Robyn stopped her resuscitation efforts, and grabbed the cardiac needle from the zipper bag, and tossed the kit aside. She tore open his shirt, felt for the right area, and jammed the needle down without a hesitation.

To say Jack sprang to life would be an understatement. Exploded, more like. Liam tried valiantly to intervene, but he simply wasn't fast enough to stop the frenzying Garou from swatting Robyn off his legs, and through the side of the tent. Liam saw Pockets rush to attend to Robyn, but they had a much more pressing matter. Jack had a headstart on his mother, and a heart full of adrenaline.

Moira put an arm around his neck, and struggled against her raging son.

Liam leapt upon the newly emerged crinos, struggling to wrestle him into submission but try though he might he could gain no purchase amidst the scramble of fur and limbs.

Failed the dice roll. Thank god for the WP or it would have botched.
Blood buff strength and thick skin

Liam flew through the hole in the tent Robyn had left. Jack was struggling alone with his mother, and managed to break free of her headlock. He clamped his teeth down hard on his mother's arm. Moira roared in pain. This was enough to trigger an instinctual change in Alice. She leapt on her brother, and pinned him there. Garou that new had poor control over their transformed selves. Liam would know how dangerous it was to provoke Alice in this state. But the two looked like they could do with the help.

A crowd had gathered outside, both around Robyn and around the tent.

Liam hit the ground at a roll and dug a deep furrow in the ground with his hind paws as he bounded back towards the wrecked tent. <<CALEB!!>> he growled, sailing through the opening. Within an instant he was atop Jack, riding him as one might try to ride a hurricane. If not for the combined strength of Moira and Alice it was unlikely they would have succeeded in keeping him pinned against his will.

So you wont believe this, but I should have failed. The WP makes this a success.

For a night that was supposed to be quiet, Liam has used 3 WP, blown through his blood pool and Robyn is badly hurt. So we're off to a great start.

08:38, Today: Liam O'Farrell failed (no successes) using 15d10 with the World of Darkness 3rd ed system with a target of 8 with rolls of 3,10,1,1,1,1,3,4,10,6,9,8,7,2,3.  Str + potence + brawl + WP.

Caleb had been completely out of his element, and had been watching the madness unfold with no idea of what he should be doing. His master's voice snapped him to attention, and he took after Liam's lead, piling on to the unruly pup with the others. Between the four of them, Jack was contained. Pockets handled the crowd, giving the villagers the task of ushering Robyn to safety. Liam wasn't aware of her condition, but getting knocked through the air by magically-lethal claws was never a good thing. Even though she was utterly useless in a physical confrontation, she positioned herself between Maggie and the dogpile as they watched.

The adrenaline coursing through Jack's system made for a very rough struggle. Fortunately, it also meant he burned out quicker than his sibling. All of them emerged from the experience with a few nasty cuts. Moira's arm looked ragged, but he had little doubt her constitution would make short work of the injury in time. Caleb had a nasty slice across his belly. Alice had a quartet of claw marks riddled around her left shoulder. Liam had a nasty set of punctures in his chest from a lucky kick where Jack's hind claws had found purchase. But Jack was alive, his change had healed whatever physical damage the cure had wreaked, and the first change was over. Hours had passed but the night was still fairly young. It was a little after ten.

Liam slumped back against the wall of the tent. He was drained physically and utterly ravenous, but he managed a faint smile for Moira all the same.

"Hell of a night," he said, reaching for his cigarettes. He pulled the packet out and held them in his hand though he didn't light one.

"Gaia provides," he said, looking at Jack's spent form and Alice's battered one. "It seems this Cairn is getting rebuilt in a hurry."

He struggled up to his feet, and as Caleb rose to join him he stayed the hound and sent him back to Maggie and Alice.

"I should check on Robyn."

Moira managed a smile. "Injuries aside this is the best thing to happen to Blue Tree in the last decade," she said. "We are long overdue for good news, and I wish I had more of us around to celebrate."

When the topic of Robyn came up, Moira's smile faded. She thought of the terrible blow. And winced. "Please do," Moira said, cradling her battered arm. "And please... Tell her I'm sorry for snapping at her."

"I will," Liam replied. He paused at the tent flap. "Moira, I didn't get a chance to ask you yesterday but when they took you to the Cairn were there any.... was anyone not present?" He knew no one present would have been permitted to survive. The only chance that anyone might have gotten away was if they weren't there to begin with.

"It was an ambush," Moira said, clearly uncomfortable with the topic. "I didn't see who lived and who died. Some ran. Some weren't around to begin with. It was the night of the massacre. They caught us scattered."

Liam nodded. That was all he could hope for. "If any of the others are still out there, I'll find them," he said. "But not tonight. I still have to get to Jim."

