Stavanger Bay between scylla and charybdis
devil worshipper with a heart of gold
304 Posts
Ooc — KJ
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#1
Pack Activity 
@Skellige @Doe @Murgash @Solveig @Rouge @Mannoah @Qilaq @Julep @Isengrim

This is a RECOMMENDED thread for all adult Blackrock Depths members. If you do not participate in this thread, it should be assumed that your character had good reason and was informed of the information given regardless. There will be three rounds, each of them a week apart, and it is totally fine if you just post one sentence in each round saying your character arrived and listened to what was said.

This round will end on December 12, 2016, or when all members have posted.

Szymon needs two aspiring Scouts to travel to Donnelaith and Teaghlaigh and deliver messages. I am prioritizing @Solveig and @Rouge but you do not need to accept. If there is no interest within Blackrock Depths, I will open this thread to a wolf each from Teaghlaigh and Donnelaith.

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A disturbance just a few yards offshore caught Szymon’s attention; narrowing his golden eyes, he leapt nimbly atop a tallish outcropping of sedimentary rock to increase his field of vision. At first glance, the black-banded angler believed the Sea had suffered a fish kill of great magnitude, for as far as he could see, silver-sided bunker riddled the Depths. While some of the fish were alive and well, their dorsal fins cutting through the choppy surface like so many tiny gold and silver sails, an overwhelming number of their brethren appeared to be floating listlessly on their sides. One tattered ear swayed uncertainly to the side as Szymon hopped off his vantage point to get a closer look — and what he saw brought a greedy grin to his roguish countenance. The waters were so saturated with menhaden that scores of the fish were unable to swim back down from the surface, leaving them free for the taking — and given the mild nature of mossbunker, it would be easy for less experienced fishers to practice their skills. Too, with winter just around the corner, the Blackrock warband’s inland allies would do well to stock up on their reserves.

Stepping back a pace, Szymon bowed low in gratitude, his notched forelegs stretched forward and his narrow muzzle tucked against his chest. The Sea had blessed anew the wolves who honored Her so faithfully, though he knew that on the flipside of every blessing was a warning. The wolves were not the only predators who would find this bounty to their liking. He recalled the school of bluefish he’d seen while fishing with Ragna and surmised that it was only a matter of time before they — and other predators he’d seen in the bay, such as tuna, drums, mackerel, rockfish, and even sharks — took advantage of the bounty laid before them. Bluefish were tenacious creatures with sharp teeth and barbed fins, and their tendency to escalate into feeding frenzies would make the ocean shallows dangerous. Though the ocean would remain as much as twenty degrees warmer than inland water bodies through the winter, it was still cold enough to shock the unblessed — and the possibility of their being larger and fiercer predatory fish in the vicinity was another reason to exercise caution. Teaghlaigh and Donnelaith would have to be warned.

Tattered ears splayed out to the sides of Szymon’s narrow skull as he considered the discomfort of having to explain things in such detail — not just once, but multiple times — but as the autumn sun crept toward its zenith he found within himself a measure of Ishild’s cunning. The dark female who had slipped from the warband’s ranks for a time was itching to test her mettle — and with her abandonment of the depths, a certain atonement was in order. Szymon would ask her to relay the information to one or both of the neighboring packs, and if she succeeded in her quest, Scout would gain a new measure of respect from the black-banded Cairn. A second name flitted through his mind, however. Doe had asked one of the newer recruits to deliver messages, a female named Solveig. For efficiency’s sake, he could ask one of the aspiring scouts to go to Donnelaith while the other went to Teaghlaigh — or, if one of them failed in her task, he could turn easily to the other.

