Season Eight
https://wikiawoo.queer.me.uk/index.php?title=Season_Seven&action=edit Summary of Events. Also Todo List
2022-12-05
Jules and Lydia begin with a yelling match, Ariane is sent to visit Dr. Thomas Roberts (the local spooky doc) who doesn't apply silver to her (but she does get some very intense scars from the lightning), the wounded are sent to hospital so Ariane, Sunny, and Lydia, whereas Jules, Carlie, and Holly are all fine. (ooc: We gain +20XP, top up gnosis, WP, and rage)
There is about 3 weeks of downtime (making it now late November 2020) and Holly has been investigating The Director, Ariane hanging James sword on the wall of the living room as a trophy and has mysteriously broken a couple of phones and an alarm clock during her recovery, they just stop working... Jules meanwhile talks about arranging a howl but the Dagenham Deadbeats do one praising us in part (ooc: +1 Glory).
Sunday morning 11am, there's a door knock, Jules is out on Patrol, most people are working/studying around the house, Carlie answers it and finds an MiB who introduces himself as Agent John Smith and wants to come in and talk of a "recent incident". Carlie shuts him out, consults the other. He knocks again and gets Lydia who tries to talk to him about Jesus, he gives his full name this time and says he's from MagiPol, tells her he normally goes to a local evangelical church in Minnesota, but is on business here and hasn't found a church, she invites him to evensong at Southwark and largely invites him in.
He shows us a picture of Dale Williams suspected of being an illegal demon contractor (he is the one who accompanied James), Ariane attempts to clarify that he did illegal things - and is told he often missed the dismissal clauses and other sloppy behaviour. Ariane then calls in Inspector Watford and texts Jules. Lydia says that Dale is probably in hell and is promptly sent upstairs. Carlie suggests that if Smith had wanted an under the table deal about things he should have sign-posted it first. Derek Watford arrives and it turns out that Smith has not cleared his visit...
Jules arrives at the house to see Smith being given the come along nicely armlock by Watford out the front door and calling him a "furry freak" at the same time. Inside Lydia is getting gently lambasted for admitting culpability. There is however cinnamon buns from Sunny and Jules smells gently of aerosol paint. We catch her up and she updates the Pack House Map in the kitchen with the location of our boundary tagging on (it should be noted that Sunny also updates the map with scents).
Jules heads upstairs, gets called by Watford on route, who tells us this is a useless member of MPD, who has come unofficially, and that Minnesota branch think we're Mythics for some reason, Watford has not told them we're not. Also "Smith" snuck a gun through security so is being sent back on the next flight, but was very interested in the demon and the necklace used to summon it, so someone wants the demon/its binding necklace... also that the Immortal James was probably based in Minnesota definitely not a London local (although all the Immortals largely don't cooperate so they tend to decry knowledge of everything).
Also tells us the third guy (the mythic who can do mind control) is a London local and The Guild is running his trial.
He also tells Jules to tell Lydia that he is the only policeman she should talk too... Jules fills in the rest of the pack on the Magipol and gun stuff, Sunny apologises for not smelling the gun. We talk about if the demon was actually killed in the fight or just sent back to hell (probably) - also how do you kill a demon? Talk of Howls as a method of leaking information, talk of John Hadrian the other MagiPol agent we've met. Jules suggests a buddy system except when it comes to Carlie and Lydia's jobs, and we talk about being aware of whats coming from Minnesota.
Jules starts to research and prep some anti-scrying arcana, decides to create some tokens/items instead of locations, they have to be made from 32k gold so buys up some rings, files the faces, and inscribes the sigils. Each will take 2 weeks to charge, ponders heading out to the warehouse to run 2-3 arrays at once charging them, but decides she'd rather just charge 1 at the house and keep an eye on it in the basement.
Lydia sticks a note under the Angel Islington's door at the tube station re: intensive care gig and her sword, is called the next morning by Eddie who says he's her roady and invites her to the gig at Bubbles in Islington for after her set ends at 1am, she invites the rest of the pack and we agree to get Sunny clubwear.
2022-12-12
(The pack finds out about a play called "First Tongue" that may be linked to The Director, investigates The Bunker Theatre, finds a spirit there (the Spirit of the Bunker aka Miss Skippy) eventually discover a portal through to the Umbral realm of Stage, then go to a lockup to find the removed theatre lighting which have silver in them)
The pack is off to Bubbles tonight, however before then Holly comes across a series of flyers for a play called "First Tongue" occurring at at The Bunker Theatre in Southwark. It's billed as "exciting new play from a new author and director!" along with lines like "Come and see the avant-garde, discover mankinds first language!" and has the written glyphs for First Tongue written in first tongue (the language).
She pings it to the group chat, Ariane squees about the pack going to the theatre and Carlie informs her that they already have movies at home. The play runs 2 nights (Friday and Saturday) and we moot the idea its a garou or a kinfolk having a strange time of things. Research the theatre - it's built into a refurbed underground carpark and is a small 200 seat performing arts space. We split the pack into 3 teams: Going in the front to get information and distract people, going in the back to look around, and going in the Umbra to look for weird stuff.
Team Umbra (Lydia and Holly): they peer through the mirrors inside the performance space, there's nothing obviously bad there, a simple stage that is basically at the bottom and and amphitheatre of 4 tiers of seating looking down towards it, full lighting rig. A few changing rooms, and basically no backstage. There's a few weaver spirits hanging around the electronics doing their thing ("sparkies"). After a while they spot a small Wyld spirit that's dancing or possibly reenacting a play, this is quite unusual in the city. Holly chats with the Weaver spirits and they're fearful of the garou, claim the Wyld spirit shows up about a year ago and refer to it as Miss Skippy. They go talk to her and she is about 2 foot tall, green, feminine shaped, has a papery look with what looks like words, a body made out of scripts and other theatrical paperwork. She freezes when she sees them, tells them she's the Spirit of the Bunker is very flustered and refers to Holly as "Your Majesty" amongst other things, it doesn't know a lot about the play but is exited by it, and makes a dramatic exit by just having the floor open up and dropping through it.
Team Front (Sunny and Ariane): Chat to the person in the information booth, try and volunteer but its full up, their last performance was in 2020 and was Little Miss Burden (a play that dramatises the intersections of race, gender and disability). Sunny asks nicely for more information on the theatre and finds it was open since 2016, was fringe theatre of the year before the pandemic and hosts small avante-garde pieces commonly from new directors and with fresh actors, generally pieces written since 2010. We hear that "First Tongue" was written by an indigenous American about the interconnections of native tongues and the English language. They're practising elsewhere and want it to be a complete surprise. Did make some strange requests about removing silver from some of the theatre lighting and paid for that. Ariane buys 6 tickets for Friday (doors at 7, play at 8, something like 90m runtime). The director is a mystery, just known as "The Director"
Team Back (Carlie and Jules): Carlie starts out by going invisible, picks the side/storage area/stage door then spots the burglar alarm, disarms it. Inside there's a motion detector (which upon careful examination turns out to be a fake), and some boxes and bar supplies. Looks around and finds two changing rooms (A and B) and a route to Stage Left (there is only a stage left here). Inside the changing rooms are some hats and stuff, and a half unrolled theatre flat of a London Underground station and a train. The stage is an empty space, and there are 2-3 doors into the performance space, its eerily empty, no backdrops, no props, no marks on the floor. She explores further in, finds 2 loos, a bar area with CCTV, and can hear Ariane talking to the front desk through another door.
The Pack meets up and swaps information on things, the place has creepy vibes you'd expect of an empty theatre but no ghosts or bad things, the Wyld spirit comes up, and we talk about how The Director is keeping things under cover if they're bad or something else is going on.
We take a trip to the spirit realm and the docks to check the warehouse we originally fought The Director in, the docks have tall ships and grumpy spiders, a faint scent of Wyrm but no doorway into the space, its just gone. The Pack talks through the history of Ben Valis/The Director and clears that up in their brains, then talks through the idea of staking out the Bunker Theatre, Carlie realises we should check for deeper portals to other places from the Penumbra.
We head back to the Bunker to check and Carlie finds one on the main stage area, leading... somewhere.
