Marcus and Shai: The hulking Shadow leaps down from the hay loft and just before you tare the creature to shreds Marcus or fill it full of arrows Shai, you see it is Lock Jaw holding a set of binoculars. Nancy you look through the main barn doors to see the rest of the pack gathered inside with no sign of the enemy. Horse carcasses litter the floor and you even notice a gnawed human arm.

Ryan examines the bodies to try to determine the cause of death. Garou didn't USUALLY kill humans, unless it was absolutely necessary, but it's possible something else did.

Marcus wrinkles his muzzle at the rotted wasted meat. Creeping dread began to fill his mind as he considered the scene before him. Pushing his ill thoughts away for the moment, he refocused his senses and tried to locate a trail of some kind. If great Boar was right, then his enemies were not far away.

OOC: Trying to see if there is any fresh scents, besides that of the pack.

"Brothers and sisters...this worries me. How could spies have been here so long and the Guardians of Raccoon not have detected them? Are we betrayed?"
This message was last edited by the player at 06:21, Mon 29 Sept 2014.

Nancy was sure there was someone around. She send her thoughts trough the totem.
++I think we have two things what we should check:
The other side to see if there is any spirit around.
Or just try to find the one knows how to hide.++

Nodding to Nancy Shai takes a compact out of her pocket and staring into the little mirror makes the transition into the umbra.

05:16, Sat 04 Oct 2014: Shai Amari rolled 2 successes using 3d10 with the World of Darkness 3rd ed system with a target of 6 ((7,10,4)).

[Secret to Ryan Fox: Ryan the dead Humans in the house have been savaged by giant claws not much else other than a Garou could have inflicted these wounds. The interesting part is that they have been killed then set in morbidly realistic poses in the kitchen, anyone glancing through a window may have thought they were still alive.]

[Secret to Shai Amari: You step through in to the umbra to be confronted with a a small 3 wolf Blackspial dancer reconasence team. One has giantears like a bat dark brown fur and is in hispo form, The next is in human form, she wares high heels, black stockings with a pale complection and a smart business dress on she has a tight thin smile he sandy hair is tied in a tight bun. The last is a scared hairless metis standing in crinos he hols a grand Klaive of silver and smiles maniacly saying "Ahh breakfast has arrived and what a pretty little thing". Here in the umbra the barn doesnt exist behind the Black spiral dancers you see a square black pit that would be in the center of the floor in the barn in the physical realm. That is all the time you have to take in as they are upon you like cats on a lone mouse. (ooc: Can I please get your initiative, roll one die and then add
it to your character’s initiative rating (Dexterity + Wits).]

Marcus and rest in the barn: The meat has begun to rot due more to the warm days around this time of year and that it has been sitting out. You would judge it to be 3 days old maybe.. The smell of the wyrm tainted (your sense wyrm tingling) pack lingers. So fresh are the scents they must have been here very recently. Following the scent you find the trail ends at the centre of the barn. walking on the strewn straw where the scent ends you hear the creak of wood beneath your feet. scratching away the straw you find a large 8ft x 8ft trapdoor in the floor.

06:19, Sat 04 Oct 2014: Shai Amari rolled 15 using 1d10+7 ((8)).

Acting quickly to defend her self Shai calls for help as she dodges the coming onslaught.

"SHIT SPIRALS!! The Boar is right.. They are still here!"

The cries of his packmate galvanized Marcus into movement. Instantly, his form burst outward into his warform, rage filling his muscles. His weapon and backpack emerged from Dedication and from the latter he drew out his hand mirror. He gazed into his own reflection, and through his own soul began to form a pathway for his pack.

OOC: Opening the way to the Umbra for the pack. 2 Successes.

Marcus has an Initiative of 8

08:46, Sun 05 Oct 2014: Marcus (Gaia's Fire Fighter) rolled 8 using 1d10+7 ((1)).
19:35, Today: Marcus (Gaia's Fire Fighter) rolled 2 successes using 6d10 with the World of Darkness 3rd ed system with a target of 6. Umbral shift for pack. .
This message was last edited by the player at 13:47, Sun 05 Oct 2014.

