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Thurs, June 5--Mouse sets the tribe to red alert
Email from Mouse:
Fri, June 6--Meeting with Alicia
Alicia texted in the morning wanting to meet up, but I couldn't get free until that afternoon. We met over at the Farmhouse. She wants me to take lead in directing Terminus and its resources against DNA. (Good Lord, I am becoming a Corporate Wolf, at least in the eyes of some garou.) I told her I'd see what I could do but made sure to indicate that I was reluctant. I don't want that level of responsibility and work, especially with such mundane issues. This is what the punishment for competence is: more work. And here I've been contemplating ways of bowing out of Terminus completely. The timing? It sucks.
Alicia bragged about how she was practically running this show because Mouse and Jacinta weren't Johnny On The Spot. Goddamn, I should not get my feathers so ruffled over comments like that, but I did. She's backhandedly insulted Mouse. So I told her I couldn't speak for Jacinta (because I can't, but I sure as hell wouldn't want to be the one responsible for being the glue that held 13 tribes of dumb-ass, violent werewolves together for a living), but that Mouse was working on much bigger things. Alicia asked what could possibly be bigger than DNA, so I told her the riots sweeping across the continental United States that might soon happen right here and be a massive threat to the city, the sept, and the caern. Alicia seemed aware of that, but maybe hadn't looked beyond her own self-importance.
Damn, she is one ambitious, cocky werewolf. She is going to get someone killed with her arrogance one day. Better not be someone I care about.
Fri, June 6--I ain't Burger King. You don't always get it your way.
Silvertip dropped by my cabin later that night. Just strolled onto my property, sat down, and howled. Spotted her with some Correspondence. She'd sat over where I'd buried one of the three 25-lb propane tanks for emergency defensive magical use. Could have blown her ass into low orbit if I'd been in the mood to. Small burnt chunks of it, at least. I pointed out that I like advance notice before people just show up unannounced and uninvited, and she at least seemed apologetic. (Testing me to see if she could get away with it in the future?)
(Writing this all down I have to ask myself WHY THE FUCK AM I SO DAMN PISSY?)
Silvertip explained that she was in a rush and would have otherwise followed protocols. Her packmate, years ago, had killed a Verbena mage (far north of here, so not likely to have been David Cox. I hope. If the man is even anywhere still around). The book was an offering to a spirit that loved secrets, and it would be destroyed/disappeared. Silvertip wanted me to make a copy. I started gathering materials to do so, then learned that Silvertip intended to keep the copy whereas I thought I would keep the copy and loan it to her.
No deal.
I'm not handing mage lore over to a garou who might use it against other mages.
Silvertip wasn't thrilled with that (but seemed to respect my decision), and she explained that she also hoped to figure out a means of turning herself back into a male. I offered to read the book for her, as I'd be able to make far more sense of it far faster than she could, and find any relevant material for Silvertip turning back into a male. (Which, honestly, would not be that hard for someone like Pavel to do--but Pavel might turn Silvertip inside out if she even looked at him funny. And lord, would that ever cost me. Might as well give back that cougar talisman or the gauntlet rending talisman. Maybe both.) Alternative 2? I could do a full examination of Silvertip again to see if something has changed over the past or if I missed anything that could still be jiggled loose. None of that was good enough for her. She wanted to go talk to Val. Stupidly, I offered her a ride to save time.
My head is not screwed on straight. That or I let my friendship with Silvertip override what should have been common sense: let her walk and waste far more of her limited time, further ensuring the book's contents would not fall into garou hands.
Smooth, Nick. Really smooth.
And when I swung by to pick Silvertip up later, she was outside. Crying. And told me she didn't want to talk about it before I even asked what was wrong.
It was one hell of an awkward ride to drop her off. And after that, there's really nothing to do but go home and fall, eventually, into a restless sleep.
Restless sleep because I was too damn stupid to force my dreams to behave. Wow, you're ten whole shades of dumbass, Nick. Again.
Sat, June 7--Hey, Ila? Have a taste of cougar!
