>>2194822
> Hedgespin it.
Probably better for Erik's reputation.

>Do not use the eyes.
I have no idea what these might be good for though. Maybe ask the Rook about them.

Glad to see you're back you caffeine cultist.

>>2194822
>Hedgespin it
We promised top product.
>Do not
Don't really want to give them away, not just yet anyway.

>>2194822
>> Hedgespin it

>>2194909
's good to be back, my friend. Hopefully I judged my timing right and work will be less insane.

Woo, CSQ!
Welcome back, Vox

>>2194822
>Try to make it by hand

My reasoning behind this is it'd probably mean more if it's not made by magical means, or something? Iunno how to explain it

>Do not

>>2194822
> Hedgespin it
> Do not

Weren't we going to use shards of wossnames glass blade? A something real wielded by a fake turned into a fake?

Or some such.

>>2195250
My reasoning is that we can't be said to have done it to the best of our ability if we intentionally hamper ourselves.

>>2194822
>> Try to make it by hand
> Do not

>>2194822
> Hedgespin it

>> Do not

If we get reflection magic we'll need another pair of eyes.

>>2195322
This is true, as such, I am changing >>2195250
to
>Hedgespin it

Still don't use the eyes, though

Gonna call and write at 9:30 PM EST

Slightly late (what a surprise) but called, writing.

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>>2194822
You ultimately decide against using the eyes. They might make a good lure for the greedy or the lusty, but they might also be good for something else.

And honestly, they're still a bit unsettling. You stash them safely in the freezer. You spend a day or so preparing, letting your mortal associates know you'll be gone (as well as Ramona, of course) to fulfill an obligation.

Knuckles offers you the use of the gate in Carroll House, and all of you meet up, loaded for a dangerous journey, just after sundown.

"We really wanna do this after dark?" Forum asks. The troll has no phone or laptop on him; there's not a lot of point in having them. He has invested in a long mail shirt, belted at the waist and covered by a hoodie. "Hedge's fucked up after dark."

"It's fucked up all the time," Vickie tells him. She passes out cups of coffee (Starbucks; even without the cup logos you could tell by the way they burn the shit out of their beans) and checks over her belt, currently full of knives and other tools. "You want me at a hundred percent for it or nah?"

"Fine, fine," the Troll concedes. "One more time for the class, we're going into the Thorns because...?"

"Colors has an agreement with the Magpie of the Old Docks," the Rook rasps. He looks more drawn than usual; dark circles grip his eyes, standing out against his chalk-white skin. "She took on said agreement in pursuit of our previous Pledge. She needs to be in the Hedge to fulfill it."

"And wither thou goest," Forum finishes, nodding. "What exactly are we looking for, Colors?"

"I'm not exactly sure," you admit. "I have what I need for the physical portions of the project on me. What I promised to make for Maggie is a fake, but not just any fake - a fake that people will lust for more than even the real thing."

Vickie pitches her coffee into the trash without even looking. "And of course it's not market night, couldn't be that easy."

"If you think the goblin markets are easy, you have another thought coming," Forum warns. "Let's get on with it."

You knock on the door to the Hollow and ask to be let in. The portal takes a shard of Glamour off of you as the price to Go In and admits all of you into the entryway. The place has been scrubbed down and stripped clean, and is currently being watched by a pair of the new folks you rescued when you took down Virgo. They give you a nod and don't raise their crossbows. You are, after all, expected.

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>>2195919
You expend 1 Glamour

You take point, not that anyone is particularly far from anyone else. The twisting path that leads from the Hollow's reinforced front door is wide enough for the Rook to walk along next to you, his powerful Wyrd changing the Hedge around him with pixelated cobwebs and grubby coins thrusting halfway out the ground. All of you periodically look back to keep the mortal world in your sight; the Hedge near it blossoms with fog-shrouded street lamps and windblown paper.

"So...what's everyone been up to?" Vickie asks, after a moment.

"You did not just say that," Forum groans. "Aren't we supposed to be a Motley?"

"I don't remember promising to live up your asshole and look out your mouth at everything you do, snowflake boy," Vickie snaps. "Ex-cuse me for making conversation."

The Rook pinches the bridge of his nose with an exasperated expression.

> Eyes on the job, Colors
> Answer Vickie's question, maybe it'll move the conversation along.
> "We need to focus, Vickie."
> "There's no need to be a prick, Forum."
> Write-in?

>>2195946
>> Answer Vickie's question, maybe it'll move the conversation along.

>>2195946
> Eyes on the job, Colors

We aren't mortals to babble when in the Hedge.

> We can chat over drinks when we celebrate our success.

Oh hey, Vox is back. Sweet.

>>2195946
> Answer Vickie's question, maybe it'll move the conversation along.

No one is being enough of a dick to get upset about yet. So far we are still well below sub-critical dick-mass.

>>2195946
> Write-in?

