Night of the Jackal-Initial Preparations

[Quinn Durant]

Quinn listened to her Ladyship and nodded in agreement. "You are correct. We don't know if its starving yet. Or if it has hunting capabilities, as we do. Good call out." Quinn nodded with a smile of assurance. Her Ladyship was not going to offend the Shadow by pointing out facts. Quite the opposite. "Let's set the traps. What would you say to one in a more open spot, and one inside the hole here just deep enough we can reach and grab it quickly, but its not immediately apparent at the opening? That way if it tries to dart in the hole, it goes right into one of the traps, if it goes another direction, we have another trap to put it in?" She looked from her Ladyship to J.C, checking in with him. "Is that how you pictured the capture in your initial assessment J.C?" J.C was the expert of this area. She would trust his word.

She was turned fully to J.C now. "We have the other team, hopefully with that information under wraps, we will be able to fill in some of the gaps of our knowledge. When the other team gets here to join the effort, we have to have everything set for all systems go. Let's let Clay, and the lady start setting the traps, and you and I start making some cover for our compadres.....sound good to you?" She looked like she had almost forgot something. "Oh, I better text Eminem and have her start over here so she isn't late for the festivities. I want her stationed a little further afield to act as a goalie should it try to run, Maeve can move very very fast. Now J.C, I need something from you..."

"If you were gunna make a break a for it, from standing here, just outside the hole to the inner haven, what direction would you run? That will have to be a choke point, for us to watch the closest. Do you agree with me on that?"

"And one point further J.C. I take this extremely seriously. We are in charge of this investigation, so if anything goes wrong, and a Kindred dies because we didn't plan this thoroughly enough, it is on us. That is what this shared role means for us. Understand I am looking out for our best interests as well as the others who are not so easily able to fight or even flee if things go south. Please understand that I respect your insights. We are better together, as a team than what we would ever be as individuals, apart."

Quinn already had her phone in her hand texting Maeve to come to the spot.

[Maeve]

Maeve receives the text from Quinn and gets herself ready. Oh great, a domain activity. She doesn't entirely know why, but she's somewhat bitter. Bitter about life, bitter about her sire, bitter about the bullshite that has been handed her way. Though, that's life right? At least choco-tacos might be in her future. They exist over here right?

The Shadow makes her way to the gathering spot wearing a pair of black cargo pants, a simple, black scoop-neck tank top, and a leather jacket, concealing her thin kevlar underneath. With her is a small pack carrying her lock-picking tools, duct tape, flashlight, and sheathed bowie knife. Her blue-hair is a disheveled mess, but 95% of the time, when isn't it? She's forgettable, so what will it matter after a couple of minutes, right?

She approaches the group quietly, making her way from shadow to shadow. Looking between the others, she gives a simple nod. Go ahead and bullshit with that polite crap - this isn't court. She won't give it. This is a mission, not a dang charity event. She looks directly to Quinn, "Sup?"

[Jennifer Hazelton]

Jennifer affixes her own ear piece, switching on the device. A good as time to test the equipment as any. Never go into battle with untested equipment… a memory whispers in her mind. It sounded like something from her research, not her own experience.
The Nosferatu listens to JC’s points, nodding slightly.
“I’ll be watching my date closely. I think if we have at least two quiet people watching the approach, we could get a sense of the creature’s build as they approach.”
The physical build. The Supernatural aspects that the Blood lent would not be easily seen, proven by the own Blood Gifts that she enjoyed. She again toyed with what the Priscus had said earlier. If the creature could be Kindred. It could have been taught gifts by other Clans, or stolen them in nefarious or forbidden ways.
“I do wonder if it’s a hyena type predator. Hyenas readily scavenge from human corpses. I recall reading some history on a war in Africa where hyenas fed on the dead. Those that did so were more aggressive at night with humans.”
Jennifer replies as Quinn gracefully accepts information without becoming defensive. Jennifer makes a note of this.

3 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-05-03 13:04:05	Jennifer Hazelton rolls 6 to Academics (10 Again)	4, 8, 7, 2, 7, 10, 8	3 successes

The Nosferatu states. She had a wide range of academic interests, and she was attempting to call up some on predators and scavengers. She hoped it wasn't too far out of date. She would need to find some recent studies... So far, there was no evidence of the ‘Jackal creature’ attacking an aware Kine. No attacks on Kindred as yet. Her mind immediately began to turn that over, a snail insidious at finding purchase on a weakness of prey. Would Kindred report if they had been attacked? Would fear of humiliation or gossip, or worse, inviting future attack, keep someone from reporting an attack?
A mental note was made to keep track of sightings of the Kindred in the Domain. Another strong surge of emotion rolled over her, soon turned into a new conviction for the Nosferatu. I will be vigilant over my Family.

