EnerJam.

wellness

That night at the Christmas market, Lucky shoved around several broken planks of a shopping stall and found empty bottle upon empty bottle of something called Nutri-Pro. By the makers of EnerJam. Weird, but not too terribly strange until he told the others who had killed the giant blob-thing that already a few of those who'd heard the story were nicknaming 'the Blerch' after some webcomic or something.

It was the Fianna kinsman who'd recognized it. The Fianna kinsman whose body had been shielded by two Garou, covering him lest his skin be boiled off of him by that acid... or whatever it was. Those wounded Garou, healing each other and themselves, went off to the full moon rite, and he went to another shining surface to learn what he could about the stuff. Once is weird. Twice is unsettling. Three times would be a pattern. What he found out, he passed along -- either to the Garou themselves or directly to the leaders at Cold Crescent.

--

Meanwhile, at the moot, Firebrand walked to the center and told the gathered wolves what they had seen, and where, and what had happened. Spilled out the empty bottles with their congealing dribbles of enhanced airy product stinking up the air a bit.

At the mention of EnerJam there are some stirrings, some recognition, some odd looks. Leaders of both septs looked on quietly, listening. Later she tells another story; this one does not involve regular humans turning into vicious monsters, does not involve this common thread. Just a monster, though a hell of a monster.

After the moot, the Warder of Forgotten Questions and the wolf who acts as Moonwalker for the Great Alpha in Cold Crescent both approach her. The one they call Forgotten Warder is a massive black beast, stones and beads and bones woven into pieces of her fur, shocks of white going up her thick arms and legs through the inky fur she wears. They ask her for more details, and the Moonwalker asks her to come see him later at Cold Crescent.

--

Lucky and Firebrand were there; they're called in to the office of the Warder of the city sept. Rafael just happens to be there, gets drafted. This is his proof, maybe, this is his test, upon introducing himself to the sept.

They've been losing some of their voices among the homeless around Denver. Groups who would talk to them, individuals who would answer questions sometimes. Some just go missing. Some turn up in the morgue. One died from EnerJam. One of the last informants left has been hiding out. Won't talk to the wolves when they call. So these three are being sent to talk to her, find out what they can about these drinks -- where they're getting them (Matt's search for intel didn't say) and who all is drinking them, if they're addictive, and so on.

"Take a kin," the Warder says, with a glance at the two Ahrouns. He's sort of talking to Lucky, there, but really: all three of them. "Should be one hanging around outside the Ritemistress's office or someplace."

And so there is. A blue-eyed kin of Pegasus, willing to help them deal with a mortal,

though perhaps someone they'll have to save if this informant has been supping on NutriPro herself.

wellness

[1. The name of this semi-homeless informant they're going to look for is Sandy. Roll wits + investigation and we'll pool the group's successes. Remember, since it's a Knowledge, if you don't have it, you can't help, even with Wits alone. So sad. You let us all down.]

Rafaël

[I HAZ IT :D]

Dice: 4 d10 TN6 (4, 8, 9, 9) ( success x 3 )

Lucky

[Wits+Investigations]

Dice: 6 d10 TN6 (2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9) ( success x 3 )

Firebrand

[Morgan lets the team down. She's just here to smacks skulls together.]

wellness

[Oh! You can also IC post if you want! I encourage it!]

Alexis Theron Lambros

[[Wits+Investigation!]]

Dice: 4 d10 TN6 (2, 6, 8, 10) ( success x 3 )

Firebrand

Firebrand lets the others do the talking. Which is not to say, as any who attended the Moot could attest, she was incapable of doing so, but rather that she prefers to take the rear. To be the lookout and, as odd as it seems given her Homid stature, the muscle. With that fiery hair spilling out beneath her hood; she's memorable even without uttering more than a few muttered words.

A blue eyed lookout as the Kin and Garou begin their search for information. She does offer a reminder, few words of what she recalls of EnerJam, an exchanged look with the other that had been there that night; with Lucky; that had seen what it had turned a human into. What it was capable of.

She doesn't interrogate; but she brings the roll of her Rage; a shield of its own invoking, travelling with another of her Moon and the Ragabash. She's a watchful, potent presence, even silent.

