BE: Flower Farm Nursery

[ReubanBrightwood]

Abyssalstar Thirteen

Thirteen makes the call to head to the nursery. A thatched cottage building serves as a point of contact and check out the plants themselves are in bloom, some in beds of peat and compost over in ceramic pots painted in pastel colours on wooden tables. Tulips, Hyacinth, Crocus, Lily of the valley, Iris, Forsythia, Azalea among other seasonally spring plants are for sale. The price tags are eye watering. It still early in the day and for the moment she has the walk between the blooms all to herself, excepting the sound of a radio tuned to the KHYL station and very off theme hip hop tunes can be heard emulating from the cottage.

[Thirteen]

If she had a nickel for every time she'd found herself in a plant nursery this year, she'd have two nickels. Which isn't a lot, but it's weird that it's happened twice.

Thirteen wandered among the various blooming flowers, mildly enjoying the aromas and colors. Her focus remained on task, however. It was, perhaps, too much to hope that she'd just find Hoodie working here in the nursery. She couldn't be that lucky, even for an Acanthus. Still, she was determined to turn over every metaphorical rock in this place.

With no one in sight, she headed for the only sign of human life in the area: the cottage. Someone had to be listening to those tunes.

The Enchantress knocked on the door frame as she stepped inside, brown eyes searching. "Hello?"

Equipment

Dedicated magical tool, light revolver (2L), knife (1L), motorcycle, motorcycle helmet, motorcycle jacket (1/0), smartphone, ID, keychain with keys, driving gloves, bottled water, ink pen and notepad, backpack. Turtle remains in a TMNT backpack (in Circle). Turtle skull in pocket.

Spells and Stats

Active spells: (R2) Sybils Sight (Mage Sight), (R2) Fortunes Protection (Mage Armor).
Health:
Mana:
Willpower:
Defense: 3
Armor: 3 (spell), 1/0 (jacket)
Initiative: 6
Speed: 10
Spell Tolerance: 2/2
Spell Control: 2/5
Paradox: 0

[ReubanBrightwood]

Fate works in mysterious ways perhaps her previous visit to a nursey had been a type of premonition perhaps it had been total chance but what is certain she won't be picking up a sibling for Angus here, cacti of any description are not on the offering unfortunately.

Entering the doorway of the cottage the early twentieth century rural ascetic continues with exposed roof beams and dangling plants, bags of soil and containers of seeds that can be bought by the scoop rather then in packet. I mid thirties maybe fellow with thinning dark hair and a soul patch dressed in overalls is taking early morning stock writing numbers to a clipboard in pencil will bopping along to the tunes from a radio on the counter sharing space with an old manual till.

He looks up as she comes in jumping a little. "Sorry miss, just a moment." Scurrying behind the counter he hits the off button on the radio. "There we go I can hear you now, sorry don't usually get people this early." Bit odd with the Inn and all. "What do you need?" Finally offering a half smile as he tries to find his salesman pitch. Nothing alerts Thirteens supernal senses or sight in the shop but a ding from her phone saying she has an e-mail has the rings of fate about it.

[Thirteen]

"Aye," she answered, nodding a greeting to the nursery worker. "I was looking-" her phone dinged, and by reflex she took her phone out to check it, even as she kept talking. "-Sorry, I was looking for someone. Maybe you could help me?"

"I'm afraid I don't know his name. I only saw him yesterday." All technically true. Thirteen went on to describe Hoodie: Estimated height, weight and age, hair and eye color, any notable facial features. "I was hoping he'd still be around here. Have you seen him?" Finally, her eyes read the email. Typical Zoomer, always on her phone.

Equipment

Dedicated magical tool, light revolver (2L), knife (1L), motorcycle, motorcycle helmet, motorcycle jacket (1/0), smartphone, ID, keychain with keys, driving gloves, bottled water, ink pen and notepad, backpack. Turtle remains in a TMNT backpack (in Circle). Turtle skull in pocket.

Spells and Stats

Active spells: (R2) Sybils Sight (Mage Sight), (R2) Fortunes Protection (Mage Armor).
Health:
Mana:
Willpower:
Defense: 3
Armor: 3 (spell), 1/0 (jacket)
Initiative: 6
Speed: 10
Spell Tolerance: 2/2
Spell Control: 2/5
Paradox: 0

[ReubanBrightwood]

The guy idly drubs fingers on the counter to a beat no longer playing, actin as something of an ear worm for him. "No offense miss, but not knowing the name makes me want to ask why your looking for this person? Would you want me telling anyone that asked your whereabouts when asked?" He doesn't seem on edge but not totally sold one way or another on what this is. "You look harmless enough but can't be to careful these day can you what with client confidentiality and health safety gone mad." The ever increasing red tape on the average citizen not to mention the social media storm that devouring the tiniest fault and spits out a mountain.

