Walker's lesson: How to fight spirits

Walker lets it be know that he'll be teaching a class on how to effectively fight powerful Wyrm spirits--which gifts to use, which tactics to employ, and what can be expected from the spirits.

Maggie will show up.

((Sieger Sinstalker arrives early. He carries a different notebook than he usually carries with him. It is tattered and worn; the cover is filled with prayers to Thunder and Gaia for protection from the Wyrm and its corruptions. He thumbs through the book as he settles in, bookmarking pages with paper scraps.))

Adam King enters on Sinstalker's heels. His eyes remain bandaged, and he clearly followed Sinstalker here because he couldn't see to make it himself. He sits down next to his packmate, seeming nervous. He looks at every sound, as if trying to see the speaker, and is clearly not adjusting to blindness well.

:: Speaks with Trash wanders it and sits off to the side::

((OOC: This lesson will be partly IC, partly OOC. Walker will give his spiel, then Ben will offer notes on the mechanics involved.))

Walker considers the group with a steady golden gaze.

<< When battling powerful spirits, >> he begins, << You must remember one truth: many of them are mighty...mightier than one Garou. Gaia made us wolves for a reason; we hunt in a pack. This is the secret to defeating a powerful spirit servant of the Wyrm. >>

He murmurs, and several shimmering spirits swirl around him. << One has asked the aid of these Gafflings of Chimera. They will assist in demonstrating what one means. >>

The Gafflings dart off, taking up positions.

<< Suppose a powerful Wyrm spirit...a Balefire elemental, for example...threatens the peace of the Umbra. >>

One of the Gafflings casts the shadow of such an elemental. It's obviously an illusion, but effective at illustrating the size and power of such a creature.

<< Many packs would charge at the beast, counting on their numbers and ferocity to bring it down. This would be an error. >>

The other Gafflings create images of Garou rushing at the elemental, who strikes them down, one after the other.


((OOC: A Greater Jaggling Balefire elemental is a brutal foe. With 10 Rage, it bids 30 traits on the attack, and deals massive damage when it hits.))

<< What is needed to defeat such a foe is coordinated teamwork. Each of Gaia's auspices has Gifts suited to such a battle. These gifts, together, are greater than the sum of their parts. >>

The Gaffling "Garou" stand and move away, with a moon symbol appearing above the heads of each.

<< He who strikes first, often strikes last. The Galliards of the pack can help it to move with Unified Force, all striking as quickly as the fastest. If your fastest is an Ahroun who feels the Spirit of the Fray burn within him, you may well strike before the spirit. >>

The "Garou" with the gibbous moon above his head howls, and the pack moves to the attack.

((OOC: Unified Force allows all members of the pack to move on the highest initiative of any member; this is especially effective when combined with an Ahroun with Spirit of the Fray.))

<< The Theurges are perhaps the strongest weapon a pack has when facing such a spirit, and their abilities are formidable. A Theurge can learn the art of snaring a spirit, weakening it greatly. >>

The "Theurge" gestures, weaving a spiritual web around the elemental, which thrashes angrily as it is entangled.

((OOC: Spirit Snare is a great opening debuff, lowering the spirit's effective Rage, Gnosis, and Willpower by 2 each.))

<< Of course, the Ahroun should take point. He can strengthen his pack for the battle to come, Inspiring them and leading them in Pack Tactics... >>

The "Ahroun" leaps forward, and the rest of the pack fans out behind him, like the fingers of a man's hand.

((OOC: Pack Tactics is an amazing gift, especially in the hands of an Ahroun with high Leadership; it gives a pool of up to 5 traits which can be used as bonus traits for any challenge. By this point, our 10-Rage Balefire elemental is only throwing 24 traits; with the bonus traits from Pack Tactics, a Cliath in Crinos can equal or better this.))

<< ...while the Philodox of the pack summons an appropriate spirit to counter the foe. >>

The ghostly Philodox summons up a water elemental, which strikes at the Balefire elemental.

((OOC: Call to Duty remains one of the most potent Basic gifts in the game. Don't overuse the "panic button" mode, but DO have a short list of spirits your character knows and deals with to call on for tasks.))

<<...and the Ragabash strikes from the shadows.>>

((OOC: Remember that the enemy has to beat you in a mental challenge to see through stealth gifts like Blur and Invisibility.))

The spirit staggers under the combined assault, as the ghostly Garou dart in, striking and retreating. Walker turns to face the assembled group.

