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---- Recall start ----

Abandoned House in the Woods(#3200RAFJU)

Built into a slope of a hill, this house is built with a sharply-sloping
roof, reaching down to form the walls itself rather than meeting
walls. It is made of wood, logs sheered in half on the outside, boards
on the inside. Windows in the front of the house are on both stories;
on the right side, windows let onto the second story, while on the
left the hill slopes to allow windows at both levels. In the back, the
door is on the second story, the hill blocking the lower floor there
from windows and door both.

Within, the second story is revealed to be a balcony running around the
top, stairs in the floor leading to the first near the front, a
stairway down from the front door to the room in the first floor.
Other than the bathroom, dug out through a door in the wall flush
against the hill, the whole house is thus revealed to be one room.

Left abandoned a decade or two ago, some of the shingles forming the
roof have fallen in, leaving much of the building water-damaged on the
second story, the boards of the floor warping to let water leak
between them to the first. The front corner in the side against the
hill is sound, though, beyond a few holes in the front wall.
Contents:
Ripley
Christopher
Crystal
Blaze

Chainbreaker comes back inside the house from the outside. She does not
shift to use the door; instead, she squeezes her rather substantial
bulk through one of the holes in the walls.

Chainbreaker(#2726Pc)
Chainbreaker's broad head stands more than three feet from the ground
when upright, its dark mask completely covering the face until it
blends into the creamy brown fur on her squat neck. Her chest ruff is
a solid white, as is the tip of her extremely thick tail. Her four
paws are also white, though the paw fur is more often than not made
dingy by the dirt of travelling. Both of her ears are upright, but the
right has been chewed until it hangs limply at the tip. Other scars
mark her coat, one thick slash cutting through the darker saddle of
fur on her back. Her eyes are a dark brown and she carries herself
with an unconscious aggression. She wears no collar.

Christopher arrives near the house a little before the scheduled meeting
time. He walks completely around the house without approaching,
watching it from the cover of trees and darkness.

Chainbreaker paces around the first floor, growling a little under her
breath. Smelling no other scents in the room, she marks the stairwell
while she waits.

Geoffrey comes walking up the long-overgrown road, more a trail widened
to car width than anything, mostly quiet but stepping here and there
on sticks, rustling leaves as he goes by, and sometimes scuffing his
foot against rocks.

Chainbreaker flushes a mouse in her pacing. With two bounds and a
practiced snap of her heavy jaws, she snaps up the snack while she
waits. The outside hears scuffling noises and a heavy thump, from
where she knocks something over.

Geoffrey angles himself up the hill, to pause and look at the roof from
that side, listening carefully to what's within.

Ripley pushes through the woods, cursing repeatedly as his brand new
shoes get soiled from the mud puddles that seem to be everywhere.
Finally, he arrives outside the shack. "It's about time," he mutters
to himself.

In contradiction to an earlier pose, Blaze isn't rollerblading. In fact,
his presence is indicated by a high-pitched grinding noise, like a
chainsaw, long before he's in sight. Bursting out onto the road from
the middle of the woods on the back of a dirtbike a few seconds later,
he skids to a halt, one foot planted. He ignores the multiple
scratches and cuts on his arms and legs, checking the house out.

Chainbreaker's ears flick at the loud noise. Licking the blood from her
chops, she pads closer to one of the holes to look outside.
Geoffrey flattens down on the roof automatically at the noise, head
lifting just a little to peer over the edge. As two others appear, he
studies them carefully, hood tugged close around his hair.

Christopher watches as the others arrive and then finally makes a
decision. He steps out of the trees near one side of the house,
watching the various people gathering.

Ripley looks at the bike, and then, finally, it's rider. He doesn't
bother introducing himself.

Ripley pulls out a pack of filtered cigarettes as the small group
gathers, lighting one up and tossing the still-burning match
carelessly into the woods.

A large car comes down the dirt road - a black Cadillac. After it stops
in front of the house, a very well dressed woman gets out. She
instructs the driver to stay in the car, and heads towards the door.

Blaze shrugs, and judging by the somber mood of everyone else in view,
he's probably stumbled onto the right place. He kicks the bike back
into motion, sending a spray of dirt out before he acheives any
traction. Fairly easily, he drives up the front walk to the house,
plants down the kickstand and hops off the contraptoin.

Christopher looks the various arrivals over before moving around toward
the front of the house, and the front door. He glances at his watch,
then back at the others. "I suppose we should get inside and out of
sight."

Chainbreaker simply waits inside. It's not hard to spot her from the
walk where people gather; she doesn't seem to be hiding in the shadows
of the abandoned house.

Geoffrey rolls off the roof/wall, a drop of only a few feet from where
he is. One hand is still needed on the ground to help balance him, but
his rising is smooth and sure.