"Children don't make me turn this hedge around and go back."

>>2195946
Seriously let's do something. Not just wax vocal about the ironically White Rabbit.

>>2196189
Soothe your mammaries, friend. I didn't offer the chance to go into the extradimensional dream forest just to talk romance.

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>>2196195

>>2196189
every thread like clockwork, it's been like two months. get over yourself

In Other News: https://qm-vox.tumblr.com/post/169257134516/cinderella-sanction-quest-in-other-news

>>2196300
>president pence

oh god please no

>>2196329
He'll electrocute the fae out of you.

> Answer Vickie's question, maybe it'll move the conversation along.

>president pence
This is a work of fiction. We should be so lucky to be able to save our dignity, not that he's any better.

>>2195946
>Answer Vickie's question, maybe it'll move the conversation along.

>>2196329
Should be President Trump.

>>2196555
Heart attack from eating too much fast food.

>>2196580
. . . Plausible.

>>2196300
>Even in your fantasy it's still a Republican President.

LOL.

>>2196599
Welcome to World of Darkness dude. I'm not entirely certain what you expected given the material for New Avalon thus far; it's not like I'm changing swathes of US history.

In other news, I'll be updating sometime around 10 PM tonight, since I have to work. Votes remain open.

Questions, comments, discussion, feedback, and criticisms remain welcome and appreciated.

Thank you all for reading and participating!

>>2196605
> Gets rid of Trump, keeps Pence

Come on dude. Trump is a much better WoD President.

>>2195946
> Answer Vickie's question, maybe it'll move the conversation along.

Let's keep it moving!

> Answer Vickie's question, maybe it'll move the conversation along.
also
>>2196649
He was obviously a fetch going from these short stories

>>2196226
> https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4BaKOluofCA

/u/boats a shit

>>2197887
We signed up for relationship stuff when we chose a Spring character. Also when we chose a Vox quest.

>>2197972
I know that. But we just had a whole bunch of it.

I suppose we could discuss the new magic we're learning. What was it again?

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>>2197972
Vox the ST

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>>2197972
Anons

>>2197887
man you're assuming a lot, I just don't like you bitching about the same thing literally everythread

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>>2198147
> Last thread was months ago

> Salty something was brought up once

I'm not even sure what it is you think I was bitching about. Not wanting to do a "recap" episode? Fancy being a shit, shiiiiiiiiiiit? Vicky being a straight mans idea of a lesbian?

Regardless, and believe me I mean it when I say that because I have no regard for you at all, you're a dumb fuck if you think the way to reduce complaining in a thread is to complain about it.

How about you just passive aggressively vote differently from me so that regardless of how the quest goes, I never am happy with it and leave (not recommended I thrive on misery.

I left that parentheses open so hopefully it bugs you like a crooked picture. Because for some reason you've decided not to like me, and I hate people who do that.

It would have ended here >>2196195 when Vox reassured me, but you wanted to be involved too and so you got me started. I can go all day, just like your mom and your succession of "uncles" passing through your life and her legs.

I'm here to whisper sweet shitposting into your ears and lick up your saltiness.

Because Fancy is and always will be a shit.

>>2198220
>>2198147
If you zoom I'm on Mankinds face he actually has his own hair in his mouth.

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>>2198147
Also we're in the Hedge and it's a danger zone. Like come on. Let's not get surprise-hugged-with-knives here. We must be the Red Carpet Jerry.

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Home, called, writing.

>>2197887
>>2197972
>>2198080
>>2198111
>>2198120
>>2198147
>>2198220
>>2198223
>>2198227
What fresh Hell is this

>>2198337
Home, Vox, it's home.

>>2198337
beats me

>>2198337
Shitposting between updates.

Nyan Nyan!

> https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qcNhg05c4fQ

>>2198409
>>2198337
I'd say welcome back. But you never really leave.

You're here forever.

>>2198433
Lurk more newfriend.

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>>2198337
The shitposts you'll have
With anuses gaping
While the niggers are nogging
And faggots are vaping
With edglords aplenty
And perverts a-furry
While /pol/ is still in the closet
A-fappin' with fury
A meme in the White House
And dignity's dead, dead, dead, and buried

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>>2198337
So? We walking into a trap here?

>>2198814
Undo the calamity in your mammaries, I'm fuckin' writin'

>>2198834
>>2198834
>>2198834
Mammary Calamity would be a great name for a band though.

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>>2195946
"I've been learning magic," you interject. "From Lord Monroe, as I asked for my favor."

"Personally?" the Rook rasps. When you nod, a the complicated series of expressions that goes across his face in the gloom of the nighttime Hedge eventually settles on 'impressed'. "I would have thought you might prefer to learn from texts. Misery Monroe is not an easy man to be around."

"I wouldn't know," you admit. "He seems personable to me."

"Seeming is Winter's pastime, remember?" Forum reminds you. "Then again, teaching Knights ain't, so who knows."