<< Thus, every auspice contributes to the attack. Are there any questions thus far? >>

Adam seems confused. He chuckles quietly and mutters under his breath.

"Leave it to me to go blind right before a lesson that so clearly relies on imagery."

((Sinstalker shakes his head politely at Walker's question. Then looks embarassed when Adam mumbles and quietly whispers, "Stupid Sieger. Sorry, Adam."))

Adam suddenly chuckles out loud. He looks around, embarrassed.

"Oops. Pardon the interruption, Walker-Rhya. Wonderful lecture so far! Also, may I just take a moment to compliment your helpers on their amazing impersonations? I hope they'll consider sticking around a bit after class to chat."

He offers the nearest gaffling a wink and sits back to watch the scene being relayed to him mentally.

<< That is correct. The different tribes, too, have their special strengths. We will discuss those next. >>

A small wolf/dog crossbreed has been listening quietly. His black and brown fur forms interesting patterns, one resembling a vest and pants, another along his right front leg and paw is the image of a lightning bolt, stark black against brown.

Maggie looks sad and fidgets.

He would watch, a hand with a notebook and pen as he jotted down notes.

<< The first few moments of the conflict are important, for they can determine how the rest of the struggle will go.  If you cannot weaken the spirit sufficiently, it will do great damage to the pack.  If you have successfully weakened the Wyrm servant, then press the attack. >>

<< Gaia has ordained that Ahrouns shall spearhead attacks, and has given them the gifts to do so.  An Ahroun can shield himself with his Rage, blunting the strike of a spirit, and so stand toe to toe with it. He can strike with the claws of Wrath, tearing through any defenses the Wyrm-spirit may have to inflict grievious wounds.  Thus, the enemy will be unable to ignore the threat the Ahroun presents. >>

((OOC: Shield of Rage lowers the spirit's effective Rage by 2 when determining damage.  Coupled with Spirit Snare, this cuts the 10-rage Spirit's damage nearly in half; against any lesser spirit, the reduction will be half or more.  Spiritual Wrath, in the meantime, adds a level of Aggravated damage to attacks against a spirit, and also allows the Ahroun to ignore any Armor the spirit may have. ))


<< Meanwhile, the Theurge in the pack, once he has snared the target, can sap away the enemy's very essence through the use of a Battle Mandala. >>

<< In the meantime, the other pack members should strike as the wolf pack does.  Do not cluster together; strike the foe from all sides, so that it must focus on one Garou at a time. Against a corrupted spirit like a Balefire elemental, a Philodox can also inflict brutal injuries by invoking the Fangs of Judgment. >>

((OOC: Fangs of Judgment inflicts an extra level of damage with natural weapons against corrupted servants of Gaia, including BSDs and corrupted nature spirits.))

((Sinstalker writes very little in his notebook, but pays rapt attention.))

<< A final point to consider: even a weakened spirit can still hit with tremendous force. Be prepared to give ground. Rotate your warriors. Let the injured fall back to be healed, and do not allow the spirit to strike the same target twice. >>

He pauses. << Are there any questions? >>

The Warder flickers briefly, making his presence known.

" You can't. Niagara Falls is a place of great evil, one we haven't been able to beat back for generations. Pick away at the edges and maybe we'll get lucky. But fighting things like that? You have to wear down their power structure first... she's drawing energy from an entire corrupted city. That's beyond you right now. "

*sighs* I thought so I didnt think this would be a nail I could just pound on but a war of attrition to win our first goal is to cleanse the City. The Job of a life time perhaps but I guess if we dont try if we dont get started it'll never get done!

The Warder simply fades into the background once again.

Walker nods. << The Warder speaks the truth. While it is not my way to speak metaphorically, consider this: you cannot move a mountain. That is beyond any Garou. But you can move a single rock. Once that rock is moved, you can move another, and another, and another. Move enough rocks...and the mountain ceases to be a mountain. >>

The small wolf/dog crossbreed speaks.

"What about dissension in the ranks? Our last Wyrm hunt may have been foreordained once the target was chosen, but the courage of many was tested before the call to retreat sounded. We were covered in a darkness that greatly impeded our ability to fight. This could have been a trick of the Wyrm, but it is also a gift of the Uktena. Lets say hypothetically that one of us did it. How do you stop that kind of sabotage, and how do you deal with it after it happens?"