Heinrich Ritter
From Unofficial Handbook of the Virtue Universe
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| Heinrich Ritter | |
| Player: | |
| Origin: | Natural |
|---|---|
| Archetype: | Brute |
| Threat Level: | ' |
| Personal Data | |
| Real Name: | ' |
| Known Aliases: | ' |
| Species: | Garou |
| Age: | 26 |
| Height: | Depends on form |
| Weight: | Depends on form |
| Eye Color: | Blue |
| Hair Color: | Blond |
| Biographical Data | |
| Nationality: | German |
| Occupation: | Mountaineer |
| Place of Birth: | Berchtesgaden Germany |
| Base of Operations: | Berchtesgaden Germany |
| Marital Status: | Unknown |
| Known Relatives: | Heidi Ritter (mother), Eckherd Ritter (uncle) |
| Known Powers | |
| ' | |
| Known Abilities | |
| ' | |
| Equipment | |
| ' | |
| ' | |
Contents |
History
The Early Years
On the 8th of February 1982 at 6:21 PM, Heidi Ritter gave birth to a 8.5 lb. Baby boy at the Klinik Schönsicht Hospital in the Bavarian mountain town of Berchtesgaden Germany. The birth did not go as smooth as expected though. The child had to delivered via cesarean section due to umbilical strangulation and Heidi nearly died from blood loss during the delivery. Heidi decided to name the boy Heinrich, after her great grandfather.
His childhood years were relatively uneventful in the modern context. Like all young boys Heinrich went to school. He was an average student in the classroom, but he excelled at sport. At times he got into trouble though, mostly for his aggressive tendencies when it came to resolving disputes.
On the weekends Heinrich would rather be in the mountains working with his uncle Eckard and his mother Heidi. Eckard and Heidi had been in business together for as long as Heinrich could remember. The two of them owned and operated a modest alpine hostel for tourists who were more interested in the natural beauty of the Bavarian Alps and Berchtsgaden. As opposed to the taint cast upon his home town by it's most infamous resident of the 20th century.
As uncle Eckard put it so often before he took groups on his tours.
“If you want to see the Eagle's nest go elsewhere. We do not cater to that sort of tourism and besides, there is so much more to see here. If you wish to breathe clean alpine air and feel the frost on your face as you follow me to some of the most enchanting ridges and peaks in all the world you have come to the right place. All I ask is that you respect our lands and remember that the mountains are unforgiving. If you bite at the mountains and forested valleys here, sometimes they will bite back.”
It was always the same speech from his uncle Eckard. One he would hear many times as the years went on.
The First Change, Only the Strong are Welcome Here
Heinrich was doing well, in both his studies and as a budding trail guide in the family business. He had even adopted his uncle's speech, which for some reason made Eckard would laugh a little and say;
“Heinrich, some day you will understand what I mean by that you know, and you will understand why I say it.”
In November things began to grow odd for Heinrich. It started having dreams at first, some of them were very vivid and had a sense of innocence and purity about them. Terrifying nightmares of scorched lands and fierce fighting between terrible forms that seemed clouded to him. Bestial hulks tearing at other monsters too horrible to describe that stalked his mind. At times these nightmares were so intense that Heinrich would wake up in the middle of the night screaming and his mother would have to come in and calm him down.
About two weeks after the dreams started Heinrich decided to bring them up with his mother. For Heidi, the answer to her son's problem was simple enough. She told him to go into the mountains like he had planned. Later that day he went into the mountains to scout some new routes for the winter tourists.
Heinrich was traversing a very icy slope several miles northwest of the hostel when he heard a loud crack above him. By the time he looked up to see what the sound was all he could see was white as he tumbled down the slope with the avalanche, then blackness enveloped him as he lost consciousness.
Hours later Heinrich awakened. It was nearly dark, but he knew he was still alive. The biting cold and the discomfort of being trapped for so long in the packed snow reminded him. His only hope was that his uncle or mother would come looking for him if he did not come back by morning. He tried for awhile to break free of the icy snare to no avail.
The sun was gone from the sky and the moon was rising as the temperature dropped. Heinrich could feel his legs starting to tingle lightly at first, like pins and needles, but something felt different as the sensation crept up his legs and spine until his entire body was engulfed in it. He did not feel as though he was dying though. He knew the signs of hypothermia and shock well. He sniffed the air for some strange reason, as though it were instinct. He could smell the pine and the elk just up the hill from him as the full moon rose above the mountains.