"It's been interesting," you muse, eyes on the path ahead. Faint moonlight filters through the Thorns, though the canopy ahead makes the path more like a tunnel than anything else. You flick your eyes back towards signs of the mortal world. "There's been a lot of talk about the nature of Contracts, about how to sign one is to develop a relationship..."

"What's he been teaching?" Vickie asks.

"Can't say," you admit, up front. "Sorry Vick."

"Eh, hear my heart break. Hey, um...since when is there a moon in the Hedge around here?"

The four of you break into a clearing of sorts, a crossroads, and look up. Sure enough, a fat, full moon hangs in the sky, shiny and yellow, amongst strange constellations connected by glimmering shards of light that denote their boundaries.

"See, that's weird," Vickie points out. "There's no moon around here."

As you watch, a fanged maw slowly opens in the moon. It lunges, sending ripples across the sky, and takes a massive bite of the constellation near it. The starry creature screams, shedding pinkish blood that sprays the night sky and paints the Hedge a dull red color even as it brightens the path. It flees, knocking stars out of the way, gibbering in agony, while the moon pursues.

Forum leans over the side of the path and loses his dinner into the Thorns.

"I know this marker," the Rook rasps, tapping the signpost at the center of the path. "That path, towards the Deep Hedge, will take us to Whiterope. Might have what you need to create your fake."

"What's the downside?" Vickie asks, eyes still glued to the sky.

"They kill the Lost on sight there, and then eat us."

"Pass," Forum manages, spitting trails of vomit into the bushes. "Where's the other paths go?"

You look. One path also bends into the Deep Hedge, where time gets strange, but the path itself is narrow and twisting, unlikely to be used by True Fae. The other runs parallel to the mortal world.

> Go to Whiterope
> Brave the Deep Hedge (Wyrd vs. Difficulty 8)
> Stay close to the mortal world (Perception vs. Difficulty 6)
> Go back home. The sky is an ill fucking omen.

>>2199182
> Stay close to the mortal world (Perception vs. Difficulty 6)

>>2199182
>> Stay close to the mortal world (Perception vs. Difficulty 6)

>>2199182
> Brave the Deep Hedge (Wyrd vs. Difficulty 8)

For Art! Also we should try to trap a reflection of the moon in it. I mean. If there's no moon in terms Hedge then it must be a fake amirite?

> Shitpost incessantly, but Vox still talks about learning magic instead of rehashing stuff

You're too nice.

>>2199182
>Stay close to the mortal world (Perception vs. Difficulty 6)
I'm all for making this thing the best it can be, but damn dude.

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>>2199554
What, you don't enjoy a nice moonlit night?

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>Stay close to the mortal world (Perception vs. Difficulty 6)
>But keep that omen in mind! Fenrir's a dick.

Welcome back, Vox.

Okay, so:

1. Adjusted Colors' health to represent the recovery time she's had during Interlude Time. Sorry about that.

2. Called. Roll me 1d10+3, twice (+1 bonus from having other eyes available on this job, in case you're wondering why it's not +2).

Rolled 1 + 3 (1d10 + 3)

>>2199678

Rolled 6 + 3 (1d10 + 3)

>>2199678

>>2199687
6 +3 = 9; Success.

Writin'.

>>2199687
See? We would have been fine deeper in.

Just fiiiiiiine.

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>>2199182
You nod your head at the path that bends closer to the mortal world. "Let's not spend more...or less...time out here than we need to. Eyes sharp, try to stay quiet."

"Yeah," Vickie agrees after a moment, wrenching her gaze away from the blood-splattered sky. "I want something above my head right about now."

Sure enough, the canopy of Thorns bends above your heads as you follow the path. People are quieter now, almost oddly so. The usual background noise of the Hedge is - wait.

"It's me," the Rook rasps before you can voice the question. "My Wyrd is warping the Hedge around us. The smaller hobs and Hedge Beasts are fleeing or hiding to avoid it."

"So how are we supposed to find what we need?" Forum asks in a low voice. "What do we even need?"

"A real fake," you say, absently. "The authentic deception."

"...Do you listen to the words you say?"

"Makes sense to me," the Rook and Vickie say at the same time. Vickie offers a high-five and is left hanging out in the cold for it. "So what are we thinking?"

"I have an idea," the Rook rasps. When you all come to a fork in the path, he gestures down the right branch. "There's a waterway here. If I remember Thomas's last report correctly, it's become infested with kelpies. Their silver hooves should do nicely."

"The other path?" you ask, for the sake of completeness.

"It's new," the Rook admits. "Not uncommon. Maps of the Hedge are a pointless exercise -" he stops, wracked by a sudden cough that leaves trails of spit hanging out of his mouth while he hunches over. "For a reason," he croaks, breath heaving.

"Man, are you okay?" Vickie asks, gently.

"No."

> Take the Rook's advice
> Explore the new path
> Write-in?

