[Murphy] *Overcast. It seemed to be a constant in Chicago this summer. Whether it was because of being next to a large body of water or something more ominous who can say? Those who knew the truth of things, knew that underneath the facade of normality that supernaturals had cooked up for mortals may have suspected something else, or might have simply not given a second thought. Either way the air was thick tonight, almost heady with anxious anticipation. Something might break off. Might go down.
At least that’s what Dietrich Burke though. Dietrich had grabbed Charlie to come along on this hunt. His pack was elsewhere and tonight was his moon. He wanted to hunt, a primal need pulling at him. And Bronzeville had become Ground Zero for him.
It had been a simple “Charlie? Hunt?” and that was it. The Silverfang hadn’t said much else as he drove around in his SRT-10 looking for something to get into, patrolling the area like a soldier in an armored vehicle waiting for an excuse to unleash his fury.
Dietrich turned at the corner, and drove up the block at a cruising. So far nothing. His face was stoic and focused on scouting out the area.*
[Charlie] It’s been a week that he’s felt like this, like his skin is crawling with the new well of anger roiling under the surface, like he has to focus overlong on something tranquil to get his mind off of that driving need to kill. A week is a long time when one’s entire life has been spent with a relatively peaceful amount of Gaia’s fury–relatively, because compared to the fuller moons of the Nation, the typical Theurge is mellow if not entirely in possession of all of his marbles.
Lights Out is not mellow tonight. He’d all but jumped at the opportunity to go with White Oak because he can’t tolerate being at The Brotherhood tonight, the roof isn’t cutting it and he can’t stand the thought of someone else finding him at the Caern and asking him that damnable question of Is everything alright? or even worse, What’s wrong? It’s as though a greater burden of Rage is something that can be fixed, and it isn’t. It’s something that has to be adjusted to, and so far, he hasn’t been adjusting. He’s been casting a blind eye toward it.
So he’d cranked down the window of the SRT-10 and stuck his arm out into the night so that he didn’t feel quite so cooped up, and rather than making conversation he helped the Ahroun scour the streets for something amiss.
His eyes are sharp, and he seems to hardly blink even with the wind whipping into the cab.
[Maija] The more things change…
In the days since Wahya’s sudden reappearance, and assurance that on some level he DOES care for the gnawer girl, even if it’s never going to be anything, she’s at least not felt quite so alone. Though in reality – she is. She spends a whole bunch of time in solitude, not really reaching out. Those of her neighborhood have gotten used to her working at the bbq joint, and seeing her walking down the street to the corner store, than back to disappear into her apartment. It’s a routine, simple and rarely varied.
Thus, she steps from the doors of the corner store, a single canvas bag hanging from her hand (GO GREEN it proclaims cheerfully) as she steps to the street, hand tucked into the pocket of her jeans. No hoodie tonight, just jeans and a tank top, scuffed up boots covering a frame that is still far too thin.
[Murphy] *As Maija was coming out of the corner store four individuals, three men and a woman were just outside walking up. Two of the men looked strikingly similar, more so then identical twins ever could be. They were bald, not even eyebrows on their faces, slender builds, almost a lanky body frame. Both were average height, five and half feet tall, wearing jeans, t-shirts, red suspenders, and dock martins with red laces.
The other man with them was the opposite in stature. Standing almost seven tall, and close to four feet wide, with hands that were about as big as Maija’s face, and a jaw so wide up close it looked like the bones stuck out just past this head. One could say the man actually had jowls giving him an almost bestial appearance
But it was the woman, blond haired, blue eyed, deathly pale skin wearing a shirt that says “Pwn Dumbass T-shirt Sayings”, black cargo pants, and combat boots who grabs Maija’s arm.*
“No no peaches. You can’t leave just yet. The party’s just getting started.” *And with a surprising strong grip, and more power then her slender frame would suggest she pushes Maija back into the store as the four of them enter behind her.
All of this is taking place on Charlie’s side of the street. Dietrich looking in the opposite direction to head the other way, away from the corner store in just a bit.*
[Charlie] The appearance of red suspenders and that mammoth third individual exiting the store catches Charlie’s attention a split second before he recognizes the dishwater-blond hair and thin build that belongs to the Gnawer kinswoman he hasn’t seen in over a month. The last time they were in each other’s company they had had a conversation that managed to stick out in Charlie’s memory if only because of the potency of it; they’d spoken of matters of autonomy and the worth of others’ opinions, and though it’s faded with time, he can still remember her.
It wouldn’t matter whether he recognized her or not. Those three coming out of the store are looking for trouble, and the moment one of their hands lands on the thin girl’s elbow, Charlie is whipping his attention away from the curb and going for the door handle.
Apparently he’s not going to let the truck stop before he barrels out into the street.
[Maija] …peaches? Oh no she didn’t….
Her arm is grabbed, and Maija head snaps around to look at the woman, and her three companions. She does something she learned last time she leapt without looking – she hesitates in order to assess the situation. Last time she hadn’t, she ended up in the hospital with a worried Will hovering nervously by her side.
(….oh Will. It’s been a long time since she’s let thoughts of him surface…)
Other girls would scream. Other girls would flail and kick and scratch and yell. Maija doesn’t. Instead, she lets the arm now held by the woman hang limp, her grip on the canvas bag handles tightened so as not to drop it, while her free hand shoves deeper into the pocket of her jeans, circling around something there, her grip familiar and sure.
