2019.06.09: Baldur's Blade Pack PRP 1.1 - Missing Child

Baldur's Blade Pack PRP 1.1 - Missing Child
Can the pack find the missing child before the city of Prospect is sent out on a search party?
IC Date	June 16, 2019
IC Time	Midday
Players	Jae-Eun, Theron, Stephen, Ratsputin, Xavier
Location	Deep Forest - Long River
Spheres

It is midday and Magnus has been working hard all day chopping wood. He is without a shirt and is glistening in the sun like a certain 'fake news' vampire wannabe. The neo-viking has managed to find one of those old-timey crank radios that is sitting on top of the pile of neatly stacked logs. It is playing what sounds like a local 80's rock station since 'Billy Jean' by Michael Jackson can be faintly heard through static. Every ten minutes or so though, the station cuts out entirely as the radio turns off. As Magnus chops one more stump into a splintered heap of logs, the radio sputters off and he heads over to start cranking it.

Down the road, comes a man, that man is in a large black trench-coat, under this is a black vest with a little rusted chain coming out of the pocket, and a pair of tight suit pants, over a pair of doc martins. A pair of sunglass cheap, knock off of something better over the eyes, and a bowler hat on tilted to the side, as he walks to magnus with a wide smile. "Hiya, I'm here to answer the howl, I'm Jackson P Arnold, rited Ratsputin, born on two legs, under the trickster moon, cliath, to the bonegnawer clan, I'm here to serve, and to honor the howl that went out for pack mates."

Stephen has been in and out ever since he accepted the invitation, still working on learning rites from Skully and learning his way around the scar. As Magnus is busy cranking the radio back up again, the Wendigo pushes his way out of the tree line and catches the approach of Ratsputin a little ahead of him. A small smile spreads across his face, but he says nothing to interrupt the introduction...instead he just lifts a hand in greeting to both as he lumbers closer.

Stepping out of the cabin, Jae-Eun carries some broken old things and tosses them into the firepit. She's dusty and dirty, her hair bound into a tight braid and pinned into a coil like a fancy bun. Shorts are mussed, and her shirt is, thankfully, dark enough to hide the stains. Sweaty and a little worn looking, she heads towards the sound of the wind-up radio and the alpha-to-be and those beginning to gather around.

Xavier heard the howl, though he already knew about the formation of the pack. Still he makes his way to the cabin and he stretches out. He wears a pair of long baggy shorts and a t-shirts and sneakers. "Hello everyone!" He calls out. He doesn't interrupt the introductions of Ratsputin though, as he moves in closer he walks over to Jae and shoulder bumps her lightly, "Hey Jae." He says to her.

Magnus looks up and wipes sweat from his forehead. "Aye, so ye are te Jackson I had heard about from Jae-Eun. Blessed be Fenris for whatever fortunes bring ye to us. I understand ye had come looking to join te pack?" Excellent, Excellent...steepling of fingers! Magnus offers, "I am Magnus Nilsen, Rited Bloodied-Spirit-Walker, Cliath Godi of the Get of Fenris." He eyes Stephen and gives a wink. "A Godi is a Theurge by te way.../not/ an Ahroun." He continues, "I hail from te Sept of te Midnight Sun in Scandinavia, but call te Sept of te Enduring Spirit me home now as a member of te Fangs of Garm. I was sent here to help ease tensions between te Get of Fenris and te other Tribes. With a Wendigo, Child of Gaia, and Bone Gnawer in a pack with me, that would certainly be a good start. We are looking to be a War pack with Black Unicorn as our totem. Iffn ye are still interested, please...break bread with me and formally accept." He looks to Jae to bring the bread with a please and a pantomime of eating a baguette. Xavier is given a thumbs up for now. The wind up radio continues to play MJ.

"Now then, I will of course break bread with you, I had met the other members, and they have been to my liking, and my respect." Ratsputin watches the others, as he walks to find a stump, to sit down and then he crosses his leg one over the over as he watches them. "I enjoy, good bread will this one have cheese, cheese on bread is a gift from mother herself." His voice is soft, and then he beams at the others as he reaches over slowly, to grab a bit of wood to flip around his fingers.

Stephen waves his hand with a bit of amusement on his face when Magnus explains what 'Godi' is, murmuring, "Yes, some of us were not brought up Get." He taps his nose and offers a nod of his head towards Jae-Eun, "But with the way your Kin fight, I cannot complain about you using different names." With that said, the Native American male trails off and finds a spot of ground to park his ass on, resting his elbows on his knees and tilting his head curiously to watch the invitation and potential acceptance with Ratsputin.

Jae-Eun bumps Xavier back, grinning at him before she heads inside to grab the bread AND the fancy bottles of liquor and mead that Lleutrim gifted to them. Carrying the three things to Magnus, she smiles brightly at the Get, leaving him with the bread to break and the drink to dispense as she backs away.

