2019.07.10: Wrym Gym Scouting

Wyrm Gym Scouting
As pack Ragabash, Twilight's Glimmer (Ryla) leads a Scouting mission with Lleu into the umbra.
IC Time	Wed Jul 10 18:19:17 2019, PDT.
Players	Ryla, Lleutrim, Dragomir through the packlink and Waziyata as ST.
Location	In the umbra somewhere in Prospect
Spheres	Gaian Garou

The eight-eyed gorilla monster only watches in silence as the two wolves make their way up to the umbral reflection of the gym's entrance. It does not move aside to make the wolves' entry any easier, but in the pivotal moment as Twilight's Glimmer is snarling and drooling just within arm's reach, the Bane doesn't move to prevent their access, either.

Inside the gym are a dozen further banes, most slumbering in the darkness, though one or two are active. Along the wall, small, dark spider spirits pick their way through the frayed webbing, weaving new strands.

Twilight's Glimmer pulls her tongue back in her mouth, and while walking slowly, she tries not to look like she is walking totally normally. So hard to inpersonate a bane. Thankfully these ones are mostly sleeping. She sends over the pack link, >> Sleeping. Watchout for the ones moving. Let's go toward the back. See what we can. <<

~ Understood. ~ Battle Singer sends back to Twilight's Glimmer. Using the pack link also allows Wazi and Dragomir to keep up with what is going on with the scouting party. ~ We have slipped past the first bane and are now inside. Many banes here, most resting. Pattern spiders active. Proceeding towards the back. ~

Once he's passed that update on, the Galliard continues as quietly as he may to follow along with the Ragabash where she directs. He keeps an sharp eye and ear open as they proceed deeper into the preumbral structure.

~ I thought Weaver and Wyrm warred, there. Pattern Spiders? ~ comes Puddle Jumper's reply to the Galliard's report. But she doesn't add any further thoughts or questions.

In the penumbra, the banes either ignore the tiny spiders on the walls or, perhaps, fail to notice them. Many are absorbed in workings of their own, several with glowing eyes showing their interest in the material world beyond the gauntlet, while most sleep.

As Twilight's Glimmer leads the way deeper into the building to the office space with the staircase in it, the darkness grows thicker. More banes are seen, of a variety of shapes and sizes including multiple elementals of the Wyrm. But all is calm, quiet, the supermajority of spirits resting for the night and, luckily, not yet a material enemy to see through the Baneskins.

~ Yes. I think the Wyrm has damaged this area of the Weaver's patterns and the spiders are trying to repair it? Does this warrant further investigation as another possible means of distraction? The banes seem to be ignoring them. ~ The very image of the spiders and banes is sent through the packlink briefly so that Waziyata and Dragomir can /see/ what he and Twilight's Glimmer are seeing.

The Fianna needs most of his attention on what they are doing so the pack link is allowed to fade for the moment. It is all rather creepy and makes Battle Singer's hackles want to rise.

~ It is strange. I think? ~ Puddle Jumper answers after a hesitation.

As the duo make their way into the office area and move to the stairs, they see a few more spiders crawling along the walls, spinning greasy webs. The darkness is deep and cloying a sense of wrongness permeating the building.

Down the stairs, there are fewer banes though the ones here seem somehow more solid, more real. Powerful. At the foot of the stairs, a massive sludge elemental rests, glistening wetly and pulsating gently in time with some unknown rythm.

The umbral reflection of the basement is quiet, with multiple closed doors leading into the dormitory area and the back room opening onto the tunnel structure.

Twilight's Glimmer notes this too. Over the pack link, she shares >> I wonder if they are allies here, or infiltrators. It does feel like we should warrant further investigation into it. Could use the spiders against the banes maybe. << Further inside they go, and more things are noted. She considers, down the stairs? Well, they are here. Down she goes and stops as she notices the sludge elemental. She looks to be sure that they can get around it.

Battle Singer continues to follow Twilight Glimmer's lead as they descend. He occasionally passes on images through the pack link, vigilant as they approach the sludge bane with the intent of attempting to slip past it.

Twilight's Glimmer can tell this place is not just bad, but getting to that point of needs to be blown. Over the pack link, ~ This place is pulsing with magic. We knew they were strong an powerful. We need to stop it. Let's see if we can get a bit further, and then Battle Singer, see what you can find with your special sight. ~ She is going to loll her tongue out again, and just bane walk (not moon walk) her way through past this sludge.