Her gaze darts around quickly, taking in each of the four, and the surroundings – as well as who’s in the store, and locations as she’s porpelled back inside.
And she says nothing. Nothing at all.
[Murphy] *It’s a small corner convenience store, the counter perpendicular to the front door, with the liquor behind the counter along with the tobacco products. Four aisles of various food stuffs, with a few over the counter medicines, and cheap plastic toys. the beer and soda coolers behind that. There was maybe enough space between for a man-sized person to walk through, but it was tight quarters, space at a premium even in Bronzville.
The middle aged, white man named Ricky who Maija had come to know on a friendly, passing basis of “Hey what about this weather we’re having?” could only get out “Hey can I-“
before he was grabbed, hoisted off his feet, his head slammed into the cigarette case above him, gash instantly appearing on his forehead as packs of smokes rained to the floor.
He was slammed down on the counter, and then Big Man’s mouth became a maw widening, spliting in three places to reveal rows of sharpened yellowish teeth before he proceed to rip Ricky’s throat out with a cruel chomp, arterial red blood spraying the Big Man’s face, and the lighter display, along with the Take a Penny tray.*
*Charlie was out of the truck, heading to the store. Dietrich called out* “Charlie! What the-” *He didn’t wait for answer, he’d back Charlie’s play whatever the hell it was. Truck parked, belt off he was stepping out of the cab already behind in this fight.*
[Inits!]
[Murphy] (Inits for Wyrm NPCs)
Dice Rolled:[ 1 d10 ] 10
[Charlie] [+6]
Dice Rolled:[ 1 d10 ] 6
[Murphy] (Inits for the Dee Meister)
Dice Rolled:[ 1 d10 ] 2
[Maija] (+7!)
Dice Rolled:[ 1 d10 ] 6
[Murphy] Initiative order:
Blue Eyes: 16
Big Man: 15
Fric: 14
Frac: 14
Maija: 13
Charlie: 12
Dietrich: 8
(Special Note on placing: Big Man is at the counter chomping on Ricky, Blue Eyes is by the door watching the sight with glee, Fric and Frac are entering the store starting to head down the islies.
Maija is just inside between Blue Eyes and Big Man. Charlie is outside about 20 feet from the door. He can see Maija, Big Man, and Blue Eyes. Her back is to him. Dietrich is near the truck. As of this moment there are no pedestrians on the street outside)
[Murphy] (Declare:
Regular: Shift to Glabro, move to catch up to Charles in Charge.)
[Charlie] [Reflexive: “In the store! They’ve got Maija!”
Action: Sprint to the store.]
[Maija] Declare: Already got the switch blade in hand, pull and stabbity blue-eyes…
[Charlie] [Taking the ST’s advice and redeclaring *LOL*
Reflexive: Sprint to the store, snap-shift to Glabro [-1 Rage]
Action: Punch Blue Eyes.]
[Murphy] (Declare: Fric and Frac: Fuck ya! Destroy random shit! Woot! We’re vandals! We rule!)
[Murphy] (Declare: Big Man: I’m eatin’ Ricky. Leave me alone.
Blue Eyes: Grab Maija’s wrist! “Switch blade?!? I’m gonna fuck your ass with that bitch!” Dex + Brawl to disarm the poor whittle kin.)
[Murphy] (Dex + Brawl to disarm, resist with Dex + Brawl Maija. Diff 6 for Maija, Diff 7 for Blue Eyes)
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9 (Success x 2 at target 7)
[Maija] (oh HELL NAW BI-ATCH!)
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 1, 6, 7, 8, 8, 8 (Success x 4 at target 6)
[Murphy] (Fric & Frac: Smash, Smash, Big Man: Chomp, Chomp. Go Maija, -2 diff to hit Blue Eyes)
[Maija] (STABBITY! HAIL KAHSEENO!)
Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 2, 3, 4, 6, 7 (Success x 3 at target 4)
[Maija] (Damage!)
Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 2, 4, 6, 8, 9 (Success x 3 at target 6)
[Murphy] (Soak on Blue Eyes)
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 1, 3, 7, 7, 9, 10 (Success x 3 at target 6)
[Murphy] (Charles in Charge, Back attack -2 diff)
[Charlie] [Brawl+Dexterity: DONKEY PUUUUUNCH! -2 diff (rear attack).]
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 2, 2, 5, 6, 8, 10 (Success x 4 at target 4)
[Charlie] [Damage: Strength +1 (Bear) +2 (Glabro) +3 (suxx).] [B]
Dice Rolled:[ 9 d10 ] 1, 1, 3, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, 10 (Success x 2 at target 6)
[Murphy] (Soak for Blue Eyes)
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 1, 1, 3, 6, 8, 10 (Success x 1 at target 6)
[Murphy] (Stamina + Primal Urge)
Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 1, 1, 2, 4, 6 (Botch x 2 at target 7)
[Murphy] (Shit hurts yo.)
Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 1, 1, 3, 3, 6 (Failure at target 6)
[Murphy] *Things are moving fast and furious now. Big Man is ripping apart Ricky on the counter, Fric and Frac and breaking things in the aisles, smashing them on the floor yelling out, general hell raising.
The action however is near the door. Maija produces a blade, Blue Eyes goes for it, misses the grab, Maija slips under her guard, and hits the woman’s breast bone but all she gets for her stab is the blade stops, no penetration. Meanwhile Charlie manages to hit her in the back, knocking some of the breath outta her.