“Something is not right here, something does not feel right. Help me please, anyone...please help!”
“Help yourself Heinrich, when you first become what you were destined to be comes trust it and the gifts given to you and you will know what to do” came the familiar voice of his uncle Eckard.
“Uncle? Uncle please, get me out of this.”
“Get yourself out, only the strong are welcome among them. Now are truly your mother's son this night Heinrich, not some simpering child!”
“What do you mean Uncle? I don't understand what you are saying!”
“You will, but I must go now. I will see you later tonight though, of that much I am certain. Just follow your instincts!”
The sound of boots clicking into skis could be heard. How he heard such a small thing was incomprehensible to Heinrich. He tried to free himself for another half hour or so, though it seemed like an eternity. Then it happened, his body began to sprout fur and distinct audible cracks were heard as he began to shift for the first time. Heinrich swiveled his neck and stared at the moon as he started to breathe heavily. He smelled something familiar on the wind, his mother. He could not speak though, could not call out to her. When he tried all that came out was a blood curdling howl as he burst from the snow in a fit of rage.
The elk, he could smell the elk and it drove his senses wild. The scent of his mother was still present, but he did not care as he bounded toward his prey. By the time the elk realized what was happening it was too late. Arterial blood sprang forth from the elk onto Heinrich's face and trunk as his teeth tore into it. As the elf lay there in the snow the beast that was Heinrich tore at it's guts, devouring as much as he could.
When Heinrich had his fill, he instinctively growled loudly and let forth a howl that echoed through the mountains. To his surprise his own howl was answered with several howls and yips from others. They were growing closer and he was not alone. Two hulking forms appeared from from the tree line. They smelled familiar to him somehow, but their formed were terrible and beastly. Much like the forms he had seen in his dreams. One of the things looked at him for a moment and barred it's razor sharp teeth, then looked at the half devoured elk. Before he knew it the beast sprung on him and pinned him to the ground, letting out a soft snarl. Heinrich wanted to lash out at the it and rip it's throat out like he had the elk, but he felt somewhere in his mind that this would not be smart. Eventually the silvery colored form let him up after giving him a solid smack across the face. Both of the beasts went for the elk and began devouring it until little remained. When all was done the two let out a long howl along with Heinrich and departed quickly, leaving him alone. The rest of the night remained a blur to Heinrich. It was as a dream to him, a vivid dream like the many he had had in the preceding weeks.
The next morning Heinrich found himself wrapped up in a blanket. A fresh set of winter clothes was laid out beside him on the rocks. He put on the clothes and made his way back to the hostel owned by his uncle slowly, for some reason the woods and mountains seemed more alive than ever to him today. He still didn't understand the events of last night, but something told him he would find answers with his uncle Eckard as he approached. His uncle had a few answers for Heinrich, but his mother, who had shared the kill with him would have more. Over the next two years Heinrich would get to know his uncle, be indoctrinated into the pack, and into the get of Fenris, his tribe among the Garou nation. Enduring all the teasing, mocking and arduous physical trials that came with being a new pup in the pack Heinrich would eventually become one of the stronger members of the pack and bring glory to his name.
The Nighwind Pack
Across the Atlantic
Heinrich looked over the valley as he crouched upon a rack with his mother and uncle. He would be leaving his homeland and pack tomorrow morning for a place called the Rouge Isles, located along the American seaboard. It had been reported that there was little Garou presence there and that all manner of Wymling there, and most importantly the infamous Lord Recluse. Who had apparently escaped his father all all those years ago in Munich.
“The Striders as you know have sent word that the Rouge Isles need the Get, that the Striders need the blood of Fenrir to fight the weaver agent Lord Recluse there. So this task falls to you. Make what allies you can there among the few Garou brave enough to fight on these islands. Do your pack, and the Get proud Heinrich, or you won't live to regret it. This is a test for you and the Tribe is counting on you to set the example.”
“Don't worry uncle, the Wyrm filth will get what is coming to them. I will not bring shame to us, or worse turn into some Formori following agent of the weaver.”
Heinrich looked to his mother Heidi for a moment. She had a bit of worry on her face as all mothers would given the situation. He cocked his head to the left a little as she spoke to him and gave her a reassuring smile.
