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New Avalon Archive: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=New%20Avalon
Colors' Sheet: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gq9ZEFrwnYjQpSeuMg1a_7UepedMrQUSEwbrHWntFCo/edit?usp=sharing
Previous Thread: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/2256505/

You are Colors Eriksdotter, the Warlock Knight, and it's time to seal the deal on this whole 'motley' thing.

Everyone gives each other a series of 'no you talk first' looks before you decide to win the Talk First prize. "I don't think we're gonna go for Dreaming, Rook. I have obligations that it might disturb, and Vickie already voiced her own objection."

"Mmm. Fair enough." The Rook looks at the other two, then gestures to you. "Speak the Pledge, Colors. One way or another, you have our trust."

You clear your throat. "Does, um. Does everyone have an accountant available?"

There is a series of awkward looks and coughing before Forum finally sighs heavily. "I'll get y'all appointments with mine. I'm shocked you -"

"I'm paid a salary by the legal owners of the Arcade," the Rook interrupts.

"That is some next-level magical laziness," Vickie says, pointing her fork at the Rook, who shrugs indifferently.

You offer a hand out to Vickie on one side and Forum on the other. Forum takes the Rook's hand; Vickie puts her free one on the Wizened's shoulder. You nod, then begin the pledge.
>>
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>>2285021
"Hand to hand we stand, and side by side," you recite. You haven't said the words often, but you know them by heart, from Philly, from New Avalon, from plays and short stories written by the Lost for others who know. The Motley Oath, one of the oldest and most binding traditions of the Lost. The others echo your words, just a half-step behind. "Though my brother and I may quarrel, there are none who may quarrel with my brother and not also quarrel with me.This is my oath: friendship, assistance, and the blessings that come of both, until the year has spun anew. May our prosperity desert us, and our talents fail us, should we break this vow of brotherhood."

You feel the fluttering in your heart of the Wyrd binding you to your word. The others nod after a moment, and you all let go of each other. There's a certain amount of forced indifference when you all go back to your food, unwilling or unable to confront the moment.

You have sworn the MOTLEY PLEDGE.

"You know," Forum says after a moment. "...That was my first real motley pledge. Y'know, that wasn't temporary or a Freehold job."

"Same," the Rook confesses.

"Y'all are loveless bastards," Vickie accuses, pointing the knife she's eating with at everyone. "And I'ma bake you brownies to ambush you with, you mark my fuckin' words."

* * * *

August 31st, the Feast of Strength (Present Day)

It's the best day of Summer, at last. You've been looking forward to this all of August.

The Feast of Strength! A day of food, games, food, competition, food, and camaraderie. And food. It's the first Summer since the Mask came down, and Arthur - after careful consultation with Zoe Morris and research into Summer's pacts - has chosen to make this a public event. If you eat, you play at least one game - end of requirements. He spent a lot of time emphasizing to the reporters and documentary crews not to touch the Feast unless they're willing to compete.

And gods in Asgard, the feast! With all the new arrivals and everything else that's been going on, the Freehold had Little League impose on the owners of the local arena for your use. Table after table are arranged on one end of the massive baseball diamond, all near a staggering amount of grills, coolers, barbecues, fire boxes, coal-filled trenches for fuck's sake, honest-to-god cauldrons, campfires turning spits of meat, fryers, woks, and who-knows-what-else. The feast is put on plates and in Tupperware and up in dishes that get loaded onto the tables, making them bend and buckle beneath the sheer force of Summer's hospitality.

This happens as a late lunch.

You and your Motley arrived early, along with Fancy, Trista and her husband, and Jasmine, the surviving apprentice the Rook brought to fight Rainbow John. You found seats with...

> Erin & Shipmate Sally
> Ramona and Natalia
> The ex-Wonderlanders
> A knot of Vickie's friends in Summer
> The youngbloods from Carroll House
>>
>>2285052
Write-ins potentially welcome, I just ran out of character space.
>>
>>2285052
Hard choice.

>A knot of Vickie's friends in Summer

I am the curious.
>>
>>2285052
>> A knot of Vickie's friends in Summer
>>
>>2285052
So, so many options....


Hmmmm

Fuck it.

> Ramona and Natalia

Lets see our monarch for a non disaster related reason shall we?
>>
>>2285052
Damn it, I want to talk to all of those people.
Uh. Um. I guess
> The youngbloods from Carroll House
I hope they're doing alright. Straight out of Arcadia and into forced prostitution is not a good way to get reacquainted with the mortal world. Also, if memory serves at least one of them expressed anger at the idea of Vickie getting punished. Might be good to show that the freehold isn't actually so fucked up that it thinks freeing them was wrong.
>>
>>2285052
> Erin & Shipmate Sally
>>
>>2285052
Actually I'll change to

> The youngbloods from Carroll House
>>
>>2285052
Cherry. Put her up to some Summer Challenges.
>>
>>2285365
Now, there's an idea. I may change my vote. may.
>>
>>2285390
Eh, if we interact with the Carroll House people she'll probably come over. Those are kind of her peeps after all.
>>
>>2285390
Her peeps that WE saved and she didn't.
>>
>>2285052
>August 31st, the Feast of Strength (Present Day)

This might be a weird thing to ask, but...

Would it be possible, in future, to add an indication, when we're on a new day, of how much time has passed? I find that every time I see the date like this, I have a hard time remembering what the last such date was, and very frequently, it was given in a previous thread, so it's not trivial to just scroll back and find it.

Maybe it's just me, I dunno, but it seems like it would be a handy piece of reminder info.

...Oh, and:

> Ramona and Natalia

'cause voting is a thing.
>>
>>2285365
You'll have the opportunity to do that without needing to sit next to her, I promise. The Feast is a bit of a Whole Thing.
>>
> A knot of Vickie's friends in Summer

Let's meet some new friends.
>>
>>2285535
>Maybe it's just me, I dunno, but it seems like it would be a handy piece of reminder info.
I support this...
> Ramona and Natalia
and this.
>>
>>2285052
> The youngbloods from Carroll House

We have to branch out from our small social circle.
>>
Called, tallying, writing.
>>
>>2287278
Well I lied. Aside from the lateness of the hour we actually have a fuckin' three-way tie.

I'ma leave this until I wake up in the morning. If the tie's not broken, I'll just make a roll. Votes re-opened, obviously.
>>
>>2285052
>> Ramona and Natalia
Would be nice to have chat with them without something stressfull in the background or either them or us needing something from the other.

Though I agree that having a chat with the youngbloods wouldn't be the worst idea, if time permits later on.
>>
>>2287278
> Carroll House Youngbloods

Why don't we introduce them to Natalie and Ramona?

Rook did say we should start valuing our access to the ruler, after all. This also keeps back Cherry because she isn't going to come be a bitch to us.

