Deep Hedge Expedition I

[Saber Sloth]

Northward they head! Steps taken, Lost keeping alert.

The Winter leans into his role, quieting his steps, lowering his visibility, was their lead in the Cycle and on the Path, scouting for them as he pulled forward.

It was the Summer behind him and to the right, armed to the teeth, eagerly looking around, that spots something first, followed by Sera and Anatole, in that westerly direction, it wasn't a Path. Not a proper one, but clearly someone had taken a blade to the surrounding hedge and was determined to make one, and there snared on a broken branch is a scrap of fuchsia cloth.

failure

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2022-01-17 13:38:26	something rolls 1 to nothing at all (10 Again)	1	failure

[James Turner]

He gave an affirmative nod to Worm as he echoed back the directions, turning to Anatole who seemed lukewarm to the idea. Passing a glance to his friend and offering a small nod, play it by ear sure but he remembered how hard a time he'd had of late. Winter is patient. The Outpost might have information about it anyways. A smile on his face as he nodded his agreement with Sera as he started ahead.


A small shake of his head at Worm's comment, though his eyes drew upward seeing if anything else noticed it today. Nothing. "I dance to a different beat usually." And then silence and shadowed steps drew them northward, the path a helpful marker for the moment. Silent, still, but no west branching paths until there was a hacked apart bits of hedge heading west. This wasn't urgent yet, nothing to report back right away so he could stop and wait for the others to catch up for a moment a take a second to examine the scene as it had its own story to tell.

4 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2022-01-19 16:25:24	James Turner rolls 5 to Investigate (Wits + Investigation) (10 Again)	10, 8, 10, 5, 6, 9, 1	4 successes

Stats

Equipment

Equipment: Survival Knife(+1L) ,Hiking Backpack, Rope, multi-tool, emergency blanket, road flares, full zippo, 4 packs of cigarettes, sunglasses, 1 Box meal bars(partially eaten), 1 3L camelpack, sleeping bag pop-up tent and a flashlight.

[Colonel Worm]

Spelunking gear! Damn, Worm's gotta get some of that. Whatever that is...? A grin, first to Anatole and then to Sera. Worm's only response to John's quip is a wink. The Colonel understands the Winter King's sentiment. Just look at him.

And they're off. The Goblin trots along, looking (with knives in each hand) like he's ready to stab. Which is not far from the truth. Not far at all.

It's the bit of fuchsia that catches his eye first, then the signs of work on the hedge. Is this the western path? And what is that cloth?

Worm stops next to John, not speaking yet, and crouches to get a better look at the fabric. If it's within reach, he'll use the tip of a knife to retrieve it, bring it closer to himself. No need to touch it with his fingers just yet.

What's that Fabric? 2 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2022-01-19 21:20:00	Colonel Worm rolls 4 to Wits + Composure -1 (clarity) (10 Again)	10, 5, 8, 6, 5	2 successes

Looking up from this sample, he gazes down the length of the thrashed out pseudo-path, using a hunter's eye to seek for other bits of color, a track or trail.

Tracking (Visual), 1 success

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2022-01-19 21:20:14	Colonel Worm rolls 4 to Int + Survival (10 Again)	10, 6, 2, 2, 2	1 success

[Anatole]

Anatole lapses into silence as the little band wend their way through the Hedge's verdant paths. The Darkling moves ahead, vanishing into the gloaming foliage. When they catch sight of the Monarch, he is examining a gap in the Thorns. When Worm goes to join him, it becomes obvious that there is more going on than John waiting on them.

The gap in the Thorns is more than just a gap. Not a trod. Too narrow and raggedy to be a path.

The burned dwarf notes the fragment of cloth - a give away - in the Thorns. However Colonel Worm moves to join with John and they begin studying the immediate area together. Rather than add another pair to their already keen eyes, Anatole moves to one side (as much as he can given the confines of the path they walk) and tries to discern the bigger picture.

1 success

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2022-01-21 01:38:24	Anatole solves a puzzle rolls 5 to Wits + Investigation (10 Again)	7, 4, 4, 10, 6, 6	1 success

Not that he is learning much beyond the obvious.

Sighing, the dwarf moves around the space, trying to find the most advantageous spot... And not really discovering much more of note.

EQUIPMENT
Axe
Knife
Basic Lockpicks (+0)
Durable clothing, including gloves (+0 Armour)
Hessian Bag
Trail Rations
Bottled Water

[Seraphina]

Eyes continue to roam over the area as they move.

But as John stops, and then Worm, she finds herself stopping as well.

Looking at the attempt to make a Path, and the cloth, maybe cloth, on Worms blade now, maybe someone was running from something? Or not. She wasn’t sure. But it was something.

She just wasn’t sure what it was.

A glance to Anatole, to see what he was doing.

failure

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2022-01-21 10:11:07	Seraphina rolls 4 to Fabric?(Wits+Investigation) (10 Again)	5, 4, 6, 2	failure

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

Health 7
WP 3

[Saber Sloth]

The fuchsia fabric catches the eyes of the Lost, and they quickly and efficiently take in the scene.

