2019.04.24: Xavier's Test
| Xavier's Test | |
|---|---|
| The Den Father asked Lleutrim to help with one of Xavier's three tests to see if the cub is ready for his Rite of Passage. | |
| IC Date | Wed Apr 24 16:29:38 2019, PDT. |
| Players | Lleutrim, Xavier |
| Spheres | Shifter Gaian Garou |
Lleutrim has come to the Caern and is in the Patrol Office working on schedules. He has asked Xavier to meet him there this evening a little while before sunset. The Adren Galliard with the scarred up face has his pale grey eyes focused on the papers spread out at the desk with a map on the table with charted zones and numbers for patrol assignments. Other such documents are pinned to the walls. It is in essence a war room where such planning is done to keep garou organized paramilitary rotations for duties, patrols, and training. Various notations are made where banes or Black Spiral activity have been higher, or a demon was known to have been loitering. Things the patrols need to be aware of and keep an eye on.
Thankfully there's now a pub in the caverns. Lleu has a tall glass of dark beer close to hand and a pitcher to refill it, damp with chilly condensation. Alas, there is no CD player to provide music while he works since technology isn't allowed in the Caern.
Xavier received the fall to come meet with Lleu, this for him is new. He's talked with Lleu before but not in a official capacity, his nerves are on edge as it is and right now he wants to make a good appearance and take whatever he learns to heart. As Xavier makes his way to the office, the young cub has a lot on his mind and so he begins to hum. HE can't sing, but drumming and playing his guitar when he can. Stepping up to the door, he knocks on the door an once given permission to enter, Xavier walks in. He is quiet, knowing that he doesn't want to disturb Lleu as he reads. HIs eyes scan the walls where the patrols and such are and he looks at it before turning to look back at Lleu.
The beer is picked up and Battle Singer takes a drink right as Xavier arrives. The glass is set aside, "There you are. Good evening, Xavier. I've been asked to give you a simple test tonight. A test of your skills as a Ragabash." The loose papers are carefully gathered up and slipped into a folio so they'll stay organized. Lleu then sets that aside, "It is very simple. You and I shall change into lupus and you will sniff all around this table. In the past half hour a person was in here with a Philly Steak subway sandwich. I want you to pick up that scent and track this person who has gone somewhere, either inside of the Caern or out of it, and hidden this prize. They will be hidden somewhere near to it and watching out for you. You goal is to track that person down, try to locate that person and the item they hid from you, secure the iteam and get away - all without being detected. Now, this person isn't garou, they are kinfolk so you aren't going up again anything but ordinary mortal senses. But if you are detected, they will try to do something to you before you can get away with the prize. If they succeed, then you fail."
Lleu smiles, "Any questions?"
When Battle Singer begins to address Xavier, the young cub takes in all of the information being provided to him by the Adren. Xavier looks a bit nervous, "I see." He says as he looks to Lleu. He rolls his shoulders for a moment, "So I will be going up against a mortal, and use my own skills to complete this mission." He says back to Battle Singer, "This is what I want to do for the Sept. This is a job for a good scout and tracker, thats the footsteps I want to follow in and create my own way." He states. Even as he speaks its' easy to see he's nervous, each test he knows is to prepare him, still he bows his head. "I'm ready Battle Singer-Rhya."
Lleutrim smiles and steps around the desk to lay a hand on Xavier's shoulder, "Don't be nervous. You'll do fine. And if you mess up, we'll give you some pointers on skills you can work on, and then we'll do it again next week or so. All right? The point is to help make you ready for your Rite of Passage. /That/ will be the challenging and possibly dangerous part. Not tonight."
The Galliard gives Xavier and encouraging thumbs up, then shifts from his human form to his wolf one.
Xavier's wolf's nose picks up the girl's scent easily as being the only other very recent person in the room besides Xavier and Lleu themselves - and the DELICIOUS smell of the Philly cheese steak sandwich. It's no difficulty for Xavier to follow that trail and as he begins to do so, Battle Singer falls in line to follow the cub at a distance to give Xavier plenty of room to roam and practice his stealth.
The girl's path leads out of the patrol office and out of the caverns. She slipped out through the secret waterfall entrance and headed slightly west and northwards. The sun is setting in the west and darkness is over taken the forest. Sounds of spring peepers greet the cub as the young garou makes his way through ferns and over pine needles, following her path.
Somewhere behind Xavier, Battle Singer has disappeared. He can't be seen, can't be heard, and unless the wind shifts around he also can't be scented. For all Xavier knows the Galliard isn't even following him anymore...
The scent of the girl and sub is locked away, as he takes a moment to take in and inhale the scents, and blocking out the others, Xavier drops down and begin heading out fo the office. As he does he lowers himself down as he begins following the scent of the sandwich, he begins using his surroundings to help hide him. He isn't able to scent or sense Battle Singer, but that isn't the test, the test is to find the sandwich and what is hidden at the location without being spotted. The dark and light gray wolf moves as quietly as he can and Xavier attempts to keep even more hidden as he moves through the patrol paths as he begins looking for his query.
