Deep Hedge Expedition I

[James Turner]

It made the most sense to him but he also had no idea how it worked. Could they see through it fine or was it cover for them as well? He chewed on that thought. Anatole adding on his knowledge that the defense was multi-layered, his eyes narrowed and he looked around their surroundings to catch the movement and shift of the shadowy blobs. His pacing slowing to a stop, Anatole and Worm gathering their wits at the ready as Sera begins the dialogue. John followed her lead and also remained unarmed and unthreatening. Those eyes of his scraping over the fog, following the outline of the shadowy image as he did his best to pierce the veil.

1 success

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2022-02-26 10:26:20	James Turner rolls 5 to Perception (Wits +Comp -2 fog) (10 Again)	4, 1, 1, 4, 10, 1	1 success

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.

[Saber Sloth]

When Sera finishes speaking the fog condenses, coalescing into soft coiling tendrils that lay closer to the ground. James takes note that these tendrils keep twisting around the party's feet.

With the fog sinking to the ground the shadowy blobs come into stark focus. The landscape beyond the fog is dizzying in it's abrupt difference. Looking nothing like the verdant Hedge they knew, the area around them now was craggy, with dry ruddy dirt. Sharp cliff falls and impossibly tall mountains. The vegetation around them was spars and probably lethal.

The figure closest to the spindly figure, with her hair pulled tight enough that they can see it pulling on the skin of her face. She, (like the others) is wearing worn and patched military fatigues, and her skin, was either painted in a digital camo print, or it was the effect of her Mien. attached to her belt are two swords. Next to her is a very large women. Muscular, the sleeves of her shirt looking ripped off at the shoulder. Her hair's comprised into spikes of witch-hazel that have been thrown into ponytail. She's also holding a maul. Behind them is another with a bow drawn, but lowered to the ground, was someone shorted and boxier, blue furred with fangs bared.

Each and all, carrying the scent of Summer. Swords clashing and Summer baked grass. Sounds of marching and distant battles.

Beyond the changelings is a tower, spearing high into the sky.

"Seraphina and company. We accept your apology. What brings you this far out?" noticeably not answering Sera's question.

[Anatole]

"Yeah. Fog was a transitional, protective, barrier. Someone's got a powerful Mantle too..."

Anatole spoke quietly. He kept his stance, eyes narrowing, and shuffled slightly to one side so that the Fairest could do her work.

For himself, Anatole attempted to discern the strongest Mantle from the jumble of sensations jangling his senses.

failure

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2022-03-05 23:20:33	Anatole tries to locate the boss rolls 4 to Wits + Wyrd (10 Again)	2, 6, 3, 3	failure

Saber Sloth don't know if this will work. With his high Occult he should know how Mantle's work and effect the Hedge - he is trying to identify the most powerful Mantle; the ruler or leader and possibly their Court and their Mantle's strength...

Not that he succeeds. He gets nothing.

[Colonel Worm]

The fog recedes and the figures come clear. It's obvious they're Lost of his own season. This does little to relieve Worm. He knows Summer. He knows it makes for hard choices. He will not let himself or his companions becomes victims of one of those difficult decisions.

His own mantle flares, heat fractals splintering the air around him. But he doesn't speak. Sera is their emissary. The Colonel is too busy looking mean.

Look Mean, 1 success

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2022-03-06 10:27:50	Colonel Worm rolls 5 to Pres + Intimidation	7, 9, 1, 5, 4	1 success

On top of that, he's also keeping a sharp eye on these strangers. Looking for any movement that would betray an impending attack. Any flinch that might speak to ill intent. Determined that their party won't be caught off guard.

Perception, 3 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2022-03-06 10:29:57	Colonel Worm rolls 4 to Wits + Composure -1 (clarity) (10 Again)	3, 8, 10, 3, 9	3 successes

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

[Seraphina]

And that was unexpected.

Sapphires cannot help but take in the landscape before focusing back on the figures.

Who were big and a bit intimidating. But she could do this.

So her question was going to go unanswered? Ok, we can play that. It wasn’t a surprise, two parties meeting within the Hedge, everyone is on edge.

“I’m afraid nothing too exciting,” she begins, “simply exploring the Hedge. Sometimes one is able to find allies or even a traveling Market if they look hard enough.” Which was true enough. “Have we encroached on territory that you and your company claim?” can one really claim parts of the Hedge? She supposes it’s possible if they were willing to fight for it. The Nix certainly had no desire to challenge it. Those women looked like they hit hard.

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

[James Turner]

The fog peeled and pooled, shifting and swirling around their feet. That must mean they're controlling it somehow. The next thing John did was a quick threat assessment, Blue was at the top of his list, it would only take a second for that bow to come up and they seemed to be the testy one of the group. Swords being the most likely leader, restrained, composed, and at the tip of the spear. The heavy staccato of a steady war march thrummed in his ears and reinforced that opinion rightly or wrongly.


