(Bibliophile) The Bridge Burner

[Forn Clakes]

Cal-Expo Race Track

Saturday, 18th October, pre-dawn. Just after 6am to be exact and Autumn had finally got a good grip of the city, pushing away the last gasps of Summer with a morning chill that brings zipped up jackets and condensation on the windows. No doubt as the sun rose, burning through this initial grip of damp, it would be a brilliant day with some heat left, one mustn't be fooled by such illusions; The time of Fear was upon the world and a small band of pledged changelings were on a mission.

The task was simple. Locate the bridge burner, Garth Goyle and attempt to persuade him in meeting with the mad ex-King, Horace Albert Liebowitz; exiled from the Freehold.

But where they were going was not in the Freehold. This place was the Brim, the buffer between the sanctuary of the Seasons and the dangerous wilderness beyond. Only those crazy, desperate or simply stubborn chose to venture and reside within the Border Marches. The Cal-Expo Race Track was one such place, just north of the Freehold and the site where Gianna had informed this temporary Motley they could find the Manikin, using a hedgegate that was Masked as a trailer. Finding the race track was easy but as the group, either individually or as together, passed the safe boundary that was the Freehold, each could feel the alien wilderness they had entered, the understanding that here, even though the streets were dead and quiet as folk slept, the Seasons had no rule.

Please narrate how you arrive to the race track; I don't mind if you come together or individually. Also note in your initial post any equipment you have, or let me know if it is already on a minisheet/signature. It is still dark but on the horizon, the sky is already starting to change colour

[Daniel Leto]

Daniel had been up since about 4:30, so that he could walk the four miles or so to the expo. He’d made sure to dress in layers to keep off the early morning chill. It had actually been a pretty nice walk. There weren't that many people out and he found the darkness comforting. Until he got to a certain point. It actually surprised him a little when he passed the freehold border. It kind of put things in perspective, knowing you couldn't walk more than an hour before you were past the protection of the seasons. It was also a reminder that he needed to get a vehicle, though. Knowing the terrain definitely helped but being able to run fast was much easier with a car.

He didn’t see anyone right away when he arrived and he wondered if he was the first to arrive or if the ‘shadow’ team was already in hiding. Daniel took a seat on a curb and inventoried what he’d brought. He’d packed the day before; some food and water, some basic survival equipment, and some tools he’d bought in case he was asked to work on electronics. After his walk, he put the jacket he’d had on into the backpack he’d brought.

Equipment

Dark Clothes (light sweater, t-shirt, jeans, tennis shoes)
In pockets (Pocket knife, Lighter, cell phone)
Backpack
Jacket
Two apples
Four granola bars
Bottle of water
First aid kit
Screw drivers (Philips and flat)
Monkey wrench
Hex wrench set

While he waited, he concentrated on the contract he had with Truth.
“Damn it,” he whispered as Truth proved false on their deal and made off with some of his glamour.

  

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2014-10-19 20:47:42		Daniel Leto rolls 3 to Wyrd1+Subt2 (10 Again)		4, 2, 6		failure

[Morgan Bellanar]

Morgan had opted to leg it the several hours journey to the race track from her apartment. Of course, she travelled as the crow flies so it was a fast trip. Twas a nice and relaxing trip when she was roof hopping, though she did have to navigate around a few yards after the buildings got too short. Most folks didn't like strangers running through their backyard and called the cops.

Unlike most of the Freehold, the raccoon regularly traveled beyond the Border on the mundane side. She'd never noticed how quickly she could traverse the Freehold's length as for her, twas just part of her job. Except she usually crossed the Border by bicycle instead of on foot. She even had time to stop at a coffee shop and pick up some muffins.

That had slowed her down as she'd no room in the backpack for them. She was well prepared for this trip into the Hedge, having learned her lessons from previous visits. But it didn't leave much room in the backpack. Maybe she should get one of those fanny-packs for next time?