>>2199802
> Take the Rook's advice
Not a place to be fucking around

>>2199802
> Take the Rook's advice
Get the fuck out of here as soon as possible.

>>2199802
> Write-in?

Try to find where we took down a fake leader and real revolutionary.

Use his sword shards.

>>2199802
Also ask if anyone else needs anything while we're here. Why waste a trip right?

>>2199802
>Take the Rook's advice

Rolled 40 (1d100)

Oops

>>2199928
Pretty sure that counts as part of the salvage.

>>2200062
Sounds like a deductible expense then.

Let's just ask for it. And fill out the appropriate forms.

> MFW Valkyrie is stymied not by magic, but by the Byzantine bureaucracy that seems to have sprung up overnight.

>>2199802
> Vickie offers a high-five and is left hanging out in the cold for it.
Oh come on Rook, how can you disappoint best girl like that?

>>2200284
'Cause he's a jerk, duh.

>>2200284
Zoe is here?

>>2200284
I didn't know fancy was here

Y'all. Colors is best girl. Obviously.

>>2199802
> Call the Rook on leaving Vickie hanging

Rude. Damn near inhuman

>>2200378
>>2200394
>>2200680
>>2200284

Hahaha y'all done fighting for scraps? Clearly Erin is best girl.

Although I bet Arthur could give Colours the hot dicking capable of getting her out of this girls phase.

>>2200378
I wonder how Zoe has been doing with Brad. Her little bit in >>2196300 seems to indicate that she's not been lacking for sex, though that has more to do with the fact that she is, as she put it, so hot she’s literally on fire.

>>2200869
Zoe is the Asuka of the series.

> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKTwb1WCUwY

>>2200704
There is such a thing as class, anon. I know, it's 4chan. I knew it was 4chan when I decided to run DLQ here. But it's a little fucking frustrating to constantly run into trouble showing this work to friends or loved ones who would otherwise be interested because someone decided to dust off their edgy shitposting for the day and take shots for no reason.

Please. I'm not asking much. A little courtesy to the other members of the audience is all. Aight?

Called, writing.

>>2201707
I suppose comparing Zoe to Asuka was a low blow.

But I mean come on, your quest is already exhibited torture and sex, edging along the line of magical rape with the whole "lust" vice which explicitly requires either risk or an abuse of power or position.

So I'm not sure what line is being crossed here exactly. I mean. Aside from the regular shitposting cluttering threads.

I can tone it down. But Zoe is still a shit.

>>2201823
I don't care about the waifu wars from another franchise, anon. You know what I'm frustrated by. Either you'll respect your fellow readers enough to tone it down, or you won't. It's not like I can kick anyone from the thread or exercise much actual control.

I am asking for courtesy. That's all.

>>2201837
actually you can ban people iirc, one of the QM features on here

dunno if they kept it

>>2201870
That just encourages

>>2201870
Switching IPs.

Oddly enough reasonably requesting it is such an unusual response that it seemed petty to not tone it down.

But gosh do I dislike you specifically. Hey you started this.

>>2201870
Doot Doot guess I'm just petty.

>>2201707
> Called, writing.

Or I have to be up early tomorrow all of a sudden and will instead write before work.

Votes re-opened, for the time being.

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>>2201919
Hey at least it's Friday! Almost the weekend!

>>2201919
luck vox

>>2199802
> Take the Rook's advice

I mean. We don't really have a reason NOT to.

>>2199802
>Take the Rook's advice
Fuckin' Kelpies man.

>>2201925
I work retail, remember?

Speaking of, update's not gonna happen before work. Too much shit to do, not enough time. That in mind, we're reaching the end of Interlude Time here shortly, so be aware of that. Part 2 is upcoming.

>>2202565
No worries. Better to have it slow and good than quick and dirty. Try to survive until your next day off.

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>>2202767

Do people actually want to sleep with Erin or is that a weird meme?

>>2207324
Best girl. Has a redemption arc, isn't a raging bitch spoiled by her power, and she's able to commit to the point of having her eyes gouged out to free herself from the trap of her old life. She's not only aware but accepts her responsibility for the past harm she's made, and she's made the first step of allowing herself a second chance.

Honestly I find her to be one of the more compelling and interesting characters both narratively as well as an example of a person.

I think she would also be in a much better position to help Colours come to terms with her own past as well, instead of being simply broken with her as someone pointed out was where Vickie was out so many threads ago.

However I don't see Erin as being an appropriate love interest for Colours by any means, but that one friend that calls you on your shit even if it makes them difficult to deal with at times. We already have a surprisingly decent, if not always pleasant, relationship with her.

I shitpost, it's true, but that's how I show love, by sharing board culture. Doesn't mean I don't actually seriously think about these issues.

