2022.08: Irsa and Rhapsody Fostern Challenge

Irsa and Rhapsody Fostern Challenge
The Theurge women are ready to take the next big step in life and challenge for rank.
IC Date	August
IC Time	Early Afternoon
Players	Pancake Branton Irsa Rhapsody
Location	Harbor District, Prospect, CA
Spheres	Gaian Garou
Theme Song	Bangarang, by Skrillex

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Cast: Rhapsody: Mr. Blue, Branton: Mr. Red, Irsa: Mr. Purple, Mercy: Mr. Green, ST: Mr. Black

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xxxxxSo it's the BIG DAY! Challenge day! Iris has sent out some messages to make sure her apprentices know where to go and where to find her, and that's in the Harbor district, right near where they've been eyeballing some territory for their pack. Not coincidental at all! Up on the roof of a tall apartment building is where Iris is at now, a tatty blanket stretched out over the dirty, dusty roofing. She's settled on it with her legs folded up lotus style, and there's a basket of food and drink at hand. Of course, this being Iris, it's all raw nature food like nuts and berries, wild pears, a bit of cold, cooked rabbit, and recycled bottles of spring water. That sorta thing.

xxxxxThe sounds of the city in day time are all around, from honking horns to the occasional tire squeal, chatter layered over chatter layered over chatter. In the distance is the metallic screech of a light-rail train putting on its breaks. The cooing of pigeons and the flap of the flock's wings drift through the smog tinged air, blending with the sound of a loud but indistinct argument between a couple in some apartment below. There are threads of different musics drifting from stores and homes that overlap with the sounds of kids playing in a park stuffed somewhere between low income housing developments, and underneath it all is the soft, static of the surf touching the beach blocks away.

xxxxxRhapsody got the message, and is SOOOOO excited that she arrives early, wanting to be on time and wait for the rest to show up. Of course, she arrives to find she is not the first on there. As she steps out onto the roof, she asks, "Did I get the time wrong? Am I late?" Perhaps time-zones were mentioned and she missed it? Who knows? She's brought her usual bag with stuff. "And you brought food! How thoughtful. I would have brought something too if I realized it was a picnic." Note to self, snacks! The view here is very city, but the light saltiness in the air is a nice touch.

xxxxx"You're not late, I'm early." Iris says, cracking first one eye open and then the other as Rhapsody bursts onto the roof. "Have a seat, relax and enjoy some snacking, we're waiting on Irsa. She's finishing some stuff up for the Colony probably, so she'll be along soon enough." She pats the blanket, unless Rhapsody wants to look out over the low safety wall or anything like that. "How're you feeling? Excited? Ready? Do you feel like you're prepared for your challenge?"

xxxxxRhapsody replies quickly, "Excited? For sure. Something I've been dreaming about doing for as long as I can remember. My Rite of Passage was one thing. Hard, and worth it. But a challenge for rank? It means I'm really getting there toward my goals to be like my ancestors. I believe in myself, and I can do this. We can do this. Both Irsa and I."

xxxxxMercy beams a smile at whatever Rhapsody just said to her, apparently really liking her answer, and says while holding up a hand for a high five, "That's my girl! Keep that optimism, it'll be your sword and shield in this world, but also don't be afraid of disappointments and failures. If for some reason you fail at something, all that means is you're learning, and you'll do better the next time you try it. But between you and me, I don't think you'll have anything to worry about today."

xxxxxIrsa heads up towards the roof via the fire escape, ducking to avoid notice from the residents inside. They have arguments to tend to, food to cook, and music to enjoy. "Am I late? Tried t' get here sooner, had a minor dispute that needed settlin' with th' rats. They were fightin' over the damn reflectin' pool, of all things."

xxxxxRhapsody grins as Irsa arrives. "Sounds like they want you to be a referee? Do we need to get you a black and white stripped shirt?" She is beaming with Mercy's words. "It means a lot to have your confidence. Always will learn, even in failures."

xxxxxMercy clicks her tongue at Irsa's mediation job, and cant help but say, "Rat slap fights are adorable. Just trying to kick ass with their little bitty t-rex arms, kung foo kicking and all." She pats the blanket and says, "You're right on time. When Branton gets here with the ritual components, we can get this show on the road! Are you feeling ready today, Irsa? Prepared and confident?"

xxxxxBranton flickers in, arriving a few feet away out of thin air and holding out a small cage with a couple of sparrows inside that he offers to Iris "Here they are! A bit of a trick realizing I had to adjust the spell for them as passengers rather than cargo. So I've already learned one new thing today."

xxxxxIrsa snickers as she sets down her pack. "Seems like it a lotta days. If we make rank, I'm gonna be swarmed." She flashes a grin as Iris describes rat fights. "Now that's cheatin'. It's like ya stare right into th' Mall." And then Branton arrives, literally by magic! It's a great deal to be a supernatural being. "Heya, Branton. Nice birds." Uh oh. Birds. And more spells. Part of the challenge has clearly arrived.

xxxxxRhapsody does not know birds that well, but no time like the present to learn? It does boost her confidence a bit to hear that Branton was learning something new too. YAY! Learning all around! She cannot help but giggle a bit when Irsa calls out Iris for being able to predict rat behavior! "Sounds like she caught the rerun for ultimate rat fighting."