Dietrich meanwhile she trying to shift and move, two things that tonight that aren’t working in his favor. He yells out as his body locks off, and gets him off in mid stride to the door, spasms wracking his body for the moment.*
[New Inits!]
[Murphy] (Edit: Body locks UP, CUTS him off.)
[Maija] (+7)
Dice Rolled:[ 1 d10 ] 3
[Murphy] (Wyrm Peeps)
Dice Rolled:[ 1 d10 ] 3
[Charlie] [+6]
Dice Rolled:[ 1 d10 ] 1
[Murphy] (Dee Mister)
Dice Rolled:[ 1 d10 ] 8
[Murphy] Dietrich: 14
Maija: 10
Blue Eyes: 9
Big Man: 8
Charlie: 7
Fric & Frac: 7
(Note: Dietrich is stunned for the round due to spasms.)
[Murphy] (Fric and Frac: Is something happening? Are we being attacked? Reg Action: See what’s happening.)
[Charlie] [Split Action: Punch/Punch Blue Eyes.]
[Murphy] (Big Man: Declare – Stop Chomping, and get that little tasty Maija. That looks good. Fuck Blue Eyes.
Blue Eyes: Fuck you!
Regular Action: Grapple Charles, Hold
Rage: Action Bite)
[Maija] [well FINE then. Split action, swing canvas bag o’juice n fruit at Big Man, and stabbity with the other hand.]
(this has the potential to end badly. heheh.)
[Murphy] (Dietrich: OH MY EYES!.) *Dietrich twitches. Go Maija.*
[Maija] (SWING BAG SWING!)
(Dex + melee = 5 —- +1 diff, -2 for split)
Dice Rolled:[ 3 d10 ] 4, 4, 6 (Failure at target 7)
[Maija] And stabbity… – 3 for split.. HAIL KAHSEENO!
Dice Rolled:[ 2 d10 ] 7, 8 (Success x 2 at target 6)
[Maija] (dam!)
Dice Rolled:[ 3 d10 ] 1, 8, 10 (Success x 1 at target 6)
[Murphy] (Soak)
Dice Rolled:[ 7 d10 ] 1, 2, 2, 3, 4, 4, 8 (Failure at target 6)
[Murphy] Grapple Charlie:
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 8 (Success x 5 at target 6) [WP]
[Charlie] [Brawl+Dexterity: Block That Shit! -1 diff (ST sez so).]
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 1, 1, 2, 7, 8, 9 (Success x 2 at target 5) [WP]
[Murphy] (Big Man: Dex + Brawl: Gapple Clinch: One hand on her neck. I’m pissed!)
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 1, 3, 4, 4, 6, 9 (Success x 1 at target 8) [WP]
[Murphy] (Fric and Frac: Hey shit is going on! We’re totally winning! Let’s laugh! Okay lets!.) *They laugh*
[Murphy] Rage Actions:
Bite Charlie on his neck +2 diff for loc, -2 for being held. Diff 6)
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 1, 1, 5, 5, 6, 10 (Failure at target 6)
[Murphy] *Fric and Frac laugh, the Big Man grabs Maija by the nec, Dietrich is on the ground, the Blue Eyes woman had Charlie locked in an arm bar. She stretches out his shoulder to bite his neck, but the twists his body, pulls a muscle or two that will heal in sort order, flexes his Glabro shoulder muscles and her fangs, bite is met with only skin, no blood.
It’s going to shit in a hurry for Charlie, Maija is being lifted off the ground by her throat, laughter, and some bitch is holding him. A kin is ready to die and he’s being fucking held… Wouldn’t it piss you off too?*
(Same inits: Charlie and Dietrich gain a point of Temporary Rage. Charlie also gains a point of Temp WP. Time to step up.)
[Murphy] (Maija roll soak against 3 bashing from slow squeeze)
[Maija] (…this isn’t amusing. Soak baby!)
Dice Rolled:[ 2 d10 ] 8, 10 (Success x 2 at target 6)
[Murphy] (Declare: Fric & Frac: “Yeah don’t kill her quick! Save some for us!” Regular Action: Be Peanut Gallery)
[Charlie] [Reflexive: Snap-shift to Crinos [-1 Rage.]
Split Action: Claw/Claw Big Man. Rage Action: Summon Fire Elemental.]
[Murphy] (Big Man: Drop Maija. Fuck You Garou!
Action Split Action: Bone Spurs Claw/ Claw)
[Murphy] (Blue Eyes: Ah Garou! Fuck this noise! “FRAC! FRAC! Stop fucking around!”) Reg Action: Back the fuck up!
[Maija] Lift ME by the throat will you…
Slice and dice at the arm holding her with her switchblade.
[Murphy] (Dietrich: GET IN THE GAME FUCKER!
Spending Temp WP to focus, spending Rage to get body under control
Rage to Snap Shift into Hispo
Split Action: Move/ Bite Blue eyes)
[Murphy] (Dietrich: Bite – Dex 3 + 2 for Hispo + 3 Brawl + 1 for Totem bonus – 3 dice)
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10 (Success x 4 at target 5)
[Murphy] Blue Eyes Defends
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 2, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9 (Success x 2 at target 6)
[Murphy] (Damage: Str 3 + 3 for Hispo + 1 for Bite + 1 for Hispo Maw + 1 for extra sux)
Dice Rolled:[ 9 d10 ] 1, 6, 7, 7, 7, 8, 8, 10, 10 (Success x 7 at target 6)
[Murphy] (Soak)
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 2, 4, 4, 4, 7, 9 (Success x 2 at target 6)
[Maija] (-1 diff cuz ST sez!)
Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 3, 4, 4, 7, 10 (Success x 2 at target 5)
[Maija] (BITE DEEP BLADE!)
Dice Rolled:[ 3 d10 ] 8, 8, 9 (Success x 3 at target 6)
[Murphy] (Fuck Defending. I’m soakin!)
Dice Rolled:[ 7 d10 ] 1, 3, 3, 7, 8, 9, 9 (Success x 3 at target 6)
[Murphy] (Blue Eyes be Stunned.
Big Meng! Formori Wolverine, *snick, snick* 1st attack)
Dice Rolled:[ 4 d10 ] 2, 3, 4, 6 (Success x 1 at target 6)
[Murphy] (Damage: Str 5 + 1 claws)
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 2, 4, 4, 7, 7, 9 (Success x 3 at target 6)
[Charlie] [Soak: Stamina +3 (Crinos).]
Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 3, 4, 4, 10, 10 (Success x 2 at target 6)
[Murphy] 2nd Attack
Dice Rolled:[ 3 d10 ] 1, 5, 8 (Success x 1 at target 6) [WP]
[Murphy] (Damage: Str 5 + 1 claws)
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 2, 3, 7, 8, 10, 10 (Success x 4 at target 6)
[Charlie] [Soak: Stamina +3 (Crinos).]
Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 6, 7, 8, 10, 10 (Success x 5 at target 6)
[Charlie] [First Split Action: Brawl+Dexterity (+1): Claw Big Man. -2 pool (split).]
Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 1, 3, 7, 8, 9 (Success x 2 at target 6)
[Charlie] [Damage: Strength +1 (Bear) +4 (Crinos) +1 (claw) + 1 (suxx).] [A]
Dice Rolled:[ 10 d10 ] 1, 3, 3, 7, 7, 8, 8, 9, 10, 10 (Success x 6 at target 6)
[Murphy] (Soak)
Dice Rolled:[ 7 d10 ] 2, 2, 3, 6, 7, 9, 10 (Success x 4 at target 6)
[Charlie] [Second Split Action: Brawl+Dexterity (+1): Claw Big Man. -3 pool (split).]
Dice Rolled:[ 4 d10 ] 4, 4, 5, 8 (Success x 1 at target 6)
[Charlie] [Damage: Strength +1 (Bear) +4 (Crinos) +1 (claw) + NOTHING.] [A]
Dice Rolled:[ 9 d10 ] 1, 2, 3, 3, 5, 5, 6, 6, 8 (Success x 2 at target 6)
[Murphy] (Soak)
Dice Rolled:[ 7 d10 ] 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9 (Success x 1 at target 6)
[Murphy] (Fric and Frac: Oh shit! We should do something! Okay! Pistols? Yeah pistols! Cool!) *Changing actions to pull pistols*
[Charlie] [Rage Action: Rituals+Wits: Summon Fire Elemental.]
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 4, 6, 7, 7, 8, 10 (Success x 6 at target 5) [WP]
[Charlie] [Gnosis: GET OVER HERE!]
Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 1, 2, 3, 8, 9 (Success x 1 at target 7)
[Murphy] *Oh how the tides of battle can turn. When it looked like the Garou and their Kin were in the hurt locker, White Oak, Ahroun Silverfang, and Lights Out, Theurge of the Black Furies get mean… Just redline mad dog fuckin’ mean.
Dietrich crashed through the glass doors, shoving them aside with the thunderous bulk of his Hispo form. Tearing into the mid section of Blue Eyes. Big man sees Charlie shift from the near man, into the war form… A Crinos Garou. And although he doesn’t feel the pin prick Maija gave him from her stab to his rib cage, he swipes at Charlie, cutting him slightly once along Charlie’s left forearm, and then other slides off his fur.
Charlie pays him back in kind, but with more force, teeth gnashing, claws coming down like sharpened war hammers. One, two, blows connect, as the Big Man blocks a good deal of the force but feels the pain, gritting now as Charlie focuses on the Formor’s left arm.
And then someone turned on the Smoking Lamp…*
(New Init Order:
Dietrich: 15
Maija: 11
Blue Eyes: 9
Charlie: 8
Big Man: 7
Fric & Frac: 7
All Garou and Kin get +1 Init due to tide turning)
[Murphy] (Fric and Frac: Shoot Dietrich! Holy shit!
Big Meng: RAWR! Fuck you! Now you die Garou!
Attack Charlie: Claw/ Claw)
[Charlie] [Charlie
Split Action: Claw/Claw Big Man. Rage: Claw Again!
Toasty the Fire Elemental
Split Action: Blast Fric/Blast Frac.]
[Murphy] (Blue Eyes:
Claw/Claw Dietrich
Rage Action: Bite Dietrich!)
[Maija] Whooooooa nelly! whole lotta claws flying round – nothing to do but crouch n swing – blade to the BALLS you big meng bastard!
[Murphy] (Dietrich:
Rage To Snap Shift into Crinos, Rage Activate Falcon’s Grasp
Regular Action: Grapple Clinch Blue Eyes, Use her as a Shield, Fuck you Fric and Frac.
