[Evan McCollach] Evan hade been pondering over the possibilities that are were left to him. There were few if any really, that he could take to Decker about what was to be done about Alaric. The poor kinfolk was going to die. The question was only how they would do it, put him down like a fallen one or bring him back to trial and perform a punishment rite upon him. But that was all there was available. And the evidence was stacked against him, over and over. Alaric was comdenmed. That was all there was too it and Decker knew it too.
He kept to the backyard, working over the punching bag that was created out of the metal muffler. But his fighting training was not just this, it only made him tougher. AM was going to make him a better fighter.
[Decker Rohl] (i was stitching together and posting up last night’s scene *grin*)
[James Wagner] James had been standing in the door way, leaning his hip and shoulder against the doorframe watching Evan. The majority of them, save AnneMarie, Randi and Tristan had gone out for the night and hadn’t returned till the wee hours of the morning. This was nothing new to him, seeing as how he hadn’t gotten back from his duties at the E-Sixx until then himself. Something had the Child of Gaia all worked up, and James would of liked to of been privvy to why.
“Ye ‘it th’ thin’ ‘ny ‘arder, an’ ye’re goin’ tae smash an ‘ole intae it,” he said to the Philodox. Punching bags were all well and good, but they didn’t hit back and they didn’t move around. The only real way to become a good fighter was to go out and fight.
[Decker Rohl] The sun is long down when Decker stirs out of the pile of blankets and clothes that served as bed-covering on his sleeping pallet. He pushes a shirt off his face. A pair of jeans falls to the floor. The Modi sits up and yawns hugely, stretching his jaws until they popped.
He pulls himself out. Dresses. Heads outside. The night air is balmy, pleasant. A few weeks of temperate weather before the cold. The clang-clang-clang of Evan’s knuckles on the big truck’s muffler draws him, and he steps into the yellowish light of the caged dockhouse lights.
[Evan McCollach] It was still warm, still felt like the grip of summer was not looking to let go. But he didn’t care at this moment. It really didn’t matter. He did long for the icy cool touch of winter and the ability to walk through the snow fields once more. He loved the feel of the chilly touch of snow under his feet.
“Well Annemarie is training me, this is just to toughen my knuckles some more.”
He did have the weight of what was to come on his shoulders, he knew that when the time came, he would be Alaric’s judge. And Alaric was going to die. It was a simple fact. That was all there was to it. Another one lost. Another soul corrupted.
“I wouldn’t worry about it though, there are always more mufflers.”
[James Wagner] James could well sympathize with Evan’s wish for winter to finally come. While the season here was a bit different than that of Ireland, James was well used to running through snowy paths chasing deer and frolicking like a newborn cub amongst the snowdrift. Fianna were used to cold, but perhaps not as well as the Get or other tribes.
“If’n ye want tae toughen yer knuckles, get yerself a bucket an’ fill it full o’ stones an’ punch tae th’ bottom. S’a bit bloody, but it works.”
Decker came up behind him, and James turned to let the Modi pass if he so chose. Scratching at his day’s growth of stubble, the Fianna moved to sit down some place. It’s been tense around here since his arrival; something had happened, but he wouldn’t pry.
[Decker Rohl] Decker grimaces at James’ suggestion. “Only a Fiann would think’a somethin’ stupid as that,” he mutters, but there’s no real vitriol in it. “Pro’lly after a night’a drinkin’.” As James moves aside, Decker steps out fully, kicking a crate ahead of him to sit on.
[Evan McCollach] He stopped hitting the muffler when Decker entered the scene. After the ongoings with Alaric, he did not want to just yet bring it up so quickly. It was Decker’s right to speak first, to act first if he so chose. He was the alpha and deference to one’s alpha was paramount.
He just stood there, his knuckles were black and blue now, but Evan didn’t feel them. He knew better, maybe later he would feel pain but right now he didn’t. He was just waiting.
[James Wagner] “Aye. Might b’right ‘t that, m’friend,” James said simply with a shrug. “Stupider things’ve been thought o’ when one’s drunk, if’n ye ken what I’m sayin’.”
The Galliard had already found himself a crate to sit on, but after a moment’s thought. “Any o’ye want somethin’ tae drink?” Rising, he made for the refridgerator that now had it’s fair stock of beer, perhaps more so with the recent presence of James. After all, he had built them a bar with a kegerator. Why not bring case after case of beer?
[Decker Rohl] Being a pack is something humans can’t understand. Being a pack of garou is something even wolves can’t understand. They are creatures are flesh and spirit, rage and gnosis. Blood is thicker than water, and pack is thicker than blood.
That Evan has something to say is perfectly apparent to Decker. Given time, they’ll be able to all but predict one another’s moves. Will be able to recognize the cadence of footsteps, and the very way the air stirs when a packmate enters the room.
That’s pack. Both more and less than family, more and less than friendship.
But James is there, and Evan isn’t speaking up. Decker doesn’t either, for a while. James can feel the tension underlying the easy conversation, but wisely enough, the Fianna keeps it light. Decker studies Evan for a moment, then flicks James a glance.
