x 6 at target 3)

[Kalaratri] Damage!
Dice Rolled:[ 14 d10 ] 1, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 7, 7, 9, 9, 9, 10 (Success x 6 at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] [Nooo I want to liiiive!]
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 2, 4, 5, 5, 9, 10 (Success x 2 at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] Just as quick as the first: the black wolf seizing the Theurge Dancer by the scruff, a massive forepaw planted to keep the Theurge where he is; the head pulled back and the neck bared

and then torn out by the white wolf in a single vicious snap.

More red on the ground, and in Kalaratri's fur.

[Imogen Slaughter] Imogen's world is one of science. Clean, sterile autopsy rooms, the inevitabilities of decomposition, of blunt force trauma, bullet wounds and disease.

Her intrusions into the Garou world are startling and disconcerting. The rules bend.

She is related to things for which there is no explanation in her world.

The gauntlet bends, shreds and breaks, belching forward a screeching creature that her mind does not take time to comprehend. Her finger squeezes the trigger without any need for understanding beyond the simple one of danger.

The only clarity she has is the count down of the bullets still left in her clip.

Eleven, ten, nine.
Eight.

(three round burst
dex+firearms-2+3)
Dice Rolled:[ 10 d10 ] 1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 6, 6, 7, 8, 9 (Success x 4 at target 5)

[Imogen Slaughter] Damage! HAIL KAHSEENO!
Dice Rolled:[ 7 d10 ] 4, 5, 6, 8, 8, 9, 9 (Success x 5 at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] soak!
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 1, 3, 7, 8, 8, 9 (Success x 3 at target 6)

[Imogen Slaughter] (next shot!
dex+firearms-3+wp
HAIL KAHSEENO!)
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 4, 4, 6, 8, 8, 9 (Success x 5 at target 5) [WP]

[Imogen Slaughter] damage!
HAIL!
Dice Rolled:[ 8 d10 ] 1, 2, 4, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 (Success x 2 at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] soak!
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 2, 4, 5, 5, 6, 8 (Success x 2 at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] The bane doesn't bleed. When bullets knock its armor-plating off in shards and shrapnel, a portion of its body simply ceases to be.

It shrieks its outrage. The air around Imogen seems to grow hot; to warp and bend.

Pain.

[Blast!]
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 10 (Success x 4 at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] Uglier x_x

Ugliest
1. Bite Asha!
Dice Rolled:[ 7 d10 ] 1, 2, 2, 9, 9, 10, 10 (Success x 3 at target 7)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] Damage!
Dice Rolled:[ 10 d10 ] 1, 2, 4, 4, 8, 9, 9, 9, 10, 10 (Success x 5 at target 6)

[Kalaratri] Soak!
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 2, 3, 4, 4, 5, 10 (Success x 1 at target 6)

[Iona McNevin] 1a) Claw Ahroun
Dice Rolled:[ 7 d10 ] 1, 1, 2, 3, 7, 7, 9 (Success x 1 at target 6)

[Iona McNevin] Damage
Dice Rolled:[ 7 d10 ] 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10 (Success x 4 at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] [soak + wyrm hide!]
Dice Rolled:[ 10 d10 ] 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 4, 6, 6, 7, 10 (Success x 1 at target 6)

[Iona McNevin] 1b) again
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 1, 1, 1, 2, 3, 10 (Failure at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] The last of his pack, the Ahroun's furious bellows are cut viciously short. Banshee rather neatly circumvents his Wyrmish armor and silences him. He crushes a vast swath of eggs beneath his bulk when he falls, barely breathing.

Iona goes for the kill -- Wyrmbreaker roars, "Forget him! Look to the bane!"

[Oncoming Storm] [ 1a Bite Bane - 3d7 ]
Dice Rolled:[ 3 d10 ] 3, 6, 7 (Success x 1 at target 7)

[Oncoming Storm] [ Dam - 7d6 ]
Dice Rolled:[ 7 d10 ] 1, 3, 3, 6, 6, 8, 9 (Success x 3 at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] soak!
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 (Success x 5 at target 6)

[Oncoming Storm] [ 1b Bite Bane - 2d7]
Dice Rolled:[ 2 d10 ] 4, 5 (Failure at target 7)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] Lukas - R1. Bite bane!
Dice Rolled:[ 10 d10 ] 2, 3, 4, 4, 5, 6, 6, 8, 9, 9, 10 (Success x 4 at target 7) Re-rolls: 1

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] [damage +3!]
Dice Rolled:[ 12 d10 ] 1, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 5, 6, 6, 7, 7, 10 (Success x 4 at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] soak!
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 3, 3, 6, 6, 7, 9 (Success x 4 at target 6)

[Kalaratri] Rage 1: BITE Bane +2 dif.
Dice Rolled:[ 12 d10 ] 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 6, 7, 7 (Success x 2 at target 7)

[Kalaratri] Damage! Hail Kahseeno!
Dice Rolled:[ 9 d10 ] 1, 1, 2, 5, 7, 8, 9, 9, 10 (Success x 3 at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] soak!
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 1, 3, 6, 9, 10, 10 (Success x 3 at target 6)

[Oncoming Storm] [ 1R Bite Bane - 5d7 ]
Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 1, 4, 6, 9, 10 (Success x 1 at target 7)

[Oncoming Storm] [ Dam - 7d6 ]
Dice Rolled:[ 7 d10 ] 1, 1, 2, 4, 5, 9, 10 (Failure at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] R2. hop! bite bane!!
Dice Rolled:[ 10 d10 ] 1, 1, 1, 3, 3, 4, 8, 9, 9, 9 (Success x 1 at target 7)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] [damage!]
Dice Rolled:[ 9 d10 ] 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 6, 8, 10 (Success x 3 at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies]
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 2, 5, 5, 6, 6, 8 (Success x 3 at target 6)

[Kalaratri] Rage 2: BITE!
Dice Rolled:[ 12 d10 ] 1, 3, 3, 6, 6, 6, 7, 7, 7, 8, 9, 9 (Success x 6 at target 7) [WP]

[Kalaratri] Damage! HAIL. KAHSEENO!
Dice Rolled:[ 13 d10 ] 1, 1, 4, 7, 8, 8, 8, 8, 9, 9, 9, 9, 10 (Success x 8 at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] nooo i want to liiiive!
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 1, 1, 1, 3, 7, 8 (Failure at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] [Round summary:

All baddies: x_x
Asha: 1A, BB expended
Imogen: 4A]

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] [Mother +15]
Dice Rolled:[ 1 d10 ] 4 (Failure at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] Earth Elemental +4!
Dice Rolled:[ 1 d10 ] 4 (Failure at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] [One round of downtime while I write a quick post. For reference, new init:

Lukas 21
Kalaratri 19
Mother 19
Imogen 18
Iona 12
Theron 8
Earth 8 ]

[Oncoming Storm] After the bane had finally been vanquished at the claws of the young Ahroun. Theron makes his way over to the Fianna kin. asking for permission before he places his hands on her. Brow furrowing as he concentrates as Gaia's healing energies flow from his fingertips and into her wounds.

