2017.11.05:AcaciasStory
| Acacia's Story | |
|---|---|
| A trip down memory lane leads to a dark place | |
| IC Date | November 5th, 2017 |
| IC Time | Evening |
| Players | Acacia, Billy, Branton, Dragomir, Jake, Journey |
| Location | Urban territory in San Francisco |
| Prp/Tp | Acacia's background |
| Spheres | Gaian Garou |
| Theme Song | "The Girl That's Never Been" [1] |
So Drago goes knock knock and Jake answers the door, LITERALLY as they're getting ready to leave. Jake informs Dragomir, "We're going to San Francisco." And then a moonbridge opens up and Drago is wrangled along through it. They come out in some dark, rundown building in a crummy part of town. Acacia's got a rock and she's drawing on the wall in rough sketches for Journey, who has a light of some sort. They look like roughly drawn schematics for.. something. Acacia is no artiste! "So if you go THAT way, you're going to run into the outer guard who may or may not be in on the thing, but if you go under here, I think.. I THINK that you can squeeze through and immobilize this guy - probably Tiny Tim - and then get right in to see him. It's Might Makes Right. You have to fight your way into his chambers to see him."
Journey watches the Bridge opening, and blinks as three rather than the expected two come out, "Hey look I got a free Silver Fang. Hello Dragomir, welcome to San Francisco." He looks to Acacia, "We're sure that there's no one else that can be trusted that can be contacted, they're not going to be trying to not hurt us.
Billy ambles along and out of the bridge tunnel in Lupus, all his fur on one side still slightly flattened from when he was sleeping earlier. He's still got that 'I was fast asleep a minute ago' look to him, but he's otherwise alert, if just slightly loopy. When they arrive, he trots over to wham his forehead into Journey's hip and step all over Acacia's feet. With love.
Jake steps out of the Moonbridge, expression quite serious. "Yeah, three for the price of two. Dragomir showed up just as we were leaving and wanted to help out." He offers a fist bump to Journey then nods to Adacia. "It's good to see you again."
This morning, Dragomir put on his big-bad authority pants. Tipped his lead muckety-muck hat, and even ate two bowls of meaty-wheaties to prepare for what he was going to have to do. Shake down an Elder Ahroun for some information. He made his way across the expanse of self-doubt that it would take to TALK to an Ahroun during a full moon and despite all the near-death ideas that flooded through his mind at the notion, he knocked on that door anyway. He was going to be BOLD, live to his rite name, look this storm in the face ohh, hi? What?.. San Fran?.. but?. Now standing on the other side of a Moon bridge, "That was.. unexpected." Is the best the Russian can come up with, while his insides reconfigure with his outsides, and he gets his definition of 'up' back in order. Though of course, Journey is casual as a cucumber sandwich and that is oddly comforting? The Silver Fang lifts up his hands and takes in a deep breath. "Yes.. of course Elders, whatever you need of me." Then he looks towards Jake and says, "After though, Defiant Storm'rhya, I have pressing business to discuss with you please." HA! You can't stop Justice!
Acacia stops talking as the bridge opens and she waits for people to get acclimated. She's still got the rock in her hand and it's pressed against the wall. Almost as if no one else had spoken, once the intros and greetings are done, Acacia shakes her head. "His mate. Andrea. But GOD she's a bleeding cunt. That's assuming she's still alive, of course. They live rough around here, no joke. Foreplay is probably Sense Wyrm for him."
Branton had brought over a kit bag of the rest of his magical item inventory to go over with jake to talk about what magic items he can contribute to the sept's activities so dude is loaded right now. The moonbridge was a new experience and he just kind of stood around blinking for a few moments. Quiet and out of the way as he slowly mouths 'what the fuck' and thinks about some of the shit he /saw/ on the moon path.
Billy stays sitting at attention beside Journey, maybe just a tad on the nervous side, but then we're talking about full moons and ahrouns and conspiracies, so he's got a pretty valid reason for that! <What do we do?> he wuffs quietly, momentarily distracted by leeeeeeeeaning to sniff at Branton and Dragomir.
Journey walks over to the light switch and listens to it, "Acacia, you wanna please bring them up to speed? Billy.. I want you to log into your Glawwwalker account.." He leans into the lightswitch, and starts humming and making zzt noises.
Spirit Speech <Manual input. Network access.. Shaderunner. Prepare message>
He's doing something weird.
Jake looks like he's ready for anything. All business. Social Jake stayed home and Warrior Jake has taken his place. It's an entirely different persona too. He's quiet, intense, and his eyes smoldering with intent to rip someone to shreds. Jake does give Dragomir a long look before simply nodding. His attention then rivets on Journey as he listens.
<UMBRA> Journey is talking to an electrical sprtie taking down the information. The thing is pulsing and communicating.
Dragomir listens for the moment - having not fully grasped why they are here, or probably more selfishly, why he is. Though of course, there's those he does not know - and protocol is protocol. "Dragomir Mihailovich, rited Eye of the Storm. Silver Fang Cliath born on two legs beneath the half moon. Alpha of Terminal Velocity." It's the quick version, especially for the chokingly pure bred Silver Fang, but when in Rome... and all that. All formalities aside, Drago is ready to bring balance.
"Acacia Evans, Bonegnawer kin. I uncovered a conspiracy. I caught a couple of higher ranked Garou hanging out with some Spirals, being groomed for the Dance. I fled. I only told one person and then William, the same guy that I saw in the little meeting came after me. He went for little Leeroy first, but I stepped between them to give Leeroy time to run and he stabbed my eye out and left me for dead. The next thing I remember, I'm in Prospect, strapped to a bed, screaming my head off about seeing ghosts. Six months or so later, they let me out when my medicaid ran out. No memory of anything, just little flashes. Today, my clumsy ass tripped down the stairs at Smoke and Barley and rattled my brains around and I remembered. Journey brought me here and I almost walked into a trap, but Journey and I spotted it at the same time and now.. here we are."
Billy returns the introduction in a series of wuffs and snorfles, >I am Billy Bojangles, rited Very Good Boy of the Glasswalkers. I am Lupus Philodox, and Adren in rank!< He does the whole thing with a thumping tail and his tongue lolling out half the time. Pfft, pride, who needs it when you're such a good boy. Who's a good boy?! I am! I'm a good boy! Maybe it's a little sad when wolves end up with that whole semi domesticated demeanor, but hey, he seems pretty happy all around. He shifts to homid then, because thumbs are awesome, and whips out his handy dandy phone or whatever the hell he has in order to get into Glasswalker data. While tapping away, he tisks quietly and sighs as the tale comes out, "Good wolves falling to Communism and evil. Man... Not okay."
Branton hears the introductions start up and lets protocol trigger decide what to do "Branton Kholer, Black Fury kin." He sets down his duffel and looks around at the garou "Should I get the rest of this on? Some of it is a little obvious in the 'prepared to stab and burn shit' department."
It doesn't look like Jake wishes to speak but he gives a brief intro nevertheless. "Jake Miller, Elder Ahroun Lord. Rited Defiant-Storm." Short and to the point. He seems content with that for now. Journey and Acacia get his full attention again. "Did I hear right? We're dealing with a Grand Elder?"
Acacia shakes her head. "The GE is the only one who is above suspicion. He's the good guy in this tale." Acacia, for being a kin, sure does seem ballsy. She isn't making eye contact, but she's pretty fucking far from being shy and retiring. And for those who know her, she's even MORE SO than usual. She's in her element. She glances down at her outfit and sighs. "And in a skirt - again."
Journey shakes his head, "As soon as Billy makes contact, Acacia will get to talk to him. there's a slight chance they'll track the signal and try to stop it, but the thing is, conspiracys.. they rely on handling things quietly." He looks around the suddenly full room. "We don't go quietly. Their ambush failed, and we've got important things to uncover. Dragomir, Branton, you're at Acacias side, her personal safety is your charge. Billy, stay online, try to get Acacia on with this guy when he contacts, and Jake, you and I are first response to any attack." He nods to Jake, "Something rotting his people, quietly enough he might not know it, Acacia's gonna blow that open and we're making sure she's heard."
