2024.10.27: The Haunted Factory
| The Haunted Factory | |
|---|---|
| The Cliath team up to investigate a factory giving local kinfolk the heebee jeebees | |
| IC Date | October |
| IC Time | Sunset |
| Players | Ramona_Williams Villam Bruce Dannica Boots |
| Location | NE Prospect Industrial zone |
So you're in the north east part of town and it's early evening, the sun is just setting and leaving long patches of shadow and draping some of the warehouses and old factories in the area with a red/yellow glow. It smells around here, a lot of exhaust and old industrial smells, but it's getting better. Ish. The Gnawer kin have been working around the area lately, emptying unused lots out, and that's sort of why you're here. They're reporting that the area around here has been feeling particularly unsafe lately and they aren't sure why. No one's *seen* anything, but it's a feeling they cant shake and it's making them uneasy about working around here without back up.
So here you are! Word got around, maybe you volunteered or maybe you were voluntold, but one way or another you're sorta briefly packed up to go investigate and take care of business.
Dannica is sent over to check this place out, since it isn't that far from the Forge. Always good to get to know the neighborhood more. She's ready to help out, get her hands dirty as well if needed. She is on foot today since it isn't too far. Seeing the kin working on things, she's looking to see who is in charge of this investigative mission.
Villam is with Dannica as well, Shadow Lords should stick together, right? He's dressed down, and looking around. "So you think we'll start feeling uneasy ourselves, and track this?" Villam has partially disconnected.
Bruce parks his car in a spot just down the street. He climbs out of his seat, buttoning his suit jacket as he walks over towards the lot. He gives the others a courteous nod as he approaches. "Hello, everyone. I take it I'm in the right place?"
Boots was in attendance as well - ready to help clean up the city if needed. Moreso, he was here to make sure everything went as smoothly as could be for the patrol. Let the Cliaths earn their renown! "Yep." He offers to Bruce. "Got some news that shit ain't feelin' right here by Ramona and the others. Figgured we could check it all out?"
The working Gnawer kinfolk are easy to spot, colorful mohawks and interesting fashion choices while doing manual labor involving questionably useful junk at an old brick building. The foreman of the day approaches once he spots the Garou converging, an early twenty-something that's grimey from work. "Hey, I'm Tommy." he introduces. Boots already knows this person. "Thanks for coming, seriously. So uh, we're having some problems, kinda? I'm not sure how to explain it. You ever just... feel like prey?"
Dannica raises her brow. "Not usually, but there are times. Is there a place in particular here that it feels stronger? We can take a closer look, but some direction would be awesome."
Villam nods. "It's never fun, and it just isn't /right/. But listen to it, since you're probably feeling other predators around. And yeah, a place would help. Help a lot."
Bruce shakes his head at Tommy. "No, I can't really say that I have. That would be something of a weird stretch for me, nature being what it is. Most of the time, anyway. But yes, maybe point us in the direction with the most willies, I guess?"
Boots looks to the assembled Cliaths. "Imma be here incase shit goes sideways fast. I expect you lot to sort out who's leadin', and your plan." He says, giving a fistbump to Tommy as he nears.
Tommy grins proudly and says, "Yes we do! Because this isn't one of those amazing but annoying weekly shows where people never discuss plot points or work together! We figured out we all keep putting off the same place to work on for the same reason, it's super spooky and gives off a bad vibe. Am I sure that's where shit's goin' down? No, but we feel confident it's all that building's fault." He points down the street towards one of many old, defunct factories. "Second one from the end. If we're wrong, we'll buy you a beer. If we're not and you make it stop feeling like the beginning of a slasher movie around here, we'll buy you *two* beers!"
The building indicated is old brick, very dated and weathered, with looming black holes where windows are broken out. It doesn't have a neon sign declaring it evil or anything, but the last of the sunset might lend to some cinematic eeriness.
Villam nods to Boots, then looks between Dannica and Bruce. "I think one of the ahrouns should take the lead. We're coming up with the plan. First thing? Well, we have to go take a look. We don't have four of us, so we aren't splitting up into pairs, so we shoudl stick together. Ge to the factory and look inside. Maybe look up top first? And it might be on the umbra side of things."
Dannica looks down toward that building. "Ok, yeah, maybe something? We'll get closer and check it out. Hopefully, we all celebrate afterwards not finding anything. But if we do, we'll be thanking you all for sending us in to get rid of it." She looks to the others and then specifically to Boots. "Plan. I think we should do a loop around, and check for anything obvious. And then I know I can do a Sense for Wyrm presence."
