Season's Greetings

**Rhodes** · Jul 23rd, 2020 08:58 AM

Don't forget darling, I'm meeting some possible new faces this evening. I'll be out when you get home, but I'll bring dinner. Love you x

Seraphina

The phone was returned to a pocket, and Rhodes glanced around again.

The bar on 12th and main was an upmarket affair, loks of paneled wood and a long bar of very expensive bottles.

The Director was holding one such scotch, a 40-year-old Talisker, and was sat in a side booth waiting for his guests. His suit was black and immaculate (despite the summer warmth) and he wore a fine coat over the top that to the eyes of changelings seemed to be spun of dark, forboding thunderclouds. A fine red shirt and tie completed the ensemble, and a fine lapelle pin of a mirror.

He had left his mask for now. It was a risk, but what was a Fairest if not one to be seen? The Dread Lord's scarlet flowers were in full bloom at his temples, wrists and heels, supported on black woody stems and deep green leaves. His pale skin was broached in places by woody roots emerging throught he skin like roots rom the earth. And those eyes, vivid emerald green, too large to be human. His face a calm, expressionless mask.

Untouched to human senses his mantle breezed icily from the booth, filling the air with haunting whispers and spinning leaves. He smiled to himself, checking the names in his book. Maks Bortsov and Armand Csaszar . Not local by accent, though to pair them together already was too much an assumption. He would see.

He sipped on his whiskey, and waited.

Jul 23rd, 2020 11:54 AM

The door opened, and a large figure stooped low to enter.

The hulking behemoth appeared humanoid in shape, but its body was much too angular and rugged, resembling sharp rock more than human skin which was much too pale. It was well over seven feet in height and its face appeared to be akin to a kabuki mask, the expression set in demonic wrath with two prominent lower fangs jutting upwards. Two icy blue lights danced in the eyeholes, panning the room. His clothing consisted of a navy blue hooded jean vest atop a black and white striped tank top. He wore dark brown cargo pants tucked into black boots.

The lights settled on the only other inhuman looking thing in the room and studied it for a moment before walking over with a wide gait befitting his size, a chilling breeze following in his wake.

Jul 23rd, 2020 12:17 PM

Catching the last glimpse of someone...big entering the same place, the Drudge nods to himself. Satisfied he's come to the right place, he gives the larger, obviously Lost visitor a moment before following after. Not knowing what to expect, Armand isn't sure if the man he's just seen is his host or some other new face. But all that is something he can ponder on the inside.

Right. Entrances. Having spent so much of his life in hiding, the temptation to 'keep doing it' is strong, but he'd already resolved to be open and honest. To foster community and things. So the modestly dressed, middle aged man in jeans and a simple collared shirt makes his way in just as he is. With a greasy red smear of cooked fat and blood seeming to slither constantly down his chin and the thick smells of campfires and damp earth clinging to him like cologne. As his eyes adjust and he takes in the surroundings, he notices another, more 'regally' dressed man at the bar with a bottle of something expensive looking at hand. That'd be Mister Rhodes. So who is this bigger fellow?

Of course he's soon to find out. Where are Armand's manners? He approaches the booth where the man who must be Rhodes is - again giving the larger fellow a wide berth. Flashing a surprisingly friendly smile through much-too-sharp teeth, the Wizened makes his introduction.

"Mr. Rhodes? My name is Armand. We spoke on the phone. This sure is a nice place, guy." A thick, hard-to-place

European accent

bubbles forth almost comically from the man.

**Rhodes** · Jul 23rd, 2020 12:53 PM

Stepping within a few yards of the wel-dressed man put the chill of Autumn up the spine of the men. The Flowering looks up and smiles in a way where the eyes remain dark and watch intently.

2 successes

"Gentlemen!" The Dread Lord said brightly, confirming his voice as the one from the phone calls. "You both called within a day or two of each other, so I thought I would kill two birds with one stone. Sit, please." He gestured to the chairseat in the booth.

Eyes glance form one to the other. "Mr, Csaszar, exellent. Which would make you Mr Bortsov." It is a statement, not a question. The glass is swirled and ice cubes clink merrily. "Welcome to Sacramento. Now before we begin, I have a very important ground rule. You don't know me from Adam, and I don't know you. I am something of a specialist in formal contracts within our membership, and I find the making of a simple pact tends to put all parties at ease. Give us some initial.... understanding, one might say. A measure of protection, for both the people I represent, and yourselves. I trust you will find that... agreeable?" He sips from the glass, and a few autumn leaves settle on the table.

