Forsaken of Federal Hill

Rory passed through into the hisil. Stopping to get his bearings he sniffed around for Helen's scent and started off. Moving as fast as his four legs would carry him he was somewhat startled when he turned a corner and a minor cat spirit was standing there spitting at him. Stupid cat, he nipped at it as he went moving past. Passing through the old streets as a short cut, he was suddenly stopped by a tower to debris that came crashing down in front of him. Another cat spirit was sitting on top of the pile. Stymied by the obstacle Rory and the cat started at each other for a moment. Then the cat took off a few paces. Damn cat. Then the cat stopped and looked back, took a few steps, and stared back again. The damn thing wanted him to follow it. This could be related to the cat spirit Echo had been trying to contact. Well, this may not be an opportunity that comes again.

This cat spirit was a real bastard. As soon as Rory was following it, it kept as far ahead as possible. Rory wasn’t just following it, he was at times genuinely having to track the blasted thing. And it was good too. Rory was pretty sure that if it didn’t want to be followed it wouldn’t be, he could swear that the things scent changed. Then the cat stopped, and faced Rory. It looked over its shoulder to the building beyond. As Rory sat down and regarded the cat and gave it a respectful nod. They had come to wherever they were going. They cat was good, he had to admit that. Then three more identical cats stepped out- He wasn’t chasing one cat, he was chasing a couple. Well played cat well played. If he could laugh in urhan he would have. The cats' eyes smiled back and they scattered to the four winds leaving Rory in front of the alley of building alone.

Rory was still a respectful distance away from the building. The cat spirits obviously didn’t want to get too close and it was pretty obvious the reasons why. The building had a counterpart in the sprit world as well. It wasn’t nice either. The place had an infestation of sprits – blood, pain, and fear. They were boiling out of the alleyway like maggots crawling over a carcass. It make sense the cat spirits took off, they were bigger sure, but they would be swarmed if they got much closer.

Rory went to check the place out. Inside the building was clean, relatively. There were a few lethargic lust spirits, and some unwholesome but benign occupants to what was obviously a strip club. After investigating the place
Rory went back outside to regard the building.
Looking through the gauntlet he saw the unlit neon lights dull and sad in the day’s sun: “The Dollhouse”

Another pair of overly intelligent feline eyes catch Rory's. This is no minor alley-cat spirit, but one of a cougar.
It too seems to be interested in the spirits who should not be here. It seems reluctant to approach Rory, despite him serving the same master.
This is Seeker of Death's Riddles, one of Death Wolf's brood and a friend and longtime companion of Helen's. While it's not uncommon for Riddles to follow Helen's activities, you have a hard time shaking the feeling it's here for the purpose of it's name.

Rory shifted into his human form. It was more comfortable for him in social interactions -and spirits didn’t care what he looked like. He moved at an angle toward the spirit, both inviting it to conversation, but moving away from the building in question. He made sure the area was open to both of them, making it obvious that either was free to leave at any time.
Seeker of Death’s Riddles, we seem drawn to the same place. We both seek answers to riddles most peculiar and thus the answers are as equally vexing as the questions. I propose a parlay as I expect us to talk together along the same path for some time. I seek the mystery of this building, but I also seek the location of one of you longtime acquaintances Helen Valentine. I expect you seek the genesis of the spirits here. I would seek to aid you with that, if you would help me seek out our mutual acquaintance.

The spirit eyed Rory as he took a weaker shape and began to speak with it. Slowly it stalked towards him so he wouldn't need to shout to get his points across. The moon-silver tattoos on his body spoke of wisdom and glory, of Crescent and Death. He was part of Be Defeated Nevermore's pack for certain, and that made him an all of Helen's.
"I have already unlocked the mysteries of death here. One fell to fang and claw. It's spirit likely lingers across the gauntlet. But they mystery of your packmate I have no answer for." it spoke in a mixture of hushed whisper and feline growl.
"The spirits here are afraid. They claim a powerful Ensih thought dead returned here last night. Painful Release of Ecstacy they call it, and it's hatred of your kind is well known to them. I fear Helen crossed paths with it. If she did... I will hunt for her spirit." is said.