Xavier nods his head to Magnus, "It's a pleasure meeting you all." He says simply as he looks at everyone. He looks at Jae as she shoulder bumps him, "So I'm all for a War Pack, but what else will we be doing?" He asks.

The bread is broken and shared with Ratsputin. "If Jae-Eun says ye are worthy of joining us, then I take me kin's word for it." They eat and the pack is made stronger. "As I've been working, I've been thinking about what to name our proto-pack," for a pack is not a pack until their totem accepts them. "I was thinking Baldur's Blade for Baldur, seen as a God of innocence in te new age, which meshes well with Black Unicorn, but he was at one point in ancient Norse lore seen as a Warlord and Berserker. Iffn ye all agree, that's who we shall be." To Xavier, he looks around, "Well, besides taking the fight to te Wyrm wherever it dwells per te Litany, protecting te innocent per Black Unicorn. I would take that to mean, being te voice of any and all that need it, be they the kinfolk of other tribes, te homeless in te city, or anyone that needs help. We have a lot of territory here to gather resources for te good of te Sept, but a lot of infrastructure needs to be added too, so there is work to do." Magnus, Ratsputin, Xavier, Stephen, and Jae are all gathered just outside the Log Cabin, which itself is on the shore of the large river wading through the area. It is midday and they look to have been working hard on chores, mainly splitting wood and cleaning up the cabin. There is an old-crank style radio that was just revved up to continue playing some Michael Jackson. The music suddenly cuts out to a long siren blast, "This is NOT a test of the emergency broadcast system. I repeat, this is NOT a test. Breaking news, a child of 4 has gone missing in the Deep Forest to the south of Prospect, California. Local rangers have been dispatched as part of a first response search party. If you are able to help, call 555-418-5664 to help. The local community is being rallied to provide a much larger scouting party. The child was last seen at the banks of the Long River on a camping trip with his family. The boy's name is Jose Alvares. If you have any details about the disappea...." and the radio cuts off.

"Yes, to protect the innocent, is something I wish to do, very, very much." Rat nods slowly, as he eats the bread, and then he looks at Magnus with a nodding of his head, and then he listen, but as the radio is going off, he looks at it with a wide frown. "Well, then it seems our mission is given to us by the mother, already before we have made it even real." He stands up slowly, with a shake of his head, as he chuckles softly. "Now then, I can go scouting, I'm fairly good at that, if anyone else is so skilled wanna hit the good trial?" As he walks slowly towards the cabin, as he sighs softly, getting ready to go wolf.

Stephen grunts softly at the explanation from Magnus and nods his head, "The sept will need us as they need all wolves to fight the Wyrm, but we can do more. This sounds like a good purpose, and an honorable one. I can run with wolves that cleave to this." And then the radio is chirping about a lost child, causing the Wendigo to lift a brow and stare at it, then look quizically up at Magnus and over at the others, "Mmm. That's THIS forest, yes? Someone's cub is lost out in this place?" He slowly lumbers to his feet and shakes himself out, nodding once at Xavier, "I will take four legs with you if we have none that are better scouts."

So much for the boozing part of the evening. Jae-Eun looks to the radio, frowning before ducking into the cabin. Returning with a simple length of cloth to tie across herself and support a sword of Asian origin, she bows slightly. "I cannot keep up with four-legs. Magnus-nim?" She inquires of the alpha-to-be, "Will you carry me through the forest to follow our scouts?" Her tone soft, inquiring, not in the least pushy, despite the direct wording of the request.

He's a tall man, appearing to reach the six-five mark, with a very well-muscled build. His hair is a light, sandy brown, left to grow a little shaggy and unkempt. It doesn't detract from the handsome man's appearance, the front often straying down over the bright blue of his eyes. European genetics have given him a strong square jaw and a sturdy brow and cheekbones, the bridge of his nose possibly broken once from the light scar crossing it. The beard that covers his jaw matching his hair with faint hints of reddish tones in it. A light tan from many hours outdoors adds a healthy tone to his skin. His clothing has a clear outdoors flavor to it, almost always consisting of some sort of flannel over a tee shirt, the sleeves pushed up to show his forearms. Worn blue jeans cover his legs, lighter around the thighs and knees. His shoes are a pair of banged up hiking boots, the laces new and brighter than the rest.

Xavier listens to Magnus as he speaks and as he looks at the others, he smiles as the pack seems to be forming. As they talk Xavier seems to bob a little, "I love Michael Jackson." He laughs but when the music is off and the report comes through. He looks to the radio and he is already shifting and he paces slightly as he looks at the others, the gray wolf than allows it's eyes to rest of Magnus, >>Orders?<< he asks.