Thirteen can use Manipulation + persuasion OR subterfuge OR intimidate depending on the route she wants to go

The E-mail is from MillieZapper it is marked as important. Titled. He's gone to work can we try again?

[Thirteen]

The Acanthus didn't have time to read the whole email. The title was promising, though... and something was niggling at the back of her brain. Something about Millie. Why did the name suddenly feel familiar? Had she heard it before yesterday? She needed a moment to think, but this was not that time. The phone went back into her pocket, so she could focus on the conversation in front of her.

Internally, she summoned up the power of Arcadia to give her words more weight, threading fate into her deception. Golden sparks flew into an improvised Imago only she could see. She was not a gifted liar, so she needed all the help she could get.

1 success

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2025-03-27 15:37:13	Thirteen rolls 5 to Imp. Perfect Moment Gnosis 2 + Fate 3 (10 Again)	4, 6, 6, 9, 2	1 success

"True enough. I get it. I was just hopin' to talk to him. You see, my bike got scratched in the parkin' lot, and I think he saw who did it. I don't want to blame your fine inn, of course. If he could just help me ID the car..." she trailed off letting the implications go unsaid. Surely, he'd want to avoid a possible lawsuit against his workplace.

3 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2025-03-27 15:40:34	Thirteen rolls 4 to Manip 2 + Subterfuge 1 + Perfect Moment 1 (10 Again)	7, 9, 10, 1, 9	3 successes

Equipment

Dedicated magical tool, light revolver (2L), knife (1L), motorcycle, motorcycle helmet, motorcycle jacket (1/0), smartphone, ID, keychain with keys, driving gloves, bottled water, ink pen and notepad, backpack. Turtle remains in a TMNT backpack (in Circle). Turtle skull in pocket.

Spells and Stats

Active spells: (R2) Sybils Sight (Mage Sight), (R2) Fortunes Protection (Mage Armor).
Health:
Mana:
Willpower:
Defense: 3
Armor: 3 (spell), 1/0 (jacket)
Initiative: 6
Speed: 10
Spell Tolerance: 2/2
Spell Control: 2/5
Paradox: 0

[ReubanBrightwood]

See through subterfuge failure

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2025-03-28 05:31:23	clerk rolls 4 to see through subterfuge 4 (10 Again)	6, 4, 4, 7	failure

With a mix of skill and guidance from Arcadia Thirteen lands her words perfectly and the the clerks look goes from neutral to openly concerned. "What Here? Miss I am so sorry. If that were me I would be way less reasonable about well everything." Moving out from behind the counter. "Does the manager know She runs a tight ship I'm sure she would more then willing to help." He moves past Thirteen to the door. Indicating a direction. "There's a guy looks a bit like that that been staying in buttercup cottage for a few months now its out over that way." To rent a cottage here for months would rack up a hell of a bill but it was away from many prying eyes.

[Thirteen]

"Ach, thank you!" she smiled kindly at the garden worker, then looked in the direction he showed her. "I didn't want to be a big bother. You're very kind. Someone's gettin' a great review on Yelp."

Thinking it best not to overstay her welcome and talk too much (lies break when they get overly complicated), Thirteen moved on with a wave.

Amazing what I can accomplish when Trenchcoat's not screwing everything up with his bug eyes.

She walked along at an unhurried pace, not wanting to attract undue attention, as she brought her phone back out. First, she shot a text to Eidolon

Think I found him. Buttercup Cottage. OMW now.

As much as he had been annoying her for the past day, the Acanthus knew it would be folly to face Hoodie alone if he turned out to be dangerous.

Months. He's been living here for months? That's pricey. Must be hiding out from the Hunters. He'd be home if it was safe, which means they probably know his name.

Second, she read the full email from Millie.

Millie... why does that name sound... Fuck! Witch! She mentioned that name a while back! One of the Hunters from the exploded house! Millie... something. Smith? Simpson? No... Simmons! She shook her head to herself, the Necromancer's brief report flooding back to mind. Unless there's two Hunters named Millie in Sacramento... Shit. That means Thuggo is probably Timothy Rockwell or Jacob Grentheme.