Dragomir turns to look towards Branton and gestures towards Acacia, "Acacia, Bone Gnawer kinfolk has possibly identified Warriors of Gaia who have willingly begun or completed the journey to the Malfeas Spiral, as I described to you of how the White Howlers fell. If this is true, they have betrayed their own, their vow to Gaia and joined with the Wyrm - our greatest enemy. The Litany is clear here. We Combat the Wyrm Wherever It Dwells and Wherever It Breeds." Obviously the Silver Fang isn't interested in debating that topic. At Journey's instruction he nods solemnly and physically steps to Acacia's side, "I will die before harm comes to her." Guy is like a living embodiment of a comic book character sometimes.
Billy types really fuckin well for a guy that chases his own tail when he gets bored. Tappidy tappidy tap tap! After a moment, he spins the laptop around towards Acacia and says, "It wants to talk to you, Sir. ...Do you want my pants?" he offers the lady. Like a fuckin gentleman.
Branton nods in understanding as he crouches down to reach into the duffle he brought and pushes aside the sword belt (and other things) and grabs out a gold necklace with a diamond pendant that's been cut into the shape of a hoplite's shield. He puts that on and tucks it into his shirt, the armor he's wearing underneath it is visible briefly but otherwise hidden "Alright, I've got a concealable kit for now."
Acacia nods to Dragomir. Her cheeks are flushed, she has blood drying in her hair from earlier, and there's a little smudge of dirt on her face, but she's otherwise just cool as a cucumber. "I appreciate that. If we'd gone to storage FIRST, I'd have some weapons for ya'll. Sorry." When the laptop is handed over, she shakes her head. "No thank you, Billy. Wouldn't be the first op I carried out in a skirt." She takes all this in stride and she squats, knees together like a fucking lady, and types. Anyone who looks will see the following: Acacia M. Evans, Formerly of San Francisco, currently of Sept of Enduring Spirit in Prospect, CA. Here with Shaderunner, Elder SS, Defiant-Storm, Elder SL, Very Good Boy, Adren GW..." blah blah on down the line in rank. She lays out the story for the Grand Elder, typing quickly and fluently and she knows all the various lingo and she throws out names and everything else. She sends it and then there's silence on the other end while she waits
Journey motions Acacia over as he leans in to the Computer, looking with a squint, watching her typing and nods, looking about. "Yes, there's a small fucking armys worth of firepower here, and here's the story." He nods in approval. "So if things to screwy, we can act as needed."
Billy has a sixth form that no one ever knew about till just now, Desk Form! His own squat keeps the laptop steady on his thighs while Acacia types away, the lupus occasionally peering around the screen to see what's happening on there. Which isn't easy, upside down or from an angle, type's just messy looking.
Jake steps over to Journey's side and watches Acacia type. "We're set for weapons," he says quietly. "Not a problem. It will be interesting to see how receptive this Grand Elder is." He still hasn't smiled once since he arrived, nor does it look like he's going to in the near future. This is quite a contrast for Jake. One could even say he appears hostile. He's definitely pissed at something. Most probably the situation itself. Fuckin' Wyrm!
The screen eventually flashes text: I remember you. You were reported dead. The Bonegnawers raised a lot of hell when you went down. I need some verification.
Acacia sighs and closes her eyes, thinking back, typing up what everyone else is saying and thinks back.
'Your mate is Andrea. Your children are named Fen and Riley. Riley will change, but no one really knows that, beceause you want him to have a normal childhood. You even sent him to the kinschool over on Centerton. He isn't a great student, or he wasn't two years ago when I was around, and he got caught cheating and you pulled him out of the school because you were emb--"
The text is interrupted with a string of text: Alright. Enough, kin. Come to Mason and Broadway. Talk to--
Now it's HER turn to interrupt: No. No one but you. We need your HELP, GE. Until we know who's doing what, you're the only one we can trust.
Silence, then: Fine. You remember where my mate lives?
Acacia types back: Be there in 15.
Journey nods, looking around, "Okay we're moving. You know where?" He asks Acacia as he straightens and nods, preparing to move.
Billy closes down the connection and then closes up the laptop, putting it away in its spiffy padded bag and getting that slung back on. And then back down into lupus! It's more comfortable, and also he doesn't have to worry about slamming his pack into things. But, given that there's travel afoot, he also throws on his german shepherd disguise and waits next to his alpha.
Acacia nods, smoothing her skirt. "Yes. I'll get us a cab. I know which ones to avoid, which ones are kin-owned. There's a LOT of Gnawers around here. A lot." She takes a breath and looks around. "If you have means to fit in and look non-descript, do it. There's watchers everywhere, but unless it's changed a whole bunch, I can get us there without incident." She looks around and reaches down, almost idly, and scritches Billy. Comfort. She needs it.
Branton fidgets with his clothes and adjusts his expression, looking for all the world like he's just a dude on the way home from the gym.
<This was my home before prospect, back before we were shipped to 'Nam, and then when I got back.> Billy wuffs, <If we need a safe house or anything, I'm sure my old packmate Cooper would help us.>
Jake doesn't really look out of place at all, holding his duffel bag. Could have just stepped off the bus. He's a rather nondescript looking guy anyway. Tends to blend into a crowd.
Journey nods, "Get a full minivan or shuttle. any good Kin Taxi service should have vans" He nods, and keeps a lookout, frowning slightly as he focuses on looking around and remaining open to prospective attack. He smiles and pats Billys flank. He's already assimilated to the local culture, so he blends.
Tall, white and Russian - and not the kind you drink takes a moment to look around and considers. "Amongst the rats, I will doubtlessly be seen as one of Falcon's." Dragomir considers his options.
Acacia nods, pulling out her phone and she dials a number she hands it to Dragomir. "Doesn't matter. We'll be seen or we won't. That's how it is around here. When dude answers, tell him this: Despite all my rage, I'm still just a rat in a cage. Can't use my voice. There's recognition systems in play and yours won't trigger anything."
Dragomir handles the phone like it's a live grenade at first, though takes it all the same. A hesitant motion is made to bring it to his face, and he waits to hear an answer. Then when he does, he offers in a vein attempt at an American accent. "Despite.. all my rage. I am still just, a rat in a cage." The symbolism is enough to make his ancestors cringe, but its for the cause. A glance is given towards the others as he does this, and waits for a response.
"Andrea's place, is where we're going, when he asks," Acacia whispers to Drago
Journey offers Dragomir a shrug and looks about, letting this go on, focused outwardly right now.
Billy, meanwhile, chews on himself some while he hasn't got anything pressing to focus on. His fur tastes like bacon!
Dragomir nods, and continues with his really-needs-work American accent. "Andrea's place, is where we're going. Need a minivan, or a shuttle." Drago probably isn't going to lie anytime in his future, mostly because he'd suck at it.
Jake's attention is momentarily distracted by something in the air above them and he tenses for just a moment before relaxing some. He then mutters something under his breath about city trash spirits.
Quickly, plans are made with Acacia whispering in Drago's ear to tell him what to say. He DOES have to admit that he's a rat in a cage again, but then Acacia leads them off toward the side of the building, just all chillin' and ya know, totally not being suspicious at all. Acacia slides in in the middle, but she's actually dragging Drago along in front of her. Cliath, not from around here. No one will notice.
Journey moves out, looking over the vehicle for a moment and getting in, riding along, keeping an eye out, focusing on the outward signs of dangr, being followed, that kind of thing.
Fortunately, this isn't someone that Acacia seems to know. They're shuttled in a windowless van inside which someone has scrawled: Free Candy in pencil right above Drago's head. Poor guy. There's a window between the front and the back that assumes privacy, though Acacia spends several moments of silence staring at one little spot above that window and finally goes over and plucks at a little flap of material and then, using a knife in her boot, wedges out a little camera. "Can't fool someone with the Sight," she mutters, then takes a breath and sits down in the floor, tucking her skirt in between her legs to preserve at lesat some sort of modesty. "Okay. Andrea. She's a cunt. Pretty nasty in general. She probably won't recognize me. I doubt she ever ACTUALLY looked at me. Real pretty, real snooty. Makes a million bucks a year or so, so we're ALL beneath her, even the Garou. It won't be pleasant, but hopefully GE will be there before we will."
Jake's Danger Sense is on full throttle at the moment also and he rides in total silence, simply taking in the city and their surroundings. He does listen intently to Acacia though, his expression unreadable.