Invited Ila over for a visit, to catch up a bit, and to loan her the cougar ring so.... I'm so freaking busy right now that I don't have time to use it. I'd rather share it than horde it solely for myself. She was beside herself with excitement. She's good at Life magic, but not shapeshift into other animals good. I might have to loan it to her more often, because that might be a source of inspiration/knowledge for her learning more Life magick. Knowledge for the sake of knowledge. Plus, I got her to agree to let me pet her and scratch behind her ears after she changed. It's weird. I spent about a week being a cougar, but I never got to pet one. That was almost as neat as being one. (But not really.) So Ila is figuring out how to be a cougar around on my wooded property while I stand guard in the cabin or outside at the campfire. Her cat, Grimalkin, is locked in the downstairs bathroom. Her robin she's been taking care of is in a cage on the kitchen counter. LOLcat is upstairs. The futon couch downstairs is folded open so she can crash on it if she wants a nap. The window is open if she wants in or out.
Sat, June 7--Riotous magic
I sent word to Mouse that she should have Rhys hold off on creating a riot and give me a couple days to scry the city for pockets of emerging chaos in the future (a simple Time, Correspondence, and Entropy effect made easier because the target I'm looking for is a huge swirl of chaos). If I can locate the riot in the future, then track it back to its point of origin, then maybe I can determine who or what is behind it, the catalyst for it, and/or the purpose of it. If I can get that knowledge, I might be able to assess if Rhys's idea to prematurely trigger a riot would work. And, if so, where might be the best place to trigger it. (Look at that. Rhys's legwork on internet forums might actually be paying off! You go, kid.)
Let me get some things gathered. This feels more like a long ritual as opposed to something to do on the fly. I'll need a long, hard nap after the prep-work is done.
Sat, June 7--Talk to--and chastising, Mouse. What the hell has gotten into me?
Texted Mouse to let her know Alicia's plans with me and Terminus--and that it's not an ideal situation for me, but I'd bite the bullet and lend the garou a hand with taking DNA's facility down via acting like a Corporate Wolf, but I expected a raise/bonus and planned to retire afterwards if I did. Mouse said she wasn't the one to talk to there as she didn't have the authority to divert Terminus's resources and alter its org chart like that. (Good.) It's controlled by higher up Walkers and Fangs who don't know me. (Good.) Also, she said for me to not do it if I didn't want to. (Good.)
I suggested I might be able to conjure up a disaster severe enough that they had to evacuate the building, put the two wolves and the tainted garou in vans to relocate them, and that that would create an ideal opportunity for the garou to strike the 2-3 vans to reclaim the wolf kin and detain the tainted garou, who Mouse suspects might be a Spiral from Seattle. Mouse seemed to be interested, but that that might need to wait as the Spirals from Seattle might be attempting to strike Saint Claire with these riots soon. She also cautioned that if the garou recovered the tainted prisoner, he'd likely be executed. She wanted me to be okay with that and to know that that's what would be happening. I responded with a request that she at least make an effort to salvage him from the Wyrm. And, failing that, if Erebus would be an option.
Belatedly, I realized I just requested that a wolf-shifter be sent to go burn in hell.
Jesus.
Mouse said she'd send him to Erebus if she were there, but she doesn't think anyone else knows the rite. And they might just end it right there and then. So I told her I might just sit on the whole thing until she got back because the whole sept seemed to be asking me, a mere kinsman (to the people asking at least), to solve their problem. I then apologized for snapping. (WTF has gotten into me?!?) And then semi-chastised Mouse for defending the caern that was under attack in NYC--along with the grandparents that saved her from death and raised her--instead of being in St. Claire where she was second in command. (Jesus, Nick! WTF?) And... Ugh. The call went better towards the end. But damn, I feel like I'm approaching my wit's end.
Email from Mouse:
----------
Okay, let me sound pretentious for a moment. This may be the most important thing I ever write.