“Yeah.” Some decision has been made, just like that. Decker sits down on the crate. “Git us a coupla beers ‘n then have a seat, James. If yer gon’ join this pack, y’oughta know the bad as well’as tha good.”
[Evan McCollach] He stood besides the muffler still as James offered to get them both beer. “!
“None for me thanks.”
It would take James some time, but he would learn. Evan was no drinker, nor as he much of a smoker in anyway, even if Decker offered it to him again. And he waited for James to return before he spoke. Decker wanted James to listen and so he would.
“Well I guess now is best time as any to talk about Alaric.”
He paused again, if Decker wanted to stop him or say anything before hand he would not interrupt.
[James Wagner] Something was about to go down, that much was certain. As he stepped through the doorway to head to the kitchen, the tension was such that it could be cut with a knife. More accurately, with James’ waraxe. He’d stopped, listened, and nodded as he headed inside. Knowing the good as well as the bad was something that should come without saying. Sometimes airing one’s dirty laundry was strictly taboo, but in certain situations it was necessary; especially amongst friends or packmates.
If one was in earshot, the clink of glass bottles could be heard as the Fianna grabbed up a 12-pack of Killian’s Irish Red Lager and returned to the little gathering of men. It seemed to him he was going to have to hear some things he wasn’t going to like, and beer was necessary.
[Decker Rohl] Decker doesn’t stop him. In fact, he waits til James is back. Then — “Yeah. ‘s talk about Alaric.”
[AnneMarie Hoch] It is a gathering of Men for only a few moment’s more. Round the corner, to the yard, comes one Mute Modi, just as James returns and Decker says something. A quick glance takes in the muffler, Evan’s knuckles, and the briefest of smirks slides across her lips and away again. The kids determined, she’ll give him that. Soon, perhaps she won’t knock him on his ass quite as often.
She moves to his side, a chin up, and an unasked question flicked toward Decker. There’s talk brewing – she won’t intrude if they don’t allow it. Sometimes she can be damn accommodating. Other times, not so much.
[Evan McCollach] “There are no two ways about it, he is going to have to dealt with. If we do not put him down as a fallen one, there is no judgement that I could think from any judge that will allow him to not suffer the hunt.”
That was it, James was privy to this conversation as a perspective Eagle, less he would be forgotten. This was pack matter and this was going to be handled in pack. He was a Fostern Philodox, the pack philodox. He knew what was necessary and what had to be done.
[Decker Rohl] Put him down, Evan says, and Decker’s mouth hardens.
The modi takes a swig of beer before he answers. Good beer. Much better than the shit that usually stocked their iceboxes. He hardly tastes it, though he swishes it through his mouth before swallowing.
“Dealt with. Put down. He ain’t a dog, Evan. He’s a kin to the Get’a Fenris, ‘n until now he’s been loyal. Hell. He fell outta shortsightedness ‘n loyalty.”
[James Wagner] “Al’ric?” James queried. “Ye mean th’Kin?”
An eyebrow was cocked as he set about opening the 12-pack and handing out bottles of the amber-red beer. Guinness was good, but Killian’s was his favorite. Using his bottle opener on the key-ring he wore clipped to his belt-loop, he popped it open and took a swig. “Ye mean ‘e’s been tainted, aye?” James was a bit out of the loop on this one.
“Tainted, but by th’way ye’re all talkin’, I kin ‘ssume t’is more’n jes’ that.” Eyes flicked to AnneMarie. Perhaps Decker knew of her arrival, but either way he wouldn’t mind having her presence. It was a pack matter. A personal matter, it seemed.
[Decker Rohl] A glance to James. A mute nod to confirm Alaric is kin. Was, anyway.
“What kin be more’n bein’ Fallen?” he snorts — derisive. A shake of his head, “He sold himself to tha Wyrm, in exchange fer tha Changin’ blood. He ain’t known he was doin’ it, but ‘s what he did.”
[AnneMarie Hoch] She waits until the others have their beer or have turned it down, before she takes one. A crate is pulled up, and since there has been no telling her to go, she smooths her jacket along her hips and settles to sit. Slender legs cross, and she looks for all the world as if it is an expensive chair she sits on, rather then a crate. She has a way about her, her posture, that speaks of royalty – for all her blood tells tales of only theives and whores.
Blame her Grandmother, if you must. To AnneMarie, it is simply the way she is, and she puts no thought into it, or how others perceive it. Bottle is lifted to her lips, a swallow taken, and then it is rested against her knee as she listens.
[Evan McCollach] He lets Decker speak to James about what happened to Alaric. He turned to look at AnneMarie as she entered the meeting. He had just nodded to her, an Eagle nod. But he turned back to Decker.
“So too goes the lore of the white howlers and those of the skin dancers. But we must take down both of them, only hope that their spirits return to Gaia so they may be reborn clean.”
