Beauty and the Beast

[CyledyrWyllt]

As the late night mists swirl near the placid waters of Riverside Park, some of the Lost of Sacramento find themselves unable to sleep... with good reason. Degnar and Dominyk have both had recurring dreams over the past few weeks which have awoken them with cold sweats and racing hearts. Some of the time they are fleeing fearsome predatory beasts, and other times they are the hunters seeking their terrified quarry through a tangled wilderness of Thorns and Fear. Images of Riverside Park are jumbled with scenes from the Hedge, however one constant is the sorrowful face of a beautiful woman that pulls at each of the Winter Courtiers in a way that neither can explain. Perhaps other changelings have also felt the ripples of these nightmares disturbing their own dreamscapes, leaving them similarly sleepless and questioning. Then again, it is possible that one or two only feel a certain restlessness on this dark night and a need for quiet and solitude. Regardless of their individual motivations, the changelings find themselves converging at the park near a certain hedge gate that had recently been quite a nuisance to both Degnar and Dominyk. Maybe with the help of others like them, they can figure out how to finally get a good nights sleep once more.

[Dominyk Prise]

Occasionally, reoccurring dreams were good, other times they were just plain weird, and still others they meant something. It was finding out what they meant that was always the most difficult part of it.

Some of the dreams it was reliving the running, the absolute grip of ice cold terror around his throat. There was the scratch and claw of the thorns as they tore at his bare skin, and the shift as he ran mad-dashed through the hedge. The green, silver, red, and blue of the thorns mixed with day and night visions of places far and wide would tumble through his head. But it was always the part when he the flashes of the parks of Sacramento came in to view that tore the Fairest restlessly from his sleep.

The first night it had been screaming, and the sweat-soaked sheets, the second night the same. But it didn’t stop, and the dreams grew more and more vivid with ever pass.

And then there was her.

That face of beauty that called to him in a way that only one had ever managed. Dominyk knew how that path had ended, but the pull was still there. That was the reason that the fairest had been drawn away from Solace to the misty grounds of Riverside Park.

The park had appeared in the dreams more than once, if nothing else that meant something.

So there he was, in the park after dark, a dark messenger bag slung across one shoulder, his frameless glasses on his nose, and wearing a grey hoodie and blue jeans. In his hands he held a pencil and a moleskine, the dream journal was always better if he did a little digging as well.

[Degnar]

Dreams usually meant something, and that was especially true for the Lost. Degnar was no expert on the subject, but when recurring dreams of things he could not explain began, the Darkling knew that he had to find out what was the meaning behind them.

Some of the images he had seen in his dreams were of Riverside Park, so the Archer of the Lonely March figured it would be the best place to start looking for answers. Thus, the Tunnelgrub climbed out of his hole and headed down to the park that evening.

As usual, he was dressed in all black, wearing a long leather trench coat that had seen better days. He had a black messenger bag with him, which held a few tools of the trade and also happened to have a live rat he had managed to bring with him from the sewers. Not knowing what to expect, Degnar also brought along his bow and a quiver full of arrows in case things got a little bit dicey.

Better be prepared in case there's trouble...

Doing his best to remain unnoticed as he walked over to Riverside Park, the Darkling called on his Contract with Smoke to aid him in the endeavor. He also used some of his Glamour to harden his Mask, taking every precaution necessary to remain as inconspicuous as possible to any prying eyes and ears.

Once he reached the park, Degnar noticed a fellow Winter standing around. He had met Dominyk on a couple different occasions, and while they weren't friends per se, the presence of another Silent Arrow was somewhat comforting to the Tunnelgrub. However, he remained hidden for the time being, observing his surroundings and trying to discern what Dominyk was up to this late at night.

Maybe he just felt like getting some fresh air? Its certainly nicer to take a walk in the evening; no sun to bother you and all that...

