World of Darkness: Master Thread (Always Open)

[Parcia]

So I found out recently that my cat has cancer and that's why I haven't been posting much recently. Will probably come back if I need a little escape but for now assume Bac either tagged along with the pack for a little or went straight home to do his thing for now.

Aye Condolences.

[Imperialisium]

So I found out recently that my cat has cancer and that's why I haven't been posting much recently. Will probably come back if I need a little escape but for now assume Bac either tagged along with the pack for a little or went straight home to do his thing for now.

Take all the time you need

[Morrdh]

First Change, Part I

County Kerry
Munster
Republic of Ireland
July 2016

It was the beginning of the long summer holidays, a much needed and welcomed break after doing GCSE exams and before delving into Sixth Form once September rolled around. Morrigan O'Mallory, Morri for short, couldn't tell who between her and her teachers were more amazed that she had actually managed to get as far as taking her exams. She was certain that the teachers had had a betting pool going for whether she'd get expelled for a prank too many.Though she reckoned that the teachers would be glad to see the back of her, and her twin sister for that matter.

Their parents had taken them on the ferry from England and travelled to the far south-western corner of Ireland to spend most of the summer at the farm of the girls' grandparents. Morri and her sister, Morgana, had both been looking forward to spending some time with their grandparents that they affectionately called Nan and Gug. The twinned sisters were always eager to visit their grandparents' farm as it always felt like they had more freedom whenever they were there, in fact their grandparents encouraged them to run wild.

It was thanks to Gug that Morri had learnt how to drive a tractor and savour the taste of a pint of Guinness, both of which would've been almost impossible to achieve back home in England. In fact, Morri regularly went with Gug to the local pub where the bartender and patrons regularly turned a blind eye. Like she'd done dozens of times before she went with Gug to the local country pub not far from her grandparents' farm, though today she'd been in a mischievous mood. There were a few patrons already there when they arrived, most notably some Travellers and an older woman.

Perfect.

Having picked her marks, Morri waited for an opportunity to put her prank into practice; a simple but classic stink bomb planted on the older woman. The real trick was making the woman believe that the Travellers were the culprits and so required precise timing, namely when at least a couple of Travellers headed past the woman's table and Morri could approach unseen. The timely arrival of a group of farm workers seeking a liquid lunch was better than what she could've asked for, especially as it coincided with some of the Travellers heading outside for a smoke. With Gug otherwise distracted, Morri excused herself from the table and returned a moment later before anyone had realised that she'd gone. The prank went as she'd planned, the stink bomb going off as the Travellers passed by the woman's table and the woman accosting the aforesaid Travellers.

Only things took an unexpected turn.

The woman appeared to be enraged, she actually seemed to transform. Before Morri could understand what was happening, some sort of wolfish beast stood where the woman once did and the Travellers were now dismembered body parts. Sheer panic ensued as the other patrons fled through the sole door of the pub, the woman-turned-beast savagely slicing a bloody path through those unfortunate to make it to the door. The mad press of bodies blocked Morri's exit and see desperately sought another way out, turning round in time to see the beast strike at her with a clawed hand. It probably saved her life as the claws struck her arm above the elbow and sliced it clean off, the severed limb flying off to the side amidst a crimson spray.

Something stirred inside of Morri.

An unfamiliar rage made its present felt deep in Morri's soul, she could feel herself losing control as a red mist formed before her eyes. The beast seemed to had noticed this sudden change in the teenage girl, a curious look of surprise and concern had spread across its face. Morri had little chance to consider the beast's reaction as the last verges of control slipped from her grasp.

And then everything went black.

[Morrdh]

First Change, Part II

Morri awoke.

She found herself laying on her back, feeling woozy and her head spinning. She was also aware of her ar-...stub of an arm throbbing with pain where it had been sliced cleanly. She also became aware of a weight on her chest that was almost pinning her to the floor, though her vision was still too blurred to be able to tell what said weight actually was. Though the weight was removed after Morri groaned, then found herself being lifted up and seated in a nearby chair. Her vision slowly cleared, though she wished it hadn't when she saw the bar-room of the pub. Still trying to take stock of what had occurred, she stammered. "W-w-wot happened"

"Your First Change dear, good thing too that I realised what was happening." The older woman from earlier, the one whom Morri had pulled a prank on and then transformed into some sort of beast. "Sorry 'bouts sitting on ya lass, a frenzying cub was the last thing anyone needed."

"Wait...me Gug! Where is he? Is he OK?!" Morri exclaimed.

"Oh I'm fine lass, don't ye 'bouts that." Answered Gug, a curious look of both fear and...pride on his face. "Bit o' a shock fer everyone, but ye'll do us proud."

"Speaking of shock m'dear, I'd better get the young lady some place to get some aid." The woman announced. "You kinfolk know how this is suppose to go."

"Then fer Gaia's sake I let ye go." Gug nodded. "Remember Morri, do us proud."

Before Morri would consider what her Gug had just said she found herself being yanked out the door by the woman, her severed arm was thrust into her hand as they went. Outside the woman stopped by one of the pub's windows, firmly gripped Morri's arm and muttered. "Perfect, this will do nicely."

Morri was about to ask what the woman meant when she suddenly felt the world slipping sideways. She blinked and at first it appeared they were still outside the pub, though they kinda were and they kinda weren't at the same time. It looked like the pub, but it appeared more boxy and there were curious cobwebs with large spider-like creatures scurrying along them. Looking round Morri saw they were still in what was recognizably the Irish countryside, yet somehow greener as if she was viewing it through a different lens. She also suddenly became aware that she had no clothes, yet strangely didn't have the feelings of shame and embarrassment that she would've expected.

