View source for Starwatch Cinematic 07.24.2025


[[File:HungryMountain.png|700px|center]]

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<center><font color=red style="font-size: 20pt; text-shadow: 5px 5px 8px purple;">'''The Hungry Mountain Cinematic '''</font></center></br>

'''''A [https://retro.darcness.net/index.php/Shifter/Starwatch '''Starwatch'''] production'''''

'''''Directed by: [[Silverfall]]'''''

'''''Starring: [[Gabriel]], [[Maarten]], [[Sweet]], [[Kleio]], [[Samson]], [[Kristos]], [[Ashton]], [[Tiffany]], [[Ryen]], [[Ryoko]], [[Rue]], [[Poppa Joe]], [[Kira]], and [[Slouch]]'''''

'''''Filmed: June, 24, 2025'''''

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<center><font color=grey style="font-size: 15pt; text-shadow: 5px 5px 8px purple;">'''LOCATION:'''</font></center></br>
<center><font color=lightblue>'''<--------------[ Juniper Cross Community - Principal's Office ]-------------->'''</font></center>

''The Principal’s Office of Juniper Cross Community School appears, at first glance, to be just another abandoned space, an old wooden desk sits at its center, flanked by tall bookshelves filled with dusty records and forgotten files. A large window overlooks the courtyard below, casting long, golden streaks of light across the worn wooden floor. The air is thick with memory, as if the room itself remembers every decision, every whispered conversation, every choice made within its walls.''

''But the true secret of this space lies in a small, unassuming closet tucked away in the corner of the office. To anyone else, it is nothing more than a storage space, empty shelves, a rusting filing cabinet, dust collecting in the corners. But to those who understand its purpose, to those who see beyond the ordinary, the closet is something far greater: a gateway to the Moon Bridges, shifting and mutable, its path determined by the arrangement of the room itself.''

''The placement of objects within the office determines where the Moon Bridge leads. A chair facing the desk, a drawer left slightly ajar, a book turned upside down, each configuration aligns with unseen patterns, subtly shifting the destination. The room does not move, but rather, the world outside it does, bending and rearranging itself in response. What was once an exit to the hallway may instead open to a moonlit path stretching into the unknown. A door that led to an empty storage space may now reveal a bridge of silver light, waiting to be crossed.''

''Though the entrance remains unremarkable, those attuned to spiritual energies may feel something stir beneath the surface, a faint hum in the floorboards, a whisper in the still air, a sense of waiting, of expectation. This is not just an office. It is a crossroads, a place where the boundaries of reality stretch thin, shifting in quiet, deliberate ways. The room does not decide who may use it, only those who understand its silent language, who know how to listen, may step through.''
           
<center><font color=lightblue>'''<---------------------------------------------------------------------------->'''</font></center>

[[File:PrincipalOffice.jpg|400px|center]]

<center><font color=green>'''====================Silverfall===================='''</font></center>

Kristos steps forward to address the war party, "Fellow Gaians, we stand on the brink of victory, knowing that although our siege will be slow, it is the safest path to claim the Spirit Gate and bring Lord Earthquake along to our victory. Stay vigilant and disciplined while the Spirit Team begins summoning, our wrestling teams will fight as an offering to prove our resilience, and we must kill any creatures emerging from the mountain without hesitation. If any enemy escapes or dares to attack us, turn immediately and strike back with all your might; our unity and resolve are our greatest weapons." 
 
The Shadow Lord Sept Leader continues, "I have spoken with Namkhai, and as a last minute decision, we are switching places tonight. Protecting Juniper is paramount, so the Khan will stay behind with Archi and the others to guard the school and the tunnels from any Wyrm activity. We can not leave out city unprotected and I honor those who are staying behind to do this very task. Each of you knows your role: defend Juniper at all costs, and do not let our home fall. Stay alert that nothing attempts to break through our portal. And when we return victorious, we will howl our triumph loudly, celebrating how our patience and strength have led us toward victory. Now, let’s get ready to rumble and show Lord Earthquake and Gaia what Gaians are truly capable of!"

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''====================Tiffany===================='''</font></center>

Tiffany has her clipboard and her serious face. She runs through check lists and check lists for the check lists. Everyone is given a once over to make sure they have everything they need. Everything she hopes they'll need, anyway. "OK. Ready. Ready?" She looks at everyone in turn to get a nod. Once that's done she moves to the picture and activates the portal. Nervously she watches the team go through and to the mountain. The moment the last person goes she turns it off and closes the portal.

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''====================Silverfall===================='''</font></center>

For the teams going through the portal, the membrane between the two worlds happens to be the Principle closet door. The fetish pillar that transports them to the specific location is activated like an umbral beacon, and in disguise to any outsiders. Yet when the door is opened, it reveals the landscape they are about to step into.

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=grey style="font-size: 15pt; text-shadow: 5px 5px 8px purple;">'''LOCATION:'''</font></center><br>
<center><font color=lightblue>'''<---------------[ Umbra - Hungry Mountain - Hungry Mountain ]---------------->'''</font></center>

''The umbral landscape is shrouded in an eerie, perpetual mist that clings to the tall, foreboding mountain which rises sharply into the darkened sky. Its sparse trees claw upward like skeletal fingers. The distant cave entrance, a jagged, uneven hollow is carved into the mountain’s shadowed face. It beckons with a sense of unfathomable darkness, attempting to draw one closer if stared at too long. ''
 
''Surrounding this haunted terrain are towering evergreens cloaked in mist or fleeting spiderwebs, their silent presence adding to the unsettling atmosphere. A small sluggish stream winds through the land, its waters dark and uninviting. Deep roots protrude from the ground, disturbed as if forcibly torn from the earth or water, refusing to quench their thirst, hinting at a restless unnatural energy lurking beneath the surface. ''
 
''During the late hours of night or at dawn, a deep, haunting moan echoes from the mountain. It is a gut wrenching primal song that sounds like insatiable hunger, or the vibrations of something endlessly seeking. It fills the air with a sense of dread, and the feeling that something ancient and malevolent is watching from the shadows.''

<center><font color=lightblue>'''<---------------------------------------------------------------------------->'''</font></center>


<center><font color=green>'''====================Ashton===================='''</font></center>

Ashton gathers with the others in the principle's office. He's in crinos form. When he moves through the portal, he takes a poison bucket and flies, circling up, up, up, to get into a good position to view the landscape beneath him. The vast mountain, all the little nooks and crannies, crevices and crags. Every point of entry or egress from the mountain. These are the openings he'd be shooting for.

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''====================Sweet===================='''</font></center>

"Nineteen-ninety-motherfuckin'-two 
Straight from Jersey, the Phillie blunt lives on 
Yo, B, tell 'em how this shit goin' down." 
 
<center>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiZMqVXVZgA&ab_channel=UPROXX Amazing hype music!]</center>
 
Sweet walks up with a battery powered jukebox. It's massive, bulky, inefficient, and probably will only last for two songs if he's lucky but he's blasting it trying to get hyped up for the big raid on hungry mountain. Sweet has got a new mesh tank top on, black boxer's shorts, off-brand fake sneakers, no socks because holy shit its hot as hell out, and his fetish duffle bag around his shoulder which he's filled with snacks (jerky, tortilla chips, 3 cans of pork and beans, mashed potatoes and macaroni in a Tupperware, and 7 bags of candy peach rings), 7 water bottles, and a lightweight cooking pot. No sense getting Hungry in Hungry Mountain. The Ahroun's prodigious strength and stamina means he doesn't mind playing pack mule. The final bar of the song plays: 
 
"LETS GET READY TO RUMBLEEEEEE!" 
Then silence as they enter a realm not so privy to the Weaver's noise.

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''=====================Maarten======================'''</font></center>

Shields-The-Streets is here at the portal to the Hungry Mountain pacing and waiting for the cue to pass through the portal and the mission to begin. His usual hobo-chic garb has been replaced by a faded Bret Hart WWF t-shirt, a pair of green and red striped shorts that hang knee length on his giant frame, and some random boots he painted green and red in a terrible attempt at pro wrestling boots. As he paces around, he suddenly realizes there's still last-minute prep to be done, and last minute things to gather and carry through the portal, so he does just that. Talking with Poppa Joe he gathers up a duffle bag of supplies that need to make the journey to the other side, and hefts it over his shoulder, then stands ready to make the crossing through the portal.