xxxxx"Hooray!" Mercy says when she sees her mate arrive with exactly what she needed. "Alright, lemme prepare some ritual goop and explain what we're doing here today." While she yammers about things, she digs a little ritual bowl out of her bag, and empties into it a little packet of ashes. Next, she produces a knife that she probably crafted herself, it's rough looking but sharp. "So, the two of you are familiar with Englings, correct? If not, there's no shame in that, I'll gladly explain." She slices open her hand and bleeds into the bowl of ashes, offering the knife over to Branton and saying, "I need some of your blood, baby."

xxxxxIrsa sits down on roof, with no care whatsoever for the state of her clothes. "I know Englings. They're spirits are summoned t' serve as prey for th' Sacred Hunt durin' a moot. Ya give thanks for th' spirit giving ya its life, in exchange for spiritual strength for th' hunters." She paid attention in theurge class. She watches the knife passing and bleeding without comment, expecting that to head her way soon. Maybe!

xxxxxBranton grins broadly and takes the knife, cutting himself similarly without missing a beat just because Iris asked him too, adding it as directed "This is going to be fascinating."

xxxxxRhapsody nods, "I know some." And she listens to Irsa's explanation. She does expect as well that her blood may be needed, which would make sense to her. She watches closely to see just what the Elder Theurge is going to do here.

xxxxxNo knife for the Cliaths! Instead, with only her own and Branton's blood in the bowl of ashes, she flexes her hand to heal herself and then uses her knife to stir it up into a red-grey paste. While talking, she caaaaarefully and gently withdraws one of the probably pretty freaked out sparrows in the cage, being ever so careful with its tiny, delicate little body as she dips the bird's feet into the bloody mixture. "C'mere." she says to Rhapsody, and assuming she leans in, Iris carefully touches her face with the bird's bloody feet, leaving a pair of three pronged Y's on her cheek. The sparrow is put back into the cage and the other withdrawn to do the exact same thing to Irsa, leaving her cheek marked by bloody bird feet as well before the sparrow is put back in the cage.
xxxxx"Correct! Now, the fun thing about Englings is, like most other spirits, they're just out there in the world, doing their thing and living their lives when they're not being summoned. They're everywhere, if you know what to look for. Out in the woods, they're often just like any other prey spirit; deer, rabbits, whatever. They blend in. In the city, they *also* blend in, but they're not always just little prey animals. Today, you're going to be hunting down a large and particularly wily City Engling, but there are rules to this hunt!"

xxxxxUh oh, the dreaded 'rules' section of the challenge. Irsa eyes Mercy after the Elder marks her up with bloody bird feet, but she was clearly expecting some stipulations. "I'll bite. What're th' rules?"

xxxxxBranton gets out his rod of healing and tends to the wound on his hand, it closes with a little more of a production than Iris's but no less magically. He then tucks it back away to listen, excited to see how this is going to go at last.

xxxxxRhapsody leans in and gets her special temporary face painting. As this 'game' is announced, she nods, "Yes, what are the rules? I got.. questions." Many questions.

xxxxx"Rule number one." Mercy says, "It's about noon now, and you'll have two hours to complete your task from the time you set out.
xxxxxNumber two: You will remain on the Tellurian plane the ENTIRE time. Absolutely no crossing the gauntlet, because frankly that would take all the fun out of the challenge and make it too easy.
xxxxxNumber three! No using your Rage. Because you're going to be on this plane, and all the humans are awake, that gets way too close to a veil breaching situation, so you're going to have to manage this with your spirit and will alone.
xxxxxRule number four: No shifting, cause again, you're in the city during the day, so you'll need to stay strictly in Homid.
xxxxxAnd last rule, number five: When you finally catch it, you eat the entire thing. No leaving a half devoured spirit laying there twitching or anything.
xxxxxAnd the really obvious sub-rule here of 'don't do super obvious weird magical shit where humans can definitely see you'.
xxxxxGot that? Okay. Now, these birds that I've marked you with are your safety net, and there's ONLY two. Branton and I will be watching you the entire time through the rite I've just performed, watching every single thing you do during this challenge. If you end up in some out-of-your-control mess where you're in danger, you're badly hurt, or you're at risk of breaking the veil, we will provide one thing to assist you, to a maximum of two. Once the two helping hands are used up, that's it, there's no more, so try not to fuck up a whole slew of times.

xxxxxYou may ask any questions you have now, and then I'll point your target out and give you a little insight into its behavior before turning you loose."

xxxxxIrsa shifts her jaw as she listens to this, taking it all in. "So, we got a materialized Engling for this, or no? We ain't got th' Gift yet to easily see through the Veil if we're in th' Tellurian. Peeking outta th' Umbra, easy. Peekin' into it, not so easy." She's asking to confirm the difficulty level. "No obvious Gifts, no Rage. What about th' Curse? I got a fair bit there."

xxxxxBranton is listening as the rules are laid out and clarifications sought. He digs a pouch of trail mix out of one of his packs (foraged iris friendly ingredients) and nibbles some as he listens.

