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>>710213
You know her by reputation. Inky Jennie, a tattoo artist and part-time prophetess employed by the Autumn Court. The tattoos up her bare arms crawl and slither, until the serpents on them stare at you from just beneath her chin. They blink while she gives you a broad grin and bows, almost mockingly.

"Your Majesty," the witch greets, her smile all teeth. She lights a cigarette - crumbled leaves fall from the pack when she shakes it out, blowing away on the Spring breeze - and takes a drag.

"I ain't no one's 'majesty', Jennie," you warn. "What do you want? This ain't exactly a nice neighborhood."

"I know, your Majesty. I'm in it." Jennie blows a ring of smoke and just keeps grinning. The ink flows up to her face, sketching the outline of a mouth that goes beyond her own, opening up like a brightly-colored zipper that reveals more and more teeth done in whites and yellows and the hard black of cracks and poisoned saliva. "Don't go home tonight."

"That a threat?"

"I could never threaten a king," Inky Jennie answers with mock hurt. "Summer has no crown, Arthur. You could go home tonight and be a hero. Or you can hear me out, and emerge a king." She offers her hand out. "Promise me a place at your side. Swear that I will be your advisor and partner, and I will do all in my power to sit you on the throne of high Summer."

A cab passes by, speeding to get through the street. A group of young men on the corner pull up their hoodies against the growing fog of the March morning.

"Excalibur awaits," Jennie prompts, that wide smile leering out from chin to ears.

> Take her hand
> Go home

And now the OOC stuff.

Welcome to King of New Avalon Quest, folks, a one-shot in the world & setting of Changeling: the Lost. This particular quest takes place in the semi-fictional city of New Avalon, the city that Baltimore was meant to be but never became. New Avalon is a town very much about appearances - you look good, you look clean, you /fit in/, or you get pushed down, pushed out, or destroyed. The city's fair face and proud history hide an endemic homelessness problem, to say nothing of the desperate measures to which the poor are pushed to prevent themselves from being forced from their homes or their jobs.

You, Arthur, are a Changeling, a survivor who was kidnapped by faeries and taken to their realm. You escaped some time ago and now work as a man-at-arms for the Summer Court, helping to protect your fellow escapees with force of arms and tactics. Summer's king died last December, and though Spring now rules, come June there must be a King of Summer.

This quest will feature rolling and a few other mechanics, which will be explained or shown as they become relevant so I can ease folks into them. If rolls are needed, I will call for them after voting; rolling is one on best of two, plus modifiers.

As an Ogre, Arthur has powers of supernatural strength, but is gullible. This may influence your rolls; more will be explained later on.

Have fun, folks. I look forward to seeing where this goes.

My gullibility says I should take the plot hook
>Take her hand

>>710278
>Go home
Drunk decisions are bad decisions

>>710278
>> Take her hand

>>710278
> Go home

>>710278
>Go home
Being king sounds like a hassle.

>>710278
>Oh I juuuuuust can't WAIT to be king! (Take her hand, and optionally break into song)

>>710278
>> Take her hand
Because witches are greeeeeat

>>710278
>Take her hand.

Called, writing. Winner: take her hand.

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>>710278
You consider it for a long moment, and then you take Jennie's hand. The witch is tiny, by anyone's standards, but her glossy black eyes gleam with pleasure.

"Let's seal this deal," you warn.

"Of course. I, Jennifer Friday, on my true and unsullied name, vow to do all within my power to raise you to the position of King within the Summer Court, to provide you to the best of my ability with wise council and support, and to serve you as your advisor and sorceress after your ascension."

"And I, Arthur McDonnel, vow on my true and unsullied name to accept your service, to provide for you a place in my court, and to be a fair and just lord," you promise in turn. You feel a rush of energy, not the hot-bright-quick of glamour but the binding of Wyrd, holding each of you to your troth on your unsullied names.

"The pirate with the pearl eyes has come for you, Arthur," Jennie tells you, pulling her hand away. "Your capture is incidental to her interests. You have something she wants, though you do not know it."

"What is it?" you ask, intrigued despite yourself. The inky teeth just past Jennie's mouth open in silent laughter.

"You have a lodestone," Jennie explains. "A particular lodestone, on a string, which you purchased for your young lady shortly before she left you. She left the stone as well, which is well and good. It will lead you to Excalibur, but the pirate must not have it. She will attempt to escape through the Hedge, in Balton Park between the ash trees, and make her way to the Night Market."

"Not tonight," you growl.

You are DRUNK (-2), RESTED (+1), & CONFIDENT (+0). Your base STEALTH is +2

> Ambush the pirate at your home [gain FAMILIARITY, find WEAPONS, and become WINDED]
> Lurk in the Hedge [gain AMBUSH, risk an ENCOUNTER]
> Intercept her in the Night Market [???]

That jerk wants into my house then I'll just have to be a god host.
> Ambush the pirate at your home

>>710498
>Ambush the pirate at your home [gain FAMILIARITY, find WEAPONS, and become WINDED]
2 pros and a con, seems favorable.

>>710498
>> Ambush the pirate at your home [gain FAMILIARITY, find WEAPONS, and become WINDED]

>>710498
>> Ambush the pirate at your home [gain FAMILIARITY, find WEAPONS, and become WINDED]

>>710498
>> Ambush the pirate at your home [gain FAMILIARITY, find WEAPONS, and become WINDED]

>>710498
> Ambush the pirate at your home

>>710498
Wait a second, we are drunk, and our base Stealth is +2? How the fuck is a six/six orge dude stealthy?

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>>710964
Like so

>>710993
That made me laugh more then it should have.

>>710964
The same way panthers go unnoticed and uncaught in completely urban environments for years. Stealth is just as much about understanding what people are looking & listening for as it is about being generically difficult to notice.

CALLED. Give me rolls at 1d10+2; I'm taking best of two.

Rolled 2 + 2 (1d10 + 2)

>>711025

Rolled 4 + 2 (1d10 + 2)

>>711025

>>711065
4 + 2 = 6; PASS with NO STYLE.

Writing shortly, will include a sheet so you understand your options.

Arthur, the Stone King!
When are we having a snack... tiny human with pepper and garlic is deeeelicious.

>>711025
The number one tool for stealth in the modern world is a clipboard and pen. Number two is a UPS/FedEx box.

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>>710498
"You know how to contact me?" you ask Jennie.

"I have you home number, yes," she agrees. "You did post it publicly, in case of -"

"In case of trouble, yeah," you agree, nodding. "I'm going home to take care of the pirate."

"And I will prepare the way to your throne," the witch answers, playfully. "Run, my liege."

And you run, the rage burning a clarity into your mind as you go. Privateers, in your home? Coming for you, no less? Loyalists - the still-enslaved servants of the Gentry - are one thing, almost a thing you can understand or respect. But the mercenaries that kidnap humans & your fellows to sell back to the Fairest of Lands?

There's going to be blood tonight, for this.

You slow and stop about a block from your apartment building. You live on the second floor of the old brownstone building, which still looks as fresh and new as the day it was built. Lights glimmer from your windows, dancing to and fro like massive fireflies. That'll be the pirate - Liz Malloy, her name is.

A waif with hair made of woven shadows sits on the step of the apartment building, smoking a cigarette with one hand in the pocket of her too-large jacket. Her hair drips onto the concrete, with a faint echo. A Darkling, if you're any guess - quick, vicious little bastards with a killer instinct to rival your own. She won't be the only one...

> Try to creep up on the Darkling [STEALTH at Difficulty 6; gain no advantage or disadvantage]
> Climb the fire escape [STEALTH at Difficulty 8; gain AMBUSH if successful]
> Just lurk out here until they leave and jump them all [no roll]

Arthur McDonnel: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1U5Lzx4tv01QjKdU0-v-16gawa7udDze9KXfGMxQpbIY/edit?usp=sharing

If you want to expend Glamour or another resource as part of a roll or during prep time, Include it as part of your vote. For instance:

> Lurk
> Activate Obdurate Skin

Remember: once you expend glamour, it doesn't recover on its own. You need to be able to soak in human emotion for that

Rolled 10 + 2 (1d10 + 2)

>>711700
>creep up give 'em a sucker punch

>>711738
Remember, the roll is after the option gets locked in.

Sorry friend.

>BUILD A WALL

>>711744
you're not my mom i'll roll all the dice i feel like rolling

if i wanna waste our good rolls before they're relevant i'm gonna do that

Rolled 2 + 2 (1d10 + 2)

>>711738

>>711700
> fire escape

>>711700
>>> Climb the fire escape [STEALTH at Difficulty 8; gain AMBUSH if successful]
Even if they notice us too early, they're spread out and we can attack the single one on the roof first. A success would be nice though!

>>711700
And yes to Obdurate Skin! Strong, stronger, Arthur!

>Try to creep up on the Darkling. Needing a 7+ on a d10 seems like it's a bad option.

What does STIFF actually do? Since we might have to, say, chase people, or try to snatch the lodestone.

>>710498
Awww, guys! Don't you remember Jack? We ALWAYS pick the mystery box!

Doesn't matter, you're still awesome Vox.

>>711854
Penalizes agility & flexibility-based rolls such as dodging, catching objects, and the like.

>>711700
>> Just lurk out here until they leave and jump them all [no roll]
>Lurk

This vote'll be open for a bit so I can eat dinner & do the dishes.

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>>710296
>Changeling: the Lost

YES!

Maybe I should try doing Wraith: the Oblivion too.

>>712064
> oWoD
> For any reason

Why would you do this to innocent people. Or me.

>>711700
>Climb the fire escape
WHAT UP FUCKERS

Suggest marking whether or not we've got Charity to expend on the sheet.

>>712136
Done. I'm hitting the dishes at this point, but I did wanna say - don't be shy with suggestions or critique on the mechanics. Part of the reason I'm running this is to try and get something more game-like for an (eventual) longer-form Changeling quest. I need to know what I've done wrong or right, and what I can improve on. This is actually the third iteration of this system, which was first used in the Broken Jaw arc of Dungeon Life Quest (where it was D6 and I was rolling) and then again in the spinoff Jack's Life Quest (where it was D10 and I was still the one rolling).

