Hedge Patrol I

[Saber Sloth]

Cassandra sees that the shadow is plural, that there is innumerable tiny shadows, Rams's words prove correct as Cassandra sees small pinchers, countless legs and iridescent wings.

A swarm hidden in the shadows. Hidden as the shadows.

The Lost continue to hash out their plan, while the sound of gnashing mandibles grows louder as every single tiny body joins in...

[Gerrit]

Gerrit just hoped that running wouldn't trigger a hunting instinct in whatever it is that Ram saw. But as long as they'd stick together, it was better to stick to one plan. He jogged at the rear of the expedition, matching the slower members's pace. He tried to remember if they had any fire with them - or any other way to deal with a swarm.


"It's not like we are running from something yet. Positive thoughts, Ethan - we'll cross that bridge when we get to it." Yes, he almost believed it himself.

[Cassandra Reeding]

A look of terror is apparent upon Cassandra's face. The hues of shifting colors upon her skin are changing rapidly, perhaps making her distress even more apparent. Hearing the fluttering of those insectoid wings, crunching mandibles, buzzing and swarming around, she nearly freezes in place. Her mind keeps pulling images from that dream. The pixies gnawing at her skin, eating her alive as they swarmed her. Wake up. Wake up. Wake up! She tries to snap out of it, but her legs feel like jelly. Move or they will eat you alive again. The thought of that was terrifying enough to force her to move. She is slower than the others, but she is doing the best she can, just barely making it back into her place within their line up.

We are in the hedge. We could do a shift, couldn't we? Her mind keeps trying to pull ideas for how to help them. At the very least, if we lose our path, I have Pathfinder and plenty of glamour. That was perhaps a comforting thought. But then... they'd have to make sure they didn't all get split apart if it did come to a chase. Once more, she could feel the thirst of the hedge, its dagger-like thorns ready to consume them.

"Running will require us to hide amongst the thorns. We could get split up and lost." She is trying as best as she can to keep a cool head. "I think... I think it is forming something. Or... no, it is probably just swarming. We should keep moving - quickly. If we have to run, then so be it." She isn't too winded as they jog, not yet, but she isn't a fan. Exercise has never been something she liked.

[Ram]

Ram took in the conversation with half an ear, while still trying to process everything that was going on.

Animals in general they might not be able to out run, but these were insects. As a swarm it would be easy to activate the first clause of stone. Though he wasn’t sure how effective fists alone would be against such an enemy. No one had suggested an area attack, so they likely didn’t have one. Maybe Ram could fell a tree on it?

Cassandra brought up a good point that running full bore could end up with them off the path. Even with Stone, Ram couldn’t hope to carry them all without loosing speed. And hiding against bugs with unknown senses, again off the path… not ideal. Shit, he hadn’t been trying to keep the human world in view. Where was it?

He tried to recall any experience that might be useful as he looked around. He vaguely remembered crashing into a room with a golden seat the color of honey on with a yellow and black queen sat enthroned.

“Without attacks that can affect the whole swarm, a straight fight isn’t good. Without knowing what they can do, hiding is an unknowns.” Once (or if) the swarm gave chase, they’d know pretty quick if running was a good option. "Cassandra,” he huffed as he continued to jog “Could you give yourself a Mask of Superiority with the swarm’s leader?” Did the swarm even have a leader? How smart were they and what language did they speak? He wasn’t sure, but right now he was trying to expand the options beyond run or fight or hide.

[Saber Sloth]

The swarm carry on as they had been.

Their black bodies making the shadows of the Thorns, mandibles and fine feelers gnawing and tasting what had been caught upon the Hedge. A few take wing, fluttering up and over, angling to find an un gnawed branch.

You need to hurry up and come to a decision

[Gerrit]

So running wasn't going to work. Well, jogging wasn't. That thing is either really fast or there are many of them scattered around. Gerrit was running their options through his head and came to the conclusion that diplomacy was their best bet.

"Alright, I think it's time for a new plan. Shall we try talking to it? Ram, you and me take the other guys' flanks, Ethan keeps his eyes peeled and Cassandra does the talking?" Seeing the Fairest's speed he also wondered if running ever was an option. Maybe we should have saved our strenght if we'll have to find out...

[Cassandra Reeding]

"Mask would be helpful if I were an intimidating person, which I am not..." Cassandra turns on her heels, though again, her knees feel like jelly. She can feel her body and mind screaming for her to run, but she tunes it out. Fight with truthful-ish words? "I am Cass and my companions and I mean you no harm or ill will. We are wishing to traverse the Hedge peacefully." Her whole body shakes, her colorful hues dancing upon her skin in a striking manner. She tries to stand her ground, using an amount of persuasion to get them on their side. Can these things even be reasoned with? Are they sentient?

"What will it take for you to leave us in peace to continue on our patrol? An object? A secret?" She clenches her teeth, but manages to put on the most polite smile. She presents herself on the outside as a calm diplomat, even though she is terrified. They aren't the pixies, they aren't the pixies, they aren't the pixies. The faceless man is gone. At the same time, these might not be anything more than insects, literally not capable of real thoughts. Or... it could be a swarm of a person. Fuck. I don't know. "We could also point you in the direction of a nearby trod if that will satisfy your hunger." Please work. Please work. Please, something work. I don't want to be eaten again. ​At the same time, her feet are light, ready to move into a sprint if it is deemed necessary.

4 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2020-11-13 13:41:02	Cassandra Reeding rolls 13 to Persuade insects (Presence 4 + Persuasion 2 + SL 1 + WP) (10 Again, WillPower)	2, 1, 1, 3, 9, 6, 7, 7, 10, 8, 7, 7, 10, 4, 5	4 successes

Sorry. I accidentally added willpower dice to the amount. If dice are taken away from the right, it's 3 successes. Hopefully that is okay?

[Saber Sloth]

Even if it was an accident you still clicked it, and wrote the added WP in to the roll description. Please spend the WP with the Power Icons.

[Cassandra Reeding]

Willpower Spent for Persuasion Roll

[Ram]

“Agreed,” Ram stated simply in response to Gerrit, coming to a stop and turning to let Ethan past while he took up a position at Cassandra’s shoulder. Sounds of battle floated in on the freezing breeze of a winter’s morning, distant and few like the quite before a major offensive. He waited, to see if the Fairest’s words would hold sway. If there was even a rival queen to answer the patrol’s radiant Polychromatic.