Now the question is, *which* ruler do we introduce them to?
>>
>>2287699
I'd vote for introducing them to the one that doesn't hypnotize people when she talks and snacks on bits of your soul. Natalie is probably not the one to let near youngbloods who might have some issues with sexuality. If memory serves, Zoe set Natalie's hair on fire over something like that.
>>
>>2287717
Not a bad idea overall though. They get to hear Ramona talk that good shit about our role saving them, we can throw ourselves at Natalie as distraction bait if she starts making them feel uncomfortable, which will both make us look good but also let certain people who were complaining about it, see Colours struggle with her hyper-sexualized past.
>>
>>2287699
>Why don't we introduce them to Natalie and Ramona?
Too much people in the conversation.
Take Rook and ask the Monarch and spirring Monarch of the Court that specializes in healing if they have any tips to exorcise Rook's watery guest.

tl:dr:
>> Ramona and Natalia
>>
>>2287817
Neither Natalie nor Ramona particularly think it's best for us to continue clutching at the royal skirts. We need to get out and expand our connection to the community and the Spring Court. We got an obligation to ourself to take better care of ourselves and work through our past. That would most likely make our Monarch happier with her decision to support us.

TL;DR

> Carroll House

We don't even know if the Rook is cool with us talking about that to Ramona and Natalie. Not our subject to share broski.
>>
>>2285052

>>2287841
>Neither Natalie nor Ramona particularly think it's best for us to continue clutching at the royal skirts.
Has got a point. I would like to change from >>2287666
to
> Carroll House Youngbloods
>>
> Carroll House Youngbloods

Since we're definitely not seeing Vikie's friends, let us check up on the Carroll youngblood.
>>
Aight, I'm up, tie's broken, time to write. Thank you for your patience.
>>
>>2285535
> Would it be possible, in future, to add an indication, when we're on a new day, of how much time has passed? I find that every time I see the date like this, I have a hard time remembering what the last such date was, and very frequently, it was given in a previous thread, so it's not trivial to just scroll back and find it.

Fuck I forgot to reply to this earlier.

Yeah, I've been pondering that myself. I'll see what I can do about it.
>>
>>2287841
>it's best for us to continue clutching at the royal skirts.
Going to a monarch to fix Rook's problem when maybe no one else can is not "clutching to skirts". Colors is Spring and should engage in the Spring social area as pressed upon in last thread (not by me, too)
>>
>>2288141
>Going to a monarch to fix Rook's problem when maybe no one else can
Which is well and good, except we haven't talked to him about might be possible.
So we don't know a) what he's already considered and b) if he'd be okay with it.
>>
>Also, placing a bet.
>Rooks tumbler of water is a product of spirit magic rather than the usual contracts.
>I say this because I cant think of a changeling contract that does it.

>I also played a spirit... talker? Binder? Spirit using changeling. It worked. VERY well.
>>
>>2288141
>>2288168

Rook also was pretty direct about it being a serious trust issue for him to talk to us about it.

And it's not really a social interaction if we're going there to ask a favour for someone from another court.

Especially given the political position the Rook is in, and Ramona's previous attempts to sway him to Spring.

I gotta say, it seems like a bad idea all around to pull her into it right away. Let's find a mortal doctor first to see what ideas they might have, someone willing to sign an NDA that includes having their memory eaten.
>>
>>2288897
Oooh, good point. We don't know what other White Wolf World of Weirdos stuff might be going on here.
>>
>>2289413
>And it's not really a social interaction if we're going there to ask a favour for someone from another court.

Asking a favor is a VERY social interaction. You are trying to disqualify the other options that are not your vote, but that won't work.
Another Court ? Colors IS Spring. Have you forgotten ?
>>
>>2288168
Also Rook needs to man up and take a example from Erin Peters.
>>
>>2289565
> You are trying to disqualify the other options that are not your vote, but that won't work.

No, you're just wrong about a lot of things.

Rook isn't Spring, it's not about us being Spring and I have no idea why you thought it was.

The original post here >>2285085 wanted us to talk to Ramona and Natalia socially, for non-disaster related reasons. Socially, as in not for personal gain which asking for a favour for a member of our Coterie at, I assume, no cost definitely isn't socializing.

Something Rook doesn't want us to do for sure and which he laid out in no uncertain terms that he wants privacy about it.

Aside from that, the vote is over and my vote did win, which was nice, so there's no real reason for me to try shenanigans.

Cool your tits.
>>
>>2285052
You found seats with Knuckles Malone and his charges from Carroll House. Food is being set on the tables still, though no one has started eating just yet. Quite aside from wanting enough ready to make a go at this before kicking off the festivities, Arthur needs to speak. Thankfully, the reigning monarch is standing from his chair to do so now, the burning crown of Summer heavy on his stony head.

"Welcome, Freeholders and guests, to the Feast of Strength." Arthur gestures expansively to the long tables at which your Freehold is sat. New Avalon used to be thought of as a big Freehold at just over a hundred Lost. Now you're pushing two hundred, and there's been no sign of the new arrivals stopping any time soon.

Add the mortal guests to that and you've got the better part of the stadium's outfield just full of tables and cooking shit, with the rest being used to assemble structures for the games that are being diligently worked on.

"Strength is the virtue most prized by the Summer Court," Arthur continues. "Strength of arms. Strength of will. Strength of character. There are many kinds of strength, and they reveal themselves in competition and crisis. Not everyone can be strong in every way, but everyone can be strong in their own way, and the Feast of Strength is the opportunity to exemplify your strengths, to learn your weaknesses, to bond through honorable competition and," his eyes pass over Natalia for a moment, and from the heavy sigh that precedes his last words you're pretty sure he lost a bet, "do it for the Vine."

"Update your damn memes!" Forum yells, earning chuckles from most of the mortals and some of the Lost. Natalia throws her hands in the air and rolls her eyes.

"I know our guests are eager to witness and perhaps even participate in this festival. The decision to make the Feast a public event was not without objections, many of them eminently reasonable." Arthur's attention turns now to the camera crews and newscasters. "What you witness today, for all that it will be fun, and maybe concerning, is sacred ritual. It is part of the pacts we maintain with the Seasons, upheld in joy and for the protection of the innocent against abduction, assault, and invasion. We are all still getting used to one another in a way we could not before the Unmasking. It is my hope to foster understanding between the Lost and the communities we can once again be upright and honorable citizens of. And now, without further ado, the Feast begins!"

You can hear the almighty scrape of the Lost being unleashed on free food. You pile a plate high with noodles, chicken, pork, fried & grilled vegetables, something oddly white that turns out to be tofu after an experimental bite, and manage to beat Vickie to the last can of Coke in easy arm's reach since she's distracted by a passing dish of potato salad.
>>
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>>2289630
"Dis's some good shit," Knuckles opines from the other side of the table. "Why's the Spring party not like this?"

"Aesthetics," you and your entire Motley say at the same time. You and Vickie share a high-five while you're eating with your other hands.

"Really?" one of the youngbloods - a Wizened guy, maybe nineteen, whose missing teeth have been replaced with carved thorns. "The look?"

"Would you throw a wedding like this?" another, the Fairest girl made of dots of paint, points out. "Sometimes it's gotta have, you know, that look, that elegance, that flair, y'know, it's gotta have the thing."

"I like her," Fancy teases. "You got a name, girl?"

She coughs. "Virgo called -"

"Virgo's dead," Knuckles rumbles. "Yous don't gotta listen to her any more."

