Hedge Patrol II

[Ram]

Ram looked a bit confused at Anatole’s question, since it was the Wizened’s words that had spurred the Ogre’s action. No, Anatole was probably faking it. Trying to get more information. Which… okay, not a bad idea. Except it meant sitting in a trap.

Ram checked the window, looking for possible signs of movement.

1 success

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-05-11 08:44:20	Ram rolls 4 to Wits+Comp (10 Again)	2, 8, 4, 3	1 success

He wondered if barricading the door would count as ‘harm’.

Cassandra was trying to calm things down. Which was not going well but at least Ram’s presence kept Oliver from doing anything stupid.

He scrutinized Oliver as he spoke, wondering why the pigman was suddenly okay with letting them go. Was he willing to risk revoking their hospitality? What was going on?!

2 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-05-11 08:47:40	Ram rolls 5 to Wits+Empathy (10 Again)	6, 2, 6, 10, 4, 8	2 successes

[Gerrit]

Gerrit tried to piece the information together with what little he knew about the history of Sacramento's Freehold, the surroundings and Anatole's questions. Oliver was clearly out of his depth, but was he merely a pawn or was he in trouble as well?

1 success

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-05-11 14:48:21	Gerrit rolls 5 to make sense of the input (Int 3 + Invest 2) (10 Again)	5, 6, 4, 8, 7	1 success

Cassandra's words don't seem to faze the foreign Ogre - instead he asked them to leave. Wouldn't that break the Pledge if the Bloodsuckle was still around?
"What duty are you talking about?" The adrenaline was making Gerrit's voice a bit more raspy than usual. If the Fairest couldn't get through, then this scarred Stonebones certainly wouldn't have any more luck - the question just got out before he could stop himself.

2 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-05-11 14:55:32	Gerrit rolls 3 to get Oliver to talk (Man 2 + Pers 1) (10 Again)	8, 10, 6, 4	2 successes

Equipment: Backpack - 1 bottle of water, First Aid Kit, Rope (from climbing gear).

[Anatole]

Anatole sighed.

Anatole casts a glance to Cassandra and then to Ram as the burly Ogre moved to the window. The dwarf placed the cup down gently.

"I do not lie, sir. I am sorry to have caused you discomfort and I recognise the bind this must put you - all of us! - in; especially in light of the Pledges we keep. Therefore we will leave. And I thank you again for your hospitality."

The last part he said more loudly as he rose, perhaps with some formality and with one palm raised in a calming gesture. Anything any of them did now - including Oliver the Professor Pig - might have their fragile Pledge snapping back on them with a vengeance.

He kept his eyes on Oliver.

He was standing.

Now was the time to leave.

[Cassandra Reeding]

Cassandra stands along with Anatole, nodding. "Absolutely. Thank you so much for having us, Oliver. Hopefully, next we meet we might be able to find more common ground." If he remembers nothing else, let him remember that they left with the utmost politeness. That they left keeping their oath. Should that oath be broken, it'll truly shatter anything good that could have come from this. Even just as they are, with things going a bit wrong, there are positive things that have occurred with this interaction.

She holds up her hand to Gerrit and then looks to Ram, hoping this will bring the rest of them together in a gentle act of departure. Still, she swallows. There is a hint of worry to what could be waiting for them on the other side. All she knows is that this is not the Hedge Gate they are looking for to exit. She'll need to refine her senses, see if she can't get better at sensing for them.

Gracefully, the Fairest walks to the door, but waits for Oliver to open it for them to exit. At least, that is what she assumes he will do. Why would he make her open the door herself? That wouldn't be very gracious of a host who has departing guests.

Then she says, "I assume the Bloodsuckle is gone now too and the coast is clear?" There is a look of worry upon her face. There is a mild worry about the Wyrd wanting to take things to the letter, as it often does. She doesn't want the oath to break because his end of the bargain wasn't upheld. Her expression is just a little bit wrong though. She doesn't seem scared of the Bloodsuckle at all, and it is clear that her worry is far more about the oath or the other dangers. Perhaps it is the stress of the situation, but things don't seem to be fairing smooth as the Fairest would like. Bumps everywhere.

Acting with worry: intent to hopefully make Oliver feel bad about the idea of telling them to leave if there is still danger about. - Failure

failure

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-05-13 03:51:09	Cassandra Reeding rolls 9 to Acting (Manipulation + Expression + Songs + SL) (10 Again)	4, 4, 4, 1, 6, 7, 7, 3, 5	failure

[Saber Sloth]

Through the window, Ram doesn't see any movement. Turning back to Oliver, it seems, finally that the emotional book has closed. The anxiety and stress, easily seen flitting through the Ogre vanishes, as the party's Ogres, decide to turn their observations upon the man. "That to my Queen and the protection of her library!" comes his voice, louder then the Lost had heard from the Pigman before.

He stands his ground, not looking perturbed by his actions and the insinuations, and what, he knows will come as he continues on with this action, "I accept your apology but I will not be lied to in my home. Please leave." he says once more. Hand out to direct the Lost to the door they had come in from.

He waits for them to put on their shoes and for Anatole to retrieve his axe, before he nods, and says, just as the Pledge snaps between them, "I wish you luck with the bloodsuckle. Good day."

The Pledge is Broken! Oliver will now fall under the Sanction for the next 24hours!