He didn’t like the fact that Decker was still looking at it as he was a get of Fernir kin. He had given himself over to the Wyrm, wholly and fuilly. The mark of the wyrm was upon him. He even disregarded Deckers words at the last chance. It was time to look beyond him being a kin of the tribe, he was no longer Alaric, he was Kinslayer now.
[Decker Rohl] Decker snorts, a blast of air, more aggression than humor.
“Don’t gimme that Coggie Philodox legends ‘n examples bullshit. You don’t think I know he has ta die, Evan?” His voice is quiet, and there’s a thread of steel in it. “You think, what, I want some sorta mercy fer ‘im, embrace ‘im back inta Gaia’s fold ‘n all that shit? There’s no way out fer Alaric. But there’s still a diff’rence between givin’ him a chance ta clear his name in death, ‘n butcherin’ him like a three-eyed Spiral mule. I will butcher him if I hafta, but I will not deny Alaric his right to an honorable death.”
[James Wagner] With a side-long look to Evan, he nodded a bit and weighed things in his mind. Evan was Philodox, and he was Galliard. To judge someone was not his ordained role in the Garou Nation, but to remember and tell the tales of those who have come and whom has gone.
“Th’White Howlers’re dead an’ gone, Evan,” James said. “If’n ye’ll ‘member, th’ Picts an’ they shared lands wit’ th’Celts. I’m willin’ tae bet that deep down wit’in th’twisted being that’s now Al’ric, th’lad’s still got some o’imself ‘n there.”
A wave of his hand, holding the beer, and he took another swig to wet his mouth. “If ‘e can nae be r’deemed, as ye all seem tae think, ‘e’s tae die. But from what I’m ‘memberin’, ‘e’s a warrior like th’rest o’us. We cannae set out tae slaughter ‘im like a curr dog, as ye well know. May’ap ‘ell r’deem ‘imself.
But did ye think that ‘e’s nae ‘n control o’imself ‘nymore? Th’mind’s workin’, but t’is someone else pullin’ ‘is strings.”
[Evan McCollach] He nodded to Decker. The fact that Alaric had to be killed was not up for an option. The kin-turned-manchanger was condemned in all manners of speaking.
“You saw him, he turned to you and said it himself. He fell. It he was willing to regain his honor he would not have let with those wanna-be fimbul wolves. He would have stayed and fought with us, against them. But he admited it, he had fell and went with them. He is no longer Alaric, he is… as they called him Kinslayer.”
That was all there was to it. He was given the option, he made his choice. He denied Decker and went with the fimbul wolves. He did turn to James.
“He turned his back on us. He left with the dark fimbul wolves. He chose.”
[AnneMarie Hoch] (Don’t wait on me, ya’ll. She’ll say something when she has something to say. *L*)
[Decker Rohl] Decker shakes his head, answering James first. “Even if someone’s pullin’ tha strings, he was weak enough ta gave ’em tha strings to pull in the first place. He let tha taint in. That’s unfergiveable to tha Fenrir.”
Then Evan speaks up again. Halfway through, Decker’s heard enough — “Be quiet, Evan. This ain’t a fuckin’ moot, ‘n flappin’ yer jaws at me ain’t gon’ change the facts. There ain’t no path but death fer him. We agree on that. But ’til he raises tooth ‘n claw against us, he still has the choice of an honorable death. He kin still side with us ‘n fight the ones that made ‘im this way ‘n go to his grave unashamed.”
[James Wagner] James nodded thoughtfully, the beer forgotten momentarily in his hand as he shifted on the crate beneath his ass. That one would willingly give himself over to the Wyrm was something he could not wholly imagine. “Could be that ‘e didnae know what was ‘appenin’ tae ‘im ‘ntil t’was too late. An’ when ‘e got tae that point ‘e knew t’was no turnin’ back.”
James shook his head. It was a waste, a definite waste. He had seen Alaric a time or two, and knew him to be a proud Fenrir like most of them were. The beer was remembered, and he took a swig. Sometimes, James felt he talked too much.
“T’is a thin’ b’twixt ye an’ ‘im,” he said. “Personal matter, more ‘r less, since ‘e’s ran wit’ ye longer’n I ‘ave. ‘Course, ‘e’s also deep down ye’re tribe’s Kin, Decker. I’ll be stayin’ outtae it ‘nless ye need me, an’ hol’ th’fort while ye ‘unt ‘im.”
[AnneMarie Hoch] A brow lifts slightly as Decker snaps at Evan, and she studies the latter for half a second or so, before tipping the bottle back for another long swallow of beer. She has no argument against Decker’s logic (though it is questionable if she would voice (Ha!) it anyway) as she is Fenrir herself. It is cut and dried. That they offer him an honorable death is their duty. If he turns it down, it is equally their duty to slaughter him without pause.
She has nothing to say that has not been said already, and thus continues to simply… listen.
[Evan McCollach] Decker had made it clear now when he snapped at him. The choice had been made. He had given his council as the best he could, but it was Decker’s final choice of what to happen. He understood and nodded.