We enter and pass through heavy old curtains, finding ourselves on a stage, the lights are down, there's the small dancing figure of The Spirit of the Bunker, hints of an audience behind the lights and a round of applause as Carlie is announced, followed by everyone else who goes through. Music from a wurlitzer starts up and Ariane gives Puck's speech, followed by Jules also quoting Shakespere. Miss Skippy asks if we want to do a play (and keeps calling Holly "Your Highness") she tells us she hasn't seen the director, has no script yet, only some lights setup. Carlie muses this is all a shell game, layers within layers to keep us looking in the wrong places. Jules ask where the lights are and is told a lockup in Peckham. She also welcomes us to the Umbral realm of Stage where all the worlds stages connect.
We're lead from there to Peckham by the spirit, Holly gifts her with gnosis and is heralded as a Patron of the Arts.
The lockup has no mirrors inside, so Sunny uses her gift to drop herself inside without one, there are 2 large photography cases and lots of old props. She finds the spot lights and kicks the lock to open it from the inside. We check them and find they have silver filiment or something inside, one feels a little nicer than the other - Ariane feels it like when the spirit of her glaive is being more active. We talk of how its possibly a link to The Spirit of the Bunker, Holly peers into the spirit and can see some general London spirits, some weaver stuff, and a faint vibe in the light. There's also a Wyrm spirit over the road in a shop. The pack rolls across the road into a betting shop and stomps a small tempting Wyrm spirit.
2022-12-19
(The pack except Carlie went to Bubbles to meet The Angel Islington, Ariane got quite high (others less so). Lydia, Holly, and Jules met Eddie the Vampire. Holly couldn't see into the Umbra. The Angel absorbed too much Gnosis (partially because Ariane flashed her), lost control of the "healing aura" thing, Lydia tried to knock on the fire alarms, rip up the cables to stop the sound and finally turned Crinos to get people out. A bouncer shot her and everyone ended up in a weird featureless realm. Meanwhile Derek Watford got hold of Carlie, they went to the club, she hopped through a portal with Watford's gun. Meanwhile in the backdoor of Heaven the rest of the pack met Archangel Michael, argued a bunch, and Carlie pulled them out through a portal before Michael and 2 other Angels murdered them. Derek Watford then gassed and arrested The Angel Islington and pins the blame on Lydia)
The team is at Bubbles, its a dive, a single story building wedged between some others with a black exterior and bright pink sign, music thumping out of it. Ariane buys some ectasy from someone in the queue and shares it around the pack. At the door we buy VIP tickets, they come with something on sugar paper which Ariane also takes.
Inside Eddie finds Lydia in the crowd, takes her backstage, Jules and Holly follow along, there is very mild Wyrmness to the vampire but nothing major. They shake hands and Holly heads back to keep an eye on front of house, and on the way there's a weird bright flash and she can't see into the Umbra.
The Angel Islington arrives, chats briefly to Lydia and Jules, Eddie gets drinks, Lydia catches Jules up on last time she met the Angel and the plan to run music at the ICU. They talk of God and drugs, Jules suggests she doesn't find god enough, Lydia reminds her that statistically positive interactions with Christians result in conversions, Jules jokes this is stockholm syndrome. Eddie returns with the drinks to tell them the Angel met Jesus once. There is lengthy theological debate.
Meanwhile Ariane is out front getting brain whammied by The Angels music, dances towards the DJ booth, flashes the Angel then blows her a kiss and offers her all the gnosis she has as she takes power from the room (ooc: she picks up 7 points from the pack). The Angel and even the humans notice ***something*** has gone weird as she starts to glow, the music falters, everyone back stage picks up on it, Eddit puts his drink down and just vanishes from the room at supersonic speeds out front to the Angel. Lydia looks out front and sees a literal Seraphim manifesting (wheels, wings, etc), punches a nearby firealarm to try and get everyone out. Jules goes out to argue with Ariane to get her clothing on and stop making a scene (she eventually complies). The Angel tells Eddie to run and he vanishes, Lydia looks for windows to break to help get people out, then dives under the DJ booth to rip at wires to try and stop the music. Sunny dances closer to see whats going on.
Suddenly the lights go out, and the only light in the room is The Angel's glow, Lydia yells at people to evacuate and goes crinos to encourage people to leave, then starts trashing the equipment to stop it making noise, Ariane tries to go to hug the Angel but the movement of the crowd keep her back.
One of the bouncers pulls a gun and aims it for Lydia's crinos form, when he shoots her she turns and lunges for him, Jules shifts to intercept but bounces off, Holly decides to let Lydia learn, Sunny knocks the bouncer out the way.
The world then goes white and the floor feels like it feel out of the world, we revert to our breed forms (everyone in homid except Sunny) and all drug effects are flushed, everything feels like the natural state of being with ambiant bright white light from no source and there is a very very loud silence.
Jules moves to thump Lydia who just takes it, and Jules and Holly shout at her before we start to try and work out where we are. The floor is smooth and hard, cold to the touch, absolutely no scent. Lydia starts to pray (gets nothing), Sunny finds she can't shift sideways, Jules howls and gets no response, Lydia can't shape shift, also our skins are impenetrable. We talk about after lives (Heaven and The Hunting Ground), speculate if the Angel did this? Holly says she doesn't like that the Angel takes gnosis, there is talk of offerings, and people tease Ariane for taking her top off. Lydia tears her skirt and it repairs when she looks back. We also check and find all our scars are gone (like Arianes burns) except Jules silver scars (did that mark her soul?).
Meanwhile... back out in the physical: Derek Watford calls Carlie, as the last member of the Pack he could reach, gives her a CCTV clip of Lydia going under a stage, The Angel starts to glow, then a crinos werewolf emerges from under the stage and the video fades to white. Suggests she come along to the crime scene. When she arrives its a taped off club and she tells the police cordon she's "With Watford" and they let her in. They can see a white glow coming from under the door (she senses a powerful portal to a deep Umbral realm, it feels weird and she knows she'd need to be near the centre for it to work). Watford opens the door a crack, they peer in and see bodies? Forms at least on the floor and feel the pull of a vaccuum towards the centre of the light. Watford gives her a gun and two clips, one loaded with silver for Garou, one loaded with some sort of "Angel/Devil Specials". She goes in...
Back on the Featureless Plain: There is a pop and a man (revealed to be Archangel Michael) in robes with wings of light appears, looking puzzled and consternated. He tells people this is the Gates To Heaven itself and says its not for us, its how the Seraphim and other Angels go in and out, the back door essentially. He wants to put us back once he knows how we got here and Lydia tells him about the Sword she has . Ariane pleads innocence ("it was all the drugs!") Lydia summarises the situation of how we got there, he tells her that the Angel who lives in Islington is the Angel Monocea (pronounced Mono-sea-a). Ariane suggests letting her back into Heaven and Michael says she is welcome back if she renounces her union with Eddie. He vanishes to "consult with the others".
At which point Jules is stalking back and forth, and Carlie appears, Sunny discovers that Carlie smells of things (as she's travelled here instead of being brought?). Carlie catches up on things then says she can open a portal so opens one and ushers us through. Lydia volunteers to stay behind and explain things and everyone tells her to get in the hole, with Carlie pitching "go or I go to hell". 3 Angels arrive with swords drawn and everyone promises to commit violence to both Lydia and the Angels if she doesn't get into the portal which makes her go.
Back in Bubbles: Watford is in the doorway with a bulky guy next to him, there is a sense of confusion and we can feel the pull of the portal behind us. Everyones back in the forms they were in before leaving (mentally travelling?) so we flip back human. Jules shouts at Watford to take Lydia away, Ariane notices the portal centres on the DJ booth. Watford gets the big guy to throw a "mistletoe special" inside the portal and gas the place out, he shouts at us to stay still, Carlie strolls over and gives his gun back. 30 seconds of gas later they drag the unconscious form of The Angel Islington out of the club and Watford (rather gleefully) tells her shes under arress and tells Lydia it was her fault.
Next session: The ranting.
2023-01-09
(The pack returns from Bubbles except Lydia who is arrested. Watford and Lydia have a long conversation about the Heavenmouth at Bubbles, The Angel claiming she had things under control, and possible death/exile charges. Sunday at the Pack House Watford comes over, there is talk of the charges and possible risks of keeping Lydia in the Pack. Sunny goes out to process, Sir Robert arranges a meeting at the BM with Jules tomorrow at 13:00, Ariane gets chewed out by her Mother and told to mount a defence, we debate plans back and forth about how to save Lydia's life, Jules and Carlie both go out. Later everyone has take out and debates plans ending in agreeing to get in touch with Lydia, Sunny meanwhile hangs out at the Bonegnawers curry house) - worth reading for details this is a long one.
