Talking Points

[Kray]

The arrival of the Winter king was met with a hand going to his hat and tipping it in the monarchs direction, it was his season after all. "Uh. King Sven good to see you. Here you go." And a sack like all the others was placed at the darkling's feet. containing the books, ice and nice bottle of booze. "Uh. A gift for Mr. Crow, show of good will." Which they would likely need. "Uh. Not quite he likes me well enough, told me about the unknown lost wandering around and said I could come over for more details." A kept pledge, basic trading and respect went along way. "Ah. It's just Spring he has banned from his homestead." An issue regardless.

Having no clue as to what Circe was reference he listens and then just nods at the end. "Uh. Yeah and I was agreeing that lying was a bad idea." Just to make it clear.

Now if Sam Crow was or was not an old lackey of Ann's well the ogre had no idea beyond the wizened word but he had visited the independent lost alone and not been attacked, ambushed drugged or anything else so some trust did exist there. "Uh. I mean sure you could offer the gun and see how it goes." A bunch of lost tromping round the area could also be Ann's old lackies having regrouped or something like it. The thought is not as worrying as it could be.

Shaking his head. "Uh. Little point ordering in last minute. We would be guessing. It is not ideal. But we can always promise something and get it later." He did not like deals of that kind but if it came to it, then well they would see.

But now for the first hurdle. The spring beast was not going to make this easy. "Uh. Now look I don't want to get into a back and forth about this." After Sera had ripped his clarity away the ogre did not think well of the former director and a drawn out conversation would bring that out quick enough. "Hmpf. What happened happened and now we have to deal with it." Nothing changed that. "Huh. But if you think you staying here is best, I'll respect that." Spinning the Spring queens defiance to seem a little more self sacrificing for the sake of the freehold then it really was.

stats and equipment

Defence:2
Armour: 1/0
Speed: 12

wp: 2/4
Glamour: 6/11








Bullet Proof Clothing 1/2 Denium overalls and Leather trench coat


Bowie Knife 2L
Sledgehammer 2B (9-Again)
Machete 2L
Dragon knuckles 0L
Strangle Wire 2L (Requires Grapple, then apply wire (Strength+Weaponry-3, no Defense))

x4 bags of books
x8 bags of ice
1 nice bottle each of: Bourbon, Brandy, Gin, Port

A bunch in infected coup nettle from harvesting the plants and the hob goblin's tribute (Hedge Patrol IX)



Hedgespun Fedora (0 dot)

[Svelte Sven]

Perhaps it was his nature as a Whisperwisp, perhaps it was something downright incorrigible about Sven as a person, but he swore he could just about taste the tension in the air from the other Sovereigns. Perhaps I can wring a bit of drama out of this... discreetly. He filed the thought away for later, not wanting to derail things all at once. The Winter King took the gifts offered by his Autumn counterpart, struggling only a little to keep the sack aloft. "Appreciated." He mumbled before shifting the weight over his shoulder, ever-so-slightly alleviating the burden.

The gifts seemed a good idea, even if he had reservations about handing out firearms to people he didn't really know. But that was Circe's decision, not his. Still, he pursed his lips in thoughts before speaking up. "Well, if he's only banned one Season," He started, an eye towards Sonnie, "I feel we can convince him to reconsider. It's not a lie to say that a visit from all the Kings and Queens of a local Freehold is a rare occurrence. Some might even say it's an auspicious sign." The small man shifted the weight of the bag on his shoulder slightly. "So, maybe half of us go up, or even go one at a time, and try to convince him to let us all come as a group? I'm sure there are stories where that sort of thing happens. Even if I am thinking of Tolkien..." Sure, there was levity in the suggestion, but the Darkling genuinely believed that it wouldn't be that hard to get the whole group involved somehow.

Stats & Equipment

Defense: 4 (3 + Coat)
Armor: 0/0
Speed: 12

Glamour: 6/12
WP: 5/5
Health:

Hedgespun Raiment - Coat (+1 to Defense); Switchblade - 0L

[Circe]

Circe smirks and puffs up in pride, "Aaaand burned down one of the places a gate from said orchard was linked to, Sonja." It was worth including. "Sam probably used the rule of abandoned stuff dibs that works in the Hedge."


Circe shrugs as she puts the phone back away. That was always an option. They'd done it before to barter for that corpse. "Just thinking out loud Kray," she apologizes about the gun thing, "Though it is something I can offer to provide for him giving Sonja a chance. AK knockoffs are cheap as cazzo, but reliable. Still, I only have one at present."


"Won't force you to go if you don't wanna Sonja. However. Reconciliation is a reason for him to put up with Springs coming to visit Sonja," she assures the Spring Queen. If she wanted to visit and it failed? Well, that was just Circe dragging her away and them playing cards until the boys were done with the grouchy bird. Then Sven comes up with another suggestion that seems almost mythological. "Multiple visitors trying to convince a hermit to do a thing? That is a narrative trope Sven, sure I saw it in a few foreign films."


Though she was not against the idea. Having the Freehold's leadership all visit could be an honor or a terror. Respect or intimidation, either one could work in their favor. The bribes however would make it seem like the former. Circe likes it. But how was the order to go for visitors? "So, what? We visit in backwards order then? Winter, Autumn, Summer, and then if Sammie is good with it, Spring for the end of the diplomatic fling?"