Giving Alaric a chance to redeem himself was an honorable act, but he also hoped that it was also not one that was going to stab them in the back. Because if turn trusting backs on Alaric, it will give him ample opportunity to stab them in it.
[Decker Rohl] James’ voice snaps the tension for a moment. Diverts Decker’s attention, at least. “Yer right,” he replies. A faint huff of a laugh, humorless. “He ain’t known. Not ’til last night, I think. ‘s tha sickest part’a the joke.”
The Fianna taking a swig of his beer reminds him of his own. He knocks it back, then leans down to place it between his feet. A slow loose shake of his head, as though to clear it.
“But all that — that he ain’t known, ‘n that he might be a puppet’a the wyrm now — ‘s just reasons ta offer him an honorable way out. Not reasons ta fergive him his Fall.” The modi grimaces briefly, his mouth twisting. “He stunk like tha Wyrm, James. It weren’t the sorta taint you git livin’ too long in tha city, ‘r seein’ blood ‘n war tha war we do. It was the sorta taint you git dancin’ tha Spiral, ‘n if anyone’s ever come back from tha Spiral, I ain’t heard ’bout it.”
[Decker Rohl] (btw, what decker said wasn’t entirely true. there have been tales of tainted Garou who cleansed themselves in Erebus, the silver river, and returned. it’s VERY difficult, though, and only a handful have ever done it, so decker doesn’t know about it. if you want one of your chars to know about it, i don’t mind :P)
to AnneMarie Hoch, Evan McCollach, James Wagner
[James Wagner] ( Being a Galliard, it’s very likely James does. )
to AnneMarie Hoch, Decker Rohl, Evan McCollach
[Evan McCollach] (Evan wouldn’t know about Erbus, he is not that deep in the spiritual realms)
to AnneMarie Hoch, Decker Rohl, James Wagner, peer
[James Wagner] James took a slow, long breath, and exhaled it just as slow. He looked first to his beer, then around those gathered from AnneMarie, to Evan, and finally to Decker. He spoke of someone coming back from the Spiral, but.. “There’s been tales o’ those that’ve come back from th’Spiral tae fight fer Gaia ‘gain. Travelled tae Erebus ‘n th’ River o’ Silver, ‘course by what ye’re sayin’ I dinnae know if’n t’is possible fer Al’ric. ‘E didnae dance ‘ny Spiral; ‘n ‘ffect b’come a cross b’twixt a Garou ‘n a F’mori.
But ‘e stunk o’th’Wyrm, as ye say. We could be sittin’ ‘ere discussin’ th’ sit’ation till th’ Apocalypse, but…” James, again, shrugged and gave a wave of his hand. ” ‘E’s nae Gaian, Black Spiral Dancer, ‘e’s a creature.” James killed the beer and opened another one. He could certainly drink it like water.
[Evan McCollach] He turned to James as he spoke about tales of those coming back after dancing the spiral. Dippingin themselves in the silver river. He never knew about these tales, but this was a completely different case. He was no garou born that just lost his way. He was a kin who become a changer by killing someone lesser than him. He ate the flesh of another to gain such a power.
He had never heard of this type of position before, well not in this method. The Skin dancers could supposedly do it, but they stole skin of garou, killed them for it. He was similar and yet different at the same time.
[Decker Rohl] Decker glances at Evan for his reaction. The Philodox kept silent, though. Looked like he had something to say — plenty to say — but didn’t open his mouth. ‘course, Decker did just tell him to be quiet.
To James: “Tell me more ’bout Erebus.”
[James Wagner] James took a swig of the beer and looked to Decker. “I kin only be tellin’ ye what I’m knowin’ from legends, s’I dinnae know ‘ow ‘ccurate what I know’s bein’.
Erebus s’ akin tae a Purgatory sort o’ place, subterranean. Sort o’ like a grotto ‘r ‘n underground water system, ‘cept ‘nstead o’ water t’is liquid silver runnin’ through th’place. ‘Course, it’ll only cleanse somethin’ tha’s part spirit like a Garou ‘r somethin’. Cannae be used by th’Damned ‘r mortals. Ye’d need tae ‘ave Gnosis.”
A pause, and James added as an afterthought. “Legend ‘as it that t’is ruled by ‘n Incarna named Charyss.”
[Decker Rohl] Bathing in liquid silver. The very idea makes Decker’s skin crawl. “Cleanse,” he repeats. “What, even tha deepest wyrm-taint?”
[James Wagner] “E’en those that’ve danced th’Spiral, s’ th’legends say.” It made his skin crawl, too. No doubt it would burn worse than the hottest bath, but it was a cleansing sort of thing after all.
[Evan McCollach] He just watched James as he spoke about this place called Erebus, about what had to be done and what was neded to cleanse the individual. But this was not a normal situation. Alaric was a kin changed to a shifter. Maybe the shifter ability was apart of his taint, but maybe it was not. If he bathed in the silver river, would he lose that ability? Would he even accept it?
[Decker Rohl] “What d’ya think, Evan? If he turns against tha Dark Fimbulwolves, if he survives — worth a shot?”