>>712073
From what I've heard of it, Wraith as a self-contained setting isn't strictly an awful base. Now, the rules, mind, or untweaked...

Alright, looks like our winner is to CLIMB THE FIRE ESCAPE.

Give me two rolls, 1d10+2

Rolled 8 + 2 (1d10 + 2)

>>712941

Rolled 3 + 2 (1d10 + 2)

>>712941

>>712956
Well, at least one was good.

>>712956
Total of 10; Success with No Style. You gain AMBUSH.

Writing.

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>>711700
On the one hand, that Darkling is pretty small, but you don't trust that. For one thing, most Darklings are these stretched, looming things that look like someone sketched a shadow out and turned it loose, so her being tiny is already weird, but for another thing they always have a trick up their sleeve. It's kinda their thing.

You go around.

The Freehold doesn't own this apartment building. The old woman who does, Baba Tasha, lost her first home to a fire. She keeps the fire escapes repaired, maintained, and well-oiled, and you make a note to get her a fruit basket or something as you climb it up towards your apartment window. They left it open, the bastards, which is good for you right now but, as it were, still annoying. They're gonna let the fuckin' bugs in.

The inside is lit up. That'll be Malloy, and you catch the sight of her easily enough. The wanted posters and the books always depict her in something lacy and provocative, but the privateer is all business right now; mail of glittering ice armors her body, covered up by a scaled leather jacket that could and probably does conceal a multitude of weapons. Lights, bright and alien, swim around her head in dizzying profusion.

You can smell blooming flowers and fresh rain coming off of her, the mark of a Spring mantle she somehow has not yet shed.

"How much longer?" a rat-faced Beast with her whines, while he picks his nails with a thin knife. "I'm bored, Liz."

"You're also ugly, and I haven't acted on that either," Malloy answers patiently. "Ten more minutes. We can wait for a bigger payout, yes?"

"You're sure this asshole's worth something?" the rat presses.

"Mike?" Malloy asks.

"Yeah?" the rat answers.

"Shut the fuck up." Malloy turns to the little stand you have on your kitchen counter, which holds little necklaces. You make most of them yourself, out of gems or crystals, because despite everything else you do love the beauty of them, but the lodestone you'd bought.

There's a pang in your heart, looking at it, and the quiet, hard voice of Jessica telling you she couldn't stay any more. And she'd left, and the lodestone, it'd stayed with you.

You pull your head back just in time; a third person moves past the window, a short, hobbling man with scars on every inch of his exposed skin that form whorls and runes. His hands rest on a pair of short, stabbing blades sheathed across the small of his back, just over the bulletproof vest. A Wizened, then, and probably just as fast as that Darkling downstairs.

The Wizened is in grabbing distance, but what about the other two?

> Fight
> Scare them off

Either way, give me two rolls at 1d10+7 for the ambush on the Wizened. This is a strength-based roll.

Remember to include any powers you want to activate in the vote if you choose to do so.

Rolled 1 + 7 (1d10 + 7)

>>713486

>>713500
gottem

Rolled 10 + 7 (1d10 + 7)

>>713486
We have every advantage, so...
>Might of the Terrible Brute

>>713486
>>713540
in case it wasn't clear
>fight

>>713500
>>713540
I do still need votes on the other two, folks.

I don't think we can scare them off easily, not with 3 on 1. We should try to fight and hope they sue for peace or run away
>Fight

>>713486
>> Scare them off

>>713486
> Fight

>>713486
>> Fight

>>713566
Fight

>>713566
It's clobbering time

Hrm. We've got one vote for Might of the Terrible Brute and no countervailing discussion. I do believe I need a better way to track that aspect, though.

I'm gonna go with using it on the fight roll. Gimmie 2 rolls at 1d10+6 (since you're losing the AMBUSHING for that roll). You've expended 1 glamour.

Rolled 3 + 6 (1d10 + 6)

>>714674
1 glamour of 12.

Rolled 3 + 6 (1d10 + 6)

>>714674
coughcough

Rolled 10 + 6 (1d10 + 6)

>>714674
I think it's going to be a tad more difficult for people to track. People would have to go find the post that you linked the sheet to, and have an idea of how it works. I can't think of any suggestions, sadly.

>>714754
One roll per person, friend. I'd thought that a matter of unspoken etiquette.

AMBUSH: 10 + 7 = 17: CRITICAL SUCCESS

FIGHT: 10 + 6 = 16: CRITICAL SUCCESS

And now we learn why ogres are scary.

Writing.

>>714917
It's also a matter of the seeding, apparently.
shrug

>>714955
And aren't we glad we used my seed
>ohohoho

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>>713486
Noise would be bad. It'd wake the neighbors, for one thing, and at the end of the day all the power of the Courts is not going to keep mortal police out of your apartment if you fill it or the street below with corpses.

You'll just have to be fast.

You lunge into the room, picking up the Wizened with a mighty squeeze that cracks bone. He sags with an odd sighing sound, at which point you seize his wrist and crash him directly into the rat just as the Beast is turning. You let go of the short man and crash a fist into the Rat's face, splintering his nose.

Malloy draws and fires a hand crossbow; the wild shot goes right out the window.

"How bad you wanna do this, pirate?" you murmur.

Malloy pulls a long knife from beneath her belt and edges towards the door while you stand to your full height and crack your knuckles. Those unreadable eyes, pearls thrust into her skull, are narrowed in concentration.

> Let her go; you have what's yours and then some
> Try to disarm her
> Throw the damn rat at her
> Write-in?

>>715189
>pearls thrust into her skull
I'm dumb, is this a phrase? I don't recall ever hearing anything like this ever.

>>715189
> Throw the damn rat at her

>>715199
She is called the pirate with pearl eyes so I think the description is literal.

>>715208
Oh, maybe. Then I guess
>throw the rat and threaten her to leave.

>>715199
It has to do with her Entitlement. You saw the picture I posted of her, here? >>713486. Elizabeth Malloy was once an esteemed member of the Spring Court and a noble of the Satrapy of Pearls; her eyes reflect her Entitlement, a mark of her nobility for her fellow Changelings to see. When she was outed as a traitor and a privateer, she wasn't actually expelled from her order - she hadn't done anything against their bylaws. Hence the phrase that's been used to describe her - the pirate with the pearl eyes.

>>715189
>> Throw the damn rat at her
We have a bad history with pirates.

>>715199
Check the pic with the last story post.

>>715189
>throw the rat, no powers used
Oh, also, the cost of Terrible Brute is "1 glamour OR be fighting multiple opponents bare-handed, without using weapons". does that second one apply on the previous roll, at all?

>>715229
It depends on how you define 'fighting'. I've traditionally not let that catch go off at the start of an ambush.

>>715238
You do you, then.

Is there somewhere I can brush up on the worldbuilding, or should I just google it and see what I can find?

>>715242
I honestly wouldn't know. I memorized most of the books after years of running games in the system & setting. I imagine there's a wiki somewhere.

>>715242
reddit.com/r/WorldBuilding

Called for THROW THE RAT. I'm gonna start posting the sheet every update, which ought to help.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1U5Lzx4tv01QjKdU0-v-16gawa7udDze9KXfGMxQpbIY/edit?usp=sharing

Roll me 2 dice at 1d10+1 (Strength-based ranged)

Rolled 7 + 1 (1d10 + 1)

>>715400

Rolled 1 + 1 (1d10 + 1)

>>715400
Here we goooo.

>>715400
>>715419
uhh... do crits override?

>>715424
I fuckin' hope not.

>>715424
I said best of two and I meant it.

>>715430
Cool, just wanted to make sure. Some systems I've seen are best of 3, with crits overriding other rolls.

My internet connection seems to have cut out. I'll keep you posted.

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>>715189
You pick up the rat - Mike, was it? - like he's nothing and hurl him two-handed at the pirate. Malloy yelps, honest-to-god-fucking-yelps like a cheerleader who just got cracked with a towel and takes him at chest height. Both go down to the floor in a heap, with the wind blowing out of the pirate's lungs. You cross the room in two loping strides and pull her up by the front of her jacket.

The girl's quick with a knife, but you grab her wrist and slowly crush it to splinters. Tears of pain stand out in her eyes, but she doesn't cry out or sob.

"Got somethin' clever to say, pirate?" you murmur.

"Let's make a deal," she whispers. You laugh, not too loudly, and she gives you a crazy grin. "You have something I want, after all."

"You ain't gettin' the lodestone," you say flatly.

"What about my life and freedom?" the Satrap counters. "What's the price on that? I bet I have something you want, Arthur."

"How do you -"

"Name your price," she insists. "You know what the pearl eyes mean. Name. Your. Price."

"Three questions, answered truthfully and to the best extent of your knowledge," you tell her, flatly.

"In exchange for my life and ten minutes' head start?" she asks.

"Look at you with the realistic expectations. Two minutes."

"Five."

"Done," you answer. You feel the Wyrd seal the deal as Malloy binds the vow, not that you expected otherwise. "Who is your buyer for the lodestone?"

"The Lady of the Lake," Malloy answers with that crazed grin, made wide by pain. "She wants her property back. Or she thinks she does. Or it thinks she does. The details are a bit fuzzy."

"Who has a bounty out on me?" you continue, ignoring her baiting.

Malloy laughs. "You really don't know? You precious thing. Whiskey Jack does, Arthur. Poor old Jack, long on ambition and short on ability. When you got promoted in his place..."

You squeeze, more out of reflex than anything. Malloy grits her teeth in pain. "Why is Excalibur here?" you demand.

"That's a funny sort of question, Arthur," Malloy answers. "Why might the sword of Camelot be here, Arthur? Dig real fucking deep, Arthur?"

"There's millions of Arthurs, you traitorous cunt," you snarl.

"But there ain't millions of lands crying out for a king, are there?" comes the pirate's reply. "Deal's a deal."

You let her go and watch her wrench your door open, one-handed, and tear out of the hallway. After a minute you shut and lock the door, close and lock your window, and find some chains and a padlock to tie up your surprise guests.

