[Gorean]

Ha. Unless you're heavy into old guy fashion, but at least it's clean.

So Mr Chopstix what is it you do?

[RHat]

"Old guy chic aside, I didn't really need the reminder that I'm such a scrawny bastard."

[Crossbow]

Close examination evokes no suprises, at least none until Heron fumbles and detroys the lantern that would provide your only portable light during the evening.  There is suitable cooking areas in both the fireplace and crude outdoor grill area.  There is a bed that doesn't seem well used, a few chairs inside and convenient logs outside

The SUV can seat 8, but not comfortably, the threadbare seat covering and foam looking mighty slim in some places.  The engine requires a few minutes of coaxing, but the combined efforts eventually bring it to noisy life, and check of gauges and fluids indicates that it should get you to civilization.

As you settle in and take stock the coyote spirit wanders over to a solitary tree in the clearing and settles into what appears to be a well worn patch of bareground that allows it good sightlines to most of the area and all of the significant features it contained.

[RHat]

Search of the cabin conducted, Fionn started looking for a comfortable enough place to settle in.  "We got anything more to discuss before we start turning in?  Such as when we set off?  I suggest dawn might be a bit early - may be we draw less attention if there's heavier traffic in town when we get there, and I might need the extra hour or two to heal up if this contest is too hard fought."

[Thvor]

After satisfying himself that the SUV would work, Sam walked over to where the coyote spirit was and sat down beside him. As if to himself, he started speaking out loud. "Once, my friend Sarah told me about how her magic works. She speaks with the spirits, she said, and they would do her bidding. She also said that the old stories of spirit guides were based in truth. She never told me what sort of animal her spirit guide was; seems she felt it was too personal to share. But she did tell me some of the guides that her people follow...Bear, Eagle, Snake...lots of animals, really. Seems to me that someone who devotes their life to following a specific guide animal could end up forming a pretty close relationship with that spirit, to the point where he doesn't need to do any of that summoning rigmarole...might even consider the guide his friend..." He sighed, and shook his head.

Turning to the spirit, he bowed his head slightly. "I don't pretend to understand the relationship between you and Blackeagle. You've both been remarkably helpful to a gang of strangers who showed up, naked and confused, on your admittedly figurative doorstep, not asking anything in return. Hell, you saw me offer to trade our getting even with the people who did this to us for help getting back on our feet, and he turned me down--and then gave us most of the help we could have hoped for. A place to stay, food, clothing, a vehicle...he even gave O'Connor his gun. I'm sure he'll want it back sooner or later, but still."

"My friends and I"--Sam decided to gloss over the fact that he hadn't met any of the others before this morning--"are Runners. We trade our services for whatever we need. I've seen what happens when Runners allow themselves to get in debt to powerful people; it's never pretty. Blackeagle said that he didn't want any of our services at this point, but, frankly, I don't like running up a tab. Is there anything you would suggest we could do to repay your friend for his kindness?"

[Crossbow]

The coyote looked up at Sam, the glowing eyes in the semi-darkness making it seem as if the spirit was reaching into his soul and judging and weighing his every sin for cause and effect.

"You speak with a passing understanding of the world beyond your mortal eyes, as well you should.  With this in mind, I will tell you of my connection with the one who summoned me.  I am the product an effort on his part to truly understand what it was to follow his 'spirit guide', the effort took a great deal of time and nearly cost him his life.  In the end, he had crafted the most powerful spirit companion he could ever dream of creating, a being that would carry him to the heights of whatever goal he should choose to achieve.  Having done so, he set me free, because that is what he is."

Jayson Blackeagle is the truest friend you can have in this world, he is also the worst enemy you can imagine in deepest nightmare you have ever had.  When he speaks truth, listen, when he offers help, take it, and when he comes to you and says it is time to repay a debt, know that he will not ask lightly, nor will he use his resources wastefully.  He is Coyote, nothing more, nothing less.  You can believe that he is even now searching for the answers to his questions and yours."