xxxxxRhapsody asks, "Since there is an engling for both of us, can we work together? And can we have some water after we eat the spirit?" Because of course, you wonder what this will taste like. It takes another minute to ask, "The Tellurian - have not been in it before so maybe stupid question. It is all the layers, so we'll see all sorts of stuff we may not have before. Does that mean we can touch anything we see that is materialized within there?"

xxxxx"You're going to be doing a LOT of running, so there's very little chance you're going to be around anyone long enough for the Curse to bother them. I fully expect you to upset or confuse some humans during this, and that's alright. Even if you weren't Garou, seeing tough looking people sprinting down the street in your direction or leaping over the bench you're having coffee on is a little alarming. This is a good point to mention that you MAY break human law in pursuit of your prey, but keep in mind that you are forbidden to cross the Gauntlet during this, so you cant just stir up a ton of police issues and then evade them like smoke in the wind. Be smart about what short cuts you decide you want to take, be brazen when you need to, but not SO brazen that we end up with like police pursuit and your picture flashed all over the news, okay?"

xxxxxMercy then clarifies for Rhapsody, "There's ONE Engling, and it's a real crafty one, so you're definitely going to have to work together to catch it. It's materialized down there on the street level, just wandering around. Instinct tells it to be available for the hunt, but that doesn't mean it has to stand there and wait for you to jump on it. It's meant to be *chased*, and then caught. It will run from you, it'll attempt to hide itself here in the mortal world, but it's only got so many tricks up its sleeve. Your job is to be smarter than it is. Corner it, trap it, ambush it, whatever stikes your fancy. And forgive me, what I meant to say was this plane, the physical world. So you're going to be working here in the human world only."

xxxxx"Now, the reason I've set this challenge up this way is this: You're GOING to have times in your life where you're basically fucked. Maybe you're out of gnosis, maybe the gauntlet is too thick, maybe you're hurt or weak in some way, and you simply can not get to a Caern. You have to know how to survive, how to refuel yourself in strange circumstances so that you can get back to your pack with the energy to heal the wounded, or whatever. You're *going* to be in this sort of situation, but the stakes will be higher, the danger more real. This? Will be fun. In the future? Not so fun. As Irsa wisely said last night, as a Fostern, you *have* to know how to hunt what you need. And if you can catch an Engling with one proverbial arm tied behind your back, you CAN survive a tough situation out here. And yes, you can have water, I'll make sure you both have a bottle before you leave. Being thirsty sucks. Any other questions?"

xxxxxBranton turns to his duffle as Iris' logistics assistant and rummages through to come up with a quart canteen of spring water for each of the trial participants.

xxxxxIrsa beams. All her hard work running around the caern in lupus, and using the parkour course on the Dead Mall's roof is about to pay off in spades. She thinks over difficulties they might encounter in the hunt and turns to Rhapsody. "Engling is gonna be challengin', but humans can be a pain when ya least expect it. I fit in down here, ain't many gonna mess with me. Ya stick out a bit, but if you got Persuasion you're gold. If all fails, just point to me and say 'I'm with her'." She doesn't sound like that's likely to happen, but surprises happen. Who knows why humans do the things they do sometimes? "What Gifts you got that you can use without drawin' trouble? I got Smell of Man, for any guard dogs an' shit." She perks up as Branton offers water. "Thanks. This is gonna be useful."

xxxxxRhapsody nodnods to Irsa, "Absolutely. Together, we can do this." She is glad for the canteen of water. "Thank you." She replies to Irsa, "Well, I got a cool thing called Breath of the Wyld. So I can give you a mental boost. But I can also sense wyld and weaver and chiminage. Can also heighten my own senses."

xxxxxWhile the Cliaths make sure they've got what they need and powwow over their relevant skills to make sure they're ready, Iris gets up from the blanket and looks around a bit, honing in on String. She's got her Familiar tracking the Engling she picked out so that she can easily find and point it out to the kids. She walks towards one of the roof's low walls and looks down, then waves at the gang and says, "Come over here, you can see the Engling crawling by." She points down at a merry looking mini-truck with a large, colorful ice cream cone attached to its roof. It's candy colored paint is scuffed but still looks nice. It's service window's shutter is rolled down while the truck is in motion, moving down the street, and it sings its siren song that each and every little kid in America knows, a circus-pop rendition of Pop Goes The Weasel that plays again and again and again in a maddening and never ending loop. Like seriously, how ice cream mens manage to do that job without going insane is beyond me. "Theeeeeere's your target! Take heed of its behavior: On this plane, it follows the laws of traffic, it wont drive on the sidewalk or through buildings or anything, but parking garages are fair game. It can cross the gauntlet at will to try and evade you, but if it does, it WILL return to this plane nearby, so just keep your eyes and ears open. In a pinch, it'll sucker the traffic lights into helping it out. Now, go get it!"

xxxxxIrsa fist bumps Rhapsody. "Solid. Flank this engling, for sure. Boxin' it in where it can't run? Hell yeah. Doing it where humans can't see? Dope." That plan lasts for all of two seconds, right up to the part where Iris gleefully points out their target below. "Holy shit. Check it out, if we pull this off we'll have paletas for weeks. I got dibs on th' mango."