The Godi Get says, "Aye Stephen, we must always strive to do more, to be better." Magnus grows quiet as the radio changes to the emergency system. His eyes grow wide too and he looks to Ratsputin as he speaks first, "For te Glory of Gaia, are we being tested already?" To Stephen, he nods, "Aye, and this river! They'll be coming our way and soon." He stares over at Jae, "We nae are ready, but we di think we ever would be, so now is as good a time as any I guess. Baldur's Blade, to te ready!" Jae runs in and comes back out and Magnus just nods. "Eh...ride? Ye mean, on me back? I kin nae say I've done that before, but we kin try I guess." Magnus shifts from homid to hispo so he can carry Jae...maybe. <<Scout on ahead, close enough to still keep in touch, but wide enough to search a good amount of land. Two of us on each side of the river. Preferably Jae and I on this side so I do not need to wade in the water with her on my back.>> He rests on his tummy to make it easier for her to get on as he tries to keep up with the others.

With a nod of his head, Ratsputin is shifting down into his form, it is a large dog with a no hair, spots up and down his face, and his legs coated as well, his ears are large as he starts to move slowly now, his nose high in the air. He would look like a dalmatian but it is all on his skin, as he moves slowly towards the others with a nod of his head.<Let us be away, there is protection, and maybe justice to give out.>

Stephen nods once and takes a moment to throw off his shirt and shoes before allowing his form to take on his larger, heavier grey timber wolf shape. He takes a moment to shake his fur out and yips at the others, specifically Xavier and Ratsputin, >> Yes. Let's go. << intent on heading off at a lope with them to scout on ahead. If Jae wants a lift, she better act fast.

Jae-Eun jogs over to Magnus and slides a leg over him, settling behind his shoulders and gripping his ruff with both hands. Between her hold on his thick fur and the squeeze of her thighs around his middle, she ought to be alright as long as he doesn't forget she's up there.

>>Let's go.<< The smaller gray wolf bows his head >>We are being tested and we must make sure this child makes it home and honor our Goddess and one another.<< Turning to look at them all, his eyes narrow and he barks out to them and turning to Ratsputin and he nods his head. He than dashes off rushing towards the river and his head in the air sniffing trying to get a scent.

That naked form of a wolf is running now quickly, with the others getting a long scent, taking a middle part of the pack, as he looks around taking it all in, with a little nod of his head.>Let's get this child to safety, now then pack let's make it so.< The howl is soft, and then he is running quickly, trying to alert the others next to the shoe, with a soft whimper, nudging it with his nose.

Magnus eyes Ratsputin's lupus form in disbelief for a moment and then focuses on the mission. The Dire Wolf hispo with Jae on his back does his best to keep up without dropping Jae, but they'll probably be falling behind. That being said, he doesn't have to stop and sniff, so they do manage to stay somewhat close to the back of the pack. Magnus would spot Theron if and when he arrives and would have Xavier carry him...

BrokenFang arooroos at Ratsputin as he tears off ahead, snout in the air and then down to the water's edge when the pack gets close to it, following the hairless one's scouting lead. It doesn't take too long before Ratsputin is able to find a shoe on the river bank that still has the scent of homid cub clinging to it, with hints of that scent travelling further upriver from that point, as if it had been carried downriver to there. Not a good sign.

Theron arches a brow for a moment and then he hops up on Xavier apparently so he can keep up. Dressed in his tactical gear and sword on his back.

Getting the order to take Theron with him, a light whimper escapes the scout, and he shifts to accommodate Theron. He barks at Theron to hurry up, and once he is on his back. Shield of Hearts takes off after Ratsputin, having to gain ground and assist his scout brother as they track the missing child. His head low than high trying to track the scent to see if it's possible to get ahead of the child.

Jae-Eun keeps her head low and sort of stretches out along Magnus' back, shifting with the rolling gait of the hispo as he runs.

Magnus does his best to run /around/ obstacles rather than over obstacles. The pack is on the prowl and appear to be on the trail based on the arooo's going up and out. This is good, the pack is communicating. Magnus slows for a moment to interpret the scents himself before doing a quick circle around to check their rear flank. Eventually, he turns back and continues to follow the others.

Ratsputin sniffs again, trying to find the source the next spot, his paw is resting on the shoe, as he looks at the other with a howl.>Shoe of child, need ti find child, this bad<

BrokenFang shoulder bumps the Hairless One as they pause and start out again from the shoe (sole-searching, get it? 'GET' IT...nevermind) still lifting his snout to check the air for other warning signs, trusting Rats to keep the scent. >> Can't be far, yes? <<

The trail is pretty fresh, and easy for wolf noses to follow, but even when the lead elements of the pack are a distance off, things don't look good. A small human figure still wearing his Teletubbies t-shirt, one little waterlogged sneaker still on a foot matching the shoe Ratsputin found earlier, lying face down in a couple inches of water. Even in the time it takes the wolves to close the distance and make it up to the body, it doesn't take a doctor to figure out...the kid drowned at least a little while ago.