  2 suxx on Smoke 2 & 3, Catches met on both. 3 suxx on Stealth

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2012-06-20 09:14:33		Degnar rolls 9 to Dex/Wits+Stealth+Shadowpatch(3) to "I'm a ninja bitches!" (9 Again)		2, 7, 5, 2, 10, 8, 3, 3, 7, 9, 7		3 successes
2012-06-20 08:59:59		Degnar rolls 5 to Shadowpatch (10 Again)		2, 1, 9, 8, 3		2 successes
2012-06-20 08:59:18		Degnar rolls 5 to Nevertread (10 Again)		8, 7, 9, 2, 4		2 successes

-1 Glamour to harden Mask

[CyledyrWyllt]

Anyone looking around to see if there are other people in the park must have 3+ suxx on a Wits+Compsure roll to notice Degnar.

[Nightfall]

Nightfall had been performing in the park. Miming was a dying art, and he got more reactions of surprise and curiosity than anything else. Which... sucked. Sitting in an invisible chair or riding an invisible bike was true art. None of that I'm In A Box or I Found A Wall for him.

He peeled an imaginary banana and began chewing.

It seemed like last call was an hour ago, and he wiped off the face paint and pulled off his gloves, stuffing them in his backpack.

That's when he noticed the creeper.

So he made a long U-turn and began creeping up on the creeper ( Degnar ).

Maybe his final performance tonight would be a re-enactment of the 1908 silent film "An Altercation Between Two Gentlemen".

Eye Spy

  3 suxx

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2012-06-20 17:01:08		Nightfall rolls 9 to We're Hunting... Wabbits. Wits + Com (10 Again)		8, 3, 5, 2, 8, 5, 4, 3, 8		3 successes

This Is Not The Mime You Are Looking For

  4 suxx to beat

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2012-06-20 17:02:21		Nightfall rolls 9 to Wascally Wabbits. Dex + Stealth +1 (Clothing) (10 Again)		8, 10, 5, 4, 5, 7, 4, 10, 3, 9, 6		4 successes

If the +1 for black mime's clothing was inappropriate, my apologies.

[CyledyrWyllt]

... and 4+ suxx to notice Nightfall

[Degnar]

  I see Paris, I see France...no really

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2012-06-21 00:21:15		Degnar rolls 6 to Perception (10 Again)		7, 6, 2, 3, 6, 5		failure

Degnar did not even notice the mime creeping up on him, watching Dominyk as he is approached by a strange looking girl. The Darkling watched for a little while longer, when he suddenly noticed the Fairest with the violet eyes walking over to the pair. He tilted his head slightly, wondering what they were all doing in the same place.

There was the beautiful woman from the dream. She looked sad...

He recalled some of the images from the recurring dream, wondering if perhaps it was L'aire who'd be in trouble. Could dreams predict the future like that? The Archer had been in this park before. He had found an open gate and pack of Briarwolves, so it was possible that those were tied into his dream.

Hmm, mere coincidence? I guess women do have a thing for chocolate...should probably go say hi.

The Tunnelgrub stepped out from under the shadows being cast by a tree, not far from the trio of Changelings. He walked at a casual pace, not wanting to startle the group. Once there he tipped his hat, which looked like a new article of clothing...new meaning he hadn't worn it before, but probably found it in a dumpster.

"Hey, I guess I didn't get the memo?" asked Degnar, his attempt at humor, which probably didn't go over too well due to his monotone voice.

[Dominyk Prise]

Dominyk was momentarily distracted, as he was spinning a little and walking in a pacing circle. He was checking his notes with the surrounding area, and half mumbled, partially formed sentences were falling around him. “That’s that tree, and then...which is there.... and I think there was... no that one.” He ran a hand through his hair taking care to not catch his hand on the horns.

He nodded back to the almost glowing elf as she danced to her own drum. That made him remind another bit of the dream and he turned again...and almost walked straight into the incoming TOXIC!girl. “Oh, Hello. Lady Jezebel, right?” he asked after taking a step back.

Flowers and toxic didn’t usually like to play nice.

And then another changeling popped out of the undergrowth, what was with the world today? It was like he was almost popular or something. “Greetings.” he said with a smile. “I didn’t get a memo....at least not physically, it was more of a dream.” his expression sobered for a moment before he looked beyond the darkling.

“You want to join us?” he asked to the sneak in the bushes.

  4suxx, who do I not see again?

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2012-06-21 09:39:33		Dominyk rolls 5 to Perception Check (10 Again)		10, 10, 10, 6, 9, 1, 6, 3		4 successes