Rafaël

Somewhere along the way the wolf found his way here. Never really bothered to announce his arrival. Keeps to himself, mostly, but maybe some of them have seen him around nonetheless. Pulling up in the garage, dead of night. Big guy with big shoulders, big fists. Heaving some limp, heavy thing out of the trunk of that plain-jane sedan of his. Taking it up the service elevator, the secret elevator, the locked elevator, whatever it is that brings the Garou to their communal den.

Never quite sure what happens to those things he brings in. Those bodies. Those trophies. Gives 'em to the Guardians for disposal or mounting or framing or something. Heads out again. Never stays for chitchat.

That's why he's there tonight. Hulking through the corridors, head down, bonecrusher hands in the pockets of his battered old leather jacket. Moto jacket, really, only with the armor plates pulled out because it's too damn cold and icy out to ride. About to slip into the elevator and vanish when the Warder calls him.

Has a moment where he stops. Half-turns. Not even sure they're talking to him, but then it turns out they are. Wolf has a wary look when he comes back, reluctantly joins the little circle.

Gets his assignment.

First one he's ever had from this Sept.

Alexis Theron Lambros

Alexis had been around Cold Crescent, to be sure, although he wasn't at the Ritemistresses'. Not at this point, anyway; plenty of time for that later, and he is careful not to disturb her when she is busy with whatever she's busy with. Instead he had been down volunteering with the younger kinfolk, something he does regularly. Alexis, it may surprise none, is good with kids. He teaches human children in his self-defense classes but he knows more than just how to guide them to take care of themselves martially.

When the Ahrouns find him and tell him to come with, he doesn't question. He just nods and leaves the children in the hands of the other capable kin there, slipping on a jacket and moving to go with. He'll surely have gotten the details of what they need on the way and he knows some of the down-and-outs from his work at shelters. He is happy to help them find who they need.

Lucky

He is not surprised when he is called in with Firebrand. They were together facing the blerch, after all. And he is so very summonable. He is new to the city. He is a Cliath. He's hardly in a position to refuse to answer. Firebrand gets a smile, though because somewhere in that conversation at the sept she won him over.

Firebrand wants to be their rear guard, and he's content with that. He's quiet, Jules. A little surprised, really, when he's instructed to take a kin in a fashion at all targeted because he rather expected that that he would be following orders. Perhaps Firebrand's, perhaps this new Fang. He says nothing to that command, but he nods.

And a kin, but he can very much see how that would help. And so, with only a few words it seems, they head off to searching.

Charlotte

This slight creaure joins them. Attaches herself to them. Catches the elevator as they're heading down, stops it just before it closes up with a slender hand cinched between the doors and there's a moment when you think that hand is going to be halved but then the censors kick in, kick on. The doors slow, stop.

Charlotte, this platinum blond waif-of-a-thing brimming with pure-blood, slips in with them.

She doesn't say anything, not at first. Gives Firebrand and Lucky this sidling smiles. Gives Rafael and Alexis wary looks. Hands in her pockets and a messenger bag slung over her boyish body.

Falls into line.

wellness

[I was not expecting 3/4 of you to have Investigation. NINE successes it is.]

Through a combination of area knowledge and tracking, the group has the trail of the woman known as Sandy after about fifteen or twenty minutes, if that. They head out, walking the cold but not icy streets or piling into someone's car. By that time, Charlotte has heard of the undertaking and joined them -- she was there when the blerch exploded, too. She wants to find out more. And she'll be helpful. A Theurge is always helpful.

So they go.

--

They find Sandy. She's young, but they knew she would be. Still hard, seeing someone in her mid-twenties already so at a disadvantage. Skinny as a rail, with thin pale hair. A narrow face and slightly outsized teeth, slightly bulging eyes. They find her at a friend's apartment. Friend must be out.

Takes some doing, but she lets them in. Friend must be a hoarder; stacks of newspapers here and there. Smell of ammonia. Sandy sits on a sagging couch, arms around herself, watching them warily.

"Am I in trouble?" she wants to know.

Charlotte

Charlotte doesn't really talk to humans. Ordinary ones. Or even: semi-ordinary ones. Not much. She is: a bit too wolfish, a bit too direct, a bit too fae and strange and wild beneath her skin.

Leaves the talk to the kinsman, maybe the Ragabash.

Opens her mouth just a little bit as they crowd in the door.

Inhales that ammonia scent. Lets it coat her mouth and skim over her tongue, as if she were savoring something.