“The Striders have sent us word last night that they have some one to meet you who knows the islands. You will not be alone, but remember the ranks are thin there, so you need to remember that. Follow your instincts when all else fails. Like you did that night of the first change when we fed on the elk together. I was so proud of how you handled your first change.”
“I know mother, I won't forget and I will make you proud of me too. I can't sit around on my haunches running down tourists and locals who blight our lands through their disregard all my life. Much as I would like to.”
“Remember Heinrich, we told the Striders at our meeting a few years ago that if they ever asked of for aid, the get would be the first to answer the call. So you are not just answering for the pack here, but the Tribe as well. All of our honor is at stake in this.”
He gave his mother a hug, and growled at his uncle with a little with a smile on his face to let his uncle know that he understood. Not much more needed to be said. He knew as one of the gifted Ahroun, the strongest warriors of the tribe. That he may be sent away to battle against the Wyrm and Weaver in such a way some day. He departed for the isles the next morning.
A Meeting of the Strong
Weeks later Heinrich stepped of the ferry that brought him to Mercy island where he was to meet his contact from the Silent Strider tribe. He could smell that the taint of the Wyrm here was great. It's putrid stench hit his flared nostrils like fire, but then something else came to him on the winds. A strange, yet mildly familiar scent of another of Gaia's warriors. She was close, so he followed the scent from the beech up a series of ramps until he thought he had found her. As he approached he sniffed at her slightly and smirked just a little. Heinrich thought it best to present a strong front in the initial meeting.
“Gutten tag, I'm Heinrich, the Berchtesgaden sept of the get of Fenris has sent me here to battle with the blights of these isles. It was once said by our Tribe that if the Silent Striders asked for aid from Fenrir's brood we would answer. I am that answer.”
His rather proud tone and posturing was intentional, as he thought it best to inspire confidence in others at first as opposed to inspiring fear. Fear had it's uses and among his own people Heinrich had a reputation of being feared, but it was not needed in this case. She would be tested by him soon enough, as anyone who ran with the Get of Fenris would be. He knew that if she was weak, she would be culled like any other weak mutt. Besides, his own Tribe was testing him now. It was the way of the Get of Fenris to always test the Tribe.
After a short conversation where he learned of her name, and her dubious breeding the two decided to get straight to the hunt. The fact that she agreed with him on this gave him just a little more respect for her. He preferred Garou who were straightforward when it came to battling the Wyrm and let out a low growl of approval. Metis breed or no, she had spirit and he liked that. To Heinrich it was a good omen. Aset and Heinrich hunted under the moon that night for hours, clawing and annihilating the minions of Lord Recluse at first, then moving on to more tainted ones hidden deep in a cave. When all was said and done the two of them had sent a clear message to all who came in their path. A new pack of Garou had come, and they were most displeased with the stain that Lord Recluse had brought to these isles.
As dawn broke the two of them came to rest near the place where he had stepped of the boat. Now it was time to test her. So he began to speak a bit about how the get of Fenris rites of passage, and told her a bit of his first change. She in turn told him a little of her life among the roving carnival, and it's eventual downfall at the hands of wyrm filth. He thought it best to go easy on her and out of nowhere he smacked her lightly across the shoulder. She was obviously as good sport as she gave him a smack in return that sent him tumbling to the ground. The two Garou went back and forth like this until mid day and he liked the fact that she could fight hard, and seemed to understand the ways of his tribe a little.
Eventually they found their way to her den, where she told him she had been staying for the past few years. Most of the lesser tribes and weaker individuals would have fled long ago, yet she endured here alone. Heinrich grew tired eventually andwent off into a corner and as she changed for bed he changed into his wolf form. His paws tread quietly across the damp stone floor as he approached her bed. Without hesitation he jumped up and made a few circles at the foot of the bed and flopped down lazily at her feet. It was meant as a token of respect from him. A sign that he respected her as a fierce warrior and did not think her weak. Heinrich knew what a terrible time a Metis could have in Garou society due to the sins of their parents. The Get in general though looked at a Garou's merits as well as their breeding. Breeding was important to Heinrich, but he always did tent to look at the larger picture. While she was Metis and as such could not add to the future ranks of the Garou, she seemed determined in his eyes to make up for it by reducing as many of the enemy as she could. As he stretched out at the foot of the bed thoughts raced through his tired mind and something unexpected happened. He felt the blanket shift a little and thought he was braced to get shoved of the bed. His head raised up a little bit to see what was going on. Much to his surprise though he felt her toes running through the fur on his side. Heinrich lowered his head and let out a soft whine and fell dead asleep.