Then the phone rings. You're answering it before you can really consciously think to. "Arthur."

"Did the battle go well, Your Majesty?" Inky Jennie asks, all dark amusement.

"What, you don't know?" you return, sarcastically.

"I am a prophet, not a god, my liege. If I were omniscient I wouldn't be living in a studio apartment."

"You've got me there. I've got a pair of pirates worse for the wear and chained up. Malloy got away."

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>>715751
"The lodestone?" your - vassal, you suppose, now that you think about it - asks.

"Right here," you tell her. "What am I supposed to do with it?"

Jennie lets out a sigh of relief. "All will be revealed, my liege. For now, we should spread the word of your heroism, and news of Malloy's presence in the city. Though I do suppose it depends on which horse you're going to bet on in this race..."

"Mm." Conflict has been brewing in Spring for some time now, between the established Emerald Queen - one Ramona Rabbit - and her ambitious young Princess, Natalia. On the one hand, riding herd on the Spring Court for any length of time takes iron will, skill at compromise, and empathy, qualities that Ramona's shown in spades.

On the other hand, the whispers go that Natalia may just be wearing the Crown next year come Spring, and she's never forgotten a friend yet.

> Turn the pirates over to Ramona
> Call Natalia

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> Call Natalia
mfw

>>715764
> Call Natalia
This will be a good learning experience.

>>715751
>technologically illiterate
>You're answering it before you can really consciously think to.
>?

I gotta hit the sack, folks. Votes remain open, and I'll pick this back up tomorrow. This is gonna run until this story is done or until you get Arthur ignominiously killed, captured, or otherwise removed from play.

Questions, comments, discussion, feedback, and criticisms are welcome and appreciated. I haven't done the whole 'quest in an established property' thing before and I'm also very open to feedback on the mechanics. Please, I'm looking to improve.

Thank you all for reading and participating!

>>715773
He can't navigate a smartphone. He can reflexively pick up the annoying ringing thing next to him just fine.

>>715764
>Call Natalia
Either the established order or the ambitious unknown, but if the rumors are true, it seems that Natalia has these traits to a degree as well.

>Turn the pirates over to Ramona. We're going to be king? Might as well keep the ambitious girl crushed down and outmaneuver her instead of supporting someone who would want the throne for herself.

...Damnit, I set that trip up for doing wordbuilding stuff for the guy who asked and forgot to take it off when Vox went to bed before I was done with it to run it past him. My bad.

>>715775
Plus there's the little problem of him breaking the damned thing by accident.

Gotta tell ya, it's been interesting; the characters don't hook me like DLQ does, but that's because they've had time to develop, be interesting and do stuff, you know.

>>715764
I have to agree with this guy; >>715898
> Turn the pirates over to Ramona. We're going to be king? Might as well keep the ambitious girl crushed down and outmaneuver her instead of supporting someone who would want the throne for herself.
If we have a reason to trust the current Queen, we should go for it.

Also, does Arthur /really/ have a reason to want the throne? Does he want to protect other Changelings, become a man of power and authority, what? These are kind of important, not just for us to know, but for how the other characters may interact with him.

I know I would be a lot more at ease following a troll with a heart of gold than a giant monster-man that loved lording over his subjects.

>>715764
>> Turn the pirates over to Ramona

>>715764
>> Turn the pirates over to Ramona

>>715764
> Call Natalia

>>715764
> Turn the pirates over to Ramona
if we're gonna be king it's probably a good idea to be on good terms with the sitting queen.

Called. Our winner, by one vote, is Ramona. Writing shortly.

>>715957
This will be coming up Soon(tm).

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>>715764
"I think I'm going to bet on Her Viridian Majesty," you say at last. "Few reasons. One, I like her better. Two, she's Queen now. And three, even if I bet on the wrong horse I enhance a reputation for loyalty."

"That's awful clear-headed for a drunk guy," Jennie teases.

"Violence is sobering. Can you make the arrangements?"

"Oh, she'll still be awake," Jennie purrs. "I'd wash up, if I were you." The witch hangs up, leaving you to reflect on if she's trying to flirt with you, creep you out, have a little fun in her life, or some odd combination of the three.

You chain the restrained privateers to your radiator and get in the shower for one of the quickest scrubs of your life. You wash the blood from your knuckles, get in between the cracks on your stony face and skin, and get out the good cologne that you won at a Winter raffle two years back which, as it turned out later, could probably be pawned off for a new TV if you hadn't had an appreciation for those times a gentleman really must be at his best.

You debate for about half a second before you get into a suit and tie. Spring loves dramatics. You wouldn't be surprised if -

If you stepped out into your living room and she was already here. Fucking. God.

Queen Ramona Rabbit, the Emerald Monarch, has - depending on your perspective - either the incredible misfortune or the great luck to look like the sort of bunny girl you get in porn comics. Tall, athletic, Ramona favors sleek dresses but, it must be said, practical shoes. Her white ears twitch playfully when she sees you.

"Arthur," she greets warmly. You give her a deep bow, one hand over your chest, and she answers by offering her hand. You give her knuckles a kiss. "Most knights of Summer don't like playing along," she teases.

"Can I help it if I have an oft-frustrated appreciation for class?" you answer in mock hurt. Ramona grins, and you grin back. She's easy to like.

"I must say, I am not madly in love with the gifts you've brought me," Ramona tells you, gesturing to the privateers. "Wherever did you get them?"

"They turned up rather rudely in my home, and let the bugs in," you answer. "They were with Malloy, your Majesty. The pirate with the pearl eyes got away, I'm afraid, along with a Darkling girl with hair that drips shadow."

"Got away, or bought her way out?" Ramona answers; there's a sharp edge beneath her pleasant tone. "You could have dealt with these yourself and had your Court dispose of them, knight of Summer. Instead you offer me the chance to display Spring's justice. Why?"

> Lie [Persuasion against difficulty 6; roll only 1 die]
> Confess to seeking her favor [Persuasion against difficulty 6]
> Admit your intentions to be King of Summer [Politics against difficulty ??]

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1U5Lzx4tv01QjKdU0-v-16gawa7udDze9KXfGMxQpbIY/edit?usp=sharing

>>716545
>Admit your intentions
We're not exactly a deep schemer. Better to have it out there and establish a working relationship now.

>>716545
>> Admit your intentions to be King of Summer [Politics against difficulty ??]

>>716545
> Admit your intentions to be King of Summer [Politics against difficulty ??]
It's true. And might possibly lead to her underestimating our political cunning, which might come in handy someday.

>>716545
>Confess to seeking her favor [Persuasion against difficulty 6]
Not showing our entire hand etc.

>>716545
> Admit your intentions to be King of Summer [Politics against difficulty ??]
better to know where she stands now

>>716545
> Admit your intentions to be King of Summer [Politics against difficulty ??]

I imagine that complete honesty would be refreshing for someone who is used to being surrounded by snobbish nobles and the proud elite. Who (like everywhere else in the universe) probably spend half their time scheming and plotting, and the other half kissing her ass.

Plus, Arthur already has a good reputation. Almost...heroic? Like some white knight from a fable?

>>716545
Also vox just to let you know I am enjoying the heck out of this quest so far.

I hope Inky doesn't turn out to be our Morgana

>"You are Queen, your Majesty, in this time and place. It is only right that you pass judgement on those whose actions threaten every member of the Freehold, as Malloy's do - and these by extension in serving her. It was not a personal grievance nor a matter internal to the Court.

>Should it prove that my actions later parlay into the support of a respected and influential member of the Freehold when it comes time to choose a Summer King, or the favor of a fair and just Queen in the meanwhile... Who would complain of such an unasked-for bounty?"

>(Essentially, a pseudocombination of two and three, with an emphasis on truthful-but-flattering statements and letting her know that there are no expectations on her but we certainly won't turn down her favor if she wishes to grant it.)

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Not to be an ass, but...I want to pet the bunny rabbit.
Not even in a lewd fashion! It's the ears. They're adorable! She must get that a lot. Might make her a bit tsundere too, which is even more moe.

If it /does/ turn lewd though, I won't mind. Nope, not one bit.

The safe word is 'Hossenfeffer'.

Called in favor of Admit your intentions. Give me two rolls at 1d10+3

Rolled 7 + 3 (1d10 + 3)

>>716987
rollan

Rolled 8 + 3 (1d10 + 3)

>>716987
Dice

>>717015
>>717031
God bless pretty high roles.

>>717015
>>717031
It is our story writing it's self! Rex quondam, rexque futurus!

8+3 = 11 - Success with style. Writing.

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>>716545
The complicated world of politics, especially Court politics, is known for its lies, evasions, back-room deals, and circular approaches to problems.

The Summer Court is known for its straightforward approach to problems, though. You decide to try honesty, under the reasonable belief that she won't be expecting it.

"Queen Ramona, I've brought this to you because I intend, fully, to wear the Crown of Summer come June," you tell her. The formal method of address is almost natural to you; Ramona shares a preference for it with Autumn's King. "And as an as-yet inexperienced monarch I want to benefit from your wisdom and expertise in running the Freehold, in addition to wanting to ensure smooth transitions between our Courts."

Ramona blinks, and then smiles, the expression spreading across her face with flirtatious glee. "Aren't we the ambitious one. Summer /is/ without a king. Why not you?"

"Why not indeed, your Majesty," you agree modestly. "I intend for this to be my first step on the road to rule, and wish for no...misunderstandings...between us."

"And what else might you wish?" the Emerald Monarch asks, arching an eyebrow.

"Whiskey Jack put a bounty out on me. I might wish a word in private with him," you ask, hoping against hope.

"Whiskey...the Wizened bartender, joined Summer when you did? Makes the multicolored drinks that we have to dose by body weight?"

"The same," you agree.

"Mmm. How private?"

> Completely private
> Some hidden cameras might not go amiss. I'd like my Court to know what I do to my enemies
> Send an agent into the room with me. I'll get him to confess, and you can do with him as you will.

>>717224
> Completely private
No matter what we do to him, peoples imaginations will come up with worse. that's the benefit of speculation.