Or searching for something, as she starts to wander, pale eyes drifting thoughtlessly over the stacks of newspapers.

Which she is:

searching for something.

Wyrm.

(Sense Wyrm! Difficulty is variable and up to kai.)

Dice: 5 d10 TN6 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) ( botch x 1 )

Lucky

"Not with us," Jules says, still quietly. He is a little too guarded for it to be precisely a soothing tone, but he is, at least, calm. An easier presence than the two Full Moons with them. 'Take a Kin,' they had said. And they seemed to have chosen that kin, so he doesn't start to explain.

Instead, his eyes shift to Alexis. Expectant. Waiting. His attention catches for a second on Charlotte, searching. Flicks to the two Full Moons. And then he returns his attention to Alexis and Sandy.

wellness

[Charlotte is pretty sure there is a cat here and that it is Wyrm-tainted. Gaia calls her to hunt the cat.]

Alexis Theron Lambros

He knows all to well, of course, how dealing with Garou can put people on edge. Which works for the situation; it puts him immediately into the 'good cop' part of the dynamic. He doesn't particularly think of it like that, but really that's sort of how it plays out, right?

So he smiles and plays friendly. It's not an act for him; he's not naive or bubbly, but he's comfortable with his place in the world and he knows that involves dealing with mortals. He moves to take a seat if there's a spot available that doesn't encrouch on her personal space; he's not obtrusive about it, but he's not getting too close in case Sandy ends up exploding into some monster. He also doesn't want to tower over her because that's a place of intimidation. There's enough of them here who can do that.

"We just want to know about the drinks. The EnerJam. Do you know anything about that, Sandy?"

It's said calmly and without threat, but there's less of a request for information there than there is an expectancy of it.

Firebrand

The teenaged Ahroun has a length of candy cane stuck between her teeth; she's sucking on it quietly in the background like some absurd cigarette in bright red and white while the others do the talking. She offers some to Charlotte when she joins their small brigade; some to Lucky. Digs her hands in the pockets of a heavy, oversized green coat and tramples into poor Sandy's friend's house as if she has quite the right to start peering around.

Pushing the hood off her face and gazing at the human, then the Kin in silent consideration. There's more candy in Morgan's pocket. If all else fails - who wouldn't want Christmas candy from a redhead who feels like she's about to devour your soul.

wellness

[2. Anyone talking to Sandy please roll Charisma or Manipulation + Empathy, Intimidation, Etiquette or Subterfuge, DEPENDING on their approach/style.

Anyone standing around looking scary, you may choose to sniff around, look around, investigate, roll stuff vs. Sandy... gimme ideas!]

Rafaël

Wolf stays out of the conversation. Loiters by the door. Thick shoulder to the frame; head occasionally twisting about to glance back the way they came. Keeps an eye out.

Rest of the time he stares none-too-subtly at Charlotte. At Morgan. Once or twice the other wolves catch him sniffing their way: chin lifted, eyes flat and hooded, nostrils flaring.

Lucky

[Charisma+Empathy]

Dice: 7 d10 TN6 (1, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8) ( success x 1 )

Alexis Theron Lambros

[{Charisma+Empathy, WP because let's give this a shot!]]

Dice: 7 d10 TN6 (1, 5, 5, 5, 7, 7, 10) ( success x 4 ) [WP]

Firebrand

[Perception + Alertness: just takin' a look around your place.]

Dice: 6 d10 TN6 (4, 5, 5, 6, 7, 7) ( success x 3 )

wellness

Sandy winces. "That shit is nasty," she says. Sounds like she means the taste. "Made me throw up. For a whole frickin' night."

Shakes her head. "Don't know why most people like that shit."

She glances over at Rafael, sniffing people. She fixes her eyes back on Alexis and Lucky. "Listen," she says, lowering her voice. "I know you guys are like. Secret police or whatever. But far as I can tell, that shit just makes people either sick or it makes them addicted and then sick. That's all I know about it."

Charlotte

Charlotte doesn't like to be stared at, not by strangers, not by strange wolves. She accepts the piece of candy offered her by Morgan with a drifting absentmindness that speaks - oddly - to a degree of familiarity, if not comfort, with the redhead. Beneath the prickling irritation with Rafael's none-too-subtle stare (her eyes flat discs the color of a wintry sky), she's following the trail of something else none of them can really see.