Dusk At The Den
As Aset crept into the den Heinrich was still in Lupus form, sleeping soundly at the foot of her bed. The time change was taking it's toll on Heinrich. Four days of hunting in the isles had also managed to wear him down a bit, though he was too proud to admit it. He made a few soft whimpers and whines in his sleep. Aset put the groceries on the ground next to the mini fridge and walked over to the foot of the bed. She smiled at him for a moment before picking up the far edge of the comforter and draping it over him. As she did Heinrich's eyes fluttered to life and he sniffed the air and buried his face in it. It smelled like Aset, and there was something about her smell that he liked. Though he could not figure out just why yet.
Aset opened the top of the chest freezer and put the groceries away. “Good evening sleepy..how's the Jet lag?” She looked at Heinrich and pulled out one of the TV dinners for him.
Heinrich yawned and looked in her direction. He concentrated intently as he felt the tingling sensation of the coming change running through his body. It started at his feet and ran it's coarse until he felt nothing at all save the pins and needles as the transformation began to take effect. The ashen fur disappeared gradually, revealing his man skin. Finally a series of pops and cracks resounded throughout the cave as his body went through the final stages of transformation into his Homid birth form. Heinrich tilted his neck from side to side and a few loud pops were heard. Heinrich spoke quietly, “I am getting used to it all Aset. New smells here and it is a lot to get used to.
Aset opened up the TV dinner and put it in the microwave oven. “Sorry, I'm not much of a cook.” She pawed at the top of the microwave until she found a zip lock bag with plastic eating utensils in it. A few beeps were heard, followed by the humming of the microwave oven.
Heinrich didn't care what sort of food it was really. To him it was more important that she was offering the gift of food in the first place. He could smell the TV dinner cooking in the microwave. It tickled his nose and caused him to salivate a little. He flashed a wolfish smirk in the direction of the his new Strider pack mate.“Sorry about last night too, but your feet were rather comfortable,” he said. He reached down for his khakis and put them on under the comforter. When he was fully dressed Heinrich cast the comforter aside and hopped out of bed. He didn't know Aset well enough to be traipsing around naked in front of her.
Aset reached into the fridge and got a bottle of beer. “I just went to the store and got as many frozen dinners and beer I could afford,” she said as she passed him a bottle of Amstel. “The German imports are insane to get a hold of, but it's better than the stuff they like to pass as beer on the isles.”
Heinrich took the bottle from her hand and gave her a thankful nod. He did not have the heart to tell her Germans preferred their beer at room temperature. “Danke bitte Aset, thank you,” he said as he sucked down half the beer in one swig. “It is fine, but you should really look in the foot locker sometime. My tribe sent me with a modest amount of funding.”
Aset walked toward a desk beside the head of her bed. She reached to one of the jars and started to drop dried herbs into the mortar pestle while smiling in his direction. “Oh it's OK....I get by pretty well. I have for years down here,” she said as she opened a leather bound journal at the edge of the desk.
Heinrich walked over to the desk, standing just behind Aset. He peered at the journal, which appeared to contain many notes written in different colors and shades of pen. It looked like notes taken from a lifetime of growing and experimenting with herbs from what Heinrich could gather. He reached forward a bit hesitantly and gave Aset a couple of brushes on the small of her back with the back of his hand. He could feel the pressure as she leaned back a little into his hand, seeming to enjoy the attention. “I will take your word for it. You carved yourself out a nice den actually Aset,” he said as he stepped out of her way. He was curious about her work, but did not want to get in her way and possibly ruin any good will he had with her. He continued to watch her mix the herbs and write in her journal. “At least we got off on the right foot. Four days of gnashing teeth against the blighters on these isles is always a good start for relations with my folk you know."
Aset walked over to one of the plants on the other side of the room and sniffed it, picking a few leaves and walking back to the desk. “I would agree very much...I'm just glad your happy here,” she said. She dropped a few green leaves into the mortar and started to grind them into the dried concoction. As the went about her mixing she looked over her shoulder at Heinrich and gave him a warm smile. “I have been funding things by selling herb blends on the black market,” she said. Aset took the dried mixture and carefully poured it into a large glass along with potable water from nearby jar. She lit a Bunsen burner and placed the large glass over it. “It's what I was trained to do. So when I came to live here I stole a bed from an insane asylum and started fixing it up.” Aset chuckled as she dipped a glass stir stick into whatever it is she was making.“Now I have a couple of people that deliver the goods to the market and I never have to leave the den if I don't want to. It keeps the council from finding you.”