"One last thing, Moira. Some homework for you, but not tonight. Our breakout last night drew a lot of attention our way. Too much. There's a large fire burning on the far side of the escarpment. The Camarilla is hoping to burn us out. I'd like to give them something else to pay attention to."

"Jim told me the shipping magnates were always agitating to move their business to Montreal. The Cams need them. They're one of the only sources of cash coming into the city right now. Did Jim ever say what he had to do to appease them? Because I'd love to give them reason to reconsider."

"It wasn't what Jim did," Moira said. "It was what he didn't. Cheap berthing fees, and most importantly a lack of oversight. That's what kept ships coming here instead of Montreal. The action on the Pier the other day agitated the crime syndicates more than anyone else. And they've got their fingers in every one of the shipping companies."

Liam considered this on its face. He couldn't change the berthing fees and had no ability to exert oversight on the freighters. But he could exert pressure on the syndicates potentially.

"That's very helpful," he said after a moment. "I think I know just the man to talk to. Let me know if anything else comes to mind."

"Get some rest."

Liam turned to leave, pausing a few strides away from the tent to light up his cigarette. He took his time making his way back to the cabin, enjoying the brief respite in an otherwise eventful night. Eventually though he arrived at his destination and went in side, presuming that he would find Pockets in all likelihood.

Liam found them in Robyn's bedroom. Brad and Joyce had joined them. Brad immediately went on the offensive when Liam entered the room. "What the fuck kind of monsters did you bring in here?" he said bitterly. Joyce was too busy dressing Robyn's terrible wounds.

Robyn didn't look good. Jack had sliced her square across the chest. Her shirt was open, and Liam could see four deep gashes running from the bottom of her left ribs, across her breasts and neck, all the way to beneath her right ear. The fact that she was still conscious and alive was good, because it meant that nothing major had been lacerated.

"They're werewolves, Brad," Liam said, stepping around him to kneel beside the bed. "Three out of the four of them are at any rate. Didn't know about Jack until Robyn stuck him with an EpiPen. The adrenaline kicked him over the edge. Alice had her first change last night. Its why we came in running ragged."

"You just witnessed werewolf puberty."

"Hello, Robyn," he said, sounding grim. "Maeve is going to be awfully short with me."

"Do you need blood?"

Brad wasn't happy with the way Liam blew past him, but also saw he wasn't making friends in the room. He skulked into the main room to cool off. Liam suspected he'd be less inclined to let him by on the way out.

Robyn's eyes were pretty glazed, and he suspected Pockets had already taken care of her pain with some sort of painkiller. She seemed tickled by the comment about Maeve. "Lightning bolts, man. Watch your ass out there," she slurred. She merely made a disgusted face at the offer of blood.

"We've managed to stop most of the bleeding," Joyce said, misinterpreting the question. "It's mostly flesh wounds, but they're bad flesh wounds. We're just about to-"

"Coming through," Grace said. She was carrying the trauma kit from the back of the cruiser. She opened it, and fetched a suture gun. "Girl, when this heals, you're gonna look like a badass," she said, checking the device over. Then, to Liam. "Your dog's going to be fine, by the way. I'll stitch him up next."

Liam reached out and took Robyn's hand. "Yeah, well, I probably deserve them tonight," he said, managing a weak grin in response to Robyn's warning.

"You saved Jack's life. I don't think I can ever thank you enough. And Moira asked me to tell you she's sorry for snapping at you. Figuratively."

He looked up as Grace approached, taking a moment to process what she said.

"Caleb will be fine. He's got my blood running through his veins. That gash will be gone within a week. He's a twenty year old German Shepherd that can tear the rear bumper off a truck and pin a werewolf. This isn't the first live grenade he's jumped on for me - or with me."

"Don't get me wrong though, he'll love the attention."

Looking around the room, Liam sensed his answer perhaps required further elaboration.

"Vampire blood has a restorative effect, but a body has to become accustomed to it. That doesn't happen overnight. Caleb can heal just about any injury that doesn't kill him outright the same way I can. He'll be ravenous for it, but I'll keep him fed. Someone who's never had vampire blood before - well, its better than nothing. But there will probably still be a scar."

"Pockets has enough blood on hand, Robyn. I could transfuse you," he said, offering a second time. He wasn't going to force the issue like he had with Jim, but he wanted to hear a clear answer before he deferred. Robyn knew the risks and rewards as well as anyone, even doped up and groggy.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:12, Fri 25 Sept 2020.

Robyn looked him dead in the eye. Her gaze was unfocused, but her words were not. "No," she said. "Maybe if I was dying. Even then I'd need to think about it."

