Shelby becomes crystal clear
Dec. 29th, 2010 05:03 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shelbyrouIt is currently 12:01 Pacific Time on Wed Dec 29 2010.
Currently the moon is in the waning Half (Philodox) Moon phase (42% full).
Somewhere North of the Bawn
The trees are sparse, occuring in copses rather than thick stands, but cover still exists. Most of the trees that can be seen are deciduous, aspen and birch following the scored lines from runoff, or the more permanent streams that seem to crisscross the hills. The air is a little cooler than in the valley, but the true mountains are still some distance to the east.
Little Silvertip turns once the Brown Bear spirit begins to vanish from the realm, facing the Cliath. ~I've the name of the bane. We should summon it while it is close, and fight it while it is still weak from possession. Are you well enough, stranger?~
Night's-Shadow is still panting a bit from the fight, but he isn't bleeding anywhere. ~Night's-Shadow,~ he offers as way of quick introduction, but seems to understand the need for brevity at the moment. ~I'm fine. Let's get it while we can.~
Elk-Tail stands ready while looking gruesome with all the blood drooling from his muzzle. Not to mention the few remaining shards of metallic fur poking out.
Little Silvertip doesn't ask his cub. He glances at Elk-Tail once, before throwing his head back and howling, ~Hidden walk! We pursue a bane - come to me!~ He's a bit wheezy by the end, the howl tapering off from him having not caught up with his breath. He then starts pulling his spear out from underneath the bear carefully. ~So you say. You a healer, stranger?~
Two corpses rest nearby, the overly large bear with metalic fur, and the much smaller and more fragile homid girl. Both seem to have had their throats torn in the last moments of life.
Night's-Shadow looks rueful. ~I've dealt more with spirits than healing,~ he admits. ~Healing is something I still need to learn.~ The crinos crouches, waiting to see if others show.
There comes an answering howl: Falcon's Gambit Accepted comes. A short time later, she calls again, much closer, arrowing in on the fight's location.
Elk-Tail gives the other theurge a bit of a suspicious look, but otherwise remains quiet and still until others arrive.
Another howl sounds just to the south. Reforges the Lost hears and comes!
Little Silvertip flicks his ear at Night's-Shadow, before glancing at his cub. ~Who the hell is Falcon's-whatever?~ He asks quietly, standing up again, and leaning on his weapon.
Night's-Shadow tips his head at the howls, attention swiveling to their points of origin and their subsequent arrivals.
Elk-Tail's ruined tongue prevents him from giving a verbal reply, but he indicates 'Fang'.
Little Silvertip curls his claws around his weapon a little tighter at his cub's reply. ~Great. I can barely keep track of the ones we have...~ He curses under his breath, as he waits for the others' arrival.
Not much longer after that, the white-furred Fang appears, also out of the south. To the Garou eye, she is an epitome of the tribe, one to point at and say 'There, that is what it means to be Silver Fang'. She pauses to take in the scene before loping up to the others, edging around the bodies. Falcon's Gambit Accepted, no-moon of Falcon, she introduces herself to the adren, with a submissive lick of her lips.
Just behind the Fang, the Fianna appears as well. She gives a curious, passing look to the two bodies and small greetings to the other cliaths and cub before turning her attention to Silvertip.
~Good.~ Silvertip says to the Fang, straightening up. ~That'll do. It'll be a bit before nightfall. I've the name of the bane, which we need to dispatch while it's weak.~
Night's-Shadow greets the pair quietly, but otherwise doesn't move or rise. He doesn't seem hurt, but he also doesn't seem to be in the best mood in the world. When the adren speaks, he turns his attention that way, at least.
Elk-Tail gestures to the fallen cub as if to ask if they should do something with the bodies in the meantime?
Falcon's Gambit's glance lingers longer on Night's-Shadow than it does Elk-Tail, but it's not unfriendly either time. A swivel of an ear greets Reforges the Lost as she stands, then shakes out her coat. What does Little Silvertip need?
Little Silvertip looks back to Falcon's Gambit, inclining his head. ~You and my cub will move the Cub's body to the Sept compound. Avoid ape attention. Fianna - you know how to skin? We'll skin out the fomor, and then burn the body. We'll then meet at the creek over there,~ He gestures with his head to the south. ~ to cross into the spirit lands. It should be darker by then.~
The sun sets early, so soon after solstice, and by the time all the work has been done it is nearly dark.
Night's-Shadow arrives near the creek once all is finished, in lupus to maintain warmth as he waits for the others to arrive.
Reforges-the-Lost made a shift to glabro, to do the skinning, carefully working around the metallic fur and such. It's not the neatest of jobs, but it's done efficiently, and in soon order she's back into lupus to join the group at the creek.
The Fang twists an ear in a sort of 'oh really?' to the ahroun Uktena, but she doesn't comment otherwise. When the job is finished she ends up between Night's-Shadow and the others. She asks him what happened as she crouches in the dark
Little Silvertip makes sure Jacey doesn't make anything worse than minor mistakes, and provides expert guidance in the process as he works along side her. Once they've done that, and burnt the remaining body, he washes up in the creek, waiting for the cub and the Fang to rejoin them.
The smell from the fire is at once enticing and disgusting, but eventually the flames burn down, and the group reconvenes at the creek. The sun disappears over the horizon, just a faint reddish glow left to tell of its passing.
Night's-Shadow glances up as the others arrive; as they wait for everything, he explains in scant detail to the Fang. He explains that they heard screams, and when they arrived there was the fomor bear. They fought it, and it killed the cub. At this, he flattens his ears; he tells her that he'll tell her more later as the others arrive. Are we ready?
