Hedge Patrol I

[Ethan Walsh]

”Alright everyone. We are doing great so far.” Why didn’t you think plucking the thorn? So stupid! Some Hedge explorer you are. You’re never going to understand the Hedge and you are going to lead to somebody’s death. At least Cassandra is competent and will probably stop you from killing anyone. Hopefully... Ethan’s shoulders drop noticeably and he seemed to shrink, his back curving like a tree in a breeze or, more accurately, like someone expecting a blow from anywhere. As a wizened it almost physically hurt to be useless, trained as he was to constantly please everyone.

Stupid, stupid, stupid! Make yourself useful and try to find where some goblin fruits grow! Then you can tell the freehold and someone better at navigating the Hedge then you can get it! Ethan begins look around for goblin fruits, calling upon his horrific experience of finding goblin fruits for the Green Lord. He winces again, seeming even smaller than before, almost doubled over at this point.

3 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2020-10-25 11:36:43	Ezekiel Stuart rolls 7 to Foraging for Goblin Fruit Survival 5 + Wits 3 + Foraging Speciality - no equipment 2 (8 Again)	4, 1, 3, 10, 9, 3, 9, 1, 2, 4	3 successes

[Gerrit]

"You okay there Ethan?" Gerrit still focused on keeping an eye on the way back home, but you didn't have to be a world-class empath to notice the Wizened faltering. They couldn't afford to crumble yet - why, they've hardly started out.

Cassandra seemed to work her magic, so it was probably best to just keep cool and wait for her instructions.

[Cassandra Reeding]

Cassandra takes a deep breath, taking in the information she gathers from her contract. She nods a little and then gazes over at the others, "We need to use the western path to get to Capital Park," she says quietly, "There doesn't seem to be any immediate danger about that I can sense. Still, we must be vigilant." She notices the way Ethan shrinks. She wonders briefly if his talk about being an excellent navigator was to make up for his lack of preparedness. Or perhaps she took his spotlight. She wasn't sure.

Still, she walks along the Western path with the others, still watching for any sign of danger or oddities as they go along. Just in case, she gives Ethan some room to take a little lead in navigating. It would be a good time to show both usefulness and build relationships.

2 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2020-10-26 04:07:05	Cassandra Reeding rolls 4 to Perception (wits 2 + composure 2) (10 Again)	8, 8, 2, 5	2 successes

[Ram]

Ram’s ears perked when Gerrit asked if Ethan was okay. He wanted to look behind to check what was going on, but he resisted the urge. He needed to trust Walsh to speak up if there was a worry. Ram’s responsibility was lay ahead, not behind.

With a glance at the sun to orient, the large man turned down the west heading path at Cassandra’s suggestion.

[Ethan Walsh]

Hearing Gerrit asking about his health helped to lift Ethan out of his spiraling. I’m not there. It is different here. You are never going back… So get up and do your job!’ With that Ethan raises up to almost his full height, although at least some of that hunch remains. “Thanks Gerrit. Just some memories of over there. This was similar to the… well job isn’t really the best term for it given that I wasn’t being paid, I wasn’t allowed to leave, and the field day OSHA would have if they ever got there. I tended to the forrest and gathered goblin fruits. Normally I can just think to myself ‘You are using the skills you had to learn to spite him,’ but sometimes it isn’t that easy.”

“Thank you Cassandra. If I can offer you any help, please tell me.” At that Ethan follows Ram down the path Cassandra identified.

[Saber Sloth]

Knowledge and knowhow, Ethan might be new to this part of the Hedge but he does know the Hedge. Staying on the Path, he cannot wander far without loosing the rest of the party but he does note where goblin fruits had been growing, having already been harvested this close to the Gate.

Cassandra keeps an eye out, finding what she expected. Nothing overtly threatening, the Clause invoked promised no immediate danger, the shadows thrown by the foliage, are deeper and darker then the bare Autumn Thorns would naturally provide however.


Slowly, inch by inch they were leaving the Gate behind.

Int+Survival (can use Teamwork) to keep the Path, and make sure you'll catch the correct turn to head to Capitol Park.

[Gerrit]

"Don't worry, we're here with you and that means anything trying to get you will have to go through all of us first." Just noticing the Wizened seemed to have done the trick and Cassandra seemed to be knowing what she was doing - both these circumstances in turn calmed Gerrit down a bit. Positive, staying positive.

"Remember, the Hedge reacts to your headspace. We're doing well!" He wasn't a master-navigator, but he figured a little pep talk and keeping a pair of eyes on where they've came from could help at least a little bit.

Playing support for one of you guys

2 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2020-10-28 12:36:37	Gerrit rolls 4 to help navigating (Int 3 + Surv 1) (10 Again)	1, 4, 4, 10, 9	2 successes

[Cassandra Reeding]

Cassandra gives a smile and nod to Ethan. She gives him a look of 'You got this' as best as she can with her hard to read expression. "Thank you. We're a team, let's remember that. Successes for one is a success for all of us. You're doing great" She then nods to Gerrit, "You're right. Many things can control the ongoings of the Hedge and we are one of them. Cool mind and a steady footing. We've got this."

Cassandra keeps an eye on where she is walking, leaning more on her intelligence to keep them on track than her survival skill. She softly calls out things that she notices of importance as she walks, making note of anything she can that could be important later.

Cassandra is assisting in the teamwork action, 4 successes

4 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2020-10-29 02:01:54	Cassandra Reeding rolls 4 to Assist in hedge navigation (int 3 + survival 1) (10 Again)	4, 10, 9, 10, 4, 8	4 successes

[Ram]

Memories. Ram could get that. Though normally, for him at least, it helped when you weren’t expecting. And when you were expecting it, you used it.

“Good philosophy, just let us know how you’re doing.” Didn’t want one of the navigation time going mad while they were in the middle of the Hedge. And like Gerrit said, the Hedge could react. It was better to know where that was heading ahead of time. Till then he kept Cassandra’s advise and kept vigilant and let the others handle directions.

“Anyone got any funny stories?” he asked conversationally. Maybe, it would help distract from the darker thoughts that were slowly entwining minds from the seeds of suggestion they themselves had planted. Or at least pass the time.

2 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2020-10-29 21:25:38	Ram rolls 4 to Ambush? Wits+Comp (10 Again)	8, 2, 9, 6	2 successes

[Ethan Walsh]

Feeling emboldened by the support of his fellow changelings Ethan sets his mind to navigation. He kneels quickly and examines the soil and leaf litter more closely. Pushing any nagging doubts away, he examines his surroundings, the familiar landscape of the Hedge.

5 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2020-10-30 07:23:12	Ethan Walsh rolls 13 to Hedge Navigation: Intelligence 2+Survival 5+Teamwork 6 (8 Again)	8, 8, 4, 2, 10, 4, 6, 5, 6, 2, 9, 5, 4, 8, 7, 4, 3, 5	5 successes

Of course, this way. You really need to get your anxiety under control. Chicago didn't have any changeling therapists, but I wonder if Sacramento does. Ask about it later though, you are on the job. You really misjudged Cassandra, she seems very nice. Paranoia stalks constantly.

"Thanks for all the help you guys, Capital Park is just this way." Ethan then speaks soft directions to Gerrit to help guide him on way.