[ 1G Spent - MT - 7d6+WP]
Dice Rolled:[ 7 d10 ] 2, 3, 6, 6, 7, 10, 10 (Success x 6 at target 6) [WP]

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] It'd be hilarious if it weren't so frustrating. Maybe later they can laugh about it: a pack of werewolves leaping at a flying bane, teeth snapping futilely at scales, at lashing tail, at trailing tendrils.

Until, that is, Asha's teeth find purchase on its slick, scaled hide. The Ahroun snaps the bane in half in one great bite. Before she hits the ground again, it's gone, dissipated across the umbra, vanished but for a few scattered scales.

They have a moment's respite. They can hear the mother spider racing to her egg clutch. Wyrmbreaker paces to the center of the cave, standing braced.

"Kalaratri, use another Bandage. Everyone to the corners of the cave. Keep out of her sight. Let her see only me, and spring on her from behind when she's here."

The ground is trembling. Branches and bushes sway wildly as the spider-mother comes nearer and nearer -- and then they realize her weight isn't why the ground is shaking.

It splits open at the mouth of the cave. Huge, slow, amorphous, the vaguely humanoid, faceless shape of an earth jaggling begins to drag itself out of the ground.

It doesn't look happy at the interruption. It doesn't look pleased with anyone at all -- spider, Garou or kin.

[Kalaratri] [1 Gnosis - Bloody Bandage! +2 Health Levels]

The bane falls; Kalaratri is one of many inside her mind, the seething sea of the heroes of her dying line lives in her mind. The wind that rises from the lake, that peels through grant park, bitter and cold beneath the barren, star-scattered sky is like the winds that peel down through the Hindu Pradesh, from the serrated peaks of the spine of the world, a dream of cold, the impossible, airless heights. The bane disappears beneath her and the great beast flies, her claws findings skitteringpurchase onthe troubled ground. Silvered fur covered in a spray of blood, scales and ichor, a nightmare beast, the sleek Hispo turns and stares at Wyrmbreaker with ageless eyes, a thousand blooded battles behind her.

Then there is this too, inside, the beast that is the girl, the girl that is the beast - rank as clearly written into the web of her ageless mind as anything else might be. The bandage appears, dark with the Shadow Lord's blood, and she spends her spirit to waken it. The wound she sustained closes as she pads into the shadows, hungry, waiting.

[Oncoming Storm] Before Oncoming Storm had healed the injured Doctor, he had started the process of shifting upto his war foor. Bones popping and changing as his body expanded and he stood on two legs. Black fur glistening over his large form. Then speaking the best he could before paws your placed on Imogens body "I... heal..wounds" his best attempt at english in his current form.

[Imogen Slaughter] She does not fall to her knees nor cry out in pain as the thing is vanquished, but she does bend, resting her hands above the knees.

What was done to her did not damage a shred of her clothing, but her skin is turn beneath as if flayed, wounds seeping blood, soaking the darkness of her jeans. Her gun still rests solidly in one hand, her finger off the trigger. It moves, convulsively, automatically off the guard as the beast approaches, her eyes locking on the Shadow Lord without recognition or familiarity.

They are all as beasts to her, now.

The English the monster speaks is broken, torn and inhuman. She can barely make out the words, the request to touch, the offer to heal.

Her jaw is set, her pale skin white, but she stands still under her own power, and she straightens, gritting her teeth against the pain.

The reasons why she might say no, are impossible, likely, to be understood.
Why she agrees is equally mired.

She nods. When the beast places its paw on her, her body vibrates with tension, her muscles tensing away even as she holds them rigid. Every single wound heals, leaving only a shadow of its memory across her skin. The kind of thing that will fade, and not in much time.

She knows this. It is not the first time.

She draws a deeper, easier breath, and turns her head up to look at the beast. Her kind of will is rarely seen.

"Thank-you."

She swipes her bloodied hand against the thigh of her bloodied jeans and fixes her grip on her gun again, turning her head briefly to scan their surroundings.

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] The Shadow Lord shakes his fur out, plants all four paws firmly amidst the ruin of hundreds of eggs. The floor is a horror: blood and bile and ichor and the half-liquid innards of ruptured egg-sacs. Innumerable others still cling to the walls and the ceiling of the cave, glimmering dead white at them.

The spider comes into sight as the last of them retreat into the shadows. She is maddened with fury and outrage. Under the nearly full moon, she is sleek, her carapace oily black, her slashing, gnashing mandibles equipped with an extra set of legs that grow from her head. Eight others, tipped in small claws, beat the ground as she races toward the Garou she can see, but those two -- those are killing-legs, equipped with huge, scythelike claws, meant for nothing but destruction.

When she shrieks, Wyrmbreaker's ears lay flat. He stands his ground, baring his teeth in challenge.

At the mouth of the cave, the earth elemental, featureless boulder of a head turning slowly to and fro, comes to a sort of decision. It balls up one enormous fist and slams it into the earth. A shockwave ripples out. No one is spared.

[Declares!

Earth
I'm pissed at everyone! UMBRAQUAKE!]

[Oncoming Storm] [1a - Activate Persuasion ]

[Imogen Slaughter] (hold action to act later at +1 diff)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] [ Iona's assumed to be holding actions!

Mother
1. Spear Lukas!
R1. Web!
R2. Spear again!
R3. Bite! ]

[Kalaratri] [Asha: 2 rage. 1a. BITE MOMMY; 1b. BITE MOMMY; Rage 1: BITE MOMMY; Rage 2: BITE MOMMY. - from shadows of cave!]