Little Silvertip flicks an ear in the affirmative, and reaches into the umbra.
Reforges-the-Lost gives her fur a slight shaking out. Mends Lost is ready, she confirms before following the Adren's example and reaching for the Umbra.
Falcon's Gambit knew the cub, the Fang comments, and with a sidelong glance at the Shadow Lord, doesn't elaborate. She steals a moment to stretch fore and aft before joining the others at the water's edge to reach across.
Night's-Shadow rises, moving over to the creek and reaches over as well.
The Uktena ahroun is the first to cross, his cub only moments behind with the other theurge nearly alongside. This area still clearly belongs to the Wyld, almost as much as the bawn to the south. Even so, Jacey and Shelby can feel the pressure of the gauntlet.
Luna illuminates the umbra, lending her light to the greater beauty that exists here. The forests below are untouched as far as the eye can see, and even here in the foothills the air feels crisp and clean, free of human interference.
Elk-Tail had shrunk down to hispo form after depositing the body and remains that way after he arrives behind his elder.
Little Silvertip shoulders his weapon, plodding a bit away from the stream to find a nice place to begin the ritual. Before he starts, ~Me and the stranger~ He gestures at Xander. ~Will keep its attention. The rest of you should dart in and out. Don't let it harm you too long before you withdraw.~
Night's-Shadow shifts on up to crinos, taking a few seconds to breathe deep and enjoy the unspoiled umbral environment. Still, though, there are more things to worry about, and he exhales out a breath and flicks an ear toward the adren to signal he heard.
As soon as she's safely in the Umbra, Falcon's Gambit activates the gift that masks her scent. She tersely acknowledges Little Silvertip's order before trotting a short way from the others and surging up into Crinos. There she crouches on three limbs, ears swiveling as she awaits the enemy.
Once through the Gauntlet, Reforges the Lost shifts into Crinos as well. A small nod is given to acknowledge the Adren, ears already perked with alertness as she scans the Umbra-scape.
Elk-Tail trails along after the ragabash, though he remains in hispo. Hunching down he looks around apprehensively.
Little Silvertip begins the ritual, performing it squatted instead of kneeling. For those who had seen him do the rite earlier that day, it's markedly different - his motions are more jerky, and don't appear to be miming anything normal. His tone is wavering, and the song he sings is composed purely of gutteral sounds. Again and again, he calls for the spirit's presence by name: ~Ehtsilaug.~ Whereas Ciuraq was a poor but enthusiastic performer in the first summoning, the ritual just feels plain wrong as he summons the bane.
Night's-Shadow flattens his ears a fraction, posture tensing as the theurge gives a look around the area. Waiting.
There are other spirits about, and some of the more brave come closer, to assuage their curiosity. However, almost as soon as Ciuraq begins his dance, the gaian spirits depart, even the boldest moves off to watch from a safer distance.
The spirit he calls hadn't gone very far, and by the fourth repetition of the dance, it is visible. At first glance, it looks identical to the bear it had possessed, but closer observation gives a different perspective. As it comes over the rise, it lunges forward, and then halts again, as though struggling against a leash, but when it spots the Uktena elder, it ceases resisting and rushes down the hill toward him.
~Ehtsilaug!~ Silvertip snarls, springing up to his paws. He throws his arms out wide in a challenge, sliding his spear out to his paw. ~Ehtsilaug! I've stolen your name, Ehtsilaug!~
Reforges-the-Lost turns an ear toward Silvertip, the fur along the back of her neck and down her spine raising. She keeps a watchful eye, though, on the surroundings. Teeth bare at the sight of the bane, and the Fianna drops into a crouch and begins edging sideways to flank it once it's reached the Adren.
Night's-Shadow's teeth bare reflexively at the sight of the bane, and then recoils back a step once he gets a better look at it. He curses, and a low, gutteral growl forms in his throat as he advances forward to help the adren.
Elk-Tail keeps his growl to himself, though he paws at the umbral ground in anticipation as he watches.
~Hit and run,~ Falcon's Gambit rumbles to Elk-Tail, gesturing at the oncoming bane. As it rushes toward the ahroun, just as it has fully committed to that attack, she dashes out, swinging wide to come at the thing from the rear. Claws out, she strikes at the back of its legs, seeking to hamstring the monster.
Sky pages: As it rushes down the hill, you can see what's wrong. The bear seems to have a crinos face. It... looks like you!
As it charges toward Silvertip, the bear lets out a mighty roar. Those that fought the fomor earlier recognize the sound, the destruction and corruption in the pitch of it. But more, the roar from the spirit isn't sound alone, it's physical, as well, a purple fire that streams from its mouth to engulf the Uktena before the spirit engages directly. In that instant between the roar of fire and the bear's swipe of claws to the Uktena's head, Silvertip's spear rises, catching the spirit full in the chest. It may be the force of that strike that keeps his claws from tearing Silvertip's head clean off, and instead lands only a glancing blow.
Though her timing is off, Falcon's Gambit does manage to connect with the bane, claws tearing at its haunches even as it swipes at Silvertip's head.
Little Silvertip comes out not much the worse for the wear, but Silvertip fights like a man possessed. He immediately begins clawing at the spirit as fast he can, slashing out at the bane again and again.
Reforges-the-Lost's ears flatten as she gets a better look at the the bear thing. But once it's near enough, she runs indirectly at it, ignoring flames and fury of the non-beast alike. A hand lashes out at the last second, just as she looks to pull away from it, claws seeking to score into the bear's side and split ribs.
Night's-Shadow tears into it as well, keeping out of Silvertip's way but still maintaining a position toward the front, claws seeking out any vital areas.