xxxxxRhapsody returns that fist bump to Irsa. "Ooooo, chocolate for me! Or Strawberry... Ack, cannot decide! Let's get at this!!!" There is a question on how big fast this thing will go, but they can do this! "We got this, team theurge all the way!"

xxxxxWhile the challengers make their way down from the roof, Mercy returns to the blanket and Branton. She sets a count down timer on her phone while telling her mate, "Okay, close your eyes and take long, even breaths. Focus on Irsa and Rhapsody. See them in your mind, and let your eyes follow." The rite of the sparrow is pretty simple, and within a minute or three, Mercy slips into a trance where she can watch the pair through any water source near them so long as there is at least one little drop of water out in the open. Not too difficult in the city, where it's been hot and people are more than eager to use water. Fountains, window washing, plant watering, drinking stations, someone's glass of ice water, doesn't matter. If it's within sight of the pair, they can watch over them.

xxxxxNow then! Down on the street level, the truck is a little harder to see because of people, traffic, light poles and whatever other shit decides to get in the way, but you cant miss that big fluffy ice cream cone on its roof, or that friggin song it plays. down at the far end of the block, it's JUST now turning the corner and sliding out of view. The interior of its cab is shadowy and indistinct for the brief second it's still in view.

xxxxxBranton does as his mate instructs and also tends to the sparrows, making sure they are settled with some appropriate food and water sources in their little cage.

xxxxxIrsa pats down her pockets real fast as Mercy speaks to the sparrows. "How much money ya got, Rhapsody? Gonna need it to make th' truck raid Veil safe." She's already in motion, heading right for the fire escape that leads down to the ground. Too bad a tenant chooses that moment to extend their close line across the alley. Irsa flails right into it, sputtering as she fights off someone's work shirt. She manages to struggle free of the working class menace and get down to the ground safely, but alas! Too slow.

xxxxxRhapsody checks really quick. "Umm... I got maybe $60 on me now? I can get more if needed." She does not always carry cash much on her. As Irsa heads to one fire escape, she spots one on the other side and she ZOOOOMS down it. No one fucking around with nothing, and she nearly SLLLLLIIIIIDDDEESS down some parts of it and runs around the building in the direction of the truck.

xxxxxo/~ All around the mulberry bush, the monkeys chase the Engling. The Gnawer stopped to pull up her sock, POP! goes the weasel! o/~
xxxxxWith Rhapsody getting down to the ground first, she's got the best view of which direction the materialized spirit went. The music is still audible, but it bounces around the building walls and makes direction a little tough with that alone. Still on track! And on shit, through a couple apartment windows can be heard, "MOM! MOM! I NEED A DOLLAR!!" The Garou aren't the only ones that can hear this thing!

xxxxxIrsa curses under her breath as she reaches the street. She spots Rhapsody way down the street ahead of her and calls, " Quick! Miguel wants a ton of ice cream, where's the truck?" She pours on the speed, trying to catch up to the Fury. As she runs she yells at the top of her voice, "ICEEEEEE CRREAAAAAAM!!" What a crafty bitch. If there were any neighborhood kids that weren't aware of the truck before, they are now. Take that human obstacle course, Engling! She yells again in Spanish: paletas are at hand!

xxxxxRhapsody is running and running, and gets a tad distracted by the yelling going on. She joins in with it, "I-scream! U-scream! We all scream for ICE CREAM!!!" Getting the word out is a great idea. But the sounds are whipping around there with the music it is hard to know for sure if it is turning or not, but she has a glimpse of it! "Come one! We need sugar!!!"

xxxxxUp on the rooftop, Mercy snickers quietly to herself at the clever use of the environment's denizens.

xxxxxDown on the street, the Engling is, of course, alerted to the fact that it's being hunted from the wisping sounds of 'ice cream! ice creeeeeeeam!' from both Garou and kids being alerted to its presence. URP! URP! UUURP! squeal its tires as it comes out of its sedate cruise and picks up speed, deftly jockying a new position in the street traffic, switching lanes and preparing to turn and try to lose them! ZIP! The truck manages to catch a green light that stays green juuuuuust a little bit longer than it should, and flies around a corner.

xxxxxIrsa zoooooms down the street, picking up the pace to avoid kids beginning to pour out of buildings. She's got no breath for yelling right now, things just got super serious. As she closes with Rhapsody she calls, "You see any traffic cones? Grab 'em!"

xxxxxRhapsody arghs as the truck turns the corner up ahead. "It's getting away!" She has her eyes trained for traffic cones, but so far sees none. "If only there was construction nearby! That'd be too easy I'm sure." She's just running, and running, avoiding people, and trying not to trip up on a crack in the sidewalk or something.