"First time in the Umbra I suppose?" Muttered the woman. "You'll come here plenty enough, though best we got moving."

"...Wait, Umbra?" Morri asked. "Wot the feck is going on here?"

"You'll learn everything you need to know all in due time." The woman answered as she started walking away. "But for now, you're in the spirit realm...don't look at me like that, you're not dead. Think of it as a sort of...parallel dimension, I guess, that mirrors the material world. As I said, you'll learn everything you need to know soon enough."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

They walked for a while, though Morri wasn't sure how long for as it was difficult to mark the passage of time. The sky wasn't much help, boasting a moon larger than she'd ever seen and a sun that was a tiny speck of light in comparison. Soon enough they reached a typical Irish country cottage, least the impression of one, sitting next to some standing stones. There was also a man stood amidst the standing stones, dressed in the garb of some Celtic druid complete with a pair of antlers on his head. The woman made Morri wait and went to speak with the stranger man, then beckoned Morri over a moment later. Curiously, for a moment Morri felt as though she was walking through a barrier of static as she approached the stones but it was soon gone again.

"Lost ya arm he child?" The man demanded, his manner borderline rude.

"...Yes." Nodded Morri meekly.

"Not an idiot are ya girl?" Demanded the strange man. "Well? Say it!"

"I'm not an idiot." Morri replied, which seemed to satisfy the man.

"Right, lets see then." The man said, grabbing Morri and yanking her close. "Hm, straight forward enough."

The man grabbed Morri's severed arm, ramming it against the stump of her arm and holding it in place with his hands. A soft glow appeared round the man's hands that grew to engulf Morri's arm, causing a warm sensation. After a short moment the man released Morri's arm and stepped back, much to Morri's amazement as her arm was whole again with a rapidly fading line where her arm had been sliced.

"Uh....thank ye?" Mumbled Morri as she ran her hand over her newly healed arm to convince herself that it was actually whole again.

"Bah, just don't be an idiot ya hear?" Snapped the man. "Now bugger off!"

"Come along m'dear." Said the woman, leading Morri on. "We've still got a distance to travel."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Morri wasn't sure if she would ever be able to describe how they'd travelled the next part of their journey. It involved touching a moonbeam at the standing stones, then a sensation of hurtling through the air surrounded by swirling mists and before she knew it they'd arrived some place else. They repeated the process a couple more times before they arrived in what the woman had told her was Manchester, least another 'caern' in that great English city. Morri was then taken into an impression of a pub located next to the caern and into one of its back rooms where the woman said it was safe to 'step back over'.

Once again there was the sensation of the world slipping sideways and Morri found herself in a real room where a pile of clothes was waiting. Now feeling modest and her state, Morri dressed quickly and then allowed herself to be taken through to the bar room of the pub. It was much larger than the one in Ireland she'd visited with her Gug earlier that day, if it was still the same day, and looked to be part of a business chain. Though the woman explained that the pub was mainly frequented by garou and kinfolk, a sort of safehouse right next to the local caern. Morri was introduced to another woman, though she didn't quite catch the woman's name but understood that the woman would look after her now.

Brief introductions aside and starting to feel the stress of her eventful day, Morri was taken up to one of the guest rooms along with a drink of whiskey that she'd been made to promised to drink out of the public view. Exhausted and a little tipsy, she collapsed onto the soft bed and was soon in a deep but dreamless sleep.

[Morrdh]

First Change, Part III

Morning dawned and Morri woke, thought it took her a moment to realise that she was neither in her own room nor the room she stayed in at her grandparents' farm in Ireland. Memories of the past 24 hours came flooding back and she recalled arriving at some pub, supposedly located in Manchester, and given a room. A small but mostly empty bottle of whiskey laying on the floor near the bed reassured her that she hadn't dreamt everything, though she was still coming to grips with everything that had happened.

She sat up in bed and thought for a moment, absent mindedly rubbing her arm where it'd been severed and then reattached. Her stomach growled and reminded her that it had been a while since she'd really eaten anything, a quick glance at the time told her that breakfast should be being served right now. She quickly washed and dressed before she headed downstairs to find a large gathering of people in the dining area of the pub, more than she recalled seeing the evening before. Some of the people nodded greetings to her as she made her way to get some food and then a tale to sit at, but otherwise she was left alone.

A plump and jolly woman came round, Morri recalled meeting the woman when she arrived at the pub but couldn't remember the woman's name. Though the plump woman beamed when she saw Morri and cried out. "Ah, there you are! Sleep alright? You'll meet the other cubs like you after breakfast and start your training, so you just sit there until then. Bye."

"...Sure." Muttered Morri as she watched the plump woman bustle away, leaving the teenage girl on her own again. The fact that there were others here like her piqued her interest, but try as she might she struggled to spot who these 'others' might be. Everyone gathered looked just like...well...people. Though breakfast seemed to be drawing to an end as people started to disperse, the room gradually emptying until it was Morri and five others left seated at the tables. The others were all boys, all older than Morri as each appeared to be in their late teens at least. The youngest of the lot was easily a good three to four years older then Morri, leaving her to question whether this was the right group. Though all of them seemed to look uncomfortable and out of place, then again Morri suspected she looked the same.

At last a woman in her twenties appeared, glanced at each of them with a look of disapproval and then introduced herself. "Right, I'm Jenny. Its my job to teach you about being garou, this way."