Billy has some... issues with the van. It's not that it's not comfortable or anything, it's just that he's a wolf, and Glasswalker or not, shit gets weird in a moving vehicle when you're four legged. He's not quite to 'dog in the back of a station wagon' bad, but he can't quite lay down or stand up. God damn it this is awkward! So he maintains a weird spread legged crouch type thing, stumbling a bit in places while looking out the window in front at all the pretty lights. He's paying attention of course, but... pretty.
Journey listens to Acacia, "Oh great, yeah." He says lightly, "Well at least this feels good so far." He says, sighing a little and waiting, concentrating on paying attention around him. situational awareness ya'll.
Dragomir, for all his homidness - looks about as comfortable as Billy does in the van. We could blame it on it being a Weaver contraption, or that he isn't sure what the stain on the seat is - whatever it is, the Silver Garou has his shoulders more tense than normal. Though perhaps a tribute to his rite name, he remains calm and nods his head in listening to the skirted gnawer'folk tell the story of Andrea. "Understood." he seems to have returned to his normal accent - thank God. Not quite Kevin Costner attempting a Bostonian accent bad - but pretty close.
Branton is only wary about being in the vehical because some of the garou are uncomfortable. And when giant furry death machines (even though sized down at the moment) are nervous he gets...watchful. For now though he nods at Acacia, making a mental note of something as he listens to her narrative "So my usual solve is probably off the table."
Acacia scoots over by Billy there on the floor and keeps a hand on him to keep him steady and maybe soothe him a little. Fortunately, it isn't a horribly long ride. It's only about ten minutes. Acacia keeps an eye on the path and she doesn't seem alarmed. "Probably not your usual MO, yeah." Not that she knows what that IS, of course, but still. They pull up to a huuuuuuuuge house in Pacific Heights and he rings the gate. The gate swings open and they're admitted and they pull up a long, winding drive that curves around out of sight of the road, behind some trees and they pull up to a stop. A man comes out. Six foot five, built like a truck, tattoos all over him, including his face. Leather jacket. He looks like he could probably eat the van as a light snack. The driver hops out and opens the door and slides right the fuck back into his seat and Acacia looks like she's totally willing to be first out. This is her mess, afterall. GE - That's General Electric. That's actually his Rite name - Rank 5, Glasswalker Theurge. Pretty typical history for a rank 5 theurge. Killed some bad guys, talked to a lot of spirits, performed a lot of rites, made a few mistakes that got him knocked down a time or two, but then he clawed his way up to the top of the sept and no one's been able to touch him for a decade or so.
And he does NOT LOOK HAPPY
Journey gets out with Acacia, looking at her and nodding her forward as he approaches, and moves a bit to the side, willing to let Acacia speak her peace for the timebeing.
Branton is staying near the back and out of the way, just random dude carrying something in a bag for the important people. Nope, nothing to see here.
Billy hops out because hooray, the van isn't moving any more! The german shepherd guise is maintained for now, although really he probably just forgot he had that on at all. When out of the van, he moves to sit down beside Journey again, all straight and proud like a war dog next to his handler, ready to go do some drills.
Dragomir will offer to Branton, "If it becomes time.. I'll let you know." like Branton was a roman candle or something, waiting to be cracked open. The Russian gets out with the others, taking a look at GE and once more realizes he's out of his league in this showdown. All the same, his mission is guarding the skirt - and he's not going to fail that. He moves with Acacia and stands beside her. If that means facing off with two tons of GWT love, hopefully Gaia planned this out well. Perhaps it's that he's feeling confident, or that Jake and Journey are here, but Dragomir looks pretty confident about the odds at the moment, despite the Elder's scowl face. He resists the urge to toss gang-signs, and truly embarace is Tribe.
Jake gets out after Journey, staying quiet and sizing up GE. It's still difficult to guess what's going on in his mind. The guy has an incredible poker face and appears amazingly nonchalant. He does offer a nod of the head in greeting though. He hasn't forgotten his manners. They're on someone else's property now so it's best to be polite. He remains standing next to Journey and Billy. The Three Caballeros!
Acacia slips out with Journey and with Branton and Drago at her side and she stands tall, but with her eyes cast down. She moves forward with confidence, not daring to waste his time after the inconvenience. As she approaches with her head down,once she's in arm's length, GE reaches out to snatch the kin girl by the hair and tips her head up. He's rough, but doesn't look like he ACTUALLY wants to hurt her and he stares into her eyes. "You don't look very dead to me." Acacia winces at the rough treatment, but doesn't protest. "No, Grand Elder. Literally today, I remembered all this." She motions toward Journey with one hand. "Shaderunner can vouch for me." Acacia is.. not exactly thrown aside, but released rather roughly and she stumbles a step and grabs onto Branton to keep from falling, righting herself. The man turns to Shaderunner. "Your words and deeds are spread far and wide, Shaderunner. You believe the words this kin says? You believe that she uncovered a plot of the Wyrm and was nearly killed for her efforts and she just remembered it today, conveniently?" There is the faintest crackle of electricity around him at all times, but it just sort of raises the hairs on the back of the neck and makes your undies tingle a little bit - not at all in the sexy way.
Journey nods, "Oh yes." He nods, "She managed to rather severely frcture her skull faling down some stairs, and the combined shock managed to reset her memory. The rest of it was point blank proven when we almost stepped into a trap our Network approved contact provided for us after learning she was alive. It's likely mobilizing right now, trying to find us, not knowing that I brought the whole class on the field trip."
Branton is keeping his lips zipped and remaining observant of his surroundings, watching to see who else is watching them.
Billy does pretty much the same as Branton, sitting still and being quiet like a good boy. Branton and Billy are good boys! YES THEY ARE!
Dragomir does what you'd expect a Silver Fang to do, when surrounded by a bunch of powerful Elders that could whoop him in seconds. He rolls his shoulders back, and crosses his tattooed arms over his chest. His chin lifts slightly as he stands beside Acacia. Like he's setting up shop, and ready to open business. Dial-a-Litany-Lesson.com.
Jake's gaze drifts around the area slowly, as if checking for anything out of the ordinary. Again, he seems satisfied and returns his attention back to GE.
GE nods to Journey and then looks at Acacia, who's rubbing the back of her head. "Alright. Inside then. My mate isn't home." Acacia looks relieved. "Thank Gaia," she whispers, and GE eyeballs her, but lets it slide. "Alright. Then come on to my office." The place is rigged with various gadgets and doodads and there's probably more than just a few fetishes.. and there's a cardboard box with duct tape around it and a couple of wires hanging out tucked into a corner. Those who have been to the Mall know that's Acacia's work. Acacia spots it and she nudges Branton lightly, pointing that way and then back to GE. "I'm honored that my work is in your home, General Electric-rhya. The generator. That was one of my first." GE stops and turns and looks Acacia over thoroughly, then snorts. "You were just a little kid back then. It's good stuff. Hasn't failed me." And HE relaxes a little bit. He does know this girl and she just identified herself positively, without a doubt in his mind. "Tell me again what you saw, what you remember." Acacia takes a breath and relays the story once again in as much detail as she can manage, adding that 'It wasn't JUST William. It was Broken Paw too. And Bent Tooth. Wyrmfucker was outside, smoking with Jugs of Gaia." Her face goes a little pale again as these memories flood in and she takes a breath. "That is, if I remember--" GE erupts, spinning and grabbing Acacia by the hair once again with lightning fast speed and all but hauls her up from the ground. Only her toes touch. "THAT IS MY ENTIRE ELDER COUNCIL!" Acacia just closes her eyes, reaching up to grab his arm - not to pull it away, just to take a little pressure off her hair. "Yes, Grand Elder," she says, with a confidence that she does not at all feel.
Dragomir has waited, but it's time to lay down. He did wear his big-boy pants today after all, even if he planned on using them on Jake - TWO full helpings of meaty-wheaties WERE consumed. "I am Dragomir Mihailovich, rited Eye of the Storm. Cliath born on two legs beneath the half moon, Silver Fang of Clan Crescent Moon. Son of Nicholas Mihailovich, son of Michael Mihailovich - rited Frozen Night, son of Nicholas Mikhailovich II, son of Michael Mikhailovich - rited Falcon's Beak, son of Nicholas Mikhailovich - rited The Frozen Death, son of Michael Nocolavich, son of Nicholas I, rited Zheleznaya Gora."
