It is currently 20:35 Pacific Time on Tue Jan 14 2003.

Currently in Saint Claire, it is foggy. The temperature is 33 degrees Fahrenheit (0 degrees Celsius). The wind is calm today. The barometric pressure reading is 30.36 and steady, and the relative humidity is 100 percent. The dewpoint is 33 degrees Fahrenheit (0 degrees Celsius.)

Currently the moon is in the waxing Gibbous Moon phase (79% full).

Cave on the Island

The entrance to this hole in the ground shows signs of many passings, the rough edges of the soft rock are worn away. Inside, you find a comfortably large limestone cave. Stalactites hang from the ceiling, but are high enough overhead so as not to wound careless foreheads. The floor of the cave has been smoothed out, and is surprisingly clean, indicating that the dweller herein has taken pains to make it so. There's probably room for two or three people to sleep stretched out. A small fire pit resides near the entrance, and the air currents fortuitously carry any smoke out of the entrance. A couple of stalagmites have been hewn off and now act as low tables. Whoever lives here shows a knack for making things comfortable.(+view)

A well worn passageway leads out to the narrow hidden entrance to the cave. It's a bit of a scramble to get out.

Alicia turns to a page in the sketchbook and shows a hand drawn map, quite detailed and labled. "This is the inside of the wherehouse, room for room, and entry points."

Elan looks at the map, and nods. "Um, this thing where it says 'silver'..."

Andrea's eyes go distant as she nods at Elan's question.

"This is pretty much a rough sketch, so far." Alicia explains as she taps the map in front of her. "The silver is where the labs are set. That is where the pills are being created, as well as something new with silver mixed into it. From what I've been able to obtain, there are silver weapons in there too, knives, sharp pointy things. It seems to be they are preparing for us, or experimenting on us."

Andrea sighs and murmurs, "I suppose it was too much to hope for, for once." More loudly, she asks, "Any bullets?"

Salem ducks down as he enters the cave of the Uktena pack, grumbling under his breath in Serbian.

Alicia nods her head to Andrea's question. "Yes, there are silver bullets as well, lots of weapons loaded. They even got silver grounded into powder, and sheets created of it..." She pauses. "Also in the lab, is a number of toxins, poisons, and very flammable things, so some good advice would not to toss something in there that goes 'boom'. Or else that'll make the Safehouse look like a firecracker."

Andrea frowns deeply and glances at Salem as he comes in. "Well, apparently they're warned," she mentions, as she gestures at the map after Alicia finishes the most recent explanation. "This makes things a lot more difficult. We'll have losses, against this sort of arms. It's no longer a case of one vampire and a few fomori. We're going to have to come up with something else."

Elan frowns as Alicia lists off the store of weapons. "No shit.. they're ready for bear."

"It's definitely bigger than one vampire and a few fomori," Salem rasps. The Walker's voice is hoarse and dry. He joins the others, slipping over next to Alicia. "Ebony's gathered some more information on the company that's renting that warehouse. They have several others across the state."

Alicia nods her head slowly. "There is a double door to the North which is boarded up with plywood. Safety glass and metal wiring behind that, then padlocked. If we go through the front, we'll have to go in pairs of two, in Crinos, maybe three in smaller forms. Which means, if they are waiting when we go through, we'll simply go down like domino's and not have much room to work with. The door on the East is the one they use the most. Its easier to get through then the front, but the people in the lead may still get picked off. Its wider, and just overall simpler. This door is locked as well."

Andrea exhales sharply. "Oh, them being forewarned makes all the difference." She shakes her head. "Thursday's off, then. There's no way we can be prepared for something like this by then."

Alicia nods her head slowly, then lets out a breath. "Also.." She digs around in the backpack, coming out with dog tags, on long metal chains. "I got these, for all of us going in."

Andrea glances at them, then looks back up at Alicia.

Alicia looks back to Andrea, peering into her eyes, falling silent.

Salem leans against a wall of the cave, his hands stuffed into his coat pockets. The Walker's face is drawn; he looks a bit like death warmed over. His lips thin as Alicia brings out the tags, mismatched eyes narrowing.

Alicia shakes her head and leans back some, wettening her lips. Rubbing at her cheek faintly, she glances between the other three.

Andrea shakes her head and sighs. "Unless we pull in magery," she adds, turning to Salem. "There's no way to do this battle conventionally. These kind of weapons are things your tribe know best. Think on this information, see what you can find out about this company. We'll still attack the spirit for the Revel, unless something just as sobering comes up about that plan. But I'm depending on Synthesis to at least come up with some basics of a plan, given those odds. Talk to whoever you will. Maybe Robert will have some ideas."

Andrea amends. "No way to do this battle conventionally without many losses."

