We live in the last days of the prophesized Apocolypse. The time of Ragnorok. It is a time when the Wyrms' toxins and creatures are everywhere... even upon our very doorstep.
Not long ago, our lake was polluted. Tainted by Wyrm filth and home to a number of banes and tainted creatures. Their nature and number were unknown but when called upon by the Warder and the Keeper of the Land to duty - to Summon forth these banes through the use of a Galliard gift - I did not hesitate. I welcomed the chance to pit Garou strength against the Wyrm.
So it came after much debate and delay that the night of our Hunt arrived. There were many that night that came to the call of the Keeper of the Land and offered their skills to Troy Gwynne-rhya's leadership. Brok, Tor and I stood for the Fenrir, Antares represented the Children of Gaia, Casius was there of the Shadow Lords and Megan of the Fianna stood beside her Elder. Troy had expected others attemd but the hour came and we could delay no longer for them.
We set off moving through the spirit world to the far end of the lake, the farthest from the caern - as was deemed safest should my Call dredge up Wyrm creatures more numerous or powerful than our small group could deal with. The Guardians, patrolling the bawn area that night were forewarned and were watchful.
Our own group took up position. I stood in the center of a ring of Garou, each tense and battle-ready, eager to see some action.
My howling Call rang out throughout the Umbral landscape - a series of yips and yelps to flush and call forth the enemy from its' lair into our waiting attack. We waited... then noted movement out in the lake! The waters were churning - a wave began to swell and move towards our clustered group. As the wave broke upon the shore we saw that it was made up of thousands of small fish and frogs. A swarm of aquatic spirits tainted by the Wyrms corruption had answered my call. The school flounderd at the shore but wer unable to come upon the land. An overzealous member or two of our group waded out to greet the swarm and shredded many of it's numbers while being bitten incestently.
For a long moment, it seemed that this would be the extent of what my Call would summon forth, a mass of fingerling fish and frogs; then the ground shook!
We looked to each other then the ground beneath our feet. There was movement just under the surface. It was Antares who struck first with his Fang dagger plunging in and biting deep; my own razor-sharp claws were not far behind. We tore deep into the ground and met with success. His dagger, my claws; both came up dripping brackish sludge. Movement stilled in our location but at the edge of our circle- out of the ground seeped yet more of the same, foul-smelling filth. It piled highupon itself and moved with purpose towards the center and me.
Megan, the young Fianna theurge, was quick to note that these were Hruggling - toxic earth elemental spirits, that were vulnerable to pure clean soil. None of which we had on hand... Luckily, they were also vulnerable to blade and claw.
It was Troy, Tor, Brok and Casius who faced off against this second Hruggling. It did not stand a chance against their combined attacks, especially when late arrivals.. Stephen and Celeste joined the fray.
It was only when a tentacle lashed out in attack against Brok, did we note that yet another Wyrm creatured had answered the Call. In the lake, off shore amidst the frenzied churning waters was a Wakshaani - a toxic water elemental resembling a giant jellyfish. Brok was able to maintain his ground against the attack and moments later, as the last Hruggling sank to the ground in a quivering heap, he along with many other of our group - leapt into action to face this new foe.
Some waded out into the swarm of frenzied wyrmling fish and frogs, others left the waters and climbed the creature - but all fought valiantly in battle against the Wakshaani. Its tentacles whipped about, striking out at the warriors; one tentacle managing to impale a crippling blow, young Megan, who found out that its touch was pure poison. The young theurge was brought back to shore by Brok.
But again our force proved greater and the Wakshaani was brought down aided by a flame-spirit that joined the fray.. its presence igniting the waters around the Wakshaani. Whe it was dead, Troy then had the flame-spirit burn away the remaining swarm.
The Call had been successful. The lake was cleared of Wyrm creatures. All that was left to do was cleanse the lake of remaining taint. It took but a day, for our theurges working together with the Gurahl to cleanse the lake and it's tributaries. A long day, but the lake was Cleansed.
The time of Ragnorok may be upon our doorstep.. but in this battle we were able to keep the Wyrm from our house.
(end)
To call to battle and her sharpend claws
The Skald did loose a howl
With whines and yip and mewls of pain
She did summon things quite foul.
A roar of noise met her ears
While she stood alert for movement and sound
Three bikers with their motors revved
Came racing across the winter ground
The first she dodged and with claws in blur
She slashed at tires - which blew
The biker lost control of his bike
And over the handles he flew.
The second and third bikes did arrive
Shortly upon the firsts' heels
Aiming for the crinos Skald
To bring her down under their wheels.
Their tactic however met with little luck
As the Skald slipped out from their path
A bump is all they gave to her
In return they bore her wrath.
With outstretched arms she'd clawed at each
And struck both a wounding blow
Her pack arrived upon the scene
And joined battle against the foe.
The two stood against stood against the Skald
With chains to entangle her in
The first fallen biker tried to get up
But the Theurge did then him pin.
Pack Alpha with blade anew
Struck one wounded biker down
Keen edge bit into soft mortal flesh
And blood seeped to the ground.
The second of the chain gang
Lashed out with his whip of chain
That struck the Skald a minor blow
With but a hint of pain.
The Skald returned the attack tenfold
With razored claws digging in deep
But the foe was finished off in the end
By the pack Raggy's mighty leap.
A yelp disturbed the victors pride
As the battle had yet been won
The theurge still fought with the first biker down
And he had bitten her just for fun.
Pack Alpha then took up his sword
And slew the last one of the foes
The Skald however, knowing her gift
Was alert with eyes, ears and nose.
"Mor Wyrm comes this way" she did warn
As movement she sensed around
A minute passed when Wyrm-dogs stepped out
And tried the pack to surround.
One dog on each Alpha and the Skald
And one for the Ragabash too
But for our unfortunately Theurge
Injured and all - she bore the brunt of two.
The hum of Alpha's blade as it sang in the air
Inspired us all to our courage
He struck down his foe and then struck down another
One of the two on the Theurge.
Our Ragabash showed her own true colours
Alight with a bright silver flame
As she attacked the second dog on the Theurge
Between them both, it soon was game.
To the Skald it was left her foe and one other
And she took to each with great fervour
Incapacitating one and maiming the second
She strove for her kills to savour.
But pack Alpha wa quicker with steel swift and clear
And finished off the last of the dogs
The Call was successful, with no threath to the caern
And done without minnows or frogs.