"Acacia Evans, kinfolk of Bone Gnawer has spoken the truth, General Electric'rhya. Put her down. The Wyrm does not wait for you to cope with your pride." Yeah, that'll probably get him pummeled, but he did swear his life before harm would come to her.
Branton follows along listening and staying out of the way but he does jump a little when the stranger Elder grabs Acacia. Branton's eyes narrow just a touch as he looks, not at GE's face but at his hand, maybe there's hair on the back....
Journey watches and when GE spins and goes off on Acacia, he tilts his head. He takes a breath and Dragomir steps in to speak for Acacias behalf. "That's not good, but its worse to let it go, shit might be going down right now, do you have any points in town that they would move against?"
Jake also inhales softly as Dragomir attempts suici--...errr...to intercede. Nothing to say that hasn't been said already though. He waits to see what GE's response will be. Hopefully the guy is reasonable. If not...was nice knowing ya, Drago!
GE holds onto Acacia and when Drago speaks, GE lifts her up just a little bit more and then lets her go. She stumbles again, but doesn't say more, holding onto Branton and she pats his hand as if to soothe him. She does move just a little behind Drago, though, just a little bit. Not hiding, just creating some distance. It's a big moon. GE takes a few breaths and he nods. "There's a park. It's our caern. We've managed to conceal it for years." He rubs his hand over his bald head and takes a few breaths. "This is all very upsetting to me. I thought I had a loyal team for the first time in ten years. I guess I was wrong and I guess it's worse than I thought." He looks to Journey, since he seems to be the one in charge. "You say you almost walked into a trap? Where?"
Journey turns a hand to Acacia, and snaps his fingers, "Where was it? I don't know this area. It was wired with Dark magic, to identify whoever touched the knob of the place and relay the information to the basement of the building. I have to say, it's a neat little self contained ambust-o-Rama. You drop someone off there, who they are is sent to the basement, and then, well, you're already inside dealing with whatever bullshit comes up." He looks at Acacia, "What was the address?"
Billy doesn't freak out. Acacia's treatment isn't exactly ideal, but it's a full moon and rage is a thing. Besides, he comes from a land of drill sergeants and endless fields of pushups, so yelling and rough handling is kind of... normal where he's from. So, quiet wolf stays quiet and listens to people, following the conversation around with his eyes and satellite dish ears.
Now Jake appears to be studying GE. Really studying him. He's not being rude about it though. Just...intent.
Branton is still new to the whole garou society thing so his 'normal' is still in flux. When Acacia pats his hand he looks away from GE's hand to her and nods, taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly.
Once Acacia is loose, Dragomir positions himself as the buffer between the kinfolk and the angry charged up GE. Perhaps he over-stepped with what he did, but there seems no regret in his posture for having done so. (Should probably buy off that flaw before it gets him killed).
"Penelope's Thrift. The Gnawer store. My homebase. That wasn't there two years ago. Grand Elder, I have no idea how deep this spreads, but we're ready to move on this right now. My plan before.. when I was attacked, was to get little Leeroy someplace safe and then I was going to get word to you. I didn't have time to do that. I do now." She motions toward her team... that's kind of how she thinks of them right now. Her team. ".. I was going to go offer to go over to Wyrmfucker's and confront him and then use that nifty little silver thing that I had, take him out.. because he's the MOST dangerous. Or was then." GE takes a deep breath and shakes his head. "No. I'll call a meeting. Right here." He motions around. "How long do you need to prepare?"
Journey blinks, "Ohhh." He chuckles, looking around, "Preperation, I feel the luxury. I've half been expecting ninjas to phase from the walls any second for the last couple hours. Where's best for us to get set to handle things, it's your territory, your killbox."
Branton when the timing is asked about he comments "If we have twenty or thirty minutes lead time I can ward the meeting room to keep them from teleporting in reinforcements. At least in this world, I don't know if it blocks spirit travel, I've never tried." He realizes he's spoken and introduces himself "Branton Kholer, Black Fury kin."
Jake still doesn't smile. Or grin. Or offer any indication of emotion right now. But he does break his silence. "We're ready," is all he says though. It's like he's channeling Charles Bronson. Where did Jake go?
Dragomir turns to look towards Journey, considering the man's words and his expression tightens slightly. Perhaps he doesn't agree with something, though he keeps his tongue tight all the same. He's here to protect the kinfolk, both of them. That's what he'll do.
GE motions around. "I don't actually live here." Acacia sighs and points down the hall. "In there, there's a room with a fake wall. I used to sneak in here with Riley and we'd doob it up a couple times a month. I don't think anyone knows about the place except me and Riley and whoever built it. All the tripwires we used to set were never triggered." She nods to Branton. "Not an awful idea. I can probably rig your security up at least temporarily to detect Wyrm taint if I had an hour." Then she looks to Journey. "Did you check him for taint?" She indicates GE, who looks absolutely stunned at the very idea and steps forward to be tested.
Journey looks at Acacia, "We contacted him on your word." He reminds her, and looks to GE, nodding as he steps forward, and moves in to smell him, checking directly. He takes a moment, REALLY getting into the sensory input. He looks at GE, "I believe you classify it at class 7-a taint. Minor residum from exposure to Wyrm tainted individuals. Otherwise the rest of you is alligned with San Francisco itself. I'm sorry, your council is making ready to pull a Julius Ceaser on you."
Dragomir doesn't hold his tongue - he should have, but he can't. "Shaderunner'rhya.. these are Elder Warriors of Gaia.. their deeds and accomplishments and service to Gaia deserves them at least fair perception before judgement should be passed." The Russian steps forward, looking between the Elders. "The Wyrm employs great strategies of deception and deceit, and this could very well be a means of turning us against ourselves." He looks towards Jake and says, "If there is a chance we are mistaken.. if these great warriors can be cleansed.." he then looks towards General Electric, "We owe it to them to attempt such. Do we not?" he turns his palms upwards, perhaps he's the optimist in the room - of just an over-spoken zealot with dreams of grandeur. But he speaks none the less.
Branton blinks and thinks about what he could do with a whole hour "How flammable are Garou? I kept meaning to ask. I can ward against that too but it takes a bit so I was going to prioritize Acacia and myself. That and.....an exit strategy." Dragomir's words are listened to but not commented on, Branton'll wait for the Garou to pull the trigger regardless.
Jake's gaze settles on Dragomir. "IF they can be cleansed. That is a big IF. Usually when the Wyrm gets their hooks into us they plunge deep. And pulling out hooks can sometimes kill the host." And that's about all he has to say on the subject until Journey weighs in.
At the mention of garou and flammability, the still Billy manages to look very uncomfortable, even with a woof face. The second Journey steps back from checking GE over, he totally doesn't even try and hide from the kinfolk and use Journey as a shield. Not even a little bit. He's totally not traumatized by fire, he's a big brave wolf!
Acacia nods. "Better safe than sorry, though, right?" Acacia asks, not offended. ANd she's PRETTY SURE she threw a 'maybe' in there somewhere. GE lets himself be sniffed and he makes a grumbly sound at Journey's diagnosis. "This may be my territory, but I think I'm outclassed. This is your show. I give you permission to do as you need to. Tell me when and I'll call my advisors together." Acacia looks to Dragomir and then back to Journey. "I could rig up the security camera. I might... maybe... possibly... be able to look ahead or back and see what's happened. But if I don't do it right, the dox is going to knock me clear into next week because I'm not all the way Awake. I know Wyrmfucker REAL well. He was a good customer. Wyrm wasn't the only thing he fucked well enough for a deed name." GE sighs at Acacia and then nods to Dragomir. "I find this almost impossible to believe. Wyrmfucker's been with me for years. If they can be saved..." And then Acacia speaks up, to Branton. "Depends on the form. Crinos burns easier because of all the hair."
Journey closes his eyes, lowering his head in thought. Brantons question is dismissed to preserve processing power. He is quiet for a moment, then looks around, "Alright.. We don't dismantle the trap, we spring it. there's no way out, but there's a way through. Call one of them, inform them that Acacia and I have come to see you and speak about what's happened. Call one, the rest will all come, they're looking for me and her, and if they learn we reached you, then theyonly choice they have is wipe the three of us out." He looks to Dragomir. "Proof of guilt. Proof of willing complicity to the Wyrm. Proof of attempted violation of the last law of the Litany. You can't cleanse that. Believe me, Ive tried."