Crystal nods, speaking with an english accent. "Gerard will be watching
for any unexpected surprises, outside."

Ripley chuckles a little at Christopher, heading inside. "Yeah, no one
will ever guess that there's anyone inside. The Caddy there will block
their view." He gives Crystal a hard smile before entering the house.
"Nice ride."

Christopher holds the door open for the others.

Chainbreaker moves into the center of the room, eyes tracking and
assessing the homids as they move in the door.

Geoffrey gives Ripley a faintly disdaining look, making a gesture, too
elaborate to be entirely sincere, to indicate Crystal should precede
him in.

Crystal walks inside the house, looking a bit dissatisfied with the
meeting place.

"This reminds me of a Hilton I stayed at once," Ripley says. "Ah, the
aroma of fresh piss. Yes, definately, the Los Angeles Hilton. I'll
never go to that dump again, I'll tell you that much for free."

Christopher walks in last and closes the door behind him, looking around
the room critically. His eyes dart to the far corners of the room and
then he begins walking across it, eyes straying briefly to
Chainbreaker.

Already inside, Blaze snickers at Ripley. "I remember that place...
never been inside, though." He looks around, unimpressed. "This place
could use, like, some Hendrix posters on the walls."

Crystal scowls. "It could use a bucket of Petrol. And a match."

Chainbreaker keeps her head raised high, eyes meeting Christopher's. She
says nothing at first, waiting for anyone to use their blabber for
something of importance.

Geoffrey says, a note of light cheer in his voice, "It suits our
purposes, I would say."

Blaze perks up, staring at Crystal. "I got both. Wanna?"

Crystal smiles a little. "Perhaps when we're done, darling."

"Bitchin'. I bet this place'l go up gooood." He rubs the fingers on his
left hand together, zoned-out for a moment, thoughts elsewhere.

Ripley tosses his cigarette down onto the floor, not bothering to
extinguish it. "The place is a dump, but it'll do. So... on to
business? I have reservations tonight that I would rather like to
keep."

Geoffrey gives Blaze a quick smile. "Not tonight. I, at least, want no
attention drawn to anywhere we've been, just yet."

Chainbreaker continues to wait, her patience waning.

Ripley checks his Rolex, his mood starting to match that of the lupe. He
lights up another cigarette.

Christopher returns and looks around. "Quite bunch, I see. What's say we
get down to business. I assume everyone is here because they were told
to come here tonight?"

Chainbreaker is, yes.

"Nah," replies Blaze, "I'm here to sell Girl Scout cookies." He sure
doesn't -look- like that, though. Gee.

Christopher gives Blaze a cursory look and then diverts his attention to
the others, particularly those who haven't spoken.

Geoffrey nods slightly, moving around in the corner to the right of the
door, eventually finding a spot that seems to please him. He sits, one
leg outstretched in front of him, the other crooked up so his hands
encircle the knee. "I was," he says quietly, glancing at Blaze with a
tiny frown.

Crystal nods. "Yes. Are any of us designated as Alpha in advance, or is
that up to our discretion?"

Ripley leans against a wall, casually smoking his cigaraette. "I was
_asked_ to come, yes."

Ripley shrugs at Crystal's question.

Chainbreaker's lip curls. I would take no one's orders for alpha. If one
of you is more worthy to lead than myself, it must be proven. Her
manner indicates she has doubts of this thing.

Christopher answers Crystal, "If any of us were, I wasn't told about it.
I suppose we should first introduce ourselves? I'm Christopher Nathan,
once called Heals-The-Soul, born to the Children of Gaia but claimed
later by the Father. I took the name Rends-The-Soul after my Rite of
Passage, and have since upgraded to Rends-The-Earth. I'm a Galliard of
the Black Spiral."

Crystal takes her turn at introductions. "I am Crystal Richmond, born to
the Silver Fangs. Philodox, and Homid, and Fostern in rank."
Irony drips from Geoffrey's voice. "Were you not of the Spiral, you
would not be here. Geoffrey Sinclair, half moon." He shoots a quick
look at Crystal, and adds, "Born to the Spiral from Silver Fang
Kinfolk."

Chainbreaker keeps her aggressive manner as she gives her own facts. I
am ~Rrr-ogh~, called Chainbreaker, crescent moon. She doesn't mention
her rank, assuming the others can pick it up from her bearing.

Crystal grins. "Of course, I stand corrected."

Ripley continues to lean against the wall, giving Chainbreaker a polite
little nod as she introduces herself. "Name's Doctor Ripley McGuyver,
but my friends call me Rip. I was born and raised Fianna, but have
long since given up that shit. I'm a Theurge and Fostern... and
usually don't work well with others. But for you charming people, I
might make an exception."

