2018.12.13: What's Happening to Khol? Pt.1

What's Happening to Khol? Pt. 1
Gathering of friends turns into Khol's kidnapping by mysterious forces
IC Date	December 13th, 2018
Players	Ildar, Johanna, Khol ST, Ouray, Skully, Kandula's Hope
Location	Serenity Grove
Spheres	Gaian Garou Gurahl

The Group has decided to get together, The rest of the pack members are expected to show up if they can, its informal and casual, just to hang around. Khol has his usual array of foods and drinks available. but he made them earlier, as he had to go to work. And he is only just now returning. Driving up to park the car in the drive way. Johanna knows he has been having a little difficulty sleeping recently, which is making him a little more tired, and less energetic than normal.

Skully is out in the yard, putting the finishing touches on hanging a swing from the sturdy limb of a nearby tree. It's safely-built, with a secure backrest and retracting buckles, and can be adjusted to fit an adult or all the way down to a toddler. He even steps up on it to test the carry weight, seemingly satisfied that if /he/ isn't gonna break it, no one's gonna break it.

Ouray is slow to get up there, he doesn't drive, and there's that extra winter weight to contend with. But up he comes and eventually the crickle-crack of a heavy step can be heard making its way towards the house. Eventually the bear emerges in Homid form, dressed in flannel and simple britches and hiking boots. His hair is tied back and his throwing axe is slipped into the back of his belt. "Hullo!" he calls out to the residents and members of the pack dedicated to Mammoth. "Brother Weathers!"

Johanna has made sure the food is out and ready. Dressed in her grey knit dress that hugs and shows off her growing belly, she has things together for this informal gathering. Concern with her mate has grown recently, and she is doing all she can to help him out as well. As she sees Khol park, she walks toward Skully and pats him on the shoulder, "Good job with that! I cannot wait to try it out." And there is Ouray! "Good to see you!! Welcome!" Greetings done she makes her way to Khol to see how he is after work.

Khol steps out of the car and smiles "Hello Dear" he gives Johanna a kiss and a hug. Then he smiles and waves to Ouray and Skully "Hello!." he then pauses as he sees the swing and his smile broadens into a grin "That incredible Skully.. "

"Hey, Ouray!" Skully calls back happily to the Gurahl, giving Johanna a smile and a shrug. "Anythin' worth doin's worth doin' right, sister. Should be all set to use. Glad I finally got it finished." He waves to the arriving Khol, but steps up to Ouray to clap the man on the shoulder. "Hey, I met another'a Bear's sons the other day out at the Kinfolk House. Fella named Selias. Big ol' grizzly. You know 'im? Seemed a lil' outta-sorts, but... it's winter." He shrugs, looking back over at Khol, and laughs a little. "Jus' a thing I thought'a when I's at work. Had a bunch'a leftover seatbelt parts from these busted go-karts I dismantled, an' came up with an idea for how to use 'em on a swing. Should be pretty comfy."

Ouray grins to wave at Khol and Johanna as well once they gather. There's a slow blink at the mention of Selias again and the bear just frowns and rubs his face with a big hand. "Yes, I have heard of this bear, he is on my watch-this-person list from Aurora, I have yet to determine if he simply means well but is ill informed, or if he needs mental faculty help, it is difficult to gauge while I have not met him in person yet," he explains before shrugging, "I would not take what he says to heart for now," he assures Skully while moving to join everyone more completely.

Johanna greets her mate and walks with him to the swing. She notes the words about the bear Selias, and shrugs a bit, as she has not met him yet. "That is a good use of materials, Weathers-the-Storm. I hope we can all get use out of this. I know I'm looking forward to it."

Khol smiles at the words from Skully, "That's incredible.. " he then glances to Johanna "well, give it a try then." he teases her light. to Ouray he offers "I Don't think we have had a chance to meet more than in the most cursory way. But Please do know I am glad to get to know you better.. Please feel free to make yourself at home here." he reaches up and rubs the back of his neck wincing a little "Man I hate this.. My neck is killing me."