Dragomir listens, taking in the Wisdom and finally he nods. The half-moon has sided with their assessment. "Yes, Shaderunner'rhya." there is no challenge there. He turns his head to look towards Branton and says, "Fire will anger the wolf.. burn its flesh, and reveal the beast beneath. If you must burn the Garou.. I suggest you not hold back. Those wounds will heal fast, and you'll have stoked its greatest anger." A glance is given towards Acacia, and then back - awaiting orders.
Branton nods at Dragomir and shrugs "Its my best trick but its not my only trick. Thank the Gods I'd brought over my full kit to talk Sorcerery with Giselle."
Journey watches Dragomir very carefully, and when he accepts this, Journey keeps watching him for a moment, making sure that Dragomir's -REALLY- satisfied with his reasoning, and nods, "Okay we need to analyze the layout, find a good place to set up to strike from." He looks around, then back to GE, "Or if there's a place in town you know, that would be more believeable. Somewhere it can go down properly."
GE nods and picks up his phone and hits a button. He waits for an answer and then he speaks, turning slightly and moving away. "Hey," he says gruffly. He doesn't have to fake the frustration in his voice. "Remember that little kin? The whore that was killed a while back? Bonegnawer kin? She ain't dead. She's here with some asshole elder from Prospect and they're saying that William is the one who attacked her, that he's Wyrmy and she 'just remembered'" He even makes the quote marks in the air. "I need you here to talk to these fuckers." There's a little snarl to his voice and he sounds pretty fed up. "Her, I could take out with a look, but this Shaderammer dude has a history." There's a voice from the other end, loud, roough, but not panicked. Loud enough that those with good hearing can pick up most of what's said. "... fucking serious?.... what the hell, man? Why are you even entertaining this idea? I'll be right there. I'll bring Willy too. Where at?" GE shakes his head. "I'm in transit. I'm bringing them to the house. Where are you?" There's a curse from the other end. "Shit. I'm over at the Hollow. I'll grab William and we'll be there in 45 minutes." There's a little more talk and then GE hangs up. "You have thirty minutes. The man has no concept of time. You're better off preparing in 15. I have sentry posts on the grounds out here, but outside is risky because there are humans around here. Use that wall that the kin talks about if it's there."
Branton frowns and nods as he kneels to unzip the bag and pull out his fancy carved walking stick "Not enough time for the trap box, I can fire resist the two of us in that time if I work very fast."
Journey nods, "Okay let's set up, Acacia and I will be here, with you." He tells GE, "The others will be hiding in the wall there, ready to move. Billy and Dragomir will come OUT through the wall. Acacia and Branton working from there." He blows a breath, and gets into his satchel, then jacket. Journey looks to GE, "You're gonna need to confront them about this, preperation is one thing, but this has gone too far for them, it's time to put up or shut up. They move and the backup hits and it's a fight."
When it comes time to move and hide and get ready to quite probably beat some ass, Billy shifts up to Homid and starts getting himself ready. Ammo check on the gun, a quick pat down on his various pockets to remind himself of where all his talens are stashed (I still can't remember what some of these do, ha!) and he gets his flashlight off his belt. Well, it's not a flashlight, but a casual glance might mistake it like that, or as a bladeless sword hilt. His laptop and breakable shit that's not combat helpful will just have to hang out in the corner of the hidden room once they're in there.
GE nods to Journey. "If what you say is true - and I believe that you will verify before you kill my men - then I will do what needs to be done. I've ruled this sept for many years with honesty, loyalty, and swift judgment." He motions to Dragomir. "You'll be my Philodox."
Acacia says nothing. She moves over to the desk and starts rummaging through it. She pulls out a pen, some post it notes, a few paperclips and she moves over and sits down in front of the generator that she made probably a dozen years ago. She starts folding the paper up and then she sticks it in her mouth and chews on it to make it all slobbery and then straightens out one of the paperclips and then makes alittle hook on it and she wedges the spitball on the hook. Then another post it note. She writes 'Fuck the wyrm on it and folds it in half and tucks it into her bra. She goes back to the desk and gets a couple of rubber bands and wraps one over her thumb and forefinger. She's literally making a spitball gun.
While the chaos ensues all around the Russian man, he walks over to Acacia and says, "When things begin.. you find me, you stay behind me." Then he walks over to where they will be positioning behind the wall and lowers down into a meditative position to take a deep breath and close his eyes -- clearing his mind for what's to come and the call upon him. "Zheleznaya Gora'rhya.. a great shame has been acted, those once Elders have given to the spiral and mock all you have fought for. Lend me your strength Iron Mountain.. so I may see Justice is delivered unto them." and there is a very strong spiritual presence around Dragomir for those that can feel it, as something very greater than him.. moves into his body. With that, he begins to rise and grow... the beast's muzzle spreads wide and he growls with the feel of his Ancestor within him.
Journey takes a moment, and nods, "Right lots of fire." He mutters and nods, sniffing, "Ready and fireproof." He nods to Branton and moves around, rubbing his hands to together slowly.
Very-Good-Boy gets all McBighuge and steely, and says on the way into the hidden space to Dragomir, >I will help you keep the kin safe.< with a big wolfy smile. Protect and defend! It's what he likes. Also robots. And landmines. And Rumbas with steak knives. But not being set on fire!
And bacon
Branton gets out his sword and belts that on, and when a spirit garou shows up and Posesses Dragomir Branton just about shits him self. He blinks a couple of times as he shakes his head to clear it and draws the knife from his spine sheath and offers it hilt first to Acacia "Blade of Hecate, if you can see it you can stab it."
Jake touches his forehead and soon transforms into his War form. It doesn't take him long to activate various gifts and armor up. <<Ready and fireproof here.>> He's ready to take names and kick ass and he's already taken names.
Acacia reaches out and takes the knife and tucks it into her boot and she pops the little spit ball back into her mouth, tucking it into her cheek for now. It's READY and waiting, but she isn't QUITE ready to release it yet, obviously. And then she takes the time to fix those pigtails of hers and wipes off all her makeup. Pretty girl under there. Nice, strong jaw, a few little scars here and there. Then all of a sudden, she's a cowed little thing, standing in front of the desk, head down, shoulders slumped. It's a good mockup for a beaten and broken kin. Acacia peeks up and over toward the desk where the security cameras are and she watches. "They're coming," she says, then sighs. "Jugs too. Goddammit. And someone's coming around the back. That's Broken Paw." Two coming in the front, three sneaking around the back." GE assures them, "There's only one way in this office." And he points to the door.
Journey nods, and blows out a breath, "Okay then, here we go." He looks around, nodding as things start happening, all set to go into action in an instant, turning calm and cold. Placid almost. He's ready. As still and tranquil as a calm water surface hiding some danger underneath.
Branton is hid where he's supposed to be hid and watching the goings on, his scepter at the ready.
Defiant-Storm also gets out of sight, which isn't easy being so freakin' huge. He manages it though and waits, calmly.
And so, about 30 seconds later, a rather large, rough looking dude - all these guys are - and a slightly smaller but much rougher looking guy comes through the door. No knocking. No pausing. Just whacks the door with a hand and gives the knob a yank. Two pairs of dark brown eyes settle directly on Acacia and then slowly slide over to Journey and then drift over to GE. "The fuck, man?"
GE motions to Acacia and gives her a little nudge. Acacia scoots forward and she lifts her head, her eyes locking on the larger of the two. "The night before I was attacked, I went to Penny's place. I didn't knock, because I never do. I slipped around the back. Wyrmfucker was out smoking with Jugs and you were in the den with Broken Paw and Bent Tooth and a few others, and you were all in Crinos and some of those fuckers were DIRTY. Wyrm. There's no doubt about it. The one was OOZING shit from his fur. Covered in snot. Answer to your elder. Answer TRUE."
Journey doesn't say a whole lot of anything, just making sure that there's some distance between these two men and Acacia.
William - presumably that's who it is - rolls his eyes and looks at GE. "Man--" GE ROARS at William. "ANSWER THIS ACCUSATION!"
Branton hasn't been around garou long but he's been learning and Dragomir has taught him well. You don't just do that. Coming in without knocking would be rude for a human to do but for a Garou he's been told its a fairly signifigant sign of disrespect. His grip on his blasting rod tightens as he starts framing a spell in his mind, one of the Titans has business here. One human society still remembers and reveres. Themis, Lady Justice.