>>717224
>Completely private

>Send an agent into the room with me. I'll get him to confess, and you can do with him as you will.

We'd like to get a reputation as a strong-but-just King, here. Not a thug. Turning him over to the established power structure does that AND generates goodwill with Ramona because we're reinforcing her position by granting that she has the right to punish Whiskey Jack even though it is a personal matter. Plus, this sets up a precedent for the Ruler having the right to settle disputes in their territory - good for us when we're that Ruler.

>>717258
this

>>717263
I'm fairly sure Vox doesn't accept non-greentext votes, based on prior statements in DLQ; if you want him to count it as a vote rather than just weighing in on discussion, you'll probably need to make sure it is one.

>>717224
> Send an agent into the room with me. I'll get him to confess, and you can do with him as you will.

>>717224
> Send an agent into the room with me. I'll get him to confess, and you can do with him as you will.

>>717224
> Some hidden cameras might not go amiss. I'd like my Court to know what I do to my enemies

> Send an agent into the room with me. I'll get him to confess, and you can do with him as you will.

Aight folks, I must go be Gainfully Employed. I'll be back around 1 AM EST, at which point I'll call and write.

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>>717385

>>717224
>> Completely private

> Send an agent into the room with me. I'll get him to confess, and you can do with him as you will.

>>717410
...Why is that man holding an invisible dick?

>>717837
no I don't think richard is in this one.

>>717962
I thought the Vintner was the one prone to invisible dickery?

>>717224
> Send an agent into the room with me. I'll get him to confess, and you can do with him as you will.

Better to have a good impression than no recorded impression at all

Called for Send an agent. Writing, admittedly late as fuck. Gonna go to bed after this if I can actually force myself to sleep.

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>>717224
"Nothing terribly private. An agent of the Crown should be there to hear his confession, and give their report to you," you answer.

"And people say Ogres are no good at subtle," Ramona laughs, prettily. "Crash and Dash will meet you at the Willow."

"Two agents?" you ask, curiously.

"They're inseparable," Queen Ramona insists. "And others will be comforted that the pair of them are there when you have such a...shall we say, personal, stake in the proceedings."

"I know I've got a temper," you say sullenly.

"One of Summer's most attractive qualities," the rabbit woman soothes. She pops onto her toes and puts a kiss on your forehead, and you feel a warm, vitalizing energy flow through you. You feel better, as though you had the chance to eat, drink, and sleep. You're not even drunk any more.

"I don't condone drunk driving," Ramona teases, before she leaves. "Do let me know if you decide you'd like...assistance."

You watch her the entire time she leaves. That little tail is hypnotic.

You're supposed to be doing something, right?

Fuck, the interrogation, right. You shake your head and take the lodestone, tucking it into your breast pocket. You also grab your favorite baseball bat (solid steel, for preference) and, after a moment's thought, your multitool. You never know when you might need a more subtle touch.

The Willow is a bar, of sorts, though to be honest it is difficult to classify. The Spring Court has owned it since it was an inn in the New Avalon that was, and even now the historic building attracts a particular crowd, encouraged by the Court of Desire. You drive yourself there and park in the full lot, in a spot reserved for 'members'. The door man, a mortal gifted with the Sight, gives you a nod and opens the door for you.

Inside, the Willow is...

Passionate is probably the right word. Newcomers to town, they learn about Spring and the Willow and they assume the place is a strip club or a burlesque house or something cliche like that, but the passion on display inside is more like Greek philosophy, complete with frequent fistfights while shouting the salient points. This late at night the place is mostly empty, though the Willow never really closes, and the most activity it has to boast is a Darkling girl, coated in dust, giving an art lesson. She paints white against a black canvas, sketching out a scene like she's painting with stretched light.

Dash and Crash wait for you at the bar. Dash, like Ramona, is a Beast - in their mutual case, a Runnerswift, and no points for guessing their thing. But where Ramona has those (entrancing) rabbit-like features, Dash is a deer, a literal young buck with little half-grown antlers and those wide eyes. Guy was skinny as a fawn when he first came back. Now he's ripped.

Crash, his twin brother, is human. You think. The way they act sometimes, though...

"You ready?" Crash asks.

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>>720182
"We've got a nice tall drink of Whiskey for ya," Dash adds. "Right up in the VIP suite."

"Anything I need to know?" you ask.

"Her Majesty would prefer him alive," Dash answers.

"And whole," Crash adds.

"Mainly whole," Dash corrects.

"At least eighty percent whole, let's call it," Crash agrees.

Oi. These two. "Then let's go."

The VIP suite. If one comes to the Court of Desire looking for the first thing people think of when you say 'desire', chances are - well, actually, chances are a bunch of offended Spring Courtiers beat the shit out of you and then strap you to a chair while Peppy Polly lectures you at length about why you're an insensitive asshole, but, if you know how to ask, and to whom you are asking, and show the right respect, there's the VIP suite, the only room in the former inn that's still a room aside from the Royal Suite, where Ramona works.

Crash opens the door to let you in. You have to duck a little, but you're rewarded with the look of surprise and terror on Whiskey's face when he sees you. Whiskey's a little bastard, maybe four-foot-five and a hundred pounds if he's an ounce, and you can smell the booze on him from here, beneath his dripping mop of hair and the sallow skin that swims with alchemical colors.

He lunges for the window, but Dash is already there. The young buck grins.

Whiskey looks up, helplessly. "A-Arty, my brother," he starts. "I, ah, I gotta say you ain't my usual type, what with the bein' three times my size and a rather handsome gentleman..."

The whiff of Summer coming off of him makes you growl in anger. How dare he lie to your fucking face?

> Rough him up [Intimidate against difficulty 12, strength-based]
> Press him to cop a plea deal with Ramona [Intimidate against difficulty 10]
> Offer to plead on his behalf if he'll confess [Politics against difficulty 9; may incur Ramona's wrath]

And the sheet

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1U5Lzx4tv01QjKdU0-v-16gawa7udDze9KXfGMxQpbIY/edit

I'm gonna hit bed and leave you folks to review your options and vote.

>Press him to cop to a plea deal with Ramona.

This is, after all, what you told her you would do. Roughing him up just reinforces that maybe he wasn't entirely in the wrong - and it sends the wrong impression about how we prefer to operate.

Now. It would be easier to offer to plead his case to Ramon. But frankly, defending him is a bad idea. He's scum; Summer has ways to handle grievances, as does she.

On top of that, we just curried favor with her, quite deliberately. To be fair, we then spent some of it to arrange this, but quite possibly not all - and it's the start of a good working relationship. We do not want to screw that up by making her angry at us before it has a chance to develop.

>>720238
Remember, you can spend glamour on intimidation rolls, even if they're not based on strength. You don't have to, obviously, but if you choose to you can spend up to three.

>>720204
> Press him to cop a plea deal with Ramona [Intimidate against difficulty 10]

>>720246
Oh, good point. Let's see... If we burn two Glamour, we go down to a 16% chance of failure. Burning three Glamour takes us down to 9%. (One Glamour leaves us with a 25% chance of failure.) Assuming that we press him to agree to a plea deal, anyhow. That seems like a pretty good deal to me. Especially as we have a human in the room we can pick up some Glamour from when we get through.

>Spend 3 Glamour.

>>720204
> Rough him up.
All of the other options can be sober after this.

>>720268
>Especially as we have a human in the room we can pick up some Glamour from when we get through.
Cant remember if you could sense fetches, if not I think Crash is Dashes fetch

>>720364
It's possible, but I'd think somebody would have noticed that by now if it means he can't be used as a Glamour source.

>>720204
>Press him to cop a plea deal with Ramona [Intimidate against difficulty 10]
If we fail this can we still rough him up?
I'm not against spending glamour but I'm not going to specify the amount.

>>720381
Ramona would know and C&D would have made a deal with her to keep it quiet

>>720386
Ye-es, but. The tricky part there is he's an ostensible human in close proximity to Changelings, in a venue that encourages emotional reactions. And there's no particular taboo about harvesting, as it's not harmful in any way. If people haven't found out that he's a Fetch then it's very likely that he's human or that Fetches can be harvested from in Vox's games; either way the point about recovery stands.

>>720204
> Rough him up [Intimidate against difficulty 12, strength-based]
He doesn't even need to say anything for this course of action to be worth it.

>>720674
Oh, and use the special Showoff skill.

I get that we're gullible and a dumb ogre, but I'd like to cannily manuever enemies into positions where we can punch them.

I'm reading something where the main character is a lying, smoothtalking, double-crossing little bastard where surprisingly often his ploys culminate in having the enemy taken down with brute force. I think we can aim for that sort of manipulation.

>>720204
> Rough him up [Intimidate against difficulty 12, strength-based]

>>720674
>Display Grandiose Might

>>720710
Does it involve Thorns? Because if so we can proooobably aim to be a bit better than him.

>>720869
Sylvester, from Twig. For some reason, people seem to think he's untrustworthy.

>>720204
>> Rough him up [Intimidate against difficulty 12, strength-based]

For people who have not read the Doc, Display Grandiose Might gives +3 to shows of strength. I want to see what that looks like.

Also, where did we get the impression that someone put a bounty on us, what made us ask the pearl eyed pirate about it?

Interestingly, we seem to be an engineer.

>>721013
Oh, huh. Interesting. I haven't read Twig yet. Might do that once I get done binging DLQ.

>>720364
Fetches are notoriously hard to detect. Like, massively, stupidly hard to detect. The "owner" of a Fetch can see it for what it truly is; everyone else can essentially get fucked, as the Fetch looks, smells, and otherwise seems human. The Duchy of Truth and Loss fields tokens that can certify if someone's human, Changeling, or Fetch, and certain other powers - such as Spellbound Autumn - can tell you something is fucky even if you're not sure what, but other than that the "best" way to pick out a Fetch if you don't have its Changeling on hand is to see if it does magic shit.

I'm seeing, I think, two votes to use Display Grandoise Might and one vote to boost your Intimidate. Display Grandoise Might is not compatible with the (currently-winning) 'rough him up' option; you can't use the boosted strength to hurt people.

