[SgtBoomCloud]

Arc gave a nod, feeling the elf's slender arms about her waist as they rounded a turn, enjoying the thrum of the engine underneath her as she watched the road ahead, her arms raised to hold the handles of the chopper.  "...Wanderer, huh?  I'll remember that.  They use my handle as well, though most often you'll see them refer to me as "ugly ass breeder".  Being one of the only nontrogs, I've accepted that.  Stick with me though...intel suggests that is was Ancients what started this drek...the witch was a dau of one of their higher ups what got geeked something bad.  Howlers be renowned for taking drek personal, but if you with me, I can vouch for ya."  She grinned, seeing their destination coming up.

"Yes...I think I wouldn't mind long stories.  And I think you have a few...from what you been sayin', think you got at least twice my fraggin' years on this world...that and I ain't never been out of Seattle.  Either way, how bout we promise to stay alive to share those, eh?"  Pulling up to the rendezvous corner, she parked the Scorpion on the curb, slapping out the kickstand and checking the time.  Three minutes to spare...not bad.  Accessing the sensor net, she set the ARO to run in her peripherals, so she would receive and respond to an alert as soon as possible.  Turning to Yelena, she checked her weapons, grenade pouch, and equipment pouch, making sure everything was in place.  Taking a deep breath, she felt a tingle of unease and fear, which she quelled after a few breaths, turning it into resolve and determination.  "...this is it, ain't it.."

[Imveros]

Johnny accompanied Feathers and the other members of their group to the ritual area. Johnny gave a deep sigh as the ork family refuses to leave their home Poor bastards they either don't believe in the danger or they just don't want to leave the only thing they've ever known. The last thing we need is outsiders mucking things up though Johnny sees Raven giving the ork family an odd look. Penny for your thoughts boss lady? This situation is hardly ideal, but we are as prepared as we can be. We have a plan? Or are we just winging it while they get their mojo on? Johnny pulls out his revolver and checks the chamber for the twentieth time today.

Hurry up and wait. Not sure whats worse, this calm before the storm, or the storm itself? Johnny re-holsters his pistol while praying for the former

[Mercy Merchant]

Yelena enjoys the ride to the rendezvous point.  Climbing off the rig she turns to the human.  "You very good with this, Arc..  Was nice to ride with professional."  She looks around then back to Arc.  Her voice goes all professional and emotionless.  This is not a time for emotion.  After all, this is what she does.  What she has done for decades.  "Is indeed it, Arc.  Is indeed.  Another kill.  Another paycheck.  I not see your Howlers.  Are we early?"  She, too, takes the chance to make sure that everything is in place where it should be.  She lights up all of her wireless devices and sends a comm check from her cybered 'link.  <Arc.  Wanderer.  Message check.>

Yelena pulls out her small silver case after the checks are done.  Opening it, she offers one of the cigars to Arc before taking one herself and lighting up.  She pulls the smoke in and lets it out, watching it float into the evening sky.

[ismilealot]

Arc and Yelena hear a long howl, let loose into the night. It's joined by other howls, and a long moment later Howlers are coming toward you from all directions. Sarge steps forward, he looks at you and says, "Nice bike."

[Mercy Merchant]

Yelena nods at the troll's comment but stays silent.  This is Arc's turf and Arc has the lead here.  These are not the first troll gangers Yelena has dealt with and she shows neither fear nor scorn, but a calm and professional attitude.  She continues to draw on her cigar as Arc does the talking.  Her hands are carefully away from the rifle slung across her back and the holstered predator at her hip.  She calmly looks around, trying to locate the leader of these people.  *Anyone, even gangers, who go into sewers after monster and mage just to protect place are worth knowing.  Ancients not here to clean up own mess, but Howlers are.  That speaks volumes.*

[SgtBoomCloud]

Arc gave a smirk at the compliment, giving a little pfft at the professional line.  I mean, it's not like i went to school to drive or some drek.  It was get good at something or get my hoop beat again  Shrugging, she fitted the microtransceiver to her ear and neck, tapping once to activate it in time to catch the comm check.

"I read ya, Wanderer.  Keep this channel, I'm opening up separate one to know whassup with the spirit side."

<<Channel Bravo Initiated.  Participants invited: Arc, Lash, Masq, Feathers>>
"Hoi, witch team is getting in position.  Designate one who'd like to keep in touch with me so we know how well things are going either side."

She said that just in time to hear the howls and to see the team of Howlers seem to emerge from the background of the street intersection, the old troll Sarge approaching them directly.  Politely declining Yelena's cigar, she sought more familiar comforts with one of her own cigarettes to calm her nerves.  At the troll's comment, Arc's trademark grin emerged, crossing her arms and leaning to one hip with head tilted.  "Ya like it, huh?  Not like you to get distracted by the shiny, Sarge.  Must be yo age, heh.  Anyhow, Sarge, this is Wanderer.  She's with me and on this team.  Wanderer, meet Sarge.  Howlers lieutenant, and the second meanest troll I've met."  She let introductions and reactions happen before continuing.