Rage Action: Bite the Bitch)
[Murphy] (Grapple: Strength 3 + 4 for Crinos + 3 Brawl + 1 for Totem + 3 for Falcon’s Grasp)
Dice Rolled:[ 14 d10 ] 1, 2, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 7, 7, 7, 8, 8, 9 (Success x 8 at target 6) [WP]
[Maija] (SLICE N DICE! HAIL KAHSEENO! )
Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 1, 2, 5, 8, 9 (Success x 1 at target 6)
[Maija] (str 2 + 4 cuz ST sez)
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 2, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 (Success x 1 at target 6)
[Murphy] (Soak Big Meng)
Dice Rolled:[ 7 d10 ] 1, 1, 2, 2, 3, 10, 10 (Failure at target 6)
[Murphy] (Blue is Held like a Boss! Charlie, and Smokie you’re up!)
[Charlie] [First Split Action: Brawl+Dexterity (+1): Claw Big Man. -2 pool (split).]
Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 1, 5, 7, 8, 8 (Success x 2 at target 6)
[Charlie] [Damage: Strength +1 (Bear) +4 (Crinos) +1 (claw) +1 (suxx).] [A]
Dice Rolled:[ 10 d10 ] 1, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 7, 8, 10 (Success x 2 at target 6)
[Murphy] (Soak: I’m tough! Really!)
Dice Rolled:[ 7 d10 ] 3, 4, 6, 7, 10, 10, 10 (Success x 5 at target 6)
[Charlie] [Second Split Action: Brawl+Dexterity (+1): Claw Big Man. -3 pool (split).]
Dice Rolled:[ 4 d10 ] 1, 3, 5, 9 (Failure at target 6)
[Charlie] [Smokey
Twink Time! Fric and Frac each get 5A courtesy of the split Blast. No roll for this.]
[Murphy] (Big Meng: Claw: 6 -2 – 1)
Dice Rolled:[ 3 d10 ] 3, 6, 7 (Success x 2 at target 6)
[Murphy] (Damage)
Dice Rolled:[ 7 d10 ] 3, 4, 4, 6, 7, 7, 8 (Success x 4 at target 6)
[Charlie] [Soak: Stamina +3 (Crinos).]
Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 2, 4, 5, 5, 7 (Success x 1 at target 6)
[Murphy] Claw: 2
Dice Rolled:[ 2 d10 ] 7, 9 (Success x 2 at target 6)
[Murphy] (Damage)
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 2, 3, 4, 8, 8, 10 (Success x 3 at target 6)
[Charlie] [Soak: Stamina +3 (Crinos).]
Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 1, 1, 8, 9, 9 (Success x 1 at target 6)
[Murphy] *Rage Action: Dietrich stretches her out. Bites down on her neck. Dex 3 + 1 for Crinos + 3 Brawl + 1 for Totem -2 Diff for woman being held but still struggling)
Dice Rolled:[ 8 d10 ] 1, 3, 3, 3, 4, 5, 7, 10 (Success x 6 at target 3)
[Murphy] (Damage: Str 3 + 4 for Crinos + 1 for Bite + 5 sux)
Dice Rolled:[ 13 d10 ] 2, 2, 4, 5, 5, 6, 6, 7, 9, 9, 9, 9, 10 (Success x 8 at target 6)
[Murphy] (Soak for Blue Eyes)
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 10 (Success x 2 at target 6)
[Murphy] (Oh Fric and Frac are rolling around on the ground burned.)
[Charlie] [Rage Action: Brawl+Dexterity (+1): Claw Big Man. -5 pool (Mauled).]
Dice Rolled:[ 2 d10 ] 5, 7 (Success x 2 at target 6) [WP]
[Charlie] [Damage: Strength +1 (Bear) +4 (Crinos) +1 (claw) +1 (suxx).] [A]
Dice Rolled:[ 10 d10 ] 1, 2, 3, 5, 5, 7, 8, 9, 9, 9 (Success x 4 at target 6)
[Charlie] [Scratch that!]
[Charlie] [Rage Action: Brawl+Dexterity (+1): Claw Big Man. Spending WP to ignore wound penalties.]
Dice Rolled:[ 7 d10 ] 1, 1, 3, 3, 6, 8, 9 (Success x 1 at target 6)
[Charlie] [Damage: Strength +1 (Bear) +4 (Crinos) +1 (claw) + NOTHING!] [A]
Dice Rolled:[ 9 d10 ] 1, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9 (Success x 1 at target 6)
[Murphy] (Soak 7)
Dice Rolled:[ 7 d10 ] 5, 5, 6, 6, 7, 9, 10 (Success x 5 at target 6)
[Murphy] *Toe to Toe in the arena. Lights out and the Big Man slugged it out, trading blows. This round the cards went to Big Man, making the Theurge pay the price for standing tall. Maija grazed the large Formor’s groin with her knife, enough to bleed him, but his body was numbing up. Charlie’d been brutalized but he refused to go down, throwing another shot to no a affect.
Smokie burned Fric and Frac, leaving them screaming, suffering third degree burns on all their exposed flesh, clothing burned away in an instant. They rolled around on the floor only serving to leave little pieces of burnt tissue, and muscle sticking to its surface causing them more pain.
Dietrich grabbed a hold of Blue Eyes like she was a rag doll, hoisting her up in front of him like a shield, but once Fric and Frac were down no more use for her, he stretched her out and promptly bit into her neck, and seperated her head from her body with a quick vigorous shake of his jaws.
With a wet thud he let her now headless corpse drop to the floor and turned his attentions to Charlie and the Big Man.