"If I ever get this bad, shoot me up," Grace piped in. "Good to know about Caleb. I felt kinda bad leaving him, but I'm the closest thing to a doctor we've got. Just don't tell the veterinary college."

Liam nodded. That was all the answer he needed. "I have to get to Jim. Unfortunately that can't wait. You hang in there," he said, letting go of Robyn's hand. "Thank you," he said again.

"I'll only come back tonight if I'm absolutely sure I don't have a tail. More likely than not I'll give it a day or two to cool down. Its too risky right now."

He looked up at Pockets and Grace.

"I'll feed Caleb on the way out, and mix some kibble for him to keep in the fridge for tomorrow. Can one of you make sure he gets fed?"

"Sure," Pockets said. "Even I'm not that forgetful."

Grace busied herself stapling the first of the gashes. The seams were straight, but it still wasn't going to be pretty. Whatever Robyn was taking for the pain seemed to be working, but that didn't stop tears from rolling down her cheeks as Grace worked.

Liam stood up. He stared a moment longer. "Thank you, all," he said to the clutch of women who were attending to Robyn. Liam glanced at the door. "I think Brad is waiting to tear a strip off me. I'll come back as soon as I can."

Liam stepped out into the common room with a sigh.

Brad was indeed waiting for him in the common room. He stood as soon as Liam stepped out of her bedroom.

"So tell me," he said. "Did you even consider warning us about what you brought home with you? When they showed up naked and bloody, we all thought it was something that was done to them. Not something they did."

Liam met Brad's gaze and pursed his lips. This conversation was going to take a few minutes - more time than he had, but it had to happen all the same. He veered off towards the couch and sat down, extending his open palm towards the arm chair. Whether or not Brad took it, he answered. He also significantly did not close the door behind him. It was possible other ears had to hear this as well.

"They didn't do anything," he said. "They aren't monsters. They're children. Frightened children. Just like the Shannon kids. And just like the Shannon kids, they need a village right now. They don't need to be shunned or feared."

"Alice is 16 years old. She was six when all this madness began. Jack only has a year on her, and Maggie is barely an adult."

"They should have had their first change years ago surrounded by family who could guide them through it - but the Camarilla murdered their family and the Fugue suppressed their transformation. I'm all the family they have left. And they're all the family I have left - at least the only family that knows who I am any more."

"Have you ever seen a horse get spooked and buck off its rider? No one faults the horse. On the night of their first change, their body is the horse and they are doing everything in their power just to cling to it. If this had happened in the city - if we'd succeeded in what we intend to do - Moira would have had two of them on her hands at the same time."

Liam could only imagine the damage the siblings would have inflicted before coming down from their rage. It would have been an impossible situation for Moira to manage.

"After the first night though, they learn to control it. Moira Gordon has been in the public eye for decades. And she's not the only one. You've never seen a headline saying 'mayor's wife eats camera crew'. They don't eat people. They aren't a danger to you."

"I was ready for a First Change tonight, as unlikely as we thought it to be - werewolf siblings are like human twins or triplets. They're plenty rare. But I was not ready for an overdose. And no one is ever ready for a werewolf on an adrenaline high. But its done. Jack will sleep it off, and tomorrow he'll be contrite and probably more than a little ashamed. But he's not a monster."

Brad took a seat when it was offere. His  face softened a little as Liam spoke. But only a little. When Liam was done, he sighed. "Look," he said. "If I have your word there'll be no more accidents, then fine. But if they make a liar outta you, we're gonna have a problem, all right?

“Brad, I wouldn’t have brought them back here if I was worried they were going to hurt anyone. What happened to Robyn was terrible. But it was also terribly bad luck.”

“You want my advice? Treat them like kids and they’ll be kids. Fire up the barbecue tomorrow and grill up some of those moose steaks. Let them know they’re welcome. And should the day come where we have to bring the fight to the Camarilla directly you’ll be damn happy they’re on your side.”

Liam rose and clapped Brad on the shoulder. “As much as I wish it were otherwise, I can’t stay tonight. I have to finish tying off some lose ends from last night.”

“I’ll see you soon.”

Liam headed downstairs to gather his belongings and fill up on Pocket’s supply.

“Jacob?” He asked, fumbling for the ear piece. “I’m going to need some help tonight. Can you or Hasan meet me by the trail to the old bunker again?”

Brad frowned, and fidgeted in his seat. "I, uh, tried to welcome them this morning and they were pretty standoffish," he said sheepishly. "I'll try again tomorrow. I'm... just not comfortable with this."

Jacob replied to Liam's request promptly. "Won't be a problem," he said. "The town's hot tonight so we're staying well clear. What do you need?"
This message was last edited by the player at 04:01, Sat 26 Sept 2020.