I head off to the outskirts of town, to where Hyde has given me directions. the location is by a main ‘storm’ drain which is actually hemorrhaging sewage into a large cesspool.  I pull over and unload my equipment. I’m expecting this to take a couple hours, because preparing our tough soil for planting trees of this nature is no simple task. Then a big smile comes to my face when I see that Hyde must have taken the liberty of oxidizing the hard dirt and preparing me a large planting lot. There is a stick shoved into the soil, puncturing a note with a scrïpt matching the letter I received, it reads: “I did all that I know how to my friend.”  

I start by adding soil and blending it in to the natural soil. I then flood the lot of newly mixed soil with 50 gallons of water. I plant each tree in a zigzag formation so they have plenty room for there roots. I close my eyes as I start chanting in an ancient tongue, “ Diende  crainn a chur feadh an bhóthair Diende.” I repeat the statement ten times but slowly picking up speed as I speak.

* rolling speed the season passing x 10,
6,7,5,4,9, 1,7,2,1,3 (1 success) Seed sprout out from the dirt a week sapling is born
1,1,2,1,4, 6,7,8,2,9 (failure) still just a seed
4,7,2,2,1, 2,5,8,3,8 (2 successes) a small tree is form but time and sun is need for it to become strong.
7,8,2,3,8, 3,3,2,3,7 (4 successes) A fully grown tree about 30 feet tall.
7,1,8,10,3, 9,3,3,9,3, 9 (5 successes) an ancient tree that rarely seen on this earth with a trunk as thick Hyde and a crown about 50 feet wide.
4,10,7,7,4, 8,5,1,4,9, 5 (4 successes)  A fully grown tree about 30 feet tall.
5,5,6,1,1, 1,7,4,7,9 (failure) still just a seed
3,2,3,5,5, 6,4,1,5,7 (failure) still just a seed
4,7,6,9,1, 4,1,3,8,2 (1 success) Seed sprout out from the dirt and a week sapling is born
10,7,7,4,4, 1,7,4,5,1, 4 (2 successes) a small tree is form but time and sun is need for it to become strong. *

The Ground begins to shake as trees erupts from the dirt. Each seed seem to be affected differently by my chant, Nature will always have her way with things. Some grow as a full sized tree and others never escape the security of their seeds. My body is tired and mind is utterly exhausted. I stop to give a simple prayer by the newly created, monstrous Paulownia Kawakamii. I load my equipment, get back in my van and I drive home to Chantry.

Though not directly accessible from the sewers by anything bigger than a rat, this place is still easier for Hyde to reach than anyplace in the city.

Hyde has been stopping by here frequently to check on Sebastian's progress. He is utterly awestruck by the results he finds tonight. He stands, slack-jawed for several full minutes at the gargantuan tree that was not there the night before, then slowly surveys it's smaller siblings.

"In...credible." he manages at long last gawking up at the canopy. "It looks as though I will be busy for a while..."  

--Last edited by Mister Hyde on 2008-05-16 21:27:58 --

Sebastian has performed admirably. As Hyde inspects the Tremere's handiwork, he realizes that the massive tree in the center of the semicircle around the pool may even be beyond his means. Though the third and last trees can be harvested very soon. Walking around the ring of trees, Hyde stops  at the third, fourth, sixth and tenth, to spill his blood into the soil at their roots. { 1 trait each to #2 & 10, 2 traits each to # 4 & 6}

Having expended a great deal of his vitae, he eyes the great tree and makes a running leap at it in an attempt to begin climbing it. (2008-05-14 18:41:59 Hyde rolls 5 dice to Running leap (+5 Pot) 5,1,7,5,1 (failure) Far more exhausted than he thought, he only makes it ten feet off the ground and grabs wildly for a low-lying branch. (2008-05-14 18:45:55 Hyde rolls 5 dice to Dex+Athl (grab limb) 6,1,1,10,5 (failure) Missing, he comes crashing to the ground, but is unscathed by the short fall, save his bruised ego. Picking himself up, he makes another attempt, somewhat angrily. (2008-05-14 18:54:44 Hyde rolls 5 dice to Str+Athl ( leap (+5 Pot)) 2,1,7,4,6 (1 success)) he is still weakened, but the extra lift proves enough to land him in the canopy.

After climbing as far up as the limbs will hold his weight, Hyde loosens the chain on the beast within, envisioning his jagged ivory teeth extending as tusks, seeing his hands morph into hooves in his mind's eye, he can almost feel the wind chaffing against the bristles upon his back. Cupping his large hands and filling his oversized lungs with cool night air he lets out a braying which reverberates through the hillside. Hyde rolls 4 dice to Beckoning (used willpower) 10,4,7,1 (2 successes) That equals one-quarter of the boars within earshot).

As he descends, he thinks to himself that his call could use some work, the boars here are not a native species, they  have been introduced, so he has not had as many years to practice their calls, but as any species that is inserted into a new location, they have done well for themselves and are quite numerous. With luck, this will be enough.  

--Last edited by Mister Hyde on 2008-05-20 07:56:11 --

The Boars have learned to be suspicious of such calls from the Sabbat who hid in the mountains and killed most of the local wildlife...

But Hydes call is different. Animals pick up on these things...

But still there arent many boars left. The few who do respond are large, dangerous looking. Their bodies scarred and demeanor gruff.

There are three of them, and they approach slowly to the newly sprouted trees...

Hyde taps into his ability to mask his true nature, though he is not inherently offensive or threatening to animals as most Kindred are, he can sense the uneasiness in these creatures that approach. Instead of attempting to alter his appearance, he attempts to alter his scent, to seem less of a predator, and more like them. (2008-05-20 12:12:34 Hyde rolls 5 dice to Manip+Perf(Mask 1000) 5,5,10,2,6 (2 successes).

Reaching up into one of the lower trees, he plucks a fistful of leaves, drops them to the ground in front of the Alpha and communicates to it that these trees shall provide sustenance, shade and some measure of protection for generations to come. He tells them that he will allow them to dwell upon his territory so long as they reciprocate this arrangement when he calls upon them. None of them need give their life to him, only lend him a small part of their strength when this one falls upon times of bad hunting.

Eventually, the trees will consume much of the pollutants in the filthy pool they encircle, and you shall have a water-hole as well. Hyde is also prepared to offer to dig them an earthen den nearby for shelter, should they balk at his initial offer.

The Boars are skeptical... Their mistrust of anyone after these recent weeks is easily understandable...

But a new home away from the mountains where they have been dying is a good enough offer for them.

The alpha will sample the leaves and the deal is set. They will come when he calls, in exchange for this place and his help in preparing a den closeby...

Hyde will return here on each of the following two nights, checking the small trees for any change. On the third night, the trees he has been fertilizing will have darkened, sickly looking leaves and twisted, malformed branches. If one were to watch them long enough, one might see the branches moving independently, against the wind.

Hyde will uproot each of the four sickly looking saplings and take them back to his haven. They are now beyond their need for water, soil, or even sunlight. He has spent a handful of hours each night, digging in the stony soil nearby with his hands to make good on his end of the deal, but for all his puissance, it is still slow-going.

Soon enough though, he will have a new handle for his maul that should be capable of standing up to nearly any punishment that he can exert upon it.