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] Lukas
1a. Spur claws!
b. Bite!
R1. Bite!
R2. Bite!
R3. Bite!

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] 1a. -2 dice!
Dice Rolled:[ 8 d10 ] 1, 2, 2, 4, 7, 7, 9, 9, 10 (Success x 5 at target 6) [WP] Re-rolls: 1

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] Damage +4!
Dice Rolled:[ 13 d10 ] 1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 8, 9, 9, 9, 9 (Success x 4 at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] [soak!]
Dice Rolled:[ 9 d10 ] 1, 1, 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 (Failure at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] b. bite! -3
Dice Rolled:[ 7 d10 ] 2, 2, 5, 7, 7, 7, 8 (Success x 4 at target 7)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies]
Dice Rolled:[ 12 d10 ] 1, 1, 2, 3, 3, 5, 5, 7, 8, 9, 9, 10 (Success x 3 at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] [soak!]
Dice Rolled:[ 9 d10 ] 1, 1, 1, 3, 3, 4, 7, 7, 8 (Failure at target 6)

[Kalaratri] 1a. BITE -2
Dice Rolled:[ 10 d10 ] 2, 4, 7, 7, 8, 8, 9, 10, 10, 10 (Success x 9 at target 3)

[Kalaratri] Damage! HAIL KAHSEENO!
Dice Rolled:[ 16 d10 ] 1, 1, 1, 1, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 6, 6, 7, 8, 9 (Success x 1 at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] [soak!]
Dice Rolled:[ 9 d10 ] 2, 4, 6, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 10 (Success x 7 at target 6)

[Kalaratri] 1b. BITE -3
Dice Rolled:[ 9 d10 ] 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 6, 6, 8, 10 (Success x 7 at target 3)

[Kalaratri] DAMAGE! KAHSEENO! Luck if you've never been a lady to begin with...
Dice Rolled:[ 16 d10 ] 1, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 5, 5, 7, 7, 7, 7, 10, 10, 10, 10 (Success x 7 at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] [soak!]
Dice Rolled:[ 9 d10 ] 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 7, 7, 8, 8 (Success x 6 at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] Mother
1. SKEWER LUKAS!
Dice Rolled:[ 9 d10 ] 1, 2, 3, 6, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 (Success x 5 at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] Damage +4!
Dice Rolled:[ 12 d10 ] 1, 2, 2, 3, 4, 6, 6, 7, 9, 10, 10, 10 (Success x 6 at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] [soak!]
Dice Rolled:[ 15 d10 ] 1, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 6, 7, 7, 8, 8, 8, 9, 10 (Success x 7 at target 6)

[Imogen Slaughter] (split actions four ways
fire
fire
fire
fire+wp)

dex+firearms - 4 HAIL KAHSEENO!
Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 1, 3, 3, 4, 7 (Success x 3 at target 3)

[Imogen Slaughter] damage! HAIL KAHSEENO!
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 1, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10 (Success x 2 at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] [soak!]
Dice Rolled:[ 9 d10 ] 1, 5, 6, 6, 8, 8, 9, 10, 10 (Success x 6 at target 6)

[Imogen Slaughter] HAIL KAHSEENO!
Dice Rolled:[ 4 d10 ] 3, 6, 6, 8, 10 (Success x 5 at target 3) Re-rolls: 1

[Imogen Slaughter] damage!
HAIL KAHSEENO!
Dice Rolled:[ 8 d10 ] 1, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 6, 7 (Success x 1 at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies]
Dice Rolled:[ 9 d10 ] 1, 1, 2, 2, 3, 5, 6, 6, 7 (Success x 1 at target 6)

[Imogen Slaughter] HAIL KAHSEENO!
Dice Rolled:[ 3 d10 ] 1, 3, 3 (Success x 1 at target 3)

[Imogen Slaughter] damage
HAIL KAHSEENO!
Dice Rolled:[ 4 d10 ] 1, 2, 3, 4 (Botch x 1 at target 6)

[Imogen Slaughter] STOP EMBARRASSING ME KAHSEENO!
Dice Rolled:[ 2 d10 ] 1, 3 (Failure at target 6) [WP]

[Imogen Slaughter] C'MON BABY!

HAIL KAHSEENO!
Dice Rolled:[ 4 d10 ] 1, 2, 2, 7 (Failure at target 6)

[Iona McNevin] 1a) Claw Mama
1b) Claw again +WP
1R) Claw one more time

1a) Claw Mama Diff + 1
Dice Rolled:[ 7 d10 ] 1, 3, 4, 4, 10, 10, 10 (Success x 2 at target 7)

[Iona McNevin] Damage
Dice Rolled:[ 9 d10 ] 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 6, 8, 9, 9 (Success x 4 at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] [btw, you get -2 diff from back attack. so that shoulda been diff 5. soak!]
Dice Rolled:[ 9 d10 ] 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 10, 10, 10 (Success x 8 at target 6)

[Iona McNevin] 1b0 Again + WP
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 3, 4, 6, 6, 9, 10 (Success x 5 at target 5) [WP]

[Iona McNevin] Damage
Dice Rolled:[ 12 d10 ] 1, 1, 1, 2, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 7, 9, 9 (Failure at target 6)

[Oncoming Storm] [ 1a Persuasion - Cha + Sub - 5d6]
Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 1, 1, 3, 3, 7 (Failure at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] Earth
Umbraquake!
Dice Rolled:[ 7 d10 ] 2, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 (Success x 3 at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] [Everyone soak 3 bashing!]

