(Orchard Operation) Soot Blackened Fruit

[Saber Sloth]

The wall of mirrors, and the vanity mirrors across from them create an infinity of relictions between them, maybe it's this reflected distortion that distracts the Lost, or the symbolism that suspends the Wyrd, even as Ram prepares to open a new door.


Sera stands back, looking at each of the mirrors in turn, and doesn't find any that are familiar. The gilded mirror gate wasn't among those on the wall.

[Rhodes]

Rhodes frowned. It seemed no-one was having any luck. Studying Hedge Gates was about to leap up his agenda.

Looking behind to make sure they were concealed, he looks for a mirror facing away from the rest of the store, and knocked, feeling the Wyrd flow and....

failure

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-10-05 17:00:27	Rhodes rolls 4 to Wyrd (10 Again)	7, 4, 5, 5	failure

...nothing. This was getting embaressing, and soon someone would notice the collection of people gatheing in one corner of the store.

"Oh for god's sake," he muttered to himself just above a snarl. The Dread Lord reached for the magic and wrenched a door open to the Hedge. "Come. Quickly." He dashed through the open door.

[Colonel Worm]

Rhodes loses patience and Worm approves. At the Dread Lord's command, he follows quickly, not even stopping to question the wisdom of the Autumn Monarch's decision.

The Goblin unzips his jacket as he goes. The better to reach his hidden blades.

As they pass through the gate, the Colonel is on high alert for any threat that may present itself on the other side. But he's maybe a touch disoriented by the transition from one world to another to be of any use in that regard.

Perception, failure

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-10-05 18:01:29	Colonel Worm rolls 4 to Wits + Composure -1 (clarity) (10 Again)	2, 1, 5, 4	failure

[Seraphina]

Her eyes pull away from her task to glance at Ram, who it seemed was trying to get one of the mirrors to open.

An absent nod to Gerrit, “I would rather not have to. But it’s proving to be quite elusive.” And she shouldn’t be surprised. They, well, Rhodes, had broken the other Gate. Maybe they got smarter this time and moved it to another more durable object. But, people were creatures of habit, and the mirror fit the location.

Folding her arms across her chest, she frowns. Was she not remembering it right? Or had they taken the mirror and moved it to a more secure location? Either way, this wasn’t good and was mildly annoying.

Rhodes tone was noted and she turns to look, and see’s him opening a Gate.

Guess they were forcing this. Ok then.

Her right hand reaches down to touch her dagger as she steps through the Gate. Her senses on high alert for whatever might be waiting. Or not waiting. It could be a beautiful Hedge field with adorable Hedge Rabbits. Or, the usual terrifying Hedge ready to kill them. It was a toss up really.

5 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-10-05 19:06:58	Aurora rolls 5 to Hedge Perception(Wits+Comp)-1 Clairty (10 Again)	3, 7, 10, 7, 10, 9, 10, 9	5 successes

Excuse the 'Aurora' name in the roll, I'm tired and mis-clicked

Hedgespun jacket(+1 INT, +1 DEF), Hedgespun Necklace(+1 singing), dagger, 2 bottles of water, bag of trail mix, gauze and tape, costume jewelry for trading(one necklace, one pin) sun catcher for trading, gardening gloves, notebook with pencil

Health 7
WP 3

[Ram]

Oh. Okay. Guess they were going the open their own way.

Ram didn’t argue and hurried through the gate, though he only took a step or two before he stopped. Enough space Gerrit to come through as well but no farther.

His stance shifted as he entered the Hedge and he started to look around. ‘Checking corners’, clearing fields of view, making sure they weren't followed by mortals and curly haired potential enemies.

They were in the unknown Thorns now.

1 success

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-10-05 21:33:40	Ram rolls 4 to Wits+Comp (10 Again)	4, 10, 5, 4, 3	1 success

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.


Health:8/8
Willpower: 4/5

[Gerrit]

Seraphina at least agreed with Gerrit's sentiment, but it looked like they were out of any other viable options. So going in blindly it was! Standing around here won't help either though. And who knew? Maybe on the other side of that Mirror they'd end up at a location that was easier to overview. Maybe this move would end up all right for them.

