Talking Points

[Saber Sloth]

Within the Underland Hollow the Lost gather to speak of information that Kray had received from Sam Crow, the Woodwalker who had made a farm and waystation out of the unlamented Queen Anne's Orchard, of unfamiliar Lost moving through the near Hedge, as well as an invitation to stop by the farm to speak of it in person.

The last time a group of Sacramento's Lost visited Sam's farm, the farmer had forbidden Springs from coming to and bartering for the Goblin Fruit he grows, because of a disagreement between him and the former Spring Queen, the Fairest Seraphina. Though Kray might suspect that while the Wizened said Springs, he really meant Fairests, and the group that had gathered to investigate held one Spring, and one Fairest. It might be too much risk to bring them 'round to Sam's farm, but it was also a risk to go stomping around the Hedge in search of unfamiliar Lost without more information.

What risks were the Sacramento Lost willing to take?

Here's the Hedge-side interactions plot! We are currently in a Hollow, so keep that in mind!

If anyone wants to do any last minute blue booking/Plot prep please do so before you enter the Scene!

Also please remember to include your Equipment in your Posts!

Kray ReubanBrightwood Svelte Sven DamoclesImpaled Circe Origins Sonnie Wu Abyssalstar

[Circe]

Circe hadn't gotten much information beforehand. Something about an onery Woodwalker that was willing to trade but might have some issues. Circe had a few solutions for that: Iron Side luxuries! Well, camping luxuries at any rate. A massager or plasma screen TV wasn't viable in the Hedge. That and the old standby of spices.


Just in case it was a, well, Seeming-ism issue? Maybe? She had the gas mask and full riot gear, making it hard to tell what Circe even is, let alone what flavor of messed up former mortal. Another mask just in case someone else needed one. Circe was certain she had enough to straight up bribe this ornery Changeling into tolerating her presence.


She stops her boots around the Hollow, wondering who would come next. Well, no point in toting it, she clicks the safety on and lets the rifle rest propped up nearby. Then leans against the wall beside it. "Hmm," she hums in thought. Maybe she should've grabbed more booze?

Stats & Equipment

Equipment: Riot Gear, gas mask, Colt 45 with 3 clips, 2 AP clips, 3 Dream-a-Drupes flasks, hedgespun multitool, machete, knife, Wrist watch, wallet, pack of bubblegum. AKM (30) 4 clips (30), light mount and bayonet. LED shoulder flashlight. A backpack: second gas mask, 2 water bottles, a lighter, 2 small LED flashlights, 3 boxes of shelf-stable bacon, 3 duct tape rolls, 4 protein bars, 30 spare colt rounds, 70 spare AK47 rounds, 8 small bungee cords, 6 glow sticks, entrenching tool, tear gas cannister, a bottle of Disaronno, a bag high end coffee grounds, a 1 lbs bag of M&M chocolate candy, a 16 oz bottle of grated Parmesan, and a paper padded packet. Packet has 8 oz bottles of 2 each minced garlic, ginger, mustard, cumin, cayenne, oregano, saffron, and mint.)

[Sonnie Wu]

Sonnie... had no fricking clue what this meeting was about. Something about a Hedge farm? But she showed up anyway, because she was Springiest Spring Queen and had to attend this dumb, boring management meetings. Bleh.

"Yo! 'Sup, Blue?" she warmly greeted the Fairest, who was also her long-time friend.

The Monkey Girl had arrived in all her Hedgespun, from staff and boots to pendant and armor. Her messenger bag full of mundane equipment was slung across her back. In one hand was a bag of Fritos that she snacked from. She'd run out of bean dip already.

"So, what're we doing? Picking apples at an orchard?" Did she need her weapons for that? Well, it was the Hedge, after all. Better safe than dead.

Monkey Stuff!

Equipment: Hedgespun Boots (+2 SPD), Hedgespun Coin Pendant (+2 DEF), Hedgespun Staff (+2B), Hedgespun Regalia (+1 Armor). Messenger bag with monkey motif, smartphone, bottled water, bag of M&Ms, 3 throwing knives (concealed), Goblin Fruit (2 healing, 1 coupnettle tea), plastic keychain of a cloud, lighter.