[Kalaratri] Soak!
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 1, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10 (Success x 3 at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] Lukas!
Dice Rolled:[ 15 d10 ] 1, 3, 3, 3, 3, 5, 5, 6, 6, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 10 (Success x 7 at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] Mother!
Dice Rolled:[ 9 d10 ] 1, 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 10, 10 (Success x 3 at target 6)

[Iona McNevin] Soak
Dice Rolled:[ 7 d10 ] 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4 (Failure at target 6)

[Imogen Slaughter] soak!
Dice Rolled:[ 3 d10 ] 8, 8, 10 (Success x 3 at target 6)

[Oncoming Storm] [ soak 6d6]
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 2, 2, 6, 9, 10, 10 (Success x 4 at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] Lukas
R1. Bite!
Dice Rolled:[ 10 d10 ] 1, 2, 4, 4, 5, 6, 7, 7, 8, 9, 10, 10 (Success x 7 at target 5) Re-rolls: 2

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] [KAHSEENO I SWEAR TO GOD, IF THIS ROLL SUCKS I'M NOT GONNA BELIEVE ANYMORE!]
Dice Rolled:[ 15 d10 ] 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 9, 10, 10 (Failure at target 6)

[Kalaratri] Rage 1: changing action to FUR GNARL, Dif 7 + 1 for changing action, -2 for back attack = 6 + WP
Dice Rolled:[ 12 d10 ] 1, 1, 1, 2, 4, 6, 6, 7, 8, 8, 9, 9, 10, 10, 10 (Success x 8 at target 6) [WP] Re-rolls: 3

[Kalaratri] Damage! HAIL KAHSEENO!
Dice Rolled:[ 15 d10 ] 1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 5, 6, 7, 7, 9, 10, 10 (Success x 5 at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] [-3 soak!]
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 1, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 (Failure at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] Though blow after blow is turned aside by Mother's carapace, Kalaratri at last lands a devastating strike to the hindquarters of the beast. Even better, she cracks the carapace over the abdomen, reveal a pale, translucent flesh beneath.

The spider shrieks in outrage and wheels around to face the onslaught.

[Mother redeclare:
R1. Spit venom at Asha! +1 diff
R2. Spear Asha!
R3. Spear Iona!]

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] R1. Venom spit!
Dice Rolled:[ 9 d10 ] 2, 4, 5, 5, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10 (Success x 3 at target 8)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] [Damage +2 -- special effects: every 2 successes translates into 1 unsoakable venom damage! Furthermore, venom continues to cause damage at -1 damage per round until it runs out. I.e., if Mother gets 5 succ on damage, Asha will take 3A this round, 2A the next, 1A the one following. Damage may be healed normally. There may also be ways to purify the poison.]
Dice Rolled:[ 10 d10 ] 2, 2, 3, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 10 (Success x 6 at target 6)

[Iona McNevin] 1R) Claw the bitch!
Dice Rolled:[ 9 d10 ] 1, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 5, 8, 9 (Failure at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] Wyrmbreaker loses Mother's attention. Wheeling about, the enormous arachnid leans in to Kalaratri, screeching. Multipartite mandibles flare wide like some sort of carnivorous flower. A jet of stinging venom strikes Kalaratri square in the face. It burns like acid. It leaves a lingering throb of pain that won't go away.

[Lukas, R1! Biting fur gnarled area!]
Dice Rolled:[ 10 d10 ] 1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 7, 7, 9, 9, 10 (Success x 4 at target 7) Re-rolls: 1

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] [damage +3! HAIL ONEESHAK!]
Dice Rolled:[ 12 d10 ] 1, 1, 2, 2, 4, 6, 7, 7, 9, 10, 10, 10 (Success x 5 at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] [soak!]
Dice Rolled:[ 7 d10 ] 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 (Success x 4 at target 6)

[Kalaratri] Per + Alert! -1 dif for hispo!
Dice Rolled:[ 4 d10 ] 2, 9, 9, 10 (Success x 3 at target 5)

[Kalaratri] BITE!
Dice Rolled:[ 12 d10 ] 2, 2, 3, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 6, 7, 10, 10 (Success x 6 at target 5)

[Kalaratri] Damage! Hail Kahseeno!
Dice Rolled:[ 13 d10 ] 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 4, 4, 4, 6, 6, 9, 9, 10 (Success x 4 at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] soak!
Dice Rolled:[ 10 d10 ] 1, 1, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 10, 10 (Failure at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] That last blow tears half of Mother's face asunder. Two sheaves of the mandibles are hanging by threads. One eye has burst.

She rears one killing-leg back, slashing viciously for the Silver Fang that has caused such damage to her and hers.

[Spear Asha! +2 from spur claws!]
Dice Rolled:[ 9 d10 ] 1, 3, 3, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 10 (Success x 1 at target 8)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] [damage!]
Dice Rolled:[ 8 d10 ] 2, 5, 6, 7, 9, 9, 9, 10 (Success x 6 at target 6)

[Kalaratri] Soak!
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 10 (Success x 1 at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] The bladelike claw skewers Kalaratri through and through. For a moment the arachnid's ruined face is inches from hers, what's left of the mandibles chittering and gnashing.

Then she tears her claw from the Silver Fang, releasing a bright arc of blood Behind her, Wyrmbreaker: "Oncoming Storm," to Imogen, this sounds merely like terrible snarling, "heal Kalaratri fast as you can. Banshee, if I can't get the bitch's attention back on me, take the hit!"

The spider rears back to finish the job.

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] R3. bite!
Dice Rolled:[ 10 d10 ] 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 8, 9 (Success x 5 at target 5)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] [+4!]
Dice Rolled:[ 13 d10 ] 1, 2, 4, 4, 5, 5, 6, 7, 9, 9, 9, 9, 10 (Success x 6 at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] [soak!]
Dice Rolled:[ 7 d10 ] 1, 3, 3, 3, 7, 8, 9 (Success x 2 at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] -- and then the Shadow Lord behind her seizes the edge of the gaping wound Kalaratri opened

and tears.

The bloated abdomen of the beast splits open like an overripe melon. Eggs, hundreds and thousands, some fully developed and ready to be laid, others as tiny as marbles, as pearls, as grains of sand, slough out from the spider's belly. Even at the last, even with what foul intelligence she possesses ebbing away with death, the sheer killing instinct burns.

Bladelike, hard and sharp as steel, the spider's claw slams down on the rock floor of the cave. It misses Kalaratri by a matter of inches. Another second or two the Mother lingers -- and then collapses onto her side, twitching, legs convulsing inwards until finally she lies dead and crumpled: an oversized dead bug.

Then it's quiet.

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] [final summary:

Asha 6A
Iona 3B!

Mother had 20hp
Bane had 8hp
BSDs had 7hp each]

[Iona McNevin] While everyone else tended to Asha, Iona gotto work with a different job. First, she pulledout a small flask and a lighter, spitting ut the alcohol as she flicked the lighter and began to burn the eggs.

