(Loyalty Is,) The Source

[Rhodes]

"I don't rely on luck. I rely on not being where people like this Iron Meg are," Rhodes hisses. "Circe, listen. No matter how many guns you have they outnumber us five to one, and I choose life."

Wait, Fetch-maker? That was being filed away. He only knew of one.

The Former Autumn Queen of the Autumn Court of San Francisco. Anne.

[Seraphina]

So this was it. And they seemed well organized. Not a good thing.

Looking to the Summer with so many questions, “Iron Meg?” it didn’t sound familiar to her. Wait…Fetch Maker?! Eyes blink a few times as she thinks that over. Not cool, not ok.

“Luck? Yeah, I do. But what’s the plan first?” because she wanted to be clear on what was going to go down. Crystal clear.

And Rhodes wasn’t wrong. Circe was the only real fighter here. Sure, Sera had luck and curses, and some other Contracts that might help. But it was a huge risk. “Can’t we just sneak a few bombs in or something?”

[Saber Sloth]

Below the Lost the Orchard continues in it's operations. Unchaining from what it had been when they first crested the hill. Iron Meg continues to bark her orders before nodding sharply at two of the changelings, both with spears in hand, follow the Ogress to the barn door. Only to have her enter through the large doors, and for the soldiers to close them behind her, moving into position to guard the doors.

The hives are a riot of buzzing, with another figure clad in protective wear moves through them, inspecting the combs.

In the Orchard, as the gardeners work, the Sovereigns recognize another.

Jimmy Lloyd, husband to the burned Wizened. One of the faces on the posters.

If the plan includes getting down there without being noticed, Dex+Stealth, if you want to observe operations, another Perception, Int+Comp to recognize and memorize any patterns in patrols

[Circe]

Circe scoffs at the lack suggestion of suicide, "Iron Meg looks like the boss," she pulls back the rifle to tap the extension upon it, "And this is a suppressor. Shoot, move, shoot. I've read sniper books." Circe had read the about snipers on battlefields.

Seraphina gets a the hard red and black eyes focused upon her. "Plan?" Right a plan. What was the options her? "Step 1, scope it out. Stop watch set fer 5 minutes, no changing no computer, fuses good fer about a minute, they will set each other off." She has to think, though her eyes keep glaring back at the hated Ogress. "I'm not the sneakiest. Also if the sneaker gets caught. Pop," she points at Iron Meg, "Goes the boss's head, distraction. Ya now, over watch cover."

Circe had seen plenty of movies and played videogames where the sniper covered somebody on a stealth mission. Well, that was what she was basing this upon at any rate. "If never seen, pop the merda mangiare cagna head off as we leave, chaos. Boom more chaos."

Circe thinks, what did she remember about Iron Meg.

  Iron Meg is

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2020-04-07 19:01:53		Circe rolls 6 to Memories (10 Again)		7, 9, 8, 4, 10, 2, 1		3 successes

As an after thought, "If we withdraw I demand a binding Pledge from ya both ta return that gives us the funds ta come back with kaslashes. Or maybe an M202, burn 'em at range."

[Rhodes]

Rhodes looks back. "What is a kaslash?" This was getting out of hand.

"I don't like this. We need more arms. I'm not James Bond." The Dread Lord was very wary of this whole thing. This was much bigger than he expected.

[Seraphina]

She watches with fascination as Circe put something on her rifle, then explains how it works. While she had faith in the Summer’s abilities, they didn’t know what they were dealing with.

“Being sneaky isn’t exactly my strong suit.” She could try it, but not with that many enemies. Looking at the operation, she thinks.

“I think chaos could work in our favor. Especially if they feel secure in their operation.” She whispers, still looking.

“Now, I’m no expert in these types of things. But I would think most operations take a break. Let the workers eat or something, fix equipment, the usual.” A deep breath, “Would that be a more opportune time to attack?” then looking to Circe, “Their defenses are down and it would be unexpected, and would give you the chaos. A chance to place bombs.” A shrug. "Though there is something to be said for taking out the leader, a sure way to lower moral." least it kinda made sense.

“Only downside to withdrawing is if it moves, or we can’t find it again.” Her mind already working over Contracts she had and if they would be useful.