At Bubbles Nightclub Ariane is once more high which is very weird because she was stone cold sober in the alternative reality. There are also a lot of cops around, people are looking to Inspector Watford for what to do. There's a non-descript white van, two big guys hanging out the back and a third in the passenger seat who seem to be working with him (The Gargoyles?)
Watford is murderously angry with Jules, who largely agrees that Lydia is beyond her control and shes not sure what Watford wants her to do about this that she's not already tried. Watford tries to pin this on Jules as an issue because she's a member of the Pack and Jules suggests she thinks a higher power is driving her every action and she does waht she wants. Watford gets a police sargent to read Lydia her rights and has her arrested and taken to an ambulance for treatment for the gunshot wound.
Jules gets Ariane some water, a copper tries to get everyones names and numbers until Carlie invokes Watford's name to get us all past the barrier. Sunny is whimpering and hugging herself and Ariane claiming she has the drug tolerence to put everyone else under the table until she gets thrown in the car by Carlie who takes everyone home.
Meanwhile: Lydia is being booked under the terrorism act, held in a hospital while healing and quietly going along with it, makes a call to Derek Watford persuades him to come by reminding him she has no pack, church, or family, and maybe is doubting god, and he's the last thing she has left so he comes to "ask her some questions".
She discovers there's probably only 1-2 dead and maybe 30-40 serious injuries but that someone has to be held to account to the Grandese of London. She fills him in on what happened from her perspective (going to meet The Angel Islington about the plan to cure covid from the ICU, chatting to Eddie, him being told to run, seeing the Angel in its true form, her trying fire alarms, cables, shouting, smashing equipment and crinos as a last attempt to scare people from the club - figuring it was a jumping on a grenade situation. Watford says she should have talked to the Angel who's version of events was that she was "handling things well" until the crinos change and Watford says he'll talk to Jules about things. Watford says he visited her parents but they denied she existed.
They agree that everything depends on the Angel and if she sticks to her story then Lydia may get done for attempted murder of a Grandese. Says someone else from the magical community will come and talk to her and advises she say nothing until Watford has helped her craft her defence. If she's found not guilty then shes free to go, but may need a new pack. If guilty its probably execution or banishment. Lydia requests Watford fetch the photos from her room of her family as its the last physical thing she has to remember them by.
Meanwhile: Back at the Pack House: Sunny instantly flips into Lupus and collapses on her beanbag, Ariane goes to sit on the sofa looking worried. The next morning starts with Watford arriving early, Carlie answers, he puts his warrant card on the side table to indicate a truce and tells her "Good job last night" which they both find weird. Have a discussion about not liking Angels, Watford remarks they can be dangerous and unreasonable and how Lydia almost went to the ones in heaven. Jules and Sunny join the conversation, and Watford wants to know if Lydia is officially out of the pack, there's silence and Jules says she doesn't know what to do. Watford says that if Jules doesn't throw her out the pack then Jules will carry some of the blame for her. Watford says his current plan is to get her exiled and deported so she can go do her religious nursing somewhere far away and less densely populated, and if she does a guilty plea she probably won't be allowed to stay in the UK. Carlie doesn't like that she may get to do the martyring she so wanted. She asks Watford how she got dumped with her family and he confesses to some responsibility in that he found out and didn't object or challenge it as he wasn't in a position to bring up a kid then. Jules reminds him that no one knew how she'd turn out.
Jules finishes with "I spent most of the night working out if I want to murder her or save her", and Watford says that soon an official from the Grandese will ask and we'd better have an answer but at the minute they're having stern words with The Angel. Carlie asks what happens if shes not guilty and comes back to the pack and keeps on following her upbringing? Watford says the worst case is eventually they send someone to hunt and kill us, but many different options. Jules reminds him she always seems contrite and feels bad but then does it again. Watford admits that we know her better than he does (which hurts him to admit). Carlie moots the plan of an isolated cottage in Cumbria and therapy as better than a prison. Watford goes to collect the photos, Jules goes to smoke, Sunny and Carlie do breakfast for everyone.
Sunny feels bad about the whole situation, like bad and angry but unsure who she's angry at. Carlie tells her to mark this as a day in her diary because this is a very human experience and Sunny says she doesn't like it, she normally has feelings without needing to question them. Carlie suggests going to fight the targets she has setup in the warehouse for blowing off steam, she talks about working off her anger so it doesn't explode or maybe go for a run but Sunny says she runs when shes happy. Doesn't even feel like eating breakfast so goes out.
Jules gets a text from Sir Robert Laffrey and they arrange a conversation for 13:00 Monday in the British Museum (today is Sunday). Ariane gets called by her Mother as Robert called her up to complain and gets chewed out for admitting to powering up The Angel, threatened with being dragged back and told to help generate a defence for Lydia. Then has a discussion with the pack about how getting executed is not even being properly martyred (which requires a glorious death against the wyrm, not being killed by beaurocracy) and is broadly told to shut up. Holly waits for Watford to leave before she comes down, the media story is that the Heavenmouth at Bubbles was the result of CO and a gas leak causing hallucinations.
Carlie tells people that if she's out the pack and is exiled its a death sentence that is just being done elsewhere out of view, but if she's in the pack we may all go down. Talk of plans: Ariane moots the idea of slowly getting her out of the Pack over time after the charges resolved and we can find somewhere to rehome her. We talk of The Angel claiming she had control. Ariane moots the idea of a nunnery or somewhere remote and wonders if The Guild have any alchemy that could stop her transforming while she works on her anger. Carlie notes that she decides if she lives or dies and that she broadly wants to die, suggests sending her somewhere to encounter the real world, learn to moderate and express her temper without bottling it up. Jules ducks out of the conversation to go for a walk, Carlie goes to the warehouse to see if Sunny is there.
Meanwhile: Sunny goes for a walk, curls up to watch the world go by in a warm spot and recover. Jules goes to talk to Bell, asks about old packs and hears the last ones used an anti-materiel rifle with depleted uranium rounds to take someone out so its not unheard of. Jules talks about Lydia being in trouble and that Jules is very pissed off but doesn't want her to suffer. Bell says suffering is sometimes how we learn and grow, they talk about how if she can't learn and grow she may not survive, Bell suggests sending her somewhere in the Deep Umbra to help the process. She also checks in on our general progress, told we're doing quite well, no demons, no corruption, even an Angel popped by. Tells Jules that if we're needed her bells will toll in an unexpected time and that we've barely killed anyone, only those that deserve it.
The Pack gets take out dinner. Jules says her primary goal is keeping her alive, Ariane suggests a religious mission. Carlie worries for Sunny who's hated every argument and that Lydia dying will break her heart. Jules says we can't risk keeping her in the pack as it risks all of us. Carlie suggests telling Sir Robert we're working on a solution/answer and play for time. Ariane suggests a plan of getting Sunny and Carlie into New Scotland Yard to talk to Lydia and pitch her these plans. Sunny meanwhile is lurking outside the Bonegnawers curry house.
2023-01-16
At Abdul's Restaurant in Clapham Sunny is chatting to Sanjeev, who offers her a bowl of delicious curry which she eats off the floor. They chat and Sunny says she can't deal with pack conflicts as they should be a united front and family, agrees that she's welcome to come help out in the kitchen any time as a distraction and essentially learn more cooking in exchange for her time, and she talks about getting a B&B or something to avoid the house, he arranges for his cousin to pop by and lend her some clothes. They talk about the role of her wisdom being useful for the pack and she says her Auspice is supposed to be more about judgement and Sanjeev suggests maybe judging the pack harshly but she says all the decisions seem the wrong ones as the situation has gone too far. They chat about the Grandese, Sunny doesn't get how an angel can lose control, Sanjeev says all the blame is being pinned on Lydia which is a convenient distraction and enables everyone else to pin things on the garou as "uncontrollable and violent creatures" pushing their own agendas and weakening our position.
