2020.11.21 Before Black Blood 3

Before Black Blood 3: Beckett and Sigvard
Sigvard witnesses Wraith's peddling their strange 'Blood' in the streets of Prospect. They think they've got numbers on their side... but Sigvard has backup.
IC Date	2020/11/21.
Players	Bobo(ST) Sigvard Beckett
Location	The Shadowlands of Prospect
Prp/Tp	Black Blood
Spheres	Wraith

The Shadowlands of Prospect... a grim, dark place. The ethereal forms of destroyed, decaying buildings superimpose themselves upon the lands of the living, intertwining around one another in ways that would not be possible, were the shadowlands physical. Streets inside of buildings, Cobblestone Paths of the colonial days overlayn onto the concrete and cement of the modern world, and parked relic-cars that will never move again surround you.

The Shadowlands are desolate today... even moreso than usual. The Renegade gangs that normally walk the streets have cautiously retreated as the "Red Wraiths" become more and more common. There's a clear feeling of something being 'off' these days, and for Restless Dead who live in a land of shadow and decay. that's saying a lot. Perhaps Sigvard has not heard. Perhaps Sigvard is braver than most Wraiths... or more foolish. Two very brazen "Red Wraiths" have cornered a poor Wraith against a wall, linking arms with their fists against the wall so he has nowhere to go. One appears to be a legionairre, dressed in full soulsteel with a soulsteel blade at his side. The other appears to be a...spectre? Not one of the 'blood from teh eyes, teeth like a leech' kind of overblown Spectres. Just a man in a suit with an aura of pure spite emanating from them. The poor Wraith they have cornered doesn't even look like an adult. Just some punk teenager in a wifebeater who met a tragic end at some point... and it looks like he's about to meet another.

"Come on... don't you want to feel loved? Mother can protect you...Mother can protect your fetters... and she asks nothing in return. Join us...JOIN US."

Sigvard's path has crossed many strange things; but lately things have been rather off-putting to say the least. The howl of the tempest seemed dim in the distance - the winds were 'dead'er than one could imagine they would be in the Deadlands; which only served to keep perceptions high. Paranoia of some sorts were almost a requirement given the state of this place. Tattered tabard swaying with every step; the sigh of another Legionairre catches his attention; but the jarring position they've got the other in is Unlike common protocol,"...unusual.." he whispers to himself, stopping, blade across the shoulder before he hears the second portion he finally notices the Spectre and their rigid aura of hate blazing about them like a corona. There's a solid shout as he comes running forwards,"Get off Them!" he commands rather abruptly trying to close the distance with both hands now grasped firmly across the grip of his blade.

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->
Sigvard rolls Perception + Empathy vs 5 for 0 successes.
1 2 4 4 4 9
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

"I-I don't want to..." The young man says, his voice shaking in terror. "We can change that..." The Legionairre remarks in response, pulling out a relic of a small urn. "Don't worry... the first hit is free." He remarks, lifting the urn up like he was about to pour it over the Wraith.

Suddenly, Sigvard's shout comes. They immediately turn their heads to the charging swordsman. In the shock of the moment, they drop the urn... "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO" they scream in unison. Thick, blackish red liquid begins to pour over the ground. It flows thick like syrup... Sigvard will recognize it immediately. It's blood. Relic...blood. The Spectre falls to the ground and begins lapping it up desperately like a thirsty cat. The Legionairre looks at Sigvard with pure hatred in his eyes. "YOU BASTARD. I'LL KILL YOU FOR THAT!" He roars, hoisting his sword upwards.

As Sigvard closes the distance, he'll notice something very strange about these ghosts. Something /unthinkable/. They have the pale blotches of someone half-way to being a Vampire in their aura. Someone, somehow, has ghouled these Wraiths.

Keeps his guard up as the jar's dropped. His gaze lingers - vision narrowed from the visor of his helmet. Despite the situation though - if his face could be seen it would be wracked with horror at the implications of what he was seeing. That horror soon lingers and smoulders; beginning like kindling into a small little fire that rises and wells up from within him,"DISGUSTING!" he shouts - if her were alive spit would have flung from the sheer anger ringing out through his voice,"ABOMINATIONS! THE TWO OF YOU!" gritting his teeth,"I'll..." he growls almost audibly beneath the graveled tone grinding through his words,"Put an -END- to this. Right. NOW." obviously having lost his cool.