Alicia lets out another breath and rises upwards, rolling her shoulders a bit. "I need to take a quick walk, just around, catch some fresh air." She explains, eyes flickering towards them, then dips her head in a bow. "Thanks for the ears."

Andrea looks at the map and shakes her head. "No, thank you, singer. This has saved lives." As Alicia ducks out, she continues to stare at the map.

Elan says "Yeah, all of ours for a start.. whew. Man..."

Salem's gaze follows Alicia out, then turns toward Andrea. "I have some leads. I'll see what they bring up." He straightens, eyeing the map grimly. "I can't say I'm surprised. At every step, this turns out to be bigger than it seemed before. The source doesn't even seem to be in St. Claire."

Andrea finally sighs again, and adds, "The only sane plan may be to burn it down from the outside, though the explosives are problematic."

Andrea nods at Salem. "I'm surprised," she says frankly. "But better surprised now than in the battle. We'd done scouting before, but apparently not enough. Find out what you can. We won't do anything more in the realm until we talk with you again. At least, my pack. I'll find Reforged."

Elan licks his lips. "Even money says the source is Seattle. Something has taken up residence there."

The Glass Walker gets a hard, cold glint in his eye at mention of explosives, but his face gives no sign of approval or disapproval at the idea. "I'll keep you informed." At Elan's words, he frowns -- though not at the Gnawer. He tilts his head, thinking. "Seattle. Raeye found information on one of Neo-Night's raves while hunting Spirals for John's Challenge. The Challenge which led that pack to Seattle. I wonder."

Andrea frowns. "We've still not seen any Garou activity to indicate Spirals." The theurge rubs the bridge of her nose again. "Perhaps it's time to tax Jade again, rather than make the talen I was planning."

Salem nods. "Yes. Ah. By the way. One of our kin, Ebony, did manage to dig up the name of the person who owns Shipping Express, as has obtained a contact number as well." He reaches into his coat and digs out a small spiral notebook with a black cover, flipping through it. "A 'Stacy Graves.'"

Andrea pushes to her feet to get a pencil from near a few books on the wall. Taking the map, she writes the name on the corner. "Based in St. Claire?"

Salem frowns, glancing at the page of short, scrawled notes. "I don't think so. Based in Washington State, though. They've rented warehouses throughout the state, but apparently _only_ in Washington."

Andrea nods acknowledgement. "What's the number? I don't imagine I'll be calling it, but just so it's in more than one place. And sometimes such things have the oddest significance in spiritual matters."

Elan has been pretty quiet. "Salem, any idea of what tribe this leech belongs to?"

Salem recites the phone number for Andrea, then flips the notepad closed. Humorless eyes shift to Elan as he tucks the pad away inside his coat. "Good question. With... the reports I've heard of alterations and experimentations... I'd guess either Warlock or, possibly, Tzimisce." His expression turns more grim, though it hardly seems possible. "Either one is bad. Both types tend to be very smart and very, _very_ inventive."

Andrea shakes her head as she looks toward Elan. "Are those the witches among their people?"

Elan blinks a bit. "The warlocks are, but.. what the hell is a chimpanzee or whatever that was you said? Never heard of that one."

"Usually, they're priests for the Sabbat," Salem answers, leaning against the cave wall again. His tone is deadpan, utterly flat. "Their specialty is fleshcrafting, warping bone and muscle and sinew with a touch. Like the Warlocks, they're fond of... experimenting. And even their own kind call them fiends."

Andrea grimaces as Salem describes the clan. "Yes, I can see why either might fit."

Elan's nostrils flare. "If they shape flesh.. aren't the people in the cages like that?"

Salem glances over toward Andrea.

Andrea nods. "I thought it was surgery. Nightfire said he'd run into a vampire that could do such a thing, but he couldn't tell whether it was magic or physical surgery."

Elan just shakes his head, racking his brain for tidbits he might have heard.

Salem rubs absently at his dead eye, gloved fingers massaging the scarred tissue around it. "Better Warlock than Fiend," he says wearily. "The very powerful fleshcrafters have an alternate form that rivals a Crinos."

Andrea's mouth tightens. "What gifts do they have, other than fleshcrafting?"

Salem folds his arms across his chest. "Control of animals. Supernatural preception. Some are psychics. Others practice blood magic, the way the Warlocks do."

Andrea nods slightly after each listing. "I see." Glancing sideways at the philodox, she adds, "Perhaps I can trouble you to teach me more. It is dangerous not to know our enemies." After that, she stands. "I must go. Susan will row you and Alicia back across, when you're ready. Mother walk with you."

Salem straightens up. "I'm ready. Gaia with you." He ducks out of the cave.