20 Jan 2003

The nighttime umbral is brightly lit by the full moon, and the Garou go galloping through. Strange shadows of forgotten building flicker in the umbral landscape.

Three-Blades trails along behind the two Synthesis packmembers, eyes and ears shifting about constantly as the group travels.

Guards-Flame keeps her pace, but not too fast to lose Three-Blades behind her. She rumbles lightly in her throat, shifting her gaze over to the Gnawer.

Salem paused only once, at the beginning of the run, to sharpen his claws. Now he keeps a steady pace with the rest, close to and ahead of Guards-Flame and Three-Blades.

Fights-For-Hope runs along with Ouroboro, not a member but for the night a brother-in-arms.

Calls-Spirits and his Fianna packmate stick relatively close to Synthesis as they travel.

Wildfire, with his pack, leads the revelers onward towards their destination. ~Everyone is to be in a pack. If you are not in a pack, find one to stand with. I will suffer no stragglers.~

Soon the warehouse looms up in the umbral landscape ahead of you. A mass of tangled webs and concrete, the Garou can see things scuttling about as they draw near.

Wildfire slows to a stop as the warehouse draws near. ~This is how I remember it standing. The passageway inside to the bane is narrow and there are spiders weaving. If they get in the way, kill them. Otherwise, ignore them. There are minor spirits within, but the word I hear is that, if low on power, they can still be dangerous by posessing.~ He lets that sink in before continuing.

The Garou now stand outside of a massive building covered in spiderwebs. Several pattern spiders can be seen crawling over the webs and tending them. Several small tunnels -- lupus sized -- weave their way into the building.

~Deeper inside is our main target. A leech-like spirit of some power, siphoning blood and feeding some of the minor ones. Room in there is not abundant.~ Wildfire looks to Andrea for confirmation of this.

Cries-No-More's bow has been tied to his quiver, and he sharpens his claws on a nearby building before the warehouse comes within view.

Fights-For-Hope offers to those around, ~Steel your minds and focus your wills. You do not want to expirence your friends and allies turning against you...~ He lets that be the entirety of his warning.

Three-Blades growls a soft inquiry to Synthesis, before deciding it safer to concentrate on her gifts while she can. Salem spares Three-Blades a glance before turning his attention to the building itself, lips wrinkled away from his fangs in an expression of irritation. Aubrey lengthens her strides as they make their trek across the umbra. Her head tilts up towards the sky as she sees the warehouse building looming into view from afar. "Some how this looks a lot differently than I have seen from the otherside of the shadow," she says softly, "More..." however, the Fianna drifts off into silence as she fixes a arrow to her bow as she sees the large spiders crawling about on the building. Guards-Flame rumbles softly to herself as she focuses her mind on a task, eyes squinting some into the darkness. Claws flex in and out as she listens to the Wyrmfoe's words. Calls-Spirits growls quietly to Synthesis and Yi. ~Aubrey and I shall keep watch on the rear for now, and watch that we are not flanked.~

Bitter Cup bares her teeth as she inspects those that have followed the rally. ~We will all fit inside,~ she answers. ~Though only four or five will be able to attack at once. But there are smaller targets.~

Wildfire waits to see if and when folks are ready. ~Tonight is for Gaia. Should you flee in weakness, I will hunt you down and recycle your soul.~ "Fur die ungefahr zum zu sterben, begrusse ich Sie." With that, he strikes the ground with his claws to sharpen them before pressing onward.

Wildfire pages to the room: Please consider yourselves Inspired. "For those about to die, I salute you."

The pattern spiders, those that you see, have not yet moved from their places. The sharp-eyed in the crowd can make out a few of the Blood Spores; they pretty well match the descriptions given out.

As the garou begin to activate their various gifts, one of the pattern spiders stops what it is currently doing and begins to (very slowly) climb towards the Garou.