A warm, earthy smell began to hang in the air. It mixed well with the cool underground smells that lingered in the den. Heinrich peeked over her shoulder and watched her slowly swirl the scented concoction. As the stir stick tapped the sides of the glass. It sounded like tiny chimes to him. “Oh, now that is creative!” Heinrich replied. He was pleased to be working with some one who had shown some resourcefulness and determination. “What is that you are making Aset? Where I come from a small burner like that is warmth in the mountains or used to cook on. I can only guess it is some sort of herbal tea?” he guessed.
Aset tapped the glass stir stick gently and set it on a clean cloth then turned off the Bunsen burner. “Actually it is my evening tea, but I do use the burner for cooking when I don't have any medicines brewing,” she said as she poured the tea into a cup that looked like it was hallowed out of a large tree branch. “Would you like some? It's sweetened with the few sugar cane plants I grow here.” Aset grinned as she poured the tea into a cup that appeared to be hallowed out of a large thick tree branch. Suddenly remembering the food left in the microwave oven she shouted, “Oh, your dinner!” Aset put down her cup and briskly walked over to the microwave. She opened the door and pulled out the dinner, giving it a stir and a sniff. "Yup..dinner is served!” she said with a chuckle as she handing the TV dinner to Heinrich.
Heinrich took the TV dinner from her and sat on the edge of the bed. He gave the unknown meal a few wolfish sniffs at it and grinned at her. He could smell a bit of freezer burn on the meal, but it still smelled good to him. As he tore into the dinner his taste buds were set ablaze with delight. “Almost like shnitzel!” he shouted.
“Oh? It's chicken fried steak. They are pretty good and they don't taste like rubber like the rest of the food around here. Anything else I can get ya?” she asked him.
“Yourself some food, and me some company,” Heinrich responded. It had been a long time since Heinrich had spoken to at length to anyone other than his Sept and the occasional tourist.
Aset grinned at him and opened the freezer door. The sound of tearing cardboard and crunching plastic wrap was heard in the den. “Now that I like,” she said as she put the two ham and cheese hot pockets in the microwave. Aset then turned to him with a broad smile and said. “I'll get some steaks tomorrow,” then took the hot pockets out of the microwave. She puts them on a paper plate and grabbed her tea from the desk, and moved to sit across from Heinrich.
Heinrich thought, she is stoic and always in a good mood in spite of the challenges we face here. He quickly tore into the meal. In spite of his Homid breed Heinrich had developed a rather feral side when it came to eating. “You know, the night of my first change.....my uncle, mother and I came upon an elk. Now that was a good meal Aset,” he said, pointing the plastic fork at her. Heinrich sniffed a little more at some of the side dishes and began nibbling at them. It was not as much fun as meat, he thought. “We were even able to go back up the next morning and cut a few steaks of the body.”
Aset chewed her ham and cheese hot pockets hungrily, once and a while stealing a glance toward Heinrich. She looked up at him for a moment and said, “I never hunted much like that, not until I moved out on my own but snake meat is just vile.” The second hot pocket was nearly gone now and all that remained on the paper plate were a few crumbs. Once she had finished Aset reached over to her bedside desk to pick up her wood cup. She watched him finish his meal and sipped her tea slowly.
Heinrich finished his meal and set the empty tray aside. “Never had snake meat, don't seem like it would be too much fun to catch either. Though bounding after a large elk is a real treat.” he said. Heinrich inhaled deeply and could almost smell the fresh kill as his mind drifted back to that first night.
“I grew up in a carnival. My father and mother lived there because of the lifestyle,” Aset said. She got up and began brewing another cup of tea. The chimes of the glass stirring stick sounded again and she handed him the wood cup.
He listened to her words and was interested in learning a bit about the Silent Striders. Considering this was his first meeting with one of their tribe Heinrich thought it important to be respectful and ask the right questions. “I heard you Striders were nomadic folk. The is no vice in my judgment though. Tactically smart if you ask me,” he said. Heinrich sniffed the air a bit. Her tea smelled delightful to him, though he was more of a coffee drinker. Heinrich decided it was best to get to know a bit more about his new pack mate tonight.