Bruce nods, unbuttoning his jacket again and reaching under it to check something concealed within. "That sounds good to me. Whatever it is, if anything, I want to be between it and the exits so it can't escape. And I'm glad someone can do that, because I haven't learned that one yet."
Boots gives a thumbs up. "I'll be with y'all - stickin' to your plans. Remember right now, y'all are family. One team. Look out for each other and there ain't nothin' you can't get around." A grin.
Heading to the building for a bit of a fly by, as it were, everyone can confidently say yes, this place really does have a bad vibe and it's not just in the Kinfolks' imagination. The temperature seems to drop ever so slightly while in close proximity to the place, a chill runs up the spine and the shadows through the windows seem thick and void-like. There's two viable entrances, front door or back door, but there's windows all around it.
*Plink!* As you're coming back around to the beginning, a bit of glass falls out of an upper window and it just slightly looks like a person moved out of view.
Dannica wrinkles her nose. "Guys... this place is reeking of the Wyrm. Just Reeking. Way more than what the city normally has. This is bad news." She looks to all the Ahrouns. "You all are going to love taking this apart."
Bruce grimaces, the hair on the back of his neck standing straight up. Inside out of sight of the street and getting his own case of the willies now contradicting what he just told the kin, he goes right ahead and draws a large black revolver out from beneath his suit jacket. "Love might not be the best word, if only because it'd be better if it wasn't needed. But since it is, I won't mind doing some damage."
Boots smirks over at the assessment from Dannica. "You got claws too, Dannica. I suspect you'll get involved too - one way or the other. Lotsa ways to fight for Gaia." He nods, looking up to the window and the tink sound of the glass falling. "I figure they spotted us." A nod to the others. "Be ready."
Villam grumbles at that, "Well, at least it's a good thing to know. So...do we even want to do anything more here? Or slip umbra side and head in that way directly, either see spirits directly, or bypass real-world watchers?"
Dannica mmms, "We do not know if it is this side, that side, or both. Probably both. I'm up for whichever, but I think we need to work on both.
Bruce keeps his head up, scanning around the area above them. "Which way do you think escape is more likely? Into the streets, or right off into the Umbra?"
"They've seen us around already," Villam says. "They're going to be watching the main entrances, and try to stop us if we come in that way. Also, they can go out the windows...I would be a lot happier if we dealt with any umbral side first. And then came in on them how they don't expect."
Dannica nods, "Then let's go that direction. We need to find somewhere safe to cross and shift first."
Villam says, “Back to the kinfolk and use a mirror there? Or the mirrors on your car, Bruce?”
The buildings become old, rusty steel webbing instead of bricks, but the forboding chill remains. A light mist hangs in the air around the building, including your shadowy alleyway. There's no immediately noticable spirit life around you, but there probably should be. Likely they don't like the vibes from this place either!
It's quiet. ... Too quiet...
Dannica will shift before they go across. Better safe than sorry. The young woman takes her crinos form, because this is going to be messy she feels and best to be the strongest you can be. Seeing the change as they cross into the umbra, she senses the lack of spirit life. This isn't right.
Villam does not shift until after they cross. Better to get away from prying eyes before rending the veil. He also takes his crinos form, then. >>Now....we hunt!<<
Bruce follows Villam's example, already on edge from the atmosphere here but playing it careful with the veil. He does feel a bit better taking on the massive Crinos form, his suit fading away as his fur grows past its phantom image for a second. One thing left behind and looking a little out of place is the holster for his handgun, still strapped around his much larger neck.
Boots keeps up witht he Cliaths, doing Gauntlet crossing and shifting and what not in the background.
From nearby there's the creeeeeeeeaking of a webby door opening invitingly. Nothing comes out of the door or anything, you're just getting a... formal invite, let's say. C'mon in.
Patient Tempest looks toward the creeeeeeeeeaking door. >> I think that is where they would like us to enter. Shall we oblige them, or look for another way? <<
Thunderbolt growls. >>Different way. Only someone supremely confident to the point of arrogance accepts an invitation like that. At least without checking things frist. Might come back once we look.<<
Jinx huffs, clicking his teeth. He prowls a few steps to the side, bending over low to try to get a glimpse through the door. >>Worth a little look first, I think. Then what? Up and over may be better than down and around. Less expected, better vantage.<<
>>Death from above is better, if you can pull it off,<< Thunderbolt huffs. >>Yes. Look, go up, come down from above. One of us leads, one guards from behind, Patient Tempest-yuf in middle?<< He perks his ears and looks at Jinx.