But something Sandy says ticks something bright and sharp beneath her skin. Charlotte, blinks and looks up and zeroes in not on the unfortunately kitty cat, but on the sickly girl in the center of the room.

"Why'd you try it. Did you buy it?" A beat. A pause. It seems a bit spendthrift for the homeless. Don't they save all their cash for cheap beer. "Are they serving it at a shelter? Is someone giving it away?"

wellness

Sandy shrugs at Charlotte. "Melinda brought some back, last time I stayed with her. Didn't ask where she got it. Just told her to keep it to herself."

A beat. "I mean, it was nice of her to bring me stuff. And put me up and all." Shrugs. "Just made me fuckin' sick is all. Not her fault."

Firebrand

The redhead moves around with a restlessness that likely betrays her youth. At eighteen, were it not for the fact she's born under a full moon, nothing of Firebrand's outward disconnection from whatever is going on would seem so unusual. She's a teenager - she shuffles her weight. Moves around, vanishes, for not a small few moments into the kitchen.

There's the usual attractions. Sink. Cupboards. Pieces of paper stuffed together on top of the counter. The Fianna moves in to take a closer look. Picks up a few pieces; studies one; makes a quiet noise in her throat and pulls the candy cane out of her mouth.

"What's the name Integrated Wellness mean to you?" Comes a voice from the kitchen door; Morgan; papers in her hand is reading from one. Her eyes rest heavy on Sandy's face. Not suspicious, per say but maybe heading in its direction.

Alexis Theron Lambros

Shit. Alexis doesn't necessarily know everything about this stuff, but he has the gist of it. It kills people, and quite possibly worse. He looks up at the others a moment; they're the authorities in this situation. When Charlotte starts asking questions, he follows her lead.

"This stuff could be a real health risk, Sandy. Do you know where we could find Melinda? We probably need to check her out, make sure that she's okay."

Lucky

Charlotte asks questions, and they are good questions. Finding out where it comes from is good.

He does not want to overwhelm the girl. She is thin and she is hiding. There are five of them. He doesn't sit like Alexis, but he does slouch a little against a wall. Tries not to focus too intensely on Sandy. He is hardly the most intimidating person in the room.

"I know we're here and asking a lot of questions, and they're maybe not easy to answer. But it is important. The more we know about what happens, and where and why, the better chance we have of stopping more people from getting sick. Maybe even helping people who already are sick."

wellness

The young woman's eyes flick up. She shrugs. Eyes the paper and frowns. "Look, jus cuz Melinda's not home doesn't mean you can go snooping through her shit." She unfolds her arms, but she's not ready to jump to her feet and start threatening anyone. She just frowns.

Flicks her eyes at Alexis and her frown only deepens. "Melinda doesn't drink caffeine." She might say more, but Lucky steps in, speaks up, tenses up. "Dude, back off," only it sounds like she's talking to all of them at once, her eyes flicking around to the five of them there.

"I think you guys should leave. Melinda never said I could have guests and she'll be home soon. I owe her a lot. Least of all not letting people go through her shit."

Rafaël

Wolf hasn't moved from his post at the door since he got here. Spends most his time looking over his shoulder. Then looking at Charlotte, and looking at Morgan.

Then: looking at the girl. Sandy. That's her name. Calling them secret police. Telling them they should leave now because Melinda was coming back.

"Where the hell is Melinda getting her shit from?"

Wolf speaks up sudden from the back. Words like growls. Now he's staring straight at Sandy, arms folded across his chest.

"This EnerJam crap. Where's she getting it from? Do you not know, or are you just pretending not to know?"

Firebrand

"Not until you tell me where Melinda Brown is and why this says it's an asset testing environment. Testing for what?" Morgan's voice is flat. Level. Her clear eyes focused on Sandy. She holds the paper up. "You know what this stuff can do. We aren't here t'do anythin' but help.

So help us do that."

[Manip + Empathy, idk let's see what happens.]

Dice: 3 d10 TN6 (5, 5, 7) ( success x 2 ) [WP]

Rafaël

[fuck my charisma 1]

Dice: 4 d10 TN6 (6, 6, 7, 10) ( success x 4 )

Alexis Theron Lambros

He is ready to try to talk Sandy down, but things are quickly escalating and Rafael and Morgan have begun taking a hard line. He knows what this means: there's not going to be much nice talk. But he can still play good cop for a little longer.