[Evan McCollach] “If he turns against the wolves and if we can find out how to get to Erebus, it is worth a shot.’
[AnneMarie Hoch] Her brows furrow slightly, the barest expressions that tells them she is still with them, still listening, trying to figure out if this is viable or simply another legend not based in fact. Decker asks Evan’s opinion, and she shifts the weight of her gaze onto him.
Then, over the totemphone. Would Maya know more? Being a Theurge, and all…
[Decker Rohl] Decker’s eyes are intense on Evan as the Philodox voices his opinion. Part of him wonders if Evan’s just saying what he wants to hear. Most of him figures the young Child of Gaia has more backbone than that.
“She might.” He answers AnneMarie out loud, seamlessly. “‘ll axe her. James, dig through yer history books, ‘r whatever it is Galliards git they stories from. We hunt at daybreak, ‘n we’ll need as much infermation before then as poss’ble.”
A pause. A hesitation, really; rare. He picks the half-finished bottle of beer up and turns it over in his hands.
“Y’all’s pro’lly wonderin’ why I’m goin’ through so much trouble fer a fallen kin, huh.”
[James Wagner] James grinned a little bit. Galliards didn’t just get all their stories from written texts, but perhaps there were a few sources he could call overseas and get some informations. Usually the best stories and tales came from the Old World.
“I’ll be comin’ up wit’ somethin’, dinnae ye doubt!” he said and then chugged half the beer like it was water. Decker asked his question, and he quirked an eyebrow. “Was thinkin’ it, but if’n ye’d like tae ‘nlighten m’self?”
[Evan McCollach] There were other questions about this. He never dealt with anything about a Silver river, he had heard about punishment rites that the character would be rained in silver rain if guilty and would die, or be completely fine if innocent. This may be a more extreme form of such a punishment, a realm dedicated to cleansing punishments. But that was something he knew nothing of.
There were other questions that migth come from this, but those would be addressed when he comes back, if Alaric comes back.
“You have your reasons, you would tell us if you so wished.”
Sometimes Decker did things that they wouldn’t understand, but he had reasons for it.
[Decker Rohl] “‘s ’cause he’s one’a ours. Eagles fly alone,” the old sentiment is spoken like an incantation, “but ‘m done watchin’ ’em fall.”
There was a similar conversation with Moira, not too long ago. The echoes of that are in his mind as he gets up off his crate, kicking it out of the way. The modi sniffs once, harshly, and then nods Evan at Annemarie.
“Why don’t you two git some real practice in while I make that Questin’ Stone.”
[James Wagner] “M’self, I’ll be gettin’ ‘n findin’ out more ‘n Erebus,” he said and stood, heading inside to get on the phone.
[James Wagner] ( That’s it for me, guys! Night! )
[AnneMarie Hoch] She did not have the question, though she listened to the answer. It is simple to her, written in blood, in the mark of Eagle that even being a mule was not healed away without scar. Eagles fly alone, but they take care of their own. Always.
Thus, there’s only a slight smirk at the very last statement. And an openly challenging glance toward the Philodox.
[Decker Rohl] (thanks for the RP! night!)
[Evan McCollach] He looked at AM when Decker said they should get practice in. He knew that he had to train with AM, he asked to do so. And as she glanced at him, he just looked back at her, she was the Beta, she had proven it. But he was not going to be an easy mark anymore.
“Yes I think it is time for more training.”
[AnneMarie Hoch] She just watches him a long moment, before she tips her head back to drown the rest of her beer. She stands then, with a slow fluidity that bespeaks of the animal just under her skin. As she moves, a shrug of her shoulders pulls the leather coat down her arms, to be caught in hand, folded over and set aside. A roll of her head on her shoulders, roll of shoulders backwards, and a slow stretch.
Then she simply turns and faces Evan.
And waits.
[Evan McCollach] He looked at his knuckles, they were still a little bruised and what not. But he still couldn’t feel it, he still had the resistance to pain active.
“Should I let go of my gift to resist pain? Or shall we train with it anyway?”
He looked at her and just stretched a little bit. Getting himself ready for what was probably another beating. But he had been working on it.
[AnneMarie Hoch] Lips quirk slightly and she lifts a shoulder in a shrug. I can resist as well. Equal footing. So to speak. You would not let it go when encountering an Enemy. You must learn to judge any damage despite the lack of pain – else you misjudge and fall.
She gathers her will, and is then pain free herself.
[Evan McCollach] He smirked as he got himself into a stance to get ready for the attack. He knew that she was faster and stronger, he had to be smarter. That was all. He needed to work to his strengths because she would take him out.
“Ready when you are.”
[AnneMarie Hoch] I am always ready.
One step. Two and she is within range. And then she suddenly, without warning, waits no more. She doesn’t drop rage yet, just simply swings, with her right hand, aimed squarely at his jaw.