Up ahead there is a small clearing in the trees. Enough of a break in the canopy, just barely, to admit a hint of star light and the thin translucence of the rising moon. There is also the scent of a small fire burning, a little tent set up, and the girl seated cross legged on the ground cooking ... well now. Doesn't /that/ smell nice? It's not the Philly Cheese steak sandwich Xavier can now smell but hot dogs roasting over the fire. Question is, where is the sandwich hidden and can he get to it without her noticing?
It's fainter now but ... but... yes. Yes! Xavier /can/ smell the Philly Cheese Steak subway sandwich. The smell of the girl and her roasting hot dogs may be distracting, as well as the fall of her pretty long blond hair down her back. Yet Xavier's wolf's nose can smell a hint of his quested item ... /inside/ of her small tent. The entrance to that tent however is facing her and the fire. Her back is to it. She's /right/ there though!
With no sign of Battle Singer anywhere around, what is Xavier going to do?
It's fainter now but ... but... yes. Yes! Xavier /can/ smell the Philly Cheese Steak subway sandwich. The smell of the girl and her roasting hot dogs may be distracting, as well as the fall of her pretty long blond hair down her back. Yet Xavier's wolf's nose can smell a hint of his quested item ... /inside/ of her small tent. The entrance to that tent however is facing her and the fire. Her back is to it. She's /right/ there though!
With no sign of Battle Singer anywhere around, what is Xavier going to do? (repose)
Looking at the scene before him, he is careful to make sure he doesn't give himself away, at the same time he knows where the sandwich is and even though the girl is cooking more food to possibly throw him off, he still is able to single out the scent. He looks around for a moment, taking his time, he didn't need to rush this. As he looks around and keep in the darkness, he gives a little wolfish smile to himself, he tries to modulate his voice a little and turning away from himself and to his left. He attempts to throw that voice of his to sound like a puppy who's lost. He knows what a puppy sounds like, though he is hoping this distraction does what he needs it to do and get the girl to leave to go look for the small puppy.
The blonde turns her head and listens, peering intently into the darkness. The small fire burning with it's cheery coals have robbed her of good night vision. She sets her cooking skewer with the sizzling hotdogs aside on the stones and moves to stand, now alert. The gal pulls what looks to be a /pistol/ from her jacket and stands very quietly listening, facing the direction she perceives the sound to have come from, and waits. She doesn't move off away from the tent and her supper however. It would seem that /part/ of Xavier's hoped for plan has worked. She /is/ looking off sort of in the direction he intended but she's not walking off into the darkness to go look for a puppy. The girl has gone from cooking her dinner to being watchful. While she does look at the tent as if guarding it, her view may be blocked by the tent itself in that direction.
Knowing that he doesn't have to rush this, Xavier watches from the darkness as the girl gets up but stands her ground. The pistol at first sight startled him, but upon closer inspection it's a paintball gun. Ok, though now he needs her to move to go investigate, the fact she hasn't moved shows him that his prize is indeed in the tent, but also it's smart on her part as well. He has to get her to move and well he is a Ragabash, continue ot play the role of the trickster. He throws his voice again and this time using his mouth to pick up a nearby stick and throw it in that direction to show that the puppy is lost and moving round in a specific area. With the tent keeping that area covered she will need to move to check it out.
The Kinfolk /knows/ she's to guard the prize that she has hidden somewhere, tent or otherwise. Lleutrim told her this was Xavier's test. And yet there does seem to be ... something over there making some hurtful sounding noises. The blonde can't see too well in the dark so she rummages in her other jacket pocket and brings out a flashlight. She flicks the beam on and starts to roam it over the trees to the left of the tent in the direction she heard the sounds. Very cautiously she takes a few steps to the side of the tent and then stops, moving the light around to shine it over the tent and the back of it, then towards the trees once more.
"I'm not about to wander around in the woods in the dark. Forget that." She shivers (or maybe pretends to, hard to say) and keeps her place. Yet she has moved a bit to the left side of the tent. Behind her is the low burning fire about 6 feet away. For the moment the flashlight continues to play in the general direction Xavier has directed her attention.
Xavier watches from where he is and hearing the girl speak, he throws his voice as if now playing because a puppy would be a bit happier once it gets a response, and to capitalize on this, he picks up a stick, which had some foliage that looks like fur just a bit and throws it in the direction of where the puppy would be but back a bit now that the puppy hears someone. Xavier is low keeping out of sight, he does need the girl to move but now he has a better view of the tent.
The stick is tossed and this time the young woman is not so fooled. She moves the beam of the flashlight towards the sounds and catches the movement as the stick flies and snags in the tree branches. "Oh, you think I'm stupid, don't you?" The blonde turns her flashlight in /Xavier's/ direction then, having seen the direction the stick came from ... but he's too well hidden and she has no possibility of seeing him. "I know you are out there! I'm not falling for that dumb seventies movie trick!" Then she starts walking around the tent and playing the flashlight around at the trees. The Kinfolk is fully alert now though for a moment the front entrance to the tent is on the far side from her. Her steps are bringing her around to the right of it. She's sticking close though and has that pistol ready to shoot. She mumbles something about her supper getting cold, damn it.