Stats & Equipment

Equipment: Riot Gear, gas mask, Colt 45 with 3 clips, 2 AP clips, 3 Dream-a-Drupes flasks, hedgespun multitool, machete, knife, Wrist watch, wallet, pack of bubblegum. AKM (30) 4 clips (30), light mount and bayonet. LED shoulder flashlight. A backpack: second gas mask, 2 water bottles, a lighter, 2 small LED flashlights, 3 boxes of shelf-stable bacon, 3 duct tape rolls, 4 protein bars, 30 spare colt rounds, 70 spare AK47 rounds, 8 small bungee cords, 6 glow sticks, entrenching tool, tear gas cannister, a bottle of Disaronno, a bag high end coffee grounds, a 1 lbs bag of M&M chocolate candy, a 16 oz bottle of grated Parmesan, and a paper padded packet. Packet has 8 oz bottles of 2 each minced garlic, ginger, mustard, cumin, cayenne, oregano, saffron, and mint.)

[Sonnie Wu]

Spring was the season of Passion.

It wasn't all rainbows and flowers and butterflies. It was also thunderstorms and floods and howling winds. Spring could be nasty and dangerous if it wanted to be. And stubborn. Passion doesn't die down quickly. The indignity continued.

It was clear the Beast wasn't going to hear any badmouthing of Sera, and this Sam Crow had leapt to the top of her enemies list (did she have one of those?). "Does this idiot have something we need?" she asked, scowling at the tunnel ceiling, "Why are we going to see him, anyway? Is this just diplomacy for diplomacy's sake? Do we want access to his farm or something? It seems like he's content to live alone."

[Kray]

Sven's spin on the situation is well considered, and had a certain appeal to the ogre's own sense of properness. Such an approach would probably work on him, however. "Uh. Wizened are spiteful by nature, same as each of us have our curses to bear." But banning an entire court for the actions of one member was an act of spite. "Hm. There is every chance he doubles down." Seeing the arrival of a spring monarch as an insult. "Huh. But yeah a staggered approach, test the waters is a solid plan." Negotiate, break the situation in a little more softly. Yeah the Ogre can see the sense in it.

Shrugging at Circe's statement. "Uh. And again I am agreeing it is an idea worth a try." Having no idea if Sam Crow was a gun lover or not the worst he could see was the offer being disregarded. "Uh. But maybe approach in pairs is best. He does Know me after all. Makes introductions just a little smoother." No need to drag it out to long or keep bombarding with new introductions.

The name calling from the spring queen was not a great sign. "Uh. We are going because he got word to me about a bunch of unknown lost wondering around, and the full details would be good to know." Bulbous yellow eyes close until an idea strikes. "Hm. If going would really be so terrible for you. Would you like to do some scouting, see what you and a partner can learn about these lost yourselves then we can compare what Sam Crow says with what you find?" Splitting up was risky at the best of times but Sonnie did have quite the reputation to lean on, and if it galvanised her into action then all the better.

stats and equipment

Defence:2
Armour: 1/0
Speed: 12

wp: 2/4
Glamour: 6/11








Bullet Proof Clothing 1/2 Denium overalls and Leather trench coat


Bowie Knife 2L
Sledgehammer 2B (9-Again)
Machete 2L
Dragon knuckles 0L
Strangle Wire 2L (Requires Grapple, then apply wire (Strength+Weaponry-3, no Defense))

x4 bags of books
x8 bags of ice
1 nice bottle each of: Bourbon, Brandy, Gin, Port

A bunch in infected coup nettle from harvesting the plants and the hob goblin's tribute (Hedge Patrol IX)



Hedgespun Fedora (0 dot)

[Svelte Sven]

Yeah, there was absolutely some tension in the air. Sven didn't typically try to fit people into neat little boxes since human beings were fairly complicated, but this was probably the first time he'd ever seen Sonnie so... peeved. And even though Spring and Autumn were Seasonal opposites, the back-and-forth between her and Kray was new too. At least it sounded like his idea wasn't being dismissed out of hand.

"Well, how about Autumn and Winter go in first and if get the all-clear, Spring and Summer follow in?" He suggested casually. "In addition to the whole thematic thing, this farmer doesn't know me well enough to hate me yet and is apparently on speaking terms with Kray. Plus, I'm stuck wearing the crown. Sonnie doesn't sound in a rush to go in, but we probably shouldn't hang around alone if we can help it. So... two and two?"

Stats and Equipment

Defense: 4 (3 + Coat)
Armor: 0/0
Speed: 12


Glamour: 6/12
WP: 5/5
Health:


Hedgespun Raiment - Coat (+1 to Defense); Switchblade - 0L

[Circe]

Circe wouldn't second the idiot part until she met him. Though even idiots could be useful. "He has Ann's old haunts. I'd rather have him a friend to keep it from her followers for that reason alone Sonja," she dryly comments. Didn't matter if he had nothing the Freehold wanted to Circe. Sam Crow keeping the Hollow out of their enemies' hands was good enough for her. "And if these unknowns are trying to restart her shit," paranoia says yes, "They ARE going to come after the Freehold. If it makes you feel better Sonja, treat it as an Enemy of my Enemy situation. Cause if they are, I will offer to give the guy an AK and ammo to tell them to fuck off. Or dry ice with safety glove if he is obsessed with chilling stuff."


