Deep Hedge Expedition I

[James Turner]

James could feel the deep wound that Ann carved in her wake and much like her season much of what was left was rot. A deep. burning resentment because how could they not? It was a deep violation, to have your home, your Sanctuary defiled. And for the Lost it was a deep pain. He chewed at his lips as he couldn't help but feel that burning gaze of being watched.

failure

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2022-04-04 17:22:24	James Turner rolls 6 to Read Lies (Wits: + Empathy + Spec - 2 CV) (9 Again)	1, 3, 4, 7, 3, 5	failure

He just took a took a couple slow steps just doing his best to keep the other Summer Courtiers in the line of fire. No point in giving them an easy time at a shot. He took a deep breath trying to untie the knot of anxiety in his chest. He hadn't picked up the deception but he did trust in Sera's lead. "It's something of a sore spot as you can see. Trust is hard, trust comes hard especially among our community. I place a great deal of weight in honesty and I can make assurances in that area if it's requested. If it's a threat you think we represent, perhaps a simple pledge of safe conduct; something while we're in each others company. At least until we can get better acquainted? We truly only wish to understand what's going on. If you do not wish to believe in concern, mutual interest might be a better angle? Sorry, I'm not trying to sell you anything." His hands outstretched, palms out an awkward half smile frozen on his face, his heart racing in his chest afraid that the response would be violence.




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]

@Jame Turner Shane if you want your words to have more of an effect please roll Manipulation + Persuasion -CV but if you're fine with me just going forward please @ me in the ooc or on discord!

[James Turner]

2 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2022-04-07 19:00:27	James Turner rolls 3 to Manip + Per - CV (10 Again)	1, 10, 6, 10, 3	2 successes

Gotcha, thanks Sloth!

[Saber Sloth]

"Like you said trust is hard to come by." Swords shift from foot to foot, obviously weighing something. "But you aren't the only ones that have had to deal with traitors. " cold, unforgiving.

Blue fur chortles from where she standing. A vicious grin showing off her fangs.

When James mentions a Pledge, Witch Hazel steps forward. "Terms?"

Anatole, who's kept an eye on the Ogress can hazard a guess as too why. To the Autumn's practiced eye he takes note of the wraps around her forearms, the dangling impractical earrings, and of course her maul. Hedgespun and Tokens.

failure

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2022-04-11 12:28:26	Summer Soldiers rolls 1 to Manipulated? -3 CW+JT -2CV (10 Again, Chance)	5	failure

[Anatole]

Anatole saw. And he grunted. To emphasise the point he knuckled his moustaches and even bobbed his head.

"Trust. A rare gem and harder to mine than the deepest, most precious, veins of Orichalcum. We have been lucky though - no traitors, just renegades fleeing justice from another Freehold and camping out in our back yard. Your back yard, too, I wager - given that we have come across the trails that led us from our Freehold to your outpost."

5 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2022-04-13 01:47:41	Anatole can be intimidating too rolls 7 to Strength + Intimidate (10 Again)	7, 10, 1, 10, 10, 3, 4, 10, 7, 7, 9	5 successes

"So who did you have to kill for those earrings, I wonder. They don't suit your aesthetic."

Anatole smiled a cynical grin and bared his teeth. Abruptly he hefted his axe and laid it across his shoulders, hands resting idly on the now horizontal haft balanced deftly on his broad shoulders.

Broad shoulders.

Thick muscle.

Thick muscle rippling beneath his clothing.

Eyes narrowing and with a cruel grin, he simply adjusted his posture and swivelled in space as Witch Hazel stepped up. Greedy wizened eyes fastened onto her earrings.

They had tried to be polite. They had bandied words and absorbed the callous indifference of the increasingly insufferable Crimson Courtiers who had offered nothing. Tact be damned, the burned dwarf felt. If they were getting no favours or even the consideration of friendship, then at least they could get the measure of their neighbours. Especially before terms were exchanged.

