Broken Freehold Common Ground

**Evelynn East** · Jan 24th, 2016 09:42 PM

Evelynn looked back and forth between the Green and the Witch Tears again, her brow furrowing. Okay, well, if they burn on Glamour, maybe it was just a case of preventing skin from touching the flowers. Maybe the gloves wouldn't even have to be heat-resistant. She tugged her sleeve down over her hand and, with the protection of the thin cotton, reached out with a wince to touch the flower with a covered finger.

All the best scientists and inventors put themselves in danger for the sake of knowledge, right?

**Daniel Leto** · Jan 28th, 2016 02:57 AM

"Nothing specific," Daniel admitted "But I'll help you look around, see if we can't find that piano." Other's might have some reservations about digging up graves, but the Gravewight wasn't one of them. He didn't really have the strength or tools to dislodge or break off a part of the throne anyways. If he could assist L'aire one bit of ivory or ebony, he felt the trip might have worth it.

He wasn't sure how successful he'd be. Any piano was sure to have mostly burned, with most of the keys along with it. He focused on the small hillocks of moss that rose here and there on the ground. As he searched he began to whisper to himself. Talking softly to the shadows of the witch tears and those that lay beneath the ground. He let glamour infuse his words, almost like he would in a dream. His mantle unfurled at his feet, swirling in tiny eddies of emotion. Subtly, the mist guided the Darkling in one direction. As if called by lost memories.

"I think it might be over here," he said to the Dancer.

1 success

Reaching toward the scarlet bloom, Evelynn can feel her hand begin to warn as her finger grazes flower. All the pain and fear is drawn to the surface, her skin feels flushed and fevered. Like holding a bowl of soup that had been in the microwave too long. No flames appear though. It seems it would probably still take some skill to handle the flower even without skin contact. Either that or thicker gloves.

L'aire can make a Wits+Comp-4 to search for the piano. Daniel's assistance is already factored in.

To break off a piece/uproot the throne roll Strength+Stamina. The throne has durability 3 but its structure is only 2. Successes on a Strength+Stamina roll must be above 3 before you start damaging its structure.

Jan 28th, 2016 10:31 PM

“I’m not sure how a piano could get… lost. It was a grand piano after all.” The Fairest said dismayed. It was bigger than the Throne, but mostly made of wood and string. It was very possible it disintegrated.

“Unless it burned up that badly.” A tiny bit of sadness in her voice. But there wasn’t much she could do about it if nothing was found.

The Fairest followed Daniel when he mentioned the area. She looked behind him but in the rubble, stuff was hard to make out.

1 success

**Malcolm Green** · Jan 29th, 2016 06:04 AM

Green rose slowly, his gaze still locked onto the growth of Witch Tears. And then with Evelyn's attempt to manhandle the flowers. The wizened's attempts earn a grunt of approval from the rocky elemental.

After that he is turning on his heel to follow the other two as they venture deeper into the ruins.

"Come on. Best not be splitting up. This place might not be all that safe, yeah. Who know if anything else has made a home here?"

**Daniel Leto** · Feb 1st, 2016 05:23 AM

"Your right," Daniel apologized to the Mountain for wandering with a sigh. The Elemental was correct. Daniel had just been hoping to come away less empty handed.

Narration

L'aire nearly missed it. Blackened and yellowed and misshapen. Oddly smooth despite several cracks running along its surface. The scarred ivory blended well with the rest of the scorched Hollow of splintered wood and metal. It could have just as easily been a finger bone of some poor individual that had tried (and failed) to claw their way out of the collapsing debris. But there, like a glistening tendon, was the dull metallic sheen of piano wire laying next to it. And there another wire and another. She had found the remains of the once grand instrument, mostly buried below moss and detritus, with only a bit grasping above the surface.

Then, as if summoned by Green's words, a wind blew through the clearing smelling of old smoke and making the hollow trees groan in a manner far too reminiscent to growl.

**Evelynn East** · Feb 3rd, 2016 06:00 PM

Well, it was more information that she had before. Still, it was close. Best not to poke around any further. Not without more tools and protections at her disposal.