xxxxxAs the Theurge pair tearass down the street and round the corner... oh no, son of a bitch! There's THREE ice cream trucks on this street, and they all look suspiciously similar! Roof mounted ice cream cones, candy colored paint jobs, and that SAME mother fucking song all playing at the same time, but in different parts of the song, leading to a discordant ice pick in the ear sounding mess of melody. One is about to turn left, one about to turn right, and one about to go straight ahead. There's a few small packs of kids that are also searching, and running down the street. You ever notice how those god damned trucks always make you train for the Olympic track team just to get some sugar?
xxxxxRhapsody and Irsa can see for a FACT, that the truck going straight down the road has a brown arm sticking out the driver's side, waving to a car to get it to pass so that the truck can merge safely over into that lane for a turn farther down. The truck turning right is a little harder to see, but as it passes a white washed building, plain as day in there is a very rotund dude just absolutely rocking the fuck out to music on his air pods, drumming on his steering wheel and having a great time. ONLY Irsa is able to notice in time that the truck turning left has a very dark, very shadowy interior where no driver can be seen at all. Which is weird because there should be something to see what with it being broad daylight and the truck having a windshield and windows and stuff. That probably stands out as super strange.
xxxxxThe environment! Getting down to that corner, you've got a bodega with a bunch of fruit stalls outside, and a guy hosing a terrible mess of splatted fruit off the sidewalk in front of his shop. Traffic is light, and in terms of traffic cones, all you've got is a single PG&E truck parked at the curb with the tech up in the bird basket working on something near the power lines. The truck itself has a stack of road cones on a holder in back, they are not locked up or anything like that. There's a single traffic cop writing out a ticket on a car that's parked too far away from a curb, and a few gaggles of kids upsetting traffic by ignoring cross walks, trying to get themselves flattened by running after trucks.

xxxxx"Left!" Irsa calls, pointing in the direction the Engling truck took. She pours on more speed, but is totally thwarted by bodega dude and his fruit carnage. She manages a controlled skid to avoid crashing into the merchandise, but she loses the lead entirely. At least there's handy traffic cones to snatch up! She nabs a couple as she skids past the PG&E truck, tucking them under her sweater. She could be pregnant, you don't know!

xxxxxRhapsody is not quite sure which way that it went. But hearing Irsa call out, she's able to adjust in time and get out of the way of any fruit carnage herself. She makes a good jump to the left, and then as they pass the truck, she too grabs a couple of traffic cones, and wraps her jacket around it. It looks weird as fuck, but it is California? At least they are not in San Dimas.

xxxxxThere's a riot of Spanish cursing and yelling at Irsa when she has to mambo her way around Bodega Guy, tracking burst watermelon and seeds around, but he doesn't spray her or anything. Pretty sure that's how people get shot, you know? "HEY!" yells the PG&E guy when his cones are stolen by these two crazy women, but there's literally nothing he can do about it, but the time he lowers down there, the thief will be long gone. Besides, it's not like they're his property or anything, so... fuck 'em. Irsa definitely gets some wtf looks, but like no one wants get judgy about a woman's right to carry her weird triangular spawn to term.

xxxxxUUURP! squeal the Engling's tires as it realizes it's been found again, AND they're *really* catching up to it. Blast! It peels hard to the right, causing a honk storm when it cuts off someone in traffic to drive down a service alley between buildings. For those who are city minded, it will NOT be able to turn until it gets to the far end of the block, OR it will be forced to back up, there's no other available option for it when it's in an alley. This leaves a street of moving traffic between it and the Garou. So, how will our heroes handle this situation? Work them tactics!

xxxxx"I'm cutting it off!" Irsa shouts at Rhapsody. "Cover the alley in case it backs up!" She dives into the Subway, vaults over the counter, and nearly knocks over the cursing manager as she bolts out the back door. Once she's ahead of the Engling, she throws those traffic cones down in front of herself as she turns to face it. Rules of the road, baby!

xxxxxRhapsody yells back to Irsa, "Got it!" She heads to the alley and throws the cones down there to block that exit, heading then straight down the allery toward the truck. Maybe she'll catch up! Maybe not! But there so goes at high speed!

xxxxxSammich eatin' patrons shout with confusion and there's even a frightened scream as Irsa burst in and straight launches over the counter. The kid working the register nearly shits himself and everyone in there is like 'oh shit, we're about to get robbed!', except that Irsa doesn't sock anyone in the jaw, pull a gun, or even glance at the register. The manager yells in fear and anger as he gets nearly bowled over, but stopping robbers is NOT his job, he runs to the front to see if everyone's okay, and around that time they all realize there's not a serious problem. Just... a lot of what the fuuuuuuck? Like he doesn't even know if he should call the cops on this weird lady that's pregnant with a cone-baby.
xxxxxSome people on the sidewalk give Rhapsody just as much of a wtf? look as she starts dropping her few cones, like, 'is this an official thing? what's she doing?', this could be a legit thing, or maybe just some weirdo working her tiktok bullshit, they dunno, so they leave her cones alone and watch her sprint down the alley but... this isn't interesting enough to follow up on, screw it.
xxxxxNow, the TRUCK, it's pretty surprised, it was fine with Rhapsody chasing it, picking up speed, but then BOOM! Gnawer in front of it, what the hell? It screeches to a stop between the Garou, and revs its engine tauntingly. Vroom. Vroom. Come get me, punk! There's a slight sparkling quality as it leans on its best trick, de-materializing! You have one round to capture it, or you'll have to chase it down again! What's your plan?