Faces-Shadows smiles and slowly fades from view into the protective shadows, his traditional method of getting ready for a battle. Cries-No-More simply drifts a few feet away from Bitter-Cup, and approaches with the rest of the group. Tempered-Blade's eyes flash as she looks about and calls upon her gifts as a Fianna. ~Probably not needed, but the extra protection never hurts. Are we ready, Wyrmfoe?~ Her alpha growls, ~I wouldn't count on there being no poisons,~ as Bitter Cup's coat suddenly outlines each hair in silver backlight. The glow fades into Uktena's protective shroud as the Alpha moves into the center of her pack's V-formation. ~Let's go.~

Salem glances at the Garou gathered with him, urrah and Merlin-followers and one of Gaia's Children. ~Healers,~ the Glass Walker rumbles, roughly summing them all up. ~Keep to the back. Watch the rear. And make sure no one dies of their wounds.~ Three-Blades eyes the pattern spider, itching with anticipation. She waits for signal from Salem. She waits for chaos. Guards-Flame continues to follow everyone, taking up the lead alongside Salem. She shifts her dark eyes towards the spider as well, chuffing quietly to herself. Aubrey keeps to the back of the Synthesis pack, her bow steady although her fingers twitch towards the quiver that is tied around her thigh. Her eyes flicker to Salem briefly, quietly holding her attention to other possible attacks. Calls-Spirits sticks close by Aubrey, throwing a glance over his shoulder now and then to make sure foes from outside the warehouse don't catch them unawares. Gaia-Will-Judge eyes the surroundings, not so sure that the big spider is alone.

The spider continues to advance; it's now about 30 feet away and still closing slowly. As it walks, a few of the Blood Spores fall in behind it.

The Bloodspores, for those who are looking, are small. About the size of human's arm, they look like enormous blood clots with trailing tentacles.

Nightfire calls down Luna's blessings upon himself, and the soft glow of moonlight settles into his fur with a protective warmth. Tossing his head, the wolf prepares to follow the Wyrmfoe. Rides-Fire snarls, the hispo's ruff flaring aggressively as his packmate inspires the group. He does not seem to ready any gifts, but otherwise eagerness nigh-vibrates from his dark fur. Wildfire glowers at the spider for a moment's time. ~Ouroboros will go first, followed by Reforged immediately. For the rest, keep the pissiest in the rear as guard.~ He then snarls at the spider making it's way forward.

Guards-Flame stares over at the Spider approaching and lets out a rumbling growl, ears flickering forward. ~Great.~ Her eyes squint some. ~Boss?~ She speaks to Salem, who shakes his head slightly. ~Take lupus. Won't fit otherwise.~ He does so himself. Three-Blades regards the spores warily, coming up close to Guards-Flame's flank. The Gnawer steels herself at the wrongness of the creatures, casting a short glance at the packs ahead and then behind at their escape route. Aubrey's nose wiggles up with a disgusted look on her face. The Theurge curses under her breath, but her words are nearly audible to anyone else around her. Gaia-Will-Judge watches those bloodspores suspiciously while preparing to move with the pack as needed.

Unseen, Faces-Shadows shrinks down to lupus form and takes his usual position of point for the pack. Cries-No-More shifts down, and the scarred Wendigo moves to a position in the front, the dark shadow of his Totem's protection enveloping his small shape. Tempered-Blade growls softly as she falls into place in the pack's V. ~Lead the way, Andrea.~ And then her form blurs down into lupus so that she can make her way through the tunnel. Bitter Cup does not slow down as she narrows her eyes at the advancing spider. ~*Attack the blood spoors,*~ her voice lashes out, as her pack moves to evade rather than engage. The Gaian, too, shrinks in size as they approach the tunnel's entrance. Fights-For-Hope takes the absolute rear for Ouro, a center piece behind the V. When the group approaches the tunnel, the Get theurge takes on the lupine form and utters out a quick gutteral chanting to Fenris. The chant seems to trigger his fetish and a bright red glow shines out then continues to burn dull for a few seconds from the collar around his neck. As a group, they enter the tunnels and head towards the Revel's goal.

Ouroboros vanishes into the tunnels. Andrea's command lashes out at the spider which turns and attacks the spores. Several more begin to head towards the tunnel entrance, attracted by the commotion. Two blood spores escape the attentions of the Pattern Spider and leap towards Guards-the-Flame and Aubrey.

As Reforged follows behind Ouroboros, they are best upon by 2 spores and a spider. Nightfire and Wildfire target a spore each, hackles raising and snarling. Rides-Fire waits, watching the spider and ready if the gifts fail.