Sunny heads to the staff room once Sanjeev's Cousin arrives, theres a story about spilling oil in the kitchens ruining her clothes, however the presumption occurs they're sleeping together ("He takes as much care as a lover as he does with his cooking"), Sunny is offered clothing including a sari to borrow and heads out to pick up an outfit.
Meanwhile: Ariane makes a plan of attempting to prove The Angel Islington did in fact lose control of her powers by doing an experiment to push a pile of gnosis into her in a more controlled environment as even refusal to test the theory in court would look suspicious, this would then hopefully push Lydia's case into being one of Garou internal laws and hence exile more likely than execution.
An envelope is delivered (probably by Watford) with Lydia's handwriting on:
Dear Southwark Belles,
I am sorry. I was trying to keep everyone safe. I have been trying not to talk to the police about anyone else but it is difficult. It would help a lot of you could find me a lawyer please.
I need somewhere to go. I am not going to be exiled unless there is somewhere I can go to, because I am going to keep getting into trouble until I learn how to be a werewolf and a Christian, and I have been getting both of them very wrong. I saw Sara’s true form, she really is what she says she is, which means that I have been wrong about most things. If I have nowhere to go to I will probably be executed. I have changed lots in the last six months but I was starting from the wrong place.
I am not sure if you are allowed to talk to Sara before the trial, but afterwards then please tell her that I absolutely was not trying to kill her, I wanted her help, I don’t know if it is even possible to kill an angel, and I forgive her.
Please help. I am so sorry.
Lydia
The pack reads it and tries to make some plans, Carlie goes to talk to the Forty Elephants about contact information for Celeste to see if they have somewhere religious we could stick Lydia, this causes Diamond Annie to call Jules back, Annie also has a letter from Lydia about being thrown out and asks if this means Lydia wants a jailbreak, Jules asks her not too but Annie thinks this would be amusing and "take the Grandese latest chew toy away". Jules admits she still feels responsible, Annie asks why if Lydia is being thrown out, implies that us feeling responsible to Lydia suggests shes not really out. Jules says Lydia has done too much to gamble everyones lives but Annie reminds her that the pack has no standing with the Grandese if she's not in the pack. She does at least give us Celeste's number and requests if we jail break we should get Annie in.
Jules goes for a smoke, Ariane gets Carlie to call Celeste (because Carlie still has The Werewolf Bible, she gets invited to a reading session in a couple of weeks and during the call Celeste also gets a note from Lydia. Carlie pitches that she may have assaulted a Grandese and pitches the idea for somewhere out of hte city for her to learn to be a good werewolf, and later a good christian. Celeste says the Children of Gaia have a retreat in the Umbra near the Hunting Grounds that its almost impossible to get to and from without a guide. She also claims that the Grandese will make the right choice because they are individually fallible but collectively informed by god in their decision making (which is in part why they have an Angel) and when Carlie reminds her that she maybe assaulted the Angel she just states that god moves in mysterious ways. Carlie offers "As a Ragabash its not just faith that moves the world its a pack". Celeste says if we get her to the shop then she can get her into the Umbra right away.
Jules comes back from having a smoke and tells us the plan is that she is going to bed and "no one is to do anything" heavily implying we should go jail break Lydia, Carlie then goes to talk to her to get clarity about the jailbreak, they chat about Diamond Annie's plan, but says nothing will move until we do. Jules says shes "a passable liar not a mastermind, I need to know nothing" and that "If I tell you to do nothing I can't be held responsible, I don't wan her to die" and Carlie gets clarification on if this will be Annie doing things or Carlie, but Jules doesn't know if Annie will do anything without us.
Holly says she could be very useful being our alibi and will attempt to manufacture evidence we were elsewhere.
Ariane finally recalls that Giannis Valatos is in fact a lawyer and ponders calling him or Lord Brennan of Matrix Chambers, calls Brennan and manages to get through his secretary, calling him away from dinner. Learns that "The Celestials" will be running a Star Chamber trial and only a few are qualified to stand, he is one, and he agrees to do it in exchange for a personal boon from Ariane, and tells her that a packless garou has little chance in front of the Grandese, we will need to engage in a "full throated defence" of Lydia (Ariane then texts Jules this information)
Carlie meanwhile calls up Diamond Annie, who's bored and has an itchy on her sticky paws to acquire something or annoy people. She says it depends where she's being held, because if its in Met Office HQ it should be fine to get her, but if its in Paddington Green (an allegedly abandoned place to house terrorism suspects) its basically impossible, this turns out to be the home of 21st Tactical Reconnaissance Regiment who are Watford's shit kickers and if she's in there they'll only be able to grab her as she's moved. Carlie agrees to go stand watch outside and see if she can work out if she's in there.
Jules skips sleep and comes downstairs for wine, Ariane explains the meaning of her text, there is talk of if Jules has been a good alpha and the alpha games. Ariane says she has been largely and that she's not sure she could have done better, she is also grouchy and sad/angry because of being out of gnosis so goes to meditate with Bell, but before she goes she shares a meaningful look with Jules over a glass of wine. (ooc: the GM and the fanfic community are very sure that Ariane is gay)
Meanwhile: In Lydia's cell: a gruff copper delivers a message from Lord Brennan about having defence before "The Beaks", tells her Ariane arranged this and she nods to agree, he says he's going to arrange for them to have a visit...
2023-01-23
(Carlie stakes out Paddington Green confirms it's definitely in use, Lydia chats to the mind-illusion mage we met before, Sunny has breakfast with Amita's family, Ariane and Holly go looking for Sunny and find her and have a tense conversation, Lydia has a long chat with Lord Brennan about her trial and how the rest of the Grandese view garou, plans are made for a patrol and also the meeting at the BM)
We start with Carlie outside Paddington Green which is definitely in use, there are vans going in and out of the basement carpark, and a few people going in and out of side doors with pizza. She texts Diamond Annie who just replies "Damn". Sometime after breakfast she starts to feel exhausted, thinks she can work out how to get inside but has no idea what to expect in there, so heads back to the Pack House.
Lydia meanwhile is in a cell and can hear someone being put in next to hers, she sings some hymns and gets a "Hello?" back, a voice she recognises (it transpires its the mental illusion mage from Season_Seven#2022-11-21) who tells her he's in for attempted robbery and burglary. She tries to catch a scent from him, its just industrial cleaners, mentions she's in a pack and he reveals a Pack of Werewolves did in his friend and an American recently which got him caught. He says the plan was no deaths, merely confuse everyone, go in, grab "an Angel's feather" and leave, he's not sure who for but apparently they can bring the recently dead back to life. He also bangs on the door and complains he's next to a murderer. He mentions her mental persuasion of "Repent" and says he was held by mental health services because he was compelled to repent everything he ever did in his life until he was done, at which point Watford and "The SAS" kidnapped him. Talk about how the Pack seems to keep killing Americans. Lydia reassures him that no professional will ever bother actually reading the notes of his confessions because they don't have time and says if she gets out and can get access to the file she'll burn it. He says he talked to his mage friends to try and get a lawyer from The Guild but they refused him, but if they let him live he's going to get on a cargo ship and leave the country never to return and spend the rest of his life mentally convincing people their problems aren't so bad and help them.
Breakfast is delivered to the cells, Lydia tries to use her persuasion on the Guard and with a smell of burning a magic ward he's wearing burns off bouncing the effect, he tells her next time Jim (who's outside) will shoot her with silver bullets.
Sunny wakes up with a relaxed mood from a good night, still in Homid form thankfully, Amita (Sanjeev's Cousin) is sleeping on a sofa across the room. She carefully gathers her stuff and leaves a thank you note before trying to creep out. Downstairs she finds a woman cooking a delicious rice and fish dish, their's a polite exchange across languages and she gets a bowl of breakfast which she spends a lot of time eating with her eyes shut and sniffing to try and work out the exact seasoning. She offers to wash up to help out but is sort of scowled at by Amita's Father, the parents suggest she leave as the family need to talk, and she leaves some Turkish Delight as a thank you. Amita catches up to her before she goes and says she thinks her Dad believes they slept together, Sunny suggests saying that she was going to sleep with Sanjeev until being talked out of it, and she heads off.
Back at the Pack House: Ariane has already texted Sunny about borrowing gnosis from the Stargazers for the trial but has no answer, she gives her a call and she and Holly hear it coming from her bedroom. They agree to split up, spend an hour searching and then meet up at Southwark Cathedral. Holly takes the Umbra, Ariane the physical.