Jenny led them out of the pub and into the park next door, making for a large wooden hut of the type used by park groundsmen to store their tools and equipment. She beckoned them to go inside the hut and explained. "We garou live in a hidden world, this is a necessity as part of our role as Gaia's protectors. To conduct your training, we must go to a place even more hidden. Step inside."

"Now join hands with each other," Jenny ordered. "I'll step us all through."

Morri and the boys, strangers one and all, hesitantly did as instructed before Jenny put her hands on the shoulders of one of the boys and closed her eyes before she started to concentrate. Once again there was the feeling of the world slipping sideways and the hut seemed to become a little less solid, though it was now an empty shell sans of the various gardening tools that had been hanging on the walls. Morri took a step back and tried to keep a straight face as everyone realised that everyone were missing their clothes, though curiously Jenny was still wearing hers.

"We're in the spiritual realm," Said Jenny by way of an explanation. "Unlike the material realm we normally live in, your clothes have no presence here. You'll be taught how to bind your clothes so that they exist wherever you go, though that is something for later. Now follow me."

Outside the hut it was as Morri had expected from recent experience. They were still in the park, though rather the impression of it. In the distance was more or less the buildings that surrounded the park, again it was really the impression of the buildings with some differences and covered in what appeared to be cobwebs. There was also the gigantic moon in the sky that dwarfed a minute sun, curiously there was also some equally gigantic chains that appeared to rise up from the city and attach to some vast structure in the sky. What the structure actually was, it wasn't easy to tell as it seemed...undefined hard for the eye to make out any details. Though Jenny ignored it and Morri sussed that they wouldn't get an answer if anyone asked.

Jenny was already striding ahead, making for a small bonfire located close to a pile of stones arranged like some monument. There were a couple of people waiting by the bonfire, a boy and a girl whom Jenny briefly introduced before bidding Morri and the others to sit. Jenny then explained about being Garou, the Litany by which they abided by, Gaia, the Wyrm and the Umbra in which they were currently located. To Morri it seemed like Jenny was a patronizing teacher and she struggled to stay awake and in take in every one as the older Garou spoke.

"On your feet." Jenny suddenly announced, catching some of the group off-guard. "I apologise for this next bit, though it is necessary."

Before Morri or any of the others could ask, the boy and girl had pulled fire pokers from the bonfire and seared the unprotected flesh of Morri and the boys. Morri cried out in pain and let out a curse as the hot metal burned her skin, though she also felt a sudden rage inside of her. She realise she'd felt it back in the pub in Ireland, though then the rage had quickly been subdued by a quick thinking Garou. Now it was fully being let out of its cage and before she knew it, she felt a couple of feet taller and stronger. Red fur now covered her entire body, a similar shade to her own hair, and her hands had become giant claws. The boys had also transformed into giant hybrids of wolf and man, each had a different fur colouring from the others.

"You are in Crinos, what we consider to be the war-form." Declared Jenny. "It is but one of five forms, including your natural form, that you can shift into. To shift, just focus on what form you wish to achieve and your body will do the rest."

Jenny then demonstrated and shifted through different forms from human through Crinos to finally a wolf-like form and then back again. Morri noted that she and Jenny shared a similar shading of red fur, something that apparently made them both members of the Fianna tribe of Garou. Once back in human form, Jenny identified each of the tribes that the boys belonged to; the scruffy Bone Gnawer, hippie-like Children of Gaia, fierce Get of Fenris, urban Glass Walkers and highborn Silver Fangs. Though each, just like Morri, were having to come to grips with the fact that their lives had changed forever.

[Morrdh]

First Change, Part IV

Jenny got all of them to practice shifting forms for a while until she considered them confident enough to switch between the various forms. She then got them to gather round and then pick a preferred form before she did a one-on-one sparring match with each of them. Unsurprisingly, Jenny proved to be the better fighter and managed to land a blow on each of them. Though Morri was the only one to manage on their tutor, a source of no small amount of pride for Morri even if she hadn't pulled her blow as much as she should've done. Sparring matches done, Jenny lead them over to another part of the caern.

"Now is time for you to finally bind yourselves together as a pack." Announced Jenny. "The most fundamental aspect of this is choosing a spirit to serve as your pack totem."

"A totem is a potent spirit that will lend its power to you in exchange for token service or tribute." Jenny explained. "Totems are divided into different aspects; War, Wisdom, Cunning. It will bind you as a pack and influence how you work as a pack, so choose wisely."

A number of animal spirits were called forth and the pack spent time learning a little about each one, gradually narrowing down their choices until they finally picked an Owl spirit to serve as their totem. Jenny performed the necessary rite to bind them as a pack and with the spirit totem, providing a sense of oneness and belonging. Morri found the sensation curious, almost if a hole she never knew she had had been filled at long last. It was also curious in that the Owl, as part of its gift to the pack, had granted each member wings whilst they were in the Umbra.

Now they were an actual pack, though from different tribes and backgrounds. The Silver Fang and Bone Gnawer brawled for position of Pack Alpha, ultimately with the Fang winning and the Gnawer adopting the position of Beta. Much to her chagrin, Morri was made the pack's 'Omega', the lowest ranking member of the pack. Though her mood lightened when she learnt that she could question the Alpha and hold him to action without fear of repercussion.

"Thats my side of things done." Jenny stated. "I also have my duties as caern leader to attend to and so I'll hand you over to Krystal."

"Right," Said Krystal, who turned out to be the girl they pack had met earlier. "Now it's time to put what you've learnt into practice by hunting down some creatures of the Wyrm."