I'm gonna leave this vote open for one more hour. Unless there is a discussion/vote against it, use three glamour is locked in.

>>720204
>>intimidate
>>use show of grandiose might
I figure casually bending something in the room into pretzels while asking which extraneous limb he'd like to lose should do the trick.

>>721162
To cop a plea. Sorry I'm a moron.

>>720204
> Press him to cop a plea deal with Ramona [Intimidate against difficulty 10]
> no glamour
I'd like to see the outcome if we manage to fuck this up, particularly if it means getting to use The Bat.

>>720268
I was under the impression Grandiose Might didn't work for this roll; changing my vote to:

>Use Display Grandiose Might.

> Press him to cop a plea deal with Ramona
> Glamour up

First impressions are important. That's a very nice bone structure you have there. Would be a shame if anything happened to it.

>>720204
>> Press him to cop a plea deal with Ramona [Intimidate against difficulty 10]
>> Display grandiose might.

Called, tallying, writing.

Or there's a brief delay. Thank you for your patience.

>>721082
Jennie told you, a bit upthread, that the pirate with the pearl eyes was there for the lodestone with you as a bonus payout.

So our winners are:

Press him to cop a plea
Expend 3 Glamour
Display Grandoise Might

DGM's providing a circumstance bonus in this case, letting you add the threat of violence to your intimidation. With that in mind, roll me three dice at 1d10+10 and may God have mercy on poor Whiskey.

You expend three glamour

Rolled 4 + 10 (1d10 + 10)

>>721869

Rolled 10 + 10 (1d10 + 10)

>>721869

Rolled 10 + 10 (1d10 + 10)

>>721869
>>721886
Son of a fuck, what does this mean?

Rolled 10 + 10 (1d10 + 10)

>>721869
Guess he is on his knees begging for mercy and confessing to this we didn't know about then.

>>721884
>>721886
>>721887
i think we did okay.

How did you guys roll 3 tens in a row
>>721886
>>721887
>>721890

>>721902
Human sacrifice.

Writing.

writers block or did vox succumb to tooth pain?

>>722277
Is he this slow and erratic in DLQ?
Jesus christ this shit is unbearable

>>722457
I have Real Life issues that significantly influence the rate of my writing, some more recurring than others. You've my apologies.

>>722457
He had a tooth disintegrate on him /again/, apparently. That tends to distract most people.

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>>722573

>>722482
You gonna be ok vox? You're quests are great and all but if you die (and someone destroys your phylactery) we get no more updates at all. So please take care of yourself.

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>>720204
You put a massive hand on Whiskey's shoulder. "I like to think of myself as a reasonable man," you tell him, ignoring his attempt to joke in favor of a philosophic air. "I like to think that I get angry with people for good reasons. That's the thing with Summer, right? If we were just mindless thugs we wouldn't have lasted since - how long, Dash?" you ask, conversationally.

"Courts date back to pre-Christian Rome, Arthur," Dash answers, a wry look on his face.

"Old as shit," Crash agrees.

"Even so," you agree. You let go of Whiskey, who is trembling in his boots. You weave the glamour into your words, your bearing; you can feel it making you seem bigger, lending a weight to what you say like a rockslide out of the blue.

Time to show off you murmur, in your head. The stone mantle over the room's fireplace gives you a throaty chuckle; you can feel Stone filling in its side of the deal, making your muscles ripple with borrowed strength.

"But you know, tonight I learned some things that made me a bit upset, Whiskey," you continue. "Real upset, actually. I know things get a bit cutthroat sometimes, y'know? We compete. The Court's big on competition and sometimes folks win, and sometimes folks lose, and sometimes the losers get mad."

"I never -"

"I am talking, Whiskey," you interrupt, your voice rumbling well past the actual words. "You will shut the fuck up."

Whiskey shuts the fuck up.

"Now, I've stabbed my share of people in the front," you admit. "You were one of 'em. We competed, you lost, and it wasn't fair but life just ain't fair, is it? I didn't lose any respect for you but apparently you lost some for me. Imagine my shock and surprise when I learn that some enterprising soul sold me out to the pirate with the pearl eyes."

You hit the bed, just once; your muscles ripple with your own strength and that of Stone, straining the reinforced frame until it bursts at the joints and collapses in on itself with an almighty crash. Whiskey presses himself up against the wall, eyes wide with terror.

"That shit," you murmur, "makes me real angry. And I think an honest brother of the Summer Court would know enough to man up and confess to Ramona, and maybe she'll be understanding about what it's like to be mad because life is un-fucking-fair."

"She paid me!" Whiskey yells. "Malloy, she paid! She wanted to know about the lodestone, the one you gave to your girl, she, she had this truck just full of money and I told her she could make it all back if she'd just get rid of you and I'm sorry don't kill me."

You pick Whiskey up by the front of his shirt. "What did she say about the Lady of the Lake?" you ask, while the small man dangles.

"The - nothing! But she was talking to this Darkling girl, said something about the subways -"

You, Dash, and Crash all swear at the same time.

"The subways, she said the lodestone would lead them through the subways!" Whiskey insists. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"

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>>722746
You drop Whiskey Jack; he lands on his feet, to his credit, and takes a step back, trembling.

"I think her Majesty is going to want that money, Jack," you tell him.

"It's hers," the Wizened man agrees, immediately.

"Get him out of my sight, please."

Dash and Crash frog-march Whiskey out of the room, leaving you alone with your thoughts.

The subways. God damn it.

New Avalon's subway system is its pride and joy. One of the most elegantly-designed and efficient public transit systems in the nation, the trains in New Avalon run on time and are clean, pleasant, and remarkably cheap.

Unfortunately, at least as far as the public is concerned, the subways and maintenance tunnels are also the home to numerous gangs and vagrants hiding from the law or just looking for someplace warm to spend the night. Urban legends talk about ghost trains and monsters that haunt the midnight trains, preying on the lonely, and that's not the half of it. The tunnels are riddled with entrances to the Hedge that are nearly impossible to police effectively.

Freehold policy is that anyone stupid enough to go into the subways deserves whatever they're going to get. But Malloy isn't out of the game yet, not exactly, and you're going to need to think, then move, fast. You'll start by getting Jennie back on board. Then...

> Petition Ramona for the aid of the Spring Court; it'll cement your theoretical upcoming alliance and you might be able to tap a train nut
> Seek backup from your brothers in Summer. You've got friends there who can fight alongside you, especially if you bring up Malloy
> Acquire knowledge and possibly sorceries from the Autumn Court; if you're going into a monster's den, you may as well ask the people who study monsters
> Ask Ramona for a cut of Whiskey's money, then purchase help from the Winter Court. They always know more than they let on, but it's always for sale. You might be able to hire an ambitious low-ranker to help you scout the place.

>>722793
>> Petition Ramona for the aid of the Spring Court; it'll cement your theoretical upcoming alliance and you might be able to tap a train nut
>> Seek backup from your brothers in Summer. You've got friends there who can fight alongside you, especially if you bring up Malloy

Assuming we can do both.

>>722793
>> Seek backup from your brothers in Summer. You've got friends there who can fight alongside you, especially if you bring up Malloy
We're Summer, let's talk to Summer

>>722839
Please choose only one. More a matter of urgency than anything else.

>>722839
Ok, conversations I can see wanting to mix options. But a clear one or the other option? Really?

>>722793
> Acquire knowledge and possibly sorceries from the Autumn Court; if you're going into a monster's den, you may as well ask the people who study monsters

>>722793
> Seek backup from your brothers in Summer. You've got friends there who can fight alongside you, especially if you bring up Malloy
we've shown good faith to spring, now it's time to show we can take care of business. Plus it'll be good to get some practice leadership in.

>>722793
So. What's Summer like, generally? Full of fine, upstanding people like Whiskey Jack? How likely are we to get burned by this?

> Seek backup from your brothers in Summer anyway

>>722793
I'm with this anon; >>722873
> Seek backup from your brothers in Summer. You've got friends there who can fight alongside you, especially if you bring up Malloy.
We've made steps towards an alliance with Spring, but our first bonds are to the Summer. They're supposed to be like family, and family looks out for each other.

>>722887
My understanding is that Malloy has been capturing and selling numerous Changelings to creatures and beings from beyond the Hedge.

This makes the Summer Court /very angry/. And Arthur has built up a reputation as a trustworthy and honorable individual. One they might even be wiling to follow...

>>722887
The Summer Court, known as the Court of Wrath, is the most straightforward and clear of purpose of the four Seasonal Courts. Summer takes the defense of the Freehold as its purpose and banner; alone among the four Courts, Summer retains and trains full-time soldiers.

Advancement in Summer is rooted heavily in competition and strife. It goes well beyond proving your competence, though you definitely have to do that. Summer stacks the deck against its Courtiers, running them through a gauntlet known as the Tribulum in which they are kicked down, kicked around, and run through eight shades of hell for every inch they want to climb up the latter. The rewards can be great, but it's scary enough that a lot of Courtiers remain low-ranking rather than put themselves through it.

New Avalon's Summer Court had a strong king who was, shall we say, bad at delegation. Without him, they've become aimless and undirected, doing odd jobs around the Freehold or attending to their permanent duties. Partly it's the shock of loss, but mainly it's because His Majesty served a lot of roles that he could and maybe should have had aides and advisors for. There is no General to step in and lead in his absence, no viceroy or majordomo, leaving a power vacuum and a Court full of unled soldiers.

So TL;DR Summer courtiers stab you in the front if they have a problem with you, not the back. It isn't even just that they're bad at deception, it's that they feel deception, intrigue, and elaborate plots are weak tools that betray their masters. The Court is going to be fucking furious with Whiskey, not just for being a traitor but for not having the guts to betray Arthur himself.

>>722933
never played changeling so this is actually good information to have.

>>722933
Sound like my kind of people.

You work, and you /fight/, for what you want. Nothing is easy, or without price. If you can't accept that, then you don't have any right complaining.

It's rough as hell, and probably cruel, but the Summer Court is preparing it's people to not just survive, but thrive in the face of adversity.

