Iron Conclave

[Circe]

An indoor venue, the Summer attraction is built within a large metal building. It currently features semi mobile bunkers to allow the "arena" to be rearranged at random. These bunkers come in plywood, for greater realism, and inflatable barriers to mix up the lay out quickly.

The plywood structures are a mixture of partial walls, doorways, single rooms, and small structures that patrons can duck behind. Inflatable structures come in mostly static shapes such as cubes, triangles, X's, and domes. The current arena is surrounded by a safety net, to prevent any unwanted interaction between the players and spectators, staff, or the warehouse's wall/ceiling. The netted arena space is further divided using a mesh curtain to create 3 large arenas for standard play. Lighting levels in the three can be adjusted to a degree so that players can experience their "battle" in daytime or twilight. Spotlights are used to target rule-breakers so there is no argument from the players about who is being called out. Staff monitor the games from scaffolding and a control room.

One section has the cover cleared out, leaving a space for furniture. A trio of folding tables, bean bag chairs, and an extension cord running to a 40" LCD TV. The other two tables have victuals upon them: Celebrator Beer, a vegetable platter, a platter of meat skewers, garlic bread, finger snacks, tequila, and water.

Circe was rocking a Guns n Roses t-shirt with denim vest and pants. The Summer Brooch is pinned to the vest along with various pins in the shape of weapons.

This is probably about as formal as Circe's Iron Spear meetings get. Ram has been to this kind of party before though it will be new for Vivan .

They had much to learn from each other and more to discuss.

[Ram]

Ram made his way through the loose maze of barriers to the table space. He was wearing his cold weather gear which made him look a bit vagrantish. Still, it was comfortable and warm (and he was still a bit scared of somehow breaking Yamiyo's gift jacket.

"Hey Circe," he greeted the Queen before make a rather straight bee line to grab some skewers and half a loaf of garlic bread. Glancing around he noted the TV set up. "Sooo... movie night?" he asked curiously. From her text it had sounded like it might be urgent, but he was willing to adjust expectations as needed. Hopefully it wasn't a powerpoint presentation.

[Vivian Wing]

Vivian burst through the door like the Kool Aid man. "Hey guys!" She announced her overly amped presence to Ram and Circe. She had a gym bag on her shoulder, and she was dressed in form fitting yoga pants and a fancy sports bra top, with a lightweight matching sports jacket. Sneakers squeaked as she hurried on in. She dropped her gym bag unceremoniously on the floor, with all the manners of a frat boy raised in a barn.

She, like Ram, had the same idea. EAT. Vivian was always hungry. You would be too if you spent 6 hours a day doing sword drills, dancing, and workout out. It took a lot of fuel to keep Vivian going. She ate like an Ogre. She piled on the meat skewers and veggies, she snagged a Celebrator bottle of beer, and a water and sat down, already shoving three pieces of meat from the skewer into her mouth.

[Circe]

Circe looks to the screen as Ram makes that suggestion. Then pulls out to check her phone. After a couple of taps she gives him a thumbs up, "Welcome Ram. Hadn't planned it fer that but feasible!"

Vivian's entrance was well within Circe's parameters of acceptable behavior. "Oh ho ho ho," and the Iron Spear's leader approved. But wow could Vivian eat. Circe made for the tables, "I warn ya, if ya eat all that garlic bread before I get a piece, I will literally shoot yer ass."

Circe retrieved her own foods, a water, and a tequila bottle. She takes a seat by the television. "Welcome Vivian. Now ya both," she looks to Ram, "Might wonder what this is about. First is I want the Summers of the Freehold ta know how each other fights," she smiles widely, "Best ta know that BEFORE we start cracking skulls. We gonna cover that first."

She bits into a skewer then shrugs, "Less gamey then scorpion," and proceeds to shove a carrot into her mouth. She holds it like a cigar in her teeth. "Now, I got second and third planned. Standard armor freebies, Ram knows about the mundy version already," she explains as the carrot starts to shrink. "And I ain't the only Summer so 3 is plan some coronation stuff."

"So, I'm Circe. Groundskeeper ta the Freehold of Sacramento, means sheriff which is funny, and current Summer boss. I really like guns."

[Ram]

Garlic loaf already rapidly disappearing, Ram stopped mid-chew and gave the most wide eyed innocent look he could manage with a piece of crust hanging on his lip. Then pointed accusingly at Vivian in mock anger "Yeah, don't eat all the bread!" He laughed after swallowing.