"Follow me!" Krystal called out, already moving and shifting into Lupus form. Morri and the rest of the pack followed suit, running after Krystal as she ran out of the park and into the surrounding streets. Again, the streets and buildings were just impressions of what Morri had seen in what she'd known to be reality. The buildings especially looked different, in some cases buildings existed here that she was as sure as she could be didn't have a cosponsoring counterpart in reality. There was also boxy, vague shapes lining the streets which she guessed to be the impression of cars and other vehicles within the Umbra. These particular shapes, she noted, were lousy with cobwebs and the spider-like creatures.

Onwards they ran until Krystal halted them and gestured down a street towards some large and strange creatures, then seated herself down to watch. Moving closer, Morri was able to see that there was three creatures and they looked like giant crabs roughly the size of an average car. Getting closer still she was able to make out more details, chiefly the fact that the creatures appeared to be made out of the tarmac used to build roads and she was certain at least one of them had a roadsign stuck on the top of its shell. The creatures probably had proper names, but for the time being she dubbed them 'road crabs' as the name fitted them best.

Joshua and Theo, Glass Walker and Bone Gnawer respectively, moved to deal with one of the crab creatures. The Silver Fang, Nolan, went to deal with the second with the aid of the Children of Gaia member Shaggy. That left the third for Morri and the Get of Fenris, Leo, to tackle. Morri's first impression of Leo was somebody who wasn't all that bright, though his smarts was very much played second fiddle to his sheer brawn as he pinned the creature by shifting into Chrinos form and holding both it's claw arms as far apart as possible. This left Morri, in Hispo form, to dart about the creature's legs and strike at its softer underbelly though at the cost of getting a mouth-full of a tar like substance. Leo then managed to tear one of the creature's arm off, spending forth a spray of blood-tar from the wound as the creature perished.

Between them, Joshua and Theo dealt with their target soon afterwards, though Nolan struggled to deal with the remaining creature even with the aid of Shaggy. Wising up, the creature's claw gripped Nolan's arm when he tried repeating Leo's trick. Likewise, Shaggy got sideswiped by the creature and sent flying down the street. It took Leo landing a blow for the creature to release Nolan as it squealed in pain and then sank into the road. Nolan, who appeared to be more knowledgeable, suddenly yelled for them to get up off the street. A little uncertain, the pack used the wings gifted from their Owl totem and tried flying up onto the top of nearby buildings. Shaggy struggled the worse, barely making it up towards one of the roofs whilst Leo simply climbed one of the buildings.

From their rooftop vantage point they were able to see the creature moving about just under the surface of the road, like a shark lurking just below the water's surface. It moved towards Krystal, but she just kept backing off and kept her distance from the creature. Then the creature seemed to halt and settle down in a particular, almost as if it was daring them to climb down again. It took Leo, jumping off his rooftop and landing on the road to lure the creature out. It launched itself at the Garou, though Leo managed to dodge the blow and caught hold of the creature's shell and started to yank it off. The creature squealed and wailed as the rest of the pack went to pile in, though it was Leo who landed the mortal blow and claimed his second kill of a Wyrm aligned monster. Throwing his head back, Leo howled high into the sky to mark his victory and the first blooding of the pack.

Krystal came over and congratulated them, then lead started leading them back to the caern where the promised of a celebration party laid.

[Morrdh]

First Change, Part V

Krystal took them back to the caern, the pack was directed to bathe and wash itself in the stream that ran through the caern in order to cleanse themselves of the Wyrm's taint. This taint, another thing they learned, came from fighting the road crabs and the caern itself could severely hurt them if they were lousy with the taint when they past through its protective shield. Morri in particular took great care in washing her mouth out, though they all still felt an almost painful burning sensation as they entered the caern.

It was Jenny's turn to congratulate them this time and she explained that a party was to be held in honour of their first blooding and victory, though there was one or two little things concerning the pack that needed to be sorted first. Another garou step forward, a theurge as it was explained, and then used magic to heal the wounds of the pack who'd been injured in the fight with the road crabs. Morri, the aftermath of her First Change still fresh in her mind, absent-mindedly rubbed her arm where it'd been sliced off and then reattached.

They were led back to the wooden hut where earlier they had stepped across to the Umbra, this time there were piles of clothes waiting for them. Jenny explained. "We'll now address your state of undress in the Umbra by binding some clothing to you and teaching you how to do the same. There should be the right sizes for everyone."

'Bouts damn time, thought Morri as she shifted through the piles of clothing and pulled out what looked like it fitted her. The boys did the same, evidently feeling alot more comfortable, before Jenny did as promised by showing them how to binding the clothes to themselves. Now it felt as though their humiliation was coming to an end as they had come together as a pack and proven themselves. Now was time for them to enjoy their reward.

After being led back to the caern they saw that a number of tables had been set up and kinfolk, as Jenny claimed, were busy laying out food before they left. It was not a party for the kinfolk to partake in, if anything for their own safety amongst drunk and rowdy garou. Despite all that, the kinfolk still congratulated the pack with some of the women eyeing up Leo whilst Morri received similar treatment from some of the young lads present. The then kinfolk disappeared as garou started arriving and the party got under way with the pack splitting up to enjoy the celebrations on offer.

Morri first helped herself to a drink, noting that all the alcohol on offer was from a small local brewery, and then strolled around making mental notes of everyone she met. She recognised one of her cousins who was a member of Jenny's pack and then discovered rank and status meant everything in garou society as she was made to go fetch him a drink. She grudgingly brought her cousin their drink, though all the while plotting how to get one over them.