Those focused on the fuchsia fabric, will see it's most likely a torn swatch of a shirt. The fabric stretches easily before bouncing back to it's torn shape, giving the Lost an idea that the shirt must have catch of the branch, but instead of looping the caught part of the shirt off the branch whomever it belonged to pulled, and pulled, and it was torn.

To those more focused on the felled branches and shifted bramble, it is as Anatole thinks, not a Trod, and definately not a Path, but it's a valiant attempt at one. Not large enough for two shoulder to shoulder to walk, until very suddenly, several paces before where the fabric caught, there is...more space. Crushed brambles, broken branches, kicked up dirt.

[James Turner]

There was a long silent moment as everyone surveyed the scene, John had to be sure what he was looking at before he could move on. If something had come out, if there'd been another of the Lost out there? He exhaled as he relaxed before shifting his gaze back to the group. "Just looks like a few of the adventurous sorts, we'll have to remember to come geared for thick foliage. Let's keep on to the Outpost though, they might have more information about our ruins anyways. They might even have maps of the area if we're lucky. "


He turned to the Colonel and gave a short nod, "Same positions." There was a raised eyebrow before he slowly took a step back. He gave a slow nod and half smile to Anatole before crept down the path again to keep his eyes out and open.

1 success

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2022-01-25 16:07:52	James Turner rolls 7 to Perception (Wits + Comp) (10 Again)	1, 10, 5, 7, 5, 5, 7, 5	1 success

Stats

equipment

Equipment: Survival Knife(+1L) ,Hiking Backpack, Rope, multi-tool, emergency blanket, road flares, full zippo, 4 packs of cigarettes, sunglasses, 1 Box meal bars(partially eaten), 1 3L camelpack, sleeping bag pop-up tent and a flashlight.

[Colonel Worm]

Looking at the scene before them, Worm breaths in deep through his nose. Out through his mouth. "Coming out...or going in...?" He mutters, unable to decide. Either way, it had been painful. Worm knows those thorns. Remembers how they tear at your flesh--your soul. Never again, he promises himself.

At John's words he pops up from his crouched position. "Yeah, good idea," he replies. Resolves to keep an eye out for anyone wearing a super-bright shade of reddish purple when they get to the outpost.

"Back at it," he says with a grin to Sera and Anatole. Time to continue their stroll in the garden. Worm keeps his eyes open and his knives ready as they move out.

2 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2022-01-25 19:38:53	Colonel Worm rolls 4 to Wits + Composure -1 (clarity) (10 Again)	4, 10, 9, 7, 4	2 successes

ctl]
Equipment:
Khukri knives (+ sheaths) x 2 2L*
Brass Knuckles x2 1B (in pants pockets)
Bastard Sword (+ Sheath) 3/4L*
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[/ctl]

[Anatole]

Anatole sighs loudly as his shoulders drop in defeat.

"Bah! No idea! Gah! I'd say there was a scuffle right there and maybe a bit of a fight. Then I'd say that whoever did the fighting cut their way through the Thorns. But thats too easy..."

He had set down his axe and was flexing his fingers. As John and Worm moved back into position, he positively glared at the tiny passage cut into the Hedge and the ragged fuchsia that lay, spider-like in the Thorns, mocking them.

"But someone. Or something... Came this way and made a damned good try and cutting a Path over there..."

Frowning, he hefted his mighty axe again and got into line.

1 success

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2022-01-27 03:40:32	Anatole is watchful rolls 4 to Wits + Investigation -1 (Keeping Up) (10 Again)	6, 2, 9, 7	1 success

@Saber Sloth Anatole is keeping with his Investigation skill, examining the trail as they go - at least for a little ways. I have included a penalty to reflect him keeping up with the party. Please adjust if the penalty is not enough.

EQUIPMENT
Axe
Knife
Basic Lockpicks (+0 bonus)
Durable clothing, including gloves
Hessian Bag
Trail Rations
Bottled Water

[Seraphina]

Taking out her notebook after listening to John, she attempts to sketch the area. Nature wasn’t really her thing, but she tries. If she had the time, she could have used a Contract to help, but, no time.

1 success

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2022-01-27 12:06:10	Seraphina rolls 5 to Sketch General Area?(Int+Crafts) (10 Again)	5, 8, 5, 2, 1	1 success

Closing the notebook, she nods to John and re-assumes her position.

Nods were given to Worm and Anatole as they made their own observations. She couldn’t argue with either. And was leaning more towards what the dwarf said. Someone or something made an effort here. And it was worth noting. Her attention moving back to the area as they moved.

2 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2022-01-27 12:09:43	Seraphina rolls 5 to Keeping an eye open(Wits+Comp)-1 Clarity (10 Again)	4, 9, 2, 4, 9	2 successes

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

Health 7
WP 3