xxxxxIrsa dashes up to the Engling, leaping onto the running board before it can peel out. She curls a hand around the edge of the door frame as she opens the cab door, just in case the spirit decides to make a break for it. ~ You have run a great race, and we honor you for your noble sacrifice in the heel of the Hunt, ~ she says in the Spirit Speech. ~ We honor your cunning and bravery, and will sing of this hunt for many moons. Go with Gaia, and take our songs of praise with you. ~ She rears her fists back for the deathblow: she wants this to be quick and clean, as painless as possible for the spirit.

xxxxxRhapsody uses this moment to run at TOP SPEED and launch herself toward the back of the truck. She lands just next to it, and is able to open the back door and jump inside. "ICE CREAM!" Once inside she hears Irsa and adds, "It was an honorable race. But now it ends. We will tell all about what you did and how you sure ran a great race in this Hunt."

xxxxxThe cab of the ice cream truck is mysteriously... empty. Like, REALLY empty. There's nothing in there except a single driver's seat, a steering wheel, and that is all. No dashboard gauges, no levers or radio or foot mats or pedals, nothing like that, and only the most vague, shadowy impression of a driver. Just the *suggestion* that someone's been driving it. Really it's just the truck that's been driving itself.
xxxxxIn the back of the truck, there is also next to nothing. It's clean, dark, but devoid of anything at all except a single chest freezer, presumably it's packed with delicious cones, choco-tacos, and freeze pops, but who knows until it's opened.
xxxxxJust then, RIGHT as Irsa's about to punch this things lights out (haha!) there's a BWIP BWIP! HOOOOONK! that echoes menacingly down the alley, followed by "Hey! Hey you! Stop right there! Put your hands up!" It's the traffic cop from a few blocks back in her itty bitty enclosed traffic scooter. It's essentially that teeny tiny black woman from Police Academy, just a delicate and meek looking little thing with THE most commanding voice. From her perspective, two hoodlums are trying to rob an ice cream truck and beat up the driver! One big gal hanging on to the open cab door, the other just now inside the back.
xxxxxNow for the truck, it stopped its attempt to de-materialize, swayed by Irsa's own commanding tone and knowing yes, the chase is done, and I have fulfilled my purpose. But then the traffic cop showed up and it just sort of, '...vroom?'s at Irsa.

xxxxxIrsa curses under her breath. ~ A little help here! ~ she hisses to invisible lurking birb things. ~ We need this cop outta here, go cause some serious distraction. ~ She calls out to the cop, "Dude is gone! He ran into the street, he was drivin' crazy an' shit!"

xxxxxRhapsody is quickly searching the back part of the truck, looking into that freezer, and letting Irsa begin to deal with the cop. What can she find? She's look around, hoping to find SOMETHING - ANYTHING! ~ Friends! Sparrow! Help me find something here to convince this cop to leave! ~

xxxxxUp on her rooftop, Mercy moves as if sleepwalking, opening her eyes while remaining in her trance, she turns to the cage of Sparrows and opens the door. With a boing and a flutter, one manages to slip out before the door is shut again, trapping the other sparrow inside. As the sparrow is freed, it's compelled to grab something, and it ends up grabbing string in its tiny talons. It straight up spirit-naps Mercy's own Familiar and flies away with it, compelled for reasons it doesn't understand straight towards the alley where the Garou are.

xxxxxThe traffic cop parks her little scooter and gets out, stalking towards the pair with one hand READY to draw her service pistol, but not actually touching it yet. She's so, so tiny compared to Irsa, but she glares and speaks as though she were ten feet tall. And that rage? She doesn't even seem to notice! This is one VERY willful human. In her small, sweet, yet angry abuela levels of voice tone, she argues right back. "I SAW you about to punch that driver! Don't you liiiiie to me you bad girl!" While yelling and about to do some badass arresting, a little sparrow lands on the roof of her scootscoot, stays a moment, then flies off, freed of the rite's bonds.
xxxxxAs the cop is about to open her mouth and start talking about putting hands behind heads and getting down on one's knees, her scooter begins yelling, "It's triiiiiickyyyyyy to rock a rhyme, to rock a rhyme, that's right on time, it's tricky! Tricky! Tricky tricky tricky tricky!" Her scooter begins to scoot, jerking forward and back before switching to some other channel and yelling about some product. It bursts into a Mexican ballad, and then to Snoop Dogg, all the while twitching out and moving backwards like someone was sitting on its remote control and had no idea. It just straight backs its way out of the alley and right into traffic where it gets punted by a U-Haul. "WHAT?!" The cop runs that direction, completely forgetting about the Garou for JUST a minute. That shit was weird, dawg.

