(Rotten Roots) Orchard Observations

[Seraphina]

Sounded like the Wizened was agreeable to Krays terms, so that part was set and done.

Eyes glance to where he indicates he wants the Orge to start working, then looks to Kray, then to Jasper. Really? Why on the other side? Does the sheer size of the Autumn intimidate him? She wouldn’t blame him if it did, Kray was a big ass guy.

Or was it something else?

Looking around, she looks to where the barn stood, seeing if it, well, still stood there. Or if any burned remains were there. It once held a powerful Gate, connecting back to the warehouse and more importantly, back to other Gates.

Kray would ask his questions, Sera on the other hand, had her concerns about who this Lost was and what he was doing. Her suspicions might be wrong, but trusting a random ass Lost in crazy Ann's burnt out orchard wasn't a risk she would take. Pledge or not.

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, small tins(3) one with coffee two with tea (lavender and rose) notebook with pencil
Health 7
WP 3
Glamour 10/10

[Saber Sloth]

"I can answer questions just fine if you're workin' the plot, across from me - I ain't saying I'm claiming what was a whole ass orchard, I don't have time for that. Just saying, you should go far enough that we wont wack each other with hoes while we're workin'" comes his voice, as the pledge seals, but his eyes track to Sera and to Jasper.

"You two staying out of the pledge?" there a frown. "If you are. Back to the treeline." he demands.

A moment to see if they'll comply or not, whatever they decide to do the wizened turns his attention back to Kray's question. "Now, my first answer. I'm working this plot for me." his voice is strong, the pledge holds, he swings his hoe into the earth and rakes it back.

bump Jasper Lionell

We can do farming rolls if you want (Dex + Crafts or maybe Strength + Crafts depending on how you want to work), but we can also just keep this more narrative as well, if we want to keep this more narrative/socially focused over rolls

[Kray]

Been more then a few days since Jasper was up to post, so going to keep this moving

The ogre grafts with the tools and the soil, he neither slacks nor intentionally sabotages his work. Physical labour and working to build something of your own is a mentality he can respect, so he has every intention of keeping his end of this pledge. The tools goes up and down in an almost rhythmic pattern as the farming continues. "Ah. I'm not going to swing at your head or work so close we're joined at the hip, so you got no worries on that. But working side by side we keep the lines even." Putting his own small practice of farming fruits into play. "So. As long as you aren't planning to try cutting my toes off or some such, we won't have a problem now will we." The Giant continues to apply his might to the field.

Now this one sure does seem to think he has a say in these matters. "Ah. Now manners never hurt. Making demands of folk who haven't done you ill and you have no say over isn't polite. If they don't want into the pledge that's their business but they'll leave us be as long as nothing untoward happens." That took a degree of trust to say but ultimately of the three freehold lost present only one of them had cannibalistic impulses that he knew about. And I have vowed non-violence for the day. "Besides if they want to have a wander about it keeps them occupied and less of a bother to you." A hint there for the others not to stand around waiting on him and his questions, he had a day of farming ahead. And if he objects then all the more reason to have a nosey at whatever he wants to hide.

But the vow held so truth was being spoken thus far. "Hm. Alright." The farming continues as he breaks clods and clumps of earth. "Your doing this for yourself." Of course it's true, could mean something else of course, this wizened was a slippery little guy in the ogres view of him, and truth can be such a hard thing to pin down. "So. You were going to tell us. What do you know about Ann, her operation and what happened here?" Second question. That had been the cause of the vow being suggested so it would suggest there was something to those answers he had feared to give before hand. Once we hear this it'll be the rust and from there any follow up odds and ends.

Very happy to keep it narrative, just asked in case

stats and equipment

Defence:2
Armour: 1/0
Speed: 12



Reinforced Clothing (Long coat)
Bowie Knife 2L
Sledgehammer 2B (9-Again)
Fire Axe 3L
Machete 2L ,
x2 blush berries,
x1 mur mur leaf

[Jasper]

Sera does indeed seem to pick up on a bit of discomfort coming from Jasper in regards to the Autumnal giant. It's something that's been there for a bit, since they first met months ago. Maybe the big Beast is picking up on the undercurrent of discomfort between the Fairest and the Ogre, or maybe it's just his own flavour of trust issues. Either way, once the still unnamed Wizened and the Ogre start their chat, Jasper decides to stay out of the pledge. He doesn't plan on hurting the man, or causing him any ill will. When he's given the ultimatum of pledge or head to the treeline, he gives a snort of a laugh. "I don't need no pledge to be civil, bud, but if you don't want me working this land.." he says, dropping the hoe. "My back's happy enough for that," he says.

He moves his way towards Sera, long and slightly dirty nails picking at a splinter in his palm along the way, before he pauses at her side. "You good?" he asks, still picking at the splinter for a moment. When he finally works it free, he lifts his hand up to his snout, giving his palm a few soothing licks of dog tongue as he follows the Fairest's gaze. He's also looking around the area, for any signs of the barn that was once here and to see if there was still a gate involved with it.