Init Order:
Dietrich
Maija
Charlie and Smokie
Big Meng
[Murphy] (Big Meng: FIGHT!
Claw Attack to Charlie!)
[Charlie] [Charlie
Action: Claw the Fuck Out Of Big Man.
Smokey
Blast Big Man.]
[Maija] They’re trading blows over her head, and Frik and Frak are rolling about in pain. She leaves the Garou to take care of big man, scurries over and does her best to silence the screaming peanut gallery – a quick slice across the throat should do it, right? Right.
(Cut the throat of the closest one, first.)
[Murphy] (Declare: Grapple Big Meng From Behind. Assist Charles)
[Murphy] (Grapple: Strength 3 + 4 for Crinos + 3 Brawl + 1 for Totem + 3 for FG -2 Diff)
Dice Rolled:[ 14 d10 ] 1, 1, 4, 4, 4, 6, 7, 7, 7, 7, 8, 8, 9, 9 (Success x 10 at target 4)
[Murphy] (Fric and Frac are put out of their misery by the scrappy little BG kin girl. Charlie has -2 Diff to hit held Big Meng)
[Maija] (SCORE!)
[Charlie] [Brawl+Dexterity (+1): Claw Big Man. Spending WP to ignore wound penalties. -2 diff (immobilized target).]
Dice Rolled:[ 7 d10 ] 2, 2, 2, 4, 4, 7, 10 (Success x 4 at target 4)
[Charlie] [Damage: Strength +1 (Bear) +4 (Crinos) +1 (claw) +3 (suxx).] [A]
Dice Rolled:[ 12 d10 ] 3, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 9, 10, 10, 10 (Success x 8 at target 6)
[Murphy] (Soak)
Dice Rolled:[ 7 d10 ] 4, 4, 8, 8, 8, 8, 10 (Success x 5 at target 6)
[Murphy] *The only sound after the gurgling groan from the big man as he slumps to the floor is the hum of the florescent lighting above. The elemental hovers in mid air, flame eerie silent as it needs no fuel to keep burning.
The Big Man twitches a few times, muscles reacting on their own fighting for life, as he bleeds out from the gaping wound on his throat provided by Charlie. The assault was anything but text book, the counter response was busted, the tide shift back and forth, and in the end the Garou were left alive, and the enemy wasn’t. It had been chaos, rapid adaption, and less then two minutes long. In other words it had been a normal battle for Garou.
Dietrich looked on at Charlie and then to Maija.* “You girl. Assist him to my truck outside if you can.” *He looks at Charlie.* “Just hang for one minute. I’m gonna clean up and then we’re gone.” *He starts to make his way to the back office. He calls back.* “Tell the fire starter to stand by.”
[Murphy] (BAH!) Add: Dietrich shifts back to Homid before he speaks*
[Charlie] [Primal-Urge+Stamina: Shift To Homid, You Bastard! Spending WP to ignore wound penalties, need 3 suxx.]
Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 4, 4, 5, 8, 8 (Success x 2 at target 6)
[Charlie] It’d be easier if he could continue on through the evening in his war form. It’d be easier to ignore the pain, somehow, if he stayed like this, but if he stays like this he can’t just get in the truck and ride back to The Brotherhood; he’d have to hobble the entire way through the Umbra, and that’s not conducive to getting out of here quickly.
When the last body has hit the floor, Lights Out shrinks back to his human skin, revealing the full brunt of his injuries now that his t-shirt’s been shredded. There is a long tear on his left forearm, a gaping hole on the right side of his torso, and a thick gash on his left thigh. Charlie collapses on his knees as soon as the transformation is finished, dropping his head and coughing in agony. All he hears from Dietrich is “hang for one minute,” and that’s what he does, pain gripping him from more than one site on his body, is kneel on the floor and grunt, “Okay.”
The fire elemental hovers as a flame over the counter, loathe to go after being ushered through the Gauntlet.
[Maija] You girl.
Well, it’s better than peaches.
She looks around quickly, and then stands and grabs a series of ace bandages off the shelf over there, and drops to her knees by Charlie’s side. She tears open the bandages, and grabs his forearm and wraps it up quickly.
“Hang on, I’ll get these wrapped and get you to the truck, ok?” her fingers are deft and quick as she goes about getting his wounds wrapped for the ride back.
[Murphy] *The unmistakable sound of plastic being hurled the floor with tremendous force and then shattering comes from the back office. A moment later Dietrich is walking out with looks like actual film from a VHS tape and tosses it at the fire elemental. It wilts into nothingness as hits Smokie.
“Lights Out just tell the elemental to stay where it’s at near the counter. And you two get out quick.” *Dietrich makes his way toward the back of the store where a stack of propane tanks are with the standard Blue Rhino label on them.*
[Charlie] He’s starting to shake from pain, but Charlie is hardly laid out and writhing from it. Maija retrieves Ace bandages from the shelf, and Charlie dutifully extends his bloody left arm. If they’re going to make it all the way across town without someone asking why he looks like he’s been mauled by a bear, they need to cover up his wounds.
When he looks up his face is tight with hurt, but his lips twitch in what would have been a smile if he weren’t trying not to grimace.
“Thanks,” he says.
Then Dietrich is returning from the back room, hurling a cassette tape into the waiting flame. There’s a command, and Charlie coughs before speaking in a tongue that neither the kinswoman nor the Ahroun can understand. It’s the ethereal, alien-sounding speech of spirits, and it flows from his tongue like water; the elemental flickers in response, its words matching Charlie’s, and does as it was asked. It stays by the counter.