"Right, yeah. Um. Molly." Her facial dots burn red for a moment. "I, um, I do a pretty good Irish accent. Gets better if you can sauce me or get me to sing."

"That's not why you got called Flog-" is about as far as the Ogre lass sitting next to Knuckles gets before he smacks her a good one upside the back of the head. "Anyone else like the Rumjacks?" she says with her face against the table. "They do some good shit."

"There gonna be music at this thing, actually?" Trista asks. "I saw a stage."

You grin. "Natalia Greene, the infamous Siren of the Spring Court, is going to perform once she gets a game or three in. I'm told the speakers cut the hypnotic power of her voice."

"That's gotta be nice to have." Jasmine starts in on Plate Two: Eat Like An Ogre Edition, since she, well, is an Ogre.

"She can't turn it off," the Rook rasps.

"Nevermind, that's gotta suck ass."

"How've things been with Carroll House, Knuckles?" you ask. He rumbles to clear something out of his throat and takes a chug of his soda.

"Pretty good, pretty fine. Been kinda doin' it up like a smaller Juniper Building, gettin' facilities installed." Knuckles pauses whenever he's eating; he doesn't talk with his mouth full, and makes surprisingly fastidious use of his napkins. "Kept the bar on, some of the boys and girls still work that. It, um. Does adult stuff on the weekends, with volunteers an' all. Amateur night on Fridays. Other stuff's been like, we sold off the displays an' stuff, fer one."

"Wait, hold up, adult entertainment?" Vickie asks skeptically. "After -"

"Yeah, afta that. It weren't my idea, Dep - Arrayer Reeds," Knuckles catches himself. "Place won't just pay for itself. We're damn lucky we managed to talk that paralegal into helping out after yous sent him our way."

You look at Vickie curiously. She looks back at you in blank incomprehension.

"Me," Forum explains, with a shrug. "Didn't want to make a big deal out of it."
>>
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>>2289639
"Oof, sorry cousin, didn't meanta just out you like that. Anyways, figure we can get a gym up next. Already converting a suite inta an art gallery. Y'know, real cultural center kinda thing."

"Seems sort of...lacking in focus?" you venture.

Knuckles shrugs. "Mosta my boys and girls, they ain't got a Court yet, and with all these new folks around, no one's lunging at every body that comes out the Thorns anymore. The Courts are bein' a bit choosier, a bit more careful. Soma that comes from the politics, of course, all that real careful stuff that's a bit over my head."

"Been wondering about that," the Wizened guy again.

"You got a name?" Fancy asks.

"Woody Willie." He ducks Knuckles' corrective head-smack. "Exactly what you think it's about."

"Lesbian."

"God damn it, every time I use that line."

"So stop usin' it ya twig goblin!" Knuckles implores. " 's the fuckin' Year Of Our Lord Two Thousand an' Eighteen, show some class! An' some self-respect!"

A second plate is calling your name, and you heed the call with enthusiasm.

"Anyway, question, politics, what gives?" Willie presses.

"Summer used to be real pricks about the whole 'recruitment' thing," Vickie explains after she slurps up a lo mein noodle. "Leo basically saw Spring as dropout Summer Courtiers, so he snapped up everyone he could get, and that made the other Courts scramble for recruits too. And like, things sorta-kinda evened out? Autumn's got a lot of power around here because this town is your abusive girlfriend, and Winter does too for the same reason, so people float that direction because it's nice to go where the power is, even if you're not exactly on the fear or depression train to start with. And Ramona gets recruits with her whole message-of-acceptance thing, and because I think everyone in this conversation would kill three men of her choice to hit that."

"Yep," Forum agrees instantly.

"Just three?" Fancy.

"You're not wrong." Willie.

"She is very attractive," Trista says wistfully, earning a scandalized "TRISTA!" from her husband and the laughter of the table around her. You blush black on your cheeks.

"The new monarchs of the Middle Seasons have done a lot to make peace," the Rook rasps. "Arthur reached out to Spring and Winter to bury the hatchet, and has made strides to more actively support other Courts outside of his season. Zippo Morris has forged an alliance with Natalia Greene, giving herself a back-channel into Spring, and her support of our new Arrayer should clean things up with Summer nicely. We've all heard of failures like Miami. No one wants us to get like that."

"Yous from Philly, right?" Knuckles asks. "What're they like?"

> Tell him
> Change the subject (to what?)
> Oh boy look at the time I'm due to go talk to someone else (who?)
> Write-in?
>>
>>2289647
> Tell him

Don't want them thinking all courts are as nice as these.
>>
>>2289647
>> Tell him
>>
>>2289647
> Tell him
>>
>>2289647
> Tell him
>>
>>2289647
It seems like we've decided to spill it, but maybe we should leave the worse stuff out, or not put all that much detail into it?
I mean, this is a lunch conversation.
>>
>>2289647
> Tell him
>Pass over the worst stuff. This is lunch conversation.
>>
>>2289684
I dunno. Remember when we got drunk with Vickie? Changeling lunch conversation has different contextual points.
>>
>>2289647
> hold nothing back

They gotta understand that it was our Carroll House and why we're forsworn.
>>
>>2289694
While that's true, that was kinda a converstation between to hatchetwomen, and two people who've been doing this for a while.

Current company is new.
And yes, giving them an idea of how bad it can be probably won't hurt, but we don't have to get ibnto details and we certainly don't have to get graphic.
>>
>>2289699
>>2289647

> Tell them the politics and why we left, but no gruesome details of killing people

I feel like we can tell them "It was bad" and they'll understand that we aren't ready to relive it yet.
>>
>>2289684
>this is a lunch conversation.
A lunch with monsters. (which Changelings are). Hell, Rachael Reeds could be sitting a few tables away.
>>
>>2289647
> Tell him

Focus on why we left and what we felt we were letting it make us. Remind them that they aren't slaves anymore and they always have a choice, although some choices are harder than others, and that not all Courts are good things.

Gotta make your Court be better. It's where we live, let's not shit it up.
>>
>>2289699
But they came through the hedge. It's pretty much a guarantee that they aren't experienced in horror and cruelty.
>>
>>2289647
> Say it was bad but don’t elaborate
Bring super honest is probably a bad idea because there are mortals here and reporters around who might overhear things
>>
>>2291611
> bring
That should be being and I probably shouldn’t be posting drunk but fuck it I’m doing it anyway.
>>
>>2291611
Good caveat. 'bad but not for open audience discussion' is a solid answer.
>>
>>2291611
>mortals here and reporters around who might overhear things
A unfun thing, and I don't understand what it adds to the story. Arthur was etsablished already as a King who wants to reach out to humans.

There has to be a place at the Summer feast that is more "private" or rig the speakers so that the Siren's voice comes through unfiltered and we have a nice distraction.
>>
>>2291677
> rig the speakers so that the Siren's voice comes through unfiltered and we have a nice distraction.
I think Colors is probably the most likely to be distracted by that.
>>
>>2291677
>There has to be a place at the Summer feast that is more "private" or rig the speakers so that the Siren's voice comes through unfiltered and we have a nice distraction.

Why would you do that to the Heir apparant to our court, the daughter and successor of our Patron to whom we owe so much?