Free to resume her wandering, Morri saw that most everyone present was drunk, high on weed or both. Certainly members of her pack were well on their way to being intoxicated, helped along by the other garou present. Perhaps because she had a drink in her hand, Morri didn't receive much encouragement and was thus able to pace herself and keep most of her wits about her. When it came to alcohol she was bit of a heavyweight and generally able to hold her ale, though the same couldn't be said of the rest of her pack. Their alpha, Nolan, in particular proved to be a lightweight and was soon out cold and covered with scribbles to which Morri added one or two of her own.

Out of the rest of the pack, only Shaggy was faring anywhere near as well as Morri. The Children of Gaia, however, was clearly high as he strung a song on a guitar he'd borrowed. The others were all far gone as Nolan, as were most of the other garou with only a few heavyweights like Morri still standing. By now she was feeling tipsy and getting tired, so she decided to head to her room back at the pub. Leaving the caern she thought she glimpsed something out of the corner of her eye, but when she looked there was nothing there. Shrugging, she resumed her journey and found her room to be an empty shell and simply curled up on the floor and fell asleep.

---

Some time later Morri awoke groggily, presuming it was morning but the actual time of day was hard to tell in the Umbra. She made her back over to the caern to find most of the other garou had left with those that remained sleeping off the night's festivities. There was still some food on the table which she helped herself to before going round and rounding up the rest of the pack. Nolan she found first and jabbed him in his side with her foot before leaving him to discover the extent of the new 'tattoos' he'd acquired. Shaggy was the next one she found, fast asleep and still clutching the guitar he'd been playing the night before. A mischievous grin spread across Morri and she went and fetched a bucket of water. Her pack member received a cold shower whilst Morri narrowly missed the guitar that was swung at her...

...and ended up hitting the Black Fury sleeping next to Shaggy.

Morri made herself scarce as the sound of wood being smashed, quickly followed by that of bone breaking, broke the still air. Later, when she saw Shaggy walking around with a black eye and broken nose, she struggled not to giggle.

[Imperialisium]

third arc will be starting this Sunday.

[Morrdh]

third arc will be starting this Sunday.

Morri approves of this post.

[Imperialisium]

https://forum.nationstates.net/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=473727

Autumn Court is up

[Morrdh]

First Change, Part VI

Shenanigans resolved, it was time to get on with the day as Nolan had acquired a task from a Glass Walker named Nick. It seemed that some local Glass Walker kinfolk had suffered a spite of burglaries and the police hadn't had much luck solving the case or simply couldn't be bothered to do so. So it was up to the pack to investigate and see whether they could do any better than the police, if anything it would be part of the pack debt to the caern paid of. Sensing an opportunity, Morri brought up their totem's Ban and pushed the idea of visiting a pet shop to acquire some mice which the pack half-heartedly agreed to.

Having been given a couple of addresses to visit, Nolan decided to order a minicab to travel from the pub to the first address. Though when the taxi arrived it only had seats for five of them despite the pack being six strong, so it ended up being Morri who had to walk. Though she watched bemused as the car stopped only a few hundred yards down the road outside of the first address. Morri sniggered as she walked over, especially when she saw Nolan having to pull out his wallet and hand over a five pound note, and asked with a look of mock innocence. "Nice ride?"

The first address turned out to be a flat above a second-hand electrical goods shop, the shopkeeper proving to be the most disagreeable sort when Nolan sent Morri in to ask about CCTV for the building. They met with the kinfolk who explained that a number of items of value, including a watch that had been passed down to him, had been taken but no obvious sign of a break-in. Nolan did a partial transformation to improve his sense of smell and noted a few curious scents in the flat, including a perfume which the kinfolk explained as belonging to his girlfriend. Though the pack didn't have much success in finding any real clues.

The second address was a Victorian two-up, two-down terrace and house to a struggling housewife and a horde of young children. The pack had even less luck here as their visit was cut short when Leo made one of the children cry, Morri didn't catch what occurred but it was enough for them to be kicked out. With little else to go on, it was decided that the pack was to split up and check out the local prawn shops in case the missing items had been fenced. Morri pushed the chance of also stopping by a pet shop, something that the pack half-heartedly agreed to. Though Morri had to borrow some money from Shaggy, but after he lent her a small amount she picked his pocket for all the cash he carried and went into the pet shop. A short while later she emerged with a couple of mice in a box and an extra purchase that she shoved into a pocket least anyone else in the pack saw.

The prawn shop that Morri and Shaggy were meant to check turned out to be shut, so they went to meet up with the others. Nolan and Leo had only fared little better as the prawn shop they went to check was open but they ended up being kicked out after Leo caused some damage by swinging a sword that was on display. Joshua and Theo fared the best out of all of them as they managed to find some of the stolen items in the shop that they checked out. The first kinfolk was summoned and he confirmed that some of the items were his, though things ended up getting a bit heated and the police were called. A couple of police officer duly arrived, took stock of the situation and took the items in question as evidence. The kinfolk wasn't entirely pleased with the turn of events, but at least his stolen items had been found and he would eventually get them back.

That still left the unanswered question of who stole the items.

Nolan took the pack back to the first address and decided that they would step into the Umbra there to see whether the thief had come in that way or to see if they could find any clues. Stepping sideways proved to be difficult as it felt like something was trying to block them, though Morri was the only one who wasn't able to cross over and so had to wait for the others to step back. As she was later told, the pack found a strong Weaver presence and encountered a spirit in the form of a robot. This spirit was the de facto watch dog for the kinfolk's flat and reported that nothing had entered through the Umbra. The pack concluded that whoever the thief was they had to have entered the flat via the material realm and so stepped back across. Leo and Theo took a little bit longer and when they did finally appear they seemed to have been badly injured by something.