Tipping his head back, the frail heat of the afternoon sun warming his back, Szymon threw back his head and called for his pack in a sonorous, bass-toned howl. When the last note died away, he repeated his summons — emphasizing that what he had to say was important indeed.
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i better go it alone
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#2
murgash was convinced he had died and gone to heaven; as far as his piggy eye could strain to see, there was fish. bountiful, endless, scores of piscetarian delights -- a boon for any creature, especially one as scavenge-y and hapless at hunting as he.

he let loose a roar of delight and charged into the cold fray, heedless of any danger or peril that could overcome him. he snapped at fins and raked the throbbing sea with his teeth, his drool outpouring into the salty brine as he swallowed his fill. his glut was endless as the waves of thrashing fish, and he ate and ate and ate and ate and ate...

until a howl commanded him; sourly he paused, his cheeks swollen with struggling fish. he swallowed and felt the fins slap down his throat and wriggle in his stomach: if only women were so bountiful! and easy!

he supposed he could take a break from his gluttonous binge, and with slow steps he dragged himself from the shallows and made towards syzmon. he was overwhelmingly aware of the sharp nip of wind that hounded his backside; his hocks felt stiff and his stomach full but cold - so cold.

it occurred to murgash that if big stripey trembleguy had something to say, it might be important: he dearly hoped whatever the announcement was, it was along the tune of syzmon bequeathing his high-born woman doe to good ole noble murgy. he assumed that now that doe had given birth to some squalling pups, syzmon wouldn't be using her anymore, right? so, dibs?
morpheus knows no mercy
214 Posts
Ooc — Kermy
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#3
She had not seen Rannoch in a couple of days but she enjoys his company more than others, she found, that those several days felt like an eternity. She’d gone to the places she found him and where his scent had once been thick only to come up empty handed. She’s just approaching Skellige’s den shared by her friend when the call is made, her ears falling back upon her head as she searches quickly. Nothing seems terribly out of the ordinary, the few times she’d been here, but ultimately tears herself away before she gets into trouble when the sequel howl is made. Qilaq leaves a messy trail in the sand and dirt as she moves toward the call of her father, trying to settle the worry in the back of her mind.

Her eyes set to her father before she peers around him and out to the waters but she disregards it for the moment as she settles up close. Her head turns to watch the rest of the wolves pool and keeps a close eye out for her friend to show, for how could he ignore such an important call?
she had a mind like a box of fireworks
and hands that played recklessly with matches
218 Posts
Ooc — Raven
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#4
At the sound of a distant howl within her newfound pack Rouge purked her ears as they twisted to better hear and pinpoint where the call was comming from. She waited for the call to cease before lightly jogging in the direction. She had kept away from the pack members mostly and hadn't been in contact with any of them other then the two she had meet what she joined. 

As she jogged she could see numerious fish laying about the shores, somewhat magically and unreal. These would be a nice snack but not now, now she needed to head toward the call. After weaving her way through the displaced fish and began to see where Szymon stood. Along with a few othes she hadn't meet yet. Once in few she slowed her jog to a walk and stood somewhat outside the circle were everyone stood, but still in Szymon's line of sight.
 
la llorona
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Ooc — Moosebrawn
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#5
Doe shepherded her three remaining pups toward the call of her husband, recognizing the summons as a call to hunt. If she could find someone to watch the mischievous three, she would participate. Otherwise, the red mother would simply remain in the shallows with the kids.

It was there that she headed, now, nosing @Whiskey over the sand to encourage her to keep up while she called to the other two aloud: "@Julep! @Isengrim! Don't go too far!"

They had never been so close to the shore before, and although Doe was confident she could rescue one or two from the surf, it would be annoying (and frightening) to have to do so. That in mind, she placed herself between the curious kids and the deepness of the ocean, allowing them to play in the weakest part of the surf as they headed toward the tide pools.

She was gladdened to see that Qilaq had come as well, but she did not ask the girl to watch over her younger siblings, desiring that she have some time with Szymon in the sea. "See Qilaq?" she said to the Three, tail whisking happily. "One day when you're big and strong, you'll get to go into the water like her and Papa."
devil worshipper with a heart of gold
304 Posts
Ooc — KJ
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#6
@Skellige @Murgash @Doe @Tetsubō @Issun @Sage @Rouge @Ravus @Jagoda
@Qilaq @Julep @Prialux @Isengrim @Moorhen @Sandpiper @Redshank @Smokestep

This is a RECOMMENDED thread for all adult Blackrock Depths members. If you do not participate in this thread, it should be assumed that your character had good reason and was informed of the information given regardless. There will be three rounds, each of them a week apart, and it is totally fine if you just post one sentence in each round saying your character arrived and listened to what was said. This is the second round. This thread is fluid, meaning it can happen pretty much any time you want it to in your personal timelines as long as it follows basic rules [no crazy time travel, et cetera].