Holly's search lead's her to encounter Maneki-neko and she pretends not to notice the spirit then dives into the chase, is tuanted and teased and eventually Maneki-Neko springs through a puddle and when she follows she finds herself coming out of a wall mirror.
Sunny is at a starbucks and hears someone scrabbling in the loo and when an employee goes to check she hears Holly who claims she was started by a phone alarm. Holly joins her, explains how the pack is worried and Sunny says she doesn't want to be around when The Pack is like this. Holly asks if she wants to look for another Pack and Sunny responds that if she didn't care about the people involved she wouldn't be in this situation. Holly puts her phone back together and texts Ariane and tells her about Sunny's mood and that she hopes she can say something.
Back at Paddington Green there is a banging on Lydia's door and she is told her lawyer is here, she's moved to the interrogation room by two police armed with guns and tells them their security isn't enough and they should have gas for garou. Inside the room she gets to meet Lord Brennan, who arranges cups of tea and suggests she not antagonise the police. They do a run through of the whole situation.
Brennan suggest she has a number of defences, because she was trying to save lives and saw a "terrible Archangel" and her fear of it made her transform. Lydia confirms she knows the bible and just what Angels are capable of doing and how dangerous they can be. Brennan encourages her to lead her statement with the fear, because using Crinos (the "war form") won't be something the court will see as something a werewolf would do to save people, they'll see it as only for killing. Lydia suggests she was essentially throwing herself on a grenade and being bigger means she'd soak more, Brennan confirms she was hoping to soak up more of whatever magical explosion the Angel caused with her furry form literally shielding them. Lydia confirms she went no where near the Angel herself, merely smashed the equipment to try and break her link to the crowd, but Brennan keeps pushing the fear of the Angel angle, suggesting she "reflect" about it more and that it wasn't a choice it was a reflex action based on fear, because of the terrifying image of an Archangel losing control of its magic, and while her rage drove her to destroy the equipment she did it primarily out of fear and was in control enough to not attack The Angel or the crowd.
Lydia tries to ask why its better if its an accident and Brennan lays out the view that Crinos is seen as purely for killing things, and that she felt unsafe and "lost control" and that the change was "instinctual" as Gaia and nature put the werewolves on the earth to kill things, and in fact "her self control should be applauded". Lydia confirms that compared to a Crinos werewolf an Angel is 1000s of times worse. Brennan confirms the court will see a Crinos werewolf as a danger, as they just kill, and she may get them to damn all garou. Lydia says her act was based on The Angel telling Eddie to run. Brennan confirms on reflection thus it was an instinctual change based on fear. Lydia asks about the rest of the Packs actions and Brennan suggests she be honest with the court about everything else.
He says the trial will be her being taken from here to the Tower of London, the Jury will be made up of the Grandese best placed, since the Prosecution is normally Watford it's been swapped to Harold (The Vampires Grandese). The Angel is witness so not on the panel. Crone Fleet (The True Londoner/True Fae/Fairies Grandese) is the Judge. The outcomes are: A fine in time (essentially community service) at the most minor end, and at the most extreme is execution. If she is exiled and discovered returning to the country then she will be executed, confirms she couldn't join the army because enough of the training occurs on British soil. Brennan has heard Watford is trying to arrange an exile to Kenya for missionary work, Lydia says she is increasingly unsure on Christianity and is needed at the hospital for all the high risk covid stuff, which her immunity makes her able to do. Lydia suggests Bishop of Southwark as a character witness although he is denied visitation rights here.
Back at the Starbucks: Ariane orders a silly complex drink then says she was worried Sunny had been ambushed or killed, Sunny in turn presses her about how surely this would be a glorious death like she always talks about. Sunny says they never really worked well as a pack, the constant arguing and fighting. Arine tries to justify everything (partly by admitting that Garou are often too human to be good wolves and too wolf to be good humans, hence all the rage and bickering) and talks about Jules (who kills people with magical experiments) and Carlie turning her life around, but Sunny shoots her down for attempting to lawyer her and asks Holly if she can justify why The Pack is good. Holly talks about how it feels more like family than friend ties, and despite everything that's happened we're still doing good things and having good effects towards our goals, she says we can't make people say but that if Sunny has an issue with how the pack is being run then she should challenge for alpha.
Sunny asks how come the alpha can just throw people out without agreement from the Pack wonders what sort of arrangements we have. Wants to talk to Lydia and plans to walk The Umbra until she can find her in her cell. She says nothing she's tried to bond the pack together has worked well enough, and when Ariane suggests challenging she says there's not point as she can't hold the Pack to agreements everyone does what they want. Finishes saying she doesn't get why she has to be human, doesn't know why she changed.
Holly talks about how first changes are allegorical, we're picked because we're picked, the meaning is what we make of it. Ariane talks about how she makes her picking to be garou about her duty and says the deal with the Grandese rankles because it doesn't combat the Wyrm it just has nice meetings with it, a cold war that will eventually get hot even thought its been going for 70-80 years it can't last.
Holly says she's going to go on patrol as something's bugging her, and recruits people. Ariane says she's in but eventually its agreed she's going to go to the BM meeting to back up Jules. Sunny takes her shopping stuff (except a spare outfit which she leaves in Holly's Magpie Swag) to a nearby post office to post it back to herself and then goes to join Holly.
Meanwhile: Lydia asks about passing messages, says she's "been wrong about nearly everything and if I get out and see them I won't be sure where to start making things up to them." she also asks Brennan to tell her family that she loves them, and tell Derek Warford he has inadequate security here to hold Garou, also to let Bell and Celeste know where she is. She mostly wants Brennan to tell The Pack she's really sorry, misses us, and wants to turn things around as "they're not much but they're all I've got" and that she "forgives them no matter if they stand up for her or not".
She talks about how the Lady of Kowloon can sense truth telling, and Brennan says he's aware but its probably inadmissible in court. She also tries to arrange cover for the guy in the next cell but Brennan again reminds her he is only her lawyer, not everyones. On the way back to the Cell she chats with The Guards about the Wards and they admit they get through a lot of them but they've got a lot of them.
Next session: Holly and Sunny on patrol. Jules and Ariane meet Sir Robert Laffrey at The British Museum.
2023-01-30
(Jules and Ariane face off against Harold Westbury (Vampire Grandese) at the BM and give him a summary and antagonise him a little. Sunny and Holly visit a Fae/True Londoner Snug and learn more about the cyclic return of The Director to hunt them from Johnny and Dixon. Carlie talks to Derek Watford about maybe doing a jail break, and then gets the Pack back to the house. Watford goes to talk to Lydia and suggests a holiday and reassures her shes not been abandoned. Then Matrix chambers arranges a meeting with The Pack for tomorrow)
Harold Westbury, Jules, and Ariane at the BM
At the British Museum Jules and Ariane go to meet Sir Robert Laffrey having talked strategy that the Pack needs to back Lydia for Brennan to defend her. Outside the room however we hear Harold Westbury (Vampire Grandese, talks with a slightly nasal whine) arguing with Sir Robert, we bicker a bit about how the hell he's so active during the day and wonder if he's got some magic or power to do it or if its part of the BM or what, but decide we need to be very cautious around him. The argument ends with "So on your own head be it then Mr. Westbury, I give up on you!" and Sir Robert stamping past the room and slapping doors.
Harold Westbury then enters, he smells distinctly of the Wyrm, more than just a hint, and tells us that Laffrey is detained on another matter and that he is investigating the incident at Bubbles. He records on an old style police double tape recorder. We clear up we were there, she did turn to Crinos form, and did happen before ~200 mundanes and in close proximity to The Angel Islington. He asks if anyone was presenting a clear and present threat and we assert Lydia was concerned for the people, pushing the idea that Crinos is the war-form and is for violence against threats, we state it has other purposes such as it can be terrifying, or physical/muscular when needed, this theme is returned to several times and we suggest it can be used to scare people, to threaten them to make them move. He presses on why the equipment was destroyed (because we think that The Angel's power was being linked to the Crowd this way) and he says that Lydia got 5/8 of the plugs from under the DJ booth and asks why she didn't keep pulling them. He asks about laws against revealing ones supernatural powers and asks if he actions were justified, Ariane suggests that if the Angel's magical rite would have killed them all it could be argued yes.