"I certainly hope so; ain't much purpose to a swing ain't gettin' swung on," Skully replies cheerfully, looking back at his creation. "Based it on once I saw online. Jus' had to make collapsible an' retractable parts so it can adjust up an' down without bein' too complicated. Should be a nice, comfy spot to rock a baby." He shrugs, rubbing the back of his neck.

"As for Selias, he ain't said much; jus' ate some cheez-its an' said hello, didn't make no trouble or nuthin'. Tinlin an' some'a the cubs got to pet him as a bear, which they were all real happy 'bout. I'll let you know if'n I hear he's made a nuisance of himself." The big goliath bows his head toward Ouray, but tilts his head aside at Khol and frowns. "What'd you do to your neck?"

Johanna places her hands on Khol's neck, and shoulder. "Here, let me massage it a bit. That is if you are ok with that?" Her hands are only lightly touching him right now. "I can try the swing in a moment, I'm more concerned with you." She has that look on her face, and then her eyes go to Skully as well showing her concern. With all that has happened recently, her pack mate knows where her mind has been.

Khol makes a dismissive motion to Skully. "I think I just slept wrong. Something pinched in my neck." he suggests. he smiles to Johanna though "IF you want. I'll be okay later though, I'm sure of it." he seems in a good mood about it at least, even if tired..

"Happens sometimes. I hate that, personally; stiff neck's no good," Skully agrees with a grimace, shaking his head. "Whenever I get particularly tuned-up I head over to Rhea's spa an' do a steam an' a massage. Let the professionals handle the problem."

Ouray perks up a little bit at the mention of soreness, "Have you taken any poultices for it yet? Muscle relaxant or something similar? If not I have a salve that has been compared to your icy-hot?" he offers to Khol even as he regains some of his wits. Winter fatigue and all!

Johanna rubs on Khol's neck and smiles, "We need to go visit Rhea and the spa. I have yet to go there for more than business, and I think I'm getting to a point that a little pampering would be nice." She continues to try to help and looks hopefully to Ouray, "Oh that sounds good!"

Khol chuckles and nods "I think that poultice sounds good.. Perhaps you can let Jo rub some in." he smiles a bit.

"Huh. Handy," Skully comments with a grin at Ouray, nodding his approval and sticking his thumbs through his belt loops. "Grampa Dave used to make stuff like that back in Los Coyotes. Always said you didn't wanna know what went in it, but if you pushed him too much he'd tell you it was bird shit, cat piss, an' slugs."

Ouray makes shifty eyes as Skully starts listing off ingredients and he just as quickly lifts a hand to hush the other huge man. But suddenly it is not because he is teasing or joking. There's a rather distinct shift in his posture as his nose lifts to the wind. "Something is coming," he utters in a lower hushed tone, "Prepare yourselves."

Johanna holds onto Khol's shoulders now, her grip tightening. "Something is coming? Not again." She looks to Skully, obviously thinking of the last time, and says, "What's your call, Alpha?"

Khol looks over at Ouray, and his brows furrow "What." he reaches up under his blazer, and unsnaps the safety on his shoulder holster. He doesn't do more than that until he has heard from Skully.

Skully snaps to attention at Ouray's warning, eye thinning as he peers at the surroundings. "Last time it was real bad news," he murmurs, shaking his head. "Ain't takin' chances. Prepare to fight." And with that, the goliath steps back, shifting forms to take his War Form and crouch in a ready stance, summoning Gaia's gifts and preparing for danger.

Ouray is not shy about turning shoulder to shoulder with Skully and growing inch for inch, and then more. Towering to nearly twelve feet tall, the enormous grizzly is more than just a little bit fearsome in this form. Those claws grow long as short swords, and then gleam sharply like made of razors as he rakes them against one another with a little growl.

Johanna steps in front of Khol, not switching forms just yet, as she has hulk and mega hulk already by them. She will stand between whatever comes and her mate, and is ready at a moment's notice to shift and rip if need be. "Stay behind him, Khol." She knows he is capable of defense, but this is their territory.