I've gone to the Green. I will be back as soon as I can, but we, the entire Sept and everyone nominally on our side in the St. Claire area, need to start preparing now. A major offensive is coming from Seattle, with likely reinforcements from Oregon if things go badly there. Pass this on to everyone, especially Steel Angel. The Wyrm is coming in force. The Theurges at the Green believe this is a full out offensive on the entire country by the Destroyer Wyrm and his followers, but the good news, if you can twist it that way, is that there aren't signs from the Devourer or the Defiler. They're starting with the eastern Coast, but they'll be in California soon, and in Oregon and Washington once they think California is somewhat secured. The plan seems to be establishing beachheads and then moving in to overwhelm the interior. They're using the riots, which are increasing in severity, as cover, but they seem to be concerned about making sure humans don't realize what's happening beneath the riots.
Ishmael believes Birch Pool and Mountain's Mother may have fallen, but no one can get through to confirm it, even using spirits. Every Caern in the state is under continuous attack. The Sept leaders have ordered an evacuation of kin and cubs, and they may very well head our way for shelter. Do what you can.
I've included the address of the new safehouse below. Contact Edward Maxwell, Salem, I've asked him to have the keycard and codes waiting for you guys. It's not finished, but it'll do if you need somewhere to coordinate that's not the Tenement. You already know the information for the Walker fund and our resources should something happen. See Rhys for my tentative plan to possibly trigger the riots early, before the Wyrm's forces are ready for it to happen; they're worried about it getting out of their control, I think our best bet is to ensure they don't have control in the first place here. Warn everyone. And get everyone ready, because we're about to be hit hard.
Mouse
----------
So, in a nutshell, I'm glad I did a little stockpiling of stuff out in the cave on the Walkers' woodland property. I should pick up some more stuff on the off chance that we get refugees. Prepare for the worst and be pleasantly surprised if that's not the case. This is probably going to throw a monkeywrench in my plans to spend a week or so as a cougar again. Fuckity fuck fuck. I was looking forward to that. I should give Ila a call, have her come out, and loan her that talisman so she can get a taste of it. Might help her with her Life magick studies, too. Plus? It's just a hoot. I think she'll enjoy it.
Okay, let me sound pretentious for a moment. This may be the most important thing I ever write.
I've gone to the Green. I will be back as soon as I can, but we, the entire Sept and everyone nominally on our side in the St. Claire area, need to start preparing now. A major offensive is coming from Seattle, with likely reinforcements from Oregon if things go badly there. Pass this on to everyone, especially Steel Angel. The Wyrm is coming in force. The Theurges at the Green believe this is a full out offensive on the entire country by the Destroyer Wyrm and his followers, but the good news, if you can twist it that way, is that there aren't signs from the Devourer or the Defiler. They're starting with the eastern Coast, but they'll be in California soon, and in Oregon and Washington once they think California is somewhat secured. The plan seems to be establishing beachheads and then moving in to overwhelm the interior. They're using the riots, which are increasing in severity, as cover, but they seem to be concerned about making sure humans don't realize what's happening beneath the riots.
Ishmael believes Birch Pool and Mountain's Mother may have fallen, but no one can get through to confirm it, even using spirits. Every Caern in the state is under continuous attack. The Sept leaders have ordered an evacuation of kin and cubs, and they may very well head our way for shelter. Do what you can.
I've included the address of the new safehouse below. Contact Edward Maxwell, Salem, I've asked him to have the keycard and codes waiting for you guys. It's not finished, but it'll do if you need somewhere to coordinate that's not the Tenement. You already know the information for the Walker fund and our resources should something happen. See Rhys for my tentative plan to possibly trigger the riots early, before the Wyrm's forces are ready for it to happen; they're worried about it getting out of their control, I think our best bet is to ensure they don't have control in the first place here. Warn everyone. And get everyone ready, because we're about to be hit hard.