---

xxxxxxxxxxA link to what this was like: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyeIeBriZwY

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xxxxxIrsa wastes no time! She's in the back in an instant, tag-teaming with Rhapsody to put this Engling down quickly before the cop returns. She slaps the shit out of the fridge, hopefully popping open the freezer to expose those tasty treats for Rhapsody. Look at all those paletas and chocotacos. Fuck you, World of Darkness, they still exist!

xxxxxRhapsody was checking all the other parts and pulls open the other door of the freezer (assuming it splits like some do) and discovers the mother load of eskimo pies and neopolitan ice cream sandwiches. "Oh gaia, we're going to have brain freeze." She kicks and stomps and then starts pulling out a few treats. YUMMY GNOSIS! OOOO BRAIN FREEZE!!!!

xxxxxIt's not a true world of darkness if you don't have some choco tacos! None of these items have brand names on them, or any writing at all, but they do have colorful wrappers, so that's cool! There's enough in there to load up pockets and pack still need to use your shirt as a hammock to carry the last few. A fat Engling like this would settle a proper pack's gnosis tab after a fight, that's for sure. And yes, brain freeze is one hundred percent a thing that's gonna happen, cause you cant waste it! And Mercy SAID you have to eat it all, cause she KNEW there'd be brain freeze. Basically your guys's mentor is a dick, and is definitely gonna laugh at your pain. As the truck is looted of its delicious guts, it begins to de-materialize again, but rather than phasing towards the umbra for escape, it's just breaking down into nothing, its truck shaped form peacing out of reality like a piece of paper smoldering quickly down to ash.

xxxxxMeanwhile! The tiny cop has chased her scooter out to the street and is in the middle of screaming about THAT infuriating turn of events, just absolutely getting IN to it with the driver of the U-Haul, a guy moving here from Washington state for work that's running on pure coffee fumes and a desire to never, NEVER take another road trip with his family EVER AGAIN. They're both arguing very loudly about exactly whose fault this is while a chorus of honks and 'move your aaaaaass!' come from behind the moving van.

xxxxxIrsa clutches her head, gritting her teeth together as she stuffs packs of frost gnostic goodies into her backpack, her pockets, into her shirt, everywhere. Brainfreeze is the absolute worst. "Time t' get the fuck outta Dodge. Haul ass!" She goes the exact opposite way of all the chaos, dodging down side-streets and alleyways in case of pursuit.

xxxxxRhapsody stuffs with the best of them, clearing it out into pockets, back pack, and is that one down her bra? That's not going to end well! "Got the last one! Let's go!!!" She throws open the back door and jumps out. "Let's go!!!" Time to run back to the rooftop - assuming they can find their way and not run into any subwayers or fruit stands.

xxxxxIrsa would be a terrible Bonegnawer if she got lost in the Harbor area, like, the absolute WORST. She points out the best direction to go, until the two once again find themselves back on the roof where all the madness started.

xxxxxOn the way back to the apartment building, the other icecream trucks are seen in a couple different places. But they're being totally normal and not running from people that want some. Actually, they're doing pretty good business with mobs of kids, some teenagers and some adults all buying them some sugary goodness. The weather gets the people out there, but some of this success is due to the loud announcements from the beginning of this chase, word spreading before the music could even be heard the same way Galliard Gnawers can get a whole hugeass wave of dogs barking to get a message sent.

xxxxxAs the two are cresting the roof via fire escape, Iris is coming out of her trance and Branton is helpfully releasing the last sparrow and freeing it of its mystic bonds. She stops the timer on her phone with plenty of time to spare left over. "Nicely done! Come here, give me big hug my amazing Fostern Theurges!" She is just BEAMING with pride at the pair.

xxxxxRhapsody rushes up to Iris to give her a big hug - dropping her bag but forgetting that ice cream sandwich that landed in her bra. SQUISH!!! "EEP! That is cold! And sticky!!

xxxxxIrsa lets out a breath as her brain-freeze starts to subside. She's quick to hand over those delicious Gnosis treats before they...melt? Vanish? However that works. Her scarred mouth cracks into a grin at Mercy's words, and she squeezes Rhapsody in a fierce hug as her soon-to-be-packmate tackles her. "Hell yeah! Bad-ass bitches of th' world, unite!"

xxxxxMercy hugs Rhapsody, but she's so distracted that she doesn't manage to let slip her healing mojo of the soul. Oh well, hug again in a minute, right? So she goes to hug Irsa instead, but rather than instilling some love and healing, she just straight up headbutts the woman right in the fuckin face on accident. "OOOOOOOOOOwshitshit I'm so sorry! Ohmuhgah what the hell?" Worst aim ever!

xxxxxIrsa loses one Health

xxxxxRhapsody starts peeling off the ice cream smooshed to her and eating it before it gets worse. "So much ice cream. WE got to eat!" She then realizes they were called Fostern and she cheers! "Yeah! Theurge sisters rock!"

xxxxxThere's a loud 'crack' as Irsa's head collides with Mercy's. The Bonegnawer's eyes cross as she falls on her ass, completely looped. It's ironically a flashback to her knocked-out dire wolf state at the caern weeks ago, now immortalized on Pink's banner. Huzzah!

xxxxx"Ow." Mercy complains again, and snags one of the ice creams to put against her foreh-... Against IRSA'S forehead, that is. Poor thing! Maybe if they were Get that would be a totally appropriate congratulations, but this isn't how this should go! So she tries to ice the poor girl's head with frozen gnosis and give her ANOTHER hug, god damn it! This time, with FEELING! And less mauling.

xxxxxIrsa shakes it off, eyes uncrossing as more cold, frozen things assault her. "Damn, ya got a hard head," she remarks. She 'oofs' as she's hugged. "We made it? Hell yeah!"