As you start o prepare, a shadow seems to cover the sunlight, the temperature and light dropping by several degrees almost instantly, like a storm cloud covering the sun, but it's not a cloud, it's just a dimming of the light that washes over the region. The wind kicks up, little specks of sand and leaves, wood and what feels like pellets of ice sting against you and start to patter off of surfaces. Almost instantly the temperature has dropped enough that you can see your breath misting in front of you.

Khol steps back and he draws his pistol "Skully.. You want me in the crow's nest with the rifle? I can get there."

"Find good cover an' vantage, we ain't know what this is yet," Skully replies to Khol as his breath mists, his voice a guttural growl but still clear. He keeps focusing up, preparing, and admits, "I don't know what this is. I don't like it."

Johanna moves forward a step, and shifts now herself. Something wicked this way comes, and she best be totally prepared. A cry breaks out that turns into a howl, and Johanna before you grows larger until suddenly you see a monster!

Ouray flinches as he's pelted by the hard rain, and he tries to put himself between it and his friends, though Skully is nearly big as he is and he won't do much good for either of the big guys to be hiding. There's a confused roar, and he seems to challenge the sky.

Khol nods once to Skully and takes off at a run, his pistol in hand, as he rushes into the house and heads up the stairs for the window that he can shoot out of.

Starchaser stands there in front of Khol as he offers to take the high ground. Once he is inside, she moves to stand next to the other two, diminutive as she is in comparison to them. She looks toward whatever is coming, preparing herself for the oncoming storm.

As the wind kicks up and the darkness descends, the visibility drops. But the first real thing seems to be a sound.. a low moan, as the darkness seems to coalesce in the air above you, clouds roiling out of the sky, boiling and rumbling with a sound that is eerily like a massive, ongoing laugh. Then shapes start to flit from tree to tree to your left and right.. more shadowy shapes start to slip over the wall and through the gate, their movements seem inhuman, some flowing like puddles, others jerky and sticky-stiff, but all are midnight forms with small red eyes that are the only things that seem to reflect light at all. A quick estimate puts the count at at least 20 of these shadowy figures, coming in from three sides.

Skully's blazing golden eye closes for a moment, and then his eye patch lights up, the hawk symbol on it glowing a fiery red. "North. East. West," Weathers-the-Storm growls as the creatures become visible, his Fetish giving him a bird's eye vantage of where they're amassing. He snarls, claws tensing, and says, "Trying something. Keep them at bay."

Beside Skully are suddenly two Crinos spirits: one every big as large and menacing as the Metis, but covered in Lakota jewelry and talismans -- Heart of the Pack; the other, smaller but no less grim-faced, arms banded in beaded wraps and face painted red -- Many Rivers, his mother.

Starchaser is obviously not as focused as she could be, probably because of worry for her mate. Her own call upon her Ancestor spirits, Stardancer, and others, is for naught tonight. She snarls a bit, but keeps her cool as usual, her claws out and ready to dance with whatever is coming.

Ouray watches the shadow things bounce from tree to tree, keeping his eyes on them but losing track with a squint and shake of his head. A dull roar works up from his throat and he complains at his friends quietly, in the language of beasts. Still, his claws are ready to test on the things should they get close.

Khol is deep in the house, likely heading up the stairs right now. but he isn't your focus right now.. and suddenly neither are the small flitting mansized shadlings.. because rising up behind them is one more.. this one though is huge.. at least 45 feet tall, he steps OVER the gate in one stride, without touching it at all... and it's his voice that sounds like the storm. The other shadow forms cringe slightly from it, and move closer, swirling, not moving directly in on you, but flitting back and forth closer and closer. The giant though stops by the gate, as if he were going to watch the entertainment himself. The storm clouds seem to swirl about him, even a few bolts of lightning flash and crash near him. Three of the shadows flit near you, only a few feet away, but even then they don't 'attack' they chatter and shriek at you , taunt you.

<Kandula's Hope> Starchaser says, "What in Gaia is this?"

