(Those Cast Aside) Tenure and Extension

[Saber Sloth]

Sep 2021

(Those Cast Aside) Tenure and Extension

Jan 2022

(Those Cast Aside) Electric Boogaloo

Apr 2022

(Those Cast Aside) Getting Air

While some would want to go to the Orchard and see the months long aftermath, there is now a new avenue of inquiry, on the last Hedge Patrol, the patrollers found a strange hedge rune carved into their Hedge Gate, matching one leading to a cul-da-sac of Hollow Houses - or it would have if something hadn't gone wrong. Within the Hedge there is a hungry carnivorous plant, with several near misses the Patrollers found one of the Hollow Houses occupied, with an Ogre, clarity breaking as he was left with a duty with no chance of relief.

Queen Anne had callously left Olive the Piggy Professor in the Hedge, with a promise of coming back for him, and no intention of fulfilling it. What Oliver claimed to be guarding was the library, but delving deeper into the maze of bookshelves, it showed there wasn't near anything of value to leave a guard, at least, until the Lost reached the end of the maze, and to another Changeling, bound and unconscious, a Wizened phone girl that Anatole had met upon the back of the great Spider between stalls of the bazaar, with a message, a taunt left on an old answering machine.

The pair of them have been healed to the best of the Lost's ability, it's now time for a talk.

Sequestered within the depths of Funderland's meeting rooms, around a familiar table to those who first went in search of the faces on the posters, they sit, waiting for Funderland's loyal Lost to begin the....conversation.

Here's the next part of what's happening with Oliver and Phone Lady! Please include your Equipment, Health and WP with every post!

No bluebooking's happened, no one knows what was in the IV drip, and Oliver's Journal hasn't been read! Edit: And no one's looked into the reflective surface!

Xadun Rhodes @Aeolous Gerrit Yumyumcrow Anatole Shenanigans Cassandra Reeding Vincent Titania

[Rhodes]

The Dread Lord leaned back with his steepled fingers. He was in his usual suit, now the cooling seasons allowed, and the stormcloud hedgespun coat had been restored to his shoulders. Perhaps he was worried about the interrogation. He prefered to think of it as sensible precautions.

Gerrit's words had been useful in setting the scene - now they had the people to learn from. People who had spoke to Ann directly.... people who had both been shaped by her and were loyal. It would take persuasion, guile... perhaps magic. Fortunately, these were Rhodes' skills.

Long fingers took the coffee before him and sipped it gracefully.

Equipment: Fine suit & shoes, Hedgespun coat (+1 def, +1 talking to crowds when active), hip flask (scotch, 2/4 full), Notebook & pen, Wallet containing a photo of Sera, ID and $83, Black Americano.

Health 7/7
WP 2/2

[Titania]

She stands back, falling on the chair, her back leaning against it. For the most part, she's performed her duty perfectly, nurturing the two - at least their bodies - to full health.
Their minds however... now that's another story.
She decides to leave the interrogation to more expert hands. She crosses her legs at the ankles, two elegant Loboutins matched by an equally elegant sleeveless black dress.
She sighs.

"I doubt we'll be able to learn much, at least from their conscious thoughts. Their dreams, perhaps"

Equip: Shoes, makeup, pocket mirror, smartphone, keychain, bag, mobile phone, cash

Health 7/7
WP 2/2

[Anatole]

Anatole had disappeared after their escape from Anne's trap.

Fear? No. Perhaps embarassment?

Anatole is dressed in jeans and a chequered shirt with work boots. Today he has bought his gnarled walking stick as well - and he is leaning on it again. The stick is more for mental support than anything physical.

The burned dwarf walks stiffly to a chair and slumps heavily into it. He spares the Phone Lady a glance but gives Oliver absolutely nothing.

"Well. Here we are."

He pulls a handkerchief from a pocket and wipes his forehead. Only then did he incline his head at Rhodes and gave Titania a look of genuine surprise.

"Titania?"

The smile that cuts through his effusive curls is equally genuine. For the moment his brooding thoughts are forgotten.

"What brings you here? When did they drag you into this?"

The Autumn Courtier knew of many of the Freehold's problems, but only through rumour and conjecture - exactly who was doing what and when had been lost while he focussed on more mundane concerns.

EQUIPMENT - walking stick, smart phone

WP: 2/2*
Health: 7/7

*Using the new WP arrangement. Anatole was reduced to 0 WP at the end of the last scene

[Gerrit]

Well, it was time to follow one of the leads they brought with them out of the Hedge. He didn't know if Cassandra was able to make out anything from the reflective surface they've found or if she stumbled upon anything else of interest, but those Lost could have some valuable information.