Beckett rounds the corner, walking at a hurried pace. The rage filled snarls had apparently carried clear across the shroud to summon him to the location. A look of distress was etched across his features that supplanted a usual cool look. Like a lost puppy or... a man that had lost his puppy. His searching eyes are quick to point out the unusual. He sees the blood first, it was on this side of the shroud after all. He reaches inside his coat as a look disgust of mixes in with that look of urgency. Also of note, there's blood on Beckett's face too, albeit it at least doesn't look human. This round... Beckett will spend one Gnosis to Activate Luna's Armor and draw his weapon. He enters combat with five Rage over-cap because he fed the wolf.

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->
Beckett rolls Forensics + Intelligence vs 6 for 2 successes.
1 +6 +7 9
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

From the Skinlands, Beckett will see something strange... the Geography will be different for him, but the events will play out all the same. Two legionairres staring at eachother, weapons hoisted and voices roaring like they were about to tear eachother apart. The Blood is clearly visible as being part of the Skinlands... yet there's a spectre at the edge of the pool, desperately lapping it up like an animal dying of thirst. The blood disappears as he laps it up... like it somehow existed in BOTH worlds. The two unknown Restless have strange markings in their corpus. Thick, Red lines through their centers, with lots of smaller red lines off to the side. Beckett will recognize it immediately as a human vascular system, complete with major arteries and cappilaries. It seems to actively pump as the Spectre guzzles the blood on the sidewalk.

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->
Beckett rolls Survival + Stamina vs 4 for 7 successes.
3 +4 +5 +6 +6 +7 +9 +10
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

Sigvard's practically chomping at the bit as he sees the Abomination of a Soldier coming to him,"Into the belly of the beast." he whispers with graveled countenance. The rasped tone soon accompanied,"COME THEN, Be withered by your arrogance - and freed of your bonds!" Holding his ground he pauses - his head turning just slightly, making sure to keep vision on his target; as the unmistakable aura of Beckett comes upon the scene - Holding at the ready to deal this 'legionnaire' a proper blow.

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->
Beckett rolls Manipulation + Stealth vs 6 for 5 successes.
5 +6 +7 +7 +9 +10
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->
Beckett rolls Stealth + Dexterity vs 4 for 0 successes.
1 1 -1 3 5 6
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->
Beckett rolls Dexterity vs 7 for 0 successes.
4 4 5
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->
Bobo rolls 4 + 4 (8 dice) vs 6 for 2 successes.
1 3 5 5 5 +6 +7 10
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->
Bobo rolls 4 + 1 + 1 (6 dice) vs 6 for 4 successes.
3 4 +6 +8 +9 +9
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->
Sigvard rolls Stamina + 5 vs 6 for 4 successes.
1 4 5 +6 +6 +7 +7 9
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->
Sigvard rolls Dexterity + Brawl vs 6 for 1 successes.
3 3 3 4 +9
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->
Sigvard rolls Strength + Outrage vs 4 for 4 successes.
1 2 3 3 +5 +5 +7 +8 10
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->
Bobo rolls 4 + 3 (7 dice) vs 6 for 5 successes.
4 4 +7 +9 +9 +10 +10
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

Beckett's outline shimmers for the blink of an eye. Whilst the two legionaries are locked in combat he draws out a strange weapon from inside his cloak. It was a curious thing made from the end of a rifle, firing mechanism and all, with the barrel that had been dis-attached. A short blade ran the length of the stock and ended in a spike. The wood had been adorned with Pueblo patterns in earthy pastels surrounding the decorated font proclaiming 'bonk'. He creeps up on the specter. Swing. A miss.

"PREPARE FOR A HARROWING, ASSHOLE." The Legion Wraith screams, hoisting it's soulsteel blade high above it's head as it wildly charges at Sigvard. It slashes and slashes, it's soulsteel blade completely failing to make it through Sigvards armor entirely, and his unfocused slashes never coming anywhere near anything even resembling a weak point in the armor. Well, it DOES make a couple tiny dents that immediately pop-back out, so that's something.