[Evan McCollach] (We rp’ing it, or rolling?)
to AnneMarie Hoch
[AnneMarie Hoch] (S’up to you. *L*)
to Evan McCollach
[Evan McCollach] (We can roll it, its just the two of us so it shouldn’t take long at all)
to AnneMarie Hoch
[AnneMarie Hoch] (alrighty- inits then?)
to Evan McCollach
[Evan McCollach] (Inits +6)
Dice Rolled:[ 1 d10 ] 7
[AnneMarie Hoch] (+7)
Dice Rolled:[ 1 d10 ] 7
[Evan McCollach] Evan moved towards her as well, he was going to try and get the hit in first, a quick jab to the gut. He wanted to see if he could get them in quickly, maybe if she was off for a second he could get the upper hand.
[AnneMarie Hoch] She’s never off – and gets in her hit first.
Dice Rolled:[ 7 d10 ] 1, 1, 2, 4, 4, 4, 8, 10, 10, 10 (Success x 2 at target 6) Re-rolls: 3
[AnneMarie Hoch] (dam)
Dice Rolled:[ 4 d10 ] 1, 3, 5, 7 (Failure at target 6)
[AnneMarie Hoch] (Hah. Apparently she’s toying with him. Yes. Thats it exactly.)
[Evan McCollach] She moved in to slug him, but as moved into it. He managed, by either luck or her just playign with him to have it glance off of his side. But that enabled him to hit her in turn.
Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 4, 4, 5, 8, 9 (Success x 2 at target 6)
[Evan McCollach] Damage
Dice Rolled:[ 4 d10 ] 3, 7, 7, 9 (Success x 3 at target 6)
[AnneMarie Hoch] (soak)
Dice Rolled:[ 4 d10 ] 1, 4, 5, 8 (Failure at target 6)
[AnneMarie Hoch] ((..this is gonna suck. *LMAO*))
[Evan McCollach] (Its only the first round, she still can kick his ass *laughs*)
Evan knew he had to press his luck when it came down to it, his body weight had him going foward, if he was lucky, he could swing his leg around and use it to his advantage.
(Kick to the ribcage)
[AnneMarie Hoch] He landed one, and there’s little reaction to it, as she follows through with an gut shot with her other hand. She is using no rage, no gift. Just sheer power.
(Come on Kahseeno! – and hey, I missed a die before. All well. Will ignore that, do it right this time. *L*)
Dice Rolled:[ 8 d10 ] 1, 4, 4, 5, 6, 6, 7, 9, 10, 10, 10, 10 (Success x 7 at target 6) Re-rolls: 4
[AnneMarie Hoch] (HAIL KAHSEENO!)
Dice Rolled:[ 9 d10 ] 1, 2, 3, 3, 3, 4, 5, 5, 7 (Failure at target 6)
[AnneMarie Hoch] (HAHAHAHAHAHAH)
[Evan McCollach] (Kick)
Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 2, 8, 8, 9, 10 (Success x 4 at target 7)
[Evan McCollach] (Damage roll)
Dice Rolled:[ 7 d10 ] 1, 2, 2, 2, 7, 10, 10 (Success x 2 at target 6)
[AnneMarie Hoch]
Dice Rolled:[ 4 d10 ] 1, 2, 2, 6 (Failure at target 6)
[AnneMarie Hoch] (this is embarrassing. I blame Jamie.)
[Evan McCollach] He knew she was making a connection, he knew that she was getting him. At least he thought she was hitting him, but he couldn’t understand it. He didn’t feel it the same way he felt it last time. She kicked his ass last time without a second though. Maybe he was just lucky, maybe he had gotten better. Maybe he was actually learning. Who knew. But as the kick came around and connected against her ribcage he could feel it, against her skin, he could swear he might have even broken a bone. Now he was going to throw himself into it, another punch, looking to see if he could get her down, maybe knock the wind out of her, especially with her ribs wounded.
(Another punch to the ribcage)
(And don’t worry, 1 roll and evan will be laid out)
[AnneMarie Hoch] He connects, and she feels something give. There is a whoosh of air from her lungs, but no expression of pain. Just determination. He comes at her just as she taught him (perhaps this is another lesson) to capitalize on his success with the previous hits. She reacts as well, throwing a kick of her own.
Dice Rolled:[ 8 d10 ] 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 8 (Success x 2 at target 7)
[AnneMarie Hoch]
Dice Rolled:[ 4 d10 ] 1, 1, 3, 4 (Botch x 2 at target 6)
[AnneMarie Hoch] (…no comment…)
[peek] (Hey!!)
[Evan McCollach] She had to be going easy on him, it had to be it. She was pulling her punches. She was making him feel better. He knew it.
Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 1, 1, 1, 4, 8 (Failure at target 6)
[peek] (Want me to start blowing on your dice, Less?)