We've had a lot of emotional/slice of life development lately. And the thing with Fancy is that because she's a mortal and a fairy chaser to a degree, interactions with her tend to get dragged out by being a vehicle to explore Colours internal monologue and insecurities about reintegrating into the world, an exposition device to flesh out the setting and the different context the fae (not Fae) and mortals view the world in, plus relationship drama including both Fancy's unconventional lifestyle as well as Colours issues as an elemental fae who is further removed from humanity than most, not to mention dealing with the fallout of a mortal interacting with the Freeholds laws and traditions as a game mechanic.

That's a lot of hats for that interaction to wear, which is why it tends to slow down threads, and why I would prefer to have the focus either be solidly on her, or referenced in passing,

As for Colours relationship with Fancy, that's a whole other bag. Is Colours even ready for a relationship? Is the kind of relationship Fancy wants really what Colours wants if she is, as Colours seems to have a desire for surprisingly traditional relationship values and doesn't feel very good about her past casual treatment of relationships. Is Colours what Fancy wants, with the baggage that comes along with all the Freehold responsibilities. That's before even dealing with her safety. Colours leads a hard fucking life for someone to wait at home for her to maybe come back.

Anons tend to have either harem syndrome or nesting syndrome.

>>2207324
Zoe just seems unpleasant. It confuses me that anyone likes her for any reason.

Seriously, her introductory arc was very off-putting for me.

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>>2199802
"Kelpies sound good." They don't sound good. They actually sound awful, but you're fresh out of better ideas. "Are you sure you're okay with it? I know Thomas was your..."

"Friend," the Rook finishes, breathlessly. Vickie offers the man a shoulder and he actually steadies himself on her without complaint, for all that the tall Darkling has to practically kneel to do it. "...He was my friend. But if the intelligence he gave us is not acted on, then it is worthless, and he may as well have done nothing."

You and Forum nod slowly in understanding and wait for the Rook to catch his breath before you get back in your loose formation and continue down the path towards the waterways. The first indication that the Hedge is changing are small bundles of feathers, bound together with twine and hung from the Thorns.

Something is bugging you, and you cannot put your finger on it.

The hard-packed dirt of the path gives way to slick mud cut through with shallow water in puddles and streamlets. You draw Bifrost and the Rook sticks his hand in his pocket.

Something hot and wet hits your cheek from above. You look up to see that the sky has leaked down to the ground; the canopy is flooding with sticky, glimmering blood that starts to patter down into the water. It spreads like ink, illuminating the swamp from above and below with a pinkish gleam. Off in the distance, the screeching voice of the wounded constellation weakens to pathetic mewls of agony that punctuate the meaty ripping sounds of the moon's feeding.

"Haunt," Vickie murmurs. "A feeding ground for animals. Something's not right."

Your flick your gaze left and see it - a tall horse, draped in seaweed and standing on hooves of silver. It watches impassively.

"It's so...on the nose," Forum murmurs, his voice low. "Is it supposed to be that on the nose?"

> Spread out and stalk it; you don't look enough like prey to trick it (Athletics vs. ???; gain a +2 TEAMWORK bonus)
> See if you can get it to approach you, then attack up close (Persuasion vs. ???)
> Leave. Something is too wrong here.

If an anon can guess what is amiss before I call the vote (sometime after I wake up, since I'm going to bed), you'll gain a +2 bonus to all rolls until you exit the Hedge.

>>2209078
>Spread out and stalk it; you don't look enough like prey to trick it (Athletics vs. ???; gain a +2 TEAMWORK bonus)

A kelpie would never have hooves of silver - they're river creatures, creatures of earth, water and plant, not metal and moonlight. It's pretending to be a kelpie.

>>2209248
> "I have an idea," the Rook rasps. When you all come to a fork in the path, he gestures down the right branch. "There's a waterway here. If I remember Thomas's last report correctly, it's become infested with kelpies. Their silver hooves should do nicely."

If you're right, then it's not just the Kelpie that's the problem. But I don't think that's right.

>>2209078
Kelpies are ambush predators, they pretend to be a normal horse so thy their victim mounts them, and then they drag them into the water to kill them.

There are other various details, but they key note is that no, it should NOT BE on the fucking nose like that. Whatever the fuck that is, it's bait.

And the Lady of the Lake has a personal grudge again Arthur who rules our freehold.

> Leave. Something is too wrong here.

>>2209078
>>2209354
Like sometimes Kelpies appear to be women, or they're supposed to have hooves in all their forms, or their hooves are reversed so you can see them that way.

But those are minor details. This shit on the other hand is BS. It's exactly what we're looking for.

It could be Moon Court cunts coming to play and leading us astray like we were theor talk they torment.

It could be the revival of Chernobog, swinging his dick in the post-veil world or even responsible for the veil tearing.

The feather charms concern me as well. That indictates a possible link with the Court of the South, the chinky equivalent of the Moon Court. Boy courts revel in chaos and "freedom", mislead and torment mortals if they want, engage in monstrous behaviour that sometimes justifies evil, etc.