Scan the area (1 success)

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2024-09-29 00:26:02	Jasper rolls 8 to Perception + Fang&Talon (10 Again)	2, 2, 9, 7, 7, 3, 7, 5	1 success

Stats and Equipment

Defense 3, Armor 2/1 (2L to attacker each time he's struck)
Equipment: backpack, lighter, matches, keys, cell phone, fire doggo shirt, 2 Blushberry

Brass Knuckles (in pocket)
Reinforced Clothing (Hedgespun Leather coat) Armor 1/0

Stats and Equipment

Defense 3, Armor 2/1 (2L to attacker each time he's struck)
Equipment: backpack, lighter, matches, keys, cell phone, fire doggo shirt, 2 Blushberry

Brass Knuckles (in pocket)
Reinforced Clothing (Hedgespun Leather coat) Armor 1/0

[Seraphina]

An eyebrow raises at the demand.

Of her.

A queen of Spring.

Director of Sacramentos Freehold.

So she sighs, “Do not make demands of me.” Comes the angelic voice. Her notebook was taken out and notes on the saplings were written down, things like leaf size and shape, and scent to them, notable colors, etc. Once she had done that, she stands, but doesn’t walk towards the tree line.

No. No rand Lost was going to tell her or make demands of her. She was going to walk to where she knew the barn once stood. She wanted to see if anything remained of it.

Hearing Jasper, her attention turns to him, “Oh I’m just fine.” A smile offered before she notices the splinter, him pulling it out, then…licking it. Frowning, “Here.” Reaching into her bag, she pulls out some of the gauge and offers to wrap his hand. “Think this will work a bit better.” She says with a wink. Once she had done that, she turns her attention back to looking for the burned-out barn remains. There had to be something left. It had been quite a structure, and if it was gone, maybe the she could find the Gate at some point, well, when the random Lost was gone or not paying attention to them.

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, small tins(3) one with coffee two with tea (lavender and rose) notebook with pencil
Health 7
WP 3
Glamour 10/10

[Saber Sloth]

"Your friend here's the one who wanted the pledge placed in the first place..." said as the Wizened eyes follow Jasper as he drops the hoe.

He scoffs, as the Fairest speaks, eyes rolling rather obviously as she ignores him for her notebook. Before returning to work, "Fine, fine." he answers to Kray. "Right, the crazy bitch." he says, and it sounds like with the pledge in place he feels safe enough to be freer in his speech. Or it might be the showing of wizened spite bubbling up to the surface, "Heard she was a slaver, and had some fucking pledge work around that twisted up a lot of Lost in a untaggable web. Tryin' to sell herself as self styled Other - see crazy bitch." he sakes his head, and hacks at a stubborn root. "But her shit got blown up, and it's free pickings for carrion crows - like me." scooping the root and tossing it in the wheelbarrow, "Here, though, was the orchard." a vague gesture to the area, "Think they were harvesting goblin fruits that would help them kidnap folks. Or keep her minions in fighting form. Don't know much else."


Jasper, scanning his surroundings sees the burned out and dilapidated barn, any gates would have been what used to be the loft, but from what he can see is just the pile of broken wood and shattered glass. To find more he'd need to get closer, and perhaps dig through the wreckage.

Seraphina if you want to accurate notes, Dex + Expression to draw plants, and Int + Academics or Int + Occult for note taking, Jasper can do another Perception, or you can do an Investigation check if you want to get more hands on

[Kray]

While quite aware he wasn't exactly endearing himself to the farmer darkling he wasn't here on a tour to win hearts and minds, and most importantly he was keeping his side of the vow. A good reputation to build up in his own mind. The information is not as much as he had hoped but if he worded the vow correctly it was becoming more reasonable to assume this guy was not some agent of Anne leftover, or if he was, had never been a fan or particularly in the know. And still the Ogre ponders it tries to work it through and pick it apart for hidden meaning while he works the field. Breaking earth, casting out stones and swing the hoe to create proper lines.

One niggling point of correction wriggles free from him however as the darkling addresses Jasper. "Hm. I think it was you in fact who asked for a pledge, not wanting to be murdered and all." But unlike the giant spring the appreciation for pledge craft and the stability it brings to the interactions is something Kray holds in high esteem. "And there's nothing wrong with that protection, same as there isn't anything wrong for those not wanting in." It meant foul play was possible on every side. "Ah. Now this conversation is between you and me." And What he says of Anne made sense to the Ogre's limited knowledge. "Ah. I heard it said she was a fetch maker so that tracks." There was only one thing you make fetches for, and it was on the list of unforgivable actions. "Hm. I got no goodwill towards those who try to be like them." Of that they were of a mind. He to was vowed to speak truth after all. "But. Question three. I don't suppose you know what happened to her growers, farmers and those who tended her orchard do you?" It is a real shot in the dark this question, but if nothing pans out from this trip hunting down others skilled in growing goblin fruits might be able to provide answers.