Weathers-the-Storm snarls at the approaching giant, lips pulling back in a rictus, temper barely in check. Finally, he howls right at it, furious. << I AM WEATHERS-THE-STORM OF THE WENDIGO! IF YOU HAVE COME HERE TO FIGHT, THEN YOU HAVE CHOSEN TO DIE BY MY HAND! KNOW ME, DEMON; I AM THE END OF YOU! >> He beats his fists on his chest, stoking his anger, and braces with his companions in preparation not to fight, but to /kill/.

Ouray finally wonders aloud, in the language of Spirits, <<Do you come to fight, or to speak?>> Because the shadows flit close, but they do not attack and while the Bear is in his war-form, he maintains his faculties, and something feels off about the presence of their intruders.

Starchaser calls out to this thing, >> YOU HAVE ENTERED MY HOME, MY TERRITORY WITHOU PERMISSION. STATE YOUR BUSINESS OR PREPARE TO BE REMOVED. << She is not happy to have this threat on her home where her family lives. Not cool spirit, or whatever you are. Thank Gaia it has happened with the strongest of her family around.

The Massive creature looks between you and laughs. It's a deep roar of a laugh, and it rears back one hand and seems to grab a bolt of lightning from the cloud over head and it Hurls it at the group of you

As the lightning strikes his glowing armor, Weathers-the-Storm growls, gnashing his teeth and raking the earth with his claws. Finally, he finds his center, focusing and channeling his Rage, and summons the wind to smite his enemies and tip the odds in his pack's favor.

As Ouray slashes out, his claws sink into the darkness. and it's like a balloon popping, only what comes out is not air, it's a blue-white fire, fortunately the Bear is tough and the flame does little to no damage to him, but its sure to have startled him.

Ouray growls loudly when violence becomes the answer, the Uzmati bear does not hesitate to swing out now, engaging the threat head on despite the already grievous burns suffered from the lightning. Charging head long into the closest creature, he rips through the shadows and tears the stuff apart, only to have it burst like a balloon and leave him covered in flames, a snort comes and he shakes it off this time, his massive pelt rippling as muscles come to bear.

Starchaser tucks and rolls out of the way. She rubs her ears and growls. >> That does not answer our questions. << As Skully and Ouray begin their thing, Starchaser focuses herself and then spreads her arms up and overhead as 2 dozen paper butterflies appear, she sends them toward the nearest of these...things that are taunting them, out to distract as they get a handle on what the hell is going on.

Ildar heads for the grove, only to slow at exactly how bad the area looks. Frowning in concentration, he'd take to the shadows, keeping low as he spots gas-lights about and the lightning above. This.. was definitely not nature he knew of. Slowing to try to keep aware, he'd approach carefully, trying to determine what is going on.

<Kandula's Hope> Weathers-the-Storm says, "Khol is gone!"

<Kandula's Hope> Starchaser says, "WHAT?"

<Kandula's Hope> Weathers-the-Storm says, "I was tracking him and he is /gone/!"

<Kandula's Hope> Starchaser says, "NOOOOOOO!!! NOOOOOOO!!! What? I... I... We got to find him!"

Weathers-the-Storm and his ghost pack start toward the titan, and soon he is running, crossing the space in long-legged strides as he charges the enemy directly. << WHERE IS HE?! >> he snarls, claws out and fangs bared. << WHERE HAVE YOU TAKEN HIM?! >>

Starchaser sends more butterflies out, directing them into the small shadows that are all around them. As the butterflies hit into them, they start to pop rapidly, turning into balls of flame. >> Take that... and that! You took my mate, I'm taking your shadows! <<

Ouray is quick to follow Weathers, giving a loud roar of challenge as he goes, ready to use those deadly claws on the big bastard along with his battle brother and dear friend. The fact that there is a mate missing only makes him fight harder, for Starchaser and Khol. He'll be a minute though, takes some time to speed up that much weight.