It's companion has made no movements yet. It appears to be purely uninterested in duking it out with Sigvard, and hasn't even noticed Beckett, or his 'Bonk bat for boos' yet. It's desperately shoveling Blood into it's mouth like it's life depended on it. It pauses, lifting it's head to the sky to wail mournfully.

Weathering the blows against his plate; he reared back and slammed forwards with a gut-like punch, the sheer force of his anger radiating throughout the tension built in the plasmic air built around their fist...It isn't until it audible -clangs- off of the Other Legionnaire's armor that he realizes that things are going to shit very fast and grips his blade properly. Ready for what is to come next. "It will be you who tastes the dread kiss of Oblivion, you BASTARD!" he shouts roughly.

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->
Beckett rolls Stealth + Dexterity vs 3 for 6 successes.
+3 +5 +5 +7 +7 +8
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->
Beckett rolls Dexterity + 6 vs 6 for 4 successes.
2 4 5 5 5 +6 +7 +8 +9
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->
Beckett rolls Strength + 2 + 3 vs 6 for 4 successes.
1 2 +6 +6 +8 +9 9
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->
Bobo rolls 3 + 1 (4 dice) vs 6 for 0 successes.
3 3 4 4
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->
Beckett rolls Dexterity + 6 vs 6 for 1 successes.
1 1 2 2 4 4 +6 6 7
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->
Beckett rolls Strength + 2 vs 6 for 2 successes.
3 5 +7 +8
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->
Bobo rolls 3 + 1 (4 dice) vs 6 for 3 successes.
3 +6 +10 +10
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->
Sigvard rolls Dexterity + Melee vs 7 for 4 successes.
5 5 +7 +8 +8 +9
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->
Sigvard rolls Strength + 4 + 5 vs 6 for 9 successes.
1 2 5 5 +6 +6 +7 +7 +8 +8 +8 +8 +8 10
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->
Bobo rolls 3 + 3 (6 dice) vs 6 for 4 successes.
3 3 +6 +6 +9 +10
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->
Bobo rolls 4 + 3 (7 dice) vs 6 for 0 successes.
1 1 3 3 4 6 9
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->
Bobo rolls 4 + 3 (7 dice) vs 6 for 3 successes.
1 3 4 +8 +8 +9 9
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->
Bobo rolls 4 + 2 + 2 (8 dice) vs 6 for 3 successes.
1 2 3 4 +6 +8 +9 9
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->
Sigvard rolls Stamina + 5 vs 6 for 4 successes.
1 3 4 +7 +8 +8 +10 10
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

Beckett's first attack causes him a whiff of panic. He stows the axe for now, burning with embarrassment that he could barely use the thing and certain that his ancestors were laughing at him, and draws out a curved blade. He steels his nerves. When it sinks into the Specter it didn't whiff through plasm but instead sinks in as if it is meaty flesh. Gritting his teeth, he pulls, dragging himself into a place where the living did not belong.

Shouts sharply as he lashes out roughly. Blade hewn down in a angled slice from shoulder to hip - The barbed edge of the blade crackling against the armor of the 'Legionnaire' he was fighting. Martial prowess happened to be an -ingrained- talent that he now possessed, for better or for worse. With all that investment he pours his strength into the heave of his blade and it shows - clashing and slicing across the armor and plasm of the remnant before him!

The stonehand clanks uselessly against the Legionairre's soulsteel plate. "THAT ALL YOU GOT!?" He roars, beating at his chest with his fist. But then he catches a blade. His plasm shudders and shifts as it tears into him, leaving a massive crack in his Plate. His roar of pain probably heard for Wraiths for blocks around. "YOU BASTARD! I'M GONNA FEED YOU TO THE STALLIONS!" This Legionairre does not seem to have an indoor voice. Suddenly, his entire movement seems to change. He rushes forwards, leaving a series of afterimages behind him. Sigvard will probably recognize the technique from his fight with the Shambler. Perhaps from seeing Bobo do it. Perhaps even from fighting a Vampire or two in the past. But a Wraith using Celerity is...well, it's not possible! He roars, slashing wildly. So wildly that his first shot misses completely, and his followup simply clanks inneffectually against the soulsteel.