While waiting with the others and listening to the conversation, Defiant-Storm considers something then slowly moves away from them, distancing himself before activating one more gift. Luna's Avenger. He closes his eyes, concentrates, and his entire body begins to shimmer and turn to living silver.
William even blanches, just a little bit, at GE's tone. "Man, seriously?" He rolls his eyes and shakes his head. "NO. I am not in cahoots with the Wyrm. Jesus Fucking Christ. Are you serious?" He GLARES at Acacia and points a finger. "You manage to survive in some fucking nuthouse and get let out and now because I wouldn't FUCK Y---" Acacia interrupts, doing the STUPID THING and stepping forward. "You mean after you nearly raped me. Yeah. Go ahead. I'm waiting." She motions to GE. "Your Alpha asked you a question." There is a pause from William and he shakes his head, looking directly at GE and lying his fucking ass off in a REALLY convincing way to mortal eyes. "No, Grand Elder. I am not cavorting with the Wyrm."
Eye of the Storm grits his jaws and restrains a growl when he hears the words. A head is turned to look towards Jake, denying the words that are said -- as though he could sense they were lies. He lifts his claws, and carves lightly into the opposite wall the glyph for the Wyrm -- identifying this threat as being the Wyrm, and his being confident of it.
Very-Good-Boy's nose wriggles as he sniffs, satellite ears swiveling and twitching about while listening. He keeps a real good cap on his own rage though, Billy's too happy to get pissed off! Glancing to the tiny scratching sounds he hears, he turns his eyes to Eye of the Storm and nods his head once, confirming yes sir, Wyrm.
GE is all but shaking and his eyes turn to Wyrmfucker. "What about you?" The man says with way.. way.. way too much calm.
Branton knows what supressed anger looks like, and while what he feels from the fire within is a pale shadow of what Garou feel something in him /stirs/ getting angry with them.
Defiant-Storm nods to Drago and Billy, and holds up a silver paw. The Ahroun is not looking pleased at all and his huge muscles are tensing. From the sound of the voices in the room it's clear that fur is gonna fly any minute.
"Fucking hell. No. No I'm not hanging out with the goddamn Wyrms. Are you serious?" His eyes turn to Acacia and he points a finger. "I don't know what your game is, you little bitch. Acacia's DEAD." He points at GE. "You checked her out? Or him?" He points an angry finger at Journey, who just stays where he's at .. for now.. but you can better damn well believe that he's READY. He's avoiding the answer.. and he's sweating.
Eye of the Storm's muscles tense, his claws tighten and he shakes his head, denying the man's words. Lies, more lies. And he lifts his black talons to point towards the Wyrm Glyph once more. He growls lowly - judgement made.
"Phildox. Come forth," shouts GE and NOOOOOOOOOOOObody moves at that point.
Through the wall emerges the Eye of the Storm. Brilliant white fur seems to radiate in this moment, as the silver that crowns his head and shoulders emulates the very lineage he hails from. Though when he walks, his steps are heavier somehow - embodied by the Iron Mountain who swells through his every movement now. The ice of his electric blue eyes levels on these two, and he snarls. "I am Eye of the Storm, Kinain of Zheleznaya Gora - the Iron Mountain Grand Elder Judge of Frozen Wastes." He lifts his white claw up, pointing the black talon towards the two and snarls. "You have been questioned, and spoke before me. Your words have been heard, and thus forth your name shall be stricken from the Silver Accord, and forever shall you be denied access to the Legendary Realm. Shattered Storm-ikthya! Wyrmfucker-ikthya!" the names drip off the Philodox's thundering tone, snarling brutally with a swell of rage. He's so dead fucking meat, but he makes his last motion one to put himself between them and Acacia before he gets it.
It really looks like Defiant-Storm is holding himself back. He is SO ready to rock and roll. His lips pull back to reveal silver teeth that glitter like kitchen knives.
Branton peers out of the hidden space but doesn't follow Eye-of-the-Storm, trying to pick out the rapist for some special attention.
Very-Good-Boy wants to back Dragomir up - half moons 4 life! - But orders is orders and he stays back in the secret room for the moment. If the enemy thinks they outnumber those that know their dirty secret, things will stay right here. Overwhelm them too soon and this could turn into a running fight that might get into veil breaking territory. Or worse, they might lose the skeevy fuckers.
Once all hell starts to break loose in the room and William bolts Defiant-Storm growls low and...FLASH...the Ahroun disappears from the hidden area and reappears RIGHT in front of the fleeing traitor, Fang Dagger in hand. William's eyes go wide as he's cut stem to stern like a fish and his guts spill out onto the floor in a steaming mess. Defiant-Storm then yanks the dagger up, splitting the man's chest, neck and face in two. EWWWWWWWWWW!
Eye of the Storm growls, as the glint of silver comes over the black of his talons and his eyes lock onto Wyrmfoe. He's places his body between the threat and Acacia, and there is no way he's allowing harm to come to her - as he promised. When Wyrmfoe lunges to attack, Eye of the Storm moves swiftly in retaliation, side-stepping swiftly and using his claws to grip hold of the angry Garou and quite literally using his own momentum to toss him straight into the wall. "You have been judged." Not quite as impressive as Jake's ginso-salad, but give him time.. he's rookie of the year.
Shaderunner shimmers and disappears, completely vanishing from the battle. Then, less than a heartbeat later the hole wyrmfucker fell in explodes in a fountain of blood and gore as Shaderunner comes back out and what remains of Wyrmfucker drips to the ground.
Blood and chunks and death and viscera (you know like that game.. where someone has to come in after a gruesome fight and do all the cleaning) Yeah, all over the white fur of Eye of the Storm. Having been standing in the middle, he probably even shielded Acacia from wearing it - but yeah, he's caked. He has Garou salsa-verde all over him. Whatever the fuck just happened, and those two individuals he declared to be of the Wyrm - turned to mist.
Very-Good-Boy ain't got them fancy, high faulted teleportation powers and Wyld touchedness, he's gotta use doors at a slower place like a normal person! Damn it. Any how, with the kerfuffle ending in roughly three seconds tops, Billy's just pushing out of the secret room to join the others, steel furred ears all laid back and nose sniffin.
Defiant-Storm also resembles a Jackson Pollock painting, gore and blood dripping off his fur. His lips peel back from his fangs, eyes blazing, and scans the room again until his gaze locks on GE. <<Where are the others?>>
Branton is not far behind but still holding back a little, looking around at the gods awful mess. The fact that he's never been in battle with garou before is clear as he mouths 'what the FUCK'. Shaking his head to clear it he points at the wall he heard movement past and holds up three fingers.
Acacia edges back while all this is going on, fairly calmly, and she lays a hand on Branton. "See the teeth? Stay away from them." SHe moves back a step or two.
GE just... sort of stares, mouth open. Journey points toward the wall off to the side. "There." And then about that time, the others come bursting through. The female, who is named Jugs for Gaia for a reason.. boingy... lunges for GE, a dagger that glows with a dull, poison green in her hand, while the others fan out just a bit. One homes in on Acacia, another on Journey, and then the third going for Dragomir.
Very-Good-Boy's sword hilt is in hand, and when bad guys explode in and go racing for his compadres, he quickly sees that Dragomir isn't going to be able to play meat shield for Acacia right away, he's got problems of his own to deal with! With a snap of his wrist, a bar of blue-white electricity erupts from the sword hilt, like a saber blade. A blade of electric light, a.. a light sort of saber, if you will. When the vetish activates, it makes a 'ppppzzzzzhhhhh' sort of sound, and so does Billy. When he whirls the blade, it makes a 'wom! WOM! wom!' sound when it moves in brilliant blue arks. So does Billy, mostly unhindered by having a wolf face when he makes his own sound effects. <WOM! WOM! PZZZZZHHHHHH!> Of course, the swing misses when the Dancer dances back and to the side a bit, but whatever, that shit's awesome, and Billy's ready to give it another pass.
Shaderunner isn't nearly as flashy as last time but when he lunges out to catch the charging enemy on the tip of his fire opal blade his arm explodes through them and out the back, spraying blood and bone and bits of lung everywhere.
