(Red Right Hand) Friends in Low Places

[Sonnie Wu]

"Unless Goblin is written in Chinese characters, I can't help," Sonnie said, between bites of the chocolate pastry. She looked at the others curiously, "Now now, we mustn't shame flesh traders. It is the world's oldest profession and some women have no choice in the.... oh wait, you mean slavers. I was thinking of... never mind. Screw those guys!" She nods firmly.

Having finished the pastry, the Beast sat down in a chair and pulled her knees up to her chest. "You wanna hire some of us as mall cops? Hopefully the uniforms are better than Paul Blart's."

Sonnie was idly examining her tail as she spoke to Samuel, "I'm sure the Queen-slash-Director will want assurances and inspections and whatever else before anything is agreed to. So will the other Court Monarchs. This all sounds like a lot of work but probably not impossible. How can we contact you once we've consulted with our mighty leaders?"

[Circe]

"Hmmm," Circe nods to Sam's explanation, "Not eternal servitude? Then it ain't much different then when the mundies get stuck in debt. Eh, I won't object ta ya gainin' yer freedom Sam." Circe then looks at the scroll. Eyes widen and ears perk up in surprise before she gets her tells back under control. White locks bob as her head shakes negative at Abraham's question, "Despite how much I get along with hobs, I'm not really fluent in goblin. Most hobgoblins I met spoke a mundie language. Never got literate beyond the, uh, useful words. I think I see something kinda like danger in that scroll but I'm only certain it ain't tellin' us ta fuck off. I'll certainly not object ta a proper translation before I'd sign it."

She grins at Cole, "Thank ya Cole, though I think a few Springs and Winters have martial skills too. Just sayin'," her eyes dart to Abraham as she says that. It also sounded better to imply each Court had its own knights. She then looks to Sonnie, "Damn straight girlfriend. Ummm. But uh, how bad was Mr Blart's uniform?" Her thoughts were basically so she didn't know their mortal staff at Funderland, so what?

ooc: I will just assume Hobkin merit doesn't grant Circe the language and it is linguistics skill that is needed to speak goblin

[Seraphina]

Sounded like he wanted protection for this caravan. And permission. Which she didn’t feel was within her rights to give. While she wanted to see the wares, and continue her crafting, it didn’t seem her place.

Ingrid always seemed eager to work with Hobs, but that was on her terms.

The paper was glanced at, but briefly, as she couldn’t read it. But with signatures, it looked like a contract. The idea of items for crafting and Arcane knowledge were tempting, but not enough for her to offer to sign it.

“I cannot sign this without speaking with my Queen. I don’t speak for Spring nor the Director. But she is quite reasonable and if the terms are beneficial to her Court and Freehold, I believe she would be on board.”

Why wasn’t she surprised Cole would sign it. He appeared incompetent of rational thought.

At least her fellow Springs got it. Don’t speak for your Court unless you were the Monarch.

[Krakenbox]

As far as Abraham Norton could tell, Samuel was telling the truth

Samuel addresses them in order, having picked up that there isn't much order to be had beyond the Mob.

"Schedule?" he tilts his head, betraying his bird-like nature, "I didn't realize your Freehold had such mastery over manipulation of the Hedge. Routes would require your leaders giving the Company access to your Trods, of course." He brightened at the concept.

At Cole's gesture to the scroll and Seraphina's mention of signage, he shook his head, "Oh! No. That is a writ of service to be presented to your monarchs." He casts mild confusion at Sonnie, and then Circe. Had he not been clear? "The methods are in the writ." At Abraham's mention that it was better to inspect first, he cocks his head with interest, "Though if you are looking for an initial inspection, that is why I am here. I can actually get back to them with my Tokens." He looks towards Seraphina to make the decision on what to do next.

He wasn't about to trigger another argument by making any more suggestions.

"The weaponry and armour they work with is of the Hedge. It is...adequate, but their militia is limited. I am sure that the guildmaster would be interested in improving their engineering," his eyes flick from the Elemental to Circe. "If you wish to take up a mercenary contract, we can...work out...an agreement..." he trails off. He watched the others carefully, especially after Abraham telling Cole that he was making the decisions on signage. The Elemental threatening him clearly left a lasting impression that the Lost wasn't sure who he was supposed to be differing to.

"There are not any uniforms for mercenary contracts," he confirms, clearly lost on what the pair of women were bantering about.

"The guildmaster goes by Poppy. He is an established Hobgoblin that has constructed this caravan that first begun with a family, from what I understand, and has now expanded into a formidable business. They have their own protection personnel and often hire for larger projects. Some of our types will travel with them for a time," he gives a small shrug,

"Safety in numbers, and more likely to find an exit. He is...more intelligent than you would expect. I have seen him use Contracts. He enjoys dealing with us more. I would call him a bit of a bully with other hobgoblins, to be honest. I think it is because he likes the challenge of intellect to better his business with higher beings that are not the Gentry."