Aset handed him a cup of her dinner tea."Yeah...born walkin down the long road and when we die we get buried on the side of the road,” she said. Aset was surprised to hear his complement and her face brightened up just a little more. “Thanks....your not really what I expected when the spirits told me that a Get was coming to my home.”
Heinrich laughed at her comment a little. He knew the Get of Fenris had a reputation among the other tribes and he wanted to put on a good impression. “Did you expect a snarling silver furred beast to pounce on you and smack you upside the face with sharp claws?” he asked. His hand reached outward and gave her a pat on the leg just above the knee.
Aset chuckled and picked up her tea, sipping it slowly with relish. “Most I have come across really do follow the stereotype. Normally...they all act like um..Jocks,” she said.
He became serious for a moment. “We Get can be very aggressive and it puts others off at time I know. We have our reasons for it and I only do so when needed,” he said. Heinrich blew on his tea to cool it a little, holding the wood cup in both hands. “It really depends on the camp within Get society. Given where my family comes form we tend to tread on soft paws.”
Omens of Glasswalkers
Heinrich peered out over the water as the Ferry approached Cap Au Diable Island. A low patchy fog hung in the air this evening, but he could still see the neon glow of Aeon City. Aeon City was not where they needed to be tonight though. The Glasswalkers had sent word to him through a contact. The Lost were a group of insidious figures hidden between the ranks of the poor and the homeless. They were up to something involving a toxin that they intended to release into the water supply of Cap Au Diable.
“Alright, my Glasswalker contact sent a message through a radio using their weaver tainted ways Aset. They say some plague is here in the hands of The Lost. We need to snatch it from them!” he said.
Aset nodded in his direction and smiled, cracking her knuckles. "We can do that...anyway those tainted bastards need to pay." Aset was speaking Heinrich's language now. He had been pleased with her attitude so far and hoped it would continue.
Foghorns sounded as the ferry docked at the Cap Au Diable pier. Their first target was an alcove that The Lost claimed in one of the more seedy districts of the island. Heinrich and Aset walked side by side off the ferry ramp. A cold breeze hit them and Heinrich saw Aset shiver a little. He could smell the taint in the air as he sniffed. “Well, I think we should sniff the place out Get fashion,” he said. Aset turned her head to face Heinrich and gave him a slight nod. Her eyes narrowed in anticipation from behind her eyeglasses and the ink on her face scrunched up a little bit.
The two of them walked north for awhile, then west for a few blocks. Heinrich was following the lead of the Glasswalker, but also paying mind to his own nose. It let him to a large storm grate, hidden away in an ally near an industrial dumpster. Heinrich's bones popped and he started growling. His skin become ashen gray as fur sprouted up all over and his size and shape changed. Once the transformation to the Crinos war form was complete he let out a long bellowing howl to signal the call to hunt.
Aset did not change, but she answered his howl with the anthem of war howl. It was time for them to bloody their hands. The Strider huntress went to a knee and opened up the metal grate. She peered down into the inky hole and sniffed at it a little, wrinkling her nose. Her slender hand motioned toward Heinrich, then to the storm drain and she gave him a wolfish smile.
Heinrich snarled and looked down into the storm drain. He could hear the footsteps and muffled voices of two men walking toward the hole. He crouched and when the two men seemed close enough to the storm drain he jumped down, pouncing on the leftmost guard. The guard tried to raised his shotgun and fired. Heinrich yelped a little as he felt the hot pellets enter his right arm and shoulder. He growled loudly and struck at the guard. Heinrich's left claw tore across the gunman's throat. Arterial blood sprayed against the nearby wall and Heinrich's silvery coat.
The fires of Gaia were Aset's calling card. The second guard was in shock as he watched Heinrich tear his companion to ribbons. Aset unleashed a stream of fire toward the guard's face. Only when he felt the flash of pain as his flesh was cooked did the other guard wake from the delirium. He screamed loudly and failed for a moment like a puppet on strings. Aset walked forward casually and smirked at the man as he disappeared into the ground writhing in agony.
Heinrich was panting as the wounds form the guards shotgun began to close and the pellets were expelled form his body. He felt a hand run through his fur and scratch him between the ears. “Smell more, close,” he said in a growling voice.
Aset gave him a gentle pat on the head. “Good then lets hurry,” she said quietly.