Equipment

Dark clothing: black khaki trousers, sneakers, tank-top, long-sleeve shirt
In backpack: 1-Roll of Duct tape, 10 6-inch industrial yellow glow sticks, 1 flashlight, 2 small bungie cords, 28-ft of twine, 1 road flare, 3 throwing knives, 8 Granola bars, 2 Bottles of Water, First Aid kit, 1 cheap lighter (half-full), Bottle of hairspray, Small tuperware holding 4 ziplock snacks bags: salt, garlic powder, white sage powder, pepper;
Her riding jacket
On person: Cell phone, dagger, 5 throwing knives, 1 small flashlight, 2 6-inch industrial yellow glow sticks, a bottle of Pepper-Spray, 2 shots left
A bag of muffins

She thus arrived jogging rather then running to the meeting spot, trying not to jostle the muffins too much. And it looks like Daniel had beat her there. She started to wave hello to him but then pulled her hand back. They were trying to keep a low profile, right? She walked over to him instead, "Heh-hi D-daniel," she was gasping for breath, "O-on time am I? Yays, heh." She then presented him with the bag, "Muffin?"

[Marcus Evan]

When the metalflesh picks up Lynn, she will notice that he is wearing a pair of sturdy work boots and faded brown trousers with a thick, charcoal grey sweater and matching wool hat. Marcus pats his pockets a few times after they make a quick stop, just to double-check that he brought his phone and multi-tool with him. After driving well outside of the freehold limits, they finally notice Daniel and Morgan outside of their destination, so Marcus pulls his Jeep over to the curb.

"Good morning, you two. Either of you want some coffee? We stopped at Starbucks on the way, and brought two extras just in case. Help yourselves."

After gesturing for Lynn to hand them the extra cups of coffee, the metalflesh glances in his back seat at everything they had brought with them and does a mental inventory just to make sure he hadn't forgotten anything. Satisfied that he was as prepared as he could be, considering he had no idea where this little day trip would lead them, the elemental takes another sip of his coffee as he focuses his attention back on the beast and darkling on the curb.

"Did you two drive here together? Where'd you park?"

What'd he bring?

Direct TV satellite dish found at the swap meet
Toolbelt(hammer, pliers, screwdriver, etc.)
Rucksack containing:
-survival blanket
-Bowie knife
-hatchet
-60' polyester rope
-waterproof matches
-Lucazade
-water
-Clif bars
-beef jerky
-first aid kit •
-hedge bounty listed on 2nd minisheet

[Trickster]

Lynn yawned a bit as she handed over the extra coffees, holding her own closer to her face and wishing that the double shot of espresso would kick in faster. Darkling she might be, but she preferred to spend the night in revelry, as opposed to rising at an ungodly hour to venture out. In the back of the truck they had wedged her find from the swap meet, an old 3 foot ham radio antenna that Marcus had fixed up for her. Other than that she had included a grab bag of various electronic bits and some spools of wires. Her thought was, full lengths of wires might be hard to come by when you’re stealing things off of rooftops.

She shuffled her feet stiffly, a little hampered by the fact that both her fiddle case and a messenger bag were stuffed in the foot-well together.

Equipment

Long knife – aprox 2 foot long, fastened to the back of the fiddle case (when worn, the knife will be between her and the case)
Bag contains –
mini roll of duck tape
bottle of water
miniature survival kit (This wallet-size packet of miniature multi-use survival items includes a whistle, fishing hooks, a signal mirror, a sparker fire starter, waterproof fire-starting material, a compass, duct tape, string, wire, safety pins, aluminum foil, a magnifying lens, nylon thread, a razor blade, a sewing needle, a pencil, and tiny sheets of paper, plus a waterproof instructional sheet on use of the various items.)
one road flare
small, digital camera
one MRE
blank notebook and several pens.

Clothing

Warm jacket, dark clothing (pants, layered long sleeve shirts, sturdy boots) all in various shades of dark, but not all the same color.

She glanced over at Marcus. “Seriously? You think she drove somewhere?” she asked dryly while pointing at Morgan.