[AnneMarie Hoch] (Im not sure!! *L*)
[Evan McCollach] And that was when it happened. Maybe she finally was going to play it for real, maybe she was just making him think he could beat her, just to turn on him later. But he wasn’t going to pull back now. She let him have it fine. He was not going to look a gift horse in the mouth
(Punch to the gut)
[AnneMarie Hoch] He misses the advantage, and there is still little to be read in her face, in her gaze. She lets nothing slip, there is simple the same relentless one punch at a time. Feeling him out, testing the way he had practiced. A metal muffler is not the same as a human body that moved and bends and shifts weight under each assault.
For her part. She swings. Again. Aimed for his jaw.
Dice Rolled:[ 8 d10 ] 1, 1, 3, 5, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10 (Success x 2 at target 6) Re-rolls: 1
[AnneMarie Hoch]
Dice Rolled:[ 4 d10 ] 4, 7, 10, 10 (Success x 3 at target 6)
[Evan McCollach] (Soak)
Dice Rolled:[ 3 d10 ] 2, 3, 9 (Success x 1 at target 6)
[Evan McCollach] (punch roll)
Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 2, 3, 5, 7, 9 (Success x 2 at target 6)
[Evan McCollach] (Damage roll)
Dice Rolled:[ 4 d10 ] 2, 5, 5, 9 (Success x 1 at target 6)
[AnneMarie Hoch] (soak)
Dice Rolled:[ 4 d10 ] 1, 3, 5, 10 (Failure at target 6)
[Evan McCollach] Another hit landed, another blow to the gut. She told him to keep pressing a wound when you got it, he was going to try his best to keep the wind out of her. Hitting her up again. He was not going to stop, not now. She was turning back on him, but he could feel it, her ribcage was starting to give way. He needed to knock her out cold now, knock the air out of her before she decided to get real serious.
(jumper cut to the gut)
[AnneMarie Hoch] He’s learned. She is a good teacher, for all her stoic silence. She has trained him to keep pressing the advantage, be it a rib caving in, a head caving in, a soft belly open to the spine of some wyrm beast. Press. Press. Press again.
She presses again, an uppercut jab under his jaw.
(HAILKAHSEENO(please?))
Dice Rolled:[ 8 d10 ] 1, 4, 4, 4, 5, 6, 9, 9 (Success x 2 at target 6)
[AnneMarie Hoch]
Dice Rolled:[ 4 d10 ] 3, 4, 4, 6 (Success x 1 at target 6)
[Evan McCollach] (soak)
[Evan McCollach] (soak)
Dice Rolled:[ 3 d10 ] 1, 3, 5 (Botch x 1 at target 6)
[Evan McCollach] (punch)
Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 4, 9, 10, 10, 10 (Success x 4 at target 6)
[Evan McCollach] (damage)
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 1, 2, 3, 3, 5, 9 (Failure at target 6)
[Evan McCollach] He could feel it, she was starting to get back into in. She messed with him before now and he had let it slip. She hit him in the jaw, staggering him off his punch, keeping him from hitting her gut properly. Maybe she was planning that. Now he knew she was going to press back. It was time. He swung, but this time for her jaw. She taught him to press, but never become predictable. Once you were predictable you lost your edge.
(Hook to the jaw)
[AnneMarie Hoch] She is judging each and every punch, his decision making, the time and thought between them. Think and fight, both at the same time. Ignore everything. Find your objective. Hit. hit. Hit again. Keep swinging until they’re down, or you cannot swing anymore.
He’s been practicing.
She doesn’t back down – just steps in and drives her fist in for his gut…
Dice Rolled:[ 8 d10 ] 2, 3, 4, 7, 7, 8, 8, 9, 10, 10, 10, 10 (Success x 9 at target 6) Re-rolls: 4
[AnneMarie Hoch]
Dice Rolled:[ 11 d10 ] 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 8, 8, 9, 9, 9 (Success x 6 at target 6)
[Evan McCollach] (Soak)
Dice Rolled:[ 3 d10 ] 1, 1, 7 (Failure at target 6)
[Evan McCollach] (*sinks down* dammit, someone get Jamie back here.)
[Evan McCollach] (Too late jamie)
[the roll messer-upper] (::dies::)
[AnneMarie Hoch] (*L*)
[the roll messer-upper] (I am so quoting you, Clark.)
[Evan McCollach] He readied himself to swing, thinking this time he would catch her again. And as he moved in, it seemed she was thinking just the same thing. If she swung at his jaw they would cross over, but she changed and as he came around he was a half second too slow, and that was all it needed. Instead of his weight going into his hook, it just drove in on her cross, and in that moment he no longer could breath, his fist falling shy of her jaw as he curled over and down to the ground.
And this time he thought he had her too.
[Evan McCollach] (*laments* Why oh why did you leave, I was actually getting successes with you here. That’s it. *attaches Jamie to his belt with steel link chain*)
[AnneMarie Hoch] He curls over her fist and falls to the ground, and she straightens and watches him for a long moment. He’d thought he had her, and she had let him do so. She sinks to a crouch by his side, and waits for him to come around enough to look up at her.
Truth be told, she rather enjoys this part.