The Spectre wails in pain as he is pierced. He turns, to see a mortal that dares to cross the shroud. "My Vitae!" He roars with desperation, still more focused on the puddle of blood before him. "Leave me alone!" He cries. He swings an arm, and as he does so, a tentacle that appears to be made of raw entropy suddenly grows outwards, undulating wildly as it snakes towards Beckett like a whip. It kind of looks like the stuff a Ritual of Cleansing releases from Risen... It goes without saying that it is not something you want to make contact with.

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->

Ghostwalker rolls Dexterity + Brawl + 1 + 3 vs 5 for 8 successes.
2 2 4 4 4 +5 +6 +6 +8 +8 +9 +10 +10
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->

Ghostwalker rolls Strength + 1 + 7 vs 6 for 5 successes.
1 2 4 4 5 5 5 +6 +6 +7 +8 +9 9
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->

Bobo rolls 3 (3 dice) vs 6 for 0 successes.
1 4 8
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->

Sigvard rolls Dexterity + Melee vs 7 for 1 successes.
1 3 5 6 +7 10
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->

Sigvard rolls Strength + 5 + 1 vs 6 for 3 successes.
1 3 4 4 4 5 5 +6 +7 +8 9
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->

Bobo rolls 3 + 3 (6 dice) vs 6 for 3 successes.
3 5 5 +6 +9 +9
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->

Bobo rolls 8 (8 dice) vs 6 for 0 successes.
1 1 2 3 5 5 6 8
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->

Bobo rolls 8 (8 dice) vs 6 for 7 successes.
5 +7 +7 +7 +8 +9 +9 +10
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

Beckett grits his teeth as he pulls himself through, the Shroud ripped appart like sticky wet spider-webs around his person. Once he can firmly feel himself on the other side unleashes his rage. Clothing and shoots explode into a fiberous dust, giving way to a massive four-legged form with a firm glare set into it's brow...

	 There was a pang of pity in the eyes of the beast that suddenly appeared in the Shadowlands behind the specter. Pity that might have grown into dangerous hesitation if that terribly tentacle hadn't been lashing Ghostwalker's way. The giant wolf-beast, a ghostly remnant of Pleistocene mega-fauna, opens and closes its jaws. The force of the bite enough to likely spray vitae out of the specter like a hydraulic machine crushing a tube of toothpaste. The wolf then shakes it's head rapidly, the way its mundane cousins would snap the spines of small prey animals to kill them quickly and mercifully.

"PERSISTANT BASTARD; AREN'T YOU?!" he shouts back, as his sword clashes across the front of the enraged abomination before him. It's a fucking brawl of a fight - Hits, Taking the blows, Slashes back and forth. Nothing but the clang and crunch of cold steel and plasms rioting against eachother. Despite all this - they seemed at a stalemate for this round.

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->

Sigvard rolls Empathy + Perception vs 5 for 1 successes.
1 1 4 +5 7 8
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

The Spectre pops like a balloon, plasm dissipating into the Shadowlands around it. It wails loudly, but they grow quieter and quieter until there's nothing but the stillness of the Shadowlands...

And the sound of two Legionairres wailing on eachother. "DON'T STICK YOUR NOSE WHERE IT DOESN'T BELONG! I'M GONNA DRAG YOUR HEAD BEFORE MOTHER N'..." The Wraith pauses, looking over it's shoulder to see a Werewolf. In the Shadowlands. Popping his companion like a Oblivion Balloon and likely to turn to him next. "YOU WANT SOME TOO?!?" He roars. But suddenly, his face changes. His Plasm shudders and shifts, vibrating wildly. Finally, his focus returns, and he stops. He puts his hands up, and drops his sword. "...Easy. Easy. He's not in the pilot seat right now. I'll tell you whatever you want, but you GOTTA help me. ...Please. They got him by the throat here, chugging that shit. But they don't got me." Something about this Wraith seems...different now. It's facial structure has changed ever-so-slightly. His eyes are just a little more sunken in. And it's aura seems...different. With the raw spite of a Shadow, but with the color of someone who is terrified out of their mind.