xxxxxRhapsody eats more of the ice cream she took, and then holds her temple while pushing her tongue up to the roof of her mouth. Brain freeze! "Ugh..mmmmy heeeaaadthth" Then she jumps up and down in excitement and then touches her head again.

xxxxx"Yes you did." Mercy says with a grin, and takes one of the ice creams to eat herself. She could use a little mojo! "You did exactly what you were supposed to do, you followed the rules that were set, and you made it back here with time to spare. It was a little touch and go in places! But I like how you both handled yourselves on the run, no one got hit by any cars, and you communicated very well to accomplish your goals. And you made it back here in one piece as well! How do you two feel you did with all of this? What'd you learn from the experience?"

xxxxxIrsa stumbles to her feet, swaying as her wits return. "Now that's what I call a great challenge. It was totally wild, made us think on our feet, an' pushed us in ways we wouldn't have been in other forms. How long ya been workin' on this one, Mercy's Messenger'rhya?" She thinks a bit, scratching her jaw as she thinks. "We got teamwork nailed down pat. I think I learned I can lead way better than th' last time I needed t' do that. I think we did real, real well. Th' Engling died clean, an' we honored its passing. Now we just need to tell th' tale, and sing its praises."

xxxxxRhapsody pffts as she comes out of the current brain freeze. "Oh yeah, I've never run so much at a single time in my life I think. Except the time that turkey spirit... well that is a story for another day and I do not tell stories that well." She laughs a bit. "Yes, absolutely we will honor it. Isn't there some rite ... I know the name... prayer... prey..I'm not sure I have not learned it yet and it keeps slipping my mind." She nodnods, "You did awesome leading, sister. Really and truly."

xxxxx"A little while," Mercy answers Irsa a bit vaguely, "I had to find the right one, you know, one that'd really pique the interest, be amusing and yet show the amazing reason to go after these things even if it looks weird. I'll admit though, this was not a wholely original idea on my part, I actually saw this in action once by a group of what I'm *pretty* sure were Ratkin." She also nods to Rhapsody, "Yes, I'll teach you the prayer rites some time if you want, Hunting Prayer and Prayer for the Prey. You'll want to learn Appease the Prey Spirit though, if you're going to live and work in the city, it's more appropriate to urban spirits."

xxxxxIrsa smiles and cracks her knuckles. "Ya stuck to that spirit like glue, Rhapsody. That was amazin' watching ya run. I love how you just FLEW through that back door when th' cop showed up." She listens to Mercy and grins. "that makes th' challenge even better. Can ya teach us both?" she asks. "Rhapsody's get a better head for Rites than me 'cause of her trainin', but I'll definitely need it for Bonegnawer moots an' hunts."

xxxxxRhapsody shrugs, "Just having fun with learning. But we'll teach each other some fun stuff, I'm sure." She eagerly nods to Iris, "It would be my honor to learn all of those. Anything you feel we should know." She puts her hand in her pocket and finds a half melted ice cream! Oh no, another one! Time to eat another - she certainly has chocolate smudged on her lips now for sure.

xxxxxIris gives each of the ladies a super pleased, super fond squeeze on the arm, one at a time. "Okay, cram a bit more in your face, and I'm just gonna devour ONE more, if you don't mind? And we'll take the rest to the Colony if you want. They wont last very long, but if anyone needs any Gnosis there, then you've brought home the kill, as it were."

xxxxxIrsa shoves her hands into her pockets. "All that's left now is makin' our victory howls at th' sept, then decidin' who's gonna lead th' pack, an' who's gonna be our main theurge. It's too much work for one person t' do both. The others ain't Fostern, so that's you an' me. I dunno about you, but I'd rather settle it based on what's best, an' not who can beat someone up. We ain't ahroun."

xxxxxRhapsody agrees with Irsa. "We're going to do more in the city. While I am familiar with it, I'm not as familiar as you are. I really think you should claim it. But we are Garou. So I suggest you claim it." She looks to Iris, "That can work that way, right?" She has not been in a pack before though. "Before our spirit quest for Fog, I will need to pay respects to Black Unicorn first. Get his blessing."

xxxxxIris says nothing to influence the new Fosterns' pack decisions or formation details, just sitting back and watching with a smile, remembering what it was like to be them a million years ago. "Oh, yeah sure. You'd don't have to arm wrestle about it or anything. Just go with your hearts." She looks to Rhapsody and says, "I'd offer to summon your totem for you, but it may be better if a Child of Gaia does it, seeing as it's an aspect of their totem. Do you want to try and touch base with the Den Father for that? If plans with someone from that tribe fall though, I'm available."

xxxxxIrsa grins. "Never thought I'd be leadin' a pack one day, but here we are. I think it's a good call. You're a real strong theurge, an' you got resources I don't. Th' spirits like ya, too. Can't wait until we get settled into our territory an' get th' Rite done. This is gonna a lotta hard work, but it'll be a blast." She devours one more gnostic chocotaco and starts packing the rest up. "Th' Denfather's gonna be busy as hell with all th' punishment teachings, I think. I'll leave that between ya two."

xxxxxRhapsody looks very happy. "I'll go see the DenFather. Maybe this will be nice change for him." Last ice cream is gone and she's ready to go. "Time to howl!"