Branton stays well behind the garou he's allied with but when he sees Jugs launch herself through the air with a glowing dagger he points and releases his gathered will "i krísi aftón eínai enantíon sas!" And a wave of shimmering grey force slams into the dagger and scatters the green light from the blade.
<OOC> Branton says, "judgement of themis be upon you"
When the shit hits the fan, beceause she just wasn't fast enough before, she reaches up and grabs that little spit wad that she's had tucked into her cheek. She's already got the rubber band in place around her thumb and forefinger and she steps TOWARD Drago, sidestepping the dickwad that's going after her as Billy pokes it with his FUCKING LIGHTSABER and she shoots. Plink. It boops the man in the snout as he starts to slip up into crinos and he pauses for a split second, looking her way, then the thing is very briefly lit up like a christmas tree and the thing, now Crinos, highly bred Shadow Lord, rocks back and ROARS at Acacia as the small girl slips directly behind Drago.
Defiant-Storm's eyes narrow as his pack mate goes face to face with one of the tainted traitors and he raises his huge paw, pointing a silver claw at the man. Out of nowhere a supernaturally strong gust of wind BLASTS through the room, ruffling fur and hair, centers on the man and raises him up into the air where he THUNKS against the ceiling HARD. Ouch, that's gonna leave a mark! The wind simply holds him there making him a rather easy target at the moment.
Eye of the Storm allows Acacia to get on his back, having gestured her to get out of harm's way when they arrived. He turns and lifts his chest to allow the Wyrm-tainted Garou its best shot at him. At the weak attempt, he snorts back and rakes his silver claws across the chest of the attacking garou - nearly hitting him a second time which would have been deadly if he didn't spin out of the way just in time.
While the guy pinned to the ceiling is pinned to the ceiling Defiant-Storm throws his Fang Dagger at the man which lodges in his throat. He flails harder, a sound between a gurgle, scream and growl of outrage escapes from him as blood pours down over anyone that's below. Then, without even pausing, in a flash, the Ahroun sinks his silver fangs into the enemy closest to him which just happens to be Jugs. More blood flies as her shoulder is literally ripped from her body. It's like a geyser and the acrid smell of death begins to fill the room. Hopefully GE has a really good cleaning crew!
Shaderunner sees his packmate pin the one enemy to the ceiling and knows what comes next, stepping over to leap underneath them and opening them from crotch to clavical with his dagger. A shower of blood and entrails falls, then his packmates dagger falls, then the corpse of his enemy falls.
As the battle starts to roar to an end, the storm brewing all around - death, dismemberment, destruction.. There is still one calm eye to be seen. Eye of the Storm steps towards the massive Elder Shadow Lord'ikthya as the rest of his pack is laid to rest all around him. The Shadow Lord's claw sinks into Eye of the Storm's chest, rending down that white fur and cutting him open viciously. But still the Kinain of the Iron Mountain Judge of the Frozen Wastes stands, without even so much as a flinch as he brings that silver claw up into the air. The first silver claw sinks into the larger Wyrm-garou's stomach, bringing him down to his knees. "All your deeds forgotten.. your name sticken.. your lineage scrubbed from the Silver Accord. Your legend ends, you have been judged." And the silver claw sinks viciously into the throat of the Wyrm-garou, like the snap of a Falcon's claw to rend out his throat. The body still held in Eye of the Storm's grasp, reverts back to a lifeless homid form and falls to the ground before him. Blood starts to trickle from Eye of the Storm's mouth at that, and the crinos garou staggers backwards and starts to slump himself.
Acacia catches! She was RIGHT behind him. She half-steps back and catches Drago under the arms. "Um. Fuck. Theurge. Please." She brings him to the ground while GE just... kind of stands there, shocked. His entire support system - a lie. And they're dead. GE just takes a breath and sits in his seat and buries his face in his hands and quietly stresses out.
As Defiant-Storm's Fang Dagger falls to the ground it suddenly disappears into thin air and reappears in...Defiant-Storm's huge paw. He wipes the blood off on his fur and glances across the room, gaze still fierce...until he spots Dragomir slumping in Acacia's arms and he steps over towards them, the silver turning back into his normal body as he shifts into homid.
Very-Good-Boy's as yet unbloodied blade sinks back down into the sword hilt with a 'zzzzzoop!' sound, while Billy sinks downwards into homid, the hilt clipped back on to his belt. Entirely unphased by all the horror splashed around everywhere, he steps over a dead guy with his insides all over his outsides, and approaches General Electric while digging out his wallet and opening it. Surprisingly clean and only mildly splattered with gore, he offers the man a little scrap of paper with a handwritten phone number on it. "Here, sir, I think that you could use this." The Theurge probably has healing under control, and there's only so much damage a collapsing Dragomir can cause to Acacia, so it seems like now's as good a time as any to interrupt the grand elder.
Branton helped Acacia get Drago settled so Journey could heal him. Then he turns to Billy and the General and just sort of listens. More than a little overwhelmed.
Dragomir coughs and spits up a bit more blood but has a proud grin on his face. Why wouldn't he, probably the best fight of his life and he survived. He looks towards Jake, and reaches out his hand to try to get a handful of dirt or something. "I want.. I want to.." he struggles a bit, ".. to remember it." likely referencing the Rite of Wounding.
Jake nods solemly to Dragomir and kneels down next to him while Journey's healing him. "Journey won't heal the scars then. You'll be able to wear them proudly. Good work." He claps the man on the shoulder, gently." He looks over at Branton, Billy and GE, interested to see what's going on there as well.
Journey looks around, and reaches over, pulling a piece of destroyed schmutz, shrinking to Glabro and nodding, fist closing on the stuff and bursting into flames, quickly reducing it to simple ash, "I'll mark it, then heal it, the Wounding can be performed later. Say, 'Surprise Motherfucker'" Then he slaps his ash filled palm over the wound.. You know That really hurts. There's Resist pain, but, yeah, that that.. Then the healing comes, trapping the ask in the skin.
GE reaches out to take the paper, a blank and dazed look on his face. He doesn't even look at it at first, but then he slowly collects himself and looks down at the paper. "What's it?" he mutters, then looks around at the carnage of his now very dead council of Elders.
Acacia lets Dragomir go to the ground. She's caught her share of wounded and with Branton's help gets him down, then she steps back, eyes scanning slowly around the room, mostly mute for the moment.
GE finishes his scan and he locks onto Journey and Dragomir and he takes a deep breath and he lets it out REALLY REALLY slowly. "We were going golfing next week," he mutters to himself.
The time for resisting pain, has ended. Now's the time to embrace it so Dragomir allows the gift to drop just before Journey begins. When the hand strikes his chest, he winces and growls deeply, jerking in Acacia and Branton's grasp - a faint snarl of rage coming forth even as Journey heals his wound and leaves the scar to rest of his first serious wound. His muscles tense, and he grins proudly. "An honor to bleed on this Battlefield with you Elders."
Branton is looking around to, his calm at least a bit rattled but not broken. He gestures to get Acacia's attention and then indicates the dagger that Jugs was weilding and he asks her quietly "Should I try to destroy it or they got a thing for that?"
"This is the number for one of your local subordinates," Billy says to General Electric, "His name is Cooper, he was my handler when we served in Vietnam together for the glory of Gaia and Glasswalkers. He lives quietly these days, doing the occasional training for the young, but he needs um.. Purpose, I suppose, and a helping hand out of memory quagmire so he doesn't fall to harano. And you need new people you can trust so that you can start rebuilding what's just been lost. He's been through hell a number of times, sir, and he's never stumbled or succumbed to temptation. Whether or not he's who you look to to help you repair things or not, it's a good place to start when what you've already known is in question and turmoil, if I may say so, sir." He babbles this out while glancing over to see Drago getting his Wounding and grins a bit. Ah, war wounds, is there anything cooler?
Jake moves to stand next to Journey, gore and blood still dripping off him. Giselle is NOT going to be pleased. He continues to frown as he regards GE, gaze tinged with sympathy, then watches Journey smack that ash into Dragomir's wound. Ouch, is right. Poor guy won't forget that anytime soon. "There will be plenty more battles with us ahead of you, Dragomir. And plenty more scars to come." Interestingly enough, Jake doesn't have seem to have any battle scars. Not one. Odd. He looks between Branton and Billy then regards Jugs again. Well, Jug.