Elk-Tail sprints out after the blows connect. His ears are pinned back as he leaps to bite and then bounce away again.
Falcon's Gambit doesn't linger but continues past the bear, avoiding Reforges-the Lost as she swings wide and around to come at the bear from another direction. Again she wields claws against the beast, this time seeking to slash at and extend the wounds the Fianna dealt.
The bear roars again, the sound of it digging deep into the souls of those nearby, while the flames engulf not only Silvertip, but the Shadow Lord as well. Claws dig deep from all directions, but as the attacks come from its sides and back, it tries to turn, to lunge for one of the others.
The roar causes the cub to wince, his head turning away even as he runs. Elk-Tail is quick to alter his path as he loops around for another passing bite so he doesn't run afoul the teeth or claws of the bear of the other garou.
The second blast seem to have hurt Ciuraq more than the first, leaving his fur scorched in places, and skin cooked. Now when he moves, he moves with pain. When the bane wheels around, Little Silvertip tries to stay to its side. He glances at Xander, but a shout is cut short quickly, and he redoubles his attacks, continuing to rip and tear at the bane's essence.
Reforges-the-Lost responds to roar with a snarl of her own. Her claws grip at the ground to wheel her around and face the bear once again. Another launch into the melee sends her with tooth and claw to bite and rip and rend further damage on the bane.
Night's-Shadow is blasted by the flames, fur alighting. He flinches back a step, snarling - but then something snaps within the theurge, rage stirred into a broiling frenzy as he snaps. Luckily, the thing in front of him is the bane, so it's the bane that gets the full force of the frenzy. Not so luckily, he tears into it heedlessly, ripping and tearing and biting and clawing with no heed toward strategy or self preservation.
Falcon's Gambit's ears flatten at the roar; she ducks her head and continues to slash at the beast and dodge away, doing her best to keep to its flanks and back. Again she slashes low, seeking to disable a leg or a hip, to leech from it its mobility.
The bane lunges for the first of the trio it can find, roaring again, spilling fire and hatred from its lungs. It's the Silver Fang who feels the worst of it, this time, engulfed in a crystaline purple fire that covers her from head to toe. Even as it lets out this blast, those that fight can see it weaken, some of the solidity going out of it, even as their claws strike again.
Sky pages: This fire doesn't hurt... it calcifies. Your strength has been reduced to 0, you're held upright only by the purple crystals forming around you.
You paged Sky with 'Gotcha.'.
You paged Sky with 'Is movement a possibility? Or is momentum the only thing she's got going for her?'.
~Move!~ Silvertip yells at the fang. He smacks the spirit on the backside, hoping to topple it and take up some of its time with the old ahroun trick.
Sky pages: She can probably get another step or two, but the crystalization will hold her fast, after that.
You paged Sky with 'OK, so it's like she's being turned into rock candy; got it.'.
~Frenzy!~ Reforges the Lost calls out in warning as she catches sight of the Shadow Lord's sudden onslaught born of rage. She jumps into the fight again, soon as the words have left her mouth. Literally, jumping to springboard off the bear's back and leave behind some more gashes.
Elk-Tail spins around again for the third pass, though the crush of garou bodies makes it difficult for him to snap cleanly at the bane.
The ahroun's warning comes far too late for the Fang: Falcon's Gambit is bathed in flames. The Ragabash's constant sweeps come to a stumbling end as one step, two steps from the bane she goes still, the surging growth of purple crystals surrounding her form.
The Shadow Lord doesn't back off, doesn't stop, doesn't even slow down. He doesn't even appear to hear the others.
Even as the Gatekeeper's touch makes it stumble, the bear-shaped bane begins to fade. The Shadow Lord's claws tear and tear and tear, until nothing is left of the target, and he lunges for the next; the Uktena beside him. The others feel the bane dissipate beneath their claws, all except Falcon's Gambit, who remains where she stands, quickly becoming a part of the crystaline structure growing around her.
~Break her free!~ Silvertip barks out, as he wheels to meet the Shadowlord head on. He begins exchanging blows with Night's Shadow, targeting the head.
Elk-Tail is already headed to the calcified ragabash before his Elder orders it, trying to use his comparatively massive front to batter the crystals.
Reforges-the-Lost doesn't need to be told twice, frenzying Garou are not something she's quick to want to meet. She turns for the Fang and starts hammering away with fists and fingers, to break through the calcification.
Night's-Shadow keeps on coming, the blows serving to do what is normal in a frenzied garou: they just make him keep on keepin' on. He's frothing, and the snarls that erupt from his throat are vicious and feral.
Claws from the Shadow Lord strike and strike at the Uktena, clawing mindlessly at face and neck. The Uktena, by contrast, attempts to be somewhat gentle, and its only his fists that hit the theurge over and over. By the time the Shadow Lord falls, the Uktena is a bloody mess, what wasn't charred by purple flame is now ripped, shredded.
The others have more luck. The crystals stop growing as the bane dissipates, and strong claws and jaws are able to break them free. By the time Xander is unconscious, the others have managed to free Shelby. The Silver Fang remains weak, however, barely able to stand on her own.
Sky pages: You'll regain your strength over the next hour.
Momentum sapped by the bane's attack, Falcon's Gambit, as she's freed, staggers and nearly falls. Head hanging, weight balanced on three shaking paws, she nonetheless looks around--if slowly--for the opponent. Only as the relative silence seeps into her consciousness do her ears perk forward, first one, then the other. ~What happened? Is it gone?~
Elk-Tail indicates that the bane is indeed gone as he warily eyes the Fang. Then he turns to trot over and inspect his elder.