Mouse
----------
So, in a nutshell, I'm glad I did a little stockpiling of stuff out in the cave on the Walkers' woodland property. I should pick up some more stuff on the off chance that we get refugees. Prepare for the worst and be pleasantly surprised if that's not the case. This is probably going to throw a monkeywrench in my plans to spend a week or so as a cougar again. Fuckity fuck fuck. I was looking forward to that. I should give Ila a call, have her come out, and loan her that talisman so she can get a taste of it. Might help her with her Life magick studies, too. Plus? It's just a hoot. I think she'll enjoy it.
Fri, June 6--Meeting with Alicia
Alicia texted in the morning wanting to meet up, but I couldn't get free until that afternoon. We met over at the Farmhouse. She wants me to take lead in directing Terminus and its resources against DNA. (Good Lord, I am becoming a Corporate Wolf, at least in the eyes of some garou.) I told her I'd see what I could do but made sure to indicate that I was reluctant. I don't want that level of responsibility and work, especially with such mundane issues. This is what the punishment for competence is: more work. And here I've been contemplating ways of bowing out of Terminus completely. The timing? It sucks.
Alicia bragged about how she was practically running this show because Mouse and Jacinta weren't Johnny On The Spot. Goddamn, I should not get my feathers so ruffled over comments like that, but I did. She's backhandedly insulted Mouse. So I told her I couldn't speak for Jacinta (because I can't, but I sure as hell wouldn't want to be the one responsible for being the glue that held 13 tribes of dumb-ass, violent werewolves together for a living), but that Mouse was working on much bigger things. Alicia asked what could possibly be bigger than DNA, so I told her the riots sweeping across the continental United States that might soon happen right here and be a massive threat to the city, the sept, and the caern. Alicia seemed aware of that, but maybe hadn't looked beyond her own self-importance.
Damn, she is one ambitious, cocky werewolf. She is going to get someone killed with her arrogance one day. Better not be someone I care about.
Fri, June 6--I ain't Burger King. You don't always get it your way.
Silvertip dropped by my cabin later that night. Just strolled onto my property, sat down, and howled. Spotted her with some Correspondence. She'd sat over where I'd buried one of the three 25-lb propane tanks for emergency defensive magical use. Could have blown her ass into low orbit if I'd been in the mood to. Small burnt chunks of it, at least. I pointed out that I like advance notice before people just show up unannounced and uninvited, and she at least seemed apologetic. (Testing me to see if she could get away with it in the future?)
(Writing this all down I have to ask myself WHY THE FUCK AM I SO DAMN PISSY?)
Silvertip explained that she was in a rush and would have otherwise followed protocols. Her packmate, years ago, had killed a Verbena mage (far north of here, so not likely to have been David Cox. I hope. If the man is even anywhere still around). The book was an offering to a spirit that loved secrets, and it would be destroyed/disappeared. Silvertip wanted me to make a copy. I started gathering materials to do so, then learned that Silvertip intended to keep the copy whereas I thought I would keep the copy and loan it to her.
No deal.
I'm not handing mage lore over to a garou who might use it against other mages.
Silvertip wasn't thrilled with that (but seemed to respect my decision), and she explained that she also hoped to figure out a means of turning herself back into a male. I offered to read the book for her, as I'd be able to make far more sense of it far faster than she could, and find any relevant material for Silvertip turning back into a male. (Which, honestly, would not be that hard for someone like Pavel to do--but Pavel might turn Silvertip inside out if she even looked at him funny. And lord, would that ever cost me. Might as well give back that cougar talisman or the gauntlet rending talisman. Maybe both.) Alternative 2? I could do a full examination of Silvertip again to see if something has changed over the past or if I missed anything that could still be jiggled loose. None of that was good enough for her. She wanted to go talk to Val. Stupidly, I offered her a ride to save time.
My head is not screwed on straight. That or I let my friendship with Silvertip override what should have been common sense: let her walk and waste far more of her limited time, further ensuring the book's contents would not fall into garou hands.
Smooth, Nick. Really smooth.
And when I swung by to pick Silvertip up later, she was outside. Crying. And told me she didn't want to talk about it before I even asked what was wrong.
It was one hell of an awkward ride to drop her off. And after that, there's really nothing to do but go home and fall, eventually, into a restless sleep.