>>722793
>> Petition Ramona for the aid of the Spring Court; it'll cement your theoretical upcoming alliance and you might be able to tap a train nut

>>722793
>Acquire knowledge and possibly sorceries from the Autumn Court; if you're going into a monster's den, you may as well ask the people who study monsters

I'm not even sure what we'll possibly find down there.

Called. Winner: Summer. Writing.

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>>722793
You head downstairs. You probably don't have time to lose, and in any event you already have your baseball bat. The young woman behind the bar is Emily Vickers, a mortal in the know but not granted the Sight. Rumor has it that she used to have the ability to see fae miens as they truly are, but begged to have her vision revoked. True or not, Emily keeps the business end of the Willow running.

Questions about the knife scar that loops from her scalp to her chin, hot and bright against her dark skin, are not suggested. Ramona does not find them amusing.

"Can you get me Inkie Jennie on the phone, Em?" you ask, politely. "And coffee, black for preference, about as big as you can get it."

"You gotta learn how cell phones work one of these days, big guy," Emily admonishes, but she picks up the phone and starts to dial while the new guy - Karl, right? - starts to make the coffee. A lot of Changelings that make it back to Earth in the Spring end up working at the Willow to give them something to do with their days while they acclimate to life back. Karl's definitely seen better times. Some of those scars from the Thorns go down to the bone.

"Thank you, friend," you tell him gratefully, when he hands over the massive mug of hot coffee. The scarred Fairest - even now, the marks from the Thorns have started to shift into whorls and artistic patterns - gives you a shy smile and returns to cleaning the bar with the attention to detail of someone who still expects to be tortured for failing.

Poor bastard. Wasn't too long ago that you were him.

"She says she's on her way," Emily tells you, hanging the phone up. "And to learn to use a god damn cell phone."

"No she didn't," you answer, flatly.

"Yeah, she didn't," Emily admits. "Hey, about Jess..."

"Not having this conversation," you say flatly.

"You ought to some time. Look, I'm not saying you don't have a right to feel heartbroken but if you really want to understand why she left -"

Your turn your head and give Emily a long look. "I am not having this conversation," you repeat, softly.

"You can't run forever," Emily mutters, before she turns away to help Karl with something.

You aren't waiting long for Jennie. The Artist comes in smoking a cigarette, her tattoos writhing in anticipation. She stops when she sees the art lesson out of the corner of her eyes, watching it for a long moment with an unguarded expression of appreciation and what you'd swear is longing.

You disturb her reverie with some reluctance. "I have the lodestone," you murmur. "Ramona approves, I think. Not enough for me to risk asking her for more help, but we'll have friendly terms, if I'm successful."

"If," Jennie agrees smokily, tearing her eyes away from the Darkling artist. "Have you a plan?"

"I'm going to call in some favors and get backup from my brothers in Summer," you tell her. "I'll need to be a bit picky about who I choose, because we're going into the fucking subway -"

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>>723893
Inky slaps her leg and swears at length in what you'll bet your ass is Russian but is also very definitely the universal language of God Damn It, Why Is This My Fucking Life.

"You didn't know?" you ask.

"No I didn't fucking know! If I knew do you think I would have -" Inky takes a deep breath, lets it out slowly, and replaces it with a confident smile. "This is fine. All is well. We have the lodestone and that's what's important."

You raise your eyebrows at her.

"Anyway," Jennie continues, brushing off the lapel of her jacket; the dust that swirls off of it vanishes into motes of light. "There is a question I need to ask you. A personal question, not needed for the magic, but for...let us say for preparing myself to serve you."

"I still can't tell if you're supposed to be Morgana or Merlin, but I'll bite," you grant.

"What kind of king do you want to be?" Inky Jennie asks, her eyes on yours. The inked snakes on her body stare at you, their tongues flicking silently down her fingers.

> A just king; I won't permit the prejudice that's kept me down
> A mighty king; I will keep the Freehold safe
> A wise king; I will improve my Court

Please choose only one.

>>723897
> A wise king; I will improve my Court
This is the option that makes us get those fucking subordinates in place.

>>723897
> A wise king; I will improve my Court

Aight, I gotta crawl into bed. We're just about near the end of this particular journey, though. In the meantime, votes remain open.

Questions, comments, discussion, feedback, suggestions on how to handle the use of power/glamour voting god damn, and criticisms remain welcome and appreciated. In particular, if you have thoughts or feelings on the mechanics & the difficulty of rolls, please express them. I very much wanna improve on how this runs as a game before I end up going live with the longer quest in this setting down the line.

Thank you all for reading and participating!

>>723923
You've been doing an excellent job of giving context on the world for the absolute newbies, and answering questions that arise.

>the use of power/glamour voting
Remind every voter to include "if we must do X, use Y. If Z, Q." or somesuch? fuck bro idunno

>>723897
> A just king; I won't permit the prejudice that's kept me down.
I think it's most in-character, and probably also why she chose us.

This is a good time to try for a spot of propaganda, getting our name out there. We just had a win, we want to capitalize on it. Do we want to emphasize Mighty, Reasonable, or Vengeful?

See, there are several types of people who might want us on the Summer Throne. People of Summer who want a more 'delegation-type' ruler, people who respect our strength or are scared of opposing us. People of other Courts who want a strong or a weak leader in Summer, or one who is manipulable or reasonable.

Which attributes can we display from this and the episode at our apartment?

I'm not even saying 'Arthur is a contender for the Throne', these are just going to be normal rumors for name recognition.

>Brag to the bystanders about us crushing Malley's forces and wrist when she attempted to collect a bounty on you from Whiskey, and about how Whiskey is about to have a baaaaad time.

>A just king. I won't permit the prejudice that's kept me down.

Wise and cruel can be worse than foolish and cruel. Strong can easily be nothing more than a thug. If we want the loyalty of the Court - but more than that, if we want to build something that lasts, something that is going to influence our Court in New Avalon and the Freehold itself - then we need to be fair and just to all our subjects, not just create other people like us.

Critique of the interrogation scene:

A: It was almost completely internal, rather than external. The viewpoint was focusing on what Arthur thought and said rather than the effect of his actions and speech on Whiskey. As such, it lacked IMPACT.

Impact is shown through reaction. You throw a punch and the enemy doesn't budge, vs you throw a punch and the enemy is launched through a wall and ricochets off the floor.

We saw little to no reaction from Fletch, most of it was cut off or glossed over.


>"I never -"

>"I am talking, Whiskey," you interrupt, your voice rumbling well past the actual words. "You will shut the fuck up."

>Whiskey shuts the fuck up.

We don't see what words Whiskey reacts to, what he focuses on, nor what his emotional state is, other than 'shutting up'. An interrogation, by its very nature, should focus on the person being asked the questions.

>You pick Whiskey up by the front of his shirt. "What did she say about the Lady of the Lake?" you ask, while the small man dangles.

>"The - nothing! But she was talking to this Darkling girl, said something about the subways -"

Again, impact. The guy is being lifted off his feet, a huge ogre is in his face, and we don't get a look at what his reaction is.

This big interrogation scene, which should be rife with fear and anger, emotional, people being thrown around is reduced to a big man talking to himself in a room.

>>710213
>It's 1:20 in the morning and you're drunk the way only ogres can get drunk, on enough alcohol to throw a wedding in a lower-class neighborhood
Are we not drunk anymore?

>>724093
we burned a lot of it off running home, then Ramona kissed our forehead after we talked and that somehow refreshed us and burned away the alcohol in our system. I don't know if it was glamour or magic or both.

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>>723966
B: ENTHUSIASM!

After
>>714917
>AMBUSH: 10 + 7 = 17: CRITICAL SUCCESS
>FIGHT: 10 + 6 = 16: CRITICAL SUCCESS

-we got:
>>715189
>You lunge into the room, picking up the Wizened with a mighty squeeze that cracks bone. He sags with an odd sighing sound, at which point you seize his wrist and crash him directly into the rat just as the Beast is turning. You let go of the short man and crash a fist into the Rat's face, splintering his nose.
>
Malloy draws and fires a hand crossbow; the wild shot goes right out the window.
>"How bad you wanna do this, pirate?" you murmur.

Putting aside the picture that came with it, which is more meta than actually adds to the excitement of the scene, it's too short! Over and done, too fast to savor or experience. It's a sneeze which is promptly over, with no loving description of how the Wizend's arms and legs flail as he crumples and screams being accelerated beyond human tolerances into the Rat, who is knocked into the wall and...

This Revengeance cutscene where we demolish the two is packed into three sentences, when it could have been drawn out into a lushly detailed takedown. It is possible to give a higher-detailed description while still seeming blindingly fast, you know. One of the easiest ways to show off a quickly all this went is to have all this happen before or while Malloy is drawing her crossbow, or stunned, or turning around.

>>715751
>You pick up the rat - Mike, was it? - like he's nothing and hurl him two-handed at the pirate. Malloy yelps, honest-to-god-fucking-yelps like a cheerleader who just got cracked with a towel and takes him at chest height. Both go down to the floor in a heap, with the wind blowing out of the pirate's lungs. You cross the room in two loping strides and pull her up by the front of her jacket.
Again. This is a legitimately fucking awesome move, okay? Motherfucking throwing a bitch at another motherfucker. And you threw in two anticlimaxes. 'Cheerleader yelp' and 'Mike, yeah?' Own it! Don't downplay the legitimately awesome.

Now, speaking as a quester, getting three Rolled 10 + 10 (1d10 + 10) in a row, even if only two of them were allowed by rules, I'd expect something FUCKING AWESOME to happen.

As a writer, as a GM, this anticipation is absolutely something you can use. (OMIGAWD I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT MOUNTAIN EXPLODED, JESUS CHRIST ON A PAIR OF POPSICLE STICKS THIS IS SO GREAT) It can be used to justify things that could not have happened otherwise. But well, from the other end of it, all I saw was 'Yes, you succeeded in intimidating the guy, good job, also new quest in the subway.'