Jules asks him if he knew what ever other supernatural being could do? (being as he's been around a while) and if he saw a dangerous effect, or something he thought was dangerous, would he go to extreme measures to protect people. He says he wouldn't he'd leave and research until he understood it. Jules asks him if he's religious and suggests that Lydia's religious perspective could cause her to consider her own death less of a risk than many others. We characterise her character as devout, who takes actions based on that faith, which are sometimes ill advised, and have put us in unfortunate and dangerous situations sometimes ("not much").
Westbury brings up the notes of Sargent Rutherford who says Jules was heard to exclaim that this was the "last time you'll get us into trouble, I'm sick of it, stop endangering us all." Jules says that tempers were frayed and this was something said in the heat of the moment and clarifies she still considers Lydia part of our pack.
Westbury summarises her as a dangerous werewolf, with a religious fervour and martyr complex who puts her pack and regular people in danger, and would reveal werewolves and The Demimonde if she thought it good for her religious goals.
He goes on to suggest she was operating with fear for others, or fear of the Angel. Ariane suggests we're familiar with The Angel's effects as we've seen her perform the same magic a number of times and have been working towards cooperation to try and save lives, this time however we saw a difference and she told Eddie to go. Westbury claims her power only destroys Angels, which she'll prove in the court case (when he steps out of the room). Jules asks him if everyone should recognise every other power being used and there is bickering with Westbury who asserts that this is not a negotiation but instead him interviewing us. We summarise Lydia had seen the power in use before and knew something was wrong. Westbury asserts we should always "trust the practitioner", she told the Vampire to run and didn't shut off the equipment herself, and if she'd wanted the people out of the club she'd have used the music and her magic to make them go. Ariane asks if The Angel can be reckless with her power but this is denied to Lydia? And Westbury asserts that The Angel was in control until Lydia turned Crinos. He does say we can try and recreate the inputs that The Angel had during the trial.
He ends by confirming Jules retract disowning Lydia and tells us the trial is Thursday, so in 2 days time. If we want to arrange for witnesses they must be called by Lord Brennan for the defence, also they can't be mortals, and the trial is closed no witnesses.
We're given a taped copy of the interview and sent on our way with Ariane angrily muttering about obtaining a hawthorn stake to kill him with.
MEANWHILE...
Holly and Sunny go on Patrol
They try to track The Director through the Umbra seeing if they can pick up his trail at old studios and also find some True Londoners, they manage to find a strange Umbral (?) pub without a name but with Snug and Lounge written on the windows, its playing Roll Out The Barrel, smells of warmth, beer, peanuts, and there's about 20 people dressed like extras from Peaky Blinders in there as they enter, the music stops, all eyes on them.
Holly takes a breath, heads to the bar, chats to the Landlady and is asked if she's lost, she also suggests Sunny "turns back into a human", Holly wrangles her a dog bowl, and Sunny suggests educating the people there. The place starts to get back to normal, and they notice some people playing a complex card game, Sunny gets to lick the landlady's hand. They scope the place and it has vibes of a working mens club probably dock workers. People are eating, drinking, chatting about the telly and football, there are bants.
They chat to Bill, a guy in a grimy suit, about The Director and how they thought they'd killed him. They refer Holly to Johnny (noting that these are "one of the wolfies who gave The Director a licking". Johnny says that if he's "killed" he'll go back to "court" and then come back but it normally takes 40 years or so, so we must have really pissed him off. Suggests we talk to Old Fleet (The Fae Grandese "if you can find her", as "she doesn't come here anymore") about how long its been going on but at least 200-300 years and always targeting the Fae. Johnny gets a lick from Sunny and thinks its weird to meet a garou who turns from wolf to man, not the other way around but seems quite interested. He tells them that The Director may be coming after The Pack, he may be branching out, and that if they want more information come back here any lunch or evening time that his wife lets him out to.
The pub empties as everyone goes off to work on the docks and they finish their pints... and just as they do everyone comes back in. They're then followed by Dixon a uniformed 1940s policeman, talks about sorting out a matter of an Indian who took bribes ("And wasn't even a union man!") and everyone sings songs together before he leaves and tells them not to get too drunk. It's weirdly chummy.
As they go to leave the barmaid tells them their tab is 6p and Holly pays in 2p pieces which get accepted. Outside the sun has set and its dark, around 20:00. Sunny tails Dixon and the trail gets to the end of the physical Alleyway and enters the Penumbra more directly, so they tail him in and all the way to a building with a lit blue police lamp. They go to chat about The Director and he assures them this is a criminal who has terrorised the whole town but not to worry as "the met police are on top of things, no fear, we will catch him". Afterwards they chat about not quite trusting him and wonder if he's going to get killed by or turn out to be The Director. Sunny asserts that in narrative fiction she's seen Evil always goes after the good guys and the people of the pub thought Dixon was good, there is a chance that Evil will seek to corrupt him or get rid of him. Sunny suggests that they're not the main protagonists here but the background characters, and Holly agrees this is probably what happened in the pub, there was essentially a "time skip" while the cast was at the dock yard working their shift.
A SHORT WHILE LATER...
Carlie is called by Derek Watford
Carlie wakes from her post observation sleep to a call from Watford wanting to know if Jules is backing Lydia and if not wants Carlie to do a job to spring her between Paddington Green and the Tower of London. Carlie calls Jules who says Lydia is definitely dead if we don't so yes we're backing her (Jules: I can't let her die.", Carlie: "I could hit the van...") she tells Carlie that she's been talking to Harold Westbury, Carlie wonders if Westbury made us an offer because she suspected they would. She puts on a Spagbol for when everyone gets in. Carlie texts Ariane about getting a lawyer and she lets Carlie know she's got Lord Brennan also that she's bringing wine and wants to make (wooden) stakes, she also texts Holly about the food.
MEANWHILE...
In Paddington Green, Lydia's Cell
Derek Watford enters Lydia's cell, asks her if she wants to go on Holiday, somewhere warm, maybe with a nice church on the coast. She tells him she's a little unsure about the Church now and doesn't know where she wants to go. Previously she wanted to go to Papua New Guinea to resume her parents missionary work Watford: "No extradition treaty... how's your French?", and Lydia confirms she mostly did Hebrew and Greek. Lydia thinks everyone has given up but Watford tells her not, that Ariane and Jules gave "Pointy teeth" (Westbury) what for on her behalf and the Pack is going to bat for her. Lydia is surprised Jules is doing so much. Watford also suggests Argentina as an option, Lydia reckons anywhere she can help with Covid is good and wants to know if her Hospital can be told she won't turn up for shifts (apparently not). Lydia worries she'll get everyone in trouble and Watford tells her not to worry, that he's okay and her pack is a good one, going so far as to state "that Carlie is the best lass, a better Alpha than Jules, she needs something she can't run from, its not in her nature". Lydia says she misses the Pack more than she thought she would, and Watford says she may see them again and that Lord Brennan is the best in the business.
MEANWHILE...
Back at the Pack House
Ariane gets a call from Matrix Chambers, arranging a meeting for everyone at the British Museum tomorrow (Tuesday) at 17:00 and is told she can clear her debt at the end of the meeting. Carlie asks for an explanation of what is actually going on and Ariane tells him that The Angel basically got given a lot of gnosis all at once and something went funny, she Angelled up, and Lydia tried to save the regular people. Carlie suggests that Brennan should just testify her religion and that she wouldn't/couldn't kill an Angel and soon after this tried to walk into their arms and would have if she hadn't stopped her. We agree we need to talk to Sir Robert Laffrey for trial advice.