With little else to show for their efforts, the pack headed back to Nick and reported their findings. The Glass Walker literally ended up facepalming when the pack explained about crossing over to the Umbra, he in turn explained that the Gauntlet round all of the local Glass Walker kinfolk homes was especially thick as part of the protection for the aforesaid kinfolk. Nick also explained that the robot spirit had been placed there by him as another part of the protection for the kinfolk, in addition to saying that they should've asked him about checking out the Umbra. He went onto explain that based upon the pack's findings, the most likely culprit was a Ragabash who used a gift called Open Seal to gain entry and he knew of the most likely suspect; A Bone Gnawer called Ryan.

[Morrdh]

First Change, Part VII

Charged with a name at last, the pack made to go speak to the Bone Gnawer known as Ryan. This time around they doubled check where the place, one of the other large parks in the area, know to be Ryan's haunt actually was. Morri cheekily asked if Nolan was going to hire a minibus this time, though the pack alpha didn't raise to Morri's bait and simply declared that they would be going on foot. It took them a while to get there, but upon their arrival they found some drunken homeless people and what they presumed to be Ryan. As the pack's Bone Gnawer, Theo tried talking to his tribal's comrade. Though Theo got bit of a cold response, Ryan did freely admit that he was behind the robberies and he'd done so to get at the Glass Walkers.

Morri, meanwhile, gave what was left of the money she'd pickpocketed form Shaggy earlier to the homeless guys and observed as the other members of the pack also received a cold reception when they tried talking to Ryan. Then, after a moment, Morri stepped forward and said out loud. "That was a neat trick. Ye know, how ye got in and all that."

Ryan studied her for a moment, almost as if he was appraising her. Then perhaps having seen her give money to his kin or recognising a fellow No Mooner, he grinned and replied. "Ah, its nothing special lass. Just a gift, I can teach ya if you'd like?"

"I'm certainly interested." Replied Morri.

"Great, though I gots a job that needs doing. Come back here tomorrow morn-...no, tomorrow evening and we'll talk."

"Sure." Morri agreed, though once they were out of earshot she made it clear that sure as hell she wasn't coming back on her own. By now it was getting on for evening time and so the pack headed back to the pub, informing Nick that Ryan was the one who'd stole the items from his kinfolk. The Glass Walker thanked them and explained that Ryan had been a nuisance for the Glass Walkers and would be dealt with. Whilst the others went for dinner and to retire for the night, Morri stayed for a moment to have a chat with Nick.

A plan that had been growing in her head was now about to sprout.

After leaving the mice she'd brought earlier in some nearby woods, Morri headed up to her room and pulled out the other purchase she'd made at the pet shop; a pair of bright yellow flea collars. She placed one of the collars round her neck and, carrying the other in her hand, went to knock on Joshua's door. When her Glass Walker packmate answered, she smiled sweetly and said as she focused her will. "Hey, was speaking ta Nick just now and he said 'em Bone Gnawers we met were lousy..."

"So..." She added, showing off the flea collar round her neck and handing the other one to Joshua. "We've all gots ta wear these fer a few days. Gonna go and give the others theirs, but heres yers."

Morri wasn't sure whether Joshua was gonna buy it, though she always had a way of convincing people and he appeared to buy it hook, line and sinker as he put on the collar right there and then. Morri bid him farewell and walked down the corridor, trying hard not to giggle but glad that Joshua couldn't see her face. Once in the safety of her own room, she did let a chuckle escape her lips.

Though the best was yet to come.

Some hours Joshua went out for some food at a late night fried chicken takeaway, something that was to prove both fortunate and unfortunate as events later conspired. Some lads spotted the bright yellow collar that Joshua was wearing and started giving the Glass Walker Auhorn grief, so much that he felt humiliated and reached the verge of frenzying but managed to check himself in time. Though he still got into a scuffle with the lads, Joshua managed to restrain himself and the lads only suffered black eyes and broken noses. With his food, and what had belonged to the lads, Joshua triumphantly made his way back to his room at the pub.

Next morning the pack assembled for breakfast in the restaurant area of the pub, though Joshua was the last to come down and Morri quietly slipped into the toilets when he finally appeared still wearing the flea collar. The rest of the pack were silent as they stared at the Glass Walker, Nolan finally asking. "Why are you wearing that?"

"Why aren't you wearing your-....WHERE IS SHE?!" Came Joshua's enraged response as Morri burst out with laughter safe in her refuge.

[Kaziimar]

I want to make a mage but I'm wondering what the societies are...I couldn't find much info about them in the OP.

[Imperialisium]

I want to make a mage but I'm wondering what the societies are...I couldn't find much info about them in the OP.

Mage Society is broken up into:

The Pentacle Orders

https://whitewolf.fandom.com/wiki/Order_(MTAw)

Seers of the Throne
https://whitewolf.fandom.com/wiki/Seers_of_the_Throne?mobile-app=false

There is also the Council of Nine Mystic Traditions which puts less emphasis on Atlantean heritage and lumps magical fields into spheres than Arcana

https://whitewolf.fandom.com/wiki/Council_of_Nine_Mystic_Traditions?mobile-app=false

Their polar opposites are the Nephandi/Scelesti (whose magical arcana/spheres are polar opposite of Mages and are more or less viewed as evil. But they’re much fewer in number and seldom congregate together.

[Kaziimar]

I want to make a mage but I'm wondering what the societies are...I couldn't find much info about them in the OP.