Why would you do that to Arthur, to his celebration designed to bring fae and man closer together?

I seriously don't see how this wouldn't be a massive betrayal of trust on both a personal and professional level, not to mention magical terrorism.

I am insulted and horrified that you would suggest doing something like this.
>>
> Say it was bad but don’t elaborate
>>
Gonna do my best to update after work tomorrow.

>>2291677
I legitimately have no idea what you're trying to express here. But, to clarify, using speakers & other forms of amplification cuts the Siren's Voice on its own. She has to speak and be heard without magical or mechanical aid.

Even then, once that starts, she can't discriminate or turn it off. Anyone who can hear her will pay attention.
>>
>Tell him honestly, but make it clear that there are some parts he's going to have to ask about later, in a less public setting, if he thinks he wants to hear them.
>>
>>2292396
But can she do grunge ?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCFBrQWYe3o
>>
Called, writing. Looks like our winner is 'tell him' with a side order of 'with respect to the fact that people are eating'.
>>
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>>2289647
You stare at your fork. There's a small knot of noodles, wrapped around the beef speared on the tines. They glisten with sauce.

"Colors?" Knuckles sounds far, far away. "Colors, yous alright?"

"You don't just ask someone about -" Vickie starts in, her voice hot.

"It's okay," you murmur. "...It's okay."

The Rook slides off of his bench and claps you on the shoulder while he walks past, intent on something further down the feast, but the look you share for a moment is understanding.

"It as bad as all that?" Molly asks. She sneezes, startling you out of your weird reverie, both from the tiny and adorable sound and because her entire fucking head scatters out in an expanding cloud of face before settling back into place.

"No. And yes." Your hand strays to Bifrost's hilt; some of the Carroll House rescues scoot away from you, automatically. "...Philly's never exactly been...it's...there's..." you stop to gather your thoughts. "Philadelphia's been angry for a long time. Angry and mistrustful and bitter about everything it ever got passed up for. And the mortals there, they're fine folks, mostly. But the Freehold is caught in a war of Wrath and Sorrow and nobody wins that war. Nobody."

"Winter? At war?" Forum doesn't even bother to hide his skepticism.

"Winter, being sarcastic?" the Rook rasps. "You still have feelings, iceman. Wrath can be cold." Your friend coughs into his sleeve and sits back down with a plate piled high with seafoods. "Please continue."

You shrug. "Philly's insidious. Jobs downsize. Relocate. Outsource. Places shut down. Loans come up due, come up late, they come up bust. Whole place has just been falling apart for a long time, rotting from inside, and Winter barely has to do anything to take advantage of that. People are unhappy. What I was told is that Winter basically ran the Freehold even out of its Season, until the King of Jackals did something about it. Ten, twelve years back he takes the Crown and starts pushing back against Winter. Everything seems political, y'know, tense but normal. Then the dog days rolled around and Winter nobles start vanishing left and right. Some got found. A lot didn't."

"You don't gotta keep saying anything," Vickie suggests.

You shrug. "Summer's got secret police in Philly. And they use 'em. Spring and Autumn cower in the shadow of Summer's war while the Freehold bleeds and honestly the only thing keeping Them out of that town is the bit where they fight like possessed men. It comes from not having much in the first place."

"Hey, Colors!" You turn your head at Erin's voice. The Fairest has finished eating and cleaned herself up, and is nodding her head at a structure out in the field, a tall thing made of ropes and wood. "Grab your sword and let's fuckin' go. I want a piece of you."
>>
>>2294686
> Accept Erin's challenge; you will gain 1 glamour if you can win the duel, and lose 1 if you don't.
> Decline; you want to keep talking
> Decline; you want to do something else (feel free to suggest a game or challenge)
>>
>Accept Erin's duel. She said before that things weren't over, and this might be a good way to avert worse confrontations down the road by harmlessly satisfying the conditions of her unintended prophecy.
>>
>>2294688
>> Accept Erin's challenge; you will gain 1 glamour if you can win the duel, and lose 1 if you don't.
>>
>>2294686
> Decline; you want to do something else (feel free to suggest a game or challenge)
Going straight from that conversation into a sword fight is probably a bad idea.
Counterproposal: Volleyball first. Colors and Vickie vs Erin and Sally. Then maybe a duel.
>>
>>2294686
> Accept Erin's challenge; you will gain 1 glamour if you can win the duel, and lose 1 if you don't.

Noble Knights don't back down from a friendly challenge at a tournament.
>>
>>2294744
Did you think that maybe Erin challenged us as a way to give us an escape from an uncomfortable situation?

#BestGirlsBadGirls
>>
>>2294686
> Accept Erin's challenge; you will gain 1 glamour if you can win the duel, and lose 1 if you don't.
>>
>>2294688
>Accept Erin's challenge; you will gain 1 glamour if you can win the duel, and lose 1 if you don't.

Apologies for the interrupt, but no Knight can refuse a duel.

And by Heimdal, ham it the heck up!
>>
>>2294688
>> Accept Erin's challenge; you will gain 1 glamour if you can win the duel, and lose 1 if you don't.

We most definitely do /not/ want to keep talking after that.

Also:

> ...and because her entire fucking head scatters out in an expanding cloud of face before settling back into place.

...What kind of Lost is Molly, again?!
>>
>Accept Erin's challenge; you will gain 1 glamour if you can win the duel, and lose 1 if you don't.
>Ham it up, the voices in your head told you to.
>>
>>2294688
>> Accept Erin's challenge; you will gain 1 glamour if you can win the duel, and lose 1 if you don't.
Hard to refuse after how she trusted us with eye surgery.
>>
>>2294686
Can we make eye puns the whole time? "YOU FIGHT LIKE A BLIND FARMER." "I SEE WHAT YOU DID THERE" "WATCH THIS!"
On Erin doing something awesome: "TRULY A VISIONARY!"
If we lose: "I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW!"
All in a good natured, ribbing spirit.
>>
>>2295131
Well you can NOW. It's too early in the morning for me to chuckle this hard.

Also I might be coming down with the death plague making its way around town.

>>2295050
A Treasured Fairest. She spent time as a living work of art, forced to pose and posture in a painting made of lost & Lost souls until she could blend into and compliment it. Treasured are known for the blessing of Alabaster Fortitude; their delicate Miens hide power that protects them from venoms, mind control, and other assaults that compromise their person.

Will update before work if I can.
>>
>>2295131
Nah, Pirate jokes.

I KNEW PIRATES HAD PEGS, BUT I DIDN'T THINK YOU'D BE GIVING ME WOOD.

wait no that came out wrong.
>>
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>>2295131
"I THOUGHT THAT YOU COULDN'T SEE, NOT THAT YOU COULDN'T FIGHT."

"BEHIND YOU, LOOK OUT!" Honestly just because it would be hilarious if she actually tried to look behind her. Truly, a bro level dick move.
>>
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>>2295179
>>
>>2295187
Personally I think we should save that one for if we fail a roll in the fight.