Cries-No-More attempts to stalk quietly as his is able, staying near the front with his packmates. His steps are deft and light as he tries to avoid drawing attention before they reach their goal. Tempered-Blade whuffs. ~Move quickly. The full-moon pack can mop up behind us.~ A second later, the Fianna adds ~Faces-Shadows says he has reached the first open spot. The Ahrouns can fight there if there is need.~ Bitter Cup also does not pause, driving in toward the goal. She chuffs agreement with the Fianna. Fights-For-Hope slinks in with the group, keeping low as possible as he moves, a silent rolling back of his gums to reveal eager teeth is the only indication of the Get of Fenris ready to tear into a foe. Somewhere nearby, presumably still in front of the pack, the Uktena ragabash sniffs the air cautiously as they move in.

Guards-Flame roars and grabs the spore with her claws and tosses it down before Three-Blades as she feels her pack mate come up close to back her up. Three-Blades blurs up into the direwolf, leaping in as Guards-Flame swipes and injures the spore. Mercilessly, the Gnawer gathers the remains in her huge jaws and tears it apart with a violent shake of her forequarters. Calls-Spirits moves to intercept the bloodspore attacking Aubrey, slashing at it with his claws. He snarls first in frustration and then alarm as the thing hits its mark on Aubrey. Golden-Eyes thrashes at the blood spore but it isn't much use until the others help her out of getting the thing off of her. Salem, in Lupus, lunges forward to dispatch the thing starting to burrow into Aubrey and destroys it with efficiency, though his teeth tear at the Fianna's flesh as well. Then he snaps to his pack, authoritively. ~In. Three-Blades first, take point. I'm at back. Healers in between.~ Gaia-Will-Judge follows the rest of the pack.

Three-Blades spits out the dead spore, ignoring the nasty taste best she can. Following up on Salem's order, she snorts once and slips back into a compact lupus. The Gnawer leads in after the ahrouns of Reforged. Calls-Spirits throws a wary glance at the battle between the spider and the bloodspores before shifting to lupus and following along after Three-Blades. Guards-the-Flame, Golden-Eyes, and Gaia-Will-Judge follow, in that order. Salem brings up the rear, keeping a wary, irritable eye on their back, his befouled teeth bared.

Wildfire focuses on an approaching spider as the spores flee for their very lives. Nightfire draws upon the powers of Luna, his claws turning silver, causing him to growl at the ensuing pain. Rides-Fire meets the closest spider, snapping at it with more Yang than Yin.

At the beginning, Fights-For-Hope takes a more tactical role. Allowing the others to be the more direct combatants, the Get theurge prepares to defend and possibly heal those brought down by the enemy. Bitter Cup calls out aloud as she shifts into crinos, her eyes never leaving the target. ~Like the spores. Also, it's armored. Its touch blights. And it can command us in turn. Ware!~ After a silent comment through the link, she and Touch Deer lunge for the nearest blood spore. Tempered-Blade shifts instantly into the crinos form and launches herself at one of the larger blood spores. Ripping into it with both claws, she snarls with glee as her blows gain purchase on the thing's flesh. Faces-Shadows suddenly pops into view, now in crinos form, as his claws lash into the same creature as his Fianna packmate's.

Blood begins to drip from between Nightfire's claws as he turns on the spiders. Rage, fueled by the pain of his own gift, drives him as he lunges at one of the spiders. ~Clear them out,~ he growls. ~Open the way.~ Rides-Fire attacks another of the spider spirits as it approaches. Wildfire lunges for the one that dared to sap him of his energies.

The Garou speed into a blur of motion. Nightfire blurs with Rage and his claws strike once, twice, thrice into the unwounded pattern spider still making its way out of the walls. It does not fall from the first blow, but it stumbles out into the corridor right in front of Yi. Between her own strike and Nightfire's finishing blow, the spider dies. Rides Fire lashes out as well, hitting his foe twice and dispatching it as well. Wildfire also (with the help of Salem) finishes off his foe. The sound of combat from Ouroboros rings out just around the corner.

