(PRP) Dark Rites of Summer

[Yamiyo Lillich]

Handing Coco the water whilst looking away, still not really sure how to be around her, lightly blushing as she was being called Miyo and not just Yami. Letting her take what she needs just happy to see her in contact with water.

"Umm I am really not much of a fighter I am afraid, kindly count my combat ability at a one or zero." Not really knowing how she would be of aid in the future but this was a good a chance as any to get some experience to see how she could be of aid.

Following the summer Queen into the hedge, walking softly and carefully through the tunnel, her eyes looking in every direction whilst her ankle bracelet changes to shed it's mask and reveal it's wind forged mien making it look as if a bit of wind or air is spun around her left ankle for those few that would manage to notice it that is.

Shivering a bit from the sight as they gets into the hedge, the sight was not what she had expected then again is it ever what you expect here?
Having far to little experience in both navigating in the hedge nor being fully informed in all that have happened as of late she takes a backseat, keeping her eyes ready and awake for anything and everything as she fixes her hair and touches her ears.
Checking that her shield is secured as she looks to the Queen to lead the way hoping that she knows which direction will be best to move and fully content with just following after her.

Only the ankle bracelet not the choker.

[Circe]

Why did Coco smash her phone? She could just use it after they left the Hedge! She'd point it out later so the bug wouldn't be distracted by her stupid move. Circe wrinkles her nose at the strange scent of their clashing Mantles. Rather flowery.

"Grazie," she says to John and takes a small, by normal standards not Circe standards, sip of coffee before returning it. Then the Thorns! Circe sweeps the shotgun barrel along the paths, pausing briefly to peer down them. Then at the light. Her ears bend forward and up, listening for anything.

Circe thinks a Trod she'd used before is to the North. Probably. It had been Iron Side, but who knows in the Hedge. And it just had a wrecked, old car.

South? They'd come that way. East and West? Newly blazed thus suspect. The glow? Could be a settlement, inferno, or a lure like those snaggled tooth fish use. "Over watch." The elfin Summer walks to the center of the crossroads, trying to study for any sign of recent travel in a direction.

  Perception 2, any tracks

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2020-06-22 19:34:40		Circe rolls 6 to Perception Wits 3+ Comp 3 (10 Again)		5, 10, 6, 7, 8, 7, 3		2 successes

  ID Tracks 1

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2020-06-22 19:36:23		Circe rolls 5 to Identify Tracks Surival 2 + Wits 3 (10 Again)		10, 3, 5, 6, 1, 1		1 success

[Coco]

"Ughk," Coco breathed, handing the canteen back, the flavor of plastic strong in her mouth despite the pleasant sensation of having just taken a refreshing drink. Hopefully their little dawn patrol wouldn't last that long. She'd hate to have to take another sip of that disgusting swill.

Of course, that swill had nothing on the hedge itself. Thorns, but she hated this place. Sure, it was a fantastical land where magic reigned, and yet it never failed to be abominably horrible every chance that it got. For every delicious fruit squirreled away in this jungle of festering spikes there was a carnivorous plant or cackling hob lying in wait.

"And here I thought the forest was unpleasant," Coco groused as they stepped across the threshold into that other world, and immediately found themselves surrounded by the thorns hungry for their blood. She reached behind her to grasp a hold of the trailing tail of her high-low top, so as not to have it tear before she could take a step or two, and then followed the others to the crossroads.

"Ah, thank the stars," Coco groaned, half scampering, half falling in the direction of the eastern trail, as if they'd already traveled soooooo far and she could barely take another step.

"Let's walk this way. It's nice and open, and someone has obviously been here before. And that's what we're looking for, isn't it? Signs of recent passage? Besides, that way lies fucking fairy lights, and only an idiot would follow those. So, I guess we know Circe's vote."

The Wasp shot the Queen of Summer her friendliest of smiles.

[James Turner]

James grew dour on the walk but his face remained a placid mask. The dark brambles encroaching on them reminded him more of his capture than his escape, though he subconsciously rubbed at his arms where the thorns had taken their pound of flesh.


Doing his best to not get caught on any of the brambles and leave signs of their passing but he was the clumsy one of the group, completely lacking in the grace the others had. He didn't let it get to him though taking a look at the cross roads. Recent paths trudged, cut and burned. He wasn't so sure that wasn't common, if they were making trods wouldn't they do the same? But the fact that Circe didn't know about the new trod was concerning. Doesn't mean it wasn't hobs though.