I'm just saying, it's been a long time since Colours made the beast with two backs.
>>
>>2295131
"I know you're going for a pirate theme, but two bad eyes are a bit over the top, isn't it?"
>>
I do want to point out before we get TOO attached to the pirate jokes that dredging up what Erin was called when she was still an active Privateer is maybe not the best move here. Especially since our Queen asked us to please not and said she'd consider it a personal favor.
>>
>>2295502
Mmm, it'd be a bit blind to the situation and context.
>>
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>>2295509
>>
>>2295191
Why not sex a Vickie
>>
>>2296014
Because I'd rather sex a Fancy, or eat some cherry pie
>>
>>2296014
>>2296267
Fancy is for sexing, Cherry is for hate sexing. Vickie is for hand-holding.
>>
>>2295131
>>2295179
>>2295186
>insult swordfighting
You all know fully well what we're supposed to do.
"YOU FIGHT LIKE A DAIRY FARMER!"
>>
>>2296882
Ah yes, the noble and knightly art of Flyting, ye olde rap battles of yore.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flyting

We should challenge her to a flyting match.
>>
>>2297232
I'm leaning more towards this.
>>
>>2294688
> Accept Erin's challenge; you will gain 1 glamour if you can win the duel, and lose 1 if you don't.
>>
>>2296014

YOU FIGHT LIKE HIS COW.

Going from memory here.
>>
>>2297667
YOU MEAN THE COW YOU LOST TO?
>>
>>2297847
NO, YOUR WIFE ACTUALLY FIGHTS PRETTY WELL.
>>
>>2297953
THAT EXPLAINS WHY SHE WAS COMPLAINING ABOUT HER OPPONENT BEING A NOODLEY ARMED MOUSE.
>>
>>2297973
YES, SHE COMPLAINED ABOUT YOU TO ME AS WELL. IN FACT THAT'S HOW WE MET.
>>
>>2297667
That's an awful reason to turn down Vickie.
>>
>>2298757
Hey, I'm personally hoping for the dark horse romance with Erin.

Like.

If we're going to make a sexy mistake eventually, it should be now with someone not in our immediate friend group (nor mortal) who can still relate well to us, and it should happen before we try to commit to Fancy.

So that we can make sure it ISN'T just about sex, or pretending that being with a mortal makes us more normal, or that we aren't running away from being with other Changelings, and just because we can.

I think it would be a good opportunity for Colors to grow as a person, get a mechanical bonus, and explore her relationship with sex.
>>
>>2298831
Erin's so mean though
>>
Called, writing. Pretty clear vote.
>>
>>2299272

How so? Coming and bailing us out of an uncomfortable conversation, yeah what a bitch.
>>
>>2299272
>>2300445
I'm not pushing much for romance with her, but yes, this doesn't seem particularly rude. Not for a Summer party where she's following up on the bit where she offered to spar with Colors.
>>
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>>2294686
You remember Erin's previous offer to train with her any time, which you haven't taken her up on. You're willing to bet she remembers too.

Shipmate Sally stands near the indicated structure, stretching gently.

"Just you and me?" you clarify.

"I don't do threesomes, Warlock Knight." Forum snorts so hard noodles come out of his nose, getting roars of laughter out of everyone around him, you and Erin included. The Troll leans desperately away from the table and snorts the noodles the rest of the way out, onto the grass.

"Damn," Erin comments. "I wasn't trying to kill a man but here we are."

"Oh my fucking God it hurts so bad," Forum complains, head tilted back and nose pinched shut. "Someone take her away from me before she starts doing fuckin' stand-up routines."

You laugh. "Alright, alright. You're on, Erin. On that thing?"

"Oh yes," the ex-pirate says with a vicious grin. "You're gonna like this one."

Up closer, the structure is about twenty feet square and raised ten off the ground, supported by thick posts around its edges and much thinner ones - or just a complex network of ropes and latches, in places - towards the middle. It's manned by half a dozen Lost in black T-shirts that say 'STAFF', plus Sally, who attend to a mysterious arrangement of ropes, levers, and hooks on long poles.

"Looks like we've got our first game!" Arthur calls out. Camera crews get spared the choice between continuing interviews and footage or looking at you when most of the entire crowd decides to look at you. You catch an encouraging whistle and wave from Ramona; over where your friends are, Vickie waves half a sandwich like a battle flag.

"So what's the challenge?" you ask, bold as brass.

Erin collects her weapons - a thin saber and a main gauche, both kept with wickedly sharp - from Sally. You catch sight of the ice-mail armor under her jacket when she turns. "We climb up on opposite sides of that thing. Someone says go, and we go at it. Yield, fall off, or pass out and you're fuckin' done. Y'know, we have a fight."

"All I have is Bifrost," you warn, inaccurately since your brass knuckles are in your pocket and you're wearing your steel-toed boots.

"Good. You're going to need it. You still in?"

You look at the structure, the impish grins of the staff, and then back to Erin. "Wouldn't miss it for the world. Anything else?"

A funny sort of look crosses Erin's face. "You, ah. You still doin' those pre-fight blessings? Sorta feelin' that life."

You tilt your head briefly, thinking it over, and then you nod. You offer a hand out, which Erin takes, and hold the Mjolnir pendant at your neck with the other. It takes a moment to find the words in your heart: "We gather here in the sight of gods and Freehold, with the eyes of the world upon this contest of war. May its glory burnish our Court and our Freehold. I dedicate this duel to Freya and to Evenhanded Tyr."
>>
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>>2300816
"For Freya and Tyr," Erin echoes in a low murmur, her voice soft and distant. It lasts only a moment before she's back to her usual confident sarcasm. "Let's fuckin' do this."

The two of you let go of each other's hands and move to opposite sides of the platform. A rope ladder provides you access to the top. The floor feels thin beneath your heavy boots, and it creaks and bows beneath your weight.

"Is that real?" a reporter asks from the ground.

"Oh yeah," comes the answer from an unseen Changeling. "This is gonna be good."

"Saw you fight John, Colors," Erin calls out from the opposite edge. "You're good, but you fight like Summer. Angry, all go-go-go. Let's see how far it gets you."

"EN GARDE!" shouts one of the staff members. You hear a hard sound of wood-on-wood and leap aside just in time for the floor that was beneath your feet to get ripped out, exposing part of the structure to the open air. On the other side, Erin lands clear of similar treatment.

"Welcome to the fuckin' party!" the Fairest crows. She settles into high guard, the point of her needle-like blade directed at you. "C'mon, get it if you want it!"

> Lunge (Opposed melee)
> Feel her out (Perception vs. Erin's melee)
> Stay on the defensive (Athletics vs. ???)
>>
>>2300824
>> Feel her out (Perception vs. Erin's melee)
>>
>>2300824
> Feel her up.
>>
>>2300884
Ya cheeky cheek, you.

>>2300824
>Feel her
>Also good-natured insults for this swordfighting
Preferably ones that lets Forum breathe from time to time
>>
>>2300884
Cheeky as you are, wrestling would probably give us better odds than a single blade against sword and parry weapon.

still
>>2300824
> Feel her out (Perception vs. Erin's melee)
>>
>>2300824
> Lunge (Opposed melee)

A two-handed sword doesn't have good defense, so a non-committed attack just opens us up to being countered.

Also our Melee and Athletics have the highest value.