Xavier moves up to the child and sniffs him, he then goes still as he focus on the gifts bestowed upon him and as he does this he tries to bring the child back, though when he feels the magic pass through him to the child with no effect, he whimpers slightly. Though he does walk to Magnus producing a bottle with blood on it showing him something wasn't right with this.

>Bashing a child with a bottle, it seems. I will rip the throat from the one, that has done this< The ragabash is no longer pleased, with a soft little growl. Ratsputin, as is moving to the body as he brush the body softly, with his paws as if to say sorry for a bad end, and then he is moving to try and get a scent of the killer.

Jae-Eun stares down at the small, still body. Magnus can feel her hands tighten in his fur - the grip becoming balled up fists. And the way she sits astride him alters, her legs flexed hard against his ribs. "Who did this? /Find them/." she hisses, voice low and savage - that hard edge of hers displayed as it was when drilling the garou with the wooden weapons.

Magnus speeds up as he hears the note on the shoe and that the trail is growing stronger. He gives a whimper and runs into the scene of the little boy floating face down and having Xavier do what he can only for it to not work. Magnus crouches low to have Jae get off. She would feel his body rippling under her. He snarls heavily as she echoes his Rage. It is a snarl of primal disgust. The hispo form shifts into a homid and walks over to Xavier, "Mother's Touch only works on te living. Ye tried yer best, but we were too late." He stares at his pack, "We will find who did this and give the boy his justice." The bottle is provided by Xavier and Rats performs the 'autopsy' that shows there was an actual crime. "Theron, Jae, take te babe and start walking upstream. We will circle around behind ye." He addresses the Garou, "We are nae to engage until we know what we are dealing with, so stay back and let them deal with what we come across first. Luna is full tonight and we do nae want a breach of the veil." It is then that you start to hear the cries of a mother calling for her child. Not only do you hear the mother crying from up river, but you can start to hear others, and the loud blast of a shot-gun goes off.

A little bark as he looks around upstream, and then he looks at the others.>Now then, let's pull back for now, we don't need to seen, I think we should track the trial, or go back. Pick< With that he is moving slowly down into the bushes, Rat is paranoid of the humans right now, and the rage of mother is nothing to fuck with.

BrokenFang yips affirmatively at Bloodied, a flinch of wolf ears at the sudden gunshot, then offers to Ratsputin, >> Homids are close. Need to follow scent before pack of humans tramples over it and we lose it. Hurry. We come back later and policehomids will stay here and make trail harder to follow. << He pauses to make sure Theron and Jae aren't going to have a problem and don't need help. After all, cant let the Kin get busted for messing with the body...

Theron almost grumbles a complaint at Magnus, "Are you sending us off away from danger?" when he hears the gunshot he stops the potential argument and turns that way. "They are still potentially in danger..." he notes pointing his sword in the direction.

A low growl escapes Xavier mixed with a whimper at the fact that a child was killed. The large hispo shakes and when Magnus comes near him to speak with him does Xavier calms down. He lowers his head sniffing taking the scent in of whoever may have harmed this child. He looks in the direction of the alert and the gunshot does ring out alerting them all. >>We will need to take what scent and info we can.<< though he defers to Magnus.

"Into it, Theron." Jae-Eun says, looking towards the sound of the gun fire. The kin considers and uses the sash from her sword to tie the drowned youngling to her chest, as if in one of those carriers made of a length of fabric. Dead or no, she carries the child with care, same as she would a living boy. The sword scabbard is carried in her left hand, the right on the grip of the katana-like blade. "Come on, Theron." she says, trying to smile to the other kin as she starts up river at a walk that's not /quite/ quick enough to become a jog. Hurrying.

The mother approaches, blood-shot eyes, tears and snot smeared across her lips and chin. She is screaming with a mixture of panic and terror so deep it rivals the Rage building within the Garou for the most primal force out in the forest tonight. The Mother sputters, "Jose, mi nino, JOSE!" At Theron's questioning, he states, "Nae, we will all attack as one, but in this case, we need to nae breach te veil and find out if this group is friend or foe." Magnus pulls Xavier with him as the rest of the group retreats for now. Theron and Jae would come across a small group of humans, 10 in total. One is the mother, two are park rangers dressed in green and wearing wide brimmed hats, while the other seven are mostly men (with one other woman) carrying various hunting riffles or shotguns of some kind. The men with the weapons, the one woman with a weapon, and the mother are all wearing a light, sky blue shirt that says, "Alvarez Family Reunion - Gone Huntin". One of the men calls out to the mother, "Lily, quit yer bitchin, if the kid is anything like yer ungrateful ass, he probably just ran off when I threw that bottle at him for whining."