The Titan demon-shadow sees Weathers coming his way and just starts to laugh harder. he doesn't look like he is going to even attempt to swat the much smaller being away. No concern for either the bear or the wolf in him.

Ildar slows slightly, ducks at suddenly seeing this huge.. thing? He frowns, a step left. A step right. Sighs softly and looks at the others rushing.. it? Ildar would speed up a little in his pace, waving his hands towards the two massive monsters of destruction. "Ouray! Skully! It's a fake! Illusion.. it's only 2 dimensional!! Slow down!"

Weathers-the-Storm has picked up a head of steam and is running full-speed at the shadow titan, finally leaping like Nightmare Jordan at the end, his claws shining with pure spiritual energy. He howls his defiance in a mighty << HOKA-HEY! >> and slashes at the giant, but tears through it exactly as Ildar predicts, free-falling and hitting the ground with a panicked shoulder roll.

When the titan is struck, the entirety of the situation seems to simply /unravel/, tendrils of shadow whipping about and into nothingness as the scene begins to disintegrate like an optical illusion. The winds die down, the light begins to return to the area along with the warmth, and the last of the smaller shadelings implode into themselves and leave nothing but a memory echo. They are gone, but so is Khol.

Starchaser as everything they were fighting disappears, so do the butterflies and now Starchaser just stands there a moment, before she shifts back to Homid and runs into her home to find Khol. She knows what has been said, but she has to see this for herself. See thing image of Khol at the top of the stairs, knowing it is just an image - she drops to her knees, her jaw hanging open as she searches for breath. The creature disappears, and once again, Johanna appears.

Weathers-the-Storm hits the dirt and Skully stands back up, dusting chunks of earth off of himself and grumbling loudly. He is in a mood now; he kicks the brand-new fence hard enough to snap a post -- not a slat, a /post/ -- balling his hands into fists and trembling with rage. Finally, he throws his head back and hollers a furious, anguished cry of, "GrrrrrRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!" and takes several heaving, seething breaths before a tear runs from his eye and he swallows hard. "Khol," he rumbles quietly, pinching his eye shut tight. "Whatever it was, it took Khol."

Ildar watches Skully come up in Homid, frowning as Johanna rushes inside. He'd look at the others confused, then finally gets it from Skully. Looking down, he shakes his head a little then looks to the others outside. "How? What? That.. that was all fake there. But what was it? What happen?"

Ouray heeds the words that reach his ears and he huffle grunts once before growling in frustration. But he knows better than to exert the energy and while Skully runs face first into the dirt, the stomping bear comes to a slowed halt before looking puzzled and angry. Dropping down to the huge man instead he growls, "We will find him, and get him back, this is my promise," he frowns and looks at Weathers, "Breath, brother, you must use your brain right now, muscle and rage later," he tries to talk Weathers down some.

Johanna cannot hardly breath. Tears in her eyes as she watch that immobile image of Khol. "We will find you. I SWEAR to Gaia, we will find you. Do not give up hope. I.. I hope you have your butterfly, and the moment you can reach it, use it and come HOME." She is not going to leave this place as long as that image is there. She needs it to try to focus herself now. Even with hearing her pack mate cry out, she cannot move from where she is - not yet.

Skully nods, gaining a grip on himself, and suddenly his eye snaps open and he says, "Starchaser," and dashes into the house afar Johanna. He dashes to the stairs arrives to see her and the afterimage, and immediately puts his arms around her, holding her against his chest. "We won't rest 'til we find him, I /swear/," he rumbles, promising her and himself. "

Shaking his head, he'd frown, then chases after Skully as he'd rush in after Johanna. Slowing to a stop, he'd stare at the after image a moment. Frowning, he looks about and goes to try to walk around it. He's curious if it's the 2D image like the titan had been. "How is it.. that the scent stops here? It's.. he didn't shift sideways or something, did he?"