As the portal opens and the instruction is given to go into the darkness, Maarten moves to the front, going through as soon as he can just in case the enemy is lying in wait immediately on the other side.

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''=====================Gabriel======================'''</font></center>

Gabriel makes his way through the totem, still in the same clothes as from his earlier mission. He stays silent while he prepares the rituals for summoning, disregarding everything except the task at hand. Once he has drawn the summoning circle, he already moves on to the next task. 
 
Nodding to Winking Moon when it is all said and done, he grabs a folding knife from his pocket, switching its blade outward as he starts shifting forms to one that is more suitable to their task at hand. 
 
There is a lot on his mind after his three-hour mission into uncertain territory, the first group to make it to the Hungry Mountain, after all. He waits for the signal to commence.

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''====================Silverfall===================='''</font></center>

Kristos gives Gabriel the signal. "Spirit Team, stay together for the summoning.' He begins to shift into his War Form. The Shadow Lord's dark fur reveals the battle armor that shifts with him, and his massive height has to duck down to side step through the closet portal.

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''=======================Rue========================'''</font></center>

Rue had spent a good deal of time at the city caern, and had watched how in recent days it had been transformed in anticipation of this mission to look quite literally, like a base camp with beds in nearby rooms, and supplies strategically about. Like Poppa Joe she was dressed in her own 'war gear' though it looked like little more than a black body suit, with an out of place sheer floral cover up over it, as if she'd tacked on a little something of herself last minute. She eased over to Poppa Joe as he faced a dream coming true, giving him a warm smile, that didn't quite reach her eyes. Not from a lack sincerity, only the fact that her attention was split between joy for him, and caution for what comes next. The bridge between the school and the forest caern was regularly patrolled, it was about as safe as moon bridges could get and one always knew what to expect when taking it. This was a new path forward, and it led to a lot of unknown variables. Still Rue made a point to check on the other, share words of encouragement, and steel herself for the next leg of this adventure.

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''====================Silverfall===================='''</font></center>

Poppa Joe comes in to the main Principle office also wearing his war gear and ready to step through. It looks more like old leather and bones, with a robe covering himself halfway up, and his belt is stocked with chiminage and shamanistic supplies. 
 
Poppa Joe looks them over, and gives them a kind smile and warming bit of hope with his crinkly blue eyes after the Sept Leader's speech. "My dream is coming true, Rue! Hee!" He chitters, "Now it's time for serious spiritual foo and celebratory root beer after! Woo hoo!" The Coggie is ready for his last big adventurous fight. His crinkly light blue eyes look over the group gifting them with an array of hope for the battle to come. 
 
The old Shaman shifts into his crinos form, stretching into his weathered looking golden wolf fur. His armor stretches with him, but now all can see his battle scars, and missing patches of fur where the decades have chewed him up, but he's still fighting the good fight. He also picks up a poison bucket stacked near the portal, and steps on through to bring it to the other side.

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''====================Samson===================='''</font></center>

Samson is grim and serious as he waits with everyone, carrying the heavy (metaphorically) buckets and he nods respectfully to Tiffany before he goes through the portal when its his turn.

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''====================Kira===================='''</font></center>

To wrestle and display fortitude of a great spirit was not a new concept. Displays of martial prowess and ritual were not exactly a new thing throughout the culture of humankind or any of the Fera...but to look at Kira didn't exactly look like much of an intimidating physical specimen. At least, not when compared to the towering figures of Sweet, Kristos, or especially the seven-foot-plus that was Maarten. Some cute Eurasian in active wear wasn't exactly screaming warrior, but the nature of shifters was to be more then they appeared. As they approached the place to make their offering of the contest, the Bastet would stretch, casting a glance to the other teams who were making their way to do their part. It was a role she was asked to fulfill, but it still almost felt like she was being sent to recreation while others were in the midst of invoking and combat. 
 
She'd just have to give the most effort she could and hope that dedication to the task would enhance the offering and aid in its own way.
 
<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

[[File:DoorPortal.jpg|400px|center]]

<center><font color=green>'''====================Silverfall===================='''</font></center>

The portal sends them through to the mountain as the closet door closes behind them. The hour they are entering sees the sky split with deep reds when the mist above swirls and allows it to almost look pink as one turns their gaze to the mountain in front of them. Darkness is descending now and fast, and the Moaning Song from the Mountain has long finished after the creatures awakening. 
 
Welcome to Hungry Mountain. 
 
The mountain shrouded in mist within this spiritual realm rises majestically. Jagged peaks pierce through swirling clouds that are cloaked in an ethereal glow. The terrain is rugged, with jagged rocks and winding paths that seem to shimmer with an otherworldly greyish light. It does not invite explorers to delve into its mysterious depths, as there's a bleeding border sign of something unworldly happening here along the terrain. 
 
At one point this mountain may have had beauty, as there is a line of where the umbral grass sways in the breeze, but once stepped over, the dead rock and dull earth seem to have no life here the closer one gets to the mountain itself. It is almost as if within a certain perimeter, the mountain becomes less umbral and more like a new realm beginning that becomes more solid. Yet over the centuries of time within this place, the landscape has begun to change and warp with the rest of the mountain itself. 

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''====================Ashton===================='''</font></center>

Ashton is there, in Crinos form. Which looks like Big Bird's goth cousin. When the ground starts shaking, he swoops down and grabs a bucket that starts moving along the ground on its own. He carries the bucket in his talons and flies up to the cave entrance, dropping the bucket into the cave like a bowling ball, before swooping back down and grabbing another bucket. He flies to another hole in the mountain and drops in another bucket, then repeats the action with a third bucket and a different hole. Whatever is in the bucket, it smells good. "Hopefully they'll be dumb enough to eat it." He mumbles to himself.

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''====================Silverfall===================='''</font></center>

The invigorating scent of chicken soup begins to waft down from the mountain as the wind flows to the east. The longer the war party stands, the stronger the scent will become now that the first lid is off the bucket. Deep in the background and within that dark HOLE in front of them, comes a spirit voice faint in the distance, <<Yum! YUM! Yum Yum Yummy Yum YUM!>> It's almost as if something is tempted them right toward the bucket as an echo.

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

[[File:Soup.png|300px|center]]

<center><font color=green>'''====================Silverfall===================='''</font></center>

And it does echo back to where the war party is stretched out. The laced scent of soup is in the poison now. There's no actual soup, but their Trojan death horse definitely has the scent of tantalizing soup to make it more appealing. 

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>


<center><font color=green>'''====================Silverfall===================='''</font></center>

There's no time to wait. Kristos gives the signal for the Spiritual Team to begin the summoning with a quick fist and four extended claws outward to where Samson, Gabriel, Poppa Joe, and Rue are now gathered. And those meant to wrestle, the fight begins at the exact same time to honor Earthquake. He moves in position to pair himself off to fight with his wrestling partner, Maarten. Sweet and Kira are now paired to do the same. "Bring it!"

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''====================Silverfall===================='''</font></center>

Samson has a drum for the summoning, and he keeps a rhythm for the working. A pulse that those observing would feel in their bones as much as with their ears.

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>


<center><font color=green>'''====================Silverfall===================='''</font></center>

Poppa Joe as Winking Moon brought his stave to this war party, but has it tucked into two bands of leather ties to be worn along his backside in a strange twist knot for easy access. He also has his rainbow colored Coggie drum with him that is corded for ease of spirit summoning. He turns it to his front side, and starts the rhythm of the drum in tandem with Samson. He strikes the top of the drum to strike a steady beat, gnosis begins to flow from him outward to join with the others to call forth upon Lord Earthquake. 
 
The old Theurge gives the signal for Gabriel to begin the call out to welcome Lord Earthquake. It's the younger crowd that has the louder voices, and he expects Gabriel to be loud.

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''=====================Gabriel======================'''</font></center>

Tired from his last mission but jubilant in a way that only victors could be, Gabriel prepares to help Poppa Joe with the ritual. He is in his Glabro form for this, the near-man form not restricting him from employing Spirit Speech directly. 
 
Placing a seismometer onto the ground and then drawing a circle around it, he provides chiminage by bleeding onto the object, infusing it with Gnosis. The knife cuts into his forearm as blood flows from him down to the object before he starts his summoning of the almighty Lord Earthquake: 
 
<<Lord Earthquake, we stand here and request your help, that we might destroy our enemies. Oh, your mighty dominion causes even the most valiant to tremble before your might, and it is this that we request of you even as we brawl ourselves and our enemies in your honor, quaking the earth with our steps as you quake all of the land with your powerful motions to seal the mountain, and keep the Spirit Gate within intact.>> 
 
<<Make our prideful and spiteful foes remember the early days, when the Earth shook and all things standing on legs had to reckon with your power and your force! Lord Earthquake, we request you bequeath this power to us, to cause the ground to break and the inside of the mountains to cede, that our enemies might meet death at the deeps that you create with your might! 
 