"Aight, so the plan right now is to keep to the surface.  Until we get a ping from the sensor net, we don't know drek about where this witch gonna be, and we'd move a lot faster above ground.  Also, less chance of ghouls causing drek early.  We got about a square mile or two of coverage, so your team's gonna need to be mobile and fast, cuz when we do find her, we need ta converge like a fragging firestorm.  Questions?"

[Mercy Merchant]

Yelena responds to the introduction with a nod and a slight smile.  She looks around and counts the Howlers she can see.

[Csjarrat]

Feathers smiles at the arrivals and bids them good luck, shaking hands with them all and making small talk whilst directing them to their stations.
Setting up the reagents in the correct place, he begins the incantations that the prof had drilled into him time and time again,
his summoned spirit keeping a watchful vigil in the astral nearby to alert him to the approach of the beast

[Imveros]

<<Channel Bravo Initiated.  Participants invited: Arc, Lash, Masq, Feathers>>
"Hoi, witch team is getting in position.  Designate one who'd like to keep in touch with me so we know how well things are going either side."

<<Channel Bravo.  Participants invited: Arc, Lash, Masq, Feathers>>
<<Lash>> Arc, Feathers is a bit indisposed now. Him and his mojo slingers have started their little dance. Don't want him bein distracted now. Masq is also shuttin down a little. Maybe the gravity of the situation is just now sinking in. That leaves yours truly as your prime contact. Things are quiet here for now. They are setting up the ritual and we are still clearing the area for whats to come. You make sure to watch your back down there though, and i don't just mean from the ghouls neither. You know what to expect from ghouls and ganger thugs, but I've yet to meet a dandelion eating assassin as friendly and giving as Yelena. On second thought it pity her if she does try anything with you. Kick some ass down there. Johnny out.

[Triskavanski]

Raven was actually with the group of spell slingers. She'd seen the ritual once before, and memorized it and its parts, and was no running the instructions though her head as she attempts to do what she could and direct the ritual the best she could..

Leadership?: 11d6t5 2

[Triskavanski]

Raven was actually with the group of spell slingers. She'd seen the ritual once before, and memorized it and its parts, and was no running the instructions though her head as she attempts to do what she could and direct the ritual the best she could..

"Lets not give this thing any more blood. If they want to stay there.. let them. We'll use them later."

Leadership?: 11d6t5 2

[ismilealot]

@ Arc  & Yelena   Sarge listens and then says. "Youve got the sensor net in place. Good. Bone & I have strike groups in several key places so that we can be as mobile & responsive to whatever tactic she uses. We've also got maps wif what we know of the sewers so that we know some of the terrain and every step we take in there isn't one big fragged up surprise. You wanna trust an Ancient with your back, we ain't placin' flowers on your grave." Bonehead looks at you Yelena and says, "Stay outta our way. I even think you're double crossing us or putting me & mine at risk and you're dead." He turns to look at you Arc and sneers, "That sensor net better work.

@ Feathers, Johnny, Masquerade  Night falls as the ritual goes on. Reagent, incantation, runes, somatic components. Step after step painstakingly recreated and the binding circle begins to form. Mermaid, Merlin, Tom, Marion, Two-Bit, Kenyon, Boralis all take up places as equidistant as possible around you and begin their preparations. Summoning creatures and readying spells.

@ Masquerade  You hear it, music, hauntlingly beautiful, a siren song calling you towards it.  The world and everything in it drops away as you listen to the sound of the music. Suddenly you're not scared or worried anymore, only the music matters as you begin heading towards it.

[Triskavanski]

The song, gripping her mind and robbing her of her ownself control, caused her instructions to suddenly stop as she begins walking fowards towards where it was coming from.

[Mercy Merchant]

Yelena just looks at the large troll without responding, but without backing away, either.  She has no fear of trolls; if this one was going to kill her, it probably could so what would be the value of fear in this instant.  Besides, in Yelena's experience most gangers despise weakness.  It pays to learn the fine line between not showing weakness and showing defiance.

[Imveros]

Johnny watches the ritual advance with a sense of wonder It's a whole nother world for them isn't it? No wonder people is scared for them. Who knows what they could do if enough of them got together for something like this. Johnny catches a flash of a face in the windows above his stoop. Wonder if them orks are wishin they had evacuated yet. Well too late now. All we can do is try to keep them safe too and maybe even give them a little show while we're at it.

He looks away from the ritual for a moment This is some pretty crazy drek isn't it Raven. How you holding up over there? and notices his charge slowly walking away. Hey short stuff, where you think you're going? I't aint safe to be wandering off at this point in the game Johnny follows slowly after her. When she doesn't respond he snaps his fingers in front of her face a few times. HEY WAKE UP. THIS AINT PART OF THE PLAN Johnny quickly looks over to the mage circle and see them all deep in concentration Well no help over there. Going to have to go out on a limb and assume the bate wandering away isn't part of the plan Now now you aren't going anywhere wither you like it or not. This is for your own good Johnny rushes towards Raven and attempts to grab her up and carry her back to the stoop