(Broken Cycle) Wyrd on the Street

[Saber Sloth]

The streets of Sacramento might be chilled, but the Lost know that it's too warm. The biting promise of Winter hasn't been made by the Wyrd, the Onyx crown had not manifested, and they were vulnerable.

Something had already happened, had come through the very streets of Sacramento leaving destruction and death in it's wake. The mortals are calling it gang activity, and newly created drugs with wildly unpredictable side effects.

The Lost know that what the mortals might be rushing to explain and dismiss is something Other.

Due to the news, they know that there is at least one witness not in the hospital. One witness willing speak out about what they had seen.

The Lost would just need to find him.

Remember to include your Equipment!

Sonnie Wu Abyssalstar Titania Vincent

[Sonnie Wu]

Sonnie was uneasy about the warmth. Sure, it was California, and maybe climate change had something to do with it. But the absence of the Winter Court was not something she could ignore. The sharing of power that kept the Gentry at bay (usually) had broken down. The freehold was vulnerable.

Slouching in her red hoodie, the Beast made her way along the street. Mentally, she chided Sasha and Reed for disappearing at such an inconvenient time. Outwardly, she was looking for the graffiti. Nothing about that news report felt right. If this was a symptom of Winter's failure, if this was an invasion of Loyalists or worse, it was important to know as soon as possible. That way the freehold could get ready to fight... or run like hell.

And so the monkey girl was here to scout for trouble and gather information.

The news wasn't much help. The only speaking witness was anonymous. Sonnie had no idea how to track them down. So, finding the tag described as 'flowers and antlers' seemed like the best lead. Flowers and antlers.

Symbols of the Spring Court.

That was concerning. She, Sera and Titania were the only Emeralds left in the city. As far as they knew. If there were unknown members of the Court of Desire around, that needs to be confirmed. Likewise, if it was bait for a trap.

With little to go on, the Steepscambler wandered the neighborhoods in search of the artwork.

Equipment: Quarterstaff, 2 throwing knives (concealed in sleeves), messenger bag, smartphone, Hedgespun Boots (+2 Speed), Hedgespun Pendant (+1 Def), a bottle of water, a bag of sun chips

[Titania]

She didn't mind the warmth, it meant that Spring was getting closer, and that soon the Wyrd would pass the crown to another season.
The violence however couldn't be ignored. Designer's drugs, synthetic byproducts of modern day chemistry, were spreading madness and inciting violence among their Freehold, the clues pointed toward something troubling and the disappearance of an entire Court certainly fed her paranoia.
Clad in an elegant silk blouse, she strolls around the neighborhood, hoping to catch a glimpse of the graffiti or find a witness.

Equip: purse, smartphone, makeup, her bag, a pocket mirror, some cash, perfume

[Saber Sloth]

It was too warm for winter, but too cold for spring, the streets were simultaneously crowded and deserted. People rush through the street, eyes focused ahead, or jolting around, never lingering on one place long.

The decorative items, the tables with their wares, the parking meters, and trees, gone. Every window, taped over or boarded up.

If you want to see if you can find the tags, give me Perception, and if you get a success on that, give me an general occult roll afterwards. If you want to try and find the witness, you're going to have to talk to the people on the street. Which will require a social roll, depending on how you wish to go about speaking to/getting them to talk.

[Sonnie Wu]

An extension of Autumn. That's what this felt like. Cool weather, but not cold. People afraid. The Ashen Court was holding sway longer than it allowed. Everything was out of balance. It set her feral instincts on edge.

Sonnie was more than capable of defending herself, and thanks to the streets being so empty, nobody seemed to object to her walking around with a big stick. She typically passed her quarterstaff off as martial arts training equipment, and usually people just accepted that, since she was Asian.

Despite being skilled and armed, she was still cautious as she searched for the graffiti. Just because she was ready for a fight didn't mean she wanted one, especially from gang members of crazy people.

  Perception: 3 successes

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2020-01-30 12:19:14		Sonnie Wu rolls 5 to Perception: Wits 3 + Composure 2 (10 Again)		5, 8, 5, 9, 8		3 successes

  Occult: 3 successes

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2020-01-30 12:21:03		Sonnie Wu rolls 3 to Int 2 + Occult 1 (No 10 Again)		9, 10, 8		3 successes

[Titania]

Street Art. In her eyes it was downright vandalism. Most of these so called "graffiti artists" lacked inspiration, or decor, or integrity. But above all, they lacked the discipline. To perform real Art, to convey meaning, one needed to master the language of abstraction. Is the sketch of a toddler Art?
Still, those "tags" - that's how they were called in jargon - weren't entirely devoid of meaning. There was something, something she couldn't put her finger on, but she had seen those signs elsewhere. Mystical, was an accurate description.

  1 success

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2020-01-30 15:28:00		Titania rolls 3 to Perception (penalty) (10 Again)		3, 10, 3, 7		1 success

  1 success

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2020-01-30 15:29:21		Titania rolls 5 to Occult (10 Again)		10, 5, 5, 7, 4, 2		1 success

[Saber Sloth]

Both of the Springs meet in their search, finding the same tag, High up on the side of brick building, they see it, then they see beyond it. The paint seen, and the tag called, is only the Mask, and they with their perceptions, their knowledge and instinct see to the Mien, of this Wyrd burnt thing.

The paint Mask, showed abstract things that could be called flowers and antlers. In bight vibrantly, violently pink, while the Mien of it, bleeds red. There is a stag's head, yes, and it's antlers point up and protruding out of the side of the building, as it's wreathed in marigolds, acorns, thornless roses, and petunias. In jonquil, larkspur and every single lily.

Int+Academics to discern what the flowers mean - if that's something that either Sonnie or Titania would be interested in, while another Occult roll would be great if you would like to know more about just what the heck this 'tag' is.

[Sonnie Wu]

"What the ever loving fu-- oh, hey, Titty!" The Beast turned her golden eyes from the fae graffiti to the Bright One. "Came to check out the local art scene, too, huh?"

Leaning on her staff, she gazed back up at the wall display. "How did they make something like this, do you think?" A tag with a mask and mien? She wasn't aware that was even possible.

Sonnie took out her phone and took a couple pics of the artwork for later study. She didn't know much about flowers, so she stuck to trying to figure the general meaning of the complex piece.

  Occult: failure

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2020-01-30 22:34:42		Sonnie Wu rolls 3 to Int 2 + Occult 1		6, 6, 4		failure

Beast no brain good.

[Titania]

Hmm, flowers. They certainly were worth further scrutiny, but for now the Fairest is occupied by another - more urgent - enigma, there's an important piece of the puzzle underneath the coat of paint. Slowly, she tries to unearth its origin.
No luck, the paint peels away under her fingers, jealous of its secrets. She shakes her head, luck is not on their side today. "No idea, though this isn't your average act of street vandalism", she huffs.

  failure

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2020-01-31 01:25:02		Titania rolls 5 to Occult (10 Again)		2, 1, 7, 5, 1		failure

[Saber Sloth]

The Stag looms large, the Mien Wyrd burnt, seared into and out of the brick. Despite the Emerald Heraldry, it's strangeness eludes the Springs. Who's voice crack like gunshots along the street, where mortals shuffle along, heads down, quiet little mice. Making the sharp gasp, and breathed out, "No." More akin to a knife in the dark.

They hear boots on the ground, heavy and lobbing, running away.

  1 success

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2020-02-03 11:58:18		Someone rolls 4 to Running away (10 Again)		7, 3, 9, 4		1 success

Stamina + Athletics if you to catch up to the runner