[Kray]

Grumbling under his breath for once as long strides carry him through tunnels, a little more laborious then usual. Today was of the days where no good option existed, no straightforward path, nothing struck hi mas the right move to make. On the one hand compromise a promising relationship with an independent fruit farm one who if the wizened spite's curse was anything to go by was unlikely to have forgotten, on the other risk running into entirely unknown entities. The answer was unfortunate, as much as he rather liked Sam Crow, the farmer was not a member of the freehold. Sure gifts and goodwill would be the first approach, build on what they had repair bridges that had burnt so on so forth. But if the guy set his heels in well. Then things would get unfortunate. But still chin up, it hadn't come to that yet.

The giant is a little slow to arrive maybe due to the sheet quantity of stuff he was lugging, and yes he had stopped off to borrow a wheelbarrow from the tunnels digging equipment to help. "Ah. Queen Circe, Queen Sonnie." And he starts hefting sacks of stuff at each monarch's feet. "Uh. Sorry to be blunt but Sam Crow has banned all members of the spring court from his homestead." If the wizened had meant fairest or not, well then he should have said fairest. "Hm. But From trading with him in the past I know he likes ice for his cooler, he has taken books of me and well this is not cheap booze." And Kray had a something extra special if it came to that. "So. I suggest first thing we all do." Yes all, a show of equal good faith. "Hm. Is present him with these gifts, see if we can't earn some good favour back." Kray has made four piles of stuff, each pile contains: a bag of books, two bags of ice and a nice bottle of alcohol (1 gin, 1 bourbon, 1 brandy and 1 port).

Settling his own stuff into a much more manageable single bundle he ties it off at the head of his sledgehammer to form a crude pack he can sling over one shoulder.

stats and equipment

Defence:2
Armour: 1/0
Speed: 12

wp: 2/4
Glamour: 6/11








Bullet Proof Clothing 1/2 Denium overalls and Leather trench coat


Bowie Knife 2L
Sledgehammer 2B (9-Again)
Machete 2L
Dragon knuckles 0L
Strangle Wire 2L (Requires Grapple, then apply wire (Strength+Weaponry-3, no Defense))

x4 bags of books
x8 bags of ice
1 nice bottle each of: Bourbon, Brandy, Gin, Port

A bunch in infected coup nettle from harvesting the plants and the hob goblin's tribute (Hedge Patrol IX)



Hedgespun Fedora (0 dot)

[Circe]

After a few seconds of leaning, Circe takes off the backpack.


The words returned are just as warm: "Heya Monkey Queen," it was a little hard to have a counter to Blue. That was respectable. "Could go with Regina Scimmia if you want that in Italian." That was an alternative. "Oooooh," she looks up Sonnie Wu up and down, "You got the sweet swag to swagger around in," she approves. "Neato, you even have Frito. Maybe I shouldn't have outsourced."


Then shrugs in answer to the question. "Picking from a picky provisioner I think I heard, not sure. Uh," then Kray arrives. "King Kray! Good to see you!" She waves back in greeting.

And then he answers the question much better. Neat. Circe kneels down beside her own backpack, pulling out the Disaronno. "This is an Italian imported liquer, we can add to it to the bribe. I heard the guy was pissed at the Freehold. So, I have other stuff of note for the purpose of bribing the shit out of the picky Crow."

Circe takes out the boxed bacon, bungee cords, coffee, candy, cheese, and the spice pack. "Thorn Siders tend to be rather interested in Iron Side spices. Most valuable mundane thing aside from weapons as far as I can tell." Practically a stable money for trade.


"Though those might be better for actually buying stuff. Was your idea to have Sonja offer the bribes Kray?" She looks between them. It would make sense. Unless this Sam Crow was really anal about it. Possible. Hopefully not. "Ooooor," she chuckles, "Are we gonna try lying about Sonja not being Spring? Because she is waaaay to happy for that to work."

Stats & Equipment

Equipment: Riot Gear, gas mask, Colt 45 with 3 clips, 2 AP clips, 3 Dream-a-Drupes flasks, hedgespun multitool, machete, knife, Wrist watch, wallet, pack of bubblegum. AKM (30) 4 clips (30), light mount and bayonet. LED shoulder flashlight. A backpack: second gas mask, 2 water bottles, a lighter, 2 small LED flashlights, 3 boxes of shelf-stable bacon, 3 duct tape rolls, 4 protein bars, 30 spare colt rounds, 70 spare AK47 rounds, 8 small bungee cords, 6 glow sticks, entrenching tool, tear gas cannister, a bottle of Disaronno, a bag high end coffee grounds, a 1 lbs bag of M&M chocolate candy, a 16 oz bottle of grated Parmesan, and a paper padded packet. Packet has 8 oz bottles of 2 each minced garlic, ginger, mustard, cumin, cayenne, oregano, saffron, and mint.)

