Hedge Patrol III

[Ram]

Equipment handed out, Ram stashed the small first aid kit. Though he kept his cell phone, in case they came out elsewhere and needed to call for a ride.

“Overnight isn’t the plan,” Ram admitted “But it’s been something we’ve almost had to do before and I’d rather not spend the night without bedding. And while it looks the Hedge is in Summer right now, weather could turn. More fucked than spending the night in the Hedge, dying of exposure while spending the night in the Hedge.” But if she didn’t have it it was too late now. “We’ll switch off survival kits with whoever is on watch. If it comes down to it.” Hopefully it didn’t.

With the gate open and waiting he gave a nod to each as they explained. “Grouping sounds good to me. Let’s head out before it closes.”

The Ogre stepped through, taking his standard front line position. He supposed in this case, he was also navigator now. That was… scary. “Keep in contact. Let everyone know what you’re seeing and feeling. Landmarks. Movement. That kind of thing. I’ve got eyes front. Roshon and Colonel sides, Liam rear."

"I’m going to try and put us on the path to the Capitol Park. Ran into bugs that put you to sleep and tried to devour memories last time. Had to turn back.” And with him setting up a Summer hollow there wasn’t much used going to the cabin again. Was it bad that each patrol never actually made it to their destination?

Ram’s demeanor changed as he started walking through the Hedge. Knees kept bent. Head kept forward but his eyes were on constant look out.

Perception2 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-09-20 17:26:05	Ram rolls 4 to Wits+Comp (10 Again)	4, 9, 3, 9	2 successes

Navigation 4 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-09-20 17:26:58	Ram rolls 6 to Int+Surv+3Kit bonus (10 Again)	3, 2, 5, 9, 10, 9, 9	4 successes

Equipment: Backpack, First Aid Kit +2, Survival Kit +3 (sleeping bag, canteen, flashlight, glowstick, one day water and food) Riot Armor, Cell phone, two pairs of extra socks, extra days food (unsalted trail mix), extra days water, climbing gear, athletic shoes, climbing cleats, nylon rope, grappling hook, war-ax.

Extra: basic survival kit +1 (w/Liam), urban survival kit +2 (w/Worm), x2 bastard swords (w/Liam/Worm)

Health 8/8
Willpower: 3/5

[Saber Sloth]

Ram leading, navigating this time, taking Cassandra's place, they get started. Stepping through the 'Gate the feeling of vertigo strengthens, Ram's words seem prophetic. The bright Summer palate seems to dim, the clear blue of the sky dulls, greying slightly as clouds start to gather, the vegetation, once glossy green, is now browning around the edges.

Already they're making good time. Maybe it's the sense of time passing outside the Hedge, or maybe it's because Ram's been a Patroller since they've started really organizing Patrols, and this part of the Hedge is well tended. Tamed and carved into what the Freehold needs. Maybe it's a testament to their vigilance, that they've made this area into something the Lost can trust, if anything in the Hedge can be trusted.

Liam and Roshon don't notice it - perhaps distracted by the pallet swap - but the Summers do. Strange three toed tracks. Not looking like an easy two or four legged gait, but many, many limbs seeming to work in a discordant harmony.

Wits+Survival to learn more about the Tracks
Int+Occult if you want to ponder what left them!

[Liam Gelt]

Liam steps through the Gate at the back of the pack; he agrees with Worm's assessment of his height being better out of the way of the shorter members of the crew. "No argument there. I'd hate to be in people's way." At least until I have to be...

As the Giant steps into the warped light of the Hedge he blinks, adjusting to the newfound colors around him. The browns and greys almost make him a little bit lethargic, like how a rainy day makes you feel lazy. But he shakes it off and begins looking around for possible dangers.

failure

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-09-22 22:10:36	Liam Gelt rolls 5 to Survey the General Area (Wits + Composure) (10 Again)	7, 1, 4, 6, 5	failure

In his eagerness to search for threats abroad, he almost runs into Worm and Ram. "Oops! Sorry!" He says, perhaps a bit louder than he should. "What do you see?" It looked like the two Summers had found something.

[Colonel Worm]

Through the gate and the world is transformed.

Well, it's not really the world anymore, now is it? Worm hasn't spent too much time in the Hedge, but he's familiar enough with this twisted place to know that the current color scheme will likely change at the drop of a hat. Things never stay the same this side of the curtain. While the unpredictability can make your life harder (and fuck with your head), at least it's not boring.

The Colonel hates to be bored.

The Goblin continually scans their surroundings. This stretch has been pretty well pacified, but there's always the chance of danger creeping in at the edges. Hedge beasts rarely respect boundaries. Indeed, they're not too far along on their excursion when Worm spots something interesting...

"I've got tracks," he declares. Not yelling, but projecting enough for his comrades to hear. He crouches to get a closer look and Liam nearly runs him down. "Woah there, big fella," he says, glancing up at the Ogre with a cheeky grin, before returning his attention to the three-toed foot prints. It's clear he's studying them carefully.

Wits + Survival, 1 success

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-09-23 06:53:55	Colonel Worm rolls 4 to Wits + Survival (10 Again)	7, 3, 10, 5, 1	1 success

Equipment:
Khuri knives (+ sheaths) x 2 2L*
Brass Knuckles x2 1B (in pants pockets)
Kevlar Vest (thin)
Reinforced Clothing (Motorcycle jacket)
Advanced First Aid Kit
Water bottle (in first aid kit exterior pocket)
Bag of Beef jerky
Cigarettes + Lighter

[Roshon]

Tracks, huh? Just what sort of beasty had left those? Roshon had no idea. Best leave that to those that had noticed them in the first place.