It would take some careful prodding, a lot of empathy and a sensitive touch to not make those broken minds close off completely. Looking around the room - Titania and the entirety of the Autumn Court - Gerrit didn't really saw that happening. Maybe they needed to lean into their strengths instead: Gerrit opted not to sit at the table just yet. Instead he stood in one corner, his arms crossed. Did that make it look more like an interrogation? Maybe, although he didn't put in any particular effort to look menacing. Maybe they could get through this without antagonizing them.

Equipment: Wallet with some money.

[Saber Sloth]

The Lost sit, or stand, while the pair of Queen Anne's cast offs, sit on the same side of the table, backs to the wall, they can look at the door but between the table and Funderland's Lost no one sane could believe they could make an escape.

The pair of them are not sitting next to each other.

"I will not allow that!" the Ogre cries, voice worn and cracking from the effort. Folded pink ears flapping as his shakes his head, wincing as he does so. Borrowed clothes ill fitting, and show the swath of bandages still covering the Piggy Professor's back. "I will not!"

Phone girl rolls her eyes as Oliver continues, his newest mantra, refocusing the attention back onto her, the still unnamed, humanoid rotary phone, her plastic casing once a cheery yellow, now faded, worn like the obvious strain on her face. "Good to. Know. Fairests still make. Asses of. Them-selves." she sneers at Titania, "Looks like you've. Faired. Better then. Me. Dwarf." she says, looking now to Anatole, bringing to mind their last - to her - meeting atop the Great Spider Bazaar, when he used her Frailty against her to contact Iron Meg.

[Cassandra Reeding]

"Hey," Cassandra says as she steps inside the meeting room, overhearing the last words. Why does she feel like she's always last to appear to everything? The Polychromatic walks further in, standing herself next to Gerrit. She wonders for a moment why he's chosen a corner, but nonetheless, it wouldn't be weird to stand with her motley mate. She nods to Rhodes and Titania who had joined them as well.


With her, she carries a satchel of her essential items and the IV drip that might have reflected something. Maybe one of them would be able to test the drip itself for whatever it is. Titania was the medic of their lot, so hopefully she or Rhodes could get it. What kind of properties could Rhodes get from it with his Autumn contracts? Now that would be something.


"Fairests making asses of themselves? What did I miss? How are the two of you?" Her eyes show much concern, particularly for Oliver, "I'm glad you're healed. I was so worried..." She still doesn't know how she managed to patch him up. He'd have possibly bled out otherwise.

HP: 7/7
WP: 2/2*
Equipment: Over the shoulder satchel, wallet with $200, IV drip, Oliver's Journal, compact mirror, map of local hedge, notebook and mechanical pencils, smart phone, laptop.
*Cassandra also had 0 WP at the end of the last scene

[Rhodes]

Rhodes set the coffee on the table, returning the nod of his courtier. "Here we are."

Titania spoke and already Rhodes was sighing internally. Why would one say such things in front of those present?

"Now, now," his low rumble cutting through the commotion. "There's no reason we can't talk like civilised beings." The Flowering clasped his fingers in front of him, an easy smile on his lips. "Introductions, perhaps, hmm? I'm thrilled to learn what my colleagues discovered down in the Hedge - and your thoughts as well. My name is Rhodes. This would all be much friendlier if you told me something I might refer to you by. I just want to learn a little more about you both."

The Autumn King's Mantle ruffles a chill air through the room.

3 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-09-17 11:36:58	Rhodes rolls 7 to Lay on some charm: Manipulation 4 + Persuasion 2 +1 DV (9-again, Flowering) (9 Again)	2, 6, 9, 2, 4, 7, 9, 8, 5	3 successes

[Titania]

She rolls her eyes, didn't these fools understand they were at their mercy? Or did they just forget they had just saved their life?
She puts her tools away, while pondering about the nature of the strange experiment the telephone girl had seemingly been put through.

[Anatole]

Anatole is collecting shadows again as he sits; his mantle shivers in response to Rhodes' autumnal mantle's presence and power.

The wizened dwarf's attention snapped back to the Phone Lady when she spoke. His jaw worked and his hand moved, absently, to scratch at one of the many spots where Iron Meg had left her mark. He twisted in his seat. Looked away. Looked back.

Sighed.

"Bah! I was lucky. Your Iron Meg was... instructive."

He tried to sound sinister and failed.

"You can call me Anatole. You've earned it."

His eyes gratefully slink away, alighting on Cassandra Reeding first. His bushy eyebrows rise when the Fairest speaks so... positively... about the pair rescued from the Hedge. Shaking his head slightly, he sought out Titania and paused, deciphering the mixture of gesture and emotion flowing across the immaculate Spring Courtier's face.

"You might want to answer him. He's a Sovereign. Just like Anne."

The last few words were torn reluctantly from his mouth.