As Quinn moves onto the traps, Jennifer studies the area for a moment. Best to use the best minds for this, and her eyes flicked to Dirt Nap. As this happens, she pauses to acknowledge Maeve's addition.

“Evening.” She replies politely.

“Clay.” She walks over to the Gangrel. She might spend more time on Maeve later, but right now she expected the Mekhet Priscus to direct the wayward sister. See if she was still around next month.
“I won’t be offended if it doesn’t suit.” She replies to his comment about the expensive communication device.
“If your coyote friend were to walk up to here.” Referencing to why they were here, evalating the Haven of his fellow Gangrel. Even now, she stands sideways to the Haven, not indicating where it could be at all. Not even a gesture to Dirt Nap and she gives the Haven not another glance. She looks at Dirt Nap. She was behaving as though there could be observers. They were not getting intel from her movements and actions if she could help it.
“What would your approach be? Perhaps you could conceal the first trap there?” She waits a bit to confer with Dirt Nap.
Already her mind is churning over what she saw of the interior of the haven, considering where she would place the second trap.

[Seryna]

Please give a Perception roll with a - 2 modifier

[JC Smith]

Dirt seemed like he had additional questions throughout the conversation from time to time. However, none were actually asked until the very end and those were basically rhetorical.

“I was expecting only one trap within the hole, but the more the better, so long as we a way to funnel it.”

JC considered her question. If he were trapped here which way would he go? And the answer, as always, was unfortunately, it depends. Downhill offered open space but a chance to be surrounded. Along the wall meant having something at your back, but more likely to get cornered. Industrial complex had plenty of places to hide. Going to the camp would let you disappear into in the crowd.

1 success

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-05-03 16:16:32	Ram rolls 7 to Wits+Surv (1s Subtract)	5, 4, 9, 5, 4, 2, 7	1 success

“I’d head out from the entrance while trying to turn towards the camp,” he finally said after a minute or so of contemplation. “But reinforcing means leaving the other side weaker, it would be an easy switch to head that way. We’d have to leave a deliberate choke point. Which could work, so long as it didn't look obvious.” He finished positively. So long as the Jackal didn’t see it for what it was.


“I understand,” he said, realizing as she spoke that he was future casting “Just worrying about things further down the line. You’re right, we should be focusing on the present.”

Then came the worthless whelp next addition to their team. JC would let others bring her up to speed. He didn’t have it in him right now.

3 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-05-03 15:07:44	JC Smith rolls 7 to Wits+Comp (Trained Observer negates penalty) (10 Again)	2, 3, 5, 8, 10, 3, 2, 10, 5	3 successes

[Dirt Nap]

Dirt Nap is silent, observing as the Lady Hazelton and Quinn both seem focused on reining in J.C. or working on him anyway.

Seems like they are picking up on something in him, like weakness. Whether they're saying it or not, they're pointing him out as the weak link, by how they act.



Then Maeve arrives, and Lady Hazelton asks him about the trap, the first one. But she's acting all of a sudden like even the things they just talked about open like are a big secret. Something changed, and Maeve is the most obvious thing to think is the reason, whether right or wrong, seems like maybe Lady Hazelton doesn't quite trust Maeve, or at least her discretion maybe.

Dirt Nap nods towards Maeve, cordial like, polite and respectful. "Evening, Ma'am." He says softly. His tone is as the words, polite, but his demeanor and posture have a bit of a readiness to pounce and feed in them.

She asks about the first trap, making a point of not talking about where the second trap goes, that's connected to the secret, the other thing she isn't talking about or even looking at, J.C.'s haven, such as it is. Interesting.

Dirt Nap takes the question seriously all the same, not treating it like just a distraction to draw Maeve's attention away from J.C.'s Haven.

He takes a moment and studies the ground, not assuming the approach he just took when he was trying to sneak up was what she was asking about. She said, 'if your coyote friend' were to approach, so she's asking about animal behavior, but not only just, since she didn't say, 'if a coyote', so it's a thing, this 'jackal', maybe in a four legged form...

Dirt Nap studies in silence, getting down on the level himself, squatting that is, and sighting around from a low to the ground perspective.

Then he points. "I'd say...right about there, Ma'am." Dirt Nap says soft enough to be like a whisper, but without the tell tale sibilants which carry farther even than regular, louder talk would. He notices how the thought of using his knowledge and brains to plan to trap someone or something feels real natural, good and exciting even, getting the blood going in a way it wouldn't have a few months before....