Rory searched his memory for if he'd heard of Painful Release of Ecstacy before, either from the lore he'd learned or the stories in analogy from Echo's occult book loans.




This was bad. It was the return of something big and bad. Something nearly forgotten that all would be better off if it stayed forgotten. If it returned here it might still be close. Rory had to be cautious.

"Good luck in your hunts, bring death to the deserving. Though I hope the hunt for Helen is in vain. "

The spirit looped off without much more to say.

Well from one lead to the other. Rory Turnerd his attention back to the doghouse and looked through to the twilight for the spirit of the recently slain.

It didn't take long to spot the lingering spirit Riddles had suspected would still remain in the alley.
A Hispanic man wearing ghostly versions of the gangster clothes he'd worn in life. A Red Scorpion was tattooed on his neck.
But it was obvious how he died, loops of entrails spilling out of wicked claw marks where Helen's claws eviscerated him.

Rory didn’t like the back tracking, but he had to pass through back to the meat world for what he needed to do…
In short order he had returned to the dollhouse. The magic of the evening, the heady mix of neon and shadow, had burned away with the suns light leaving the raw ugliness of the area exposed. The teeming spirits were still there, but Rory had eyes for the slain gangbanger in the area. Focusing on the spirit, he approached. The dead gang banger was loitering around the alley, sullenly sitting in a cold world of isolation that is death. He moved with a start of shock when he was addressed by Rory.
Hey you…
You can see me?
You look like shit.
Looking down Yeah, I guess you can. You the grim reaper or some shit. I expected something hardcore...not you.
I’m busy so lets assume for the moment I am, what happened.
Whatever, whoever you are you best know that the Red Scorpions are in charge in life and death. We fucked shit up is what happened. This is our turf, you better know that, the owner wasn’t too keen on the idea so my crew had to remind him of who was in charge of the area, and the penalty if he didn’t cough up the protection money he owed, and let us sell our dope.
The dope you’re pushing – Toxic, anything special about it?
The ganger became leery of this questioning. I ain’t telling you shit man, what are you going to do to me? I know about your kind- I’m wolf-blooded I know enough that you can’t touch me!
With those words Rory stepped forward.
Then behold the price of ignorance
Rory shifted into Gauru and calling upon the gifts of Death-Wolf grabbed the spirit by his innards and tore him howling deeper into the alley. At the teeth and claws of flesh made impossible contact with the ethereal of the spirit. Rory dug his claws into the ghost’s shoulders and lifted it off the ground to make the ganger’s face level with his muzzle.
Tell me! Rory snarled.
Toxic, its just how we brand our goods man! The panicked ganger wailed. Rory flexed his hand cutting deeper wounds bringing pain the ghost had thought was only a things of the past.
It's just dope cut with some shit, I don't do it, I don't use it, I don't know! the panicked voice wailed.
How you die? Rory demands twisting his claws in deeper.
This chick shows up, ahhhhhh, she’s a fucking werewolf too you know. Tears into us in her bull-dike form, but we put up a good fight. I musta stuck her at least twice before she got me. But you know what? I may have gone down but she’s the one that’s going to pay cuz we got THE Red Scorpion on our side. He grinned I hope it killed the moon bitch’s lackey.
Rory was done with this peace of trash, Enjoy oblivion Rory thought and tore the ghost in two.
If Helen had run afoul of Painful Release of Ecstasy, than at best she was holed up somewhere with injuries. At worst…well, he didn’t want to think of the worst case, but perhaps Seeker of Death’s Riddles’ hunt would be successful after all. But...lackey? Maybe someone else was involved here as well.