"Okay. Cover how I fight," he scratched at the space between his left ear and his horn "I normally try to break people's weapons, armor, or items of power first. Most people specialize, so if they're using weapons, sometimes breaking that is a faster and easier way to get them out of the fight or open them up for attack. Pretty good at set up a grapple, because ya know... strong," he shrugged "I also have agreements with Stone so I slug harder, break stuff better, and go into a rage if I have some time to work myself up."

"So yeah," he shrugged again "Hand to hand Ogre with a penchant to break stuff."

[Vivian Wing]

Vivian giggled at the exchange of threats and feingned innocence over the garlic bread. Vivian tried to not eat bread. Empty carbs weren't her friend when she had to perform. Bloating is not sexy, or so her manager says.
Vivian grinned at the accusation and beaned Ram with a baby carrot. "I don't eat bread, or rice, or white potatoes. Well, okay, I occasionally make exceptions for cookies and sweets but that's about it."

She listened to the mission for the meet up, and nodded a bit in agreement. It made sense. At the announcement of the last priority she groaned a bit aloud. The idea of suffering through another giant party was a chore. Though....maybe they could make it different? Better somehow? Not as formal? She quickly looked thoughtful, and Vivian always landed on the side of hope rather than cynicism.

She listened intently to Ram's recounting of his martial ability. All the while doing her very best impression of an eager chipmunk stocking up for Game of Thrones level winter. Her pile of skewers was growing.....
After Ram had finished she realized it was her turn. She quickly worked on swallowing what she had in those chipmunk cheeks of hers, and held up one finger while she downed half her bottle of water. She sat back, lifting her beer to go over her own skills with Circe and Ram.

"So first off my full name is Vivian Wing, and ever since I hit iron side and got off the streets, I started with a HEMA group doing sword fighting. Now most of what we know of as Western sword fighting, a lot of it was lost, but what has been retained is based in Germanic, English, and Nordic literature. I dual weild with swords. I prefer the swords with the curved end for the maxiumum damage upon entry and exit of the flesh. I am skilled at disarming apponents. Like you Ram, I too believe if you take away an enemies weapons they are much easier to deal with. If you cannot disarm for some reason cutting their arms off works too, but that is deceptively hard to do with a moving oppponent. I am skilled in Hand to Hand, I do boxing, but I could definitely improve there, ya know. Like I know the basics, but would really like to become stronger there."

[Circe]

Glad they took her warning about the wondrous bread, she nibbles on her on piece. Circe is glad to learn properly about what her Court can do.

"Thank ya both fer sharing. I am just Circe, sometimes Mary Maniscalo on my license. I like guns don't cover," she laughs, "Details. I'd love ta be handing out Tommy Guns ta every Summer. For I am able ta procure them without questions," she quickly adds, "Fund permitting," then continues at a normal pace, "And am skilled in their use. Limb, groin, head, all good targets ta stop an enemy from fighting if ya ain't killing. Plus kill helping fer folks fighting up close, I am that skilled." There was pride in her voice, "I prefer ambush, amateur sniper but I got all the parts, yet I'm best with pistols. Have multiple backups. I'm shit at melee." Circe shrugs, no shame in her failings. "Like Vivian I need improvement in hand ta hand, I learned from bar brawls. And I hope ta learn ta use a bayonet ta go with my rifle or shotguns. Oh, I have used dynamite."

After a pause to hydrate the elfin Fairest continues, "My Contracts don't lend themselves ta combat, save fer Summer contracts. Which are pretty much only useful in being used ta, ahem, "she inhales, "Shout at the enemy hey asshole come at me."

"I am also an, uh, armorer? Blacksmith?" Circe shakes her head, "Eh, I build shit." She turns away from them, putting her victuals atop a bean bag chair. Bending down she removes a elegant looking Hedgespun sword from beneath said bean bag, "Weapons," she drops it so it is sitting in the open before pulling out something else. This she turns to present, "And armor, mundane or otherwise." She places the armor down more gently. The sword was showpiece so crap in her opinion. "Mundy I'll gave fer free ta Summers." Circe nods to Ram, "Already gave Ram mundy armor," she grins as she decides to share something else, "And something else ta share with ya Ram," she looks to the Ogre, "With the right materials I could make ya say bracers that guide yer punches better. And moving on ta part 2."