Jul 23rd, 2020 01:07 PM

Maks nodded, his head stiff in its movements. “That is...agreeable,” noticing the leaves, he tilted his head pondering. “Vhat is this pact?” His voice was heavily accented yet deep and rumbling, like a mountain given a voice. Idly he picked a menu up and scanned the drinks, searching for Mamont Siberian Vodka.

Jul 23rd, 2020 01:14 PM

Armand nods. That explains the big guy. More of necessity than courtesy, he waits for the big man to be seated before finding his own.

He takes in the welcome speech, glancing curiously between the two men. Rhodes seems cautious, but straightforward. A good combination for Autumn royalty, if the Drudge's opinion counts for anything. "That makes sense." Following (the apparent) Mr. Bortsov's question, he searches Rhode's eyes for the answer.

**Rhodes** · Jul 23rd, 2020 01:52 PM

"Oh, nothing arduous, I assure you," Rhodes says casually. "I tend to keep things simple. Let's say.... a month. We three agree to a guarenteed cesation of violent action - we will not intentionally perform harm against each other or the Freehold members. Maintaining the pact will be financially profitable, but breaking it will make us.... unfortunate? Accidents do happen." The Air tingles as the Wyrd flows into his words, envoloping and waiting for the confinrmation for binding.

The smile he adds is malevolently sinister for a moment, before it vanishes. "Of course, we won't be breaking the contract, so the termination clause is purely a formality."

Ghostly whispers, not quite coherent, flit past the ears of both men. Emerald eyes watch them both passively, but under the surface, the Dread Lord relishes the anticipation.

Rhodes is offering a Pledge - if you need to read up a little ToughBlizzard, the wiki page here is super useful.

Proposal of Vow:
Task: Lesser Forbidance: Do not intentionally hurt each other or the Freehold members
Boon: Lesser Blessing (1 dot of Merit: Resources)
Sanction: Medial Curse (Success on 9 and 10 only to rolls)
Duration: Medial (1 month)

Jul 23rd, 2020 02:10 PM

As he feels the Wyrd begun to permeate the air, the lights that make up his eyes brighten a touch as the feeling of it attempts to raise memories to the surface. The face is otherwise blank as slate. ‘This is doable. Funds would be useful, and it asks nothing ve vere already not intending to do.’ Maks looked down from his hunched position in the seat, and met Rhodes’ eyes and nodded. “This is agreeable.”

Jul 23rd, 2020 02:58 PM

The hum and buzz of Fae-touched magics puts a little more weight behind the decision. Not just a gentleman's agreement, then. "Yes... ah, formality. Of course." Armand hesitates for no reasons beyond caution and weighing the consequences of his decision. The two others seem fairly calm about the situation, but the old Drudge plays with his beard and smiles nervously. The Ogre 'signing off' on it seals the deal, though. No good to be the odd one out.

"I swear it as well, then." A pause. His nervous smile is replaced by a solemn look and a furrowing of his brow. "On my name. Armand Csaszar. A good name. One you can trust." But the seriousness is gone just as quickly from his demeanor.

"Friends make these kinds of vows with a drink in their hands. But here I am without one." A mischievous smile. "I'm not going to be the one to make you drink that all by yourself, either. It's good stuff?"

**Rhodes** · Jul 23rd, 2020 03:26 PM

"Marvellous." The word is drawn out, and the Fairest's smile never wavers.

"Oh, it's very good. Smokey, if you like that sort of thing." He raises the glass slightly. "Well, with that in place, I suppose I should give you the introduction. As we have already covered indirectly, my name is Rhodes. I hold the position of Director of the Sacramento chapter. We do have a traditional structure, but due to certain circumstances it has been necessary for a... custodian, of sorts, to cover any bases that need it. I also oversee the fall quarter - which, if I recall correctly, is of interest to you, Mr Csaszar." The Wizened is given a more genuine-looking smile.

The Flowering pauses, watching. "I suppose the next stage is are you both intending on staying long, or need any assistance? What brings you to Sacramento?"

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2020-07-23 12:52:24	Rhodes rolls 4 to Place the accent - Int+Academics (10 Again)	5, 9, 8, 3	2 successes

Season's Greetings

Flowering

Flowering

Flowering

Flowering

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