(2109) At the Archive - Hunt details

[Gerrit]

It was only when Gerrit was done and Rhodes offered him absolution that he noticed the Elemental joining the growing group of Lost looking for the Dread Lord's attention. What was her name again? Riley? No quite, but close. Rhodes' words brought his attention back to the Fairest though. A hunt? He remembered the violence he had endured, the few cases of violence he had dished out and felt an uncomfortable cold form in the pit of his stomach.
"I.. will consider it. Thank you." Would he, though? As of now he wasn't really in the mood for this. Unless of course someone asked him for his assistance. Then he could see himself doing this, depending on who asked. As it stood he had nothing of the sort to prove to anyone, so he distanced himself with a respectful nod to make room for people actually interested.

That mish-mash of animals, for instance. She seemed pretty focused on the hunt, not noticing anyone else around her. Should he start a conversation? Maybe he should ask the oily fox how the city has been treating her so far. Or maybe I don't have to shoulder everyone's burden. Maybe those people will ask if they needed anything. A cold thought, quite unusual in sentiment. Gerrit tried that idea, looking at it from different angles and decided he liked it. He didn't have to force himself into other people's life.

Sonnie was regarded with a nod, and Worm even got a reserved smile to boot. He also looked for John's eyes as he went, hopefully signaling and acknowledging his friend and King without making a big fuss out of it for now.
He felt like he had fulfilled his duties and went back to the main part of the party as not to clutter the space around the Dread Lord.

Continued in (2109) Autumn Equinox...

[Ram]

Ram still wasn't sure if he'd be joining the ninja hunting group but he felt he owed Rhodes for his helpful (longwinded) information that the Ogre needed to at least hear the man out on the details.

He gives a friendly wave to Rlyeh, surprised (but glad) she was taking an interest in the Freehold ritual despite her shyness.

He waited expectantly for the Leaden crown to issue edict or whatever.

Continued from Friends At the Table...

[Circe]

Circe holds up her hands in a placatory gesture as Worm introduces their team, "No, there won't be any weird poses fer this. And it is so long as Groundskeeper duties don't interfere with the hunt," she looks to Rhodes, "So, if I'm ta be part of emergency response or yer hunt's voice with the Internet," the Summer Queen smiles, "I'll just have ta be the team's arms master."

Circe was certain she could do a lot with computers, Ram could vouch for that, and driving to folks quickly? Yes, she could do both.

Continued from Friends At the Table...

[Rhodes]

Rhodes nodded in response to James' question. "Rather than repeat over and over I'll be going over the details shortly. Though if this is it...." He looks around, a nonchalant shrug. The Ash run was not for everyone.

"Snipe?" he asked. "Not quite. You'll see."

"Not a sheet," he replies to Worm. "I have something a little more binding in mind."

The Dread Lord looked around, taking a folder from the shelf behind him.

"Well, my friends, I should make the details clear. First, you are chasing the same prey, as I said before. One I consider most cunning and, in it's own way, dangerous. You will be hunting.... me."

The smile broadened as he paused just a moment to watch the reactions. "Well. Not strictly me. The version of myself from a life not lived." He opend the folder and took out a poleroid, holding it face out around the circle. The man in the picture was clearly Rhodes - or at least, the Rhodes when his mask was hardened, looking some twenty years younger than the Fairest before them. "I spent many years in the Hedge while this creature, my Fetch, walked free in a fraction of the time. I learned the ways of the Autumn Court while trying to track down this creature, and it lead me here. It has been one of my projects to find it. Now, there is no way I can return to my old life - I am far too different in age - but a Fetch is still a tool of the Gentry, tied magically to it's true face - myself. It lives here, in the city - there is no need to leave. Though provoke it, and who can say." He offers a small smile.

"Work together or alone, work fast or slow. I do not care - your competition is one another, and I neither condemn nor condone how you do it, provided you keep the veil of secrecy. Any who wish to partake will swear an oath to speak only truth on their involvement with the hunt and my fetch as I said before. The oath will be on the keeper's name - A demonstration of how seriously I take this affair - and punishment will be swift as an Autumn wind. Refusal to answer my questions regarding the Hunt in the debriefing will reflect poorly on your performance, but upon binding the Oath you do receive this rather rakish photo of myself in younger years. Yours to keep." He waves the poleroid back and forth.