"Signs of passage or something strange like those lights. They're as much fairy lights as that's a Trod made by the local hobs, we don't really know unless we investigate." He shrugged but took a couple steps in to investigate get a better look at the cutting and scouring and get closer to the lights.

[Yumyumcrow]

Circe can tell the east-west path is relatively recent and was dramatically cut through the Hedge. The path is flattened and there is plenty of leaf litter scattered along its length. Thorns and the Hedge's rampant growth was hacked off with crude speed, creating a chaotic pattern. The vector of this path creating thrust appears to have been west-to-east. No signs of burning, however, so whatever did this cut and hacked through the Hedge, creating a new path.

Whether or not the smaller paths existed prior to this event is too difficult to discern.

Their view of what lies down the paths is obscured by deep shadows and cloying vegetation (for the trails to the north, south, and south-east) and a faint haze or mist to the larger east and west paths. The changing season is upon the Hedge; and while the Emerald Queen's grass fresh scent is still present in the air, the cooling breeze of her mantle is turning to steam in the ascending presence of the Crimson Queen's hot summery blast.

[Yamiyo Lillich]

Looking around if they were looking to see what was happening around here they should really follow the trail already made and see what being had made it right?
"So umm I guess we should head after the massacre towards the right passage or?"

Fully ready to follow after either the Summer Queen or Coco knowing full well that they were the two fighters of the group and she was backup at best, however the Queen were the one with the highest rank and she had been involved in all the recent messes so her knowledge of the situation should be the best hence it would probably be best to follow her.
Her mind lightly taken back whilst trying to decide if Coco were just her usual charming self or if there were any real animosity between her and the Queen.

Looking towards the Winter to see if he would react to it or just let it slide, he had proven to be one to speak up before so if things got serious and hindered them or put them in any sort of danger so did she hope that he would be able to be the voice of reason once more.

[Circe]

Tone is important to taunting, especially when the person you taunt isn't looking at you to pay attention to body language. Coco will learn this. As Circe isn't aware of the hostility since she is looking at dirt instead, "Thank ya bug. The new track started west ta east," she stands up from the ground to point for emphasis. "Ya notice that too? Impressive Coco," she shrugs, "Somebody went east while coming from west. Destinations be more interestin' then origins."

As for James' opinion. "Lure lights are also a thing dude. Easiest path leads ta most trouble and we're looking fer trouble. So looks like the brawler," she points at herself and Coco, "Vote road trip. Yammy?" She looks at Yamiyo, "Which do ya prefer? If a tie, rock paper scissors?"

[Coco]

Coco rolled her eyes at the indecision and began walking EAST along the nicely cleared trod, with a whistle on her lips and her cane swinging gaily beside her.

[James Turner]

So many assumptions about what things were, if you were trouble you'd want to hide not announce your presence. "You know, trouble likes to hide right? It's not just gonna reach out and place placcards saying where it is. You're the boss though, lead the way looks like Coco already has."


There was also trouble that did like to reach out and smack you across the face though, couldn't deny that. The Bully types liked to puff out their chest, assert dominance and get gratification from putting down the little guy so he couldn't write them off out of hand. He'd go ahead and start down the path after coco since it seemed her and Circe were in agreement.


It seemed like there was some animosity there and he'd have to find out why eventually. Right now he had to keep his eyes open, always had to be aware, always had to be vigilant.

[Yumyumcrow]

The group head east along the recently carved trod: Coco, then Circe, James Turner and lastly, Yamiyo.

The path is straight and wide enough for two of them to walk side-by-side. Mist wafts gently around them, seemingly coming from the deeper Hedge that surrounds them. A scent of cut grass mingles with other, strangely familiar scents of cut plant. The heat is not bothersome, though as they progress on their journey, the group finds that the mist is thickening.

Eventually the path opens into a glade. The thickening mist obscures the other side of the glade, so they are unable to tell if the path continues onward or not.

Moss and lichen cover the lumpy ground, yet here and there they will find signs of red tiles suggesting that once the area was a floor. Trees loom about them, slowly leaning inward to form a sylvan roof. South of their position, they see a light - a warm glow at ground level - surrounded by at least two shadows. A scent of aromatic woodsmoke and stewed meat overtakes them. There is a babble of conversation, muted by the mist and the perception warping nature of the Hedge.