Three-Blades spits out spider legs from her teeth, clambering out of the tunnel and shaking once. Her eyes follow Reforged, and then turn back to those behind her. The Gnawer indicates the direction they're headed with a point of her red muzzle. Calls-Spirits stalks out of the tunnel and quickly moves aside to make room for the others. He immediately starts looking for a smaller foe to attack that won't take him too far from his comrades. Guards-Flame follows after the others and comes out into the open, glancing around quickly. Everyone looks to be in one piece, main course is coming up, she chuffs to the others. As the other packs start heading off, she too, follows. Golden-Eyes' form grows into dire-form and her eyes take on glowing a faint silver-blue light. She keeps to the rear, watchful over her shoulder in the direction that they had just arrived from. Gaia-Will-Judge moves to one side as soon as he's able, to allow Salem more freedom of movement, without exposing any of the more capable healers. Salem, like Aubrey, shifts up to Hispo once he emerges from the tunnel and casts an eye over the area, his claws ready.

The tunnel winds through the building, and the Garou come to a slightly more open area. Open, but unpleasant. The walls apppear to be bars floating just able of thin waterfall of blood that cascades down right behind you. The webs here are left behind, and then entire place reeks of rotten and stale blood. From here to the larger room, the tunnel is taller and broader, large enough for a crinos or two to walk abreast.

Blood spatters everywhere as the Uktena and Fianna strike into their foe and slaughter it without mercy or hesitation. After finishing off the first of the blood spores, the two ragabash turn almost as one to the last remaining spore and attack again, claws flashing. The first of the supporting Garou arrive just in time to witness the deaths of two of the larger bloodspores. Bitter Cup and Cries-No-More, still working in tandem, then move to attack the larger spirit. As they take on this greater foe, both Garou strike with both claws to attempt to pierce its protections. Fights-For-Hope slowly turns from watching the fray towards the enterance, a studious and blank expression falls over his features.

Wildfire runs to the room that should be holding their quarry tonight, taking a moment's survey before taking action.

Fights-For-Hope follows the first person out of the tunnel with his eyes for only half a second before he is off and running at ramming speed. The lupine Get of Fenris theurge leaps into Wildfire at an angle taking on the hispo form right before contact, the massive uber-wolf trying to get his jaws about the throat of the fostern of his own tribe.

Even as Fights-For-Hope lashes out at his target, the massive bane turns its attention towards Bitter Cup and Touch Deer. Heaving it's bulk around, it strikes out with a spray of blood that spatters harmlessly against the Gaian's shadowy cloak and fades into mist even as the forward pair of Ouro attack. Faces-Shadows and Tempered-Blade make short work of their target as well. It is only the monstrous creature that remains. Massive -- nearly double the size of a crinos in bulk, it is a leech-like thing with an enormous heart beating at its core.

Three-Blades wrinkles her muzzle at the smell of stale blood and rot. With a shiver that turns from anger to focus, the Gnawer shifts to hispo once more, slower this time. She pants despite the cool air, giving Guards-Flame a brief a-ok blink before continuing to lead onwards towards sounds of battle further on. Guards-Flame shifts into the Hispo quickly and makes her way up to Yi's side, growling loudly in her throat. Her nose twitches, ears flattening as she gazes at the sight of blood. Calls-Spirits chuffs in irritation as Guards-Flame leaves the protective center of the formation. He shifts up to Hispo and tries to keep an eye on angles that the Gaian can't see, and otherwise hurries towards the sounds of battle. Gaia-Will-Judge shifts to hispo and picks up speed, keeping his flanking position and watching and listening for any threats. Salem bristles at their surroundings with an expression of utmost loathing. The last out into the open space, the Glass Walker moves into a flanking position, observing the attack of Get-on-Get with a snort.

Wildfire explodes into a veritable fit of rage. Attacked by a Garou, his own tribesmate at that! He's in crinos instantly, claws and teeth up to meet the theurges. Rides-Fire rushes toward two two grappling Get, trying to hit Fights-For-Hope with a swing of his scarred muzzle. Nightfire leaves his packmates to deal with the crazed Get. He'd only kill Jamethon anyway, with his transformed claws. Howling, the lupus shifts into hispo form with the ease that comes of being in the Umbra, and joins Ouro in attacking the beast.

Fights-For-Hope suddenly snaps back to reality as Owen blurs into the warform and stinking of fear and suprise for a moment instantly melts back down to the lupine form. Twisting violently to struggle out of Wildfire's flailing sharpened claws and away from his enraged elder, Fights strugles to endure any wounds without letting his own rage become stoked.