This is somewhat underwhelming, somewhat disappointing. Yes, you can't control the dice, you don't have any control over whether or not they decide that something AWESOME is going to happen. But when a dice event like that happens, your story, the experience the reader goes through should follow through with that expectation the dice created.

>>724127
as far as I know changling doesn't run on the rule of cool. It was a check to intimidate a dude to give us info. he did. I assumed the extra bit was that he was so scared he told us about the money, which we in turn got to bully him into giving ramona, which further helped our position with spring. Just saying.

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>>724127
ENTHUSIASM! (cont)

Same with snake eyes, even if it's not in the rules of the game, readers expect something AMAZINGLY HORRIBLE to happen, without that, if it's glossed over, there's a release of tension that really ought to be there.

>>722746
Through the interrogation, the MC was outwardly calm, laid-back, talking. Even picking the guy up, which ought to have been exciting, was done so matter-of-factly, it wasn't.

>"But you know, tonight I learned some things that made me a bit upset, Whiskey," you continue. "Real upset, actually. I know things get a bit cutthroat sometimes, y'know? We compete. The Court's big on competition and sometimes folks win, and sometimes folks lose, and sometimes the losers get mad."
>"I am talking, Whiskey," you interrupt, your voice rumbling well past the actual words. "You will shut the fuck up."
>"That shit," you murmur, "makes me real angry. And I think an honest brother of the Summer Court would know enough to man up and confess to Ramona, and maybe she'll be understanding about what it's like to be mad because life is un-fucking-fair."

This is not exciting.

>You hit the bed, just once; your muscles ripple with your own strength and that of Stone, straining the reinforced frame until it bursts at the joints and collapses in on itself with an almighty crash. Whiskey presses himself up against the wall, eyes wide with terror.

This is not exciting either. Notice how the bed folds in rather than blowing apart, the springs shooting off everywhere, pinging off the walls. It's understated.

Be enthusiastic, Vox, be excited, and make things FUCKING AWESOME.

>>724133
Sure. But some things are meant to be bombastic. Some things are meant to be bloody, some are meant to be creepy. But anticlimax helps nobody become invested in a story.

>>724135
I didn't feel in any way anti-climaxed. The writing was wonderful and conveyed to me what we rolled. I am fully invested in the story as written. If you're not that seems like a personal problem.

>>715189
C: Specificity! Detail, or response to detail. Responsiveness, the way of the dance, the way that things cause reciprocative movement.

>You lunge into the room, picking up the Wizened with a mighty squeeze that cracks bone. He sags with an odd sighing sound, [BREAK] at which point you seize his wrist and crash him directly into the rat just as the Beast is turning. You let go of the short man and crash a fist into the Rat's face, splintering his nose.[BREAK]
>Malloy draws and fires a hand crossbow; the wild shot goes right out the window. [BREAK]
>"How bad you wanna do this, pirate?" you murmur. [BREAK]
>Malloy pulls a long knife from beneath her belt and edges towards the door while you stand to your full height and crack your knuckles. Those unreadable eyes, pearls thrust into her skull, are narrowed in concentration.

This one's a bit hard to pick up on and explain, so please forgive me if it's unclear.

Things happen as a result of other things. You punch, they block, stumbling, arm reaching out to a bedside table to steady themselves, then they throw the bedside table at you which you duck under, giving them a chance to jump over the bed. Each action leads to an opportunity for another action or leads into a response to the action. Details become more important as you capitalize on them. This is true in conversation, combat, or narrative.

Look at where I put [BREAK]s. Those are points at which actions were not followed through upon, or at which actions or responses to action stopped abruptly. The odd sighing sound did not cause the man to seize up, helping or hurting the rest of the movement, Malloy draws and fires in response to... what? Was it in response to the sound, to the crash, to the impact, was it immediate or after a beat, did she see you coming in? It's unconnected.
In response to what, exactly, did the ogre start talking? What was the trigger, what brought him to think 'yes this is the time for threats'?
What detail brings Malley to avoid answering the question and instead draw a knife and look for the door? There's no connection here, no hook.

I'm noticing in the conversation between Malloy and Arthur they are talking past one another, neither picking up on the details left by the other's questions, answers, inflection, hints, emotions, body language, or barbs. It's completely 'A asks, M answers, tries to taunt.' Athur doesn't capitalize on Malloy's pain, Malloy doesn't try to lead the conversation based on the hooks he gives her, 'traitorous cunt', his rage, Excalibur. It's a very blunt Q&A, with little of the fluidity and change of topics that generally happens when people seize upon details.

Again, with the queen. Very blunt back and forth, 'what's going on, who are these, give me this, I'll give you that.' Not very fae. Very direct.

The Spring Queen of the fae should be picking up on the details by herself, asking few questions but gaining information you did not know you were giving away. Politicians...

>>723966
>>724127
>>724134
Dude, firstly vox is open to critisism but this is redonk. This quickly stopped being critisism and became some English mayor telling the QM how they should be writing. I personally like vox's writing style. Its understated and realistic which I enjoy. Secondly throughout your little tirade you use the royal we as if what you are writing conveys the feelings of all vox's readers. It does not. Please stop.

>>723897
> A just king; I won't permit the prejudice that's kept me down

>>724168
>This quickly stopped being critisism and became some English mayor telling the QM how they should be writing.

Good point, I did not say this very well:
>Again, with the queen. Very blunt back and forth, 'what's going on, who are these, give me this, I'll give you that.' Not very fae. Very direct.

>The Spring Queen of the fae should be picking up on the details by herself, asking few questions but gaining information you did not know you were giving away. Politicians...


Allow me to rephrase. Something that makes fae or politicians special is their ability to say a lot and mean little, that's the cliche. The reason for that? Is because of the reverse. See, politicians need to be like that in order to counter the enemy's ability to figure out things, to parse detail where there was no intention to give information.

"Where are the bodies?"

'Politician view: The person does not know or wants me to think they don't know where the bodies are. They want me to admit to knowing where the bodies are, or they want me to deny it. Mien? They seem upset, angry. Either the people were friends of theirs, or they are important to them in some way.'

The politician answers in a way that corresponds to as many of their objectives as they can. Answering without giving away information which can be used against them.

Now, see, that was one sentence. A huge amount of detail can be picked up from that small question. Now, of course, it was overstepping my bounds to say that the Summer Queen of the Fae should be cognizant of that amount of information and detail, but it would be surprising to me if she wasn't.

In the same way, I apologize for saying that her being blunt and stating out loud each point of ignorance she had was not very fae or politic, for perhaps she felt that it was to her benefit to seem less informed and capable than she could have appeared to be.

However, you ought to be cognizant of the details that are being shown and spread around. When characters fail to pick up on secondary or tertiary details, that tends to cheapen the experience of a story, because people as a whole are quite good at picking up these details, even if they don't notice it, they come to conclusions without knowing how they got there, building upon cues that are not always stated.

>>723897
>> A wise king; I will improve my Court

>>723897
>> a just king

>>723897
>> A just king; I won't permit the prejudice that's kept me down

>>724093
>>724103
Glamour is the currency on which fae magic trades. The specific power was Gift of Warm Breath, part of the Eternal Spring contract fielded by the Spring Court. It provides rest and nourishment in place of actual rest and nourishment and is actually simple enough to learn - to sign oneself onto - that it's used as a sort of mystic 'teaser' for the benefits of Spring membership.

TL;DR you slept it off without having to sleep it off.

>>723966
>>724127
>>724134
>>724147
>>724228
Hot damn that's some in-depth feedback. I appreciate it, my friend, and I'll engage on it with ya here in a bit. I do believe some of this is gonna come down to stylistic differences (as >>724168 notes I tend to like my action & violence frank and understated) but if you're down for it I'd love to do a post-mortem once we wrap this thread up.

I'll be back in a couple of hours; I have Real Life to attend to, in the interests of feeding and clothing my children. In the meantime, the votes remain open.

>>723897
>A Wise King
A wise king is all these and more. A just king without might is impotent, a mighty king without justice is tyrannical, a wise king tempers their might with justice.

>>724359
>Hot damn that's some in-depth feedback. I appreciate it, my friend, and I'll engage on it with ya here in a bit. I do believe some of this is gonna come down to stylistic differences (as >>724168 notes I tend to like my action & violence frank and understated) but if you're down for it I'd love to do a post-mortem once we wrap this thread up.
Happily.

>>723897
> A wise king; I will improve my Court
Go team Arthur!

>>723897
> A just (and hopefully kind) king; I won't permit the prejudice that's kept me down.
Arthur seems to have some sense about him already; he'll have others around to help and offer their own wisdom so he can make fair decisions.

>>724692
Just expanding a bit.

Arthur has a reputation as a protector, having helped defend and save many from being sold into slavery to the Gentry. What's more, he's so far defied expectations of him as some idiotic brute.

The only thing that worries me is Inky Jennie; she comes from the Autumn Court, and it's possible that she's actually looking to manipulate the Summer Court from within as an adviser to the Crown.

Called, at last. Our winner, by ONE VOTE, is Just.

Writing.

>>724812
>"I, Jennifer Friday, on my true and unsullied name, vow to do all within my power to raise you to the position of King within the Summer Court, to provide you to the best of my ability with wise council and support, and to serve you as your advisor and sorceress after your ascension."
depends how you wanna read that. and shit, we agreed to be a "fair and just lord" in exchange. yeah no thank fuck you guys voted right.

>>724968
I tend to be a little paranoid. It's usually warranted in settings where you deal with the supernatural.

Also, damn am I glad I got my vote in. Though the wise vote wouldn't have been bad.

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>>723897
You think about it for a bit, while Jennie smokes her cigarette. The prophetess's composure is back; the only sign of her irritation is the way she's smoking her coffin nail like it hurt someone she loves.

"I think, more than anything else, I want to be a just king," you tell her. "And I think you can help me with that. People look at me and see another thug good for moving furniture. Do they give a shit that I was an engineer before I got taken, or that I worked on some of the bridges they fucking drive on? No. Just like people take you for granted, or grind an axe about the Fairest. I'm done with that, and so is Summer if I can take the Crown. People deserve better."