Give us the blessing of your strength and allow us to honor you by taking the fight to the impure, who seek to pervert the order of nature. Assist us in our quest to fight for Gaia, we plead of you!>> 
 
He howls, lifting his arms and then jumping up and down several times, stomping his feet down to cause the earth to tremble, even if just for a little bit.

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

[[File:MountainQuake.png|400px|center]]

<center><font color=green>'''=======================Rue========================'''</font></center>

Rue's voice lifts as Samson's drumming becomes like a pulse that reverberates in their bones, she threads her otherworldly voice around the beat his hands summon from the taunt leather of the drum. She rarely unleashes the fullness of her voice, but here she holds back not at all. She is nearly always surrounded by spirits, not that most see it, their senses in the world of the quick far more than in the umbra, but those same spirits swirl in a sort of feverish excitement as the old theurge, the Gurahl and Kami lend their efforts and spiritual energies to the summoning, even as others lend their physical prowess to the efforts to summon Lord Earthquake for aid.

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''====================Sweet===================='''</font></center>

Its not necessarily a short walk to the mountain but compared to the ultra marathon Sweet was doing earlier this isn't so bad. He looks up at the mountain with a long wolf whistle. "Shooooooooot. Think this is even bigger than Guadalupe Peak. I think." 
 
There was something worked out ahead of time with the Battlemaster about wrestling for an Earthquake guy? It made sense at the time. But what really makes sense to him is the fact that he's up on the fight card. Sweet drops his big ol bag of snacks with a thud. For a moment he reaches for the water but hesitates. After all he might need it later. He draws a little angle in the dirt. His 'corner'. Then he does a quick lil jog around the ring, throwing his hands up to hype up the imaginary crowd as he hums "I am the Real American". He does drag this part out a little long but he never takes his eye off his opponent. He just figures they should let him have this. It had been so long... 
 
There was something worked out ahead of time with the Battlemaster about wrestling for an Earthquake guy? It made sense at the time. But what really makes sense to him is the fact that he's up on the fight card. Sweet drops his big ol bag of snacks with a thud. For a moment he reaches for the water but hesitates. After all he might need it later. He draws a little angle in the dirt. His 'corner'. Then he does a quick lil jog around the ring, throwing his hands up to hype up the imaginary crowd as he hums "I am the Real American". He does drag this part out a little long but he never takes his eye off his opponent. He just figures they should let him have this. It had been so long...
 
<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''====================Kira===================='''</font></center>

A smile, a stretch from Kira the Cat...and then as others shed the homid form for that of the war form and with the spread of the orange and black fur the khan would stand tall as another embodiment of Gaia's fury set to wrestle and struggle for the chiminage to Lord Earthquake. 
 
Even in this form, the Tigress might not out-muscle the garou, but the raw strength coupled with the liquid grace of a great cat made the contest far more interesting than might well have been. 
 
But it wasn't a contest to have a resolution. The mountain shaking was enough to send her wrestling partner sprawling, it was even enough to have the tigress crouching down, digging her claws into the dirt would keep her upright but that didn't make it effortless. 
 
A shaking earth was surely a success, perhaps even something to celebrate as she'd lift her head with every intent to roar in joy...but the eruption from the rocks and mountainside drew the gaze of the Khan towards the horrors belched forth towards them. 
 
Seemed the Hungry Mountain had every intent to bite back! No more wrestling, Fair-Flame would step with claws bared to protect the wolf she'd been wrestling with moments ago, a roar of challenge to the hungry tide of creatures charging towards them.

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''=====================Maarten======================'''</font></center>

Shields-The-Streets is pacing and psyched in the area lined out by Breaker of Chains waiting for the wrestling ceremony to start. It's obvious he's reliving some of the wrestling matches he watched in his trailer as a kid as he's miming various pro wrestlers' mannerisms and general bearing. As Kristos begins the ceremony and indicates it's time to rumble, Maarten does his best to wrestle whoever he's paired with, using his size and strength to knock his opponent to the ground and pin them for a count of three.

At points in the ceremony, he does his best pro-wrestler shtick, using some of the same maneuvers made famous by guys like Andre the Giant and ‘Macho Man’ Randy Savage to hype up Lord Earthquake. Oh Yeahhhhh! Shields-The-Streets is here to slam fools and crack skulls for the thousands of people (err, one big spirit) in attendance and the millions watching from home (the dozens waiting on the sidelines to do their part in the Hungry Mountain mission). His wrestling repertoire includes body slams, arm locks, pile drivers, and other stuff usually seen on Monday Night Raw. He's here to rumble, and that (non-existent) World Heavyweight Championship belt is gonna be his. While some people may assume he's making a mockery of the whole ceremony, on closer inspection, he's putting his heart into it the only way he knows how. This is how Shields-The-Streets shows his reverence for Lord Earthquake, by making it the most entertaining wrestling ceremony he can.

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''====================Silverfall===================='''</font></center>

He gets the slam in on Kristos, and then the Shadow Lord moves with incredible speed to to knock Maarten off and the two begin to fight in their wrestling match. It might be obvious he's holding off to a degree as the earth begins to tremble beneath their feet. The ritual is now working and he is keeping one eye to the dangerous mountain and another one on his opponent. Their twist ends as the arm lock finally leads to him letting go when the earth rumbling beneath their feet begins to send smaller rocks skittering over the rougher surface at the base of the mountain where they stand. 
 
Lord Earthquake is making his presence known. And he looks up at the mountainside more fully once the screeching and growling of creatures at the mouth of the cave start to appear when the noise level rises. He stops the wrestling once their enemies begin to pour out of the mouth of the mountain and begin running toward them. He growls <<Brace yourselves. INCOMING!>> He lets rip a WAR HOWL!
 
<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''====================Silverfall===================='''</font></center>

There's chanting and drumming as the ritualists call for Earthquake's favor. As the ritual crescendos, there's a rhythmic beating, as if a heartbeat has taken over. At first it seems as if the ritual might not have worked, until the earth begins breaking apart and stones crack up along the mountainside. Then the thrumming picks up again, vibrating the earth all around them. The Gaians feel it through their fur and bones, in their clawed feet, and resonating through their chests. Eardrums begin to pound as one looks up to see a hazy face and giant mask of stone in the mists above the mountain. 

A low groan issues forth, causing the mountain to tremble! The tonal vibrations continue to grow, crescendoing to a deafening roar. A clay gourd talen erupts on one of the Theurge's belts, as it breaks. People lose their balance as the mountain shakes in fear! Mighty Earthquake has made his presence known. 

As the mountain side begins to crumble under Earthquake's mighty thrall, from the tunnels comes a keening cacophony of voices in chorus. 

Pouring out of the mountain tunnels, comes a number of mountain creatures that appear as troglodytes with sharp gnawing teeth. And as the main cavern entrance seems to collapse, before the dust settles, out bursts a head of giant proportions! The abomination of the giant floating head is as large as an American guzzler car, and has dozens of eyes embedded around its bulbous skull. The giant Eye Creature roars its deafening challenge to those who would disturb its territory.
 
Now that Lord Earthquake has sealed most of the captured army behind walls of stone and dirt with an eruption of landslide cascading down the mountain, there is still enough of a presence to prove disastrous if not dealt with quickly. And all in the vicinity, will need to sustain the battle during the tremors that shake the earth beneath them. 

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

[[File:Incoming.png|400px|center]]

<center><font color=green>'''====================Ashton===================='''</font></center>

Ashton keeps dropping buckets for now, before the holes in the mountain close up. Once that happens he switches to dropping bombs. He flies well, keeping out of reach, although at one point he very nearly had one of those things jump up high enough to grab him but he barrel rolls and dodges the attack. He taunts several of the creatures to draw them away. "Come and get me you...stinking...potatoes!" Okay he's gotta work on taunting better.