Little Silvertip pants, barely standing at the end of the fight. He collapses down to a three legged stance, panting and bleeding from every surface - including a few that he hadn't had when he started. ~Mug...~ he starts to gurgle, before spitting out some blood. ~Steal the bane's gnosis. Make it dead forever.~
Elk-Tail stops and concentrates as he reaches out with his energy to snatch at the bane's essence.
Night's-Shadow remains flat and unconscious, thankfully.
Reforges-the-Lost reaches out to rest a hand on Shelby's shoulder, just briefly and to offer some measure of support. Her eyes follow the cub, half smirking before she, too, steps forward to aid in the gnosis-theivery.
The dissipating bane is robbed of its gnosis, disappearing from reality forever.
Little Silvertip crawls over to get his weapon, putting it on his back. He rocks back, sitting down to catch his breath. He then howls for the brown bear again: *My friend! Are you close? We need your help!* He gurgles some blood in the process, and finishes with a coughing fit, spitting out more blood.
Nose wrinkling, Falcon's Gambit repeats, ~Mug?~ blankly and attempts to regain two feet. After a few seconds of this, she gives up and shrinks back into lupus, promptly flopping onto one hip for another quick rest. Even so, she keeps an eye on their surroundings, ears flicking toward any little sound.
There isn't a howl in reply, but before too long the brown bear spirit that some saw earlier returns, lumbering quickly in answer to the call.
Reforges-the-Lost backs away from where the bane had laid, returning to the Silver Fang's side. She turns attentive when the spirit appears, ears lowered respectfully but eyes very inquisitively observing.
Little Silvertip tries to stand up, fails, and so shifts to hispo. He limps forward, one of his hind legs dragging. *Friend, we killed the bane, but the stranger is badly hurt. He needs to be well enough to cross back to the animal lands.* He wheezes.
Falcon's Gambit's ears skew at the sight of the bear, but she remains where she is. I ran too far, she notes to Reforges the Lost with an amused lick of her nose. Night's Shadow is hurt?
The bear slows as it nears and then noses at Silvertip. He sits, sort of plopping down heavily on his back end, and makes an inquisitive grunt at the Uktena. *You're hurt, too?*
Reforges-the-Lost nods to affirm Falcon's Gambit's question. ~He got a little carried away,~ she explains quietly, to not interrupt the Uktena and spirit. ~Are you alright?~
*I am, so is she,* Little Silvertip nods at Falcon's Gambit. *... but we wouldn't ask for your help. We can cross the curtain and heal. The Shadow Lord can't.*
Tired, the Fang claims, glancing for a moment at the Uktena before resuming her perusal of the area. Will rest, then feel better. Not hurt.
Reforges-the-Lost offers another small nod to the Fang, lowering into a crouch beside her. Arms resting on knees, the Fianna watches the exchange between Adren and spirit with polite interest.
The bear blows out a breath through his nose and plods toward Xander. He snuffles at the Shadow Lord's injuries, at the charred fur and torn flesh. Closing his eyes, the bear licks at the open wound on the side of the theurge's head, breathing out soft warmth. Slowly, the wound begins to knit, the torn flesh reforms, and some of the fur even begins to grow. Xander makes a small sound, somewhere beneath consciousness, but closer to the surface, and the bear steps back. *Better, now,* he says in a soft grunt.
Little Silvertip plods forward, pawing gently at the bear - not so much because the bear is fragile, but because Silvertip looks like hell. *Thank you, friend.* He says, quietly. To the others, *You three can cross. We'll wait with the stranger until he wakes up.*
Falcon's Gambit supplies to Little Silvertip that the injured male is Night's Shadow, Shadow Lord and spirit moon. She steels herself for a moment before pushing to her feet and weaving drunkenly over to join the two males. She keeps an eye on the ahroun and both ears flattened submissively, but claims that she will wait too.
Reforges-the-Lost casts a critical eye over the Adren as she straightens. ~Meaning no disrespect, Silvertip-rhya, but you're injured. I can wait here with Night's Shadow while the rest of you return to the Realm to heal.~
Gradually, the Shadow Lord stirs. The expression on his face is almost drunken, and his head sways as he attempts to lift it up. Laboriously, he begins hefting himself, pawing at some of the knitting wounds. It takes him a moment to 'get' the situation, but a look toward the bear, Silvertip, and the others causes him to utter a thick and groggy, *Thanks.* He doesn't look like he's entirely unfamiliar with the feeling of waking up post-frenzy, as he looks just a tad frustrated with himself.
*I have no need; I have powerful friends in the spirit lands.* Silvertip replies, curtly. *My totem spirit is ne...* he cuts himself off as the Shadow Lord comes to. He takes a moment to regain his breath again, before rumbling, to the spirit, *I'll visit you soon. Thanks.* The Adren begins plodding towards the stream, and uses that to reach to the realm.
The bear huffs out a breath, and noses again at Silvertip before heading off in the direction of the mountains.
Reforges-the-Lost lowers her head to Silvertip's response. Once the elder has moved toward the water, she lifts her head again and looks out to survey their surroundings, motioning for the two Theurge and Ragabash to go first.
Night's-Shadow still seems rather muddy, and he slowly and shakily rises, squinting at the area. ~What happened after I --frenzied?~ he asks as he plods toward the stream, voice gruff.
Another ear flick from the Silver Fang, and a sigh that seems to come from deep underground. She pads alongside the Shadow Lord, still weaving as though she'd spent all night partying. It burned her, but she is not injured. Just very tired. I do not know more.
Reforges-the-Lost takes up the rear, returning to the realm behind the rest of the group.