"If you have any questions, now is the time. If not, I will make the pledge."

Because of timings and making things easier, anyone who wants to sign up to the plot will be assumed to have sworn the pledge. It's a severe punishment for breaking it, but it's easy not to break. Don't forget to sign up in the OOC thread so I know who to find things for!

[Liam Gelt]

Liam sneaks to the back of the crowd, sheepishly trying not to pull attention from the Dread Lord of Autumn. The fact that he arrives just as Rhodes was describing the quarry doesn't help matters. The Giant's eyes go wide. Wait! We're hunting a Fetch? Rhodes' Fetch? The Giant's bark-brown skin goes pale, and he stands in stunned silence as Rhodes gives out directions.

Continued from Friends At the Table...

apologies for the late entry! Liam will go last for Pledge signing

[Circe]

"Rhodes? My title as Groundskeeper is still a security thing." Circe is speaking loudly and clearly. "That negates me from dangerous sabotage of others, but should my title require me ta be available ta pull others asses out of the fire IF they cause problems fer our secrecy. Quick evac and hacking away records?"


Circe sighs, "Not much point in me signing up if I hafta keep helping everyone as Groundskeeper. Might as well just do that from the start. Duty is itself on fun sometimes." Of course she'd make a pun.

[Rlyeh]

And suddenly there is a lot. A Lot. Of people. People are here and around her and R'lyeh doesn't know how to keep herself....to herself. what if they get too close? Everyone was in party clothes and she'd already ruined Roshon 's very-nice-very-expensive-very-pretty-suit-suit.

She shrinks into herself. Eyes wide and watching. Hands clenching and unclenching, as she feels herself salivate.

Fetch hunt.

Not just anyone's Fetch, not hers or theirs but his the Autumn-King-Dread-Lords-Rhodes' Was he bringing a blood sprt to the Freehold? Teaching Fetches Fear? Exercising the power of the Leaden Mirror? Or.

or.

did he think he couldn't hunt his fetch on his own?

"....if we're separating into groups, or not, or whatever. And we're going to Pledge truth....are we all going to be cooperative? Or....will we-people be able to hinder others-groups-or-individuals in a not-laying-about-the-fetch-and-the-hunt-type-manner?"

[Colonel Worm]

Rhodes does the big reveal and, for the second time tonight, Worm looks completely gob-smacked.

What a fucking twist!

Also, hadn't Ram just talked about scrapping a fetch? Something in the air. And the Colonel likes the way it smells.

When the Dread Lord produces the polaroid, Worm wolf whistles softly. Elbows the newly arrived Liam and gives the Ogre a look that says, Look at that hunk!

Other folks ask their questions. Circe clearing conflict-of-interest shit.

And Deepwater Horizon talks sabotage. Worm gives Smog-Fox an appraising look. She's playing three dimensional chess over there. The Goblin's impressed. And wary. This is his competition after all.

White-within-white eyes back to Rhodes. "Got any tips, little tib-bits or whatever, to gets us started? Address? Day job? Hobbies?" Worm's almost certain Rhodes won't let anything slip. But it never hurts to ask.

[Roshon]

"Don't think of it as sabotage. Think of it as competition. Otherwise, we'd all just be a bunch of mercenaries accepting payment, not participants in this grand and festive tradition," Roshon said, meeting the eyes of the others before shooting Rhodes a wink.

She wasn't surprised by the revelation. It was typical. Rhodes was a Monarch, and all Monarchs used others to their advantage. Came with the territory.

"But in the interest of fair competition, makes sense that we'd all be given the same information at the start, yeah? The Colonel had some good questions. But pledge first, and all that."

[Saber Sloth]

4 days left of the main thread! Everyone who wants to participate in the Fetch Hunt needs to sign up (here) before the Scene ends!