(Rotten Roots) Underbrush

[Saber Sloth]

Aug 2022

Rotten Roots

Jan 2023

(Rotten Roots) Round Table

Mar 2023

(Rotten Roots) Take Warning

Mar 2023

(Rotten Roots) Grave Matters

Sep 2023

(Rotten Roots) Underbrush

Summer had set, and Autumn had risen, there was a crispness in the air now, a sharpness to the wind, and with the Changing of the Seasons thoughts turned to the turning of the leaves, the harvest and other vegetation. ]

It had been some months since any action had been taken in regards to the Rust. Friendly hobs had been warned and most likely cleared out from their den, while Anatole and Circe discovered that the Metalflesh, Carlos' remains were not growing the Rust from where they had laid him to rest. But it had been far, far too long since the Lost had inspected the Capitol Park Trod where they had been made aware of the Rust in the first place. With how insidious the spores are, there was no telling how much more of the Hedge had fallen to the infection.

Which is why the Monarchs had gathered here, now to investigate and decide a course of action.

Remember to include your stats and currently carried Equipment in each post! Also to be clear you are all still on the Mortal side, and still need to travel to the Hedge side, I didn't want to send y'all right into the Rust without some prep, but that means you do need to be careful because humans are around and could be watching....

Yumyumcrow Anatole Orianna Seraphina Origins Circe

[Circe]

Circe hefts the duffle bag, the weight of the equipment quite a lot. Can't exactly dress for success BEFORE being in the Thorns. The cops wouldn't appreciate it, so that meant she'd have to do most if it after getting in.


That and she could play off the trench coat and skin suit as fetish wear. That, and it worked as pseudo haszmat. Circe would hope the others were as well prepared as her. Or that somebody brought a poking stick or container.


For now, she was looking around the park, to ensure naught saw what they did this time.

3 suxx who in the park?

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2023-09-24 19:26:19	Circe rolls 5 to perception - clarity (10 Again)	3, 5, 2, 9, 10, 9	3 successes

Stats & Equipment

Armor: 1/2 bulletproof
Def: 3
Speed: 12
A card for The Asylym BDSM club, L-Colt M1911 Pistol plus 2 mags with 2 mags of hollowpoint and 20 spare hollowpoints, burner phone, light, 2 Dynamite sticks, fanny pack, holsters and pouches, knife, 3 Dream-a-Drupes flasks, hedgespun multitool, hedgespun glasses, Silicon rubber skin suit and thin kevlar vest [1/2] under a trench coat , duffle bag holding her HS Lorica Segmentata, Helmet w/light, leg gaiter, 2 gasmasks, machete, and pump shotgun with 27 shells. 2 LED flashlights, 2 summer sausages, 2 water bottles, 2 pairs of very thick gloves.

[Seraphina]

Sera had once again donned her black cargo pants. They had the most pockets and the material was a bit tougher than regular jeans. Hedge thorns were a bitch against clothes. She paired them with a long-sleeved white fitted shirt, which had her Hedgespun jacket over it. Never enter the Hedge without protection. As well as her necklace, never know who she might need to charm.

Her dagger was tucked in her right pocket, hidden, but accessible. The bag was slung over her shoulder, stocked with a few useful things, or what she hoped would be useful.

On the drive over, she debated if her Mask was needed or not. They had planned to enter the Hedge anyways, so might be best to save her Glamour in case. But in the end, that voice in her head, the one that had swore an Oath to her, then broke it, told her ‘better safe then sorry darling’. Grumbling, knowing it was right, Anne might be dead, but there were other Annes in the world.

Long hair had been put into a ponytail, then into a bun, and there was no makeup. Makeup wasn’t needed in the Hedge.

Spotting Circe, a translucent had was held up and she hurried over. “Hey! Sorry I’m late.”

Hedgespun jacket(+1 INT, +1 DEF), Hedgespun Necklace(+1 singing), dagger, 2 bottles of water, gauze and medical tape, notebook with pencil, compact with mirror, gardening gloves(2), metal cookie tin(empty) Health 7
WP 3
Glamour 9/10

[Anatole]

Anatole arrives late, looking very different to his usual appearance. The suit is gone. His hair is tied back and his beard is constrained in a braid. The burned dwarf is kitted out like a tourist or traveller with a large backpack, boots and sturdy military surplus clothing. He looks a little out of place, but not enough to stand out too much; he could, after all, be passing through the city to the wider California Valley or the mountainous regions to the east. And if any mundy saw him as a prepper, Anatole could give the kind fo surly, independent, glower that would cement that view.

That - and the carefully wrapped object (perhaps Ax shaped) tied securely to his backpack.

He spots the other Sovereign's and quickens his place, clanking and jangling.

"I am here."

He paused once he reached them, rocking slightly to adjust for the energy of his forward momentum.

"I have gloves and bags in my pack. Hope you bought masks... I only have one. Are we set?"

At last he looked around, suddenly feeling open and exposed by the old Gateway. He'd have much rather carved a way into the Hedge using a private passage, only there was no telling where they would end up.

GEAR

Sturdy clothes (0/1 Armor)
Gloves
Axe
Knife
Backpack containing extra bags, tupperware, knives (for taking samples), bottled water and trail rations. Also contains his respirator.

[Saber Sloth]

With a quick look, Circe finds a family with a pair of Loud Children. One's screaming about ice cream and the other facts about flowers. She also spots at least one tour taking place.

She also sees several looks cast the Lost's way, but she can't tell if it's because of the pair of Fairests, the tourist disguised Anatole or their equipment.


Round where they know the Trod lay the grass is already browning, but it could be Autumn's hold stronger where the magic matters for such things, or it would be the Rust slowly warping the glamour and leaking through. They cannot tell just yet.