[Sonnie Wu]

"Hey Kray," she waved informally to the Ogre as she offered some Fritos to Circe. "Monkey Queen is perfect. Ten ten. No notes," she said to the Fairest.

Sonnie blinked in confusion as she was informed of the ban against her Court. "What? Why?" Then the Beast became visibly indignant. "This is... this is discrimination! I won't stand for it! The Spring Court is beautiful and benevolent! This oppression against my people will not stand!" She pumped her fist in the air.

Then... she paused and looked at the other two Monarchs, "Wait... who's Sam Crow?"

The Vernal Queen/Director eyed the collection of bribes curiously. "Should I add my Fritos?" She shook the half-empty bag. Who wouldn't want delicious corn chips?

Given her powerful and fragrant Mantle, it would be hard to pass Sonnie off as anything but a Spring Courtier, and Hardening her Mask wasn't an option in the Hedge.

Monkey Stuff!

Equipment: Hedgespun Boots (+2 SPD), Hedgespun Coin Pendant (+2 DEF), Hedgespun Staff (+2B), Hedgespun Armor (+1 Armor). Messenger bag with monkey motif, smartphone, bottled water, bag of M&Ms, 3 throwing knives (concealed), Goblin Fruit (2 healing, 1 coupnettle tea), plastic keychain of a cloud, lighter.

[Kray]

It was good to see Circe thought along the same lines bringing her variety of tradeable. "Uh. I've just gone with what I know has worked in the past." Readjusting his own sack to sit better on over hi shoulder. "Hm. But yeah more options is no bad thing as I see it." Some times even just sheer quantity can make a difference.

Shaking his head. "Hm. No. Each of us should offer something, sign of good will but ... " Looking over to Sonnie. "Uh. You will need to play Henry Kissinger on this, apologise for the wrongs of the past and such." Inspiration strikes. "Oh. He has been willing to enter pledges, he an I did on first meeting, if its going poorly maybe offer a pledge to make him feel safer." The precise wording could go many ways. "Ah. No we should not tell that lie." Given Sonnie was queen of the court, and the very hedge seemed to have reshaped around her wyrd that deception felt like a bridge to far.

And it turned out Sonnie did not know. That complicated things. "Ah. Discrimination. No. This is consequence." Not looking to start an argument the ogre tries to put this delicately. "Uh. Sera wronged him, badly. She tried to force her way into his Hollow. She belittled him and made him feel threatened." It had been rather amusing to watch the fairest dig herself that hole. "Uh. It was bad enough that I came off as the reasonable option." The giant ashen courtier with the cannibal kith got invited back for trading while the spring court got banned in full. "Hm. Sam Crow is an independent goblin fruit farmer set up in Ann's old Orchard." Prime real estate being the scare commodity it was the ogre sees no issue with that it seems, granted he also never met Ann.

stats and equipment

Defence:2
Armour: 1/0
Speed: 12

wp: 2/4
Glamour: 6/11








Bullet Proof Clothing 1/2 Denium overalls and Leather trench coat


Bowie Knife 2L
Sledgehammer 2B (9-Again)
Machete 2L
Dragon knuckles 0L
Strangle Wire 2L (Requires Grapple, then apply wire (Strength+Weaponry-3, no Defense))

x4 bags of books
x8 bags of ice
1 nice bottle each of: Bourbon, Brandy, Gin, Port

A bunch in infected coup nettle from harvesting the plants and the hob goblin's tribute (Hedge Patrol IX)



Hedgespun Fedora (0 dot)

[Svelte Sven]

Svelte Sven jogged at a light pace to catch up with other Seasons' Sovereigns, his own mental preparation taking him a bit longer than he had really expected as he picked his way through the foliage that marked the borders from the relative normality of the Freehold into the Hedge. He was thankful for the enchanted protection afforded by his coat, at least.