Johanna shrugs, "The Nephandi tried the first time to take him. Now...Whatever the hell that was just succeeded. However they got him, he got to figure that out. Who do we know that can check this out, because my skills are not in that. We got to check the Umbra for tracks as well. If there was a sidestep, maybe we need to track them that way? Unless it is more magical? We need Eloise, Journey,.... Skully, who else? We need everyone...anyone that can help. I need Khol. We need him." She is just moments for losing it, but just breathes, a little too fast, but works on that breath so she holds it together a little longer.

"I know. I know." Skully replies with a deep breath, his arms around Johanna as he turns his eye to look at Ildar and Ouray. "We... are not equipped to track him. As Starchaser says, we need help. Journey, yes; Eloise. Theurges... Iris, then. Branton, maybe. Ask the spirits, track 'im, do... /everythin'/. Xenovia, too... we need everyone."

Ildar looks from the image to the others, nodding solemnly in agreement. "I'll run to get those I know now, if you wish. I'm.. I don't want Khol gone.. but I think I'm one of the calmer.. and we'll need that for communication?" He'd look to Ouray with a shrug. "Can you try to track this?"

Johanna leans into Skully, needing him more than anyone right now. Without Khol, her world is falling. "I lost him once. I'm not losing him again. Anyone that can help. Yes. Everyone." Her eyes pleading with Ildar. "We need you now, more than ever Honor's Keeper. But once we find who or whatever took Khol, I get the kill." She is forceful, with a snarl in her throat.

Ouray searches his own mind and then shakes his head, "Unless they've left some trail in the Umbra, I am ill equipped to track down wayward spirits, or...whatever that was - but I will help however I can. Do we need to rend the veil?" he asks seriously and preparing to call the Rite to do just that.

Skully shakes his head at Ouray, holding up a hand with his other arm still around Johanna. "I looked, brother; there ain't nuthin' there. I don't... this ain't somethin' I have any experience with." He sighs. looking to Johanna, and says, "We will do this. We will find 'im. We will kill whoever's responsible, an' we will bring him home. You, me. Our pack. Our friends. 'Til it's done."

Ildar looks to Johanna and nods solemnly. "I will help you find them. Whoever did this. I will help you get to them.. But the kill? It's all yours.." Looking between Skully, then Ouray, he nods a little. "Then it's best we don't disturb this spot. I'll race back to the Caern and find Journey.. I think he's a good first step.. Then I'll get the others I know. We'll have this looked into. We'll find the trail we need to take to end this."

Johanna nods to Ildar. "Not going to disturb this scene until we get those with abilities to do these things. Forensics of spirits etc. Whatever it was, it was powerful. Took a different tactic than the last one. I just have no base to figure out what it is or how to do anything to it. Did you see my butterflies make those shadow burst into flames? I mean, what was that?" She is really grasping here to understand any of this.

Ouray gives a grunt of acknowledgement and just nods, he is not about to mess anything up if he can help it. There is that leather satchel of his in hand though and he looks around. "I..I don't know, this does not remind me of any of my stories or my teachings," he looks concerned, perhaps even frustrated at that lack of knowledge, not being able to help his friends.

"Nor mine. This is... outside my ken," Skully admits with a nod, letting out a deep sigh before letting Johanna go. "I'm gonna confer with my ancestors, an' then I'm gonna start makin' phone calls. We got a road ahead of us. Time to start walkin' it."

Ildar frowns, then shakes his head. "I.. the big thing was a fake. Like walking behind a movie theater's screen. I suspect the shadow things were the same thing. I think it was all a big fake to rile you up and make you look the wrong way. Scent doesn't just.. vanish. That's not how it works. So someone did something." He'd frown, glancing at the door. "This feels like it's a try to make people not see what's really going on."

Johanna takes in a deep breath. "Like it knew we would defend, and react that way. To get Khol to where we thought he would be safe. They did their homework on us. That is almost worse."

Ouray makes a face and then nods, "I will seek Aurora, or Asher, they are the wisest of Us," he speaks of the bears of course. Though he isn't a slouch, he is just by no means ready to tangle with such forces. With that, he will give a big old bear hug to whoever will take one, and proceed to move off into the darkness after his own contacts.