The stench of the Wyrm's taint was heavy in the air as Aset and Heinrich crept along the sides of long tunnel. Heavy pumping machinery could be heard in the distance along with the humming of a generator. As Heinrich ducked left into a narrow passageway he could hear several voices. The stench of the Wyrm's taint was heavy in the air as Aset and Heinrich crept along the sides of long tunnel. Heavy pumping machinery could be heard in the distance along with the humming of a generator. As Heinrich ducked left into a narrow passageway he could hear several voices. Heinrich and Aset continued down the passageway until just before it opened up into a large room.
The two Garou looked at one another and nodded, then peeked into the room. They counted the guards they could see and hear. Three guards and two other voices it seemed. Heinrich growled loudly to shock them, and charged. As he bound toward the first guard he caught Aset making short work of another from the corner of his eye. Heinrich pounced, knocking the guard flat on the ground and gnawing at his shoulder.
Meanwhile Aset was busy making short work of one of Scrounger Gunner, then moved swiftly to a nearby metal catwalk. She snarled and called upon her elemental powers, encasing the second gunner in a tomb of stone that crushed the man like a vice. Small maggots exploded from the corpse and with a vengeful flash in her eyes Aset set the catwalk ablaze, burning the Wyrmlings to smoldering ash. Three shots rang out form a dark recess in the floor and Aset slumped over the railing on the metal catwalk for a moment then fell into one of the pools of stagnant water below.
Heinrich looked over in the direction of the catwalk as he saw Aset tumble into th water. His hair stood on end for a moment. The stench of cordite in the air burned his nostrals as his eyes narrowed and he let out a blood curdling howl, bounding at the gunman. He pounced on the gunman's chest and started tearing wildly at his face and chest with razor sharp talons. The man was screaming and cursing. Heinrich looked down and stared in the man's eyes. “Shut up!,” he growled. The gray wolf suddenly lunged his face forward and snapped his jaws shut around the man's neck, shaking his head violently until the head was severed clean from the body.
Aset was starting to come around now. She hefted herself out of the water looking dazed and weak and reached for her chest. Black tendrils of Wyrm taint come out of her chest. Pulled by Aset to a sphere in the palm of her hand. She was reeling from the pain of the gunshots and Wyrm tainted leeches. Finally she let slip the sphere into the water and stood up, swaying a little as she grappled with the pain.
Heinrich looked at Aset and growled as he picked up the head in his clawed hands. Holding it skyward he howled and flung the lifeless bit of flesh against the wall. A resounding thud is heard as the head bounced against the concrete and rolled down a few metal grated steps. Aset simply shook her head and smiled at Heinrich. Once she got her bearings fully Aset walked over to him and game him a little scratch on the head.
Heinrich let out a quick yip when something caught his eye. It was the toxin container they had come to retrieve. He cocked his head to the left a little and pointed to the container with his nose. Aset nodded at him in return as she turns to walked up to retrieve the canister and gave him a little smile giving him a reassuring yip. He shifted into his Homid form and pointed to a nearby ladder that seemed to lead to the surface streets. “Lets head up the ladder Aset. Maybe we will find more clues to what this toxin is being used for.,” he said. The two hunters slowly made their way toward the surface
As Heinrich and Aset emerged from the manhole dawn was breaking. Heinrich lifted his forearm to shield his eyes from the glare. He dug in his jacket pocket and put on his trademark polarized sun glasses. “Ah much better,” he said.
Aset was huffing a little from the climb, but seemed to be in good spirits as she hunched over a little to catch her breath. Her clothes had already began to dry and she was recovering from her wounds already. It was Gaia's gift to her to mend so quickly.
Heinrich gave Aset a strong handed pat on the back and laughed a little. “You alright there Aset? Seems the climb knocked the wind from you. Or was it the Wyrmling with the 12 gauge?”
Aset rose to straighten herself and gave Heinrich a shove. “Nah...you can't stop me....no one can stop me,”she chuckled. She pushed Heinrich hard enough that the Get warrior stumbled back a couple of steps and he growled at her playfully. He was glad she was getting into the spirit of the Get of Fenris ways. It was common for the Get to tease one another like this and that fact that she was playing along made him feel very welcome.