Whispers in the Alley stalked with feline grace in the direction Cat Who Stalks Secrets had implanted in it's mind. Cat was very interested in finding something, sending all of it's brood across the territory. But as to what game the more powerful spirit was playing at, Whispers didn't even have a guess.
Once the location had been reached, Whispers peeked across the gauntlet. It took a long moment to see and hear anything in the room, but once it did Whispers knew it had found what Cat was seeking. And it was a dangerous game to be playing.
A fight between the Uratha and the Red Scorpion would be violent and dangerous. Betting on one or the other wasn't Cat's usual game. It must have a secret that can tip the balance.
Whispers contemplated that while watching the female werewolf writhe in a mixture of agony and intense pleasure, slipping between human and wolf forms as it's body fought against some sort of poison being pumped into it's veins.
After seeing several mortals bearing the mark of Cat's hated for, Whispers decided this was enough and started its journey back to it's master.

Rory made his way down the alley following the directions 'Nevermore had given him. In his satchel he had the manila envelope that Echo had prepared. She'd had everyone write down things to offer the cat. They were all benign, or at least she'd told everyone to keep them that way, she told everyone she wouldn’t read them, so it was really up to what they thought was “good enough”. Of course a secret is a secret, and order of magnitude of what is important to a person and what is important to a spirit can be worlds apart.
Echo could drive, so she was waiting on the other side of the gauntlet, Cell phone in hand. So really the hold up was how quickly Rory could move. Hopefully they get any critical information to the rest of the pack in time.
Rory stopped for a moment before making the last turn, confirming that the Cat was there and how many of its brood it had with them.


As Rory approached the cat spirit slinked out of the shadows.
Cat who Stalks Secrets. I’ve come to make a trade. Painful Release of Ecstasy is back. I’ve heard that you’ve dealt with it before a long time ago. I want to know what you know about it.

Cat slinked down from the rooftop of a nearby building, it's spirit had been dormant for years now but once it had been vibrant and full of joy and pride. That was before Uratha came and made their pact with the Red Scorpion.
The young Uratha that stood before him now was wise, a follower of Death Wolf and the Ithalunim. It would understand the threat they all faced and it would pay the cost.
"I know much about this spirit, I could trade with you until Luna hides her face from us. What do you wish to know, Uratha, and what will you tell me in return?" it purred. Cat had not come alone, this werewolf was known to treat spirits aggressively. Besides, the Red Scorpion may strike at Cat if it ever caught wind it would sell secrets to the hated Urdaga.
"Little occurs that I am unaware of, and my memory is long. I can tell you much, past or present. I may even have predictions of the future. These I can give, a trade of secrets sealed in a gift of essence. But I have things more valuable to you. Things only I know. Things that will be lost should I be destroyed. For these, my price shall be steep." it's eyes shone with feral intelligence. Cat was clearly no stranger to dealings with Werewolves.

It has long been said that knowledge is power. We both know this is a fallacy- sharing knowledge is power. Of course the tricky thing with knowledge is that it has different value to different people. You claim you price will be steep, and frankly, what you know may be unique- but if it has no relevance to me, then it has no value. You obviously think it is worthwhile, so name your price, and if I deem it fair for what you know then we will have an accord.
The cat spirit was old, and had to be to know Painful Release of Ecstasy. Rory wouldn’t be surprised if the little that was known, was trickle down from this very spirit. But it had tipped its hand and Rory now had leverage over it. It was afraid of the Red Scorpion. If it had knowledge and no one else did, then it was a direct threat to the Red Scorpion. It would be a target, if not now, then later- Rory now had a bargaining chip far better than the paltry stack of secrets in his pouch. Either way though, Rory mentally prepared himself to give the most blasé response to whatever the cat said.

Cat's eyes twinkled at the Werewolf's words. No deals could be made without payment, that was the way of the world. Gathra was a law that simply couldn't be ignored. But what Cat wanted couldn't easily be paid. The Uratha would need it's information quickly.
"I want to be excluded from your pack's Sacred Hunts. I want for the next nine new moons, your pack spread a secret. An important secret. One that will cause much essence to flow. Seal these promises with a gift of essence before my brood, and know if these demands are not honored in the future, word shall spread across your territory. Agree to my terms, and I will tell you how to kill Painful Release of Ecstasy."