Patient Tempest nods her furry head at that. >> I can take the middle. << She does look over the door closer to see what she can of it. See if anything rings more dangerous or what.
There's ways to get up high, of course. Fire escapes on this building and the neighboring one. Roofs are metal and have some sky lights. If you're feeling really saucy you can always climb, too.
Patient Tempest growls a bit, >> There is something.. someone up there. We need to go up higher. The weaver has nothing going here either. Something is trying to hide up there. I say we climb one way or another. <<
Thunderbolt is the first to climb to the roof then, taking a split second to look before climbing and crouching and making sure the others behind him can get up as well.
Jinx holsters his pistol, his new size making seem a lot smaller than before. He starts up the wall, using his claws to make handholds where they can't be conveniently found. Perching up top next to Thunderbolt, he draws his weapon again and surveys the landscape before them.
The roof is quiet! And misty. Through skylights can be seen much of what you already saw inside, however you're in a better vantage point to make out a shadowy figure on this second floor loft space. Laying in wait possibly, they're crouched in some shadows under you and don't seem to suspect the pack of coming in from above.
Patient Tempest points to where the shadow can be seen sorta. >> We have the advantage. << She chuffs but very low. >> We need to get closer. <<
Thunderbolt nods, and looks at the skylight. >> Might be noisy to open. Might be better to jump through, crash through it onto the shadow. That's my first instinct, at least. <<
FAFO moves quietly as someone can in Crinos, keeping low and pressed to the wall as they climb. He nods to those who are leading the charge, so to speak - he's ready to move when they are.
Jinx looks to his gun, wondering if they really do need to get closer. He grumbles softly. >>Well, too much noise might scare away any others before we can catch them. Let's start quiet, then go loud. Hard to do that the other way around.<<
Patient Tempest agrees, >> Stealth and surprise are on our side. Let's get in there, catch them, figure out what they are if we can. Then we can be loud if needed. <<
Thunderbolt snorts. >> Ok. How do we get this open quietly? << He looks at the skylight, for a way to open it, latch or the like, from the outside.
Latches are on the inside, sadly, but you can open it with a good yank, you're werewolves! Course, if that creakyass door was anything to guess by, this'll probably make some noise as well unless one of you happens to be carrying around an oil can or something.
The figure inside has not moved.
Patient Tempest looks up at the latches, wishes she had a good way to deal with them that wasn't loud. >> Do we crash, or have a better plan? <<
>> Crashing...well, it's how I earned my name, << Thunderbolt says. "So it can be worth it. Gets us down there. Fast. << He thinks a moment, >> Jinx-yuf, you rip. We jump down, you cover as you see fit? <<
Jinx gives a big thumb claw up to Thunderbolt, a nasty wolfish grin on his face. He bends low to grip the edge of the skylight, then rips it up when they are ready to go.
FAFO is ready to follow, watching as they come up with their plan of attack. He looks about the rooftop, making sure nothing else might be stalking them.
Patient Tempest will crash with them - after they go through first. They are the tanks... all three of them.
Once the skylight is torn off, Thunderbolt jumps down without hesitation, like his namesake. Black fur shrouded in mist, and with faint tracery of lightning's marks all over, radiating from a splotch on his chest at his heart. He snarls guttarally and when he crashes on the shadowy figure, wicked claws rake along its back before he moves to mkae sure the next wolf can jump in after.
The still, shadowy figure startles satisfyingly as a fucknormous werewolf crashes through the skylight overhead, putting it's hands up defensively, although what defense is there in a moment like this, right? Villam can FEEL this dudeas he slashes with claws, but there's no blood, no scream, it just evaporates like disturbed fog, a destroyed shadow-person. From a galaxy far far away, Admiral Akbar can be heard shouting, 'It's a trap!'
Patient Tempest, jumping down right after Villam, is the one that'll see the ACTUAL dude on the far side of the loft that had made that shadow copy of himself. "God damn, you guys are getting way better about your paranoia. Happy Halloween, mother fuckers!" This guy (dark haired, Caucasian, trendy goth clothing dude in obvious Glabro), makes as if to run from the pack and possibly hurl himself out of a window to accomplish this goal while the trap springs. The mists inside the building swirl and begin to shriek. They look like wraiths, but they are spirits, cause you're in the umbra. But they LOOK like spooky ghosts.
Patient Tempest chuffs to them all >> HE'S A SPIRAL METIS NO MOON! << Just what they need! >> LET'S GO! << Granted - where to go? This is the umbra and now they have spirits acting all spooky ghostlike.
Jinx watches Captain Smugston LeGoth deliver his gloat, then run for cover. Jinx's long arm reaches out to point, and with a thunderous boom does a little more reaching out and touching for good measure.
