First contact with San Fran freehold

[Kray]

Origins Circe

The ogre's penmanship was questionable at best, skilled if you want to try and flatter him, hard to read if you knew better then to try. Still a envelope marked up with the address Circe had given him has a letter placed inside and sent.
------------------
Dear (Contact Circe had given him)

I'm writing to see about if myself and a few of ours could come and investigate something. We've found an abandoned nest of critters where we are and evidence suggesting they had another nest down your way. We want to make sure they really are abandoned because the old reports and letters suggest these critters were being hunted when they were active. I can provide more information if your interested.

Kray, King of Autumn and notary of Sacramento freehold.
-----------

Now all that's to do is ait and see if a reply is forthcoming.

[Circe]

Not Circe:

Any doubts Kray has of his penmanship is destroyed as he has trouble reading the first lines of the reply he eventually gets. After a sentence, the letter restarts in an old typewriter's font. It feels like there is a slight chill to the paper as Kray touches it:

Dear King Kray,

Alteration acceptable. Curious what bum gave you this box to dawdle your pen at. We have not encountered aught outside yonder prickly parks for troublesome critters. Of what do you speak? Information is welcome as knowledge is not exclusive to your court. For I a wizened geezer want the dope. If this is a bum rap, you might end up in the sticks.

Veiled Victor, Ancient Antiquarian of Winter. San Francisco.

Origins account can't get access the thread for posting.

[Kray]

Bulbous yellow eyes squint over the paper as he reads it over ... wearing warm gloves ... "Bah. Don't you seem like a pleasant chap." He talks to himself sometimes, especially when alone. But no not put off or deterred. A reply is forth coming. Even if he doesn't fully understand some of what the winter is saying.

Dear Veiled Victor

Now I know these are are going somewhere I want them to more or less I'll be a little more forth coming. It wasn't Ann if that's what your worried about, she's dead best as I know. But otherwise it makes no difference I know now.

We encountered an old den of some camouflage ambush focused creatures. Those are two traits I don't like when used against me, and don't inspire trust that the job was finished in full. They turn to green gloop when killed. A hunter some seventy years dead killed them in their nest with bombs and guns. His notebook suggests him and his dealt with two other nests. One at (Kray gives the location as best he has it). You check it out, we check it out , we all hold hands and go skipping in together I'm not overly fussed how it plays out. I want to know more about them and get an idea of if its still a problem or not.

Kray, King of Autumn and notary of Sacramento freehold.

[Circe]

NOT CIRCE:
Seems Kray has a pen pal, for the Winter in question replies quickly. Again, the paper is mildly chilled to the touch. Someone is showing off having a lot of Wyrd to spare.


Dear Notary Kray,


Sweet news hat the cheesy, cockeyed bint has bought the farm. Whoever did the deed got moxie! I approve of.


Ambush isn't special, you are not narrowing it down. Natch you'd want to be in cahoots with us in our territory. Not get stabbed for traipsing on our turf. Best way to be cooking with gas, no knife in the back.


I've drips and fat heads a plenty to look into it. Eager beavers, hoping to get glitterati enough to join our cool cabaret. Already sent on the way.


But ignorant of these green goobers I may not be, on the quad clawed fiends. As the saying goes, what is in it for me?


Expectantly awaiting an offer.


Veiled Victor, Ancient Antiquarian of Winter. San Francisco.

[Kray]

Since when were Winters this showy? huh well lost come in all varieties. What the Winter also had was a baffling way of writing that left the ogre scathing his head for a while. Before eventually taking up the pen again.

--------------------------
Dear Veiled Victor

I reckon most if not all involved agree with that sentiment. A few of her fanatics still linger so I understand, worth keeping an eye out. They'd make good fodder for an Ashen run.

I narrowed it down enough for you to know what I'm talking about. Happy enough to offer a deal but we aren't hobs, I see no need to try and rip each other off. How does a copy of the hunters journal sound in trade, your information for mine.

And if this works out I'd be interested in seeing about trying to mend fences between our two groups, I know there's more then a bit of history there but given our proximity a working relationship wouldn't be the worst of things to have.

Kray, King of Autumn and notary of Sacramento freehold.

[Circe]

NOT CIRCE:
The Wyrd flex continues as the next letter is also chilled. Clearly Victor has a thing going. Maybe unintentinoal?


Dear Notary Kray,


Take pictures of that Ashen Run, I will barter for them.

Your proposal? Acceptable.

Lived through the stories, might have the right thing remembered. They liked to go for the back, not at all capable of taking being ambushed as well as they were at giving it. I will give you crib notes of what I recall when I have the copy, to confirm that it is what I think and not give you a bum rap.