Night's-Shadow grunts, and doesn't ask more for now; he merely nods and moves to cross over as well.
Currently the moon is in the waning Half (Philodox) Moon phase (42% full).
Somewhere North of the Bawn
The trees are sparse, occuring in copses rather than thick stands, but cover still exists. Most of the trees that can be seen are deciduous, aspen and birch following the scored lines from runoff, or the more permanent streams that seem to crisscross the hills. The air is a little cooler than in the valley, but the true mountains are still some distance to the east.
Little Silvertip turns once the Brown Bear spirit begins to vanish from the realm, facing the Cliath. ~I've the name of the bane. We should summon it while it is close, and fight it while it is still weak from possession. Are you well enough, stranger?~
Night's-Shadow is still panting a bit from the fight, but he isn't bleeding anywhere. ~Night's-Shadow,~ he offers as way of quick introduction, but seems to understand the need for brevity at the moment. ~I'm fine. Let's get it while we can.~
Elk-Tail stands ready while looking gruesome with all the blood drooling from his muzzle. Not to mention the few remaining shards of metallic fur poking out.
Little Silvertip doesn't ask his cub. He glances at Elk-Tail once, before throwing his head back and howling, ~Hidden walk! We pursue a bane - come to me!~ He's a bit wheezy by the end, the howl tapering off from him having not caught up with his breath. He then starts pulling his spear out from underneath the bear carefully. ~So you say. You a healer, stranger?~
Two corpses rest nearby, the overly large bear with metalic fur, and the much smaller and more fragile homid girl. Both seem to have had their throats torn in the last moments of life.
Night's-Shadow looks rueful. ~I've dealt more with spirits than healing,~ he admits. ~Healing is something I still need to learn.~ The crinos crouches, waiting to see if others show.
There comes an answering howl: Falcon's Gambit Accepted comes. A short time later, she calls again, much closer, arrowing in on the fight's location.
Elk-Tail gives the other theurge a bit of a suspicious look, but otherwise remains quiet and still until others arrive.
Another howl sounds just to the south. Reforges the Lost hears and comes!
Little Silvertip flicks his ear at Night's-Shadow, before glancing at his cub. ~Who the hell is Falcon's-whatever?~ He asks quietly, standing up again, and leaning on his weapon.
Night's-Shadow tips his head at the howls, attention swiveling to their points of origin and their subsequent arrivals.
Elk-Tail's ruined tongue prevents him from giving a verbal reply, but he indicates 'Fang'.
Little Silvertip curls his claws around his weapon a little tighter at his cub's reply. ~Great. I can barely keep track of the ones we have...~ He curses under his breath, as he waits for the others' arrival.
Not much longer after that, the white-furred Fang appears, also out of the south. To the Garou eye, she is an epitome of the tribe, one to point at and say 'There, that is what it means to be Silver Fang'. She pauses to take in the scene before loping up to the others, edging around the bodies. Falcon's Gambit Accepted, no-moon of Falcon, she introduces herself to the adren, with a submissive lick of her lips.
Just behind the Fang, the Fianna appears as well. She gives a curious, passing look to the two bodies and small greetings to the other cliaths and cub before turning her attention to Silvertip.
~Good.~ Silvertip says to the Fang, straightening up. ~That'll do. It'll be a bit before nightfall. I've the name of the bane, which we need to dispatch while it's weak.~
Night's-Shadow greets the pair quietly, but otherwise doesn't move or rise. He doesn't seem hurt, but he also doesn't seem to be in the best mood in the world. When the adren speaks, he turns his attention that way, at least.
Elk-Tail gestures to the fallen cub as if to ask if they should do something with the bodies in the meantime?
Falcon's Gambit's glance lingers longer on Night's-Shadow than it does Elk-Tail, but it's not unfriendly either time. A swivel of an ear greets Reforges the Lost as she stands, then shakes out her coat. What does Little Silvertip need?
Little Silvertip looks back to Falcon's Gambit, inclining his head. ~You and my cub will move the Cub's body to the Sept compound. Avoid ape attention. Fianna - you know how to skin? We'll skin out the fomor, and then burn the body. We'll then meet at the creek over there,~ He gestures with his head to the south. ~ to cross into the spirit lands. It should be darker by then.~
The sun sets early, so soon after solstice, and by the time all the work has been done it is nearly dark.
Night's-Shadow arrives near the creek once all is finished, in lupus to maintain warmth as he waits for the others to arrive.
Reforges-the-Lost made a shift to glabro, to do the skinning, carefully working around the metallic fur and such. It's not the neatest of jobs, but it's done efficiently, and in soon order she's back into lupus to join the group at the creek.
The Fang twists an ear in a sort of 'oh really?' to the ahroun Uktena, but she doesn't comment otherwise. When the job is finished she ends up between Night's-Shadow and the others. She asks him what happened as she crouches in the dark
Little Silvertip makes sure Jacey doesn't make anything worse than minor mistakes, and provides expert guidance in the process as he works along side her. Once they've done that, and burnt the remaining body, he washes up in the creek, waiting for the cub and the Fang to rejoin them.
The smell from the fire is at once enticing and disgusting, but eventually the flames burn down, and the group reconvenes at the creek. The sun disappears over the horizon, just a faint reddish glow left to tell of its passing.
Night's-Shadow glances up as the others arrive; as they wait for everything, he explains in scant detail to the Fang. He explains that they heard screams, and when they arrived there was the fomor bear. They fought it, and it killed the cub. At this, he flattens his ears; he tells her that he'll tell her more later as the others arrive. Are we ready?
Little Silvertip flicks an ear in the affirmative, and reaches into the umbra.