"Spirals alright. The humans here have been killed, and set up in macabre poses to make it look to casual view like they might still be alive. Only Spirals are sick enough to pull that sort of stunt. Shai, have you spotted the enemy? Where are you? We don't want them pulling divide and conquer on us."

The pack needs to converge...Spirals could easily pull a trick like that if they were caught separated.

OOC: Ok so the smell is from the other side or still in the normal world? I am not sure where we are now. But we should keep the pack together :)

OOC: Alright here is the situation Shai has stepped into the umbra from inside the barn where she has met some spirals. Nancy, Lock Jaw and Marcus are all in the barn. Ryan is in the homestead roughly 100 yds from the barn. I will need initiative rolls from every one initiative is 1d10 + your dex + wits. Nancy I refer to smelling them in the description imagine you know someone with a distinctive smell or perfume they ware. If they leave a room as you enter their smell can linger for a time. It is much like that.

16:15, Wed 08 Oct 2014: Lock Jaw rolled 9 using 1d10+2 ((7)).

Slow to act due to his bulk L.J. follows Marcus through the viel. Ready for action, he is prepared to rip out some BSD throats.

As the Veil parts and your pack gets to see what is beyond your hearts plummet like a lead weight with what you behold. Within the near umbra the farm is stark and desolate. In the distance toward the cearn it lights up with the multitude of spirits that live near the cearn. Two packs of seven run through the umbra but they are too far to stop the horror unfolding before you. Three black spiral dancers stand around an open pit, which would be where the trapdoor in the barn lies. One has giant ears like a bat, dark brown fur, and is in hispo form. The next is in human form, she wares high heels, black stockings with a pale complexion and a smart business dress on. She has a tight thin smile and is leering at the third black spiral dancer, her sandy hair is tied in a tight bun. The last is a scared hairless metis standing in crinos. He holds a grand Klaive of silver and smiles maniacally as he grips Shai with one claw by the top of her head. Still passing the gauntlet you are just in time to witness the wicked gleam of his silver blade severing Shai's head from her shoulders. Blood splatters across your face Marcus, as you move all too slowly through the gauntlet. With a howl of twisted joy the Black spiral dancers jump down the black pit, as enraged you all struggle to break free of the gauntlet into the umbra. As the last tendrils release their hold upon you  a howl from the approaching packs calls to you it is Hemlock;

"Stay where yer be young-uns. Don't be fool an follow them, it could just be a trap to draw more to their doom!"

A pack of Shadowlord Elder lopes toward you, followed closely by elders from 7 other tribes (including a Silver Fang).
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:31, Wed 08 Oct 2014.

Ryan nodded. If a full on ELDER said he was out of his weight class, he probably was. Shadow Lords were tricky, but one of his kin was also there, and this was clearly a serious enough threat to draw even those tribes that didn't care for one another together.

"Very well, I'll leave it to you. What would you have us do?"

"Fall back. The Elders are here. 8 of them, no less. They've told us to withdraw. Regroup at the homestead.

As the blood hits Marcus, something inside him snaps. Unmitigated horror and shock push him forward, catching Shai's body as it fell. Automatically, he was reaching inside his packback for one of the Gaia's Breath talens. Through stunted, shaking motion he puts the Talen to her lifeless body, trying the fix the broken bloody doll cradled in his arms.

All the glory, the adventure, the expectation of something wonderful died he felt the last amounts of warmth leave Shai's body. He thought they were here to make a difference, to find their place in the Silver Record.

Pure burning Rage welled up in him as he heard Ryan's words. In disbelief, he looked to where the Alpha's umbral reflection should be.

"Fall back? You want...want to just leave her?" He echoed quietly, then turned the black hole where the assassins escaped to. Marcus then rose, grabbing Shai's bow and coming to approach the Elder Black Fury or Silent Strider, now even more covered in Shai's blood. "I can help. I am coming." He stated flatly.

The elder silent strider you approached looks at you Marcus with mornful eyes.

"I feel your pain young one. I assure you our sister will be avenged, but for now Hemlock is right. This is a war and there will be casualties, when the time comes we will come to you for help."