Mage Society is broken up into:

The Pentacle Orders

https://whitewolf.fandom.com/wiki/Order_(MTAw)

Seers of the Throne
https://whitewolf.fandom.com/wiki/Seers_of_the_Throne?mobile-app=false

There is also the Council of Nine Mystic Traditions which puts less emphasis on Atlantean heritage and lumps magical fields into spheres than Arcana

https://whitewolf.fandom.com/wiki/Council_of_Nine_Mystic_Traditions?mobile-app=false

Their polar opposites are the Nephandi/Scelesti (whose magical arcana/spheres are polar opposite of Mages and are more or less viewed as evil. But they’re much fewer in number and seldom congregate together.

Thank you

[Imperialisium]

Mage Society is broken up into:

The Pentacle Orders

https://whitewolf.fandom.com/wiki/Order_(MTAw)

Seers of the Throne
https://whitewolf.fandom.com/wiki/Seers_of_the_Throne?mobile-app=false

There is also the Council of Nine Mystic Traditions which puts less emphasis on Atlantean heritage and lumps magical fields into spheres than Arcana

https://whitewolf.fandom.com/wiki/Council_of_Nine_Mystic_Traditions?mobile-app=false

Their polar opposites are the Nephandi/Scelesti (whose magical arcana/spheres are polar opposite of Mages and are more or less viewed as evil. But they’re much fewer in number and seldom congregate together.

Thank you

No problem! Any more questions lemme know.

[Kaziimar]

Would it be okay for my mage to have a ghost that she originally summoned to help her on a college project hang around her house now because...well he was in hell for unspeakable horrors and now that he's gotten away from that he refuses to leave. She's like "ok, whatevs" and they're kinda bros.

[Imperialisium]

Would it be okay for my mage to have a ghost that she originally summoned to help her on a college project hang around her house now because...well he was in hell for unspeakable horrors and now that he's gotten away from that he refuses to leave. She's like "ok, whatevs" and they're kinda bros.

Yes that concept is fine.

[Kaziimar]

Mage
NationStates Name: Kaziimar
Character Name: Theophania Christakis
Age: 27
Birthdate: January 15, 1990
Physical Appearance and Description: https://pin.it/yjsi264bjyul7a: She’s got a fairly average build for her height of 5’0, although a little extra weight due to her love of food.
Demeanor: Theo is a bit amoral, in fact that she'll use pretty much any means to achieve her goals and the path doesn't matter to her as much as results...although there are a few lines she won't cross such as children, kids are always off limits. She's a bit withdrawn because she's so focused on studying her magic and becoming the most powerful sorceress, but she's generally outgoing around her small group of friends.
Affiliated Watchtower: Sixth Watchtower
Paths: Forces and Spirit are her dominant, Prime is her inferior
Cabal Alignment: Free Council, not because she's interested in mixing tech with magic (although she thinks that both of them have their merit and she uses modern tech, she's a bit of a traditionalist when it comes to magic), but because she's open to new ideas and likes to be left to do her own thing most of the time.

Physical
(three points to start out with up to eight possible per field as the story progresses)
Athleticism: 2
Melee: 3
Ranged/Firearm: 1
Senses/Initiative: 4

Mental & Social
(Start out with four points with up to eight possible per field as the story progresses)
Intelligence: 4
Wit: 3
Leadership: 2

Abilities
Gnosis: 1
Mage Sight: 1
Wisdom: 2
Hubris: 0

Paradox Modifier: 0

Attainments: Mistress of Flame: Theo is naturally attuned to fire as her strongest element, giving her greater ease in casting fire-related Force spells (this includes lightning).
Legacies: (If applicable list and detail them here)

Biographical Information:
Theo was born to a Greek father and a Welsh mother in Kalamata, her parents left for the States when she was just five years old. Growing up in New York, both of her parents were mages and descended from mages...a legend in her father's family is that they're descended from the great Circe, but nobody really knows how true that is or is it just a way to add prestige (after all, her mother never claimed to be descended from Merlin). Theo was named after her mother, Tiffany Davies but spelled the old Greek way to honor both of her heritages. She lived a fairly normal life in her parents' magic shop (Sleepers just assume that they're antiques) and they were overjoyed when their daughter became Awakened when she turned sixteen. They trained her as best they could, and Theo dreamed of becoming a great sorceress some day. She became quite skilled in the Forces and Spirit arcana, but the fact was that they did live in the modern world and so she required a modern education. When Theo turned eighteen, she left to New York City in order to attend college while conducting her magical studies in secret.

Although she had chosen to major in computer programming, she also took history out of a thirst of knowledge and because history helped in one's magical growth. During one French History class, the class was given an assignment on French royals and they had to choose one to do a term paper on. Theo chose Louis XIV, for no other reason than finding him fascinating and didn't want to do Marie Antoinette because a good chunk of the class had chosen her...and through the arrogance of mages, she decided that it would be far quicker and more accurate to just summon the man's ghost and ask him questions than browsing through Wikipedia all day, and after great difficulty she did. She got an A on her term paper, buuuuttt...she was still stuck with the ghost. Turns out Louis had been in hell for all the awful things he had done in life (as were many other European monarchs, the whole slavery and religious persecution thing catches up to you eventually) and he was not going back if he had anything to say about it. Theo couldn't really fault him there, and he could just disappear if she tried to force him to go back. After many arguments, she just decided that it was better for him to be hanging around with her where she could keep an eye on him rather than having him wandering as a restless spirit and getting into trouble.