It's just as well that Twilight's Glimmer isn't trying to moon walk like Michael Jackson. It would totally start making the Galliard behind her crack up. Much better that Battle Singer stays watchful and silent as he moves down the steps in a shuffling, uneven gait. Yep, this mimicing banes thing is no fun. Wary, he keeps a peripheral eye on the sludge bane, quietly eager to get down past it and into the tunnels. What's in the tunnels beyound, my Precious?

Twilight's Glimmer will get up next to the door to the tunner, and shift up to Crinos. Her hand is on the door, and she stands behind it so Battle Singer can go first as she opens the door up.

When Twilight's Glimmer advances into the basement hall at the foot of the stairs, the sludge spirit pulsates and makes a wet, sticky sound. But it doesn't attack or seem especially excited. It quivers as the two Garou move past it and when the Ragabash shifts forms to open the door to the back room, it quivers and pulsates again. But nothing happens.

The door itself seems to resist being opened, moving slowly and grudgingly, but it's no great chore for a Crinos. In the room beyond, a few of the familiar dog-like warrior banes with oversized jaws lurk, turning to look at the entering Garou. Beyond them, a tunnel burrows into the earth, slimy and dimly reflecting a pulsing, yellow-green light.

Battle Singer is definitely NOT LIKING THIS PLACE, not at all. Slimy tunnel gets an eyeballing. He may regret this but the Galliard slips on past the pulsating sludge bane and through the door to enter into the tunnel. The Fianna doesn't go very far before he waits for Twilight's Glimmer to come along as well, not desiring to get them separated. As soon as she does, he'll start moving again - seeking a span of the tunnel where they can seem momentarily alone and away from the banes. If such a thing might be possible.

Twilight's Glimmer lolls her tongue out again, and shuffles a bit behind Battle Singer. The now crinos takes up more space, so she does her best to get in and follow along. She tries to be the best bane like Igor as she drags one foot just a bit - although Igor probably isn't a bane, but still, it isn't wolf-like.

The tunnel is oppressive, uneven, shimmering sickly greens and yellows and just large enough for the crinos and lupus to move side-by-side, at first. All too soon, it twists almost straight downward in a hole just large enough for a Crinos to squeeze through on all fours, twisting and winding back on itself. Claw marks and unfortunate stains mar the hardened earth and, after a few long moments of stale, foul air the tunnel opens into a small, hollowed pocket large enough for homids to stand in, or a crinos to crouch on all fours. It's about six feet high, uneven, and a dozen feet around.

Two dozen of the shark-hide banes the pack faced previously slumber together, curled upon one another in a mass of spirit-flesh, each wrapped in a blackened cord tying it to the others.

The source of the greenish-yellow glow is revealed: another tunnel beyond the mass of sleeping spirits, large enough for three men to walk abreast into the next chamber of the compound. In its heart is a raging, noxious green fire - the heat of it reaching all the way to the packmates newly emerging from the smaller entry tunnel.

Paused to look upon the /two dozen/ or so sleeping shark-skinned banes slumbered in their pile, Battle Singer eyes the leaping green fire deeper beyond and feels the heat coming off of it even at this distance. Instinctively he just can't keep his hackles from rising through his wolf's thick pelt. He clamps his jaws tight against the snarl that wants to roll forth, making himself stay silent. The Galliard relays visuals through the pack link, ~ It looks to widen past here. The light seems to be cast by a raging green fire up ahead. We can feel it's heat. ~

Through the Legend's Guardians pack link Dragomir says, ~ Be cautious of the Balefire.. it will burn nearly as painfully as Silver, and is very difficult to heal from. ~ Battle Singer replies through the link, ~ I'd be delighted to stay as far from it as possible. ~

The truth is that a trickle of fear prickles up his spine. They are after all confined underground in what looks like the mouth to hell. A look is shared with Twilight's Glimmer. Battle Singer draws in what scents he may and shifts up to Hispo. First he dares a peek through the gauntlet to see what he may of the tunnel on the physical side.

As the two garou take in the sights, sounds, smells, and feelings of the proto-hive, the shark-skinned banes stir. Several of them lift their heads and turn to look at the pair, eyeing them as if eyeing food, before laying their heads back down. Their eyes close once more, slumber resumed. Shadows move eerily in the nauseating green light, hunched figures crawling along the ground ahead, backlit by the balefire, impossible to see clearly as more than twisted shapes. Is it one creature or many?