[Oncoming Storm] [ 1G spent - MT Ashs 7d1 ]
Dice Rolled:[ 7 d10 ] 2, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 7 (Success x 7 at target 1)

[Kalaratri] There is nothing but this – the moment of battle, a thousand generations of memory livid in the Silver Fang’s gleaming eyes – ice blue, in this form, near-white, like the heart of the glaciers slowly serrating the impossibly high peaks that frame the background for the spare mountains, sparkling streams, and lush jungles over which her ancestors have always ruled – the holy waters, from the sharp, mist-shrouded river valleys of the high plains to the wide, rolling lowlands where the mother river opens up to loll, vast and muddy, filthy, holy all the way to the sea.

Then it ends. She should stagger; the tendons necessary to the function of her forelegs are severed such that her right forepaw turns unnaturally such that it would drag the ground were it not for bear’s gift; her muzzle is scorched, dripping ichor, still burning, her spirit spent. The Silver Fang shakes her great head fiercely, as if to dislodge the remaining venom - it it is everywhere, burning her corneas, eating through her nasal mucosa, scorching her throat.

There is half-a-minute between life and death for her. In that half-minute, Theron approaches and heals her. The gaping wounds knit closed, her body remakes itself underneath his hand - but the poison she has swallowed and inhaled continues to burn. The beast wuffs once at Theron, her pale eyes sharp with history - the ageless right of the wolf-kings whose blood runs (and, now - burns) in her veins, then shoulders her way past the stinking carcass of the spider into the cool dark night outside the burrow, shaking out her fur again, shifting back down to her human skin while the others smoke and burn out the remaining eggs.

When the others come back out, Asha - just Asha now, her gifts worn off, the venom would through her body - has her sunglasses back on, and is staring up at the night sky through the orange haze of the city's ever-present pollution. The stars are indispensable.

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] After a moment -- as Theron goes to help Asha -- Wyrmbreaker turns to the foul contents of the cave. Eggs pop and squelch underfoot as he treads. As Iona begins to light them on fire, Wyrmbreaker shifts into Crinos and begins to scrape them off the cave walls, casting them into a pile to be burnt.

They work together for some time, silently. Wyrmbreaker seems to be waiting for Iona to speak.

[Kalaratri] The head with the spine attached is Asha's. Someone throws it out of the smoking burrow, and she half-rises, grabbing the massive thing, which dwarfs her in her human skin. The vertebrae trail from the severed head like the tail of a rattlesnake shaking its warning at the world. The burns heal the slowest. The gift is slowly working, her dark skin healing almost before Imogen's eyes, regenerating at an impossible rate - but for a brief, passing moment, when she emerged from the burrow, when she looked up into the sky, they still marred her lovely features - made them a mask worthy of the phantom of the opera - though the fineness can still be read in the young girl's bones, sharp beneath the skin.

The head. She pulls it into her lap and turns it over almost tenderly, then glances up, sharply, at the kinswoman standing in the light of the waxing moon. Before the kinswoman leaves, Asha wrenches off the bottommost vertebra from the Crinos metis, as large as a fully spread hand. And offers it to Imogen, as if she were offering her another slice of toast at tea. Wordlessly regal, with her ancestors still livid beneath her skin.

[Iona McNevin] She watched as Lukas suddenly went to help her, grunting a bit as she continued to burn the eggs. Once they were all gone for the night, she would do the Cleansing Rite. But for now..... She shook her head at something, a thought perhaps. She began speaking in Czech, for privacy, which sounded like weirdness to the others perhaps. (If you know Czech, tell me so I can pm you too)

[Iona McNevin] Czech (too tired for translator) - "Take the hit? Are you that bloody insane? And what if it had killed me? She's a poiled brat of a kid, barely a cliath, and not pack yet. You and me, we grew up together."
to Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies

[Imogen Slaughter] As Lukas and Iona begin the work inside the cave, she begins the work outside of it. One of the Garou - it does not matter whom - is told she'll be back with body bags, if they would be so kind as to help her disarticulate them. She brings her car around. Retrieves bags from the trunk.

At some point, Asha offers her a vertebrae. Imogen stares down at the gift with a carefully contained expression of distaste, before reaching out to take it. The bone is over-large in her hand, flesh and nerves and slices of dura still sticking to it.

"Trophies," she says, offering the bone back, "Mean more to you and yours than it does to me. Keep it on account fer me, hm?"

[Kalaratri] "&+2310;&+2346;&+2325;&+2366; &+2360;&+2381;&+2357;&+2366;&+2327;&+2340; &+2361;&+2376;! &+2311;&+2360; &+2309;&+2306;&+2327;&+2381;&+2352;&+2375;&+2395;&+2368; &+2361;&+2367;&+2344;&+2381;&+2342;&+2368; &+2309;&+2306;&+2327;&+2381;&+2352;&+2375;&+2395;&+2368; &+2358;&+2348;&+2381;&+2342;&+2325;&+2379;&+2358; &+2350;&+2375;&+2306; &+2310;&+2346; &+2310;&+2360;&+2366;&+2344;&+2368; &+2360;&+2375; &+2361;&+2367;&+2344;&+2381;&+2342;&+2368; &+2324;&+2352; &+2309;&+2306;&+2327;&+2381;&+2352;&+2375;&+2395;&+2368; &+2358;&+2348;&+2381;&+2342;&+2379;&+2306; &+2325;&+2375; &+2309;&+2352;&+2381;&+2341; &+2338;&+2370;&+2306;&+2338; &+2360;&+2325;&+2340;&+2375; &+2361;&+2376;&+2306;&+2404; &+2344;&+2357;&+2350;&+2381;&+2348;&+2352; 2003 &+2350;&+2375;&+2306; &+2310;&+2352;&+2350;&+2381;&+2349;&+2367;&+2340; &+2311;&+2360; &+2358;&+2348;&+2381;&+2342;&+2325;&+2379;&+2358; &+2325;&+2379; &+2310;&+2332; &+2354;&+2366;&+2326;&+2379;&+2306; &+2354;&+2379;&+2327; &+2313;&+2346;&+2351;&+2379;&+2327; &+2325;&+2352;&+2340;&+2375; &+2361;&+2376;&+2306;&+2404; &+2311;&+2360;&+2375; &+2348;&+2375;&+2361;&+2340;&+2352; &+2348;&+2344;&+2366;&+2344;&+2375;!"