Jinx draws his aim on the target, nice and smooth, center mass. Bang! And the target goes down like a chump. The runner stopped at least for now, Jinx hops down from his elevated position to rejoin the group and back them up against the nasty ghosts. He lands on hind legs and free forepaw with a loud thud next to them, straightening up and surveying the room with a savagely satisfied grin. And then there's a creaking noise, and a snap. A look of confusion, then the floor gives out underneath him and he drops the rest of the way to the ground floor, going all the way down like a chump. He hits the ground like a dropped sack of potatoes, covered with black fur.
Even the ghosts look surprised for a second at the Glass Walker's bad luck and pause for just a second before going back on the offensive. "Garooooooooou!" they hiss hatefully as they rush at the pack, one for each of you! One has to go through the hole in the floor to get to Jinx though.
The Spiral, meanwhile, is gonna have a real long nap. He's so sleepy...
Patient Tempest sees the spirla go down, and then the ghostSpirits attack! She ain't having any of that and when the one comes after her, she CHOMPS it and CHOMPS it good! In fact, she even shakes it while her teeth sink in to just make it a chew toy and flung around a bit before she spits it out. >> RRRAAAARRRR!! <<
A ghost comes and buffets at Thunderbolt causing his fur to stand on end, and the lightning burn pattern in his fur gleam a bit, making him roar in anger as he tears back into the ghost with gleaming claws, rending it half apart.
Jinx snarls as he hauls himself back to his feet. At least he didn't lose his gun or have a negligent discharge. But the firearm is forgotten as the weird spooky spirit comes at him, and instinct sends claws slashing into the darkling horror instead of bullets. But that's ok, claws always work too.
The wraithly beings that are definitely not actually wraiths take their slashes at the garou with bony claw fingers, but damn are they not as big a threat as that Spiral Raggie thought they might be. Or that's your good luck for doing this in the umbra and spoiling all his fun. The spirits go incorporeal for a moment to regroup and reconsider their game plan here, giving the Garou just a smidgin of time to regroup themselves. The wraiths are hard to see, they blend in with the mist super well, sometimes there's a desicated face here or a skeletal hand there, but they're staying on the move, getting a new angle of attack.
Patient Tempest is going to wait for them to come back, but she's at the ready. Any thing appears and her teeth are going to sink in. She's just salivating at the chance now after they attacked them. >> We end the Wyrm spawn here tonight. All of it. <<
Jinx whirls back and forth a few times, then bounds back up the staircase to the landing with the others. He growls, favoring his left knee for a second while it resettles itself. He also aims a dirty look at the hole that had dropped him down earlier. >>Well, this is going swimmingly...<<
The mist begins to regroup, all three of the ghosts coming close together across the hole in the floor from the pack. As they solidify again, there's a building, palpable sense of hatred for the Garou and a growing scream of pain and rage. They're not really a match for a bunch'a Ahrouns and an Almostaroun, so they're making their Hail Mary at the same time Vil is comin at them claws first.
Patient Tempest turns her furry head away when the ghosts blast whatever they shatter and blast at them. It falls away from her. She's not having any of this, and her teeth are ready for action! She CHOOOOOOOOMPS into the closest ghost left and just rips it to shread of it's form self and you can almost hear the blu-blu-blu similar to the Pac-Man game!
Jinx turns to face the outside once he regroups with the others, and is not surprised nor disappointed the smoky hate skulls reappear. Once again it's clawberring time, and he delivers discriminate justice to the damned thing.
Thunderbolt snarls anger and the joy of battle, as he runs into the fleeing ghost, to tear it apart, reveling as the spirit disappates, its essence dispersed into nothing. >> Triumph! Success! And all that's left is to cleanse! <<
Glass flies, but much like in the movies, it's way cooler looking than it is damaging. Sure it makes an enormous mess, but it did not help the ghosts in the end. They fade into motes of musty dust when they're (re)murdered, a mournful wail following them and echoing into nothing. The Spooky Mists(tm) begin to thin and dissipate almost immediately, allowing the umbral moonlight in to set the shadows to rights. The army of geese walking over your graves have finally passed and now you're just in a NORMALLY spooky warehouse, not a haunted spooky one. The spiral is still dead, and thankfully there's no one here in the umbra to notice a big dead metis or blood spatter, so that's a bunch of cleanup you don't even have to do! Veil intact, woo!
Patient Tempest chuffs >> This whole building is going to need a lot of Cleansing. We'll need a team. But at least the enemy is dead. <<