2023-02-06
(Ariane calls Sir Robert Laffrey and gets some advice about the meeting with Lord Brennan, then talks to the pack about plans to bring extra essence to the trial. Everyone except Holly goes to see Lord Brennan, talks through trial defences, we agree that Jules and Carlie will present evidence, we are then invited back to see the "wine cellar" where we meet Sir Robert Laffrey and Derek Watford, Ariane is told to agree to whatever comes up, Carlie is hit up for future collaboration. Harold Westbury arrives and the threat of a lot of essence in the Tower of London is made. He panics and offers a deal whereby Lydia will get some training with her tribe, Watford will resign, the new Sheriff will be a Vampire, and Ariane will be named Deputy Sheriff. It turns out there are 4 ancient vampires in torpor under the Tower and they would be wiped out by overpowering The Angel Islington like that)
Ariane calls the Guild to arrange a meeting with Sir Robert Laffrey, she gets a little information out of him, most of which we already knew (trial Thursday, pass info/witnesses via Brennan) and are told that Lord Brennan has an "interesting wine collection" and we should ask to see his chardonnay, also that we can trust Matrix Chambers as much as anyone, and that yesterday he was "unable to attend" the meeting with us because of a "swap in priorities", he also doesn't know why Westbury can be awake in the day, some Vampires can, some can't, and he reminds us he's "always out to help his fellow lycanthropes", ending by repeating the stuff about the wine celler. Carlie when she hears this suggests the wine celler will be a neutral meeting ground for an offer to be made and suggests they will want us to do something (possibly awful) to secure her life, Ariane suggests this is Laffrey and Westbury fighting amongst themselves with Westbury using this to try and push back against the importance/influence of garou to the others.
Ariane returns to her plan to find ways to store the essence/gnosis in a way that can be brought to court, Holly knows it can be done with mythic arrays, various objects, and Glaives work the same way. Carlie complains about us having to get it and saying they should provide for any test and Ariane thinks they'll provide the minimum and low ball it and the trial is part of ongoing stuff so we can nudge things in our favour. Holly points out she's never given gnosis to the Angel she's always taken it, which Carlie suggests is theft, and also wonders why they would allow any test of The Angels powers if there's a risk ("I can't believe they'll fit us up half way and stop"). There is also discussion of seeing if it can be provided by the court before we start to drag in favours for it, Sunny asks if defending Lydia is not worth everything we have and Carlie responds that she's done with this pack and leaves (ooc: there is some bickering continuing off screen and we were asked to move it along for reasons). In the end Jules texts Liz and gets an empty Vis bottle.
At The British Museum around 17:00 (Jules, Sunny, Ariane, Carlie) we meet Hannah The Paralegal and Lord Brennan, who orders us coffee and donuts, tells us he's spoken to Lydia who is regretful and wishes to learn how to be a better werewolf, has been having a crisis of faith, and is taking the time to reflect. Sunny sniffs the people in the room and finds that Brennan smells of an old human, also a touch of cedar oil, whereas Hannah smells of something not human but unsure what. Ariane gives Sunny a donut then tells Brennan about Lydia's meeting with The Angels after Bubbles and how she attempted to walk into their arms while they were heavily armed, Carlie volunteers to testify to that, and Jules volunteers to testify as a character witness to her beliefs (we later talk about how killing Demons, redefining London, and other Pack achievements should go in Jules and Carlie's character witness statements). Brennan tells us he's building a case on Lydia being terrified of the Angel and transforming out of fear and as an instinctual reaction because otherwise it will appear as a condemnation of all garou. Ariane mentions Holly talking about her power being taken and suggests giving The Angel a lot of power in the trial to replicate the incident (he later hears that Rodriegez at least will be contributing nothing and that the mages charge money for it).
We're told it's a continential legal system, so a panel of Judges, both sides make adversarial challenges, and the Judges vote on the matter. The Angel is a witness, Westbury prosecutor. So that leaves 2 against, 1 in favour, 3 neutrals:
- Sir Robert Laffrey (probably voting against to not appear favourable)
- Lady of Kowloon (probably against)
- Crone Fleet (neutral)
- Three (neutral, will vote to defend London and its territory)
- Professor Rodrieguz (neutral, likes complex arguments and a human sense of justice)
- Sam Aston (probably in favour due to causing chaos)
Carlie asks if we need to prove Lydia is right to win, and Brennan says no but that it would strengthen the case. The defence (of transforming out of fear, etc) leaves a bitter taste in his mouth but is the best chance of winning and before a jury he'd do something else. He offers us a glass of wine at his house for good luck in the case, an early evening drink before dinner and apologises that Sunny has to change before this. We head to his place via stretch limo where him and his driver jokingly refer to each other as Jeeves and Mr. Wooster. On the way we chat about cricket, and also Jules straight up asks him how he got involved in all this and finds out his mother was garou, he's kinfolk, and just never transformed.
So - At Lord Brennan's Knights Bridge Residence: We head downstairs to the "Wine Cellar" (luxury basement lounge with some climate controlled cases) and find Sir Robert Laffrey and Derek Watford already there. Lord Brennan takes Carlie to look at some wine and chats to her about a distinct sense of justice and apologises that tonight will affirm everything she feels is wrong in the world, Carlie confirms that we are making a deal, and Brennan tells her "You see the world the way it is, rather than the way you wish it to be", gives her a bottle of wine and suggests there will be a deal whereby she can help improve the Grandees if she wants as he states that they do a lot of talking and sometimes he has to do a lot of listening for them. Lord Brennan then has a chat with Ariane, telling her he got his tastes in wine from his mother, and his love of cricket from his father, and that when he makes a suggestion that she may want to reject she should heartily accept. Carlie also gets advice from Jules about how to fake enthusiastic and knowledgable wine tasting with like various excited words.
Harold Westbury (the villain of the piece) arrives with a palpable scent of the Wyrm that raises everyones hackles, chats to Watford and says he's sorry to hear that he's taking a leave of abscense from his duties. He talks to Brennan about the case who tells him that part of the case will be provingThe Angel can't handle the amount of essence and she is unreliable and couldn't dump all the power, and he thinks that Ariane will help provide 12-13 units ("at a minimum...") which if she dumps out won't be good for "all the Vampires in the local environment". Westbury looks perturbed and says he doesn't want that much power in the Tower of London. Sir Robert says that the Grandees won't object to this actual test, and asks Westbury if he's unsure if his "pet angel" or "favourite topic" is unable to handle it or that the essence may cause issues for him or "others in his care".
Westbury suggests making a deal, wants a slap on the wrist for Lydia at least, and a new Sheriff ("Watford you've not covered yourself in glory here"... then Westbury plays the tape recording to Watford talking to Lydia about a holiday) and he wants the next Sheriff to be a Vampire. Lord Brennon suggests an apprentice/undersherrif/assistant role and nominates Ariane who grits her teeth and enthusiastically volunteers. It's agreed that the punishment should be training/working for a few months before being returned to her supportive pack. Lord Brennan produces a [[[Mythically Binding Contract]] and gets Ariane to sign on as Deputy Sheriff. Brennan, Laffrey, and Westbury suggest a plea bargain now available. After this Westbury leaves in a huff without touching his "wine" (Brennan confirms he keeps blood in stock for the Vampires). Laffrey asks Brennan why Westbury cared about The Angel being overpowered in the Tower and Brennan says there are 4 very old, very powerful vampires in Torpor under the tower who would be vaporised in their current state and that Westbury's job is partially looking after them...
COMING UP NEXT WEEK: The Trial! (ooc: with the probable conclusion that Lydia spends some time training with the Children of Gaia and after Ceri gets back from holidays she brings back Lydia or a fresh character)
2023-02-13
(Lydia has breakfast, signs her legal plea bargain, and is transported to trial alongside Thomas Eastfield. The rest of the Pack goes to The Tower of London. The trial is largely a formality and afterwards everyone catches up and chats. John Northbridge is signed in as new Sheriff of London and Ariane as new Deputy Sheriff of London. Holly, Sunny, and Carlie have a discussion with Old Crone Fleet and learn more about the nature of The Director, Ariane has a conversation with Northbridge where she is largely dismissed as ceremonial. After a couple of days of packing and prep the Children of Gaia Sirius and Scorpus arrive with Derek Watford to take Lydia to the Children of Gaia Umbral Safehouse and Sunny takes Scorpus out hunting for food)
Starting in Lydia's cell in Paddington Green. She's had a few cups of bad tea, next door the mage is shifting between worry and blaming Lydia loudly as he's certain that either the Grandees or Garou will execute him (he eventually shouts about getting 5 years in prison). Gets breakfast from the guards and is told her trial is today and she'll be on her way to the tower for midday, is given paperwork and a pen with breakfast, its an admission of guilt to "exposing the supernatural world to innocents" caused by fear of the Angel and will be a conviction for a misdemeanour with community service before being sent back to her Pack, its signed already by Jules, Ariane, Watford, and Brennan with a spot for her. She wonders if its a trick (signatures look real) and asks to talk to Brennan before signing, told it has to be signed before the trial but arranges a phone call where Brennan tells her to sign and she asks about the community service "If its something where I'd rather die can I turn it down?" reminding him "there's worse things than being executed", told the service will happen if she signs, and that this is the best deal she'll have, and that her Pack signed it.