She says as she steps forward carefully taking Shai's bow from you. Hemlock squats next to the hole looking into the depths of the dark pit. He rubs his jaw with a grizzled hand. He looks up at the other elders and says.

"This isn't good, a blackspiral wyrm hole entrance this close to the cearn. We will seal this up, post guards, and discus plans on how to address this at the moot tomorrow. You will get your chance to help soon enough Young-un there will be enough vengeance for all soon enough. Take Shai's body back to camp, you have done well to find this threat. We will morn her loss."

He nods to one of others and they call upon the element spirits and seal the cave with solid rock. the elders then usher you all back to camp.

Rage kept a white knuckled grip on the bow, but he finally forced himself to unclench his claw and let the Elder take it from him. He stood there, watching them work to seal the hole and only barely heard the words being spoken.

"Discuss? What...what is there to discuss?" He snarled through clenched fangs. He wanted to lash out at them, at anyone, show them how stupid they were being. He stood there, defiant for a long moment, violence in his eyes. Before he did something completely foolish though, he just turned and stormed off, loping on all fours.

Roaring his frustrations L.J. Follows Marcus becoming the near wolf hispo form and turning his back on the elders that so callously dismiss the life of one of his pack.

Shaking his head at the insolence of the youngsters Hemlock turns to Ryan

"Get your pack under control I am sure the striders will want to hold a passing ceremony tomorrow and will want you to attend."

Then leaving 2 experienced Garou to guard the wyrm pit access he leads the rest of you back to the cearn.

The silent strider elder whom you find out is named "Runs with Ra" gathers some other striders and together they take the headless body of Shai to be prepared for a proper passing ceremony. This leaves the pack in a somber mood with further losses reducing your strength. On the morrow over 100 garou are camped at the cearn.

At different times elders of your tribes summon each of you to tribal meetings.

Where for you Lock Jaw this involves much is wrestling and drinking.

Marcus the women gather and complain about the men and how they disadvantage female garou who are just as good if not better than their male counterparts much of it is directed at you as being one of the few male metis's of the tribe their anger is often directed to you.

Nancy the glass-walkers have a big LAN session in a large tent they have set up, where hacks are shown off, and new viruses, or mechanical inventions are shown. Financial deals are made etc.

Ryan you are called into one of the grandest tents in the where you meet "Kulos" (your third cousin) a lupus gillard silverfang and herald of Lord Gartrin highest noble on the east coast of america. (though her rank is higher her pedigree is nothing compared to yours) You are a bit of a celebrity amongst the silverfang.

[Private to Sean Selmetzi: Sean You have come here with no pack following the stars one of your elders in cearn read the stars and sent you pack-less to fight in the war saying that in a battle of sticks you will find your pack they fight with the anger and tenacity of the wild boar with your help they will win, without it they will lose. So you are now in the camp with the others of the stargazer tribe sharing philosophy and reading the signs. After you finish any expected rituals etc you notice a game of Garou Sticks underway It is like tribal groups battling such is the furiousity of the game. You have just watched the end of a fierce match, when the Alpha of the current champion shadowlord team starts to goad another pack of somber sorrowful, disheartened looking garou.]

At midday the striders ask the pack to attend a special ceremony for Shai that refers to her taking the long journey as we all must take and ends in a long mournful howl.

Through out the day a number of games of Garou Stick are played.

(This is similar to Lacrosse but a bit more violent you play the game in glabro or Crinos. The rules are simple, there are 2 small nets at each end of a small field and you are to get a small leather bound ball in to them first team to do so wins. There are no claws or biting allowed, though punches and kicks are fine. You can't touch the ball accept with your stick which has a club at one end for hitting the ball or other players, and a net at the other for picking the ball up and trowing or catching it. Gifts are allowed on they grounds they cause only lethal or stunning damage.)

Niel and his shadowlord pack are playing and being shadowlords on there home turf are reining champions (though there has been contention about interference by some of the shadowlords watching from the sidelines).