Reforges-the-Lost gives her fur a slight shaking out. Mends Lost is ready, she confirms before following the Adren's example and reaching for the Umbra.
Falcon's Gambit knew the cub, the Fang comments, and with a sidelong glance at the Shadow Lord, doesn't elaborate. She steals a moment to stretch fore and aft before joining the others at the water's edge to reach across.
Night's-Shadow rises, moving over to the creek and reaches over as well.
The Uktena ahroun is the first to cross, his cub only moments behind with the other theurge nearly alongside. This area still clearly belongs to the Wyld, almost as much as the bawn to the south. Even so, Jacey and Shelby can feel the pressure of the gauntlet.
Luna illuminates the umbra, lending her light to the greater beauty that exists here. The forests below are untouched as far as the eye can see, and even here in the foothills the air feels crisp and clean, free of human interference.
Elk-Tail had shrunk down to hispo form after depositing the body and remains that way after he arrives behind his elder.
Little Silvertip shoulders his weapon, plodding a bit away from the stream to find a nice place to begin the ritual. Before he starts, ~Me and the stranger~ He gestures at Xander. ~Will keep its attention. The rest of you should dart in and out. Don't let it harm you too long before you withdraw.~
Night's-Shadow shifts on up to crinos, taking a few seconds to breathe deep and enjoy the unspoiled umbral environment. Still, though, there are more things to worry about, and he exhales out a breath and flicks an ear toward the adren to signal he heard.
As soon as she's safely in the Umbra, Falcon's Gambit activates the gift that masks her scent. She tersely acknowledges Little Silvertip's order before trotting a short way from the others and surging up into Crinos. There she crouches on three limbs, ears swiveling as she awaits the enemy.
Once through the Gauntlet, Reforges the Lost shifts into Crinos as well. A small nod is given to acknowledge the Adren, ears already perked with alertness as she scans the Umbra-scape.
Elk-Tail trails along after the ragabash, though he remains in hispo. Hunching down he looks around apprehensively.
Little Silvertip begins the ritual, performing it squatted instead of kneeling. For those who had seen him do the rite earlier that day, it's markedly different - his motions are more jerky, and don't appear to be miming anything normal. His tone is wavering, and the song he sings is composed purely of gutteral sounds. Again and again, he calls for the spirit's presence by name: ~Ehtsilaug.~ Whereas Ciuraq was a poor but enthusiastic performer in the first summoning, the ritual just feels plain wrong as he summons the bane.
Night's-Shadow flattens his ears a fraction, posture tensing as the theurge gives a look around the area. Waiting.
There are other spirits about, and some of the more brave come closer, to assuage their curiosity. However, almost as soon as Ciuraq begins his dance, the gaian spirits depart, even the boldest moves off to watch from a safer distance.
The spirit he calls hadn't gone very far, and by the fourth repetition of the dance, it is visible. At first glance, it looks identical to the bear it had possessed, but closer observation gives a different perspective. As it comes over the rise, it lunges forward, and then halts again, as though struggling against a leash, but when it spots the Uktena elder, it ceases resisting and rushes down the hill toward him.
~Ehtsilaug!~ Silvertip snarls, springing up to his paws. He throws his arms out wide in a challenge, sliding his spear out to his paw. ~Ehtsilaug! I've stolen your name, Ehtsilaug!~
Reforges-the-Lost turns an ear toward Silvertip, the fur along the back of her neck and down her spine raising. She keeps a watchful eye, though, on the surroundings. Teeth bare at the sight of the bane, and the Fianna drops into a crouch and begins edging sideways to flank it once it's reached the Adren.
Night's-Shadow's teeth bare reflexively at the sight of the bane, and then recoils back a step once he gets a better look at it. He curses, and a low, gutteral growl forms in his throat as he advances forward to help the adren.
Elk-Tail keeps his growl to himself, though he paws at the umbral ground in anticipation as he watches.
~Hit and run,~ Falcon's Gambit rumbles to Elk-Tail, gesturing at the oncoming bane. As it rushes toward the ahroun, just as it has fully committed to that attack, she dashes out, swinging wide to come at the thing from the rear. Claws out, she strikes at the back of its legs, seeking to hamstring the monster.
Sky pages: As it rushes down the hill, you can see what's wrong. The bear seems to have a crinos face. It... looks like you!
As it charges toward Silvertip, the bear lets out a mighty roar. Those that fought the fomor earlier recognize the sound, the destruction and corruption in the pitch of it. But more, the roar from the spirit isn't sound alone, it's physical, as well, a purple fire that streams from its mouth to engulf the Uktena before the spirit engages directly. In that instant between the roar of fire and the bear's swipe of claws to the Uktena's head, Silvertip's spear rises, catching the spirit full in the chest. It may be the force of that strike that keeps his claws from tearing Silvertip's head clean off, and instead lands only a glancing blow.
Though her timing is off, Falcon's Gambit does manage to connect with the bane, claws tearing at its haunches even as it swipes at Silvertip's head.
Little Silvertip comes out not much the worse for the wear, but Silvertip fights like a man possessed. He immediately begins clawing at the spirit as fast he can, slashing out at the bane again and again.
Reforges-the-Lost's ears flatten as she gets a better look at the the bear thing. But once it's near enough, she runs indirectly at it, ignoring flames and fury of the non-beast alike. A hand lashes out at the last second, just as she looks to pull away from it, claws seeking to score into the bear's side and split ribs.
Night's-Shadow tears into it as well, keeping out of Silvertip's way but still maintaining a position toward the front, claws seeking out any vital areas.
Elk-Tail sprints out after the blows connect. His ears are pinned back as he leaps to bite and then bounce away again.