While our Athletics would let us use footwork to avoid Erin's engagement zone given our greater reach, I personally believe that it's more fun to attack. More stylish.

> Ask about her feeling the Gods lately

If she is interested in our Religion, we should get together and talk to her about it.
>>
>>2300824
Wait.

I was under the impression Bifrost was a two handed sword, but it says it's a Spatha?

Are we fighting with a one handed sword and no shield? Because that's fucking crazy.
>>
>>2300981
>>2300824
On the OTHER hand, hethet, if we have one free then we can actually do >>2300884 and feel Erin up.

By which I mean grappling her. Grab her leading hand and pull her off balance!
>>
I'm imagining a mortal reporter and a changeling doing running commentary of the whole thing.

> "It looks like we have our first game! Bill, can you tell us a little about the two contestants?"
> "Sure thing, Dave. The challenger, that skinny girl with the blindfold, is Erin Peters, formerly Liz Malloy, the infamous Pirate with the Pearl Eyes. Course she ain't got no pearl eyes anymore-"
> "How is she supposed to fight if she doesn't have eyes?"
> "It's magical fairy bullshit, Dave, don't worry about it."
> "Try to keep it family friendly, Bill."
> "Right, sorry."
> "What about her opponent? She looks like she's made of glass."
> "Yup, that'd be Colors Eriksdotter, the Warlock Knight. And yeah, her skin is glass. Kinda."
> "Fairy magic again?"
> "Right."
> "And you mentioned that she's called the 'warlock knight,' does that mean she uses magic of some kind?"
> "Nah. Well, she does use 'magic,' I guess. Most of us do at least a little bit. But it means she's an oathbreaker. Scuttlebutt has it that she came down from Philly a year or two back. Broke some pledges in the process."
> "Do we know why?"
> "Not for sure, but it's probably because Philly is fu- I mean, Philly is bad. Real bad."
> "How so?"
> "Couple of reasons. The freehold up there is basically a nasty gang war. Also they put cheese on their steaks. Cheese. On steak. I mean seriously, who does that?"
>>
>>2300824
>Feel her out (Perception vs. Erin's melee)

Out, definitely not up. On purpose, anyways.
>>
>>2300884
While on camera?
>>
>>2300981
That is in fact how you've been fighting this entire time.
>>
>>2301243
That's cray-cray.

We need to get ourselves a shield going on, those things are awesome.
>>
>>2300824
Switching to


> Stay on the defensive (Athletics vs. ???)

I have misapprehended how we were fighting. Thought this whole time that we had a 2-hander.

Unless we can use our new magic to grow "Surpise"! Claws for an unexpected attack.
>>
>>2300824
I really gotta look at these things first. It's inactive.

Doesn't look like it's really combat specced at all though.

> Tongues of Birds and Words of Wolves - A changeling gives an animal a new name, allowing them to communicate with it and other animals in their contract-type.

> Beast's Keen Senses - If the changeling touches an animal-type of their contract, they acquire the senses of that animal.

> Pipes of the Beastcaller - If the changeling has asked an animal to guard their dwelling, they may call on that animal at any time or place.

First three levels, looks like Colors is going to have to find herself a Dog pretty quick.

Or is there home-brewing going on here?
>>
>>2301313
>We need to get ourselves a shield going on,
Seconded.

Can we also get a list of objectives/quests, like in GermanSchteel's quests ?
F.E.
1.Cure Rook
2. Learn those Beast contracts
3 .Find the best Changeling smith in this city (shield)
>>
>>2301320
You've got the Catches mixed in as requirements instead of ways to use those Clauses for free. Our other stuff has Catches too.
>>
>>2301357
I mean, using them for free is definitely worth getting a big old Irish Wolf Hound. Fits the Viking theme too.
>>
>>2301357
We can armor them too.
>>
Fighting with a shield restricts hand use, and hand use is critical for acrobatics.
>>
>>2301413
You are aware that wolfhounds need rather a lot of training?
And a bunch of movement, too.

That's a notable amount of time that we'd need to allocate each day, or almost each day, at least.
>>
>>2304034
Not if we get a hedge dog.
>>
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>>2304034
>>2304149

Bam! Solutions! Besides, ANY dog requires a lot of training. And Colors isn't some fatass couch potato, pretty sure she could handle the amount of exercise a dog needs. See that +3 to Athletics? Where do you think that comes from?

> Tongues of Birds and Words of Wolves - A changeling gives an animal a new name, allowing them to communicate with it and other animals in their contract-type.

I feel like the training will be a lot easier for us than mere mortals.

Finally it's ultimately a game so let it slide. I'm totally picking the Wolfhound for thematic reason, not "Things have to work the exact same way they do IRL" reasons.
>>
>>2304242
Thematics are nice, but a conventional animal would be useless in the Hedge.

On the other hand, are there any benign or neutral Hedge Beasts, or does such simply not exist ?
>>
>>2304536
Dogs have been hunting beside man since the beginning. Also, we can pump it full of magic juice.
>>
>>2304536
The dog will be fiiiiiiiine.
>>
>>2304242
>Bam! Solutions! Besides, ANY dog requires a lot of training.
Every dog requires training, but you can't compare a wolfhound or a german shepherd to a st. bernards or a beagle.

>And Colors isn't some fatass couch potato, pretty sure she could handle the amount of exercise a dog needs. See that +3 to Athletics? Where do you think that comes from?
I was talking about finding the time and not neglecting an animal.

But you seem to prefer jumping to conclusions.
I'm not per se against a dog - they are great companions, balance out the psyche and there's enough breeds that can be usefull additonally to that.
I'm just saying that there's things to be considered before making an impulsive decison. Do we have the space? Do we have the time? Do we have the money? Who takes care of the dog if we've got to go into the hedge for who knows how long and can't take the dog with us?
>>
>>2304242
An irish wolfhound is a fuckhuge dog. Colors doesn't have a very big home.
>>
>>2304582
>A normal animal in the Hedge
I hope it will be fine but I still feel a lot of concern.
>>
>>2305225
Instead of making a pet that can survive the hedge.
Make a pet /of/ the hedge. Hellgrass elemental in the shape of a 4 legged critter! There's probably a contract for that.
>>
>>2304889
Holy shit you are taking this way too seriously.

It's a game where fantasy and magic are real. Chill your nuts.

>>2305225
This is a reasonable concern.
>>
>>2305123
Colors DOES have big enemies though.

This is a work dog, not a pet.

And honestly, we kind of need one for the all the contract bullshit it seems.

Any dog big enough to be useful, is going to have the same issues with space/time etc.
>>
>>2305123
Maybe she should look into moving.

A Fuckhuge dog is something that a warrior needs, especially if it's going to be dealing with hedge fuckery.

I still don't see why we wouldn't take the dog into the hedge. It's not like it auto-kills mortals or anything, in fact all of the Changelings were originally mortals themselves so there's that.
>>
>>2304889
>Who takes care of...
In all cases we have enough people who owe us or like us. Or love dogs. Not really a problem.
>>
Called, tallying, writing.
>>
And now after REAL LIFE INTERRUPTS I am actually finally writing, but I needs me some ROLLS.