Seraphina was the right person to make the first impression, she'd put their best foot forward and it left him open to look. They were standing in the middle of a bear trap that could spring shut at any moment. They were on a razor's edge but hadn't that been their lives since they escaped anyways? They were Summer but he was Winter and so he thought like a Winter, those black pits examining the surroundings. The environment was something to note but it filtered down the priority list in his mind for the moment. No, what he was looking for were others. These were the three that were talking but if it were him and he had this advantage. Well, he'd have had Worm circle around the back just to be safe. So John looked around, taking in what he could.

5 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2022-03-10 14:23:08	James Turner rolls 7 to Perception (Wits + Comp) (10 Again)	7, 10, 4, 5, 8, 9, 6, 10, 9	5 successes

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.

[Saber Sloth]

Summer and Winter keep an eye out, Colonel Worm's focus on the Summers, is pulled to a bright spot of fuchsia fabric peaking out from one of the pockets of the blue-furred Lost. James, catches the bright fuchsia fabric along with something more pressing. In two separate windows are shadowy shapes, and in each something glints under the harsh glare of the sun. Taking from blue-fur, it might mean two more bows drawn on them, but he can't rule out that it might not be arrowheads glinting, but the barrels of readied guns.


If the raised brows on the Summers opposite are anything, the Colonel's posturing hasn't impressed them.

Swords nods once, sharply as Sera speaks. Then, "You have." a moment, a beat too long to be comfortable. "Are you seeking allies here, in your aimless wandering?"

2 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2022-03-15 13:28:16	Summer Soldiers rolls 5 to Intimidated? (10 Again)	8, 5, 8, 1, 3	2 successes

[Anatole]

Anatole had been about to lower his axe - slowly - as Seraphina spoke.

He was too distracted by his own musings to notice Colonel Worm's attempt at presenting face, much less to connect the band of Crimson's own guarded and terse response to the wizened's action.

The burned dwarf did pick up on the deliberate pause, and the rather intimidating change of tone, as the spokes person for the rival group responded to Sera's reply. Anatole continued to hold his ground, axe raised warily and his pose defensive.

Again, he chose not to speak, hoping that Seraphina could ease the situation before he... or Worm (who knew how Summer's took their vows?) reacted too tersely to their interrogation. Summer respected strength, but here in the Hedge, a display of strength could quickly turn into outright hostility....

[Colonel Worm]

It's clear to Worm that his mean-mugging has accomplished exactly jack shit.

OK, another tack then.

"Don't mean to interrupt," he interjects, his attitude no longer threatening. The posturing gone like a cloud momentarily obscuring the sun. The knives are lowered. Somewhat.

"But I wouldn't quite call it aimless. I mean, you're all cloaked in Crimson and holding Iron. Like me. You understand how it goes: can't stay home if you want to stay safe. You've got to get the lay of the land." A pause.

"Anyway, allies are always welcome, when they know how to hold their own." A rakish grin. "And you clearly do." A compliment.

"Colonel Worm, by the way." Indicating himself with the tip of a knife. "Your Brother in the Court of Wrath." As if that wasn't obvious. His mantle flares again, but this time it's not in the service of intimidation.

This time, it's a display of kinship.

Mr. Social, 5 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2022-03-18 06:50:52	Colonel Worm rolls 7 to Pres 3 + Socialize 1 + Mantle 3	8, 7, 7, 9, 9, 8, 8	5 successes

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

[Seraphina]

This went better in her head. Usually it just took her looks and voice to put others at ease. And she was hesitant to use her voice, not sure if it would help the situation. But that pause didn’t feel right.

So she does what she thinks is best, turns her voice, well, on. The Glamour courses through her, altering her voice just enough to maybe sooth the situation.

“I wouldn’t call it aimless wandering, that is a dangerous path to take in the Hedge. There had been rumors of a post to the North, and it seemed like the safest, most straightforward path to travel. I know allies are always valuable in the world we live in. We would not be opposed to allies, but are also not looking to cause any problems.” Her translucent hands turned palm up, showing not only confidence, but openness, genuinity and honesty.

And then Worm speaks. Though to his credit, he seemed to know what he was saying. Trying to connect with others of his Court. Smart.

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

Sera activates:


Consumptive Voice: by expending one Glamour, the Nix’s voice will muddy the thoughts of any who listen to her speak. They don’t notice that her voice has changed, but it causes a slowing, almost narcotic effect. For the remainder of the scene, any who hear her voice in casual conversation find their Social rolls hampered by a penalty equal to half the Nix’s Wyrd score (round down). This ability can be used only once per day.