Circe grabs her foods before sitting down on the bean bag and takes a bit of vegetable. Then pulls out a remote. The screen turns on to show modified football pads. Added protection to the stomach and a protective skirt, "That'd be the freebie armor. Unless ya want a silicon skin suit, I know how ta make those too." She uses her foot to tap the Lorica, "This used up all the boney bits I had so I need more. Wood is shit fer armor. I can also get kevlar through my connections if ya want that. In theory though I could spin up," button is pressed, "Science." The image changes to a drawing of some mail armor, "Some armor from say moonlight. It'd be pretty but not much better at stopping a knife then a leather jacket I'd wager."

She finally stops talking. "Like I said, Ram knows a bunch about this armoring from me already Vivian," she is focused upon the Elemental now, "My question is, do ya want any fer yerself? I have funds ta spare on Iron Side kit, but Hedgespun ya will need ta provide me with the materials."

[Ram]

The Ogre rolled his eyes a bit at the ‘I don’t eat carbs’ talk. Though by the way she scarfed down meat, he suspected she wasn’t short on calories from other sources.

Most of the stuff about HEMA and different books went over Ram’s head but he tried to focus on the important stuff. Dual wielder, disarming specialist, that liked rending flesh. And boxed all good stuff to know.

Most of the stuff Circe said he already knew. Good with guns, good with a ghilli suit. Criminal contacts. And “Wait?! What?!” Ram immediately brightened “You can make bracers that do that? That sounds awesome. What type of stuff do you need?” Somebody knew what they wanted for their birthday. Or Christmas since he didn’t know when he was born. Or wait, what was the closest holiday? St Patrick’s day. Ram knew what he wanted for Saint Patrick’s day.

[Vivian Wing]

Vivian added. "As far as contracts go, I am light on them. I mean I have been hiding for a long time now. Years in fact. I just now am coming around to the fact that ignoring my other side is a bad thing. I use the Punishing Summer contract to force enemies to let go of their weapons. It's helped me when facing multiple foes at once. I can disarm mundanely the person I am crossing swords with, and force another to drop his/her blade with the Contract. " She explained.

She nodded to Circe. "I would like some armor. That would be good. I know a bit about normal armor, but not a bit about Hedespun items. Could you tell me more about that Circe and what types of things I would need? I also make an okay living, I could help out by pooling some money with yours, and stuff." She said with a helpful smile.

She then began piling veggies on her plate. The whole rainbow now. Little happy cherry tomatoes, bell peppers of each color, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower- she completely ignored the ranch dressing stuff. She liked the taste of actual veggies.

[Circe]

Circe smiles proudly at Ram's shock. "Certainly, probably, most likely," she nods in answer to the question of her making that, "I made glasses that make disguises easier, but second pair didn't work out. But making something more, hmm," what word to use, "Direct should be easier." The real problem was the ingredients. Circe held up her hand in a fist before raising a finger to emphasize her list, "Arcane knowledge, skilled craft, capability in what is enhanced, and parts for more power. Said parts, uh, it'd probably be related ta the act. Finger bones? Boxing gloves? Books on pugilism. I've only made a dozen Hedgespun. About a third I used fer kindling because," she snorts, "They were shit."

Circe might need to brush up on pugilism too, but that should be easy. As for Vivian's choice of contract that got a nod of approval, "Nice. Spell and sword in accord huh?"

On the armor front Circe had a simple way to summarize this. "Mundy armor I can get ya by morning. As fer spun," she clicks remote and it changes to less detailed drawings. Sticks, rocks, flowers, and a cartoon stegosaurus skeleton. "Quality is gonna be a factor. I can make a dress outta a sunset, but protection requires real parts. I tried," she winces, "Wood but the mundy skin suits were better. Same protection, less splinters. We'd hafta either hunt something or trade at a market fer the parts." She claps, "That is fer Hedgespun. Now Vivian," she leans back in the bag chair and looks at the remote.

"Ya suggested money so Iron Side armor? Hobs will only use cash as paper," Circe winks as she shares this knowledge. Then clicks on the remote. It jumps a number of pictures before showing a riot cop slipping on something, "If it ain't bulletproof," she clicks again showing a man in a mail suit with sharks, "Is pretty easy ta just mail order. If ya want ta stop bullets yer gonna need really good connections," Circe taps herself with the remote, "Like ME! And I can confirm the products work because my heart wasn't splattered on a wall by a dumb customer. Hockey pads are cheap and good fer practice," she clicks the remote to show the armor she'd given Ram again. And again to send it back to the drawn armor, "And ya'd be able ta mail order this, oh ho ho ho, without a license. Kevlar? Yer gonna need me or a lot of licenses."