Xavier watches from the darkness of the shadows he's at, he gives a bow of his head to the little girl. 'Respect.' He thinks to himself as he begins moving opposite the direction she is coming, looking to outflank the girl and move in towards the tent. He tries to utilize the darkness of the woods and night to help cover him as he makes his way to the tent.
The young woman is looking for Xavier, shining her light towards the trees and all around but the cub approaches around the other side. The tent for the moment blocks her view and it is dark out so she can't see well outside of the flashlight's illumination.
Xavier is able to make it to the tent, still he needs to be careful, she isn't far from where he is, so he will try to get into the tent quietly. He doesn't have enough time, but he will scent the tent to make sure things check out and that there isn't any surprises. He will continue to use his stealth to move within the tent quietly without disturbing the tent or making it move or make any sounds.
And there it is! The Philly Cheese Steak sandwich is wrapped in Subway paper and lying RIGHT THERE on her sleeping bag! Lying there waiting for Xavier or any hungry bear that might have come looking for steak and hotdogs. And a pretty blonde kinfolk.
It's a HOT PINK cheap pop up dome tent from Walmart. The blonde's sleeping bag is pink and white 'Hello Kitty'. It's fucking adorkable.
The Ragabash leans in to pick up the sub, he sniffs softly not to give away that he's not in there. Making sure it's not trapped, sure he takes the sub and listening intently and not wanting to destroy the girls tent, he will time his move out of the tent and continue the opposite side so as she is coming to the front he is going towards the back and his tail is tucked low along his leg so she doesn't notice him and once free he ninjas off and out of sight.
The Kinfolk woman is RIGHT THERE by the door when Xavier slips out of the tent. RIGHT there, like within 3 feet of the tent's door. BUT, her back is to the tent and she's shining her flashlight around still directed out around the campsite. She turns this way and that and /just/ as Xavier slips around the side of the tent she's shining her flashlight over the tent again - and it moves on. The fire pops and crackles and the hotdogs smell good, but the paper wrapped Philly Cheese Steak sandwich is in Xavier's jaws. It's his to eat once he makes it to the trees!
This was nerve wrecking, but Xavier kept his head. He wanted to do this for himself and the Sept, which means he could be doing something more dangerous than this. Still he manages to make it away, and the girl is RIGHT THERE! Her clamps down on his feelings and quietly disappears into the night, he doesn't stop one he meets the trees he continues to leave the area where he could eat and watch over the girl.
Once Xavier has succeeded in moving off away from the camp and well into the trees to eat his prize, Battle Singer shows up. Like fucking out of no where. Just one moment he's not there and the next he's walking out in plain sight. The Gallard wolf lays himself down in the soft pine needles soundlessly and watches Xavier. The kinfolk girl is a little ways off now and her flashlight can't penetrate this deep into the woods.
>> Congratulations on getting your prize without being shot. << The Fianna wolf looks amused, silvery eyes bright. And ear swivals a bit this way and that, keeping sharp for things in the woods around them. >> You didn't entirely do so undetected. In that respect you partly failed. I give you a 'C'. You passed but not with flying colors. She was distracted, focused on making her supper when you first arrived. You might have slipped in and out while her attention wasn't seeking you. You also could have slit the back of the tent with care and kept it between you and she. Also, << Here Battle Singer wolfishly smiles, >> I didn't say you couldn't recruit help. Garou work best in a pack rather than alone. Might have been wise to ask. Still, you did get the prize. <<
Startled slightly as Battle Singer appears, Xavier guards his food but when Battle Singer speaks, he listens. He lowers his head slightly as he did partly fail, still taking in what he could've done, he nods his head. He isn't eating or speaking, just taking in the information as it's presented to him. After a moment, >>I will do better next time.<< he says as he looks to Battle Singer, >>Guess I played up my Auspice a bit too much<< he sighs a little. His ears does perk up a bit and begins twisting slightly to check to make sure they they are safe, granted the whole disappearing and reappearing did cause his heart to jump. >>How did you do that disappearing thing?<< he ask. >>I understand what I did wrong and I will make better choices next time.<<
>> The only thing you did wrong in my opinion is drew her attention. She wasn't alert until you made noises and kept trying to repeat the same trick and she caught you at it. Diversions and tricks are useful - but you wanted to be clever. << Battle Singer gets up and his tongue lolls in a wolf's silent laugh. >> I have a few tricks of my own, cub. Enjoy your supper. <<
Battle Singer turns and slips away into the darkness as silently as a shadow. In a moment or two he's gone again.
Xavier lets out a deep breath, the reassurance for Lleu is what he needed. "I know, I've just been doing a lot of work, and I just want to make sure I do things right is all." He says as he looks to Lleu. "Thank you, I will do my best and follow all guidance given to me." He than shifts to his wolf form and he begins to do what he was told to do and gather the scent of the sub that was just in here but also he's trying to single out the scent of the kinfolk as well to help him be able to find the sandwich and keep an eye out for the kinfolk.