[Evan McCollach] It was a couple of moments before he even stirred. She really knocked the wind out of him with that last blow. And as he groaned and tried to roll to his side, spitting up what phlem, spit and blood that had gathered in his mouth he felt himself instinctual trying to curl up into a ball, to protect his stomach.
Damn did it hurt.
[AnneMarie Hoch] He stirs, and she nods. Her hand comes down – fast – but only to clasp his shoulder.
Better.
She gives him that much – and for her, that is saying a lot indeed – before she stands and steps back so that he can gather himself together once again.
[the roll messer-upper] (I sorry, I couldn’t watch AM get her ass kicked anymore, it was too painful *LOL*)
[AnneMarie Hoch] (For that I am supremely grateful! *L*)
[the roll messer-upper] (Who loves ya, baby?)
[Evan McCollach] (Just out of curiousity)
Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 4, 4, 8, 9, 10 (Success x 3 at target 6)
[Evan McCollach]
Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 2, 3, 5, 6, 8 (Success x 2 at target 6)
[AnneMarie Hoch] (satisfies his curiosity)
Dice Rolled:[ 4 d10 ] 5, 7, 8, 10 (Success x 3 at target 6)
[Evan McCollach] (*clips Jamie to him for all times* Oh hell no. You ain’t leaving again.)
[the roll messer-upper] (*LOL*)
[Evan McCollach] He continued to try and gather himself together as he laid their. If that blow didn’t knock him out cold, he was, at the very least going to stun him cold. And he just continued to try and straighten out, maybe even get up.
Oh damn he definately had something fractured in there. He though he broke her rib, she definately broke one of his. Coughing here and there.
“Not… enough.”
[AnneMarie Hoch] She arches a brow slightly. You expect perfection after just a few lessons? One day, it will be enough. That day will come sooner then you think. You improve every time. That is more then most. Tell me what you did wrong.
She settles back to sit on the crate, and watches him.
[Evan McCollach] he movs to sit up, trying to just get his weight off the floor, but it was difficult. She got him good with that last blow. He could feel his lungs expand and contact and it hurt, he knew that they were broken somewhere inside.
“Could finish.”
He laud back on his forearms to try and ease his ribs for the time being. He seemed to mutter under his breath.
“Randi wanted you to teach her too…”
[AnneMarie Hoch] Maya can heal him up in short order, but she doesn’t suggest he do that right now. She won’t suggest it at all. She is Fenrir. If you hurt, you are still alive. That is enough. There are advantages to being metis, of course. She heals as she sits and speaks with him.
Not quite. You did well pressing the advantage – but had you switched it up once swing before, you would have held that advantage longer. I could read your decision to switch it up in your stance – to soon before you decided to throw the punch to the jaw.
[Evan McCollach] He watched her as she watched him, he would like to see her be on the receiving end on day. But for now she was not.
“So I acted to slow.”
[AnneMarie Hoch] She nods, slightly. Press the advantage. Injured spot, once, twice. I started to tighten, to come back, I know you felt it. You hit same again, instead of new territory. You thought first. You are still learning. You think and fight. By the time you lay me on the ground, you will fight on instinct. That is the goal.
She pauses, a moment. And then. The wyrmhound that was after the kin. You killed it in a single swipe. Why?
Not how, but why – based on what she just said.
[Evan McCollach] “I was in my war-form, easy kill.”
He actually waited until he had to, he didn’t think about it. He just moved on it without even worry. They were in danger, he had to protect Henry. That was all.
[AnneMarie Hoch] Wrong.
She waits.
[Evan McCollach] “I waited until it was upon me, then I just clawed it to death. Simple as that.”
He looked at her as she seemed to just stare back at me. He had to get up, later when she was gone he would chnage again and heal quicker.
[AnneMarie Hoch] She shakes her head, stands and grabs her coat. You come to the right answer automatically. You think and give me another. Next time I will not give it to you. A pause, to be sure he understands the lesson she teaches. Then.
You killed it because you did not think. You acted on instinct. You grabbed Eagle strength, you held your ground, found your advantage and struck – all without thought. You have that instinct in you – no matter what form, what situation. You must learn to trust it.
And she turns to go inside, and see to Sniper’s dinner, and her own. He can follow, or not. The choice is his.
[Evan McCollach] He let her go inside. He migt have actually followed if it didn’t hurt so damn much. He did force his rage through his veins and muscles until they contorted and pushed, moving himf from his normal human form to something semi-human.
It should get him healing quicker soon enough.
[Evan McCollach] (I think this is a good time to call it a scene. I am starting to crash)
to AnneMarie Hoch
[AnneMarie Hoch] (Alright – thanks for the scene! And no more secreting Jamie around. The REAL (ooc) reason ya got that wyrmhourd in one hit. SAVING JAMIE. Clearly SHE is Kahseeno’s favorite.
to Evan McCollach, the roll messer-upper
[the roll messer-upper] ( :D )
to AnneMarie Hoch, Evan McCollach
[Evan McCollach] (Yes Jamie is my roll savior, you are attached to my hip, my hip I tell ya)
[AnneMarie Hoch] (Harumph! *g*)