Golden-Eyes pages to Salem, Gaia-Will-Judge, Guards-Flame, Three-Blades, and Calls-Spirits: (pose) Golden-Eyes moves forward, paws bounding on the ground as she enters the scene. Her muzzle wrinkles up into a snarl as they get the full impact of the open space of the tunnel. Her ears perk as she sees the two Garou attacking each other. This isn't right, she makes known to those around her in a deep growl. Her eyes seek out something else that's here.

Bitter Cup, after shrugging off the bane's attack, is mostly shrugged off in turn. She wounds it, but not drastically, with each attack. Touch Deer and Nightfire, however, do far more damage as their rage-fueled full-moon touched blows slam into the creature.

Bitter Cup, after shrugging off the bane's attack, is mostly shrugged off in turn. She wounds it, but not drastically, with each attack. Touch Deer and Nightfire, however, do far more damage as their rage-fueled full-moon touched blows slam into the creature.

Tempered-Blade backs up, letting the ahrouns in on the action, as Faces-the-Shadows-Within also pulls back to pace the perimeter of the room, watching for others coming to join the party. Their alpha and Wendigo packmate, however, continue to press the attack, hammering damage at the bloated spirit with more grimness than glory.

The bane, meanwhile, sends a tendril of blood snaking towards Nightfire. It looks to be aiming towards his face and throat, but instead gets snapped off by a instinctive *chomp* from the Gaia ahroun's jaws.

Fights-For-Hope, struggling and bloody, falls to the ground the moment Rides-Fire touches him, then immediatly uses his front legs and muzzle to try and pull himself away, a grunt of excertion turns to a growling out for a healer to get him back on his feet and back into the fight.

Nightfire continues the attack. What he lacks in grace, he makes up for in brute strength. Driven on by the pull of the moon, his own pain, and the abomination before him, he rends. Rides-Fire takes a moment to heal Wildfire as he gets to his feet. Wildfire, in turn, stands upright and pulls out his axe as he is healed. He waits only long enough for the Stargazer to finish before lunging at the beast, howling out a call for Fenris' Glory.

As Guards-the-Flame and Golden-Eyes move in to heal the two Get of Fenris. As Rides takes care of Wildfire, though, Alicia assists Aubrey instead in bringing Jamethon back to health. Meanwhile, Yi and Salem dispatch a pair of small blood spores that are creeping up on the group, while Tobin and Dane keep an eye out for further trouble.

Tempered-Blade circles the bane, keeping watch out on the outside area. She comes to another opening and snarls slightly as she moves into a guard pose. Her Uktena packmate gives a quick glance in her direction, but continues on his own ounds for the moment, though ready to meet her. In the center, the battle of the ironclads it may be, but Bitter Cup continues to press the attack, though her blows have slowed to merely mortal speed. Cries-No-More, however, continues slashing at the gargantuan bane with superhuman speed and strength, his focus entirely on placing his blows.

The three Garou attacking the bane press their advantage. First Nightfire lashes into it, then Touch Deer. Back and forth the two Ahroun trade blows, but it is the Alpha who actually lands the killing strike. Weak though her claws may be compared to the full-moons who stand at her side, she deals the death-blow to the beast. It shudders, then explodes with a very wet *thud* noise. Although messy, the blood itself does not seem to pose any immediate danger to the Garou.

Wildfire screams into the Umbral night, not getting chance to get a lick on the very thing he led this raid on. He vents his rage into that cry before tearing into the webbing of this place, axe first. Pray no one is in the way.

Fights-For-Hope, once healed by the two and being one of those not able to attack the target of the revel echoes his elder's cry of rage, takes on the warform, and sets into the web as well... noticably as far from any other garou (particularly Wildfire), as possible.

Three-Blades lifts a plate-sized paw after shaking off the excess blood from the bane's death. Head slung low, her ears flatten back at Wildfire's scream and the Gnawer bares her teeth. She shifts to help out in tearing down webbing, keeping well and clear of the furious Get ahroun.

Calls-Spirits, his silver coat now soaked with blood, shifts up to Crinos to help with tearing down the webbing.

Salem gives himself a vigorous shake and shifts into Crinos form to assist with taking down the webbing, his claws slashing methodically at the spiders' work.

Jessica pages to the room: There are a few more small blood-spores that need mopping up. Given the time, however, I'm going to hand-wave that part. Rar, the glorious ahrouns! Rar!

The group clean up the remaining bloodspores, tear down pattern webbing, and do some Cleansing.  Woo.