"Honestly, Sandy, we only want to help. If there is anything you know...anything at all...please, tell us. It'll only go to aiding people."

wellness

[wp]

Dice: 5 d10 TN6 (1, 3, 5, 7, 10) ( success x 2 )

wellness

Abruptly, Sandy freezes. All the good cops in the world aren't going to do much once an Ahroun starts snarling. Once another Ahroun leans on her, pressuring. Maybe it is the nature of their moon, to lose patience quickly, particularly with a mortal.

Sandy's eyes fill with tears, but she doesn't quite shed them. Just looks a little overwhelmed, all of a sudden, her legs together like she might just be trying not to pee. The fact that she doesn't burst into sobs, that she didn't scream when they came in, is testament to the steel in her spine, the very reason the Garou of Denver are able to use her as an informant, a source of knowledge. She can tolerate them.

And also: she submits to them, when need be. She cannot help it.

"I don't know," she says, to both Rafael and Morgan. Shakes her head as though to emphasize it. Hugging herself again. "I really don't know. She just brought it home that one time. Melinda works late. I don't know what testing, I don't know what you're talking about. I don't. I really really don't."

Rafaël

Something about that --

thinness of the limbs, how readily the tears spring

-- something there finds some soft cranny in the wolf's armor. Wasn't there a month ago, he's sure. Definitely not, two months ago. Wolf makes this disgusted sound; a snort. Shoves off the wall and turns to walk away, jacket stretched over his broad back. Arms still locked across his chest.

"I'm gonna go wait for Melinda out front." That's for the benefit of his alleged allies.

Lucky

What he wouldn't give to be able to communicate with them now. Like he could with Will, once. Morgan sees what he saw though, sees the same need to ask about Melinda. He gives her a very slight nod.

Alexis offers Sandy the chance to help too. He doesn't join them this time, he did just pitch that whole helping line a second ago. This time he waits, tries to work all the shards of information into a whole.

Mostly that whole tells him that Melinda could be dangerous. That leaving Sandy with her, leaving here here, night be questionable. That even if not Melinda, she might be in danger from something.

And then she is crying and surrendering. Jules sighs and crosses the room toward Morgan, interposing himself partly between her and Sandy so that he can look at the paper she found. Maybe now, with Rafael headed downstairs and Morgan with a slightly less than clear shot toward her, Alexis can get more from Sandy.

Charlotte

Charlotte's attention flicks and flares. He eyes lose focus and her head cocks aslant and she watches something peripheral to her, just at the edges of her vision. Then she returns, a lifted chin,

her eyes level at some midpoint in Rafael's spine as the latter lets himself out.

"What's Melinda's last name?"

If they know enough, they don't have to wait for her.

They can just: track her down.

Firebrand

The Silver Fang snorts, goes to wait outside. The other full moon's patience is wearing thin too. It can be felt in the way her Rage is seeping into the small space. Morgan's fiery brows knitting together at the sight of Sandy's tears as if she can't quite reconcile their appearance. What they're good for. Tears can't fight the Wyrm, after all.

But this thin girl with her pale hair in her little house that's not her house isn't going to be the one that has to, is she? Lucky crosses into her line of sight. Morgan tenders him the papers, points out the reimbursement notice, the name on it, Melinda. Stabs her finger at the company logo.

There, she seems to be suggesting. That's where we need to go. Charlotte asks for Melinda's surname, the Ahroun supplies it: "S'Brown." An aside to Lucky, quiet. "Think that's our best bet. Find the supplier."

Alexis Theron Lambros

When Sandy folds and gives in, Alexis relaxes just a touch. He's been in the presence of a few monsters when they've exploded out of people and it's not usually after calming. So maybe there's a chance for Sandy. What's more, he knows Sandy needs someone to calm that isn't just her (though that's not really "calm," what she does) and with the tension easing now that Rafael is slipping outside, maybe there's a chance this won't become a giant life-or-death fight in this small space.

He stays quiet for this moment though, leaving Charlotte's question hanging in the air. He also knows what Theurges can do with a name.

Charlotte

Charlotte cocks her head toward Morgan as the Ahroun supplies the last name, then glances back at Sandy. Studies her quietly for a moment and reaches into her messenger bag and pulls out a small flask of water.