So, roll me 1d10+2, TWICE.
>>
Rolled 9 + 2 (1d10 + 2)

>>2308363
>>
Rolled 6 + 2 (1d10 + 2)

>And now after REAL LIFE INTERRUPTS I am actually finally writing, but I needs me some ROLLS.

>So, roll me1d10+2, TWICE.

May the Wyrd be with us.
>>
>>2308382
>>
Rolled 2 + 5 (1d10 + 5)

>>2308382
Solid eleven. Now for Erin's opposed Melee.
>>
>>2308416
Wow, are we suffering from some sort of malus still for our melee to be that shit compared to hers?
>>
>>2308449
No, she's just had a very long time to practice. Erin Peters has been haunting the Hedge for a little over a decade, and was into fencing well before then during her tenure as a Spring Courtier before she was discovered. Where John rushed to hone his Wyrd and bludgeon people with raw power, Erin is a more typical example of what it looks like when the Lost come into their own.
>>
>>2308449
>>2308467
Also, remember, you were rolling Perception.
>>
>>2308416
OW
>>
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>>2300824
She's trying to goad you in, and you're not gonna fall for it. The two of you close the distance, treading lightly on the creaking wooden boards while you get in close enough to actually have this fight. You catch some whistling from the crowd down below. A reporter is doing her damndest to narrate this, which is gonna be really surreal later when you watch this segment on the news.

You snap out a high cut, then low. Erin meets both with her saber, keeping a respectful distance from your blade. You've got some reach on her, but her footwork is impeccable, and she seems oddly light on the boards. You figure out why after you catch sight of her shoes in your peripheral; Erin's chosen to wear delicate silk slippers, of the kind that would be absolutely ruined by, say, a ten foot fall.

She's using Separation to balance on the wood, buying precious shaved seconds if she gets dropped. Clever.

"Magic, Erin?" you accuse, in the midst of a flurry of blows. Low-high-high, all met with the ringing sound of steel on glass.

"Found a way to use it for free," the blind woman says with a shit-eating grin. "No point in paying for the glitter in this fight."

A line of floor panels pops up on each side, hemming the two of you in with each other. It's an obvious chance to lunge, which you don't take; you hop back, out of the artificial corridor.

"C'mon, give me some fire!" Erin shouts. "Where's your rage? You leave it in the same coat pocket as your interrupted sex life?"

"FUCK HER UP COLORS!" Vickie shouts from the crowd below.

"You can walk on over here and find it if you need it that badly." You settle into a two-handed grip, your guard high. "You're good. Probably better than me, if I'm being honest. I'm not gonna run myself through on you."

Erin shrugs. "Alright."

She moves like liquid; Erin vaults the low wooden wall, lands on the quarter-inch-thick edge, and comes at you. You hold your ground until the last moment; if you've read her right, she's not charging.

She isn't. You step in and whirl even as Erin leaps and turns, cat-like, in mid-air. The small corridor drops, pulled down by ropes, just in time for you to give ground before a blistering advance.

"You gotta commit sometime, Warlock Knight," Erin snarls. "I can do this all day. You can't."

"Who says?" you rejoin.

Erin strikes Bifrost near its guard, forcing your blade wide, and jams her dirk into the meat of your thigh. You cry out in pain and backhand her on sheer reflex. She staggers back, blade held high, and spits a line of blood off the stage.

You suffer 2 DAMAGE. You are CRIPPLED (-2 on checks requiring mobility)

You deal 1 DAMAGE.


"There's what I wanted," Erin says, savage joy coloring her voice. "Your gods are watching, Colors. Give 'em a show."

"What do you want?" you ask. You leave the knife where it is; it's holding your blood inside your body so that it only trickles instead of gushing. "What's the point of this?"
>>
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>>2309309
"Trying to get to know you, Colors. I told you it wasn't done between us."

You shift your weight, eyes narrowing. "Find out anything interesting?"

"Maybe."

Erin's weight shifts forward.

And then the floor drops out from under her. Time slows to a crawl. You can see the tips of her toes just barely on the lip of relative safety, but she's caught - off-balance, unready, distracted. Her saber moves down to catch the wood in an effort to prevent her fall.

> Swat her down (Melee vs. Difficulty 9)
> Haul her back up (Athletics vs. difficulty 5)
> Do nothing
>>
>Haul her back up. (Athletics vs. difficulty 5)
If she wants a show, then let's give the crowd one. This is a party, after all. What sort of Spring are we if we don't do our best to make it entertaining?
>>
>>2309325
> Haul her back up (Athletics vs. difficulty 5)
If I'm understanding correctly, we're only rolling at +1, so I don't like our chances of capitalising on this to swat her down.
>>
>>2309325
> Haul her back up (Athletics vs. difficulty 5)

If we crit fail do we push her back down?

Also she better be grateful. Were missing out on a lion king quote for this.
>>
>>2309325
>Haul her back up (Athletics vs. difficulty 5)
Then as soon as she's stable immediately punch her in the face as hard as you can.
>>
>>2309325
> Haul her back up (Athletics vs. difficulty 5)
And cop a feel while we do it.
Don't actually cop a feel.
>>
Aight, called. You're close enough for the knife in your leg to not matter too much, so: get me 1d10+3, TWICE.
>>
Rolled 10 + 3 (1d10 + 3)

>>2310060
This is going to be a terrible roll.
>>
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>>2310090
>>
Rolled 7 + 3 (1d10 + 3)

>>2310060
Here's your second
>>
Man, were on fire today.
>>
>>2310185
it'd be pretty embarrassing for us as the Warlock Knight to get rekt on national (local?) tv
>>
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>>2310090
>>
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>>2309325
10+3 = 13; Critical Success, Overkill

You lunge and catch Erin's wrist. The look of surprise that registers on her face is pure in its own way; disbelief that you'd help her like this and continue the fight.

Not for free, though. You pull her into a palm hit right in the stomach, blowing the air out of her lungs and making her drop her saber. You grab the front of her shirt and lever her into a throw that cracks the floorboards and sends her rolling away.

To her credit, Erin ends her ragged roll on her feet, holding her ribs with one hand and breathing heavily.

You deal 2 damage. Erin is WINDED.

You kick her saber up into your hand and offer it out, hilt-first. Cautiously, still finding her breath, Erin edges towards you and takes it. You're expecting the immediate slash that results, which you swat aside with raw strength. She whips her head back from your open-palmed slap and dances back from your follow-up strikes, blade weaving in methodical parries.

"Are they trying to kill each other?" someone below asks.

"We can take a lot of killing," the Rook rasps. "These two are some of the Freehold's preeminent swordswomen, miss. There's going to be a certain amount of violence involved in getting to know each other."

Erin sidesteps and aims a cut along your arm, forcing you to move away from it and give up your momentum. There's a massive wooden pop from the floor as every other platform pulls down, creating a checkerboard of drop hazards around the two of you. Erin pulls a bowie knife from a sheath against the small of her back and presses the attack, light on her feet perfectly willing to force you to put weight on your bleeding leg.

"No smart comments?" you mock, mid-parry. "You wanted a show."