Well, that was far less of a shock then was expected, at least it made keeping a straight face easy, though at those demands Rory wanted to laugh, Over his dead body was he going to give some spirit a free pass to wreak havoc through the gauntlet.
Rory arched an eyebrow at the cat.
No deal with those terms. he said flatly.
Here’s my counter:
You can tell us how to kill Painful Release of Ecstasy. In exchange we’ll kill Painful Release of Ecstasy.
Now why would you take this offer you may be asking yourself? Well for several reasons.
One: Killing the Red Scorpion wasn’t on our agenda. The pack pledged to it sure, but not the spirit itself. So the information you offer has no value unless we put in the work to implement it.
Two: You need us to kill the Red Scorpion. Hardly anyone knows much about the Red Scorpion anymore, so you knowing about it means you are one of a very few that know that information very true. In fact you may very well be the only one that knows… That paints a very big target on you regardless if you tell us or not. You know of its weaknesses, and you exist, you are a threat to the Red Scorpion. That means it will come for you. If not now, then later. Your secret is useless to you unless you share it. In point of fact your secret is a danger to you, for you have neither the inclination nor the ability to destroy the Red Scorpion on your own. Seeing it destroyed serves your own self interest, and preservation. Everything you asked for is window dressing in comparison to the security of your continued existence. I will allow my pack to be the instrument of your action. But that shall be the cost for the information you provide

Cat was not surprised by the Uratha's refusal of it's demands. They were steep after all. But that it foolishly thought Cat needed it's enemy dead in order to survive... it showed how young and foolish these newcomers were.
"I decline." it said simply.
"I know many things, young Uratha, and my memory is long. What secrets I have to sell have always been of interest to Painful Release of Ecstasy and it's allies. I had hoped you had the wisdom to see my value is greater than the Red Scorpion's. It will not tolerate Uratha who bare the mark of Lunes to exist in it's territory. You cannot avoid this fight, young werewolf. But your pack will suffer, as it does now, should you face Painful Release of Ecstasy while it knows your bane, and you remain ignorant of it's." Cat replied before turning it's back to the werewolf and leaping back atop the roof. It looked back down on the werewolf.
"You know my price. Should you change your mind, seek one of my brood. Hope that the Red Scorpion does not seek me out before then." Cat said, and made to leave.

Rory scrutinized the cat. Your choice. My secrets. he said patting his bag. Turning to leave as well.

As Rory walked away, the brood of Cat Who Stalks Secrets went their separate ways as well. Owls, cats, security cameras and streams of information all going their separate ways.
But one of those spirits, a Fox spirit, seemed to follow the Ithaeur

Rory walked on for a while. After he realized he had a tail he changed his destination and took a more scenic route. After a while he turned on the fox.

His patience was spent with the cat. But it didn’t surprise him one bit that one of them followed him. But did it do so on orders, or on its own initiative?
And what do you want little one?

The spirit eyed Rory warily, but obviously it felt the possible rewards outweighed the very real risks.
"Cat Who Stalks Secrets isn't the only spirit who knows things. And not all value their secrets as highly as it does. I could tell you things about the Red Scorpion and it's Pack. But I would want to know about you and your pack in return." it said, eyes shining with unnatural intelligence.

Rory contemplated the fox for a moment. Then nodded. Very well, but if you wish to talk follow me. Rory didn’t trust the fox, but didn’t trust the cat even more.
Stay next to me. We should walk
He made his way though byways and around corners. He doubled back and loitered at some of the more awe inspiring sights of the hisil. Sure it was probably sloppy, but short of the cat having a surveillance van and shotgun microphones he was doing most of what Rose had talked about as the more frustrating countersurveillence activates perps do.
Finally the had reached the spot Rory was going for. A small pocket in the hisil where the time around it flowed slower then the rest. Unless someone had followed them up the particular trail through it they would be bogged down, and that afforded them a unique form of privacy.
Start talking, and when you tell me something I don’t already know I’ll give you something in return.