4 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-05-03 16:34:06	Dirt Nap rolls 4 to identify the best place for a trap (Int 3 + Survival 1) (10 Again)	6, 10, 10, 3, 8, 10, 5	4 successes

He listens carefully and watches as J.C. fields questions. J.C. is a titch on edge alright.

Perception Roll w -2 by ST direction.

2 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-05-03 16:29:05	Dirt Nap rolls 3 to perception (Wits 2 +Composure 3 - 2 ST Modifier) (10 Again)	10, 7, 9, 4	2 successes

[Quinn Durant]

To Maeve Quinn smiled and nodded back. "Sup homie." She reached out and tucked a wild lock of blue hair behind Maeve's ear affectionately, her thumb brushing against her temple. She watches Maeve intently for a moment, and then steps back a bit to widen her field of view. (If Maeve allows Telepathy)

"Alright Dahlen (J.C), how about we have Eminem be out there playing goalie incase the critter runs that way?" She asks, tilting her face a little to the side. Her gaze was more on Maeve though.

She handed Maeve a headset, putting her own on and testing it out a bit to make sure it worked alright. She adjusted the dials until it was the right volume for her. She broke contact with Maeve for a moment to smile at her Ladyship and wink. Good info. Man she appreciated this lady. Making sure her Ladyship knew she had been listening, even though she worked quickly to include Maeve and get her up to speed.

1 success

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-05-03 14:22:18	Quinn Durant rolls 3 to Perception Roll: Wits 3 + Composure 2 (-2 Dice Modifier per ST) (10 Again)	2, 8, 3	1 success

[Maeve]

Maeve moves her head, as if looking over her shoulder, causing Quinn's hand to bump fulling into her temple. A clear sign that she will relent. She knows how Quinn operates by now. As she stands there, she can feel the varying reactions of beasts pulling and she fights down her own tearing inside of her. Fuck off you dumb beast.

Telepathy

Telepathy: Gotcha, gotcha. I'm fast-ish and I can definitely stealth. If you've got any extra fire-power. You know, the pew pews, that would be legit, but if not, I've got a knife. Fucking Sacramento laws.

For the most part, she stays quiet, watching, listening. She takes the headset from Quinn, setting it on her head, weaving it through her hair a little to keep it settled.

Perception (-2 penalty) 1 Success

1 success

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-05-04 12:07:07	Maeve rolls 4 to Preception (wits + comp -2) (10 Again)	2, 9, 4, 7	1 success

[Jennifer Hazelton]

The Nosferatu is causally watching Priscus Durant, JC and Maeve as they speak together. Noticing Quinn's wink, she gives the Mekhet a sincere smile. They were working together well.

When Dirt Nap speaks, her focus trains in on him. Her dark brown eyes focus on him as he evaluates the area and chooses the best placement for the above ground trap. She moves along with him, remaining about a foot behind him. As to not interfere with his concentration as he looks for the best approach.
When he makes a decision, she squats down near to it and does her own sighting around the area. She doesn't have much experience in the outdoors, yet she is keen to see what makes this the best approach. From this position, she speaks just as quietly as Dirt Nap. Barely a whisper.

"Excellent. It is nice having you back on the investigation." She admits.

2 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-05-05 16:19:21	Jennifer Hazelton rolls 6 to perception (10 Again)	6, 7, 3, 8, 9, 7	2 successes

[Seryna]

Quinn and Maeve hear something on the bridge. A soft footfall. An occasional sniff, yet very soft. Perhaps somebody’s pet out for a walk.

Dirt Nap and Jennifer hear this as well, yet they also perceive a lone woman entering the area. She’s walking out from the direction of the homeless encampment. She’s walking in a zig zag pattern, scanning the ground. Her left hand holds a Maglight, but its currently off. Her other hand holds a long grabber pole, there’s a book bag size sack looped on her belt. The sack looks light. She appears about 5’0” and is about fifty pounds overweight. She is a Black woman, wearing a brown and white animal print headscarf, from under which peeks shoulder length locs. A backpack is on her back, a rolled sleeping ground pad lashed to the top.
She's walking this way.

JC is aware of all of this. JC also becomes aware of a quiet, soft footfalls nearby. A few feet off from Quinn and Maeve, in fact. Listening closely, whoever it is appears to be moving away towards the homeless encampment. A glance over towards the footfalls might lead to confusion – for nothing is in sight at first. Then a small black and white furry face, a few inches off the ground, with bright eyes peers out from a bush.