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''=====================Maarten======================'''</font></center>

Shifting up to Crinos during the tremors and the Mountain cracking is actually more complicated than it looks. Shields-The-Streets is growing into his war-form, his Bret Hart T-Shirt shredding itself as he grows in stature and... falls like a jabroni falling to a smack down from The Rock himself, perhaps maybe 2-3 years too early. A small group of the Zarak-Ur move out from the clamoring horde and immediately go for the downed giant, biting into his leg and shoulder, blood pouring from the wounds as he growls in pain. He thrashes around to try and cast them off, but does so only moments too late. He sharpens his claws against the ground as he begins standing to face the giant head above him it turns the gaze of some of its eyes onto Shields, a strange energy lashes out at him causing his fur to burn away in patches and his skin to blister and bubble from the awful energy. He steels himself against the attack as best he can, the bites beginning to knit themselves back together as Gaia's regeneration begins to heal his injuries.

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''====================Gabriel===================='''</font></center>

When the enemies come and Poppa Joe has to finish their ritual, Gabriel is the first to come to the old Theurge's defense. He draws his guns and slides through, trying to line up shots against the over sized and dangerous Wyrmish enemy. He fires once, twice, thrice, but it seems like a force field of some sort envelopes the foe. 
 
Recovering his breath, the earth shakes in response to their ritual and he loses his footing. Then, he slowly rises back, holstering his Fetish and shifting to Crinos. It takes a moment and some Rage, and then he's summoning spirits of war to fight the creature.
 
<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''====================Silverfall===================='''</font></center>

Poppa Joe feels the earth beginning to tremble under foot and immediately widens his stance to keep better balance. He switches from drum to stave, and gives the top of the staff a snap of a twist, to pull a long silver bladed sword free. The fetish blade is swung in front of him. With his left claw he raises a hand outward toward the direction of the creatures now escaping the mountain, as the rocks tumble, and the landslides start to move. He calls upon his gift to re-shape the earth, and walls of rock and dirt begin to rise upward to create barricades and funnels to keep the creatures subverted and grant more time for the war party to handle. A wall forms to try and protect Maarten in the way of the first wave impact. 
 
But this fails miserably. The creatures are now jumping up and over the walls like insects to claw their way over the top. The surge is incoming and there is nothing to stop them but the warriors that are gathered.

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''====================Sweet===================='''</font></center>

Well then it looks like it all hit the fan. Hordes and hordes of creatures as the earth shakes beneath everyone's feet. Sweet wades in without hesitation. Initially in glabro, after punching two of the creatures with all his might he takes up his duffle bag and takes Crinos, wading in with a howl. He sharpens his claws then lets out a series of hooks into the horde of monsters. Every ounce of rage and energy he has is put into this flurry of blows that cleave the creatures in half as he tries not to fall. He wades further and further into the middle of the horde until he almost disappears into it.

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''====================Samson===================='''</font></center>

Sleeping-Thunder sees the giant floating head with all its gross eyes and starts lumbering forward at speed, roaring almost impossibly loud as he coils his legs and EXPLODES into an impossibly high jump to grab on to the thing for a little Kaiju to Kaiju grapple. 
 
The squishy flesh of the monstrosity flexes as Sleeping-Thunder drags on it and The Gurahl Rears back and tears its scalp to the bone, claws coming through in a spray of gross blue blood.

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

[[File:FlyBear.png|400px|center]]

<center><font color=green>'''====================Silverfall===================='''</font></center>

Kristos braces for the incoming amount of creatures until the mountain seems to fall in front of him. Landslides of rocks and boulders come tumbling down the mountain, covering the entrance to seal it off, and the rest of the upper mountain seems to be shedding some of its surface to tidal wave downward in plumes of rock dust and swirling torrents of mist caught in the wave of motion to send it all downward. 
 
Kristos gets out of the way and leaps to run toward that Giant Abomination of a head to get to it in time. And as soon as it's gaping maw opens jaw wide to try to bite him in half, he rolls out of the way to slice a segment of its eyes off with his battle klaive. The creature sinks downward with the MASSIVE weight of the bear now riding down upon it slashing, and he whips around to avoid being hit by searing rays of light coming out from the eyes when they open. He stabs at the head in one of the eyes while it's distracted, and his klaive makes a sounding metallic thunk as if it hit an interior hardened inner core that isn't bone!

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''====================Kira===================='''</font></center>

The great 'Big Head' beast spews forth harmful light and surges towards them, certainly a threat to be dealt with...but there were many other smaller creatures fit to drag them down and tear them to pieces. Fair-Flame seemed perfectly happy to meet the tide head on. Calling on the gifts granted to her, the Bright Queen surged forwards with wicked claws and teeth set to cut down the abominations intent on overwhelming them. Even as the earth continued to shake Fair-Flame only seemed to find her stride in a more literal sense. Every strike was faster, every step as balanced and sure as a cat should be while the monsters poured down on them, her snarls and roars of fury adding her own sound to the chorus of violence.

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''=======================Rue========================'''</font></center>

Rue's voice begins to give as the ground tremors, the first one sends her off balance catching herself with her palms on the ground and shoving back to her feet to withstand the incoming onslaught of shaking ground. But that does not prepare her for the onslaught of the enemy. The Kami begins to move, hooked claws have appeared on the tips of each finger, and she's fast, faster than she ever lets on. She's bounding away from the hoard of creatures, as walls shoot up to try and funnel them away from her and the others. She lopes up a wall like gravity means nothing to her, and leaps off of it for another, and another, and for a moment it looks like she might escape the hoard bearing down on her!

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

[[File:TheSwarm.png|400px|center]]

<center><font color=green>'''=======================Rue========================'''</font></center>

...and then they climb the walls in their pursuit, and her eyes flare with growing panic, as more walls shoot up to try and delay the inevitable. She's fast, but there's more of them and eventually there's a snarling cry of pain as claws or teeth sink into her flesh and one finally reaches her...

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''====================Silverfall===================='''</font></center>

Packs of creatures continue to scramble down the mountain, their progress hindered only by the larger boulders and treacherous rock slides that threaten to halt their advance. Those that manage to survive the initial chaos and scale the earthen walls now flood the battlefield, driven by insatiable hunger. The creatures are fighting fiercely and devouring whatever they can find. One even goes for a bag of snacks and takes off with it into the woods like a victory prize! 
 
The walls, once formidable barriers, are being shattered and overrun as surges of these creatures push forward, clumping together in chaotic masses. Some leap onto the backs of others, forming towering piles as they scramble to climb over the tallest defenses, determined to breach the defenses and spread chaos beyond. 
 
Once they break free, the creatures disperse into the surrounding area, launching brutal attacks on the Gaians with razor-sharp teeth and claws. Amidst this chaos, the colossal head spins rapidly from side to side, emitting intermittent beams of light that scorch everything in their path into maddening directions. When these rays strike flesh, they cause burns, searing skin and scorching armor with radiation. The giant head’s jagged stalagmite teeth gnash at any limbs that come too close, while a deep, primal roar echoes through the chaos, sending a frightening shiver through all who hear it.

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''====================Silverfall===================='''</font></center>

Wiggy the spirit bat flees Gabriel's side, and sees Maarten face plant at the beginning of the fight, and Rue in trouble and makes the decision to send the alarm. <<THIS IS SO MUCH LOUDER THAN I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE!>> Flap. Flap. Flap. He darts toward the pillar to get the hell out of the war zone. 
 
Wiggy uses the portal to get a message back to HOME BASE. Whoosh! It flaps at Tiffany, <<Maarten has fallen in battle and Rue is about to fall next! We need more reinforcements!>>

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=grey style="font-size: 15pt; text-shadow: 5px 5px 8px purple;">'''BACK IN THE PRINCIPLE'S OFFICE </font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''====================Tiffany===================='''</font></center>
 
Tiffany barely has time to take a breath and attempt to relax before a bat flitters in and settles near. It speaks to her and her eyes get wider as it does. In a blur she rushes down the hall. "Hey! Who's still around?" she calls out urgently. "Get to the office, quick! We have people in need of help! Now!" 

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''====================Silverfall===================='''</font></center>

Staying near the portal exit, Jinx the Corax, aka Party Crasher, waits as patiently as she can, until it sounds like someone just died in battle. She's vigilant in standing guard with the other Warg Packs that protect the school while the others wage battle on the other side. And when the call comes forward, she rallies the first ones to answer the call when they come running down the hall. "Alright! You know what to do in there girls and gents! No second thoughts, just get in there and do what Gaia meant you to. GO! GO! GO!" 
 