An additional text is sent to her wayward partner.

Be EXTRA careful. Millie + Thuggo are part of group responsible for Corn + Philip.

Call it paranoia, but she looked around for signs of the Hunters, because... well, she was feeling paranoid now.

failure

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2025-03-28 08:02:48	Thirteen rolls 6 to Perception: Wits 3 + Comp 3 (10 Again)	7, 4, 5, 4, 3, 6	failure

Not that it would matter as she wouldn't spot a trumpeting elephant in this place at the moment.

Equipment

Dedicated magical tool, light revolver (2L), knife (1L), motorcycle, motorcycle helmet, motorcycle jacket (1/0), smartphone, ID, keychain with keys, driving gloves, bottled water, ink pen and notepad, backpack. Turtle remains in a TMNT backpack (in Circle). Turtle skull in pocket.

Spells and Stats

Active spells: (R2) Sybils Sight (Mage Sight), (R2) Fortunes Protection (Mage Armor).
Health:
Mana:
Willpower:
Defense: 3
Armor: 3 (spell), 1/0 (jacket)
Initiative: 6
Speed: 10
Spell Tolerance: 2/2
Spell Control: 2/5
Paradox: 0

[ReubanBrightwood]

The clerk doesn't try to stop her leaving but he is pulling out a phone as she makes it clear she was on her way out. Perhaps not her biggest concern as memories coalesce into realisation. Millie isn't just a hunter she part of a cell with a body count. The podcaster hadn't seemed like the violent sort, the thug had though. Her leisurely pace does not betray concern but that is a concerning fact. As is that that hunter cell is on the trial of the mage responsible for Leo. She doesn't see any one tailing her, no one casting odd looks as they enjoy the bright morning no one aiming cameras at her. Hunter might have skills must she had needed magic to find this lead in the end, maybe they aren't here.

That might be because one hunter was in her inbox.

The message reads.

Hi

I'm so sorry about yesterday my friend gets a bit jumpy. Had some rough run ins about the city, not been the same since. But you , you absolutely right people need to know what's being hidden from them, they need to know they are being controlled leaving these things in the shadows is just gets people hurt or killed.

Can we try meeting up again? Ideally before he gets back from work?

Millie

[Thirteen]

If anyone was watching or tailing the Enchantress, they were subtler than she could pick up on. Still, Thirteen stayed alert. While she was still confidant in their lead, as her magic had given them a huge leap foward, she couldn't count out the Hunter's abilities. Assuming they wouldn't show up was just asking to be shot in the back or something.

Reading the email, she couldn't help but feel a shadow cast over Millie. She might very well be earnest in her love of cryptids, but her line about 'being controlled' sounded dangerous.

These are the people that killed two Awakened by blowing up a house. I have to consider this invitation a trap. Even if Millie means well, her crew doesn't. The Scottish girl mused for a moment as she waited for Eidolon to arrive. Maybe we can use that? Turn it around on them? But that may take more manpower than we have at the moment.

They've actively hunted and killed Pentacle Mages, including a Libertine.

That makes them servants of the Lie.

We got one rule for such people.

Regardless of future possibilities, she decided not answer the email right now. Hoodie was more important at the moment.

The phone went back into her pocket. The Warlock had best arrive soon. That employee had pulled his own phone out as she left the nursery. He was probably going to report to his boss about what she had said. Last thing she needed was some nosy hotel manager pestering her about her fake fender bender.

Now she was watching for Hunters and meddlesome middle management.

2 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2025-03-28 18:22:05	Thirteen rolls 6 to Perception: Wits 3 + Comp 3 (10 Again)	10, 10, 3, 2, 6, 3, 6, 4	2 successes

Equipment

Dedicated magical tool, light revolver (2L), knife (1L), motorcycle, motorcycle helmet, motorcycle jacket (1/0), smartphone, ID, keychain with keys, driving gloves, bottled water, ink pen and notepad, backpack. Turtle remains in a TMNT backpack (in Circle). Turtle skull in pocket.

Spells and Stats

Active spells: (R2) Sybils Sight (Mage Sight), (R2) Fortunes Protection (Mage Armor).
Health:
Mana:
Willpower:
Defense: 3
Armor: 3 (spell), 1/0 (jacket)
Initiative: 6
Speed: 10
Spell Tolerance: 2/2
Spell Control: 2/5
Paradox: 0