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->

Ghostwalker rolls Dexterity + Occult vs 7 for 1 successes.
1 1 2 2 2 3 4 +10 10 10
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->

Ghostwalker rolls Stamina + Primal Urge vs 6 for 4 successes.
1 2 2 3 3 3 +6 +6 +8 +8 8
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

The great beast snarls and slams a paw down into the ground. The fabric of the Shadowlands seems to shudder, rippling around the stomp. The ripples spread out, with a line of movement running through those ripples like something swimming underwater. A single black tentacle emerges, reaching up to ensnare the Legionnaire that had been attacking his comrade. The beast sprays words mingled with a roar. "BE STILL."

Sigvard's blade was held high as he barely notices the changes - the sudden attitude conversion,"...Disgustingly opportunistic...aren't you." he looks to the obliviated wraith vanishing behind them from Beckett's ministrations to their enwraptured vitae-drunken state,"..Good riddance..." he glowers from behind his helmet. Hefting the sword to his right pauldron to rest,"We need to burn that shit off from inside your Host first." he rattles off flatly,"Else you'll just go back to 'much the same'." he says rather sharply,"It's not often I barter with shadows; but given the circumstances - I will make an exception to rid the streets of this filth. Give us everything; and I'll see if we can...help." watching the tentacle come snaking about to grasp the Would-be Ghoul'd-wraith-Gone-Cathartic he'd grin from behind his visor. Body posture relaxing - at least a little bit.

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->

Bobo rolls 4 (4 dice) vs 6 for 0 successes.
1 -1 3 7
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->

Sigvard rolls Passion Anger vs 6 for 1 successes.
4 +6
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

"Please... This bitch is breaking the natural order. The little back and forth 'tween me n' Leslie here. N' all her bootlickers. It's...just not right. There's no passion for EITHER of us when he's...on that shit." His face twists in anger as the coil wraps around him. "Fine, betray my GOOD faith here. S'not like I'm try'na fuckin' help you or anything. Harrow me, see if I care, that's where I /win/." He says slyly, staring the Wolf down with hatred in his eyes. But despite a glare, he says nothing more to Beckett. He turns back to Sigvard. "There's this...this crazy fuckin' chick. I dunno what the hell she is. She's NOT a Giovanni, I can tell you that... We only ever saw her once. She's dark. Dresses in some old Hindu lookin' crap. Always has a Veil on for some reason... I dont get it. But... she's SOME kinda Necromancer. Gets people hooked on her Blood and then starts pushing em around... Tells em to get more. Tell em she can protect their fetters... Drag em' in if they don't. Get em' hooked too... She's got a LOT of Wraiths working for her. Even Spectres get hooked on that shit. ...Lot of Bloodsuckers around who get hooked on that shit too. She's got...er...a /lot/ of Toadies. Please man... you gotta help us." He smirks at Sigvard. "You wouldn't hurt a fellow Legionairre... would you?" He gives Sigvard puppy-dog eyes. The wolf circles the pinned Legionnaire in a wide circle until he comes to stand behind Sigvard. "How?" Ghostwalker questions in a deep rolling growl. He nudges his nose-pad, easily the size of a dinner-plate, over Sigvard's plate-armored shoulder. "He could be cleansed." An eerie warmth radiates from the beast as life energy bleeds out into the Dark Umbra. In the pallid, clammy, world of the dead this was probably the closest feeling to morning sunlight. "Can't stay long... not here."