Geoffrey moves his head in a negation, a minimalist gesture, as Crystal
claims a correction.

Christopher looks at Blaze expectantly.

Blaze goes last, crouching on the floor, arms resting on his knees.
"Chester McRyan. Call me Chester instead of Blaze and I'll break your
knees, though. Full-moon, originally of the Glass Walkers. Called
Surfs-Gaia."

Chainbreaker's ears flicker at the mention of Blaze's former tribe.

Christopher nods once in acknowledgement to Blaze. "Good. Now that we
all know who everyone is, I guess we should start talking about why
we're all here."

Ripley checks his Rolex again. "Good idea. So talk."

Christopher says, "Actually, I was hoping someone else might want to get
things going." He looks from face to face, watching expressions.

Crystal says "What do we know about this Saint Claire?"

Chainbreaker gives an impatient growl. This one was told that a likely
area had been found for a new pit. Such things need crescent moons, so
this one fought for the honor of going.

Geoffrey chuckles softly. "We're here to serve the Wyrm. By opening a
new Hive. It should be," he pauses, tongue tip moistening his lips,
"interesting."

Christopher says "We know it's a big city. Over a million people. And
it's the site of the single biggest Gaian Caern on the planet."

Geoffrey stretches out the leg held bent, and bends the other one
instead. "We know that they managed to more or less _wipe out_ another
Hive."

Chainbreaker growls at the reminder.

Blaze nods slowly, busy searching his pockets. "Yeah, so we burn it
down." He finally extracts his hands from his pockets, bearing a
zippo, and grins.

Crystal frowns. "I think subtlety is rather important in this."

Geoffrey smiles at Blaze, eyes crinkling a little, but failing to hide
sarcasm. "Burn, I suppose you mean, in a figurative sense. As I
understand it, the Hive they destroyed followed Salamander."

Christopher says "I have to agree with Ms. Richmond. I don't think the
six of us are ready to take on the fifty or so that I've heard live
here."

Ripley scoffs. "They can't be that strong. There's always a way to get
inside, and work them slowly from within. We just need to find it.
Subtlety will be the key."

Crystal says "I think we should focus on their most vulnerable first,
whittle them down. The Gnawers are usually an excellent first target
to eliminate."

Chainbreaker licks her chops.

Christopher nods. "And the Glass Walkers, if we can get to them." He
eyes Blaze.

Ripley nods. "Their cubs, regardless of their tribes, will be easy to
get to. I say we start with the Walkers and Gnawers of Bones,
especially with thier young."

Geoffrey flashes a smile at Crystal. "Corruption where we can. The more
we can coax to understanding, the stronger we'll be." One hand loosens
from the other and gestures in a sharp arc to indicate the woods. "The
better _this_ area is for us, the worse for them."

Crystal grins. "Oh, yes. I do adore young minds. So malleable."

Geoffrey links his hand with the other around his knee again. "We will
have to scout out the city for the best location," he muses.

Christopher says "That, I think, would be up to the Theurges. They'll
know best where we can bulid a Pit. But in the mean time, we should
designate an alternate meeting place. I really don't want to come out
here again."

Ripley nods at Christopher. "Agreed. This place isn't adequate." He
checks his watch yet again. "I've been scouting around already. I'm
sure that I can find us a few pieces of prime real estate."

Ripley looks over quickly to Chain Breaker. "With your assistance, that
is." He puts on a too-friendly smile.

Christopher looks at Ripley's Rolex. "I assume money will not be a
problem for this group?"

Blaze looks around thoughtfully. "Y'know, if I didn't wanna see this
place a smouldering wreck, I'd suggest it'd be a hell of a place to
hide kidnapped people and shit."

Crystal says "We should not lack the money for our mission, no."

Geoffrey says sharply to Blaze, "Leave it for later to burn it. I think
it would be a good place for that. And at absolute need, to come back
to if things in the city itself get too hot."

Ripley grins at Blaze, sizing him up again. "Sounds... appropriate. I
know a certain pharmaceutical company that might still need
"volunteers", too. This would be a good place for us to bring those
volunteers... If they're still in business, that is. I'll have to
check."

Christopher says "Still, a meeting place in the city is essential. Has
anyone spent much time there?"

Ripley grins. "I've got the city all laid out in my head already. There
are even a few restaurants worth going to. Not a bad little town, all
in all." He checks his Rolex again.

Crystal says "I'm sure we'll find something appropriate. And
comfortable."

Blaze shrugs. "I can find something else to trash." He ponders, then
nods to Ripley. "Yeah, I'm sure they need somewhere for people to
spend time 'recovering'." He flicks the flint on the lighter, eyes
focusing on the tiny flame.