[Translation! I'm out! Thanks y'all.]

[Imogen Slaughter] (I'm out too! Thanks everyone!)

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] Wyrmbreaker glances at Iona briefly as she speaks in Czech. When he answers, his reply is measured, even -- and in High Speech.

"I understand you're upset, Banshee," he says, "and I don't mind if you question my tactics after the fact. But you will do so with respect unless you mean to challenge."

A beat.

"As for what I asked you to do: I knew very well the risk I took. I knew how strong that thing was. I knew if it hit you, you stood a chance of death. But I also knew that if it had hit Kalaratri, she would have most likely died. And whether or not you think she's a spoiled brat and a kid, she was also our hardest hitter all night, Banshee. When I held those two Dancers, she tore them open. When she leapt for the bane that the rest of us were barely scratching, she tore it apart. Losing her could have endangered all.

"I made a choice. It was not an easy one, Banshee, but it was for the good of the group."

[Iona McNevin] She looked away, a touch hurt, but she nodded. "I stihl would 'ave done it." Her Irish accent coming out clear now. "I dih my best tonigh'. Seems my luck was nah holdin' as wehl as it normally duhs." She looked back to her Alpha. "Why are ye bringin' her inta tha pack? Cus she's Fang?"

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] A low sound, something like wry amusement. "I know you did. So did I. So don't feel bad. I'm a Fostern Ahroun, and I barely performed any better. Sometimes Gaia's with us, and sometimes she isn't."

He adds another handful of eggs to the pile: soft, gelatinous, faintly sticky to the touch, then goes to scrape more from the wall. A thoughtful pause precedes his answer.

"No. If anything, her being a Fang would've been a reason against her -- if she'd shown any belief in her tribe making her somehow greater than the rest of us. But she doesn't. She might be a spoiled little rich girl, but when I spoke to her of the necessity of unity, of putting tribal divides behind us for the sake of the war and for Gaia, I saw in her eyes that she agreed. And that's a rare, precious thing no matter the tribe.

"That's part of it. The other part is: I like her. Kate likes her. Sinclair likes her. She's happy. She does her duty well. She does it cheerfully. And she doesn't allow her inevitable death to rob her of life.

"Everyone in this war suffers. Everyone goes through a lot of shit. Some become like Edward -- morose, long-suffering, worn thin. Others are like Asha. Like yourself, for that matter. And that's something I admire. That's something I want to keep close, to bring into the pack."

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] [oops, add: "I know you would have. And I know you did." at the beginning]

[Iona McNevin] Hearing the reasurance from her friend, her Alpha, that made her smile. She spilled a bit more whiskey from her flask onto the flames to feed them. Then started to help Lukas scrape them off the walls.

"Pe'haps tis just me. Tha' few times I 'ave been aroun' her, she seems tae disregard me. Like she knows she's betta than me. I just figured it was tha spoiled kid in her. Buh if ye really saw tha', tha' spark in her eye, then I believe ye. I hope she fits in well. I just hope she realizes she needs tae tone it down a notch."

She paused a moment, contemplating her next words carefully. "Wha' duhs tha rest o' tha pack think o' me, ~rhya?"

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] "You should say something to Kalaratri, then." As heat builds in the cave, the eggs still stuck to the walls seem to dry out. It's easier to peel them off now, and soon Wyrmbreaker is bringing them to the flames by the armful. "If you think she isn't giving you the respect you deserve, then lay it out for her. Maybe it's just a misunderstanding. Or maybe you're right. And if you are, then you'll just have to prove yourself worthy of respect.

"That's how respect works. The burden of proof is always on you. You know, when I took Ahroun Eldership, I won my challenge not only by decision but by the submission of all others. Even so, the first thing I had to do was show myself worthy all over again. To a Silver Fang with words, and to a Get of Fenris -- the same one that'd already submitted -- with tooth and claw."

A faint shrug, odd in his huge, furred form. "It could infuriate me if I let it. But I don't mind. We're strong enough to prove it as often as we need to, those of Perun."

They both pause. The flames lick higher as they burn. Here and there, eggs hiss with escaping gas; and pop like corn. Wyrmbreaker brings a last few handfuls over to the conflagration and dumps them on, then stands back brushing eggsilk from his fur.

"Truthfully, Banshee, I don't know. I've never made it a habit to talk about one packmate with another. If I had to guess, I'd say they generally like you, but maybe they don't know a whole lot about you yet."

Another pause.

"Do you want to know what I think of you?"

[Iona McNevin] She shook her head. "Nah really. Dinnah think ye were one fo' words tae be honest. No'mally, when I see ye, ye are quiet, as if always thinkin'. I know ye 'ave a heavy burden on ye shoulders, bein' Alpha, Elder, an' Fostern. I just hope one day I'll prove meself enough tae be Fostern as well."

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] "Well, let me say this much, then. I think you have great potential, Iona. And I think you're a good packmate. Loyal and bighearted.

"I think you should trust in yourself more. Don't worry so much what other people think of you. Don't be afraid to speak your mind to them. Don't think of yourself as the youngest of the pack, or the newest, or ... whatever you might think that cuts yourself off from the rest of your brothers and sisters.

"You're one of the pack. Trust in that, too. Trust in your pack."

[Iona McNevin] That made her feel better actually. And she nodded with a light smile. "Ye 'ave no idea how much tha means tae me tae hear ye say tha. Fo' awhile now, I thought I na betta than the Omega. Buh I believe ye'r words. An' I will take them tae heart. Thank ye, Lukas." She looked around. "I'll be finishin' up here, then Cleanse tha area tae give Theron a break. Ye should probably go make sure tha princess is alright, an' get some rest yeself."

[Wyrmbreaker and Wyrmies] "You're not omega, and never were," he assures her, and dusts his handpaws off. "Edward was omega. Goodnight, Banshee."

He's a huge dark shadow at the mouth of the cave; then smaller, homid-formed, as he leaves it.