4 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-05-13 13:15:26	Professor Pig rolls 4 to Still a book? (10 Again)	10, 9, 5, 10, 10, 2, 4	4 successes

1 success

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-05-13 13:16:01	Professor Pig rolls 3 to Manipulated? (10 Again)	10, 3, 5, 7	1 success

failure

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-05-13 13:59:31	Bloodsucckle rolls 1 to is? is not? (10 Again)	4	failure

[Ram]

Ram was stressed, on edge, and in the dark. Then he felt the pledge break. That feeling of connection… what little trust they’d been able to build… torn away as the Wyrd snapped. Pledgebreaker!

“You know what… no!” he growled, advancing on the pig man.

5 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-05-14 21:55:14	Ram rolls 7 to Athletics+Wyrd+Mantle bonus (10 Again)	9, 10, 9, 4, 9, 2, 8, 6	5 successes

The power of Stone coursed through him in his anger. Stronger, even than normal.

“You revoke your sworn hospitality, ‘cause my friends asked some questions?! That means you gotta deal with me.”

Ram’s look of worry and concern vanished. Replaced my a smile fit for the ferocity of the battlefield. “I don’t even gotta break my side to hurt you. Just drag you out that door.” The corded muscles of his arm flexed as he pointed.

“I could do it without any harm. Or hold you in place till the bloodsuckle comes back.” Gunshots and the clashing of swords echoed in the distance. “Fairie gave me enough muscles to wrestle even other Ogres. Want to test me?” The Render brought his huge arm right in front of Professor Oliver. The deep fissures glowing as if filled with liquid stone.

“So, tell us what is GOING ON! Or see how well I can keep my oath.”

8 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-05-14 21:56:17	Ram rolls 12 to Str+Intim+Physical threats+Stone2 (9 Again)	6, 8, 6, 4, 1, 1, 4, 10, 1, 10, 9, 9, 9, 4, 9, 6, 10, 5, 1	8 successes

[Gerrit]

A shimmer ran down Gerrit's spine as the Pledge was broken - like a prickling burn along his wounded nerve endings. This wasn't good, this wasn't good at all. It seemed like their options boiled down to leaving and dealing with the Bloodsuckle and whatever trap they were supposed to run into, or staying in here - by use of force if necessary.

And it seemed like Ram wholeheartedly chose the latter. Something stirred in Gerrit as he watched the Summer display his power, as if Stone called to Stone. Despite himself, a part of the Stonebones wanted to see Oliver try to resist, wanted to witness this test of strength. A grunt escaped his lungs, it sounded wet and guttural. He clenched his hands tightly into fists and relaxed them, just to reign in this urge for violence. Clench-relax, breathe in-breathe out.

For the moment the Ogre just waited for Oliver's reaction, not trusting himself to calm Ram down or talk sense into either party. He felt like he was on thin ice himself.

Equipment: Backpack - 1 bottle of water, First Aid Kit, Rope (from climbing gear).

[Anatole]

Anatole raised an eyebrow as Oliver began to usher them out. With a shrug of his broad shoulder's, the burned dwarf simply cast the porcine Ogre aside like a used (or useless) device. The respite had been welcome; the information he had gleaned useful - and had seeded ideas that could only come to fruition back in the Freehold proper.

Which meant the Wizened wanted to leave.

Ram's action caught Anatole off-guard, standing on the threshold of the hob-house as he slung his Ax over his shoulder.

Anatole turned at the commotion.

Paused.

And did nothing as the burly Ogre stomped his way back into the house.

An ugly and sardonic grin crawled unnaturally up the burned dwarf's face.

[Cassandra Reeding]

The Fairest finds herself back inside the Hollow, watching the scene unfold. Now that they know for sure he is one of Anne's, she wants to see what she can find in the distraction to either take or look for that is important. Any reflective surfaces? If Anne were here in the last week, they might be able to know exactly what her plans for them were.

Sneak back in during the distraction 2 Successes

2 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-05-15 12:41:22	Cassandra Reeding rolls 4 to Sneak during the distraction (Dex + Stealth) (10 Again)	1, 8, 10, 3, 5	2 successes

After moving inside, she begins looking around for a mirror or reflective surface that will get her what she needs to reflect anything important that has gone on in the last week involving Anne. If she has been here. If she has been seen touching something important. She's never tried it, but maybe if the reflection would be clear enough, she could read lips, going through said images. She'd never tried that before.

Perception, looking for reflective surface 1 success

1 success

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-05-15 12:41:42	Cassandra Reeding rolls 4 to Perception (wits 2 + composure 2) (10 Again)	3, 6, 10, 6, 5	1 success

[Saber Sloth]

Stone calls to Stone, calls to Stone, and there might have been a moment between Ram's invocation of the Clause, and his advance where Oliver might have called upon their shared Contract, but as the Render, gives show of his superiority Oliver's lips tremble, his body shakes, hands trembling, as his breath come in shorter and shorter gasps.

Oliver, now incapacitated by terror, doesn't see, cannot see Cassandra as she slips back inside. In the living room, there are reflective surfaces. Glass domes with knickknacks inside, the glass panel of a closed hutch, but there might be more further into the Hollow-House, perhaps even a mirror...

failure

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-05-16 11:32:25	Professor Pig rolls 1 to Intimidated? -5 Ram's suxx (10 Again, Chance)	7	failure