After Maija wraps up his arm and his torso, Charlie puts a hand on the counter rather than the Gnawer girl to get himself to his feet.
[Maija] She nods, takes a second bandage and wraps it around the wound in the thigh, tying it off tight, fast enough to make him grunt, most likely. The one on his side…. and before he can use the counter alone, she slides under his arm and helps haul him to his feet.
“Come on – we’ll get ya to the truck. Lean if ya needta. I ain’t gonna tell no one.”
[Charlie] A breathy, monosyllabic laugh leaves the metis’s throat, and he stiffly reaches out to sling his injured arm over Maija’s thin shoulders. There’s several inches’ height difference between the waitress and the Theurge, but he stoops over and leans on her. He’s a lot heavier than he looks, what weight is on his bony frame apparently coming from muscle mass, and it takes both of them to get the kid to his feet. He stumbles once there, and hobbles out of the convenience store with the girl’s help.
“Thanks,” he says once she’s loaded him into the passenger side of the truck.
[Murphy] *It takes them a little bit to get out to his truck, and amazingly enough it was still in the street, residents of Bronzeville had been staying indoors recently as things seemed to get worse, and worse in this area of the city. Best to stay in and watch TiVo. Smokes and Beer can wait.
Dietrich comes about about minute later once they’ve made it to the truck, a half full garbage bag in one hand. He’s not doing a cool slow mo walk to the car, fuck that noise. That’s Hollywood. No he’s hauling ass out of the convenience store calling out to Maija*
“We gotta go now! Move!”
*He tosses the tied bag in the bed, and jumps in the driver’s side, using the button ignition. The truck roars to life.*
[Maija] She gets Charlie into the truck, and a flicker of a smile slides across her lips, briefly, amused…
“Anytime. I still owe you dinner…”
That guy comes and demands they move… and she stammers.. “b…but I live right there….” and gestures.. Only if he insists does she actually get into the truck.
[Murphy] “Then haul ass girl. Shit’s about to go.” *If she gets in, she gets in. He waits a few seconds and then the truck roars again, and it’s off heading down the street away from the convenience store.
He says to Charlie* “Fucker if you get blood on my seat AND die I’ma come find your ass in the afterlife, and make another Theruge put you in a Sham Wow and clean that shit up before you rest in peace.” *He says with a smile, just busting his ass.*
*He looks in the rearview mirror as they can a block away moving fast.*
[Maija] She nods, and steps back. Street rat that she is, she soon disappears from sight, slipping into the shadows, and taking the back way home.
[Charlie] The answer is choked, partly by pain and partly by laughter that isn’t quite making it out of his throat.
“Fuck’s a Sham Wow?”
[Murphy] *The response to Charlie’s question is an explosion behind them, the blast blowing the windows out, glass flying in the street, followed by four secondary explosions engulfing the store in flames, the concussion blasts bouncing off the walls turning everything inside into a twisted mess of fire, and burning debris.
Maija is far enough to be out of harm’s way and Dietrich looks in the rearview mirror one more time before responding to Charlie.*
“It wipes up shit really well.”
(And that’s it for me guys. Dietrich will take Charlie back to the Brohood to be patched up.)
[Hatchet] When Dietrich gets to the Brotherhood of Thieves, dragging Charlie up to the second floor if necessary, it doesn’t take more than a raised hand on Room Number One for it to open. He can smell his packmate’s blood. He may act aloof. He may act detached. He may rarely engage with the packmates from Room Number Three. But when Dietrich brings Charlie in, he can sense what’s happened to the Theurge like it’s being tattooed across his inner arm.
Old instincts stir. He knows, even without forewarning over the totemlink, that his supposed brother is in less than stellar shape. So the door opens inward, and Hatchet steps outside, almost as though he’s protecting his territory. In a way, he is. The room no longer smells solely like him. There’s another scent, fainter, covered mostly by the richness of Charlie’s blood, and at least one of them will recognize it as Liadan’s. The room is no longer simply his office. It’s where his kinswoman sleeps.
He looks Charlie over, head tipped to the side and eyes curious more than concerned, then flicks his gaze at Dietrich. “Thank you,” he says in a low voice, and if necessary, he steps forward to take the Black Fury from the Fang, unless the skinny sleeper is walking on his own. “What’d you do now?” he quips to Charlie, choosing this time to put his palm on the Theurge’s forehead rather than seeking out the heart of the wound and aggravating it further.
After all, this time Charlie didn’t flat-out refuse healing. He’s not playing Tough Guy.
[Hatchet] [Mother’s Touch: Int + Medicine (Bear’s Boon)]
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 1, 2, 4, 5, 10, 10 (Success x 1 at target 6)
[Murphy] *Dietrich indeed helped Charlie up the stairs and into Hatchet’s room. He nodded to Hatchet.* “~Rhya.” *A simple greeting of respect to Hatchet.*
“He took on the baddest fucker in the room, and beat ’em. Saved a kin girl’s life. He went all out tonight.”
*He grabs Charlie’s right hand, holding it as one Garou to another in respect.* “Rest up warrior. You did your duty. Your conduct was exemplary tonight.”
[Charlie] What’d he do now.