Sure, Seraphina had been a great friend, but Circe had priorities. Revenge. Not falling victim to it was quite important, and if appeasing Sam Crow helped with that, she was going to bribe the crotchety farmer. She'd try talking the usually beatific, bouncy Beast into being calmer on the walk there. Maybe emphasize people lash out on bad days and Seraphina's animosity with Sam Crow was probably such a situation that snow balled. Probably both playing each other's rage buttons like keyboards.


As for Sonja scouting, Circe wasn't sure she would do well for that. What with the...waitaminute. "Huh," she chuckles darkly. "This armor," she knocks on the side of the helmet, "Should be familiar from when I killed Ann wearing it. But heavy stealth was successful," the smile she gives is feral, "Ain't nobody gonna notice if nobody is left alive to notice." A VERY Summer way of stealth. This means she is in the running for scouting if it involves talking up folks.


"Two by two, yet only my hands are blue," she muses after Sven's suggestion. "Sorry. Space cowboys makes a good show. I've no objection King Sven. It is a good plan and you boys can warn us off if the angry farmer wants to go no girls allowed." A little levity. "Though Kray?" She looks to the Autumn Ogre. "You have met this dude. So, uh, topics? Ones to avoid, since diplomacy is the goal, we should avoid pushing the rage button."

Stats & Equipment

Equipment: Riot Gear, gas mask, Colt 45 with 3 clips, 2 AP clips, 3 Dream-a-Drupes flasks, hedgespun multitool, machete, knife, Wrist watch, wallet, pack of bubblegum. AKM (30) 4 clips (30), light mount and bayonet. LED shoulder flashlight. A backpack: second gas mask, 2 water bottles, a lighter, 2 small LED flashlights, 3 boxes of shelf-stable bacon, 3 duct tape rolls, 4 protein bars, 30 spare colt rounds, 70 spare AK47 rounds, 8 small bungee cords, 6 glow sticks, entrenching tool, tear gas cannister, a bottle of Disaronno, a bag high end coffee grounds, a 1 lbs bag of M&M chocolate candy, a 16 oz bottle of grated Parmesan, and a paper padded packet. Packet has 8 oz bottles of 2 each minced garlic, ginger, mustard, cumin, cayenne, oregano, saffron, and mint.)

[Sonnie Wu]

She blinked in surprise, "Unknowns? Do we know anything about them?" That was probably a joke. Or half of one.

The Vernal Monarch shrugged, "A staggered approach sounds fine. I'll be last, if I go at all. Depends on if you guys can soften him up first."

Golden monkey eyes were centered on Kray. She might be book dumb, but the Beast was cunning in her own way, and she saw what the Ogre was doing. Manipulative, but that didn't make scouting a bad idea.

"Stealth I can do," she said. Surprising, given how loud and colorful she tended to be. "How close are these unknowns getting to the farm?" It wouldn't do for her to get too close to it too soon. Last thing they needed was for this Sam guy to become aware of Spring trespassers.

[Saber Sloth]

Starting to feel better, so just let me know when y'all are ready to get going!

[Kray]

Sven had the right of it by the ogre's reckoning. "Uh. Yeah that makes the most sense to me." The ascendant monarch and the point of contact, not mention not jumping the farmer with lost he would most likely adversely react to.

With a freehold as small as theirs any independent lost they could keep on good terms was advantageous really, and while Sam might be prickly he had traded the ogre some coup nettle, handy hedge fruit to have that one. "Uh. Topics?" Grumbling deeply under his breath. "Hm. None that I stumbled across. Just respect what is his." That had been the point of contention after all.

Massive shoulders shrug at Sonnie's question. "Uh. We know they are about nothing more then that, and only that little because Sam Crow decided to let me know." Otherwise they might have been information some unforeseen encounters. "Hm. And I'd like to know about lost near the freehold." They came in all shapes sizes and temperaments after all. "Ah. Again not sure, but if they are close and it's protection Sam is after, well that puts things in our power as negotiations go." Like the farmer as he might, the wizened as not a member of the free hold, protection was not obligated, it would come at a cost.

Ready to dive in as soon as everyone is ready

stats and equipment

Defence:2
Armour: 1/0
Speed: 12

wp: 2/4
Glamour: 6/11








Bullet Proof Clothing 1/2 Denium overalls and Leather trench coat


Bowie Knife 2L
Sledgehammer 2B (9-Again)
Machete 2L
Dragon knuckles 0L
Strangle Wire 2L (Requires Grapple, then apply wire (Strength+Weaponry-3, no Defense))

x4 bags of books
x8 bags of ice
1 nice bottle each of: Bourbon, Brandy, Gin, Port

A bunch in infected coup nettle from harvesting the plants and the hob goblin's tribute (Hedge Patrol IX)



Hedgespun Fedora (0 dot)