And here comes Ryoko, Slouch, and Ryen. As warriors push past her to join the fray, Jinx blinks as the last person to move on by her, was Kleio. No time to think, she closes the portal door after getting a good glimpse of the war battle going on. "Hey, did someone give the A-Okay on a Kinfolk with a really big gun going in there to kick ass? Or am I going to fry later, for letting her go through? Shiiiiiit. I hope she kicks some serious ass! And I'm not burning in the special hell later. 

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

[[File:KleioBan.jpg|400px|center]]

<center><font color=green>'''====================Ryoko===================='''</font></center>

Someone needs to deal with the things that came through. Someone needs to get the others the time to deal with the big things. Someone needs to channel their inner knight, viking or samurai and go right into the midst of the crowd. And that someone is Ryoko, springing to action with her katana drawn. The quakes of the spirit throwing the place around make the way in decently hard, but she manages to keep her step, the three tails of her Koto form waving behind her as she balances out the waves, swinging the blade in deadly arcs. Red sprays from the silver arcs as she moves, bodies falling as she passes into the crowd while their attacks almost seem to glance off, leaving her unharmed. And while she doesn't dodge the monster's gaze, the light doesn't singe her fur.

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''====================Slouch===================='''</font></center>

Slouch creeps onto the battlefield behind, sharp eyes locked on his pack Alpha, Maarten. The big Ahroun is swarmed by two monstrous, bloated things, like fleas the size of goats, bouncing and latching onto him, biting, tearing, dragging him down by sheer mass and hunger.

Slouch narrows his eyes. The rage builds behind his teeth. Without a word, he flickers. His outline blurs, body shuddering as fur bursts, bones crack, muscles twist—Crinos form sliding over him like old gloves. His already strange silhouette ripples like heat on asphalt, hard to look at, hard to follow.

“Hey bite this, assholes...” he growls, tongue thick with change.

With a sudden rush—silent but for the thud of impact—Slouch slams bodily into the first flea monster, claws tearing deep, sending the thing sprawling off Maarten’s back in a ragged tumble. Gore flies. The flea lets out a shrieking click—surprised and wounded.

<<One down,>> Broken Wind grins, spinning on his heel to catch the second.

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''=======================Ryen======================='''</font></center>

Scouts are always needed. Ryen is nearby in case something goes awry or stealthy eyes are needed in places that others can't go. It's restless, the waiting. Ryen tries to calm himself by focusing on other things, like making sure his whip is ready, speaking quietly to the spirit inside, asking for it's strength in case it's needed. 
 
At the call for help, it doesn't take Ryen but a moment to sprint towards the office and portal. Without hesitation, he leaps through the portal, whip coming out, ready to strike. Seeing Rue in trouble, Ryen growls and starts sprinting her way. 
 
As Rue scales the wall of earth, monstrosities are trying to climb and come over the wall at her! This spurs Ryen on and he begins to shift to his war form. The ground trembles beneath his feet and this causes him to fall. Rolling to get back to his feet, Walks Like A Whisper keeps the noise down. He misstepped and that could have cost them dearly. 
 
Picking up as much speed as he can, Walks Like A Whisper leaps into the air, shifting to his full war form as he launches himself up and over Rue. With deadly accuracy, that Sun Whip glows faintly in the light and stings anything getting close to Rue. Walks Like A Whisper rides that growing wall of earth till it stops. 

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''====================Kleio===================='''</font></center>

With the first of the tremors, Kleio slides off her feet, bracing her hands on the ground in an attempt to keep from eating dirt. She ignores the cuts on her palms, looking around in shocked surprise as everything around them starts to shake, and just doesn't stop. Her attention snaps forward, hearing the snarling and growling coming from further in, and begins to propel herself forward. One, two, three times she shoves herself forward, only to fall, leaving her with a bit of hamburger for hands by the time she gains her footing. It doesn't stop her, she doesn't hesitate, as she runs towards the group ahead and unslings the rifle from her back.
 
<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''====================Ashton===================='''</font></center>

When the giant head comes out, Ashton is still bombing things. He dodges a couple beams from the head, but then sees one of the eyes turn to Rue and flies right in front of the beam it shoots out to spare her from the hit. It burns and hurts like hell, and he lets out a massive croaky raven scream, but he keeps flying. He's still airborne. And he'll heal.

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''=====================Gabriel======================'''</font></center>

Gabriel's sable fur is mottled with patches of grey, and he flexes his claws before howling out. 
 
Grabbing onto the creature to buy time, he sinks his claws into it, rendering flesh apart from the Wyrmish spirit with powerful bites that seem to be rather damaging to the entity. An eye looks at him, poised to strike. 
 
Even as awful radioactive energy targets him, the Theurge seems undeterred, unharmed by the attack and fighting on in the way only the most committed of zealots might.

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''====================Kleio===================='''</font></center>

Rounding the bend she drops to a crawl, moving up behind a rock to lay her rifle down into position. She watches as the creatures come for the group, leaving mud and blood smeared on the stock of her gun as she sights and loads a round. The sharp crack that follows echoes off the walls before it tears through the meat and bone of one of the monstrosities, the hard clacking of the next round loading following. The firing of rounds becomes a steady beat, Kleio's training dialing her in to pump as many bullets into the enemy as she can in the shortest amount of time. Accuracy is key, making each round count as it tags another one; head, shoulder, center mass. 

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''====================Silverfall===================='''</font></center>

Poppa Joe sees the swarms coming at him in two different waves to his front side and to his left. He immediately sweeps the blade to the left to injure two in a thin slice of splattering blood and severing trog flesh. The fetish blade sends the entire pack skirmishing away in fear once they begin to bleed. He growls out, 'GO ON -N- GIT!'. His free claw lists up into a gnarled fist, and a batch of earth erupts to give the others swarming him time to clamber up the wall. But just as the wall goes up, the ones on the top side start to leap over and on top of his head. He's covered with at least three now, biting and surging claws into his armor, ready to eat him for a fast meal. He manages to stab one right through its chest, but the others begin to dig in. 
 
Whoost! POP! Bam! Pop! The sniper in the field starts to shoot them off of him, and he tosses them away with a firm grip and a mad growl. He's now bleeding himself which sends those who survived yet injured, into a frothy frenzy to re-attack him.

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''====================Sweet===================='''</font></center>

Sweet sinks beneath the horde of hungry creatures. His balance is increasingly hard to keep. The teeth tearing into his flesh. He whispers something about 'Athena' in garbled angry monster tongue but only angry growls comes out. He sinks further and further in but puts a hand out to keep the others back. Giving a thumbs up. He'd endure this like everything else this place had thrown at him. He grabs one of the creatures by the neck and drags it down with him and all that can be heard is the snapping of his jaws. He works himself back up and frees himself but then the real monsters come out. A big head blasting radiation. He wipes the blood from his eyes and blinks a few times like he can't quite believe what he's seeing. A beam hits him. He keeps slowly moving forward through a shaking pile of bodies and sludge.

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''====================Silverfall===================='''</font></center>

The massive abomination of a head is where Kristos is now charging forward to attack, but he won't be stabbing it now that he figures out that this thing isn't all flesh and bone. He howls out, <<GO FOR THE BIG EYES!>> Tactical advice given on the battle field, he has to pull back in between attempts to pierce through the giant eye balls in the front. His klaive strikes once more at the skull as if attempting to scalp it and destroying the eyes that send forth the burning light beams. He gets hit and his fur begins to singe, sending rivulets of smoke and seared flesh along his hide to melt, as his body attempts to heal mid battle, but he resists the pain. The skull begins to spin with the bear up top, and like a whirling dervish, the warriors are forced to get out of the way. 
 
They are all pushed outward, and Kristos spins as creatures swarm around his legs, and he's forced to send forth his rage and speed to slice one dead, and decapitate another.

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

[[File:GoForTheEyes.webp|400px|center]]

<center><font color=green>'''====================Sleeping-Thunder===================='''</font></center>

Sleeping-Thunder got spun free and thrown to the ground tumbling with a thunderous crash but is right back up, rolling to his feet and running right back in it. Another leap, this time at the thing's face to plunge a claw into its larger eye. Its so gooshy by nature though and now slick as it gets drenched in its own ichor so its hard to get a solid hit but even a grazing shot from a Gurhal's massive claws has to sting. 