Regardless. Leaving is probably the best choice because hey, there are other things to find to use.

But if we stay we should instead try

> See if you can get it to approach you, then attack up close (Persuasion vs. ???)

And to bargain with or break whatever illusion is happening here. Maybe start by calling it out and acting embarrassed for it trying such an obvious trap.

Moon Court hates shame, so we should see a reaction if they are here.

Alternatively the Vermilion court loves ecstasy so we can brag about seeing through them at the same time, and see if they egg us on.

Play the game. Make fun of the Kelpie and disbelieve it really is one. Egg it into proving that it isn't just a glamour.

Don't touch it's back, it'll trap us if it's for real.

>>2209366
>>2209354
I need to ask for one vote, friend. I'm also not fond of conditional (if/then) voting. Lemme know which of your choices I should count.

I also should have said that the feathers are crow feathers; that is, they're Thomas's feathers. My apologies.

>>2209379
> > See if you can get it to approach you, then attack up close (Persuasion vs. ???)

Honestly regardless of the danger, if it IS a fake Kelpie then it's perfect.

Hey. It's not Morgan LaFay is it? The antithesis of the Lady of the Lake whose nameears water-nymph?

Moons and lakes also being seen as opposites with one reflected in the other (unlike when the sun is up and it's too bright and you just see into the water)?

>>2209078
>> Spread out and stalk it; you don't look enough like prey to trick it (Athletics vs. ???; gain a +2 TEAMWORK bonus)

My guess? Unicorn. Those are the only horse creatures with silver shoes I know off the top of my head

either that or it could be a smart ass tikbalang, they love illusions and screwing with people

>>2209078
>See if you can get it to approach you, then attack up close (Persuasion vs. ???)

Do Kelpies usually get out of water? I didn't think they did at least, I haven't heard of ever seeing one so out of water like this specimen.

My other guess is that it has something to do with our elemental nature, maybe instinct against a natural 'prey' enemy we've somehow stumbled upon? (which would explain the +2 bonus for the rest of the trip if we do figure out what it is)

I don't know enough about this setting to really help.

>>2209481
No, they did often. They would come out of the water to trick people into riding them so they could then return to the water and drown the rider.

>>2209547
But a Kelpie out of water would try to appear as a normal horse so that it could trap you and drag you to the water.

My concern is the moon eating the sky.

>>2209693
Unfortunately, it's the Hedge. Unless we're a lot deeper than we think we are....

Aight, we have a tied vote at the moment but I also have to eat dinner. I'ma give this until 7:30 PM EST.

>>2210019
anyone getting warm with ideas about what's going on?

>>2210047
I'll confirm that when I call.

Because honestly this is me measuring my ability to foreshadow successfully.

Rolled 9 (1d10)

>>2209078
> See if you can get it to approach you, then attack up close (Persuasion vs. ???)

>>2210047
Probably a dream.

>>2209379
Who was Thomas again? I haven't reviewed somce you ladt ran.

>>2210080
Rolls after votes are confirmed, my friend.

>>2210087
Thomas the Crow came with you to take down Rainbow John. He was one of the Rook's political supporters, and one of Autumn's Hedge Rangers, trusted to know and move through the local Hedge. He died in the assault.

>>2210092
Hrm.

>>2210092
Nope I got nothing for why shit is important. "The weird place is weird oh no".

Called in favor of:

> See if you can get it to approach you, then attack up close (Persuasion vs. ???)

>>2209354
You are correct. The Lady of the Lake has shown a history of using (perhaps by being from, by stealing, or maybe even by re-creating) myths and creatures from thus far Wales, Scotland, and Ireland. The "dullahan" Jesse fought in Scarred by Thorns was her creature.

You gain ANTICIPATION (+2 on all rolls during this Hedge journey).

Roll me 1d10+5, TWICE.

Rolled 4 + 5 (1d10 + 5)

.

Rolled 8 (1d10)

>>2210264

Rolled 6 (1d10)

>>2210264

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>>2210264
This kind of foreshadowing is easy mode.

Rolled 3 + 5 (1d10 + 5)

>>2210264
Hey, do I have to add the +5 for it to count?

>>2210339
. . . I hope not. We're you also just eager to roll?

>>2210339
I prefer it, but I'll let it go.

8+5 = 13; Success & Hidden Check Success.

Writing.

>>2210335
Understand; I wasn't trying to test y'all. I, like most authors, struggle with the gulf between Things I Know About The Story and Things The Readers Know About The Story. Foreshadowing requires being able to hint at the former through the latter and it's fucking difficult.

I need the practice.

>>2210385
Aw man. I hate to dissapoint you, but there is no "getting good" at it. Anons will go in the completely wrong direction when you hold them by the hand, and they'll do the same and ruin your surprise by randomly guessing something that you had no intent of revealing.

That actually just happened in Artificer Quest.