"If I hadn't abandoned the Ethos of my previous place in the Hierarchy... then perhaps I would have some Sympathy...but after the structure and acts of it all conflicted with my inner nature; you'll find little comraderie in my gaze." he lingers still on the Cathartic-wraith,"Still - You are in dire circumstances...and even I have Sympathy for some pieces of the devil." he nods to the tentacle,"He restrains you as an act of good faith as well. Else he would have merely clawed you...I assume." listening intently to every word then. The grip on his sword only goes more rigid. The sound of the mailed glove and leather squeezing across it's heavy form shifting a bit. "Blasphemous...." he mutters,"Necromancers treating lost souls as property. His gaze lingers and looks off to the side at no one in particular. Awfully silent for a moment,"You can ravage them when the time comes. We'll show them that their place is not in this life -or- the next." he whispers lightly to again..no one in particular. Looking back to the Cathartic-wraith, then Beckett,"...We can cleanse him?" he humms,"Do you know any way through which she conducts this...magic? If not...This is a lot of information." thinking then long and hard about things," If you need to cross back Beckett....now would be a good time. I can handle things this side if it comes to a rougher call; but you need to be back in the land of the living."

"Nooo, don't send me to Oblivion, I'd haaaate that." The Shadow offers in return, it's voice clearly laden with sarcasm. "Yeah. They do that. Kinda just what they do... but that's the real weird part. The Restless are INTO it. First hit, they want another one bad enough they stick around. By the third hit... it's like they aren't even the same person anymore. Mother this, love that. It's..." The Shadow shudders. He shakes his head. "That's just it... doesn't seem like magic at all. She just slices her wrist open right into your mouth, and it's there. In your Corpus. But that was back when we got hooked... now she's got someone makin' these Pots for her. I think it makes the shit last longer, or else she'd have been doing this already. Bottling that stuff is making things grow FAST. What used to take a month takes a week now." He pauses, gritting his teeth. "I can tell ya where they have their weird little church... but you gotta let me go. Unravel me, and trust that I'm gonna do that...super speed shit till this is all out of my system. Otherwise... I'll just throw myself into a harrowing. And believe me, he's SCREAMING in there for me to do it instead of spilling his secrets, so I don't think he'll even try to stop me... now, what's it gonna be?" There's a cruel smile on the Wraith's face as he says this.

The Garou scowls as the Shadow relays what it knows. A grim suspicion the beast's eyes. The beast starts to change shape from quadraped to biped. Ghostwalker, reaches up to scratch his own throat with a set of terrible claws that put the swords of mortals, but perhaps not the dead, to shame. "I can get the blood out of him," he offers, "then leave. He will say -nothing- of my being here."

"No you moron." Sigvard thumbs over his shoulder with his left hand,"They can do something about that shit in you." he says rather flatly," Bottling...preserving it. This sounds so strange." he racks his mind over it - thinking rather heavily," We weren't talking about sending you to Oblivion; despite that being what you deserve -in the end-....No. It was about getting rid of the Leech-like parasites that seek to dominate everything they can worm their grubby little fucking fingers into." he sighs," If you must." he looks to the Cathartic-wraith,"What do you say, shadow? Free assistance; and you need only keep your mouth shut."

"I know how it works, asshole. That's why I said /I/ would burn it off when we're done here. And I know that I just ASKED you to UNRAVEL me. I'm going to ask ONE. MORE. TIME. Or you're going to walk away with NOTHING. Now are you gonna ask Fido to let me go, or are you going to walk away from here with nothing useful? Clocks ticking." The Shadow begins humming the Jeopardy theme while he waits for the rope to unravel Ghostwalker begins to prepare his ritual materials for a Cleansing. His massive canine head tilts to peer down at Sigvard. The garou hesitates, as if deferring to the Wraith's choice in course of action.

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======---> Sigvard rolls Charisma vs 8 for 1 successes.
6 +8
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

"Burning it off isn't necessarily going to help you." Sigvard lets out,"Once you're out of vitae...you're still stuck in the same shoes. Only now you crave it. That burn is just the material being eeked out through whatever method you choose.." he looks the Cathartic wraith in the eyes,"If it's not removed via what my friend does...you'll go right back. Again...and again. Every single time you pair come out of your Harrowing...they'll crawl back like an addict that can't be weaned..." he head tilts,"Is that what you want? No oblivionly-beauteous end to cap your story - but a sniveling wraith hell-bound for high or low water to a Leech that is going to take away all your ill-gotten...fun?" he shrugs,"If you still say no...then don't. Let him run and cry to burn off steam...and then crawl back to his new master. If he is okay with it..well...then we'll continue and get you the hell out of here." looking to Beckett.