"I would like to help with that," Jennie agrees, with quiet seriousness. "Thank you for indulging me. Are you ready?"

You down the rest of your coffee and shoulder your baseball bat. "As I'll ever be. I'll need you to make some calls on the way."

"As you command, my liege."

You end up having to pick up a couple of people yourself, but in the end you have three of your brothers from Summer to aid you. They aren't necessarily the three you would have picked with unlimited time and luxury of choice, but they're awake at half past two in the morning and they have their own weapons. They'll have to do.

So it is that you, Jennie, and your fellow soldiers step out of your car near the subway entrance at West Cold Spring. Vickie Reeds, a tall Darkling girl with a belt full of knives, sniffs the air with a frown.

"Something foul's blowing up from down there," she murmurs, thumbing the hilt of her bowie knife. She runs her hand through her hair, flicking off a sheen of sweat that has nothing to do with the temperature and everything to do with the Mantle of high Summer that clings to her, throwing the shadows that swim and flicker through her layers of clothes into sharp, seething relief.

"Got an idea of what, Vik?" you ask. You hold a hand out for Angel, a fellow Ogre. He looks a bit small now - just over five feet - but Angel doesn't stay small. You've seen the Hispanic man grow himself to nearly fifteen feet tall before, and that's a bad time for anyone in his reach. He climbs out of the car with a grateful grunt.

"Lakewater," Vickie murmurs. "...And glamour."

"Didn't you say Malloy's working for a Gentry?" the third Summer Courtier - a fresh escapee that goes by the name of Tweak, a Smith with a serious thing for guns - asks with a worried expression. He opens up his duffel bag in the back seat of your car and takes out a belt loaded down with what look like flintlock pistols. Sharp little crystals gleam at the edges of their hammers.

"She mentioned one, but that's not necessarily the same thing," you warn him. "Those things going to blow our ears out when you fire them?"

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>>725317
"Spritelock," Tweak answers, cinching the belt into place. He rubs a line of soot on his forehead; you'd pulled him right out of his workshop. "No sound. Emotional blowback that I haven't been able to eliminate but it'll have to give in eventually. Maybe just a touch of iron in the -"

"Tweak," Jennie says firmly. The Smith freezes up in fear, then nods.

"Just try not to shoot me if I gotta get big," Angel asks. "I get enough holes put in me when I get home late to the wife, yeah?"

"You married a Beast," you point out.

"I'd marry her again too," Angel agrees, holding his hand up for a high-five. You oblige with a stupid grin.

"May I?" Jennie asks, holding her hand out. You give her the lodestone, and the Autumn witch smiles, wistfully. "I've always had a fondness for these," she admits. "Even before I got taken. How'd Pratchett say it? It's got the Love of Iron. I love magic more than iron, but I do still have a fondness for iron. It's honest. Reliable. I understand why Summer loves it too."

"Why /this/ lodestone?" you ask. "Why this and not another one? Is it a Token? Needed for some Contract? What makes it special?"

"Love," Jennie says simply. "Love, and sorrow." She holds the necklace up and murmurs a name. "Jessica."

The lodestone hangs in the air on its own. Tentatively, you reach out and take it in your hand; it tugs forward, leading you down into the subway. You slip it around your neck and take point, moving as quietly as you can.

The subway never sleeps in New Avalon, but mortal security is light. Slipping into the maintenance tunnels is shockingly easy. No one is paid enough to be a security guard down here, not after a week of going through it.

You slip into the empty tunnels and railways, following the lead of the lodestone. Eyes follow you from the shadows, eyes that decide they have easier prey than the likes of you and your companions. Vickie slips through the shadows, her position never quite clear, while Tweak takes up the rear, jumpily checking the corners as he goes.

You hear something up ahead. You emerge from a maintenance passage into an abandoned railway, dropped mid-construction in favor of another tunnel. Four young men are beating a group of vagrants. You catch words in Russian.

"What are they saying?" you ask Jennie.

"The general gist is, 'This is our turf,'" comes the answer. The lodestone tugs you away, down another passage that goes deeper underground.

> Scare the thugs off [Intimidation against difficulty 12]
> Ignore them; press on

>>725408
>Scare the thugs
This is going to be are land soon, we wont tolerate scum here.

>>725468
our* I am about to pass out, goodnight folks.

Forgot the sheet: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1U5Lzx4tv01QjKdU0-v-16gawa7udDze9KXfGMxQpbIY/edit?usp=sharing

>>725408
> Scare the thugs off

>>725496
So what /does/ it mean to harvest wrath?

>>725408
> Ignore them; press on
We not here to play hero to people who were dumb enough to come down here anyway. If they live maybe they will learn better.

>>725563
Okay, so:

Glamour is an energy gleaned from emotion, generally mortal emotion. There's other ways to acquire it, such as by eating certain fruits harvested in the Hedge or taking advantage of phenomena in the mortal world, but by and large where Glamour comes from is mortal emotions and mortal dreams. Each of the four Seasonal Courts is associated with a particular emotion - Desire, Wrath, Fear, and Sorrow - which they reap additional Glamour when they snag it.

Getting Glamour generally requires quite a bit of emotion. A labor rally might be appropriate. Pissing someone off until they haul off and hit you could work. Pretending your car has stalled in the midst of traffic, and so on. The general rule is either you need a lot of people being passionately emotional, or you need a major emotional event, or you need to be participating. Some examples include, for instance, Winter courtiers running confession booths, Autumn courtiers doctoring the results of pregnancy tests, and so on.

In general, various Courts try to encourage the spread of their emotion so that they have a wider and more consistent base of mystical power. Whether or not they do so responsibly is...another...question.

>>724968
What happens if you break your word? What about lying, with no oath?

>>725625
I goofed a bit on the oaths myself; it's been ages since I ran Changeling, but in short the Wyrd is an enforcement tool. If you seal an oath or vow supernaturally, it rewards you for keeping your troth and punishes you for breaking it. Generally, these rewards and punishments are laid out in the oath itself. You may have noticed that I forgot that, which is entirely my mistake.

A vow - a standard promise sealed by Wyrd - is invested in a Changeling or fae creature's own Wyrd. You can only have so many of those. You can also swear Oaths, which are instead invested in or on something else, such as your true name, a connection with the mortal world, in the name of your former Keeper, in the name of your god, and so on. Such Oaths let Changelings keep more mystically-enforced vows around, but they come with additional penalties. For example, breaking an oath on your true name - such as the one Arthur has with Jennie - breaks all of your other oaths at the same time.

In a related story, don't break true name oaths.

>>725650
So what's Arthur's current vow/oath situation?

>>725317
>insert complaints about pic, too meta, inspires emotions possibly unwanted, does not take advantage of the emotional impact afforded by a good pic, anticlimax, yadda yadda.

>>725408
Placement of the pic. Pics inserted into a post will always be immediately looked at, and associated with the beginning of the post. Action had at the end of the post is spoiled/hinted at by the beginning of the post, taking away impact or adding anticipation. (Adding anticipation is sometimes a good thing, but there's a reason you didn't hint at the fight in the beginning of the text. It's because of the flow of the reader, what they notice or read in what order.) With a less-obvious pic, not directly relevant to the beginning of the post, attention is either lost from the pic or from the beginning. Better, in this case, to use two posts, and have this pic illustrate the fight in the second post.

>>725679
Arthur currently has:

> 1/6 Vows (the oath with Malloy, though fulfilled, clings for the day)
> 1 True Name oath (with Jennie)
> 1 Nemesis pledge (Commendation; this Oath makes Arthur a member of the Freehold, with all of the protections and obligations that implies. If he breaks this oath he is first literally fried by a laser and then the enforcer of the oath is aware that he's been a bastard...in theory. The former King of Summer was the nemesis in question, and with his death the oath is valid but has no enforcer)

Most Changelings seal every agreement they can with an oath or vow of some kind because they have massive trust issues caused by years of torture and abuse, but to be honest I cannot be assed to come up with a bunch right now.

>>725408
>Scare the thugs off [Intimidation against difficulty 12]
>Use Display Grandiose Might, it worked last time.
No need for use of glamor, we might need it.

What type of engineer was Arthur?

>>725748
Civil, not that he's had the chance to practice it since he came back.

>>725650
Are you automatically hit with penalties for breaking your oaths, or do you need to be held to it, reminded of it? You said something about an Enforcer?

>>725761
Okay, so:

The penalties built into a Wyrd-enforced promise are known as Sanctions. These happen on their own, no one has to enforce them. A vow - the ones bound up in your Wyrd - has only Sanctions.

Oaths, such as a True Name Oath or a Nemesis Pledge, have additional penalties. In particular, a Nemesis Pledge is sworn over the emblem of another Changeling, who becomes the "nemesis" - the enforcer - of that Oath. The Nemesis weaves a Contract into the Oath, which automatically nails the traitor, and is then immediately informed of what party betrayed the Oath in question.

The Freehold's Oath is currently in a state of flux because its Nemesis is dead. Thus, no lasers, no awareness of who done fucked up unless you can pick them out by the Sanctions. Sanctions can be a variety of things, from taking the Boons - the rewards - and turning them into curses, to generalized ill luck, to exile, to even death, depending on what you build into the promise.

TL;DR Freehold membership dropped into a loophole that makes being a traitor more attractive because the laser won't fire.

>>725755
>Civil Engineer
Wow, that's appropriate.

One way to encourage use of Glamor is to add in a Glamor Meter after/before each vote prompt, people are reminded 'oh yeah, glamour's a thing.' Ouro managed to display the amount of Wick we had in Lamplighter Quest very well, you might want to take a look. Way he did it was unobtrusive and not particularly gamey.

>>725781
>TL;DR Freehold membership dropped into a loophole that makes being a traitor more attractive because the laser won't fire.
Oh boy.

Wrath is actually easier than it could have been, all we need to do is pick fights. (Probably better not to intimidate, since that turns it into fear.)

>>725819
Indeed, but for somewhat more, shall we say, socially responsible wrath, allow me to present this alternative: taking forty minutes to complete your order at a busy Starbucks.

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>>725821
Picking fights is more morally defensible.