The spirit breaks his spell and returns to watching the lodge, then suddenly curls his mouth in the canine equivalent of a grin.

"All that being said, it is just as likely that he will forget he ever owned a rifle or a truck once you leave here."

[Necrogigas]

O'Connor grabbed the sleeping roll from the pack, and staked a claim to one of the corners of the cabin, "What exactly is our next move here? We got a way back to civilization sure, but only a vague lead to follow, and no gear at all. I doubt we can run the Tir border with that rusted out relic, and we're not gonna be able to get close to who ever did this to us without a lot of automatic weapons and a liberal application of bullets. I dunno about you guys, but I wasn't exactly in a position to finance a run even before these assholes took most of my worldly possessions."

[RHat]

"I have a feeling much of the next phase will be almost entirely on me.  Once I can get connected, my first priority is going to be figuring out what happened to us - how we came to be together, how we came to be out here, and what risks might yet be awaiting us.  What more I can do from there may depend a great deal on what's in this town we find.  We can discuss capabilities and resources on the morrow, but for the moment have we any other top priorities to consider?"  Fionn found himself a bed and began to make the area around it ready and clear - just in case he began thrashing around as he worked.

[Thvor]

So I was right, Sam thought to himself. Blackeagle's insanely powerful, likely to whip all our asses if we piss him off, and we're already in his debt with no immediate way to even the scales. Well, shit. None of this showed on his face, though, as he nodded to the spirit. "Thanks. Before he left, your friend said that we should probably take our tech-head elf over to Yakima, but he didn't give us much to go on as to where we are--and thus, how to get to where we should be. Can you give us directions? I'd sure hate to send all day driving around these mountains just to end up back here."

[Crossbow]

"No, I can't help you there."  The coyote spirit settles his head between his paws and seems to go to sleep.

[irisheathen]

Johnny reached into the closet and flipped through a few shirts "I like to think I do good in the world but... Simple version is I talk to people very convincingly. I, however, get to enunciate with my fists." He pulled out a green plaid flannel button down and a pair of jeans "These will work perfect. I'm not like O'Conner though. I don't enjoy my work. I don't kill for pleasure or to prove something; I only do what is nessisary. Oh awesome! Cowboy boots! Johnny smiled and pulled them out of the closet. "What about you Heron? What do you do?"

[Necrogigas]

O'Connor gave Johnny a hard stare, "What's wrong with enjoying your job? You think that frownin' instead of smilin' when you hurt someone makes you better 'an me? All it makes you is delusional. At the end of the day, we're both amoral bastards that get paid to hurt an' kill people. We're both headed straight to Hell when the bullets with our names on 'em come our way."

[RHat]

"Ever put effort into, ye know, not killing people in the course of - no, never mind, not getting on to that now.  Can we get business settled before the small talk, please?  Burning daylight, as it were."

[farothel]

"So a basic wash and styling," Sammy said to Fionn.  Casting the spell again, she quickly styled his hair into something that wouldn't turn any heads in the big city.  Also a standard nail trimming and of course first of all removal of the dirt from the road.
"There you go," she said when she was done, "looks much better."


again makeover at force 3:
magic 5 + spellcasting 6 =11 (11d6.hits(5)=2)
drain 2: buy the hits


"Why don't we just get back to Seatlle," Sammy said, "announce we're back and see who takes notice.  That should give us some idea as to who's behind all this.  Also, since most of us seem to live there, we can also get back to our respective homes for some fresh clothes, back-up weapons and things like that."

[RHat]

"And just how excited are you to explain how we're on this side of the border?  That could be an issue.  That, and for all we know we might have people looking for us with...  Less than beneficial intentions.  And maybe sniper rifles.  Just a theory."  Fionn checked out the impact of the spell - just the "instant shower" affect made a big difference. 

"Thanks for that.  Feels a damn sight better, actually."