The laugh that leaves Charlie’s throat is dopey, to put it lightly. On the way back from Bronzeville he’d conked out in the car, blood loss and the sharp tang of pain sieving away his consciousness, but he had been able to hobble up the back steps without dragging too much blood through the kitchen. He reeks of blood and charred flesh, the last vestiges of this evening’s adventure soaked into his hair and skin, and unlike last time, he doesn’t try to insist that he’s fine.
He’s not fine. He’s not going to die, necessarily, but he’s got sloppily-wrapped, blood-soaked Ace bandages coiled around his torso and left forearm and a similar situation on his left thigh, and he’s shaking from pain. He’s a shaman, not a soldier, yet he’s conducted himself like one of Gaia’s frontline warriors his entire life. They’ve both seen him in battle. He’s not a timid Theurge.
Whatever shirt he’d worn out this evening has been ripped to shreds and is no longer with us.
Dietrich explains what happened tonight, and Charlie drops his gaze, almost as if he’s embarrassed. A touch to his hand has him tensing up, flinching with the pain it sends through his body, but he doesn’t lash out. There is no Rage boiling under the surface tonight. It’s been hotter than it was when he first came to Chicago, has been harder for the Theurge to control. It’s not there now. Maybe he’ll be able to rest tonight.
“Thanks,” he says when he looks back up.
A moment later there’s a hand on his clammy forehead, and Charlie’s eyes flinch shut as he feels the tear on his left arm go hot with the weight of Hatchet’s work and then vanish as though it was never there at all.
Last time he’d done this Hatchet had told him not to thank him. So he doesn’t say anything.
[Hatchet] Even Hatchet, who tends to laugh when he’s holding his intestines into his gut with his bare hands because he doesn’t really feel anything, knows better than to use Ace bandages on bloody wounds. He would shake his head at that, but he’s busy shaking his head at Charlie instead. His hand is ridiculously warm, as though he was just sunning himself or holding them near a fire.
Hand on Charlie’s brow, he looks at Dietrich and lifts his eyebrows slightly. Drolly, almost. They lower. He blinks once, waiting for the odd combination of roaring protectiveness and whuffling nurturance to flow through him from his totem spirit. Very little power, in the end, washes through his hands. He frowns, sensing it, and seeing that Charlie is still deeply injured.
His hand falls away. He stares at the Theurge for a moment, frowning still, then:
“Do you have any of those ridiculous Band-Aids left?”
[Murphy] *Dietrich nods once.* “I’ll leave you gents to it. Lights Out ~yuf take care. I’ll catch you later when you’re up and about.” *He nods to Hatchet.* “~Rhya.” *And with that he turns to leave.*
(Thanks for playing. I’m gonna log now.)
[Hatchet] [Thanks, Laz!]
[Charlie] Standing up on his own is a bit taxing, and when nothing more comes of Hatchet’s touch, Charlie slumps sideways to lean on the doorframe, frowning as though that alone is going to be able to help with the burning lances of pain still existing in his midsection and his thigh. There are scars from where this young man’s life has ended before. They are not quite so numerous or gruesome as his Alpha’s, but they are there nonetheless. There is no sign that he had to rage back tonight, and these wounds will not leave scars on his skinny, tanned body.
His breathing is arduous, noisy, but he forces himself to stand up straight and without the assistance of the doorframe as Dietrich takes his leave.
“What, the pink ones?” he asks, as though he’s got a plethora of ridiculous Band-Aids in his memory banks that he needs to wade through. “I ain’t had a chance to make any more. I’ll ask Curata if he’s got any from the last bunch I made.”
[Hatchet] “You ain’t, huh?” Hatchet says quietly, almost to himself. Any attempt at sounding disgruntled is forced. Thin. Weak.
He watches Charlie slump over, rather than lurching forward to wrap his arms around the skinny Cliath, then nods his head towards the laundry room not far. “I don’t think he’s here. Come on. There’s a shitload of gauze in here.”
Without waiting for Charlie, he heads into the laundry room, reaching up on a shelf to pull down a first aid kit that lives in a toolbox that has a couple of pieces of bright red electrical tape forming a cross on its lid. There is, indeed, a ‘shitload’ of rolled gauze and non-stick pads inside. Hatchet knows nothing at all about first aid, technically. He lets go of that lack of knowledge, however, and Charlie can feel him once again pulling on the understanding of their totem to guide his hands.
Truthfully, this isn’t necessary. Most Garou slap a towel on a wound and just rest in a form they’ll heal in — and Charlie heals in all of them — and wait. Tomorrow night he’ll work on healing him again, and even then Charlie will be doing better. He’ll have his Rage back. The moon is still so full that just looking at it makes them all surge with renewed wrath.
Still. Hatchet helps Charlie do the best they can for tonight, which is keeping the blood from soaking through everything. He helps him get cleaned up. He helps him get to his room. And when he leaves the Theurge, telling him far less formally than Dietrich to get some rest, he leaves the door open behind him.
[Hatchet] Rolling for tomorrow night…
[Mother’s Touch: Intelligence + Medicine]
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 1, 1, 1, 3, 5, 10 (Failure at target 3)
[Hatchet] After breaking something…and spending more goddamn Gnosis…and grumbling that Charlie needs to make some healing talens that aren’t fucking Band-Aids for Chrissakes how dare he bind cousins of their own totem spirit into such irreverent pieces of shit what the fuck is wrong with you, disrespectful rackin’ frackin’…
[Again]
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 (Success x 3 at target 3)
[Charlie] [FIN!]