Falcon's Gambit doesn't linger but continues past the bear, avoiding Reforges-the Lost as she swings wide and around to come at the bear from another direction. Again she wields claws against the beast, this time seeking to slash at and extend the wounds the Fianna dealt.
The bear roars again, the sound of it digging deep into the souls of those nearby, while the flames engulf not only Silvertip, but the Shadow Lord as well. Claws dig deep from all directions, but as the attacks come from its sides and back, it tries to turn, to lunge for one of the others.
The roar causes the cub to wince, his head turning away even as he runs. Elk-Tail is quick to alter his path as he loops around for another passing bite so he doesn't run afoul the teeth or claws of the bear of the other garou.
The second blast seem to have hurt Ciuraq more than the first, leaving his fur scorched in places, and skin cooked. Now when he moves, he moves with pain. When the bane wheels around, Little Silvertip tries to stay to its side. He glances at Xander, but a shout is cut short quickly, and he redoubles his attacks, continuing to rip and tear at the bane's essence.
Reforges-the-Lost responds to roar with a snarl of her own. Her claws grip at the ground to wheel her around and face the bear once again. Another launch into the melee sends her with tooth and claw to bite and rip and rend further damage on the bane.
Night's-Shadow is blasted by the flames, fur alighting. He flinches back a step, snarling - but then something snaps within the theurge, rage stirred into a broiling frenzy as he snaps. Luckily, the thing in front of him is the bane, so it's the bane that gets the full force of the frenzy. Not so luckily, he tears into it heedlessly, ripping and tearing and biting and clawing with no heed toward strategy or self preservation.
Falcon's Gambit's ears flatten at the roar; she ducks her head and continues to slash at the beast and dodge away, doing her best to keep to its flanks and back. Again she slashes low, seeking to disable a leg or a hip, to leech from it its mobility.
The bane lunges for the first of the trio it can find, roaring again, spilling fire and hatred from its lungs. It's the Silver Fang who feels the worst of it, this time, engulfed in a crystaline purple fire that covers her from head to toe. Even as it lets out this blast, those that fight can see it weaken, some of the solidity going out of it, even as their claws strike again.
Sky pages: This fire doesn't hurt... it calcifies. Your strength has been reduced to 0, you're held upright only by the purple crystals forming around you.
You paged Sky with 'Gotcha.'.
You paged Sky with 'Is movement a possibility? Or is momentum the only thing she's got going for her?'.
~Move!~ Silvertip yells at the fang. He smacks the spirit on the backside, hoping to topple it and take up some of its time with the old ahroun trick.
Sky pages: She can probably get another step or two, but the crystalization will hold her fast, after that.
You paged Sky with 'OK, so it's like she's being turned into rock candy; got it.'.
~Frenzy!~ Reforges the Lost calls out in warning as she catches sight of the Shadow Lord's sudden onslaught born of rage. She jumps into the fight again, soon as the words have left her mouth. Literally, jumping to springboard off the bear's back and leave behind some more gashes.
Elk-Tail spins around again for the third pass, though the crush of garou bodies makes it difficult for him to snap cleanly at the bane.
The ahroun's warning comes far too late for the Fang: Falcon's Gambit is bathed in flames. The Ragabash's constant sweeps come to a stumbling end as one step, two steps from the bane she goes still, the surging growth of purple crystals surrounding her form.
The Shadow Lord doesn't back off, doesn't stop, doesn't even slow down. He doesn't even appear to hear the others.
Even as the Gatekeeper's touch makes it stumble, the bear-shaped bane begins to fade. The Shadow Lord's claws tear and tear and tear, until nothing is left of the target, and he lunges for the next; the Uktena beside him. The others feel the bane dissipate beneath their claws, all except Falcon's Gambit, who remains where she stands, quickly becoming a part of the crystaline structure growing around her.
~Break her free!~ Silvertip barks out, as he wheels to meet the Shadowlord head on. He begins exchanging blows with Night's Shadow, targeting the head.
Elk-Tail is already headed to the calcified ragabash before his Elder orders it, trying to use his comparatively massive front to batter the crystals.
Reforges-the-Lost doesn't need to be told twice, frenzying Garou are not something she's quick to want to meet. She turns for the Fang and starts hammering away with fists and fingers, to break through the calcification.
Night's-Shadow keeps on coming, the blows serving to do what is normal in a frenzied garou: they just make him keep on keepin' on. He's frothing, and the snarls that erupt from his throat are vicious and feral.
Claws from the Shadow Lord strike and strike at the Uktena, clawing mindlessly at face and neck. The Uktena, by contrast, attempts to be somewhat gentle, and its only his fists that hit the theurge over and over. By the time the Shadow Lord falls, the Uktena is a bloody mess, what wasn't charred by purple flame is now ripped, shredded.
The others have more luck. The crystals stop growing as the bane dissipates, and strong claws and jaws are able to break them free. By the time Xander is unconscious, the others have managed to free Shelby. The Silver Fang remains weak, however, barely able to stand on her own.
Sky pages: You'll regain your strength over the next hour.
Momentum sapped by the bane's attack, Falcon's Gambit, as she's freed, staggers and nearly falls. Head hanging, weight balanced on three shaking paws, she nonetheless looks around--if slowly--for the opponent. Only as the relative silence seeps into her consciousness do her ears perk forward, first one, then the other. ~What happened? Is it gone?~
Elk-Tail indicates that the bane is indeed gone as he warily eyes the Fang. Then he turns to trot over and inspect his elder.