Green's grunt, surprised her, though, and it took her a moment to realize that it was actually approval. Honestly, she'd been so focused on what she was doing that she'd rather forgotten he was standing there. Still, she grinned in response, a slight flush coming to cheeks, and scrambled to her feet. Splitting up was, as he'd said, a bad idea.

She crossed the distance between the Witch's Tears and where Daniel and L'aire were standing, keeping an eye out for any of the keys that L'aire was looking for, though, admittedly, it wasn't much her strong suit. She kept getting distracted by the strange pieces of twisted metal that were poking up here and there - pieces of once-whole objects. Machines of a type, she supposed. Maybe even the piano wires. She found herself trying to use the remains to imagine what this place had been like once. And the images it conjured were all beautiful and grand. It was no wonder the others wanted to rebuild it, or build anew.

Feb 5th, 2016 11:12 PM

With nimble fingers, L’aire cautiously picked up the smooth, but dilapidated key. As the smell of old smoke engrossed her nostrils, she could nearly feel the heat from the fire; or at least it’s memory. She let it sit in the palm of her hand and closed her eyes a moment. She’d heard Green’s warning, but stole away to her memories before it would be the last time here.

She pictured Violet, singing along with the pianist who accompanied her with skill. Her voice resonated like a sirens song, enchanting the whole audience. Then Rook, the Elemental who refused to give into his stereotype, would play often. The Fairest remembered dancing to the piano, or with him along the smooth wood floor. How she and Terri would hang around and mingle with the rest of the Freehold and when the Squirrel was Queen. Spartan, who enjoyed the buffets like no other, had often addressed coronation with a turkey leg in hand. The splendor of each changing season filling the room with décor like no one would ever see in the blink of an eye. As Violet would walk and flowers followed, Katrin was opposite and that frost would glisten as she moved near objects.

The groan of the wind snapped her out of memory lane, and she turned to the lot. “So, it seems there is nothing to salvage. But I think we should still take a piece of the old Throne if we can get one. Then probably get out of here. Green’s right.”

**Malcolm Green** · Feb 7th, 2016 01:32 AM

Green winced at the creaking growl of the trees. The sudden wind had the big Elemental peering about him, poised as though he expected a sudden attack.

Slowly, reluctantly almost, Green relaxed and continued after L'Aire.

"Well. What are we waiting for. Lets take a look before our luck runs out, yeah?"

**Daniel Leto** · Feb 8th, 2016 05:49 AM

Narration

The dead heart of the old commons lies along a path that heads towards a twisted blood red oak. The damaged throne still clings to a last gasping breath of magnificence. Enshrined with barren vines, it gleams an onyx black where the fire damage is still visible.

Green

To break off a piece/uproot the throne roll Strength+Stamina. The throne has durability 3 but its structure is only 2. Successes on a Strength+Stamina roll must be above 3 before you start damaging its structure.

Approaching the old Freehold throne, Daniel couldn't help but look to Green. Maybe it was a little stereotypical to presume the burly Elemental was their best bet at breaking off a piece of history that had withstood an inferno. Then again, looking at the huge mountain, could the Gravewight really be blamed?

"So... everyone grab a handhold and pull on three?" he asked. Green would probably still do the most work but Daniel could at least try to help. Why else come here?

**Malcolm Green** · Feb 10th, 2016 03:49 AM

Green raises an arm and prods a thick finger at the dark hollow.

"Hold up! Anyone else see that? The path goes right up to it, yeah? Maybe even goes... beyond. You think we should check it out first, yeah? Don't want to be manhandling that..." he nods to the throne "... and have to suddenly face an angry Hedge beast or crazy hob."

The mountain moved slowly up to the tree along the path.

Waiting.

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2016-01-28 02:52:26		Daniel Leto rolls 4 to Search assist Wits+Comp-5+3Glamour (10 Again)		7, 9, 6, 5		1 success

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2016-01-28 22:27:31		Sasha Checking it out rolls 5 to Wits+Com-4 (10 Again, WillPower)		7, 6, 7, 7, 9		1 success

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2016-02-07 01:31:36		Green to search rolls 4 to Wits + Investigation (10 Again)		10, 10, 1, 6, 5, 4		2 successes

Broken Freehold Common Ground

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