"You really sound like you know what you're talking about..." The Wraith continues, nodding. "I believe you. That's what it seems like happens... sometimes they get away before they hit the third hit. But they always come back. But I can think of an even better place to go." The Wraith then looks to the sky. "W-what's that? I told them to let me go, and they wouldn't? And you'd rather I threw us into a Nihil than tell these bastards who can't listen another word?" The Wraith smiles cruelly. "Well, OK. If you insist." He looks Sigvard dead in the eyes, taking one last moment to try and spit in his face. And then he plunges into the ground at an insane speed, headed for a self inflicted harrowing.

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->
Bobo rolls 8 (8 dice) vs 6 for 4 successes.
1 3 5 +6 +9 +9 +9 10
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->

Bobo rolls 8 (8 dice) vs 6 for 3 successes.
2 2 3 3 4 +6 +9 +9
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The beast growls, ears going flat against his skull as Sigvard pleads with the other wraith only to stand up again when the cathartic wraith does... something that Ghostwalker doesn't quite understand but still doesn't like. He snatches at Sigvard, trying to pull him away from whatever the other Wraith was doing and flee.

Stumbling back with Ghostwalker pulling him, he grits his teeth,"Bastard...." Sigvard stands...shaking his head. Rustling back to standing proper he rolls a shoulder,"...Poor bastard though who'd trust their shadow like that....So much lost." lowering his head a bit,"So close to help yet so far away as well." turning then to look to Beckett,"Well...no need to do what you need to do." he notes,"We should scatter with our information. I need rest...and you need to get back to the land of the living. You're a beacon here; and there's sure to be a lot of specters or desperate renegades eager to have at you." sighing a bit...despite the lack of needing to breath at all.

The Crinos's fur stood on end, claws clutched around the Wraith holding a fully armored knight of the Grim legion with as much ease is if he was a baby. He glares at the hole where there'd just been the other one as if he thought that there'd come an explosion any moment now. When it doesn't come the beast's sigh mingles with its own growl. Exhaled breath flutters wolf lips, blustering them around teeth the length of carving knives that still dripped with vitae. "Explain... later." A big nosepad sticks itself right up to the knight's armored carapace. Sniff-sniff-snuff. "Hurt? You want a ride? To your fetter?" Beckett was much less articulate, much less sauve, like this. Canine jaws meant for killing were not meant for human speech.

Nodding his head Sigvard looks on,"I will...but now is definitely not the time; I'm sure you Agree. Head back to the Skinlands, and we'll make our way back home together. Here - that treck would be devastatingly difficult for you...not because I don't think you can...but from the attention you'll grab instead." he says, patting up along the Beast's brow gently, running fingers through the thick pelt of fur across it,"I'm fine. A little battered - nothing broken though." he lets out in a drier - tired tone.

And so ends one tragic tale in the Shadowlands. No Spectres or Ghouls saved. No urn in condition enough to actually be traced back anywhere. At least the Hostage got away... but he did not stick around long enough to say hi. Perhaps he will spread word of this heroic werewolf who braved the Umbra to save him from a foul, dehydrated spectre. No clues have been gained here today....

But our heroes are not alone in this fight... Perhaps their friend knows something that they do not...

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->

Sigvard rolls 4 vs 6 for 3 successes.
5 +8 +8 +10
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The Crinos's ears go flat with that pat. It's brow would be forever angry. He conceded, though. Wrapping his arms around the Wraith in one final 'hug', his body begins to shrink. Clothes reform over a bare human body and the cloak the beast wore around its shoulders shapes down into a modern looking coat. The force of the hug weakens from 'afternoon at the chiropractor' to a modest firmness that was still within human bounds. Beckett was back, if only for a little while. He releases Sigvard from the hug. "Fine. Fine... but I'm at least walking with you." He reaches forward, to nudge up the knight's visor, if only to get a clear look at his face. With that smile, he fades out of the Deadlands back into the land of the living.