When Battle Singer steadies his nerve and then gathers himself to look across the gauntlet, he'll be surprised at how difficult it is to pierce. This is no Caern, not quite a place of power. But the gauntlet is not as strong as in the city above, and it does yield to his vision.

In the physical world, a massive, bald black man is crouched in the dirt, wearing only a pair of filthy cargo shorts and a mass of ritually scarred and tattooed flesh praising the Wyrm, hands clenched in fists - ready to fight. His blood is as pure as Dragomir's, the stuff of corrupted heroes, back to Lleutrim. Before him stands a grizzled, white-furred Hispo with one eye. He is equally pure-bred, but stands with more bearing, higher rank or status apparent. Around them is gathered a group of human and wolf shapes, assorted Garou or kinfolk or wyrm servants, watching intently. The two fallen heroes square off against one another as the others watch with baited breath.

Beyond, the tunnel is lit by a raging fire in the place where the balefire rests in the Umbra. A lone shape stands in just the same place, physically, though it looks to be a woman here, rather than a grotesquerie of limbs. She moves slowly side-to-side, as if dancing, ignoring the spectacle of the challenge in the main tunnel.

When Battle Singer steadies his nerve and then gathers himself to look across the gauntlet, he'll be surprised at how difficult it is to pierce. This is no Caern, not quite a place of power. But the gauntlet is not as strong as in the city above, and it does yield to his vision.

In the physical world, a massive, bald black man is crouched in the dirt, wearing only a pair of filthy cargo shorts and a mass of ritually scarred and tattooed flesh praising the Wyrm, hands clenched in fists - ready to fight. His blood is as pure as Dragomir's, the stuff of corrupted heroes, back to Lleutrim. Before him stands a grizzled, white-furred Hispo with one eye. He is equally pure-bred, but stands with more bearing, higher rank or status apparent. Around them is gathered a group of human and wolf shapes, assorted Garou or kinfolk or wyrm servants, watching intently. The two fallen heroes square off against one another as the others watch with baited breath.

Beyond, the tunnel is lit by a raging fire in the place where the balefire rests in the Umbra. A lone shape stands in just the same place, physically, though it looks to be a woman here, rather than a grotesquerie of limbs. She moves slowly side-to-side, as if dancing, ignoring the spectacle of the challenge in the main tunnel.

As Twilight's Glimmer stands guard and watchful in the umbra side of the tunnel with the sleeping banes, Battle Singer peeks through. As he watches he conveys what he is seeing through the packlink - though without commentary. For the moment, as all remains quiet umbraside, Lleu continues to watch to see what transpires in the physical world beneath the Wyrm Gym. His interest particularly settles upon the dancing figure, most curious about the woman near to the balefire...

As Battle Singer lingers and watches, the tension in the physical realm suddenly breaks. The hispo lunges at the man, who rises to meet fang with fist. The gathered watchers growl and snap and shout in excitement, twisting and pushing against one another, watching the two fight. The hispo tears flesh from the man's arm, and a dagger appears in his opposite hand to plunge into the beast's side. It looks for all intents like a fight to the death.

The audience shrieks and howls, growing more wild and animalistic with every second of the contest, some of them beginning to attack those around them. One woman shrieks above the rest, throwing herself bare-handed and maddened at a nearby wolf, kicking and clawing wildly with fingernails.

Beyond it all, the woman at the fire remains unmoved and unconcerned, continuing her own ritual, swaying before the fire as the group in the main chamber go mad.

On the fringe of the crowd, a teenage boy stands alone, pressed against the wall of the chamber by the madness of the others. He casts about, eyes searching over the chamber and its occupants a moment before his gaze settles on Battle Singer. There is a moment's hesitation, then his eyes widen in alarm.

Lleu gives a warning over his pack link, ~ FUCK! I think I've been spotted through the Gauntlet. We need to get the hell out of here, pronto! ~ He jerks his attention back to the umbra and sends a request to Eagle through the link, ~ Great Eagle, will you please open a moon bridge from our location back to this cave? ~ The particular cave Lleu imagines is in the Deep Forest but not /at/ the Caern and not technically on the bawn but north-east of it. It is a politely worded request as if everything in the world were just fine and dandy.

Twilight's Glimmer waits for Battle Singer where she was standing watch, but the minute she hears the warning from him and time to leave from their alpha, it is time to haul ass. She does not mention yet that she can just open an Moon Bridge if they need it, cause she will want out of here no matter what.