[Seraphina]

Always good when others were getting the same vibe. Meant they were on the same page, or, well, close to the same page.

Whelp…Worm was laying out there. And not in a pleasant way. So much for sweet talk.

Eyes move from Worm to Blue Fur and she could feel body tensing. This could go only a few ways.

John builds on what Worm was saying. Yes, a Pledge. A simple way to put mistrust at bay.

A gentle nod of her head, “I’m not opposed to a Pledge that would put everyone’s unease at rest and allow us to work together.” She was no Pledgesmith like her husband, but she had the basics down.

She caught how cold and unforgiving that statement was. But also how true it was. Their world was not a safe one.

But Terms. Yes.

“I would suggest a basic Good Neighbor Pact. Though it doesn’t need to be for a year and a day I don’t think. Just something to help us all trust enough to be able to work together, an Alliance.” This was soo not her wheelhouse.

And then Anatole drops a bomb. Who’d someone have to kill for earrings?! She did not want this to turn violent. For all the training she had, she knew she sucked at it. But, she had other tools at her disposal, and her mind begins to quickly work over them, trying to find the best one to use. The one with less blood shed on their side.

[Colonel Worm]

"Pledge works for me," Worm says simply. Knives still hang at his side, casual. But ready for use.

"That way we can all get to know each other a little better," his grin is somewhere between jocular and predatory.

Then Anatole lays down some heavy shit. The Goblin attempts to keep his reactions to himself. But inside, he's preparing for anything.

1 success

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2022-04-19 17:15:18	Colonel Worm rolls 3 to Wits + Subterfuge (10 Again)	4, 4, 10, 6	1 success

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

[Saber Sloth]

Anatole speaks and its like everyone else's words - the possibility of the Good Neighbour's pact - fade, sliding beyond this moment and shattering on the ground.

Three things happen immediately;

Swords looks back at Witch Hazel,
Witch Hazel's meaty mit reaches for those oh so out of place ear rings and,
Blue fur's hand drops from her bow, swiftly moving to the pocket and shovinf the fuchsia fabric deeper in their pocket.

Something that might be denials,, or maybe excuses are sputtered unconvincingly from Swords and Witch Hazel, their words tripping over each other, coliding into a striking mess of incomprehensible noise.

The Soldiers, quailing under Anatole's sudden and sharp indimidation, don't think to notice the goblin's making ready.

James, hangs back. Watching. Waiting.

normally I like giving time for everyone to reply but with Shane's irl stuff I don't want this scene to drag on for any longer,

Dramatic Failure!

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2022-05-03 11:19:13	Summer Soldiers rolls 1 to Intimidated? -5 Anatole's suxx (10 Again, Chance)	1	Dramatic Failure!

[Anatole]

The burned dwarf's mantle flared in the short, sharp, surge of Fear. Shadows seemed pulled in his direction for a moment, pooling under his feat and leaving his face gleaming but drawn and thin through the effect of contrast.

"Who was it? Why?"

He was still sporting that cynical, oh-so-Wizened grin. His posture didn't change either. He continued to push, now wanting to resolve the matter and the mystery of the who, what, when. He was of the Ash and the unfriendly Lost of the Outpost had been given their chance for friendly commerce and communication. He wasn't backing down.

1 success

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2022-05-05 02:31:32	Anatole ramps up the intimidation rolls 8 to Manipulation + Intimidation (10 Again, WillPower)	2, 7, 7, 7, 3, 1, 7, 8	1 success

Of course... One can apply too much pressure. Such is the fickle nature of Fear. To wield it is to stand on a knife-edge precipice.

[Seraphina]

And then…it all came down.

The silence…the quick movements. Sapphires watch, not wanting to take her eyes off them. Sure, Anatole and Worm were here, but that didn’t mean she wanted to get caught off guard. Her mind working over different Contracts and what might be needed.

With Anatole speaking up, she wasn’t sure if there was anything she could say. This didn’t seem like the time to play good cop bad cop. Everyones actions and words would decide how this all went down.

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