He actually chuckles a little, his deep voice resonant in his throat, at the darkling's comparison. "Oh. Life of a carrion crow might not be overly glamourous. But they never go hungry." And knows who else knows what, so often beneath notice. "Hm. Speaking of fruits, which fruits is it we're planting today?" Question four snuck in by a point of curiosity.

But that covered the concerns of safety to a more or less satisfactory level. Sure he could go overboard and ask about the treeline, who else knows he's here and the myriad other questions that would take all day. But they came with a purpose. "Hm. Next couple of questions then. There's this thing called the rust, been afflicting the local hedge I hear. You encountered that? or know anything about it?" I doubt he pulled up a barrow full of fruits to plant from thin air. "Also. Do you know anyone who might know more?" The frequency of questions a strong indication they had reached the topic he really cared about.

stats and equipment

Defence:2
Armour: 1/0
Speed: 12



Reinforced Clothing (Long coat)
Bowie Knife 2L
Sledgehammer 2B (9-Again)
Fire Axe 3L
Machete 2L ,
x2 blush berries,
x1 mur mur leaf

[Seraphina]

She had always been better at drawing then taking notes, it was just how it was. But she was content to record what she could of what the random Lost was trying to plant and stay with Jasper.

Drawings and notes done, bandaging of Jaspers hand done, she slips the notebook into her bag.

4 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2024-10-09 16:31:39	Seraphina rolls 7 to Draw Plants(Dex+Expression) (10 Again)	6, 8, 10, 10, 2, 8, 2, 4, 6	4 successes

1 success

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2024-10-09 16:32:19	Seraphina rolls 6 to Note Taking(Int+Occult) (10 Again)	5, 2, 10, 5, 3, 1, 7	1 success

“Do you think it’s that easy that the warehouse and then barn and orchard get destroyed and those who survived don’t pick up the pieces?” she asks her fellow Spring, her angelic voice not loud.

“There was enough left that it wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibilities.” Eyes drifting to where the barn once stood, walking closer to it.

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, small tins(3) one with coffee two with tea (lavender and rose) notebook with pencil
Health 7
WP 3
Glamour 10/10

[Saber Sloth]

The wizened nods, countenance lighter than it had been, as he nods, "Do ya know how many people try and rewrite history given a moment to do so, even if it's a thing said just moments ago?" a test maybe? From the farmer's face, it might have been. Huffing as he hoes, digging and raking up things that he didn't want in his plot, "Honestly I don't know for sure. Some I think were pledge bound of grow and not truly loyal. They'd've taken off and ran far and fast. The fanatics, who truly believed in Queen Anne, might be tryin'a pick back up in her name and all that. But that's just a might - a guess. I haven't seen nothing 'round here since long after the explosion that felled the barn." he juts out a chin towards the collapsed and charred remains of what used to be a very large barn.

A dry bark of a laugh, "True enough, but I doubt your Fairest friend would agree." before shaking his head and returning to work, trying to fight with another root. "Ah, well, 'tis the season, so Murmurleaf, aaand - " pausing to think, still hacking at the root. " - some Coupnettle."

At the mention of the Rust, the wizened stops. "That fucking bullshit." Standing to look Kray in the eye, or as close as could be allowed with their vast difference in height. "Well it's Lost made, I know that. Some fucker, think it was a Hedge Warden - heard some rumours, not important, was crossbreeding goblin fruit to use as like a fuckin' bioweapon and it got out of hand. I try and steer clear, s'why I'm risking life and limb and probably more by claiming something that used to belong to Dread Queen Anne. Fuck. You can try and burn it, the Rust, but it keeps coming back. Know there's a way to get rid of it - there has to be, but I don't know it. There'd be information brokers, in the Markets that might know more, but they might want more then life or limb to part with that secret."



Sera's sketches aren't anatomically correct, but they are beautifully done. Easily able to show the differences between one plant and another, helped along with her notations. Correctly identifying helpful and harmful, or what she assumes that to be. She isn't one hundred precent sure, but she can always ask for a second opinion, or put more research in later.

[Jasper]

The Spring Beast doesn't turn down the bandage. He would never admit to it hurting, but then he's Irish. You don't expect them to complain about the small things. It's the big things that get them riled up. He'll flex his hand a few times after it's got it's gauze wrapping.

For now he's trying to pay attention to Sera and what she's doing and not the Wizened, letting the Ogre deal with him. It's hard to ignore her enthralling and magnetic presence after all. "I mean, it's possible. I wouldn't, in that position, but then I tend not to leave much behind.. or have much to leave behind," he adds with a snort and he starts to meander over towards the burnt rubble of a barn.

Perception (failure)

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2024-10-11 22:23:03	Jasper rolls 8 to Perception + Fang&Talon (10 Again)	2, 5, 3, 1, 5, 6, 3, 4	failure

At first glance, he doesn't seem to see anything out of the ordinary, beyond the burnt timbers.

Stats and Equipment

Defense 3, Armor 1/0
Equipment: backpack, lighter, matches, keys, cell phone, fire doggo shirt, 2 Blushberry

Brass Knuckles (in pocket)
Reinforced Clothing (Hedgespun Leather coat) Armor 1/0