[Kalaratri] This stretch of the park is drench in shadows, ringed with evergreen shrubs and fast-growing pines dotted amidst the still-bare deciduous trees. There is an artificial stream somewhere, gurgling, swollen with spring rain, spring-runoff. The sound is a low thread beneath the constant hum of traffic from lake shore drive. Filtered through the trees, they can see the lights of the city, the dull glow of the downtown highrises outlined in the threads of light. The kinswoman leaves, without the severed vertebra offered her by the savage little creature spattered with blood who sits just outside the mouth of the spider's den, cradling the head of her trophy - massive in her arms - as she watches the closest paths, alert for any sounds of approach.

Asha never felt the wounds that would of killed her; she doesn't feel them now, except as a faint, fading itch as the last layers of her skin renew themselves, accelerated by the Shadow Lord's healing gift. There is still blood spattered on her face though, reddening her mouth, damp and shining in her dark hair, bright against the once-crisp white line of her oxford, merely slick, shining against the more sensible black clothes she wears.

[Wyrmbreaker] A smoky stench rises from the cave as Banshee and Wyrmbreaker put the remaining eggs to flame. Eventually, with the fire going strong and the eggs all piled on, the Shadow Lord emerges, slipping down to his homid form as he comes.

"Did you hear any of that?" he asks, tilting his head back toward the cave.

[Kalaratri] Asha is holding the ugly, severed head of the dead metis Dancer the way she must have held a doll ten years ago - sitting cross-legged on the raw, damp turf, hummocks of grass torn out by their massive claws as they scrambled in battle. Other than the head and a few other trophies carefully preserved and piled to the side, the rest of the bodies are gone, torn apart, packed away in the kinswoman's black bags, carted off and piled away to be cleansed and burned later.

Wyrmbreaker walks out, the stench of smoke and ichor wafts with him, some bizarre version of the fire and brimstone with which much of the nation credits his tribe. The slight creature looks up, meets his gaze once, brief and direct, and smiles a bloody little smile.

"Yes - " she says, clearly, the head obscene in her arms, the ugly trail of the severed spinal column curling away in the grass. " - I heard most of it."

[Wyrmbreaker] "What do you think?" Pause. "About joining us."

[Kalaratri] It is - perhaps - the wrong time for such a question. Lukas cannot know how the past lived in the slight creature in front of him tonight. It was a raw sensation, and matchless - as if she had dug deep into the earth, pulled out the twisted roots of the gnarled tree that lives inside her, connecting her to the hoary past and the bleak, blighted future.

And the rajas of House Blood Red Crest do not follow Shadow Lords.

Asha sits up, her body opening through the spine as if there were an invisible hook in the top of her head, pulling her open toward the heavens. Her dark eyes gleam in the dim light, an animal brooding over her kill, the long fine fingers threaded through the matted fur, the palm of her right hand obscuring the single eye, glassy, staring, that remains in the severed head. Then, rising easily - elegantly - from her perch on the torn ground, she lugs the beast's head after her. Those vertebrae still attached to the trophy curve over her right forarm and clatter half-down down her hip and right thigh.

"I think," the girl begins, intent, her voice suffused with the matchless dignity that must certainly be infused into her tribe's true borns from birth. Or which is, perhaps, an echo of the ghosts she called back to her, before they charged into battle. "that I would like to fight with you again, Wyrmbreaker-rhya." Her dark eyes track over his shoulder, back to the smoldering smoke hole, the rotten stink, crackle and pop of the supperating spider's eggs. "All of you."

[Kalaratri] Sorry that took so long! and I need to sleep very soon! though that is feeling wrappish to me? And she doesn't mean ALL OF THEM, ALL AT ONCE. you know. I don't want to drive you batty. :)
to Wyrmbreaker

[Wyrmbreaker] There's a flex of muscle in the Shadow Lord's jaw. He turns to Asha, frowning.

"Asha, you've heard what I said to my packmate. You've heard why I'm interested in you. I admire your ability as an Ahroun, but more than that, I admire your philosophy -- or what I thought was your philosophy. I like you.. I like what you'll bring to this pack.

"You've also seen how I lead; you've seen how we hunt, how we prepare, how we vanquish. You've seen how we interact, spent time with us in our packhouse. I'm unclear as to what more, exactly, you want to see by joining us in combat yet again.

"There's also this: an offer of packship is not a trivial thing, particularly when it comes from us. We are not one of those packs that forms and dissolves at the drop of a hat. We are loyal to each other. We are close. We do not lightly extend offers to outsiders. And at this point, I think I need to hear and see more from you than yet another vague demand.

"What's keeping you from saying yes, Kalaratri? What are your concerns? What are you [i[looking for?[/i]"

[Wyrmbreaker] [er. extra period in there! "I like you. I like what you'll bring to this pack."]

[Kalaratri] "Your packmate is right about me." This is how Asha begins, looking back at him, her dark eyes sharp, the lush line of her full lower lip shining with smeared, drying blood. Her own, perhaps, or some dead thing's blood. "I am a spoiled brat."

There must be some incarnation of Kali who appears like this, as a vicious girl with long arms like birdswings and shining black eyes, intent and direct as no human's attention can be. The girl-who-is-a-wolf is not smiling. The wolf-who-is-a-girl has not pulled back her lips to bare her blooded teeth, but something about the tension in her posture, the sharp curve of her spine, the set of her jaw suggests that she does not like to be scrutinized with the sort of intensity that Lukas Wyrmbreaker levels on her name.


"I like your pack. I - " she pauses, the words aren't tenuous or hesitant so much as rushed, sudden. She is not an articulate creature, and these things are wordless and amorphous, swirling dark and sharp in the cavity of her chest, rising like her blood-laced vision in the midst of battle. Here is the smile she did not give him a moment before. It is sharp and bloodlaced, her fine frame keyed and alert beneath it. " - like the way we fought together. Okay?" Here is an incarnation of the goddess, too, Kali-Kalanat. Kali-is-the-one-who-finishes. "I want to do that again. But I - I told you before. No one in my line has ever followed a Shadow Lord. It doesn't - "

Pause, such evident frustation. It would be sharper were her rage not exhausted. It would be coruscating had she not spent so much of herself in the battle that nearly ended her. " - you asked me what I think. It doesn't matter what I think. You see? I have them all inside me tonight, all the way back to the Maharaja Bahadur. He's - " a pause, here, sharp, " - he's so old it's like he's one of the rocks in the earth. In the middle of it, I mean, gone molten and raw. Do you see? So it doesn't matter what I think, I have to feel it - and I don't know what else to say to you."