Geoffrey's eyes move to Ripley. After a moment or two, he suggests,
"Perhaps around one of the hospitals in the area might be a place to
meet. Even a restaurant in which we could meet up to then go elsewhere
would be good."

Chainbreaker lolls her tongue. I will inspect their street people and
try to find the Gnawers. She looks among the others, then stands. Her
posture is clearly dominant. We will meet here in four days, to share
what is found.

Crystal says "That sounds excellent."

Ripley shrugs. "Works for me. Oh, and they have a well-stocked morgue,
by the way. Checked it out myself. Nice place. Clean, professional."
Christopher eyes Chainbreaker, particularly her posture, and shakes his
head. "You might want to watch yourself. Someone might get the
impression you think you're our alpha."

Chainbreaker turns her direct gaze back to Christopher. No one has
challenged me as such. Thus, I am.

Christopher looks around at the others. "I believe we're done, if you
want to go. Four days." He looks back at Chainbreaker. "Consider
yourself challenged, then."

Geoffrey gives a quiet laugh. "You don't seem to have noticed who was
doing most of the leading of our planning."

Chainbreaker does not think you are pups, to be led to the places to eat
and shit. Homids enjoy such babble. It does not call that the leader
must live her subordinants's lives for them. She raises her head to
Christopher and looks pleased. At least one of you has spine.

Ripley looks at his watch once more. "I'm expecting an important phone
call. So if you'll excuse me..." Although his question is to the
entire group, he turns to look at Chainbreaker at the last. The lupus
seems to have gained his respect more than any of the others.

Ripley leaves before anyone can give their permission... or deny him.

Chainbreaker begins to circle Christopher, stiff-legged stalk. Her form
grows to an even more impressive size, the dire wolf seeming a huge
street-dog that would send Cujo screaming for his dam.

Blaze remains crouched, pocketing the lighter. He seems vaguely amused
with the other Glass Walker's rants. "Ding ding, round one."

Geoffrey doesn't move out of his own seat, a look of patient amusement
on his face as he watches Chainbreaker.

Christopher smiles to himself and shifts upward, his clothing blurring
into his body as fur sprouts from his flesh. As he takes the warform,
his good breeding shines through. He flexes his claws slowly.

Chainbreaker's own breeding is questionable, but her scarred body and
muscular build still proclaim her a worthy opponent. With a blur of
rage, she moves in to strike. Her eyes gleam red in anticipation.

Krrrahsk sidesteps, escaping the lupe's jaws but getting a raking claw
down his side for his efforts. His own swipe, half-hearted, does
little more than draw blood from his opponent.

Chainbreaker presses the attack on the half-hearted fighter. Abandoning
restraint, she lunges for his belly. With a blur of rage, Krrahsk's
arm is suddenly in her way and her jaws clamp instinctively on the
arm. Her heavy jaws sink deep, blood spraying her white ruff. With his
other hand, the galliard grabs her throat with his talons barely
breaking the skin around her windpipe.

Krrrahsk flexes his fingers over the soft flesh of the Theurge's throat.
~Do you wish to submit now?~

Chainbreaker bristles, but submits. The lupus gives in to the inevitable
with a naturalness a human-born might not. The hispo loosens her jaws
and lets the arm go. You, I will call alpha.

Krrrahsk flexes his hand to make sure it still works; it seems to,
despite the damage done to it by the Hispo's jaws. He takes the
submission as easily as it is given, making no more of it than that.
~If that's everything, then I think we're done.~

Crystal smiles. "Shall we end this meeting, then?"

Krrrahsk nods once, then drops into his lupus form. I think I'll check
out the nearby woods. And stay away from any other wolves. See you in
four days.
Krrrahsk contorts and blurs as he is transformed.
Krrrahsk shifts into Lupus form.
Chainbreaker contorts and blurs as she is transformed.
You shift into Lupus form.

Blaze hmphs, "Shit. Can't beleive she gave up so easy." He stretches and
stands. "Well, I'm gonna go raise hell in town or something."

Crystal says "Let's just try not to be too conspicuous, for now. We need
knowledge before we can be free to do anything important."

Rends-The-Earth makes a sound of agreement, the heads outside,
disappearing into the darkness of the woods.

Geoffrey moves finally, and nods to the others. "Four days, then. Good
evening." He leaves without more fanfare, still mostly quiet in the
woods.

Chainbreaker licks the scratches on her side. She looks up at Blaze.
Only homids think dominance should lead to death. The Father needs all
his children.

Crystal walks out, gets in her car, and is driven off into the distance.

Blaze waves the lupe's arguments off, like swatting some annoying
insect. "Whatever. That was barely long enough to be entertaining." He
stands, finally. "I'll be back in four days."

Chainbreaker will see you then. She follows the mass exodus, picking a
different path into the darkness before she is swallowed up.

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