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''====================Silverfall===================='''</font></center>

The Abomination Head lets out a clacking of sound of chittering teeth once its larger eye is stabbed clean. It gooshes outward, and the light beams shooting out, begin to lessen. It now has less eyes, and the beams are less radiant in power. And when Sleeping Thunder pulls his claw back, he'll see that the Head has its bone skull melded with something metal within, and a very thin wire filament now dangles out of that open eye socket. It's sizzling, with a spark. The head stops spinning but its teeth sharply open up, about to clamp down on Samson until someone else jumps on top of it, shifting its weight to miss.

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''=====================Maarten======================'''</font></center>

With a loud, “RAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!”, Shields-The-Streets jumps back into action and literally jumps up onto the head floating menacingly above the battleground, the Zarak-Ur loosing their grip on him and falling away. He catches on to the side of the head with his sharpened claws and digs in with all his might, peeling back layers of abominate flesh and unnaturally formed eyes, exposing a skeletal structure underneath that is half bone, half metal. As he does, the head screeches in pain, thrashing about and trying to dislodge the Bone Gnawer from it's flesh. Shields hurls chunks of the creature's flesh down to the ground below, and an abhorrent smelling liquid begins pouring from the wound on the abomination.

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''====================Slouch===================='''</font></center>

As Slouch twists to tear into the next flea-thing, muscles tensing for the killing lunge, the air crackles. A beam of blazing red light snaps across the battlefield from the Big Bad’s Evil Head’s eyes, cutting through smoke and screaming ruin.

Zzzzaaaaap!

Slouch yelps a sharp yip of pain as the beam singes the tip of his Crinos tail, leaving it smoking and twitching. He stumbles, swatting at the scorched fur.

<<HEY! Watch the tail, dipshit! Took me three weeks to grow that back the last time!>> he shouts toward the monstrous head, scowling furiously—but grinning all the same. Because he's still standing. Still grinning. Still in the game.

Around him, the battlefield is chaos—the stink of burning fur, dust, rage, and the copper tang of blood thick in the air. Slouch shakes it off, eyes glinting. <<Fine. You wanna play laser tag? Get in line...>> he growls, squaring for the next strike. And turning to rush the creepy head.

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''====================Kira===================='''</font></center>

They kept coming, for each she would rip and tear Kira would find another lashing out at her, trying to get past her and attack her flank or surge over her allies. One leapt upon her flank, its own claws and teeth attempting to sink into her flesh only to find that striped orange and black fur as unyielding as the mountain itself, hardened by the gifts granted to her. A turn of her head and the Tiger's jaws snapped closed around the throat of the creature, feeling that frantic scrabbling for survival come to an end with a visceral crunch before she would turn, casting it away like waste in the same motion that turned her towards the next foe. And the next, and the next as the world became a blur of claws, blood and rage.

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''====================Ryoko===================='''</font></center>

The quaking ground and the corpses of the monsters littering the ground make treacherous terrain, and even as agile as the vixen was, it caused her to stumble, her blade getting dislodged from her grip. It took her a moment to catch herself and fight back to full standing, then Ryoko reached for the Katana handle sticking from a pile, shaking the shimmering blade clean with a high swing. It doesn't quite feel like her own blade, the balance different, and somehow it seems to pulse in her hand. But it's not too different from her blade, striking true with lightning arcs, chopping off limbs as she holds the line against the tide.

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''=======================Rue========================'''</font></center>

Almost no sooner than Rue feels the sharp pain in her flesh as claws try to pry he from the wall, she sees a crinos form, and faintly glowing whip sailing past her as the fetish whip cracks with life, biting into her assailant - who had only a moment before been biting into Rue! The creature gives a hiss and jerk as the whip pulls it off of the Kami, buying her a reprieve to try and retreat from the onslaught. Her floral cover-up, shuffled free in an attempt to escape, floats behind her for a moment before disappearing.

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''=======================Ryen======================='''</font></center>

It's then that Ryen sees the Giant head full of eyes. Looking to ensure Rue's safety, Walks Like A Whisper does something others might consider crazy ... He takes a running leap at the Giant Head, with no concern of his own safety. It could be said he's smiling, especially seeing Sleeping Thunder come sailing out as well. 
 
Once on the Giant Head, Walks Like A Whisper does what he does best! Cause Mayhem! Balancing on this monstrosity's head, Walks Like A Whisper lashes out with that Sun Whip as if it were an extension of his will. Roaring with all the Rage that he can muster, the Ragabash lashes out to the eyes, blinding it with every stroke of the Whip. The Giant Head lashes out at Walks Like a Whisper, but the efforts seem futile. Dodging with all the grace of a Fianna warrior, or his innate fortitude against the Wyrm sizzling away the punishment. He's struck, bleeding, but seems to be none the worse for wear! 

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

[[File:Beholder.png|400px|center]]

<center><font color=green>'''====================Silverfall===================='''</font></center>

The massive, bulbous eyeball head twirls uncontrollably, its grotesque, swollen surface shimmering with a sickly bluish oily blood that oozes sluggishly from its ruptured veins, glistening under the chaos. As it spins with a relentless ferocity, it threatens to topple the attackers desperately clinging to its cracked, leathery skull, each movement resonating with a sickening squelch. Nearby, the battlefield erupts in sharp, precise sounds, clear clicks and sharp pops, each one marking the deadly accuracy of the sniper's aim as they pick off the monstrous creatures one by one. The creatures, caught off guard, are struck with brutal force, their thick leathery flesh giving way under the impact of Ryoko's blade, causing some to stumble, others to crash to the ground, writhing in pain or succumbing to the deadly barrage. Their bodies twitching as death claims them. 

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''====================Ashton===================='''</font></center>

Ashton flies back to protect the teleportation pillar. Several creatures have found their way to it. Ashton does not want to be stuck here--so he bombs the group and keeps them scurrying away. We are not gonna be stuck on this mountain. Ashton has people he wants to return home to.

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''=====================Gabriel======================'''</font></center>

As Gabriel summons the war spirits, shimmering forms looking like F-15s fly overhead and then dive down to fight the creature before he's launching himself onto it with their assault, clawing and biting, rendering flesh from the monster; severing one of its eyes and getting hit by the others but still managing to go through layers of flesh to find a skeleton wrapped in some sort of metal. This is the work of the Wyrm, and he knows it. And it fills him with rage. 
 
Still, despite being irradiated, he does not appear to have suffered any grievous damage from the creature's assault. He will definitely have to Cleanse himself later, but that's the cost of doing business. Howling, a particularly strong trembling of the earth causes him to fall on his face, but he rises to his feet with some struggle to continue the assault as soon as he is able.

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''====================Silverfall===================='''</font></center>

Injured now, but not giving up on the fight, Poppa Joe begins to quickly summon insectoid spirits of the area and sends out gnosis to feed them. Howling for the call to aide and fight in battle, a torrent of hungry locust spirits heed the call from the outside perimeter of trees. Those who come in start to circle the battlefield and then swarm the creatures to begin to land and feed upon them, one by one. It may seem insidious at first, but when they leave a creature ravaged and gritty to the mere base of flesh sticking off bone, it may prove frightening. 
 
The old shaman falls to one knee, as blood seeps out from under his armor. He struggles to break a healing talen to be used as his wounds run deep.
 
<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''====================Silverfall===================='''</font></center>

Through some miracle, Sweet makes it out of the pile. He's covered in bite marks, radiation scars all over his back. He looks burnt, like he's just become one big overcooked rack of ribs all the smaller monsters were digging into. He trudges slowly back away from the carnage, rubbing the burns with his big hands in crinos. His eyes look delirious like he's not sure if he's awake or not. It's like the power of the sun was cooking his brain. The radiation knocked him out but he raged back to life and kept fighting without missing a beat.

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''====================Samson===================='''</font></center>

Sleeping-Thunder fell again after his last strike and braced under a barrage of eye beams before rising up and leaping above the creature again, limbs spread wide, as he digs in and body checks the thing into the ground. Roaring to the others >>FINISH IT!<< as its remaining eyes try to blast him off it.