He was surprised by how quickly he managed to catch up to Kray, Circe, and Sonnie. They all seemed to be caught up in discussing preparations, so he navigated towards his fellow Lost and cleared his throat as he came closer. "Apologies for running behind. I think I have gist of things, but please feel free to correct me. There's a farmer who used to be on relatively friendly terms with us, but things have soured so we're here to try to smooth things over. Is that... about right?" He figured it was wiser to just jump into things rather than stand around and make pleasantries after being late.

Equipment

Hedgespun Raiment - Coat (+1 to Defense); Switchblade - 0L

[Circe]

"Kay," she will go with that for now. "Unless we meet the original monkey royalty. I read the stories, I ain't calling you anything that'd insult Wukong." Pick you fights to win and all that.

"Hi Sven," she cheerfully greets his arrival with a friendly wave.

Seraphina did that? Seriously. "You know," she folds her arms and shakes her head, "I am reminded of the time I was the voice of peace and reason at a monarch meeting when I first got the crown." She inhales deeply, sighs loudly. "It is still cazzo strange for ME to be the reasonable one." Then chuckles as she looks at Kray, "Yeah," nodding, "I said lying won't work dude."


Ann's old orchard was it? "Well, shit," she looks at her rifle. "Kind of wish I had another of these to offer. Keeping that place out of any surviving lackey's mitts is a plus for me. Hmm," she looks at it with consideration. "Eh! They are cheap. Maybe next time." Yes, she is considering supply Soviet machineguns to folks in the Hedge. If said folks are screwing over Ann or her lackeys, then yes they'd be great customers.


As for what to give? "Well, if everyone is giving something, I've lots of stuff. I can spot ya." Then holds up a burner phone from a pouch, "Or door dash something from a quickie mart? Hygiene products would insult, but more snacks or maybe 3-ply toilet paper would be better." They'd have to find a pickup spot. And Circe couldn't receive in her armor, they were too far from Hollywood for that. And nice toilet paper should be as rare in the Hedge as snow in the Sahara. Rare plus sought means good barter in her experience. Or you're gonna get mugged.

Stats & Equipment

Equipment: Riot Gear, gas mask, Colt 45 with 3 clips, 2 AP clips, 3 Dream-a-Drupes flasks, hedgespun multitool, machete, knife, Wrist watch, wallet, pack of bubblegum. AKM (30) 4 clips (30), light mount and bayonet. LED shoulder flashlight. A backpack: second gas mask, 2 water bottles, a lighter, 2 small LED flashlights, 3 boxes of shelf-stable bacon, 3 duct tape rolls, 4 protein bars, 30 spare colt rounds, 70 spare AK47 rounds, 8 small bungee cords, 6 glow sticks, entrenching tool, tear gas cannister, a bottle of Disaronno, a bag high end coffee grounds, a 1 lbs bag of M&M chocolate candy, a 16 oz bottle of grated Parmesan, and a paper padded packet. Packet has 8 oz bottles of 2 each minced garlic, ginger, mustard, cumin, cayenne, oregano, saffron, and mint.)

[Sonnie Wu]

Sonnie was staring blankly at Kray. She was in total disbelief. "Whaaaaaat? No. Sera would never do that. He must have provoked her." She shook her head. This was Seraphina they were talking about. Sonnie's predecessor. Her best friend. A woman she practically hero-worshipped.

And totally never had a crush on.

"Oh, Anne's orchard. The one Circe blew up?" Hadn't there been bombs involved in that? Sonnie hadn't been there for that fight. She'd been.... wait, what had she been doing at the time? She couldn't remember. "How'd this jerk get a hold of that place?"

In any case, the Spring Queen still seemed indignant about the whole thing. She sat down, keeping her Fritos to herself. "Maybe you should just go without me. Probably a bad idea for all the freehold's leaders to wander off into the Hedge at once, anyway. I can hold down the fort!" Yeah, she was clearly not interested in apologizing for anything.

Monkey Stuff!

Equipment: Hedgespun Boots (+2 SPD), Hedgespun Coin Pendant (+2 DEF), Hedgespun Staff (+2B), Hedgespun Armor (+1 Armor). Messenger bag with monkey motif, smartphone, bottled water, bag of M&Ms, 3 throwing knives (concealed), Goblin Fruit (2 healing, 1 coupnettle tea), plastic keychain of a cloud, lighter.