This round will end on December 29, 2016, or when all members have posted.

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Turning his head to nuzzle gently at his first daughter, Szymon waited calmly as Murgash and Rouge made their approach; Doe was greeted with a low, sonorous rumble that crooned into a soft howl as he looked lovingly upon her, his ginger-laced tail lashing eagerly. Thanks to the plum whiskey he’d consumed in order to unlock his wooden tongue, his words were fluid and confident as he intoned with pride: “The Sea has blessed us with more fish than our caches can hold. It seems only fitting that we extend this blessing to our allies: Teaghlaigh and Donnelaith. Scout,” he singled out @Rouge with a flinty golden glance, “on your way to do the Leviathan’s bidding, you will bear this information to our neighbors.” It didn’t occur to the black-banded Argosy to ask the dark female whether she even wanted such a task; he knew her as “Scout” and therefore he would call upon her to do as her makeshift name suggested, just as Skellige did.

“Although the Sea is calm now, Her benevolence comes with a price; larger predators will come to feed on these fish, which are known as menhaden or mossbunker, and some of these predators may cause harm to swimmers. No wolf is to swim until the swarm and the ensuing frenzy have passed,” warned the beta, his words guttural with vehemence as he gave his command. “I have seen several groups of bluefish in the area, and they are given to feeding frenzies; their sharp teeth and fins have wounded many a hapless fisherman.”

Now that he was done being Mr. Safety Wolf, Szymon settled back on his haunches to smooth a lick across the top of Qilaq’s head. “For now, though,” he said, “we will fish and feast. Those unfamiliar to fishing will benefit from such easy practice. Do you understand?”
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la llorona
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Ooc — Moosebrawn
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Tucking Whiskey into her side to keep her from the chill, Doe laid upon the sand and listened to her mate speak, tail swishing absently across the sand. It made her heart swell to hear the man speak with such authority - she would be sure to make her pleasure known to him later that day.
218 Posts
Ooc — Raven
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#8
The comment was directed right at Rouge as Scymon referred to her as "scout". A for the time Rouge didn't mind that being her nickname for the pack. She hadn't given her name to many wolves and it almost seemed as though the leaders of the pack had made a way for her to continue with her hidden name. 

Her mission was to seek out their neiboring allied packs and let them know of their abundance of fish as well as the possible danger that they may expose. Rouge nodded to the male summarizing what he had said to her back to him. "Tell the neiboring packs about the fish and the possible dangers that may come with them. Understood." She was ready to start her mission and unless she was spoken to again she would head of to begin.
 
90 Posts
Ooc — Anthony
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#9
Julep did not shy away from the opportunity she was being given that day. Become a lit ball of excitement, the pink-nosed Cairn jumped her way to the coast where she knew from past experiences what she would find. The great blue, the cold, entertaining wet giant that spread for forever after the sand, and she couldn't wait to get there again. She repeatedly pulled her brother by his ears/face/paws/anything she could easily grasp before jumping once more just a little bit further away from mom every time, and Whiskey would get multiple encouraging yips and yaps so that she could test the waters once they reached the shallower pools.

Mom had allowed them to play around her while she blocked them away from the deeper parts where Julep would one day find out swam great dangers. But for now, all Julep wanted was to follow her father and Qilaq into the deeper pools and play with the fish. "Cans Joop go now mah??" asked the adventurous child with hopeful eyes, blinking back and forth from mom to dad and Isengrim too. She knew that he would find it unbearable to see his sister go further into the water than himself, and she wanted to see the envy in his sorry eyes.
devil worshipper with a heart of gold
304 Posts
Ooc — KJ
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#10
Part two of this pack activity is forthcoming!

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While the Blackrock Depths warband began to venture into the shallows, filling the caches with fish before the long winter, Szymon turned to @Rouge. “Perform this task for me, and you will be rewarded,” he told her, dismissing her with a brusque nod of his head. “To Donnelaith and Teaghlaigh — remember.” Then, without another word, he turned to the Sea and began to pluck the slippery fish from the water, making certain that his wolves were putting the food in the caches — not their stomachs.
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