The rookies explored the site. Fat head found a hole, broke a leg, but no stealthy stalkers hiding.

Expectantly awaiting your delivery.

Veiled Victor, Ancient Antiquarian of Winter. San Francisco.

[Kray]

A third pen shatters as he chews the end of into splints causing the ogre to spit plastic and ink, not for the first time for this reply. A bigger envelope was need this time Pictures of the pages accompanied the letter, numbered in the top right corner in case they got muddled). Kray also shoves a mur mur leaf in a baggie into the envelope. The whole thing foes into a box for extra protection. Sealed with tape.

I'm not what happened to the journal. Kray had it walking out of the tunnels, but Circe did some translations on it for the monarchs meeting so yeah shouldn't be to hard to get pictures of the pages though I imagine?

Dear Veiled Victor

If it comes to pass will do. Heck if it comes to pass members of San Fran are welcome to join in.

Pictures included, clearer then if I tired to copy it.

Good to know it was vacant, enclosed something for broken leg, as they went there on my information.

Kray, King of Autumn and notary of Sacramento freehold.

[Circe]

NOT CIRCE:
Another letter arrives in a larger envelope. Not chilled for once, though the loquacious Winter's signature is still present. Different font though, maybe he dictated this time?


Dear King Kray,


Excess in generosity you give. The fat head rookie owes you now. Terrible explorer. Ace typist though.


Spanish? I know it. I recall these disappearance stories. And the creatures. They were not impressive, sneaky for mortals, but not for us. Nor are they things from the Thorny Path. Their origins lay elsewhere, though it is not a concern.


They go down fast and hated bright lights. So, those new bright electric torches would do you well if you meet them. The author's words make it unlikely.


I have sent a translated copy of the copy you sent me. The private dick found the time cycle and how to end it. His crew cleared out all but your nest, but most died. If he succeeded in the plan, well, you may not find anything. Unless they hibernate. My own experience has nothin' with how long they sleep. Just making it permanent.


Good hunting to you if that is what you will do in that old nest. Maybe send in your Summers.


Veiled Victor, Ancient Antiquarian of Winter. San Francisco.


With the letter is indeed a stack of papers holding an English translated transcript of the journal. Reading through it, Kray will learn that the detective and his cohorts made a discovery. The things hunted regularly, about ever 40 years. Something in about queens laying the next queen to restart the cycle until the eggs hatch. Hopeless towards the end due to all the cohorts dying, but defiant tone of intent to see it through no matter the cost.


IF the detective did kill the queen, then that would have been 70 years ago. Well covering the 40-ish year cycle. If he didn't and just sealed it up...Well, that'd be a cycle where the hatchlings were trapped and a new cycle with maybe less about to start soon.

There are mentions of the bait too, though it is spread throughout the translation. Seems the detective didn't keep it written down in the journal, just mentions of it.

You can roll Wits + Crafts or Wits + Survival -1 to try to piece those anecdotes together to deduce the formula.

[Kray]

Upon receiving this letter and package the Ogres toothy grin rolls out across his ugly mug even with no one to see it. A favour by a courtier in another city wasn't the bridge building he had hoped for but it was a start, also what up and coming criminal wouldn't feel good their actions were having effects beyond their immediate vicinity.

And better yet the unexpected translation. Had the winter figured out Kray didn't speak Spanish? Or was it is some kind of test? Regardless they were copies of the original so the Winter had what the ogre had promised to give.

Now as for that alluded to formula, some scrap dotting paper is pulled over and a pencil used to copy out what he could. He might not be much of an academic but he doesn't mind a good puzzle and works it rigorously.

Deduce formula 2 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2025-03-06 00:16:45	Kray rolls 6 to deduce formula wits 2 + crafts 2 -1 + wp (10 Again, WillPower)	8, 3, 6, 4, 7, 10, 4	2 successes

Then a final letter is sent.

----------------------
Dear Veiled Victor

Thanks for that, very helpful stuff.

The rookie need not worry, to much, I don't take more then I give, not with our kind anyway.

In case you ever need it the bait formula is (what Kray thinks it is) by my reckoning.

This has been a fruitful back and forth, Know you can reach out if you think I can be of assistance in the future.

Keep well.

Kray, King of Autumn and notary of Sacramento freehold.

Thank you for the scene Origins! a great amount of fun was had

[Circe]

Not Circe:

Kray finds the formula for the recipe. Pig innards and blood, goat milk, corn starch, and a few acids. The acids translated as acetic carboxylic acid and caprylic acid. A bit of online research nets the easiest source of both of these for Kray: vinegar and coconut butter, respectively. Sounds sticky as well as likely quite pungent.

You are welcome ReubanBrightwood. This was fun. Hope we get to keep it going, see what happens LOL!