Back at the Pack house everyone is getting breakfast and suited up for the trial except Sunny who's wearing a turquoise sari she picked up on her recent shopping trip. When we arrive at the Tower of London there is a strange gentleman by one of the side doors who Jules recognises from the ritual who speaks with a voice like gravel sliding down a hillside, he confirms our identities and Jules tries guesses he's "One". We're shown into the tower and the Tower's meeting room, a number of seats arranged to one side as a viewing area, some strange personalised ones in front for the panel of judges. Lord Brennan confirms to Jules that the trial is probably a formality.
Lydia gets transported to the trial in the back of a vehicle that's a cross between an army landrover and an armoured truck, 2 armed guards and the mage. She introduces herself and tries for small talk but it goes nowhere.
The Grandees - with the Gargoyles no longer pretending to be human come in, along with one of Harold Westbury's flunkies doing an MIB impression badly. Lydia is brought in and gives a little wave, which Jules returns, and Carlie eats a Jammy dodger in solidarity, Ariane mostly looks nervous. Brennan tells Lydia to largely admit her guilt and being garou and say nothing else. Sam Aston (Mythic Grandee) manifests with a sharp crack of teleportation wearing a garish purple suit saying she wants the formalities out of the way because she has a party to go to.
The Trials begins, Lydia Smith is charged with the misdemeanor of exposing the Supernatural. (We also find out the Mythic is due to be charged next and is called Thomas Eastfield (charges: Grand larceny and attempted murder)). There is talk of a plea bargain, and as a formality the penance is agreed at 3 months community service with the Children of Gaia due to start within 48 hours. After the formality she is lead over to the rest of the Southwark Belles and everyone is lead out of the room. Holly asks Brennan if the Grandees are sticking around after the trial because she needs to talk to some of them, and Brennan confirms yes because he and Ariane have business. Holly also clocks Thomas Eastfield in the court room and lingers for 5-10 seconds just giving him a look that makes him shut up before catching up with everyone else.
In a sideroom Carlie is giving Lydia jammy dodgers and Sunny is sniffing her (in human form), Jules checks shes okay and hugs her and tells her not to do it again. Tries to explain a lot of politics happened to enable her to learn "how to be a werewolf properly" and Carlie reminds her "if you do this again we all die" and fills her in that she's going to the Umbra to hang out with her tribe, Lydia asks her why she didn't get left to die and Carlie says she didn't deserve it, Lydia asks what'll happen when she screws up again and Carlie tells her she'll understand what we did for you. Lydia apologises a lot as Carlie makes things clear. Lydia tries to say she doesn't mind being martyred and Carlie tells her we wanted to take a small chance, and we're "asking you to learn a few more things about the world", Lydia says shes not sure about the Bible anymore and gets the response that "in that case you definitely needs to learn more about the world, and I'm worried for you" and also that she should get tea.
Lydia is filled in that Watford is no longer Sheriff of London because of the recording of her cell and that Ariane is about to be mae Deputy Sheriff of London. Jules suggests its a mediating effect against the Vampires, Carlie suggests its a favour to her mum and a recognition she'll one day carry the family power. "We were never going to get out of this without cutting deals, we're now worth cutting deals with." (Carlie) and theres the idea that redefinining London's boundaries got us some status and we should use that to protect us. Lydia tells us that this morning she was going to be executed and she was ready, but now its not happening which is quite confusing, Carlie suggests she doesn't deserve to nearly die because she was taught to react in a certain way to the situation, no one does (except cops).
Lord Brennan returns to the side room and picks up Ariane and Holly, also tells Lydia he'll be telling her workplace she was needed on "urgent government business" so got reassigned.
Back in the Grandee's Chamber: the chairs are in an arch, everyones chatting in a friendly(ish) tone. Ariane tries to avoid looking at The Angel Islington. Old Crone Fleet gets Harold Westbury to present John Northbridge (his MIB assistant) who has to solemly swear he'll carry out the duties of the Sheriff of London, etc.etc. Sir Robert Laffrey then gets Ariane in and they give her a magically charged piece of paper that tingles in her hands increasingly as she swears her own similar oath. Northbridge gets her to one side for a chat.
Meanwhile: Holly takes Sunny to talk to Old Crone Fleet about The Director and says we hunted him before without knowing his true nature, Crone Fleet says she doesn't understand him either. Holly confirms that he'll go thematic and theatrical, Old Crone Fleet says that his actions are designed to create and follow a narrative, and opposing him for the fae risks being roped into and included in his narrative structure. Tells Holly the True Londoners are living archetypes, context, and ideas. Stopping him is hard as theres always been a Director, killing him merely delays him, he goes away and comes back with a new narrative and a new mortal form every 50 years or so going back centuries or at least to pre-Victorian England. He's linked to some deep Umbral realm rather than being a Fae, Ghost or Spirit himself, Sir Robert has said he's a [[1]] of some kind, so above a Gaffling but below an Incarna or Celestine. Says that since the Garou are partially protectors/hunters of the spirit realm then us killing him is part of that natural order of the Umbra and we won't get sucked into his narrative/story. She tells them that the Fae are limited to the Penumbra and think he's from some sort of archetypal forms/realm that manifested/changed/formed during ancient Greek times according to old Silverfang archives. Carlie pulls a face at the idea of us being "police of the spirit realm" and Holly remarks to Old Crone Fleet "it feels like you're taking that we do violence for good and putting a story on it" which gets the response that "everything is stories to us". She tells Holly that if we can end him so that he never comes back then the Fae will repay us three times over.
We learn as well that he'll have a mortal form unrelated to the last, and hiding as the director of a play, a TV or radio show, a film, that kind of thing. Watford was confused the last time because his mortal form has always existed and warps reality to create itself. He talked to old school friends and they recalled him existing and interacting with him. Sunny says this makes sense because stories have always existed and Holly just says she's "not a fan of remakes".
John Northbridge meanwhile talks to Ariane, tells her her job is to sit there and look pretty when she's needed and do nothing else. He has no need for her, and will have his own ways of commiting violence so she's not even useful for that. Also says the job of Sheriff has perks that he won't be giving her access to. Says her oath will bind her to sometimes watch him doing the job and maybe do violence in the spirit world but he wants her and the Southwark Belles to do nothing in the streets. He takes Ariane's phone number but doesn't give his own and tells her he wouldn't have pardoned Lydia. Ariane immediately texts Diamond Annie to let her know there's a new Sheriff who's a vampire and gives her his description and name.
A couple of days pass with Lydia packing for the trip. The morning she's due to go there's a knock on the door, which Carlie gets, there's Derek Watford and Sirius (a garou of Indian subcontinental descent) and Scorpus (a husky Lupus garou). Sunny scents Scorpus almost immediately and comes out and they exchange sniffs all over.
Sirius tells Carlie that they're there to take Lydia to their retreat, which is in the Umbra near the Summerlands and near a realm they call "Gaia Prime", assuring Lydia its where she can get away from mundane connections and meet great spirits, she'll learn to traverse the Umbra, understand the Garou, where they come from and the "truth behind things" (or at least the Children of Gaia version). Sunny says she wants to go and they suggest she talk to the Stargazers who have distant outposts in the Umbra observing the Universe, one of them is stationed looking "beyond the edges of time". Lydia asks if she should bring anything and they suggest she shed connections to the mortal realms and bring only things essential to herself as they have clothing and general items, but to bring things linked to her identity, so she fetches some of her family photos.
Scorpus asks Sunny if the humans still see the lupus as pets here, and Sunny says it depends but being as she's more dog than wolf they often do for her. Scorpus says he spends more time in the spirit than the physical. Sunny tells him about the joy of learning to cook, he says he doesn't have time to hunt with her, but she talks him around to come hunting her way, so she takes him to a number of take out places to get food for free. He confirms its bad hunting, but good food and she learns he was born as a wolf in the 50s but hasn't really been back to the physical for at least 30 years.