Instead, Roshon flicked off the safety on her Mossberg and kept both hands securely on the weapon. She didn't like the feeling of paranoia she got when she did that, though they were in the Hedge, which meant danger was everywhere.

[Ram]

"I see 'em," Ram confirmed "Looks like a three toed centipede left them or something." No else had mentioned knowing any fairy lore, so Ram tried his best to match footprint to foot while keeping an eye out.

2 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-09-23 17:39:02	Ram rolls 5 to Int+Occult (10 Again)	10, 4, 3, 2, 7, 10, 3	2 successes

2 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-09-23 17:40:54	Ram rolls 4 to Wits+Comp (10 Again)	8, 1, 8, 3	2 successes

He paused for a moment, not just to not have to multitask with navigating and having his mind on what might have left the tracks, but because of Liam running too far ahead.

"Stay in formation," he reminded the Spring while reminding himself to not treat them like soldiers like he had with Anatole.

He waited for the group to reform as he continued "They way we're walking right now, makes sure we've got eyes in all four directions. Liam, you're responsible for watching our backs, making sure the rest of us didn't miss anything in our forward march. Trust us to have our areas and we'll trust you to have yours. Which also means," he looked to Roshon and Worm "Letting me and Liam know if we should be slowing down or speeding up so we stay together as a group and not spread out too much." They'd a person for not paying attention to where people were already. One was already too many.

With that time to think and mini lecture given, Ram started off again. Though the break still came at a cost and he wasn't able to immediately find the path again.

"I any of you have tracking skills, don't be afraid to give me help on navigating," again, not soldiers, had to remember to let them know what he was thinking and needing rather than trusting group dynamic like he did with Gerrit and Cassandra.

failure

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-09-23 17:49:57	Ram rolls 6 to Int+Surv+3Kit bonus (10 Again)	1, 7, 2, 1, 6, 1	failure

[Saber Sloth]

Liam skates forward, seeing nothing amiss, but Ram's forceful voice calls out before the Giant can topple the rest of the party into the dirt and ruining the tracks.

Roshon settles in, armed. Silent, dangerous.

The Summers know they need to figure out this potential threat, so they can get the drop on it, instead of the other way around.


Worm and Ram, see it at the same time, the tracks are less of a centipede and more akin to a frog.

As Worm looks closer, he can see at least six different footprints coming from the same creature, judging from the spacing and the direction. Also, going from the size of the biggest footprints, they belong to something larger then Liam.

Ram take a different approach to the tracks, his mind quickly goes towards easy fairy tales regarding frogs, the first of which is the Princess and the Frog, it might be related, knowing the Hedge, but something about the sheer amount of froggy footprints has the Ogre doubting it. Bringing to mind many limbed hobs hunting the Hedge.

Looking out, he sees a faint cloud of smoke wafting up from the distance, carrying the scent of a blooming campfire.

[Liam Gelt]

Ram's terse response does briefly startle the Giant, but he nods understandingly. We're in the Hedge now. This isn't like the Funderland tunnels; there could be real danger out here. He hears the safety go off on Roshon's gun and he looks around with a bit of surprise. However, he's more focused on what's near his height then the tracks, trusting Ram and Worm's assessment whenever it comes.

"Roger, watching our backs." Liam gives a salute, well-meaning if a little clumsy. The bastard sword over his shoulder is an unfamiliar instrument at best. As the group reforms, he swivels every few steps to watch the group's 6.

2 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-09-25 21:32:23	Liam Gelt rolls 5 to Keep an Eye Out (Wits + Perception) (10 Again)	5, 9, 9, 6, 4	2 successes

2 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-09-25 21:33:53	Liam Gelt rolls 5 to Assist w/ Navigation (Int + Survival + Extra Basic Survival Kit) (10 Again)	3, 2, 8, 5, 8	2 successes

Putting his height to good use, the Giant surveys the approaching landscape for potential paths or enemies.

[Colonel Worm]

Worm is squatting over the tracks, hand on the hilt of Ram's loner sword, its point buried in the ground.

"Frog...?" Worm announces, a questioning touch in his tone as he looks up to Ram for confirmation.

"Six legs at least. And big. Bigger than any of us." And there's some jumbo-sized folks at this party.

He's quiet for a bit as he looks back down at the frog-prints, trying to gauge, quickly, which way this creature had been traveling. Heading in their direction? The other way? Had it cut across the path, from the brambles on one side to the brambles on the other?

Once the Goblin determines Mr. Legs' trajectory, he'll pop back up, ready to advance.

Track, 2 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-09-25 22:00:14	Colonel Worm rolls 4 to Wits + Survival (10 Again)	9, 3, 8, 6	2 successes

Equipment:
Khukri knives (+ sheaths) x 2 2L*
Brass Knuckles x2 1B (in pants pockets)
Kevlar Vest (thin)
Reinforced Clothing (Motorcycle jacket)
Advanced First Aid Kit
Water bottle (in first aid kit exterior pocket)
Bag of Beef jerky
Ram's sword
Cigarettes + Lighter

[Roshon]

On one hand, Roshon would have loved to bug the others and get some badass tracking tips, but on the other, she was still paranoid about butthole spiders or chainsaw bears coming stumbling out of the thorns like two feet away from them, so Roshon just focused on their surroundings, finger resting near the trigger, and let the others do what they needed to.

2 successes on perception!

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-09-26 15:37:44	Roshon rolls 3 to perception (wits + comp - 1clarity) (10 Again)	8, 10, 1, 1	2 successes