And by getting into trouble, she meant getting her into trouble because surely the mages' council would be on her ass for letting a ghost wreak havoc and alerting the Sleepers to their existence.. which was ten times worse than having an imperious and sometimes demanding spirit floating around her house so she decided to let him stay. Even if that ghost probably had demons and vengeful spirits looking for him and ready to drag him back into hell. "I summoned him, I am responsible for him." After leaving college, she does freelance programming for businesses and clients while living in the apartment and running her parents' magic shop...they gave it to her when they decided to downsize and move somewhere a little warmer so it's just been her and the ghost ever since, when she's not traveling the world looking for magical texts and items (though sometimes he tags along) They mostly stay out of each other's way, but over the years they've grown used to one another's presence...and daresay are almost something like friends, but their differing personalities do clash quite a bit.

[Imperialisium]

Mage
NationStates Name: Kaziimar
Character Name: Theophania Christakis
Age: 27
Birthdate: January 15, 1990
Physical Appearance and Description: https://pin.it/yjsi264bjyul7a: She’s got a fairly average build for her height of 5’0, although a little extra weight due to her love of food.
Demeanor: Theo is a bit amoral, in fact that she'll use pretty much any means to achieve her goals and the path doesn't matter to her as much as results...although there are a few lines she won't cross such as children, kids are always off limits. She's a bit withdrawn because she's so focused on studying her magic and becoming the most powerful sorceress, but she's generally outgoing around her small group of friends.
Affiliated Watchtower: Sixth Watchtower
Paths: Forces and Spirit are her dominant, Prime is her inferior
Cabal Alignment: Free Council, not because she's interested in mixing tech with magic (although she thinks that both of them have their merit and she uses modern tech, she's a bit of a traditionalist when it comes to magic), but because she's open to new ideas and likes to be left to do her own thing most of the time.

Physical
(three points to start out with up to eight possible per field as the story progresses)
Athleticism: 2
Melee: 3
Ranged/Firearm: 1
Senses/Initiative: 4

Mental & Social
(Start out with four points with up to eight possible per field as the story progresses)
Intelligence: 4
Wit: 3
Leadership: 2

Abilities
Gnosis: 1
Mage Sight: 1
Wisdom: 2
Hubris: 0

Paradox Modifier: 0

Attainments: Mistress of Flame: Theo is naturally attuned to fire as her strongest element, giving her greater ease in casting fire-related Force spells (this includes lightning).
Legacies: (If applicable list and detail them here)

Biographical Information:
Theo was born to a Greek father and a Welsh mother in Kalamata, her parents left for the States when she was just five years old. Growing up in New York, both of her parents were mages and descended from mages...a legend in her father's family is that they're descended from the great Circe, but nobody really knows how true that is or is it just a way to add prestige (after all, her mother never claimed to be descended from Merlin). Theo was named after her mother, Tiffany Davies but spelled the old Greek way to honor both of her heritages. She lived a fairly normal life in her parents' magic shop (Sleepers just assume that they're antiques) and they were overjoyed when their daughter became Awakened when she turned sixteen. They trained her as best they could, and Theo dreamed of becoming a great sorceress some day. She became quite skilled in the Forces and Spirit arcana, but the fact was that they did live in the modern world and so she required a modern education. When Theo turned eighteen, she left to New York City in order to attend college while conducting her magical studies in secret.

Although she had chosen to major in computer programming, she also took history out of a thirst of knowledge and because history helped in one's magical growth. During one French History class, the class was given an assignment on French royals and they had to choose one to do a term paper on. Theo chose Louis XIV, for no other reason than finding him fascinating and didn't want to do Marie Antoinette because a good chunk of the class had chosen her...and through the arrogance of mages, she decided that it would be far quicker and more accurate to just summon the man's ghost and ask him questions than browsing through Wikipedia all day, and after great difficulty she did. She got an A on her term paper, buuuuttt...she was still stuck with the ghost. Turns out Louis had been in hell for all the awful things he had done in life (as were many other European monarchs, the whole slavery and religious persecution thing catches up to you eventually) and he was not going back if he had anything to say about it. Theo couldn't really fault him there, and he could just disappear if she tried to force him to go back. After many arguments, she just decided that it was better for him to be hanging around with her where she could keep an eye on him rather than having him wandering as a restless spirit and getting into trouble.

And by getting into trouble, she meant getting her into trouble because surely the mages' council would be on her ass for letting a ghost wreak havoc and alerting the Sleepers to their existence.. which was ten times worse than having an imperious and sometimes demanding spirit floating around her house so she decided to let him stay. Even if that ghost probably had demons and vengeful spirits looking for him and ready to drag him back into hell. "I summoned him, I am responsible for him." After leaving college, she does freelance programming for businesses and clients while living in the apartment and running her parents' magic shop...they gave it to her when they decided to downsize and move somewhere a little warmer so it's just been her and the ghost ever since, when she's not traveling the world looking for magical texts and items (though sometimes he tags along) They mostly stay out of each other's way, but over the years they've grown used to one another's presence...and daresay are almost something like friends, but their differing personalities do clash quite a bit.

Accepted

[Kaziimar]

Sweet! So...which IC do I post in (it’ll be after work tho)

[Morrdh]

Sweet! So...which IC do I post in (it’ll be after work tho)

This is the current IC; viewtopic.php?f=31&t=473727

[Kaziimar]

Thanks Anybody up to interact? Just wanna make sure I’m not posting blind.

[Imperialisium]

Thanks Anybody up to interact? Just wanna make sure I’m not posting blind.

What kind of intro post did you have in mind?

Also joining the discord is advised since it’s regularly updated and home to all the active players.

[Acerbez]

If you're planning to go in as a mage, I'm actually attacking a free assembly hide out.

Maybe Imps would be cool if your char was around there and we can start our loooooong friendship off the classic way?