Glancing to Rhodes, she shrugs.

  1 success

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2020-04-08 12:19:05		Seraphina rolls 4 to Perception(Wits+Comp)-1 Clarity (10 Again)		7, 9, 3, 3		1 success

[Saber Sloth]

CanaCirce remembers Iron Meg. Queen Anne's right hand, and bodyguard, the Dread Lady's named Paladin of Shadows. Fierce, ruthless. With mercy just a passing word in the dictionary. The only time Iron Meg wasn't around the Wizened Queen, was when the Ogress was doing her dirty work, work deemed to important for anyone else to over see.

Circe remembers it was always the Gristlegrinder's iron dark tusks, that those forced into Pledges would see, before they'd Swear, knowing the price if they didn't.



Seraphic sees, Jimmy Lloyd. He's like a beacon, next to him is Viki Wade, his missing secretary. There are others of course, the missing faces, the missing people. Humans in the Hedge, being put to work.

[Circe]

"Cheap assault rifle," was Circe's answer to Rhodes. She looks out over the organization before her. "M202 be perfection fer this, fire at range, but harder ta buy."

"Iron Meg is Ann's personal attack bitch. Chief thug fer doing shit too," Circe scoffs, "Dirty fer her but that she is desperate ta have done. Only reason she'd be here without Ann is if it is important ta a plan."

Circe really wanted Iron Meg dead. Whatever Ann had as a plan, her dog being gone would ruin it something fierce. As for the watch and wait deal, "So ya want ta stake it out Sera? I guarantee they'd panic fer a bit if Meg's head pops but," yeah there was one problem with doing that in games. And even from here they did not look THAT stupid to calm down after a few minutes of not finding enemies, "They'd get violent panic real quick. Best as a cover fer retreat or start a assault. If we can't sneak in, either of ya got a good throwing arm?"

If this was a failure because of that she was going to figure out how to build a crossbow that launched dynamite. Or get the fire bomb bazooka thing. Circe looks down the scope and scans the Hollow. Was there anything that looked particularly flammable? "Either of ya see inflammable stuff? Or flammable? Either could work."

  Perception

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2020-04-08 20:58:13		Circe rolls 6 to Perception (10 Again)		2, 8, 4, 3, 8, 9		3 successes

[Rhodes]

He Nods with Sera. "I used stealth to escape the Hedge. Depends how good the guards are, but I could try." He was formulating lies to get out of being caught already. Save the flashy tricks for when things really went badly.

"Throwing arm? I am a grifter by trade, Circe. I talk my way into things, not kick them over." The Dread Lord thinks. "Lets slow this down. Assess the situation. Look for guards, weapons and patterns, then we know what we're dealing with."

1 success

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2020-04-10 05:48:53		Rhodes rolls 5 to Perception: Wits+Composure (no clarity pen) (10 Again)		2, 7, 8, 7, 1		1 success

1 success

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2020-04-10 05:49:56		Rhodes rolls 4 to Track the Pattern? Int+Comp (10 Again)		1, 1, 9, 1		1 success

I put both rolls in because Rhodes is looking to identify guards and patterns.

[Seraphina]

Was that motel being used to kidnap humans and make them work in here?

“Did you guys see Jimmy and his secretary?!” if not, she would point them out. “They’re taking people to make them work in here. Not ok.” They had to put a stop to this.

“Then if it’s important, it needs to be stopped.” Whatever this Iron Meg’s plan was, it needed to end.

“Well, staking it out gives us the benefit of going in as prepared as we can be. I say if we hit them, we hit them hard and make it count.” She chews her lip for a moment, thinking. “Throwing arm?” shaking her head, “I don’t think so, never tried. But,” she pauses, “I could probably get down there and buy someone enough time to plant explosives or something. One of my tricks is they’d find it very hard to attack me, and ignore me.” Popping off that Contract would be huge, but, it could buy them time.

Nodding, “Yeah, access first.”

  5 successes

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2020-04-10 10:20:45		Seraphina rolls 4 to Perception(Wits+Comp)-1 Clarity (10 Again)		10, 10, 8, 8, 10, 3, 6		5 successes