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''====================Silverfall===================='''</font></center>

Kristos runs full force into the giant head now, body slamming it as if planning to sheer will force send it toppling over like a bowling ball as it begins to weaken. His claws sink deep into the last eye socket, and the entire momentum of the head gets pushed right over at Maarten, for the next attack. Half his claws and arm are now sunk deep within the sensitive exterior, and he growls loudly as if he received a sudden shock. He grits and hunkers his own weight, along with Samson, and the others to get the deadly beast under control. <<Anchor it!>>

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''=====================Maarten======================'''</font></center>

Continuing his fight with the floating-head abomination, Shields-The-Streets rears back to attack it again, having the suddenly bright idea to try and slam it to the ground with a Falling Touch. Rushing toward the abomination as it spins to meet him, Shields misjudges his distance rather spectacularly, and instead of his intended goal of clawing and slamming the creature, it slams into him hard, launching him backward into a pile of shattered rocks. He lands there with a thud and winces from the impact, but rolls down off the rocks and up to his feet, catching his breath for just a moment and taking stock of the fight and where he needs to go next to ensure the Sept wins the day.

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''=======================Ryen======================='''</font></center>

With Sleeping Thunder rendering the Giant Head's skull open, the blue, ichorous blood makes footing a bit rough. In one final try, the Giant Head manages to throw Walks Like A Whisper off it's head. In the free fall, the Giant Head turns and tries to catch Walks Like A Whisper in its toothy, drooling maw. Only by the grace of Gaia and that Fianna luck, does Walks Like A Whisper manage to only get his fur yanked, the Giant Head's teeth grazing skin that seems to suspend Walks Like A Whisper in mid air. When the Head tries to open it's slathering maw for a better bite, Walks Like A Whisper twists away and lands on the ground, rolling and getting out of the way as he gets back to his feet. The respite only lasts a second before Walks Like A Whisper is whirling his Whip and chasing off to finish the job. 

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''=======================Rue========================'''</font></center>

Rue, bounds from the wall, retreating from the chaos in a loping stride as she briefly drops to all four, before the edges of her become hard to find. Her form taking on the blessings of Gaia that help her blend to the world around her, like some terrestrial octopus disappearing into a cropping of rocks or coral. Or like....the Predator, a movie that came out in 1987 and was firmly seated into cultural knowledge. Nearly invisible, save the trail of blood that follows her, before seeping into the hungry ground.

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''====================Kleio===================='''</font></center>

The mag in Kleio's rifle is getting low, her hand dropping to her back pocket to grab the next in preparation. As she slides it out she's suddenly jerked out of her stance by one of the things grabbing a mouthful of her calf. It sinks it's teeth in, and the kin yells in pain and anger. The rifle swings around, firing a shot between it's eyes, to free herself; a foot lashing out to kick the corpse away before she ejects the magazine and slaps the next one in. Sliding over to her rock once more she looks to see how everyone else is doing.

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''====================Silverfall===================='''</font></center>

Locusts spirits speedily swarm over the creature that was shot between the eyes and envelop it until its laid bare with red flesh sticking to bone. They then fly over above Kleio, not touching her, but move on to devour the next creature in proximity.

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

[[File:Locusts.png|300px|center]]

<center><font color=green>'''====================Kira===================='''</font></center>

It was like a river breaking against a boulder. A boulder shaped like a very angry tiger-crinos! Fair-flame's fur might have held off every slash that might lacerate or maw that might tear chunks from her striped form with that same rock-like fortitude, but those stripes were almost lost in the coating of blood and viscera from the creatures she'd torn through. It had seemed unending, fueling the violent wrath tinged in a little desperation to try and keep the others from getting overwhelmed...but they were thinning, less of them were throwing themselves at her, less of them to be chased down. 
 
Her roar filled the air, perhaps another offering in itself to Lord Earthquake in thanks to the aid offered...or maybe just an expression of that primal rush that came with the drive to keep the others and herself alive.

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''====================Ryoko===================='''</font></center>

As she climbs over another dead body, the quaking earth throws Ryoko forward, her stumbling carrying her a few feet while the left hand clenches on the found weapon. Then, just a foot away, something catches the odd light, and she reaches for the grip of her own blade, sending a howling shriek to the otherworldly sky as she starts to fight two bladed. 
 
Swing after swing comes from her, at first some what clumsy with the altered weight and balance of having to handle one blade per hand, but then it gets more fluent, the rage fueling her as she chops through the hordes, holding the thin red line, and giving the others the time and air to deal with the big monsters. As they throw themselves at her, she cuts them down, just a few scratches left on her as she leaves a body count behind.

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''====================Silverfall===================='''</font></center>

With it's last bit of shuddering in death throws, the Giant Head falls, displacing those that were riding it to the ground. The screams and collapsing earth finally slows to subside. As the dust settles, the heroes stand victorious among the remains of their foes. The mountain has been sealed off, settling once again as Earthquake finishes his full on sundering. However, intermittent tremors and after shocks will continue to keep the area unsettled for some time to come. All that's left now is the carnage, and the blessings Gaia has bestowed upon her children who have survived. 

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''====================Slouch===================='''</font></center>

The last echoes of the fight fade into the stone and the settling dust. The mountain shudders no more. With a low grunt, Slouch shifts, bones cracking and muscles twisting, back down into his gangly, awkward Homid form. His over-sized jacket hangs loose on his frame, the sleeves frayed and stained with dirt and. . . something darker. He scratches absently at the back of his neck, squinting around with tired, wild eyes.

The battlefield sprawls in silence now, save for the distant clatter of loose stones and the faint wheeze of settling debris. The smell of burnt fur, scorched metal, and old soup is sharp in the air. "Alright... who's still breathin’?" Slouch mutters, dragging a hand down his face as he takes a cautious step forward over the cracked ground, careful not to trip on shattered bone or twisted wire.

His gaze sweeps across the space while looking for anyone left crumpled or moving, groaning or still. Packmates. Strangers. Spirits, maybe. The quiet aftermath always felt the strangest. No shouting, no crashing, just the creak and groan of a battlefield cooling off. "Hey... anybody need a hand...?" he calls out softly, voice carrying in the hollow space, as he picks his way deeper into the dust and ruin, not sure yet who—or what—he’s about to find.

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''=====================Gabriel======================'''</font></center>

Rising to his feet after collapsing that once, the Theurge watches as the spirits and other Garou continue the assault on the larger creature. He rejoins, launching himself up to grab onto it and start slashing at it with sharpened claws. 
 
Once the creature has been successfully taken down - and more than one attempt to break its skull through is done by shoving his claws violently through the structure, Gabriel drops down to survey the battlefield, in silence, and then back to the summoning circle. He's climbing his way back when another tremor hits and he falls flat to the ground, before doing this again by climbing up and vaulting over.

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''====================Ryoko===================='''</font></center>

While the head falls, the smaller mountain dwellers left behind are cut off from retreat. Pressed into the corner, they still fight, or at least try to evade, as the blades of the Koryo cut them down, the numbers dwindling fast. Dismembered arms, legs and heads litter the field next to the corpses of the fallen. As the silver arcs of the katanas slowly fade from their restless swinging, it does change the backdrop sound some, the shrieks of surprise vanishing from the soundtrack as they are replaced by groans of pain by those unlucky to survive the first impacts.

Stopping on a pile, there's a flinch on Ryoko's face as, for a moment, she puts down the blade she had grabbed in the heat of battle to pick up a scrap of fabric to wipe down her own katana and sheath it. Then, picking it back up again, she eyes the strange blade while giving it a wipe too, the markings on it unfamiliar. Getting to her feet, she waves over to those that surround the head, calling out to them. "All clean up there?"

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

[[File:DeadBeholder.jpg|400px|center]]

<center><font color=green>'''====================Silverfall===================='''</font></center>

Poppa Joe continues to bleed horribly and collapses on the field. He ends up looking at the sky once the earth stops trembling and begins to take a few slow breaths. Those creatures on the field aggressively tore into him once he started building those earthen walls, and they gunned right for the old garou. But now the battle is over, and he gives one last crinkly eye look back to the locust spirits once they are finished devouring the ones still twitching on the field. It isn't long before they taper off to return whence they came. He sighs in final satisfaction. The fight is over.

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''=====================Maarten======================'''</font></center>

The battle ended, Maarten walks over to where the head has fallen, holding his shoulder as the last bits of the bite there knit themselves back together. He pushes it once with his foot to make sure it's actually dead and satisfied, turns around to regroup with his Sept, helping anyone who is down get back to the base camp. Once he gets there, he immediately sits down on a bit of open ground and starts to revert to his human form, while pulling his normal clothes out of his messenger bag he stashed at the camp. As he puts them on, he says, “I have new respect for Hot Pockets now, I feel like that creature tried to cook me like one."