He shook his head and followed the others through.

failure

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-10-06 07:16:56	Gerrit rolls 5 to look around (Wits 3 + Comp 3 - Clarity 1) (10 Again)	6, 1, 1, 1, 5	failure

This wasn't right. Without the Lost he usually ventured into the Hedge and with the downward spiral of negative thoughts already moving in his head he simply couldn't just focus and do his part to ensure the group's safety. He needed to become more flexible, to work with those people - something to work on if they weren't about to be ambushed due to his lack of perception.

Equipment: Backpack - First aid Kit, Rope, a separate bag, a bottle of water, a notebook and a pen, Tags for Rhodes' Contract.

[Saber Sloth]

Even as the Wyrd fails to listen to the Dread Lord, he forces his way through. The mirror ripples and the Lost see the Hedge beyond. Quickly each of the Lost travels through the newly created Mirror Gate. Leaving the Flowering, the store, and whatever she was doing there, behind them.

Tumbling through the mirror, the Lost turn observing the Hedge. Seeing it hung upon a thick winding branch. The antique store reflected backwards through the portal. Open, for now.

Ram takes note of the open gate, and that there's no immediate threats.

Sera on the other hand, recognizes this area. It's not exactly where she, Circe and Rhodes had found the original gate and fled the Hedge, but it's close. She remembers that lamppost, and those powerlines...they'd been wrapped around that log. Yeah! They'd passed them as they ran from the patrolmen! Looking around she doesn't see any hedge bunnies, or random terrors. Hell, she doesn't even ear the distant (or close) sounds of the expected patrolmen. Just (relatively) normal Hedge noises. She does know, however, that if they head west-ish they should be inline to finding the Orchard sooner, rather then later.

[Rhodes]

Rhodes sighed, letting some of his frustrastion out into the air. He pauses, looking around to see if there were any dangers - and to trya d recall which way they came last time.

failure

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-10-09 16:42:44	Rhodes rolls 5 to Perception: Wits3+Comp2 (10 Again)	6, 6, 2, 3, 7	failure

Unfortunately, it all looks the same - verdant and Hedge-y. Starting to feel a knot of worry in his throat, he looks to Sera, to see if she can remember the way. "Any of it look familiar?" he asked with a half smile, with a confidence he didn't feel. He had to look as he did though; it was all about perceptions and morale.

Totally know where I am

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-10-09 16:44:55	Rhodes rolls 6 to Cover up concern: Composure 2 +Subterfuge 4 (9-again from Flowering) (9 Again)	3, 4, 8, 8, 9, 8, 6	4 successes

[Colonel Worm]

Just like that, they're through. No fuss, no muss. And a relatively quiet patch of Hedge on the other side.

Worm draws his Khukri smoothly, twirling them briefly in each hand. Loosening up. Things may be calm at the moment, but that's no indicator of what comes next...

As Rhodes and Sera try to locate them in relation to the Orchard, the Colonel's white-within-white eyes scan their surroundings, looking for threats, strange details, anything worth noting...

3 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-10-11 07:31:36	Colonel Worm rolls 4 to Wits + Composure -1 (clarity) (10 Again)	8, 1, 6, 10, 9	3 successes

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
tree tags
Cigarettes + Lighter

[Seraphina]

No Hedge bunnies? That was sad, she was hoping to see them again. Maybe adopt one.

But she shakes her head, focusing on what they were here for. Not cute Hedge bunnies.

The Orchard.

Seeing the lamppost and then the log, she lights up, pointing in the west-ish direction,
“If we head that way, we should come across the Orchard.” Looking around again, “I don’t hear the patrolmen, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t around. We should keep on guard.” Thought she figured it went without saying, but she said it anyways. She didn’t have that Contract up, but felt certain she could distract them if they came across them again. Would just take a bit more work.

A nod to Rhodes, pointing, “The lamppost and log,” replies the Nix, “we came across them last time. So we head that way.” Sounding quite confident. But she does wait for one of the guys to lead the way.

Hedgespun jacket(+1 INT, +1 DEF), Hedgespun Necklace(+1 singing), dagger, 2 bottles of water, bag of trail mix, gauze and tape, costume jewelry for trading(one necklace, one pin) sun catcher for trading, gardening gloves, notebook with pencil

Health 7
WP 3