[Wyrmbreaker] A waxing moon, very nearly full, casts light over half his face, shadow over the rest. Light or dark, his eyes gleam the same way: so starkly blue, so pale, that they are nearly colorless. Nearly the hue and quality of ice, or cut diamond. The Shadow Lord frowns as he listens, though perhaps as much out of concentration and thought as --

pique. Because there's that, too.

And this: he masters it, drawing a breath, looking away into the darkness as the girl who is also a wolf finishes. A moment's quiet.

"My line," he says then, quietly, "is as old as yours, my blood as pure. In that lineage, Asha, I have heroes and monsters, kings and tyrants. More of the latter than the former, I promise you. Look back a hundred years or a thousand or ten thousand and you'll find wolf-men with my eyes, my chin, my cheekbones. You'll see monsters that clawed their way to the top, and you'll find histories writ in innocent blood.

"My closest family did their utmost to slaughter each other when I was a child. For power. For dominance. My entire tribe sometimes thinks it's somehow in their interest to slaughter one another, brother against brother, brothers against cousins, cousins against the world.

"That's my lineage. That's my history. That's what I could very easily live up to, should I but choose it." A faint, ironic scoff, more bitter than amused. "That's what a good portion of the Sept believes of me as it is."

A beat.

"You, then. You've a history full of kings and holy men. Despots and madmen. Glory and rot. If that's what you choose to cling to, then so be it. I won't pretend it doesn't disappoint me, but the choice is yours and I respect your right to it. Follow a Silver Fang if your conscience or ancestry won't allow you to follow anyone but. Go back to India and marry your Fang prince for all I care. I'll still welcome your claws at my side when we go to war. Only, if that's how it's going to be for you, if you just can't bring yourself to get over the past, you need to let me know now so I stop wasting my time on you."

There's a touch of hardness there -- an edge of impatience and irritation; an Ahroun after all.

"I will say this much more, though." This, a moment later, quieter. "I think we're more than the echoes of our ancestors. We have to be. As mighty as our ancestors were: did they avert the Apocalypse? Did they win the War? Did they, in all their glory and wisdom, fulfill their destiny and save Gaia?

"And since they did not -- how can we hope to triumph by following in their footsteps?"

[Wyrmbreaker] [pausing!]

[Kalaratri] Once, half-way through his recitation of the meaning of her history, of her ancestry, Asha breathes in sharply.

When he is finished, she says back to him, "I don't want to go crazy." It is hardly a reply. Lukas might well wonder if the child of Falcon in front of him had even been listening to him were her black eyes not rapt on his face.

"I would've died for her." she says, soft - the conviction in her voice nevertheless firm and polished, hard, faceted. He stands there framed in the smoke clotting the bolt-hole opening, an acrid stench, an oleaginous stain in the air around them. "I mean," and this, this is soft yet. And no less true for it. "- without you telling me to.

"I wouldn't mind it."

[Wyrmbreaker] It's not, to be honest, an answer he expected. I would've died for her. He was talking about their tribes, their histories, what their ancestry tells them to be: shining heroes, unflinching warlords. Mad kings, wolf-tyrants. Enemies. He was talking about the past and what they, in all their glory, ever achieved. He was talking about the now, the future, the pack

and she tells him she would have died for her.

Gaia? Wyrmbreaker thinks -- then; no. Banshee.

Some of the fervency, the fire, banks in his eyes. The moon is nearly full, casting pale across their faces. His skin is swarthy, hers even darker, dusky. They are both blackhaired. His eyes are crystalline blue and hers, because this is one of the rare times she's not wearing gigantic sunglasses that cover half her face, are dark, gleaming like polished stones.

"I know," Wyrmbreaker says then, quietly. "And if I didn't think you were the kind of Ahroun that would, I wouldn't be asking at all."

[Kalaratri] "Okay."

Asha says, then. Her voice is soft. The moonlight sheens across her black hair. Her rage expended, her will ebbing in the wake of the battle that nearly ended her - she seems smaller than she ever could otherwise. The Crinos trophy in her lap dwarfs her. Had Wyrmbreaker not seen her slay the thing, he might well wonder whether she was even capable of lifting it in her human skin. The smoke wreathes around the Shadow Lord, gives him the aspect of something from one of the many hells that no doubt smoke somewhere beneath the earth - hells enough for all the world and all its evils, all its kin and all its kind. The fire sparks and hisses, behind him, eggs turn translucent, smoke and pop. Again, and then later - again - flames lick the edges of the burrow, spark lambent lights in the girl's dark eyes.

That's all. No great speeches about overcoming the past or dreaming a renewed future. Just a girl in the moonlight, a dead monster in her arms, blood on her mouth, blood in her hair, her body broken nearly utterly, then healed again. Cool breeze rustles through the stark branches of the still bare trees.

Somewhere underground, things grow.
Somewhere deeper, things fester.

"Okay."

[Wyrmbreaker] Not a lot of light here, and what there is is smokeshrouded. They can still hear Banshee in there, coughing now and then as she feeds eggs to the fire. The stink is horrid; the smoke acrid.

No great speeches here, then. No grand hall, no ceremony or pomp, no ritual accompanying this binding pact. Just: okay.

And, the answering smile, faint but quick, flirting up the corner of Wyrmbreaker's mouth. "Okay," he replies. And she repeats: Okay.

They won't bind her to the pack immediately. Not formally, anyway. As they're returning in his car, and as he's dropping off the warriors one by one -- Slaughter to her condo, Iona and Theron to the BroHo, and finally Kalaratri to her butler-and-home -- he explains what Perun represents, what he forbids, what they did to deserve his ire, and when he will return to them. He explains they will make their amends to their totem the next night, and that three nights later, they will call him again to accept their newest.

Three nights, then, before Kalaratri is bound into the pack. Three nights to make whatever spiritual purifications she wished, and to make her peace with her ancestors. Three nights.

Still. Here and now, without hesitation, he holds his hand out to her. Their grip is palm-to-forearm. He hauls her to her feet, and it's a friendly, casual thing; utterly devoid of symbolic meaning. Utterly devoid of condescension, too. Lukas doesn't help her up because she needs it, but because --

well. Because she's his sister now.