My recommendation? Don't worry about it. Especially when anons get it wrong and are salty about it.

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>>2209078
"It's not," you tell him, after a moment. "But it has what we need. We need to be ready to fight or run. This is bait."

"And you're going to take it?" Forum murmurs back.

"I would," Vickie agrees. "We've got your back."

You approach slowly, raising your right hand up. "Shh," you soothe. "A good Knight needs a noble steed."

("She did not just say that," you catch from Vickie, just at the barest edge of your hearing.)

The kelpie stamps in the water, shying away. You lower your blade and make gentle soothing noises, reaching for its bridle. The beast hesitates, but your fingers grasp the braided seaweed.

"I can tame you," you murmur. The kelpie relaxes, staring at your friends.

You drive Bifrost up into its brain in one fluid motion. The blade is just glass, after all. It weighs hardly anything.

"Jesus fuck," Forum swears, but you have no time to indulge in his shock. You yank, dragging the dead kelpie to the side and exposing its hooves. You slash once, twice, while the bloodstained water starts to churn nearby.

A third cut. A fourth. You gather the severed legs of the kelpie and step back as a tall, elegant Lady rises from the water, slick with the starry blood that's marred it, her gown made from pondwater and moonlight. It swims with hundreds of tiny fish.

"Servants of Arthur," the Lady of the Lake hisses.

"We should leave," Vickie suggests. "We should leave right now."

The Rook puts one foot back, but there's a gleam in his television-screen eye, something subtle and vicious on his face that immediately turns to fear when the Lady gazes upon him and raises a hand.

"What is this?" the Fae murmurs, her voice melodious and cruel. "All this water inside of you, little insect." The Rook chokes; blood streams from his nostrils, his tear ducts. "Who has put this here?"

Your Wizened ally squeezes his hand together into a fist. His Mantle flares, lighting the Hedge with motes of witchlight and draping the Thorns with cobwebs that grow sticky and heavy with the ever-thickening rain of blood from the sky, and then he turns into a spray of Autumn leaves.

"We should leave right now," the Rook suggests, his voice weak.

You are OVERBURDENED (-2 to defensive actions in MELEE and similar rolls until or unless you get rid of your burden)

> Leave. Right now. (Athletics vs. Difficulty 10; FOOT CHASES specialty applies)
> Lunge (Melee vs. Difficulty 10)
> Write-in?

>>2211259
> Leave. Right now. (Athletics vs. Difficulty 10; FOOT CHASES specialty applies)

>>2211259
>Cheese-it! (Athletics vs. Difficulty 10)

>>2211259
> Write-in?

Water seemings have an obsession with cleanliness. Toss some gore on the Lady and THEN run. Also block her vision and make her brain stutter as she tries to process what's happening.

>>2211259
> Leave. Right now. (Athletics vs. Difficulty 10; FOOT CHASES specialty applies)

>>2211259
> "She did not just say that," you catch from Vickie, just at the barest edge of your hearing.
Oh come on Vickie, you know you love it.

Supporting this >>2211414

>>2211259
>> Lunge (Melee vs. Difficulty 10)

Running could work, buut this is their domain, the whole water control can slow down everyone, and pushing them back - helps your party more, too.

Also, Knightly.

>>2211259
Also we should consider passing the legs to the best runner / noncombatant as we run so we're less burdened if we have to run. Give everyone a leg?

>>2211855
Nah I trust the Rook.

Everyone here successfully ran away once before on their own and weaker then they are now, anyways.

> Leave. Right now. (Athletics vs. Difficulty 10; FOOT CHASES specialty applies)

Discretion is the better part of valor! Rainbow John was really bad. The Lady of the Lake will be worse.

>>2211855
The Hedge might be slightly more friendly to the Fae, but it's not theirs. It is a barrier.

>>2212329
Also we ain't getting paid for this, and the ones that need rescuing are ourselves.

So let's save the Damsels and Dudes in Distress and GTFO.

>>2211259
I'll back >>2211414

Mostly for the mental image of how the Lady reacts.

Aight, called. Roll me 1d10+6 twice.

Rolled 7 + 6 (1d10 + 6)

>>2215030

Rolled 4 + 6 (1d10 + 6)

>>2215030

>>2215069
7 + 6 = 13; Success

I need to face my old foe, The Dishes, and then I'll write.

>>2215081
I drink a lot.

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>>2211259
"Yep, leave," you bark at the others. Forum doesn't need telling twice; the tall Troll grabs Vickie by the back of her shirt, turns them both in one motion, hurls her ahead of himself, and starts running. You're moving just shaved seconds behind him while the Rook blows down the path on a wind that isn't there. You pause just long enough to flick Bifrost through the sinking corpse of the kelpie; the splattering sound you hear confirms that you've splashed the Lady with hot, black blood.

"Claim them!" the Lady of the Lake screeches. "Fetch my steed!"