It slides, somehow slightly more viscous than one expects it to be, as she tips it sideways and considers it, then hands it over to Sandy.

The slights shimmering hum of something otherish in the air, as she does so. This mercurial gleam.

"This'll help you feel better. Get over the illness that stuff caused. Drink it soon. 'Kay?" The briefest pause. "Oh, and watch out for that cat."

Then she glances at Morgan, Lucky, Alexis. Jerks her head to the door and heads out, down the stairs, onto the street.

Even as she is jogging down the steps, she is searching out the implements of her next right. The needle and thread. The lodestone, all of it.

Outside, unless interrupted, she starts the rite.

(-1 Gnosis to activate the clean water talen. She'll start the questing stone rite outside.)

Lucky

Lucky takes a breath and glances from the paper in his hands to Sandy, absently folding the paper in half and then into quarters, then looking back to Firebrand. There are implications there that they may not be the only ones interested in Sandy. That saving her may require more than a simple change of geography. Maybe more than whatever Charlotte just handed her.

And quite possibly should not involve kidnapping as the opening move. He looks over to Alexis and Sandy, but his focus lingers on Alexis. "Maybe we should all get out of here," he says. "Away from Melissa. We can talk somewhere else, maybe. So you won't have to worry she'll be upset."

Alexis Theron Lambros

A little nod comes at the glance from Charlotte and he smiles to Sandy, stands. "Thanks for your time. I promise, we'll do everything we can to make sure no one else gets sick from that stuff."

And then he's moving to head out with the others.

Firebrand

The Ahroun is chewing on her candy cane again. She cracks it between her teeth, splinters the hard, sweet coating and exchanges a momentary look with Lucky as he folds the square of paper away, out of sight. Alexis is thanking Sandy for her time and there's a flicker there - a barb of amusement; dark; sardonically entertained at the idea of it.

It quickly fades though, Charlotte's given Sandy what she needs to cleanse herself. Morgan's eyes tick back to the mortal for an instant. She rummages in a pocket; pulls out a wrapped candy cane and with a neat little arc throws it the girl's way. "That'll help, too. It isn't for the illness but - " She shrugs, cuts a hand through the air. "Christmas and giving and stuff, right?"

A beat, the Ahroun starts to move for the door. Lucky suggests taking Sandy with them. She pauses; swings about. Cuts a glance at Sandy, then at Lucky. As if she's weighing up the options. There's a shrug. She gestures at the door.

Time to go.

wellness

When Charlotte hands Sandy that flask, Sandy frowns at it, at her, but the look is more one of confusion than anything else. Morgan has eased up a bit; Rafael flat-out left. Sandy can breathe a little easier. She takes the flask, weirded out, and says warily: "...'kay."

Maybe more than weirded out, more than wary, when Charlotte follows up by telling her to watch out for the cat.

"What cat?" she asks, but Charlotte is already on her way out the door.

--

So are the others: Rafael is outside now, and soon enough Charlotte joins him, pulling things out of her bag.

Lucky suggests to Sandy that she go with them and she scowls. "Fuck off," she says, though it's more annoyed than anything else. "I'm not scared of Melinda," she snaps, correcting her benefactor's name from his mouth. "Just don't think you should be stealing her work shit," she adds, meaning the paper he's folding up, the reimbursement form he appears to be preparing to take right along with him. "How about you leave that and just get the hell out of here?"

Alexis heads out. Morgan hangs back a moment, and gives Sandy... candy. She catches it, but gives Morgan the same weird look she gave Charlotte. These people are freaks.

Rafaël

Wolf's already out front by the time Charlotte emerges. Smoking a cheap cigarette down to the filter, collar turned up against the wind. Squints over his shoulder at the pale-haired Theurge. That one looks like a Fang. All silver hair, silver lashes, silver finery and fineness. Nothing like him, built like the side of a mountain, brutish and brutal.

He goes back to watching the street. Charlotte starts a rite. That's fine by him.

And in turn: they're joined. Morgan. Alexis. Lucky. Skinny girl's left to her own devices. Wolf wonders idly who she'll lean on now, if Melinda doesn't come home tonight. Takes a last drag off his smoke and drops it, grinds it out under his heel. Nice thing about being Garou. Never have to worry about lung cancer, bronchitis, COPD.

"You gonna track her?"