Heinrich let out a low growl as his eye caught sight of a woman and her armed escort standing around near a parking garage just West of their position. She matched the description his Glasswalker contact had given him. He cocked his head toward Aset. “Well, it looks like the one ahead matches the description that Flirts with High Voltage sent me. So lets go pick a fight my mate.” Heinrich could not believe he just said that, but he would take his foot out of his mouth later. He blushed a bit at his choice of words and suddenly darted off toward their prey.
Aset looked at him bashfully as she heard his words and said, "Lets show them how we do this Garou style!” She bolted toward the one called the Snow Maiden and her Longbow escort alongside Heinrich.
The two hunters found a position just above the Snow Maiden and listened for a moment. They listened from their perch as the Snow Maiden spoke to one of her associates. “Have we heard from Strongheart yet? He was supposed to contact us today about the latest delivery of Toxin,” she said to one of the Longbow escorts. The two unsuspecting adversaries walked along the outer edge of the parking garage and kept on talking.
A light rain began to fall as Heinrich and Aset crept down from their perch on the second floor of the parking garage. The two hunters crouched low and moved swiftly as they followed the Snow Maiden and her minion alongside a string of parked cars. Once Heinrich was sure they had overtaken the so called Snow Maiden he motioned to Aset. They hid themselves between two parked SUVs and waited for the right moment to strike. Aset nodded to him with a bright grin on her face as he stepped out in front of the Snow Maiden.
The Snow Maiden jumped a little in surprise as Heinrich emerged from between the two SUVs. She sneered at him and spoke in a haughty tone. “I've heard you're powerful, Heinrich Ritter. Now let us see if you can weather my frost.”
Heinrich curled his lip a bit and let fly a quick jab. His fist struck the Snow Maiden square in the nose and she slouched over in shock. She shook her head and looked up at Heinrich and sniffed. Blood flowed freely from her nose. “You hit me!” she cried. The Frost maiden reached down to her side and pulled out a long dagger. “I won't let you win. There's too much at stake!”
Heinrich growled at the Snow Maiden as he saw the flash of the drawn dagger. He looked at her with a feral glare and shouted,“Damned right I hit you...you stupid bitch!”
Aset remained crouched, she could hear bits and pieces of what was being said, as well as the scuffle. She hoped the plan would work though as she crept out from behind another of the nearby car. Aset delivered a sweeping shin kick to the back of his right knee, knocking him off his feet. She pounced upon the downed guard and stared intently into his eyes. “Yup, here comes more pain,” she said.
The guard tried to recover and made a aimed his pistol at Aset, squeezing off a round and hitting her in the calf muscle. She yelped a bit and then began to grin widely at her unsuspecting target. It still hurt like hell, but she knew it would pass quickly enough. Aset could already feel the copper jacketed lead slug working its way out of her calf muscles. “You forgot..this ain't silver,” she said. Aset adjusted her glasses snarled at the guard and he looked back up at her in horror as the earth swallowed him suddenly.
The Snow Maiden turned about suddenly, only to see her guards arm desperately reaching skyward as the earth swallowed him. Aset looked at her with a cocky grin and said, “Who said you had a choice in the matter of winning this fight?” A blast of heat engulfed her dagger in her hand for a moment. A moment was all it took for the blade to glow bright red. The Snow Maiden yelped as he hand was burned and dropped the dagger. She let loose an icy blast toward Heinrich.
As the frosty blast hit his face Heinrich could not help it. He laughed loudly at her as she looked at him in confusion. “If you heard so much of me you should know I am a winter wolf lady. I was born to the cold,” he said. Little did the Snow maiden know that his boasting was a tactic, not a gust of hot air.
The Snow Maiden was distracted and Aset was able to do her work. She slipped right in on the Snow maiden and grasped her throat with both hands, squeezing tightly until she heard the cracking and tearing of cartridge. She Snow Maiden slumped to the ground gasping for air. Air that she could not take in due to her crushed windpipe.
As the body of the Snow Maiden lay twitching in death convulsions on the ground Heinrich rummaged through her jacket until he found what he was seeking. He held her cell phone in the air and grinned at Aset. “With this we will be able to trace back her last contact. Flirts with High Voltage said he would spider trace for us,” he said.
Aset stepped forward and nuzzled Heinrich's neck a little then tugged at his hand. “Let us spread our wrath across these idiot weaver spawn.”
Heinrich followed her off the streets and the two went to seek out Flirts with High Voltage. Who Heinrich hoped would have the answers to who was behind the toxin.