[Cole Volker]

"I'm sure some fall courtiers possess the means, though even without simple treks in the hedge don't mess with time normally- I suppose it would be better to ask how long these escorts would take?"

Cole noted Abraham's tone, but didn't respond. If he was speaking indirectly, that merely told Cole that he had no intention of confronting the metalflesh again.

"My hollow is on the outskirts- It would make for a decent enough unloading/loading site for trading, without risking mundane interference, and the isolated location could make it safer. It would also allow for repairs to be conducted before the route continues."
It was perhaps incredibly dangerous offering hobbes free passage through his hollow. Some could clearly call that foolishness- but Cole didn't mind hobbes much, and he feared few things... Probably due to a mix of ignorance and genuine strength.

"The higher-ups would deal better with Poppy than grunts. I'd do more good on the ground than a ling's version of a boardroom... What kind of armaments do they use? And depending on this mercenary contract, I might not be... As Averse... To such a thing, after I had consulted with experts on the subject."

[Sonnie Wu]

Sonnie didn't mind that her mall cop joke went over Samuel's head. Circe got it. As long as someone did, she was satisfied. Smiling, the monkey Beast looked to Seraphina. "Well, I guess that covers it for the moment. What do you think, Blue Eyes? Should we call up the Director and bring her the writ-thingy?" While the Nix didn't hold an official position of authority (was Sonnie even aware Sera was a Joyeux?), the Steepscrambler still deferred to her, seeing Sera as the most prestigious Spring Courtier present. Also, Seraphina was not Abraham, whose existence Sonja was still pointedly ignoring.

"I wanna meet this Poppy. Hobs are always really interesting. I met one once that was a talking bee, and he made his own honey. It might have been delicious, but I wasn't about to eat something that came out of a hobgoblin's butt." Sonnie was clearly back to her old self, if she was saying stuff like that again.

[Circe]

"Sorry Sam, just a ill timed rent-a-cop joke," Circe grimaces and bows her head when Samuel doesn't grasp the uniform talk. Then again neither did Circe. She did look in surprise at Cole's offer of his Hollow as a rest stop. "Poppy don't sound so bad. Hobgoblins that are, hmm," her ears go perpendicular as she thinks on the term, "Senziente?" Then nods, "Sentient sometimes are, despite how nice they can be, duller then a sack of hammers."


She'd save the buttery words until they actually met Poppy.


Cole was either brave, confident, foolish, or some combination. She didn't know if he was strong enough for the first nor how well protected his Hollow was to justify the second. "If mercenary work is less needed then shaping up the militia I can help with more modern gear, both fer offense and defense, as well as instruction. Certainly isn't a good idea ta give somebody a new weapon and say," she gives a mock wave with a fake smile, "Bye bye have fun." Her expression flattens, "Though it all depends on what the bosses hafta say."


She smiles at Sonnie's story and gumption. "I'd not object ta a inspection. I wouldn't hurt to see what their militia needs and what we can provide ta fill those needs," she said managing the Summer angle the Cole hadn't. That part they could probably handle like the quest giving in MMOs with a little communication. She'd suggest it to Richard. Later. And at least she was smart enough to let the slighted Springs make the decisions as opposed to voicing her own. Sera, Abe, and Cole had done enough bickering in front of the diplomat already.

[Seraphina]

There was a nod, she was glad to hear they would not be asked to sign something. “I’m sure we would all be more than happy to present it to our Monarchs. Could you tell us more about what the services would be? What is the catch?” she knew what he said, trade, access to trods, etc. But there was always a catch and fine print.

Poppy. Fitting with the company name, she thinks with a smile. “I’ve found it sad that some consider all hobgoblins to be stupid. I’ve come across a few that were quite intelligent in my time. I think I’d like to meet him.”

Looking to Sonnie, “Well, we need to bring it to our Queens attention, that way we don’t hold you up any longer than necessary.” She says with a smile to Sam, then back to Sonnie with a laugh, “I don’t think I would have tried the honey either.”

Nodding to Abraham, “I think that is a good idea. We can ask Poppy questions and get a feel for him. I’m sure our Monarchs would appreciate it.”

[Krakenbox]

Samuel nods sagely as they come to a consensus, "So everyone is in agreement. The writ is a statement of the Company's policy about their methods of trade... basically to look official and impressive for your Monarchs. You know how hobgoblins are." He is slightly dismissive as his own pride bubbles to the surface for a moment. He eyes the blade on the floor, still not moving to retrieve it.

"Are we...going, then? The trip will be a few days. Did you want to gather your supplies and meet me at a Gate?"

I'm good for this to move to the final phase while you all decide where your PCs are meeting him. Please have one of your PCs state the location so I can follow up with a new Plot Thread. If you want to press more before a Hedge Trip feel, free to carry on.