It is after the ceremony when Niel, having just defeated yet another pack made up of wendigo and uktena, spots you Ryan returning to your camp, with the rest of your pack. He shouts at you;

"Hey Ryaaann! I hear that your pack is dropping like flies, it must be that you smell like pig, I don't know if your dinner or a garou sometimes. You and your pack should run back to little mother with your tail between your legs before you get all your rejects killed. Laughing Fury was the only smart one and she knew to get out as soon as she could. Probably din't like smelling like a pig or eating shit like one. What difference could you make now anyway, all you have left is a computer nerd, a freak inbreed, and a dumb giant. Your pack isn't even big enough for a game of sticks, you and yours are just a waste of space here. Go home rejects."

This brings a laugh from the rest of Niels pack a few even taking up the chant "Go Home Rejects!"
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:28, Sat 11 Oct 2014.

Sean nodding his head with each count, counts how many players are on the field then counts how many people the teasing Shadowlord just counted out in the pack they were teasing and compares the difference in the numbers.

"Hey numb skull.. your pack.. err.. puny too! We crushum you!! even with.. err.. one.. three... pack. Yeah pack!" Says Lock Jaw in his russian accent.

"So the lug head can communicate vocally.. So Ryaann you going to let an imbecile speak for you? We would be happy to play you pack on pack though it hardly seems fair, but dumb dumb thinks you can win, and thats the most thinking he has ever done or is likely to ever do. I wouldn't want to let the only firing of the poor retards 2 brain cells he may have in his life go to waste."

Says Niel continuing to taunt your pack.

[Secret to Sean Selmetzi: ooc: The pack on the field is made up of 7 garou including the speaker and the pack off the field has 4 garou as far as you can tell.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:20, Fri 17 Oct 2014.

Marcus was completely withdrawn at the tribal meeting. He only attended because he knew they would drag him by force if he didn't. He sat there, at the edge of their circle, listlessly listening to their chatter. His normally snow white face was now pink and blotchy from a night of crying. His dark mirrored shades kept his eyes hidden, helped him shield away the pain and overwhelming frustration at the horrible day.

He couldn't help but overhear Neil's pathetic taunts. It was a low blow, but he he wouldn't let them hurt him. Pegasus gave him strength and pride, that much kept him from charging over and ripping the miserable curr's throat out.

Instead, Marcus found a quiet spot and directed his still fresh pain and drive inward, and tried to focus on his ancestors. He tried to picture the Grand Bane Klaive that took Shai's head. Such a blade would have a history, a name, a list of atrocities. He wanted to know it, and perhaps one of his ancestors had encountered it before.

OOC: 1 Success to identify the Grand Klaive, and nice botch on the Ancestors roll, of course.

04:01, Today: Marcus (Gaia's Fire Fighter) rolled 1 success using 4d10 with the World of Darkness 3rd ed system with a target of 6. Occult Roll to Identify.
04:00, Today: Marcus (Gaia's Fire Fighter) botched using 3d10 with the World of Darkness 3rd ed system with a target of 8. Ancestors.

The Grand Klaive meant nothing to you marcus other than it has slain you pack mate and you would be able to recognise it again for this reason in a heart beat. Niel continues to try and goad your pack into a game of Garou stick.

"You leaving your pack mates again inbreed.. Just like you probably did when that spiral killed the girl, you weren't there to save her. Hell you didn't even try to avenge your own packmate. Thats why you would never beat us. Unlike you, we (he indicates his pack) act as a unit, a team not that any of you would know what that is. This is why you all should leave this war and run home to mommy like the children you are. One war pack representing the green sept is enough. We don't need you dis-honoring the cearn."

More Garou have started to take note of the ruckus coming from the stick field. Gathering on the sidelines to see what is going on. To be leaving this challenge unanswered could result in a loss of respect in the eyes of the other garou.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:06, Sat 11 Oct 2014.

Sean contemplates for a moment at the profecy  to to him before he left then thought to himself sometimes the answers are literal in meaning.

Sean attempts to identify which of the pack members are Ryan that the other pack is teasing so he can approach him.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:13, Sat 11 Oct 2014.