Restless sleep because I was too damn stupid to force my dreams to behave. Wow, you're ten whole shades of dumbass, Nick. Again.
Sat, June 7--Hey, Ila? Have a taste of cougar!
Invited Ila over for a visit, to catch up a bit, and to loan her the cougar ring so.... I'm so freaking busy right now that I don't have time to use it. I'd rather share it than horde it solely for myself. She was beside herself with excitement. She's good at Life magic, but not shapeshift into other animals good. I might have to loan it to her more often, because that might be a source of inspiration/knowledge for her learning more Life magick. Knowledge for the sake of knowledge. Plus, I got her to agree to let me pet her and scratch behind her ears after she changed. It's weird. I spent about a week being a cougar, but I never got to pet one. That was almost as neat as being one. (But not really.) So Ila is figuring out how to be a cougar around on my wooded property while I stand guard in the cabin or outside at the campfire. Her cat, Grimalkin, is locked in the downstairs bathroom. Her robin she's been taking care of is in a cage on the kitchen counter. LOLcat is upstairs. The futon couch downstairs is folded open so she can crash on it if she wants a nap. The window is open if she wants in or out.
Sat, June 7--Riotous magic
I sent word to Mouse that she should have Rhys hold off on creating a riot and give me a couple days to scry the city for pockets of emerging chaos in the future (a simple Time, Correspondence, and Entropy effect made easier because the target I'm looking for is a huge swirl of chaos). If I can locate the riot in the future, then track it back to its point of origin, then maybe I can determine who or what is behind it, the catalyst for it, and/or the purpose of it. If I can get that knowledge, I might be able to assess if Rhys's idea to prematurely trigger a riot would work. And, if so, where might be the best place to trigger it. (Look at that. Rhys's legwork on internet forums might actually be paying off! You go, kid.)
Let me get some things gathered. This feels more like a long ritual as opposed to something to do on the fly. I'll need a long, hard nap after the prep-work is done.
Sat, June 7--Talk to--and chastising, Mouse. What the hell has gotten into me?
Texted Mouse to let her know Alicia's plans with me and Terminus--and that it's not an ideal situation for me, but I'd bite the bullet and lend the garou a hand with taking DNA's facility down via acting like a Corporate Wolf, but I expected a raise/bonus and planned to retire afterwards if I did. Mouse said she wasn't the one to talk to there as she didn't have the authority to divert Terminus's resources and alter its org chart like that. (Good.) It's controlled by higher up Walkers and Fangs who don't know me. (Good.) Also, she said for me to not do it if I didn't want to. (Good.)
I suggested I might be able to conjure up a disaster severe enough that they had to evacuate the building, put the two wolves and the tainted garou in vans to relocate them, and that that would create an ideal opportunity for the garou to strike the 2-3 vans to reclaim the wolf kin and detain the tainted garou, who Mouse suspects might be a Spiral from Seattle. Mouse seemed to be interested, but that that might need to wait as the Spirals from Seattle might be attempting to strike Saint Claire with these riots soon. She also cautioned that if the garou recovered the tainted prisoner, he'd likely be executed. She wanted me to be okay with that and to know that that's what would be happening. I responded with a request that she at least make an effort to salvage him from the Wyrm. And, failing that, if Erebus would be an option.
Belatedly, I realized I just requested that a wolf-shifter be sent to go burn in hell.
Jesus.
Mouse said she'd send him to Erebus if she were there, but she doesn't think anyone else knows the rite. And they might just end it right there and then. So I told her I might just sit on the whole thing until she got back because the whole sept seemed to be asking me, a mere kinsman (to the people asking at least), to solve their problem. I then apologized for snapping. (WTF has gotten into me?!?) And then semi-chastised Mouse for defending the caern that was under attack in NYC--along with the grandparents that saved her from death and raised her--instead of being in St. Claire where she was second in command. (Jesus, Nick! WTF?) And... Ugh. The call went better towards the end. But damn, I feel like I'm approaching my wit's end.