Journey straightens from Dragomir and looks around, growling lowly, then looks to GE, spreading his hands, "Golf is overrated. Call who you can trust, and start rebuilding your Sept." He gestures around, "The teeth of this conspiracy have been pulled." He looks to Billy, and places a hand on his shoulder, nodding. "Thank you Billy." He looks to GE, waiting to see what he does.
GE nods to Billy and reaches out to clap him on the shoulder. There's no joy to it. There is no joy in moments like this. But he nods. "I'll call him as soon as I can wrap my head around this. Thank you." No further questions. Not from GE, who is slowly pulling himself back together. He takes a breath and holds it and then puffs it out and moves away from his desk. Literally never made it around to the front. He motions to Branton. "Help me get all these bodies together. The room will need to be cleansed along with everyone in it." He nods to Journey. "Just need to find out who else has been corrupted but now that I know to look, you can damn well believe that no one will sneak through."
Dragomir rises back up, looking back to check to make sure Acacia and Branton are unwounded and safe before he looks over towards the Elders communicating. He grins towards Jake and nods his head, "I hope that is true Defiant Storm'rhya." Then he looks back towards GE and offers, "If you need my services further General Electric'rhya, I would be honored to seek out what taint remains here."
Billy snaps off a crisp salute to GE, and gives Journey a smile, the kind that says his non existent tail is wagging furiously. Praise! His contribution finished, he moves out of the way to start the manual labor of dragging dead guy bits into a central location. No squeamishness about that. He's a wolf, I mean you should see him rolling around on a dead badger or something, so this isn't out of his realm of normality.
Branton frowns at the bodies as the General asks him to help clean up, as he moves to drag one of them somewhere he says "If we get them outside I can burn them. I wouldn't want to try and do that inside though."
"Probably best not to touch it," Acacia says, moving with amazing calmness to take a seat in one of the chairs in the office. She leans forward and pinches the bridge of her nose, sort of leaning forward just a little bit. Paradox, son. It's a bitch. ESPECIALLY when you don't really know how to handle it.
Jake isn't above helping to move the dead and helps the others clear the immediate area. Unfortunately there are numerous puddles that will have to be mopped up later. It really does look like someone took a chainsaw to these traitorous cretins. "This will be one helluva bonfire," he replies to Branton.
Journey nods to GE, and looks around, moving to start hauling dead meat into the right place, doubletaking on the evil knife, and looks to GE, then Branton, "I'm not the only Elder Theurge in the room, and it's his place so I'm not gonna step in, just, don't touch it. We got cleansings ahead of us."
Once all the former Garou are in one place, GE reaches into his desk and pulls out a flask. Yup. Just a flask. He doesn't drink it though. He starts to move in a circle, splashing the faintly aromatic, cinnamony-scented water over the bodies in the middle. "Trick I learned," he mutters, then BAM he speedshifts up to his crinos form and continues to move around the pile of bodies, sprinkling the cinnamon water onto the corpses. Then he widens the circle and Acacia gets doused, Branton, Dragomir gets doused twice.. then a third time even, then around to Billy and Jake and then finally Journey before he dumps some over his head first. He flicks some up at the ceiling and down on the puddles of blood pooling in the floor, already starting to congeal, darken, and then as the water hits it, to sizzle.
Upon the skin of those who truly belong to Gaia, there is a pleasant warmth that spreads out, starting from the droplets of water and radiating outward to fill the body, the soul even, letting the taint of the Wyrm slip away. It's surprisingly gentle for a cleansing, but obviously effective.
Journey watches the Cleansing, looking imterested, lifting his hand and feeling the liquid, silent and observing, nodding and paying attention to the effects.
Branton manages not to flinch even a little when the strange Elder speedshifts and is a little proud of himself. He doesn't move till someone else does first, just paying attention. Sensing magic without using a spell isn't his strong suit and now is really not seeming like the time.
Billy hunkers down to sit on his heels and balance on his toes, more or less close to the way he'd be sitting down as a wolf. Like a very super exceptionally good boy. He grins dumbly in leu of lolling his tongue, eyes squinched shut when he's splashed at but this ain't his first cleansing rodeo, so he fairs well. He also keeps his hands away from his pants. Everyone's gotta complain and grump about getting bloody hand prints out of clothes, you know?
Even Jake seems s bit surprised by GE's little cleansing trick. Nice! He regards some of the gore sizzling on his skin and the puddles of thick blood disappearing. He regards his fellow Sept mates. "You all performed very well and should be quite pleased. The Earthmother is smiling down upon you, believe me."
Journey watches the cleansing, nodding to himself and looks to Jake, nodding, "We'll get back soon," He looks down to Billy, "Do you want to visit Cooper while you're here?"
Branton takes a couple of deep breaths after the ritual's complete and nods at Jake solemly "Doxáste na nkaía, sto ónomá tis kánoume ti douleiá mas. Nkaia is what the ancients of my tradition call her."
<OOC> Branton says, "Praise be to Gaia, in Her name we do our work"
"If that would be okay, sir." Billy agrees with a nod to Journey, "I'd like to visit him, and my mom and dad if it's alright." He turns his head and leeeeeeeans so that he can sniff Branton's ear. He's smelling your brain, where all your weird sounds come from!
Journey nods to Billy, and thinks, "Of course, Billy, if there's anything they need, you let Vesta know." He says with surprising gentleness for being slightly bloodstained. Maybe more than slightly.
When it's all done, GE slams back down to homid and looks around the room once more. "I can never repay you - any of you - for what you've done here today. And you.." He looks over at Acacia, who blanches slightly and leans back in her seat, but doesn't say anything. "You still owe me twenty bucks, but we'll call it even." Acacia just nods mutely and she stands. "Check on your mate, Grand Elder." She wasn't going to mention this EARLIER, but what do you do when you know the jig is up and you're fucking the Grand Elder's Main Squeeze already?
Jake gets a melancholy look when Billy references his mom and dad and simply listens to the others talk for now, brow raising when GE and Acacia powwow. "It was our pleasure, Sir. And if you ever require our assistance in the future we can be here in seconds. Literally."
Branton gives a snicker when he gets sniffed. It tickles. Looking over at the now cleansed corpse pile "Safe to get these outside to burn now? Or is burying them more appropriate?"
"Thank you, sir," Billy says with a smile at Journey, "I don't think they will though, my parents have been dead for like a million years and Coop's a stubborn old goat. I can't even convince him to try different bacons." He rolls his eyes, that is just the *height* of stubborn, right there. At the very least, he doesn't look especially mournful, but... Wolf. He bobs his head in agreement with Jake's offer, totally ready to get in on that if anything should come up. He doesn't answer about body disposal methods, that's not his forte.
Journey nods to GE, "For Zephyr's Hand, Terminal Velocity, AND Enduring Spirit, we're honored to provide assistance." He looks around, leaving the corpse disposal details to GE. "Acacia, any other details coming to light?" He asks, then, "We could also find a shower somewhere."
Acacia shakes her head, looking back and forth between people as they speak. "No. I still think you need to check on your mate. Call her or something." She rises and unceremoniously kicks the now very dead William right where it WOULD hurt if he was still alive and goes to stand and wait at the door. She's shaking again, now that she's run smooth out of adrenaline, but she's on her feet and she's more or less calm.
GE winces at Acacia's kick to the dead guy, but stays where he is and focuses his attention back on the Garou in the room. "I thank you all. And know that I am forever in your debt." Then he motions to Branton. "Burn the whole goddamn place down if you want to. I won't be staying here anymore."
Branton is going to start hauling the bodies outside, it seems wasteful to him to level the whole house so unless someone makes that a directive he's not inclined to go that route. He doesn't complain, doesn't direct anyone to help him, he just gets to work.
Jake helps Branton with the bodies. Not the most fun job but the quicker they get them outside to burn the better.
Billy helps like a very good boy should! Floppy dead guy bits are difficult to deal with, so he jumps up and helps by grabbing the other end of whatever guy Branton's dragging out, and whistles the Star Spangled Banner on his way out to go make a body bonfire.
Journey pitches in, still Glaro so just heaving the weight and carrying out. "We'll make sure the smoke doesn't cause any problems."
Branton takes his blasting rod and marks out a circle around them "I can make sure it won't spread and once it gets up to speed its going to get hotter than it ought to be so you'll want to stand back."