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''====================Kira===================='''</font></center>

Surging forwards, the abomination before her was pounced down to the dirt, pinned to the ground with those wicked claws. Amber eyes filled with the 'Bright Queen's rage taking in the sight of her prey before the claws were torn free with a vicious snarl in a brutal end to the monster. Fair-Flame would turn, those same eyes surging to find the next creature to cut down....but none remained.

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''====================Silverfall===================='''</font></center>

Kristos steps forward to give a shake of his klaive to get the blood and filth off the blade. He stabs at least two twitchers on the ground as he makes his way in closer to Rue, and Kleio to look them over, and then at last Poppa Joe, and the rest of the Gaians still standing on the field. His nostrils flare as the Shadow Lord grows pensive and then he lifts his head to look over the battlefield, and the fallen. 'See to our wounded first. Everyone span out and make sure the rest of our enemies are dead."

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''====================Kleio===================='''</font></center>

Seeing that everyone is out of harms way, Kleio gets to her feet, slinging her rifle over her back once more. There's a little bit of hobbling as she walks over, the pant leg over her calf wet with goo and blood. It doesn't seem to be bad enough to slow her down, as she heads over to check in with the rest, and see if there's anything else she can do.

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''=======================Ryen======================='''</font></center>

With the Head down, Walks Like A Whisper makes his way back to Sleeping Thunder's side. Surveying the carnage, Walks Like A whisper takes the time to ensure Rue's well, that there's no other casualties for Gaia. 

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''====================Samson===================='''</font></center>

Sleeping-Thunder lumbers around as the battle ends and the available enemies thin. And eventually run out, occasionally he stomps on one just to make certain of it. Though he does start clearing a space for Triage. >>Bring the Wounded here!

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''=======================Rue========================'''</font></center>

Rue emerges from some nearby rocks, literally and figurative, her camouflage falling away in ripples of her skin that return to something more or less like the woman they know, as she limps towards Poppa Joe and Sleeping-Thunder, less to tend to her own wounds which were a bit of thigh mashed up by teeth and calves torn by seeking claws, and more to check on the wounded despite having none of the healing gifts so many of her kind did. Her instincts required her to always understand the cost of an engagement. She surveyed the wounded, just as she surveyed the fallen enemy, and stragglers dispatched here and there.

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''=====================Gabriel======================'''</font></center>

When all is said and done, Peacebringer regards the fruits of their efforts and flicks tainted blood from his claws. He quickly shifts back to Homid when there are no more foes to engage, and starts a Rite of Cleansing to be able to rid himself and their surroundings of the Wyrmish presence left behind by the larger creature.

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''====================Silverfall===================='''</font></center>

Poppa Joe erupts into laughter from his place on the ground, but he galumphs it down his throat with a croaked bark. "I need me a damn root beer and a medic." He's down. But barely alive. He whistles outward from his bleeding chest wound when he breathes.

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''====================Samson===================='''</font></center>

Samson has retrieved his backpack and gotten the trauma kit out, making himself busy tending the wounded and treating whoever he can, less glorious but a much longer and harder fight than the monsters.

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

[[File:BattleOver.png|400px|center]]

<center><font color=green>'''=======================Rue========================'''</font></center>

Eventually Rue holds still long enough for a field dressing, unlike the shifters that surround her, she does not regenerate. Gaia had afforded her a great many gifts but none that help when the damage has been done. Her eyes though rove over the battered and bloodied, slowly nodding her head, they would survive. But then her gaze turns to Poppa Joe with less certainty, her expression pinching together in a measure of concern, before she stares back over the remnants of the brief battle turned siege. <<Not yet Winking Moon, you are so close to your dream, not yet.>> It's more entreating than an order, and not even levied at the man himself as he's tended too, more said for her own comfort as if her will could shape the moment and buy him more time on this earth, but if that worked, other people she'd lost would still be alive....

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''=====================Maarten======================'''</font></center>

Once he finishes dressing, Maarten goes to check on his packmates and make sure they are whole.

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''====================Kira===================='''</font></center>

The big-headed creature had been slain by others, its tide of allies cut down by her own hands and the hands of those who'd made the same stand. Her heart was pounding, muscles surging with the furious energy yet to settle...but Kira's mind would turn to the injured, to turn her gift of healing to the injured among their number. 
 
But first, the roar of triumph would fill the air...a sound to either join the others in celebration or to simply signal to her pack and the others that Fair-Flame hadn't been snuffed out today.

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''====================Kleio===================='''</font></center>

Not one for celebrating after a fight, Kleio just finds herself a spot to sit, arms folding as she takes a deeper breath and lets it out slowly. Coming down off the adrenaline high, she goes back to keeping an eye out, not able to relax entirely after that.

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''====================Sweet===================='''</font></center>

Sweet's tribe was one of survivors and he few better than him to take the brunt of a toxic attack. He spits out a big glob of blood onto some of the fallen enemies then takes a knee, huffing and puffing while he waits for medical attention and the next step of this ultra-ultramarathon. He shifts down to glabro and just lies on the ground. "Where's....my boom...box?" Is about all he can muster.

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''====================Silverfall===================='''</font></center>

Camera Pan into the Treeline ----> Something ATE the boom box. Sweet will later find it in the woods nearby chomped on and garbled, with half the bits and pieces eaten by creatures flayed alive by some war spirits.

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''=======================Ryen======================='''</font></center>

Looking to the closed off mountain, Walks Like A Whisper finally coils his whip, hanging it on his belt before letting out a triumphant howl! While not a medic, he will take the time to ensure everyone is well and needs no help. Or finishing off the stragglers that aren't quite gone. 

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''====================Ashton===================='''</font></center>

With the head having finally gone down, Ashton flies over to investigate it. He's missing feathers on his chest, and it looks like a nasty burn. He looks at the wires coming out of it. "That's...that raises a lot of questions." He doesn't have the answers though. Having seen what he could about the head, he flies back to the teleportation pillar to guard it just in case.

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''====================Ryoko===================='''</font></center>

Filthy and covered in blood and grime, the redhead threads back through the murky battleground, back up the slopes that are treacherous from spilled blood and fallen limbs. It's a little bit like wading through a swamp as she makes it to the cresting spot where they had gathered before the fight and ritual. The looted weapon is almost flamboyantly presented over her shoulder as Ryoko makes her way there, but less for show, but because there's no good spot to put it. Her head cants as she does a headcount, glancing over to the fallen head and the warchief, then wandering towards those that had engaged in the ritual wrestling. "Counts as a victory I guess.."

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''====================Slouch===================='''</font></center>
 
<center><font color=grey style="font-size: 15pt; text-shadow: 5px 5px 8px purple;">CAMERA CLOSE-UP on SLOUCH.</font></center> 
 
Later, Slouch sits on a cracked slab of stone near the edge of the ruined battlefield.

He fiddles absently with a strange, half-melted scrap of metal he'd scooped from the dirt after the battle. A forgotten thing, dug out of the world’s garbage pile. Like him. “Bet you got a story,” he murmurs to it, voice low, almost kind. "Like everything down here."

Slouch breathes in slow, letting the quiet settle into his bones. His tail—now gone—twitches by habit that isn’t there. The ghost of Crinos shape still lingering at the edge of his senses. They’d survived. Somehow. One more ugly thing crawled up from the world’s rotten gut and squashed back down again. But there’d be more. There always were.

He glances over his shoulder toward the others but his gaze soon drifts back to the little scrap in his hand. “Gotta keep it,” he says softly. "Might need it. Might mean somethin’. Might be nothin’ at all."

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=green>'''====================Silverfall===================='''</font></center>

Kristos shores up the groups with a low rumble, and assembles them once more, "Let's get the wounded carried out and back to home base. Our next SG teams will be coming in to do the clean up and we'll begin building our base camp and our defenses to hold the mountain." He looks to a solid spot that gives a better view of the mountain. And he points to a rising that would give them a better advantage. 
 
"There. That's where we'll defend our base." He waits for another after shock tremor from earthquake to subside, and then finishes his orders. "Alright! Let's move on out! Triage has been set up in one of the school rooms. If you are hurt, check in there and get tended to. Assignments for further siege patrols will be posted for rotation." 

<center><font color=green>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

<center><font color=red>'''====================Silverfall===================='''</font></center>

 
<center><font color=red style="font-size: 15pt; text-shadow: 5px 5px 8px purple;">'''END SCENE...... Credits Roll.'''</font></center>
 

<center><font color=red>'''=================================================='''</font></center>

[[File:MountainEnd.webp|500px|center]]

[[Category:Logs]]