Lucky

He smiles a little sadly, looks over to Sandy, and says quietly, "Take care." And then he follows the rest of them out.

Lucky

He smiles a little sadly, looks over to Sandy, and says quietly, "Take care." He sets the paper down gently and then he follows the rest of them out. [Now with tiny amendments because I got blind.]

Charlotte

(Wits + Rituals, Dif 7.)

Dice: 7 d10 TN7 (1, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 10) ( success x 2 ) [WP]

Charlotte

The air is sharp and cold outside after the strange, cloying closeness of Melinda's hoarder apartment. The skinny theurge flashes Rafael the briefest of glances, up and away from the thread, needle, stone she holds suspended from one hand. Nevermind the street. Nevermind the other Garou piling out from the ammonia-scented stairway. Nevermind the close, binding streets.

She breathes, out. A little bit freer, frowning a bit, but only in concentration. Mouth moving thoughtlessly, repeating a certain name. We all know what it is.

Rafaël

Abrupt: wolf's big hand atop Charlotte's. Hot palm envelopes her knuckles. Wolf doesn't look at her. Wolf stares at the stone, fixed, frowning, intent. Doesn't say it. Just thinks it:

Melinda Brown.

[HALPING. wits+rituals diff 7]

Dice: 4 d10 TN6 (4, 7, 8, 9) ( success x 3 )

Firebrand

[Go, go, Fianna power? Can we make that a super powerful rite?]

Dice: 5 d10 TN7 (3, 4, 7, 9, 9) ( success x 3 )

wellness

Downstairs and outside, the Garou share a name, and a pendulum. One of them holds it in a fine, slender hand, the string wrapped around her knuckles, swinging from her fingertips. The other closes off view from the rest of the street, fixes his eyes on the stone, swinging first in a side to side sway, then moving into a circle. Physics takes hold for a moment, and then falls away. The stone begins to swing faster, in tighter circles. Morgan draws to the two of them, adding her gaze, her silence, her focus. They are not packmates, not in a spirit-bound sense, but joint purpose creates strong bonds, however temporary.

Energy builds between the three of them, the chaos of the full moon refined by the magic of the crescent.

Suddenly the stone stops dead in midair. It is motionless. And then it lifts, of its own accord, and points northwest. It holds that position, waiting only for them to follow.

Charlotte

Sense Wyrm!

Dice: 5 d10 TN6 (2, 4, 6, 6, 9) ( success x 3 )

Charlotte

This narrow, stiffening tension when Rafael clamps his big hand over her own. Looks ready to bolt, does Charlotte, but instead of bolting she grits her teeth and opens up her rite and her senses to his rite and his senses. Does the same when Morgan joins them, and they can both quite nearly hear the whisper of the name as she repeats it again and again -

- then the urge takes over, and they follow it. This loosely arranged not-quite-a-pack of mostly-strangers.

"Wyrm."

She murmurs, as they start to follow.

"Whatever is ahead: Wyrm."

Rafaël

"Hear that?"

There's a low snarl in wolf's tone. Addressing the Ragabash. Addressing the kin.

"No more playing nice."

Alexis Theron Lambros

He waits quietly once they're outside, arms crossed and keeping his eyes on the street. He's kinfolk, the Nation's eyes and ears in the human world, and so that's what he commits himself to as the Garou perform their ritual.

He looks over when Charlotte mentions Wyrm, and frowns. There's a little nod to Rafael, deferential. This is likely where he gets off the ride. He knows that, and he's okay with it.

"I'll stay in the area in case on the off chance you guys need a pick-up, unless you'd all rather I got totally away. Either way, best I'm out of your hair for this."

Firebrand

Firebrand isn't one of theirs. Proud Falcon's brood. Regal blood of the Garou that claim Kinghood over the Nation. But hers does sing. Of rich, rolling hills and celtic drums. Hers is the power of the Stag and she lays a pale; freckled hand over the others and joins her energies to theirs. Raises the power in the stone.

The hairs on her arms, too, when it rises. That sort of power, it never gets even a little less intense for Morgan. She follows the invisible trajectory of the stone. Her posture straightens. Jaw firms. She looks to Charlotte, when she says Wyrm.

The Ahroun's eyes harden. She lets out a sharp huff of air. Rafael snarls. Morgan's look to him is measuring; its agreement, in the tiny jerk of her head.

"Let's finish this."