"And I'm getting one," the Fairest returns, vicious glee dripping from every word. "How long do you think you can keep this going, Warlock Knight?"

Not long.

> Bait her into a fall (Persuasion vs. her Perception; your Mantle bonus applies)
> Try to regain the momentum (Melee vs. her Melee)
> Smash the floor beneath her feet (Melee vs. her Athletics)
> Surrender
>>
>>2310271
>Bait her into a fall (Persuasion vs. her Perception; your Mantle bonus applies)
>>
>>2310271
> Try to regain the momentum (Melee vs. her Melee)

Its what were here for. Not to win by any means, but to give the mortals a show, and to test our metal against a skilled opponent. Lets give the mortal folk a show too.
>>
>>2310271
>Try to regain the momentum (Melee vs. her Melee)
>>
>>2310271
> Smash the floor beneath her feet (Melee vs. her Athletics)
>>2310280
>>2310302
Is there a reason why y'all are rolling persuasion? isn't that one of our weaker stats with the one dice limit? Apologies if i'm reading the sheet wrong
>>
> Try to regain the momentum (Melee vs. her Melee)

Enough dancing around the stage, let's get some full on swordfighting in before they decide to trap us in a 5x5 foot square.
>>
>>2310317
I totally forgot about the second die for melee.

>>2310271
Changing my vote to
> Try to regain the momentum (Melee vs. her Melee)
>>
>>2310271
>Try to regain the momentum (Melee vs. her Melee)
Colors smash!
>>
>Try to regain the momentum. (Melee vs. her Melee)

A show's a show, and we've already committed to putting on a good one. No sense flip-flopping.
>>
Anyone else getting creepy vibes off Erin?
>>
>>2311029
creepy? or sexy
>>
>>2311029
You mean creepier than the standard changeling creepy? Well, she was a privateer and almost certainly has some old habits that will be cropping up even if she's trying to start over.
>>
What happened to all the eye jokes?
>>
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>>2311287
We lost sight of our true objective.
>>
>>2311287
Well, do you know what the blind lesbian said when she woke up at the fish market?
"Mmm-mmm! Good morning, ladies!"
>>
>>2310317
>Is there a reason why y'all are rolling persuasion?

Our Melee is weaker than her Melee to start with, and we're CRIPPLED; our Persuasion with the Mantle bonus is at +4, possibly +5 if the "heroic rescue bonus" applies.

> Bait her into a fall (Persuasion vs. her Perception; your Mantle bonus applies)

We want to make this a show. She won't give us smart comments, let's give her some and get her to do something foolish.
>>
>>2310271
>> Bait her into a fall (Persuasion vs. her Perception; your Mantle bonus applies)
>>
>>2310271
>> Bait her into a fall (Persuasion vs. her Perception; your Mantle bonus applies)
>>
>>2310271
> Surrender

What is winning? A calculated move to frustrate her, and an unexpected one.
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>>2310271
>Bait her into a fall (Persuasion vs. her Perception; your Mantle bonus applies)
>>
Called. Slight winner is to REGAIN THE MOMENTUM.

Roll me 1d10+3 three times.
>>
Rolled 6 + 3 (1d10 + 3)

>>2312103
>1d10+3
>>
Rolled 8 + 3 (1d10 + 3)

>>2312103
>>
Rolled 10 + 3 (1d10 + 3)

>>2312103
>>
>>2312167
Well that's fun times.

I gotta go to work. I'll roll & update near 10 PM EST.
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>>2312184
> not even rolling until 10 PM EST
Tease.
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>>2312167
>Rolled 10 + 3 (1d10 + 3)

...Of course, when we get rolls like that, it matters a lot less what the gap between our Melee and hers is.
>>
>>2312618
>...Of course, when we get rolls like that, it matters a lot less what the gap between our Melee and hers is.

Well, Bifrost is a Token weapon that gives us an extra roll when we get to use it, which gives Colors better odds than one might think. Also, we slammed Erin around and made her WINDED, so we'll see how that affects her odds.
>>
>>2312618
We got that because we got multiple rolls from picking melee.
>>
>>2312713

On average, going from 2d10 pick best to 3d10 pick best only increases our roll by about 0.8. Put another way, the odds of getting a 10 increase from 19% to 27%.

A guaranteed increase of 2 flat bonus points added onto our roll is a better choice mechanically every time.

That doesn't take into account the differences in what the choices mean, of course.
>>
>>2312713
>and made her WINDED
Hmmm, was the modifier for WINDED bigger than CRIPPLED ?
>>
Rolled 3 + 4 (1d10 + 4)

What I promised to do: come right home and update.

What I actually did: realized Black Panther was out and went to see it like I've been hyped to do since I caught Civil War.

But let's at least roll it. Erin's WINDED and eating minor wound penalties, but being lighter on her feet still helps.
>>
>>2314217
So how was Black Panther? I heard it was aight, not amazing but pretty good.
>>
>>2314246
Whatever they were paying the fight choreographers, it wasn't enough. The action's beautiful, tightly done, believable. As a visual experience it was really engaging, really colorful; it popped in a way I want New Avalon to.

Acting was on point. The actual thread of the antagonist's arc hit notes Marvel's been hitting, but the overall plot felt refreshing, and topical. Relevant to questions of what it means to wield power, to be loyal, to have honor. With the film taking place just a bare week after Civil War you can see T'Challa just after the decisions he made in that film, fresh off the back of refusing to take revenge and still coping with his grief.

All in all, glad I went. Definitely delivered.
>>
>>2314287
It wasn't mired in any real identity politics crap was it? I know people are making it about that stuff but was the actual movie about it?

Also, please tell me they didn't use American hip hop in the score for an african based hero.
>>
>>2314305
I honestly don't know how to answer that question. I also don't think that's gonna be a conversation either of us enjoy having. I guess the best way I could explain it is that the crux of the conflict is the fact that Wakanda has power, but instead of doing good, or even doing evil, it does nothing.

And no, they didn't. Honestly the music was a really nice part of the overall experience.
>>
>>2314320
Wew, the trailer really was just a shitty trailer with hip hop music then, sweet.

And yeah I had hoped that's what the main conflict would be, it's the classic one from the comics. When I said identity politics I just meant the fake bullshit people say nowadays to look woke and the victim bullshit that's being pushed by the neo left.

A lot of the hype around this movie was tainted by it. I'm glad the movie doesn't have that crap in it apparently.
>>
Aight. Gonna update tonight when I get home. Will have as much caffeine as needed to make that happen.
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>>2315447
....so, when are they putting more blood into your caffeine system next, Vox?
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>>2315507
Never.
>>
Archiving thread, gonna write a new one ASAP.
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>>2317724
not ASAHP ?
>>
>>2317914
Vox isn't human, anon.
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> Alright time to update
> Huh, stomach feels odd. Better use the bathroom.
> Pic related
> Pic related into infinity

Stand by.
>>
>>2319016
The coffee has betrayed you. The bean is a fickle mistress.
>>
>>2319016
Hey Vox you still err alive?
>>
>>2317724
> 12 hours later with no post

>>2319016

I mean it's not like you get paid from this. I just wish you would stop lying to yourself about how fast your progress will be so you don't get discouraged.




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