You turn your head just long enough to see a headless horseman burst from the bloody water, mounted on another kelpie. It breaks into a dead run while its rider unspools a whip made from braided spines.

"Faster is better," you call to your friends. You skid around a bend in the path and keep going; behind you, you hear the satisfying crash of kelpie against the Thorns.

"Let's go to the Hedge," Forum complains. "In and out, it'll be an adventure."

"This is an adventure," Vickie snaps.

"LESS SARCASM MORE FLEEING!"

You hack at the canopy above while you flee, loosing branches thick with Thorns to harry your pursuers. The legs in your arm jostle and sometimes hit each other with a bell-like sound when their hooves connect. The Hedge has exploded into a riot of sound; the bleeding sky has woken the fear and fury of everything here.

The four of you burst into the crossroads to find that there are too many paths now, and the marker has changed. One narrow road goes to a staircase, slick with glimmering blood, that climbs up towards the sky. Even now you can see the moon stalking another constellation, which flees on twisted ankles that send ripples of pain through the night sky.

"She'd never follow us up there," Forum is saying.

"Right, I'm the crazy one," Vickie returns. "We've gotta get back to the mortal world and get backup."

> Try to discern the path back home (Perception vs. Difficulty 10)
> Take the staircase up (Athletics vs. Difficulty 10)
> Stand and fight
> Write-in?

>>2215514
> Try to discern the path back home (Perception vs. Difficulty 10)

1d10+4 is good odds.

I don't suppose anyone else on our team has a better perception though.

>>2215514
>Try to discern the path back home (Perception vs. Difficulty 10)

>>2215514
> Try to discern the path back home (Perception vs. Difficulty 10)

>>2215526
Last time a perception roll was made with our motley around we got a +1 bonus for their help. Not sure if we can rely on that when time-pressured though.

> Try to discern the path back home (Perception vs. Difficulty 10)

>>2215514
>> Take the staircase up (Athletics vs. Difficulty 10)
... mainly, just really curious about whats up there up close.

>>2215514
>> Try to discern the path back home (Perception vs. Difficulty 10)

>>2215514
> Try to discern the path back home (Perception vs. Difficulty 10)

Can we start a fire behind us?

>>2217362
How does fire work in the hedge?

>>2217362
>>2217718
Like fire, but as with most things in the Hedge, that can get odd. The Thorns mostly are (or follow much of the rules of...) plant life, so if you can get them to burn they'll burn just fine, but they're also mainly alive, and this area is currently slathered in something a lot like water.

>>2217817
My kingdom for some sodium cesium alloy! Or just metallic potassium even.

> https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PxUV4cB9Ehw

>>2217817
Potassium Swords!

> https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=oqMN3y8k9So

>>2218074
>>2218077
Which runs into the other problem with the Hedge; that, increasingly, its laws are not physics, but agreement. At some point you're not staying on the ground because of gravity, you're staying on the ground because it is the ground and has entered into a pledge to keep you on it. The Thorns and especially Arcadia are realms where anachronism is law, enforced with subtle viciousness.

Update won't happen before work.

>>2218122
That's cool. We just have to bait the Lady into coming out of the hedge somewhat. Heck Artorius fought her in the mortal realm. Totes easy. /s

Too bad nobody here probably ever took high school chemistry?

>>2218507
The problem is that the Hedge didn't take it either!

>>2218739
Hedge confirmed for American

>>2218122
>Update won't happen before work.

Or after!

Quest-themed lyrics to the Jeopardy Tune (the one where you're waiting forever on ONE PERSON.)

Who's up to the challenge of making some?

>>2221516
Sorry. Life's been a bit...draining. I'll make an effort to update tomorrow before work.

>>2222107
Please don't let me stop you from doing this though.

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>>2222107
>>2222266

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Wi8Fv0AJA4

0.0.00: Here's a story about a knight
0.0.04: not a black one not a white... knight

0.0.08: darkling courts and hedge forays
0.0.12: Colors Eriksdotter! Out To Play


0.0.15: Came from summer went to spring
0.0.19: Likes the girls but no flings.. it seems
0.0.23: Just a normal girl but in what you see
0.0.26: She's a rainbow liter-all-ly

>>2222776
That's pretty good actually.

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>>2222266
Hey man, take care of yourself first.

If you don't have the energy, you don't have the energy. Forced QMs lead to dropped quests. Well. Self forced. I mean if you need a Muse just gimme that address. I promise to feed you every 500 words. A drink every 200. A pee break every thread.

Haha I'm just joking. Piss bottles mean no need for pee breaks.

Alright, called. I'll write a new thread either before or after work tomorrow, but roll me 1d10+4 twice.

Rolled 8 + 4 (1d10 + 4)

>>2225254

Rolled 2 + 4 (1d10 + 4)

>>2225254

Aight, here we go.

NEW THREAD

>>2229871
>>2229871
>>2229871
>>2229871