Little Silvertip pants, barely standing at the end of the fight. He collapses down to a three legged stance, panting and bleeding from every surface - including a few that he hadn't had when he started. ~Mug...~ he starts to gurgle, before spitting out some blood. ~Steal the bane's gnosis. Make it dead forever.~
Elk-Tail stops and concentrates as he reaches out with his energy to snatch at the bane's essence.
Night's-Shadow remains flat and unconscious, thankfully.
Reforges-the-Lost reaches out to rest a hand on Shelby's shoulder, just briefly and to offer some measure of support. Her eyes follow the cub, half smirking before she, too, steps forward to aid in the gnosis-theivery.
The dissipating bane is robbed of its gnosis, disappearing from reality forever.
Little Silvertip crawls over to get his weapon, putting it on his back. He rocks back, sitting down to catch his breath. He then howls for the brown bear again: *My friend! Are you close? We need your help!* He gurgles some blood in the process, and finishes with a coughing fit, spitting out more blood.
Nose wrinkling, Falcon's Gambit repeats, ~Mug?~ blankly and attempts to regain two feet. After a few seconds of this, she gives up and shrinks back into lupus, promptly flopping onto one hip for another quick rest. Even so, she keeps an eye on their surroundings, ears flicking toward any little sound.
There isn't a howl in reply, but before too long the brown bear spirit that some saw earlier returns, lumbering quickly in answer to the call.
Reforges-the-Lost backs away from where the bane had laid, returning to the Silver Fang's side. She turns attentive when the spirit appears, ears lowered respectfully but eyes very inquisitively observing.
Little Silvertip tries to stand up, fails, and so shifts to hispo. He limps forward, one of his hind legs dragging. *Friend, we killed the bane, but the stranger is badly hurt. He needs to be well enough to cross back to the animal lands.* He wheezes.
Falcon's Gambit's ears skew at the sight of the bear, but she remains where she is. I ran too far, she notes to Reforges the Lost with an amused lick of her nose. Night's Shadow is hurt?
The bear slows as it nears and then noses at Silvertip. He sits, sort of plopping down heavily on his back end, and makes an inquisitive grunt at the Uktena. *You're hurt, too?*
Reforges-the-Lost nods to affirm Falcon's Gambit's question. ~He got a little carried away,~ she explains quietly, to not interrupt the Uktena and spirit. ~Are you alright?~
*I am, so is she,* Little Silvertip nods at Falcon's Gambit. *... but we wouldn't ask for your help. We can cross the curtain and heal. The Shadow Lord can't.*
Tired, the Fang claims, glancing for a moment at the Uktena before resuming her perusal of the area. Will rest, then feel better. Not hurt.
Reforges-the-Lost offers another small nod to the Fang, lowering into a crouch beside her. Arms resting on knees, the Fianna watches the exchange between Adren and spirit with polite interest.
The bear blows out a breath through his nose and plods toward Xander. He snuffles at the Shadow Lord's injuries, at the charred fur and torn flesh. Closing his eyes, the bear licks at the open wound on the side of the theurge's head, breathing out soft warmth. Slowly, the wound begins to knit, the torn flesh reforms, and some of the fur even begins to grow. Xander makes a small sound, somewhere beneath consciousness, but closer to the surface, and the bear steps back. *Better, now,* he says in a soft grunt.
Little Silvertip plods forward, pawing gently at the bear - not so much because the bear is fragile, but because Silvertip looks like hell. *Thank you, friend.* He says, quietly. To the others, *You three can cross. We'll wait with the stranger until he wakes up.*
Falcon's Gambit supplies to Little Silvertip that the injured male is Night's Shadow, Shadow Lord and spirit moon. She steels herself for a moment before pushing to her feet and weaving drunkenly over to join the two males. She keeps an eye on the ahroun and both ears flattened submissively, but claims that she will wait too.
Reforges-the-Lost casts a critical eye over the Adren as she straightens. ~Meaning no disrespect, Silvertip-rhya, but you're injured. I can wait here with Night's Shadow while the rest of you return to the Realm to heal.~
Gradually, the Shadow Lord stirs. The expression on his face is almost drunken, and his head sways as he attempts to lift it up. Laboriously, he begins hefting himself, pawing at some of the knitting wounds. It takes him a moment to 'get' the situation, but a look toward the bear, Silvertip, and the others causes him to utter a thick and groggy, *Thanks.* He doesn't look like he's entirely unfamiliar with the feeling of waking up post-frenzy, as he looks just a tad frustrated with himself.
*I have no need; I have powerful friends in the spirit lands.* Silvertip replies, curtly. *My totem spirit is ne...* he cuts himself off as the Shadow Lord comes to. He takes a moment to regain his breath again, before rumbling, to the spirit, *I'll visit you soon. Thanks.* The Adren begins plodding towards the stream, and uses that to reach to the realm.
The bear huffs out a breath, and noses again at Silvertip before heading off in the direction of the mountains.
Reforges-the-Lost lowers her head to Silvertip's response. Once the elder has moved toward the water, she lifts her head again and looks out to survey their surroundings, motioning for the two Theurge and Ragabash to go first.
Night's-Shadow still seems rather muddy, and he slowly and shakily rises, squinting at the area. ~What happened after I --frenzied?~ he asks as he plods toward the stream, voice gruff.
Another ear flick from the Silver Fang, and a sigh that seems to come from deep underground. She pads alongside the Shadow Lord, still weaving as though she'd spent all night partying. It burned her, but she is not injured. Just very tired. I do not know more.
Reforges-the-Lost takes up the rear, returning to the realm behind the rest of the group.
Night's-Shadow grunts, and doesn't ask more for now; he merely nods and moves to cross over as well.