To discover more, and to do a proper investigation they would need to cross over, and expose themselves to the Rust once again.

Okay y'all still have time if you want to decide on a game plan, and after y'all do, or if y'all just want to get going please spend a glamour to open the way so you can all cross over - and a Dex + Stealth if you want to do so without drawing more attention to yourselves!

[Circe]

How dare the mundies interfere with their dangerous Hedge trips. And distract her with the lure of ice cream. And, wait, you boil milkweed to make it taste less foul? Could that work with Hedge bounty, no she wont' be distracted by the smart child! It wasn't like she'd a Contract to distract them. Distract them away from Circe. Yeah, she didn't have that.


"Not late, though I am fully prepared ta ensure everyone has masks for that kink," she teases and gives a wink, smiling before lowering her voice, "Lots of mundies around. Fortunate, I didn't kit up yet. Aaand my suit and talk of masks can be sold as fetish freaks. Stealth is needed."


On the plus side, if the parents see her skinsuit they are certain to leave with the kids. She'd even gotten a card just to sell it. Only the weapons would be questionable in the duffle bag.


"We just sneaking out then masking up? Or some plan ta distract the mundies first? Wait? Use the freaky ta drive them off? Last might backfire." Circe questions her fellow monarchs.


Circe had not planned for this, and hindsight is 20:20. Circe would have to ask Betty if she had any timed fireworks. Those'd make a great distraction next time.


Eh, save the considerations until after the trip. Just in case she also needed incendiaries for The Rust.

Equipment and stats

Armor: 1/2 bulletproof
Def: 3
Speed: 12
A card for The Asylym BDSM club, L-Colt M1911 Pistol plus 2 mags with 2 mags of hollowpoint and 20 spare hollowpoints, burner phone, light, 2 Dynamite sticks, fanny pack, holsters and pouches, knife, 3 Dream-a-Drupes flasks, hedgespun multitool, hedgespun glasses, Silicon rubber skin suit and thin kevlar vest [1/2] under a trench coat , duffle bag holding her HS Lorica Segmentata, Helmet w/light, leg gaiter, 2 gasmasks, machete, and pump shotgun with 27 shells. 2 LED flashlights, 2 summer sausages, 2 water bottles, 2 pairs of very thick gloves.

[Seraphina]

It was the mixture of someone running towards them and the clanking and jangling that caught her attention.

Seeing that it was Anatole, a hand was raised, “Hey! Glad you could make it.” It had been a couple years since she worked with him.

“I have gloves, but didn’t think of a mask. But I’m good to go.” If it came to it, she could hang back from any rust they came across.

Oh, sounded like Circe had thought ahead and brought extras. Awesome!

Glancing around, she shrugged. “I mean, I could provide a distraction, but I think we’re good to just go.” Taking a quick look around, “That is, if you guys are ready.”

Hedgespun jacket(+1 INT, +1 DEF), Hedgespun Necklace(+1 singing), dagger, 2 bottles of water, gauze and medical tape, notebook with pencil, compact with mirror, gardening gloves(2), metal cookie tin(empty) Health 7
WP 3
Glamour 9/10

[Anatole]

"We move. Quickly now."

Anatol hissed carefully. He was already moving with careful and deliberate actions to open the Trod and slip into the Hedge while mundane eyes were watching, but not yet aware.

2 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2023-09-30 20:01:27	Anatole makes his move! rolls 5 to Dexterity + Stealth - 1 (being careful about it) (10 Again, WillPower)	5, 9, 9, 7, 3	2 successes

A pause. A posture, perhaps like he was getting directions from a pair of lovely ladies...

A careful shuffle in the right direction.

A flare of glamour as he timed as best he could, the opening of the Gate and then he was through, heedless of what lay on the other side.

With too many eyes there simply wasn't the option and he'd come to far to turn back now.

Anatole spends 1 Glamour to activate the Gate. He spends 1 Willpower to be really underhanded and sneaky about it - and real stealthy when he crosses over.

Anatole would like to use his VIRTUE Refresh at this point to get his WP back. His Virtue is Fortitude, so continuing with the mission despite complications really fits. Hope Saber Sloth will agree as I know the wording in WoD core is more representative of physical fortitude, not mental cutzpah and sheer bloody mindedness

[Anatole]

I forgot the Glamour expenditure. Noted here

[Circe]

"Giusto, abbiamo colpito fanculo. Quindi fanculo." Circe tries her best to be quiet and unnoticed as they disappear. She'd have to invest in a magician's outfit. That way, if she just disappears, nobody finds it strange.

4 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2023-10-02 09:02:06	Circe rolls 9 to Sneaky deeky (10 Again, WillPower)	4, 5, 7, 9, 9, 2, 10, 4, 9, 1	4 successes

It was important to get in before being spotted. Especially with what she had in the bag. Maybe she should get Smoke. The mask would be going on as soon as she is through the Gate and out of sight.

Equipment and stats

Armor: 1/2 bulletproof
Def: 3
Speed: 12
A card for The Asylym BDSM club, L-Colt M1911 Pistol plus 2 mags with 2 mags of hollowpoint and 20 spare hollowpoints, burner phone, light, 2 Dynamite sticks, fanny pack, holsters and pouches, knife, 3 Dream-a-Drupes flasks, hedgespun multitool, hedgespun glasses, Silicon rubber skin suit and thin kevlar vest [1/2] under a trench coat , duffle bag holding her HS Lorica Segmentata, Helmet w/light, leg gaiter, 2 gasmasks, machete, and pump shotgun with 27 shells. 2 LED flashlights, 2 summer sausages, 2 water bottles, 2 pairs of very thick gloves.