Over their pack link Dragomir sends, ~ Dragomir says, "Evacuate quickly. Expect to be followed. Do not delay. Watch out for banes! ~

Twilight's Glimmer sends, ~ I can open a bridge if we need as well. Just give me orders. ~

Battle Singer sends over the pack's link ~ Great Eagle, will you please open a moon bridge from our location back to this cave? ~ The particular cave Lleu pictures is in the Deep Forest a little north and east of the bawn so not to endanger the Sept should they be followed.

<Legend's Guardians> Eagle says, ~ You have the strength to overcome this, Battle Singer. ~

Waziyata sends over the pack link, ~ Try to leave before using your Moon Bridge. Bringing Lunes to defend your path might insult Luna, if it is not needed. ~

<Legend's Guardians> Battle Singer just laughs over the pack link.

Waziyata adds more gently in response to the laugh over the pack link, ~ I am ready if we are needed. Trust Eagle. He will not let you die. Call moon bridge if it is needed, Twilight's Glimmer. But I am thinking, maybe one teenager seeing you while they fight is not enough? Leave, come back to us, wait for your bridge if you can. ~

<Legend's Guardians> Battle Singer sends, ~ We are exfiltrating. ~

Twilight's Glimmer adds, ~ Following your lead. ~

In the umbra, all remains calm and quiet except for the eerie green flames and the twisting shadows. The shark-hide banes do not awaken in a great, slavering horde. Howls and shrieks don't echo through the tunnel. If the teenager has raised the alarm, it hasn't reached here yet.

Welp, no surprise there. The Hispo Galliard gives Twilight's Glimmer a surprisingly amused look. Battle Singer than starts back through the tunnel the way they had come. He moves quietly as usual and in no great haste, saying nothing. Ears and eyes sharp, expecting to still see the pulsating blob waiting up ahead while keeping an ear out for any sound of alarm.

Twilight's Glimmer has a wolfy toothed grin for Battle Singer. She moves swiftly, quietly behind him, while keeping an eye out for anything happening. Her ears tuned in as well. But frankly, with the call to exit this scouting mission, it is time to go.

A massive, clawed humanoid creature with no face or eyes, only a slanted gash of a mouth across its head. It 'looks' at the two as they emerge, but takes no action against them.

Beyond the thing, the pulsing blob of wyrm elemental still sits in its own phantasmal ooze. It also makes no hostile movements as the two approach. Nor does it make any attempt to get out of the way of their access to the stairs.

It is at this point that a harsh, female voice is clearly heard to rasp in Garou: ~We have spies. Find them.~

Almost begrudgingly, the pulsing blob begins to raise its tentacles.

Battle Singer is in the lead and pauses when he hears the woman's raspy shout. He starts moving again and sniffing around as though looking for signs of intruders. A glance is shared with Twilight's Glimmer as they approach the oozy blob bane with it's tentacles coming out. As he nears it the Galliard is looking to see if there is space enough that he might make a running leap over it!

Twilight's Glimmer notices this too with the oozy blob, and if Battle Singer jumps, so will she. That voice though - it knows they are there. They really need to fly out of here. She does notice how the blob seems reluctant though.

The pulsating blob thing's tentacles raise slowly up, up, up and miss Battle Singer. But they don't whip around to lash out at the hispo as he charges past, followed immediately by the Ragabash. Instead, it pulses weirdly and then begins to undulate, oozing slowly toward the tunnel from whence they came.

Up the stairs they charge, out into the main area of the gym, where other banes are climbing to their feet or floating into the air. They mill about, snarling, gnashing teeth, exhaling fumes, ignoring the two garou in their midst. It takes a bit of dodging, but soon the Garou are out of the building and on the street outside.

Amazed at their rare good luck, Battle Singer keeps moving. He tries to act like the other banes, snarling, looking around as he paces and trots to keep moving. No sprinting to draw attention to themselves. As soon as they are up and clear through the building, reaching the outside, he simply keeps moving. They can head for the perimeter of the neighborhood and get the fuck out of there.

Over the pack link <Legend's Guardians> Battle Singer says, ~ The alarm has been raised but we are out. The baneskins are still deceiving them. ~

Twilight's Glimmer does her level best to do what she did before, dodging, but snarling, and acting all bane like. Once outside, and out of the area, it is time to get home to the pack caves - cleansed as needed - and circle back with the pack.