[Daniel Leto]

Daniel heard someone approaching and turned to see Morgan jogging up. He briefly wondered if she had jogged the whole way here, before guessing that she probably had and had probably added some sprinting in for fun. He remembered the first time he’d met her, the only time he’d ever seen her really out of breath. If he didn’t know better he’d have sworn she was a Runnerswift. Where did she get her energy?

“Hey Morgan. I think you’re early actually,” he said accepting one of the offered baked goods “Thanks.”

Then their two compatriots arrived by car.

“Hey, Marcus. Lynn. Thanks for the coffee,” he said appreciatively taking it with the hand not already holding a muffin. If he’d known they were having breakfast here he’d have brought something. “I walked actually. Don’t worry, Freehold is smaller than you’d think on foot.”

As he took a sip of black coffee and again tried to activate his contract by force of will. Then he entered a coughing fit as his mouth filled with the taste of bitter dry ashes.

“Sorry cough cough, don’t worry cough, I’m gag,” he had about to say ‘fine’ but then the sickening taste of sweet honey and tarnished silver flowed over his tongue “just adjusting to my contract.” he found himself forced to say just to get the flavor out of his mouth.

  

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2014-10-21 20:10:46		Daniel Leto rolls 5 to Wyrd1+Subt2-Retry1 (10 Again, WillPower)		2, 7, 8, 3, 10, 10, 6		3 successes

[Morgan Bellanar]

Morgan was relieved that Daniel took a muffin. It'd be awkward if nobody took one. And she bounced a little as the others arrived. From what they said, it seems they'd arrived together, if a little tired looking. They mustn't be used to early hours. The raccoon's hours were flexible, one advantage over a regular job that let her be wide awake. The adrenaline pumping through her from the run probably helped.

The Steepscrambler accepted the coffee from Lynn with a nod of thanks, "T-thank-you-thank-you. Nice-glad see you bolth heh-here, Marcus, Lynn. Right-spot-yay! Um, I-I have extras muffin ifin you folks wants," She offered the bag with her free hand after Daniel had taken his muffin. Then she started shaking her head in the negative, "Nada-no-no Marcus, seper-rival gets here-heh. Not know how car-perate-erm, drive. I climb-run-jumps, uh, until muffins t-then only jogs. Roll-landing with muffins is bad." She had a serious look on her face as she nodder her head at the last part. As if it was important advice.

She started as Daniel began coughing. The Beast turned a worried look to the Darkling, "Okay. N-not sure what one make drinking hard," she tilted her head, a usual sign that she was thinking, "I have one that makes drinking hot, or fire, safer but not harder. Pluuus fire-pendant make freebie...Oh! Daniel? Do-do you need a pat on the back?" The worried look came back as she stopped thinking.

[Marcus Evan]

Marcus shrugs at Lynn before accepting a muffin from Morgan. The elemental reflects that perhaps offering caffeine to the already jittery beast was perhaps not the smartest idea he ever had.

"Cheers, Morgan. If either of you two want a ride back, I have plenty of room."

Or, at least he would once they unloaded the stuff in his backseat on Goyle. After waiting for Daniel to compose himself, Marcus gives his companions a questioning look.

"So, what's the plan? Should we go in all together and get the lay of the land, or split up into our teams now?"

[Forn Clakes]

Where the gang have met up is about 50 yards from the race track's main building, the parking lot barely in sight in this pre-dawn gloom, a dirt slip path leading away from the street for visitors and staff. Heaven knows where the trailer's are, let alone one that is a hedge gate.

In the distance, the breeze catches the sound of horses braying and carries it towards the changelings. As they talk, a set of headlights begin to travel from the opposite direction and passes them by without pause, heading towards the city proper.

[Trickster]

Lynn slowly peeled the wrapper off of her muffin and ate it neatly.

"What do you say we go in and scout it out together, then break up into teams once we have the location? I'd rather not haul that thing" she pointed back at the radio antenna. "Any further than I have to. We can park a ways in, leave it and come back for it once we have a location." Stowing the wrapper in her empty coffee cup, she climbed out of the jeep and slung fiddle case over her back and her messenger bag over the other shoulder. "Let's go find the nice Bridge Burner, eh?"