>>1509111
>Look around the rest of the park for clues.

Sorry I'm late Teller

>>1509111
>Look around the rest of the park for clues.

>>1509111
>Look around the rest of the park for clues.

>>1509238
>>1509247
>>1509295

Roll Intelligence + Investigation (3 dice).

May spend Willpower (current Willpower: 1)

Rolled 1, 7, 6 = 14 (3d10)

>>1509336

Rolled 8, 3, 7 = 18 (3d10)

>>1509336

Rolled 4, 1, 1, 10, 4 = 20 (5d10)

>>1509336

Rolled 1, 9, 3 = 13 (3d10)

>>1509336
not spending

>>1509542
Need an extra dice there, friend. Plus a re-roll.

>>1509556
You start sweeping the area around the park for any evidence that the police might have missed. Unfortunately, you really don't know that much beyond the fact that a murder has occurred.

After several dozen minutes of looking for bootprints, or maybe a threatening note of some kind, you give up in frustration. You aren't Sherlock Holmes: you'll need somewhere to start if you want to find evidence.

>Try and talk to the police.

>Try and slip by the police line and look at the crime scene.

>Visit the police department and try to get information on the murder.

>Write-In

>>1510019
>Try and slip by the police line and look at the crime scene.

Straight to the source, and our stealth is good in natural areas

>>1510019
>Try and slip by the police line and look at the crime scene.
I really wish we had better persuasion, but that is not our forte. On the other hand, stealth is.

>>1510019
>Try and slip by the police line and look at the crime scene.

Rolled 8, 7, 4, 6, 4 = 29 (5d10)

>>1510502
>>1510747
>>1510868

Roll Dexterity + Stealth (5 dice). Must beat above check.

Rolled 6, 1, 1, 1, 7 = 16 (5d10)

>>1511072

Rolled 5, 9, 4, 9, 8 = 35 (5d10)

>>1511072

Rolled 8, 10, 5, 3, 2 = 28 (5d10)

>>1511072

Rolled 8 (1d10)

>>1511193
pop

Rolled 8, 8, 3, 3, 9 = 31 (5d10)

>>1511072

Rolled 3, 2, 2, 5, 9 = 21 (5d10)

>>1511072

>>1511193
>>1511205
The policeman standing guard outside of the arch isn't being very attentive. You can hardly blame him: all the evidence found would be in the bag already, anyways. It's the work of a moment to slip by him while his attention is distracted by a fire truck somewhere in the distance.

Blood. That's the first thing you see. There's dried blood all over the ground, staining the carved stones deep umber shades. There's also a length of chain hanging from one of the crossbeams of the arch: a black hook swings loose at one end, stained in life's iron. You start looking for anything the police might have missed.

Roll Intelligence + Investigation (3 dice). Findings based on number of successes.

Optional: Activate Nevertread (1 glamour and a 4-dice roll) to prevent you from leaving forensic evidence behind.

Rolled 7, 7, 3 = 17 (3d10)

>>1511444
Thanks for the recommendation QM. Was going to ask about that, but I wasn't even thinking about the forensics. I'll activate it and roll after this.

Rolled 3, 4, 7, 6 = 20 (4d10)

>>1511444
Activate Nevertread

Rolled 1, 2, 7, 5, 9, 1, 8 = 33 (7d10)

>>1511444
First 3 are searching, last four are Nevertread.

Rolled 9, 6, 5, 2, 1, 5, 3 = 31 (7d10)

>>1511444
>>1511444
>Roll Intelligence + Investigation (3 dice). Findings based on number of successes.
>>1511444
>Optional: Activate Nevertread (1 glamour and a 4-dice roll) to prevent you from leaving forensic evidence behind.
Activate Nevertread.

Rolled 3, 6, 7, 2 = 18 (4d10)

>>1511444
>>1511507
God, the dice are not in my favor tonight.

>>1511591
(For investigation)
>>1511586
(For Nevertread)

You look through the crime scene cloaked in a thin layer of glamour, leaving no traces or scraps behind. From how it looks, the death was brutal: the blood stains look like the victim had the hook shoved into the back and was suspended from it while someone took a sharp object to their abdomen and went to town. The killer must have planned this ahead: the crossbeam isn't capable of being reached from the ground. It looks like, if there was any evidence, the police bagged it- except for the hook. On the other hand, it's not like it's going anywhere, right?

There's a recessed passage leading to a maintenance door: must be access to a water main or something.


>Try the door.

>Try and take the hook off of the chain.

>Slip back out and talk to the police.

>Visit the police department and try to get information on the murder.

>Consult the Paperback of Many Tales.

>Write-In

>>1511681
>Consult the Paperback of Many Tales.
oh i missed you paperback good buddy

>>1511681
>Write-in
Investigate the hook first, it makes me curious.

>>1511681
>Investigate the hook first

Wouldn't want to just man handle it if it has some sort of tracker on it or is cold iron

>>1511681
>>Try the door.

>>1511681
>Consult the Paperback of Many Tales.

>>1511681
>Investigate the hook first
We can save the Paperback for later

>>1514334
>>1511721
>>1512410
(Sorry about that, last chance to see one of my friends for a while).

The hook swings loosely in a faint breeze coming off of the river. Its point is stained with blood. Roll Wits + Composure (4 dice) to spot details.

Rolled 9, 7, 5, 8 = 29 (4d10)

>>1515377

Rolled 2, 1, 9, 8 = 20 (4d10)

>>1515377

Rolled 2, 6, 10, 8 = 26 (4d10)

>>1515377

No worries

Rolled 9 (1d10)

>>1515877

Boom

>>1515877
>>1515882

The hook is made of rusty steel and looks machine-tooled. There's a maker's mark on the side that identifies it as a product of ILLINOIS NATIONAL STEEL CO.: seems like it's a long way from home. It doesn't seem to be magical or anything. It also looks like it's well-fixed to the chain: no way to get it off without taking the chain with it. Damn.

>Try the door.

>Slip back out and talk to the police.

>Visit the police department and try to get information on the murder.

>Consult the Paperback of Many Tales.

>Write-In

>>1515977
>Try the door.

Well this is definitely the Hook

>>1515977
>Consult the Paperback of Many Tales.
Lets get a hint as to what the right direction is before we make a mistake.

>>1515977
>>Try the door.

>>1515977
>Try the door.

>>1515977
>Try the door.

>>1516169
>>1516781
>>1517052
>>1517057

You head over to the door and shake the knob. It seems like it's unlocked.

"Hey- hey, buddy! What'dya think you're doing?! This is a crime scene, find somewhere else to sleep off your hangover, wino!"

Shit. Looks like the cop finally spotted you.

>Use the door to flee into the Hedge.

>Run down the utility corridor.

>(Subterfuge) Yesh, yesh, shorry, offishur...

>(Intimidate) Yeah?! Yeah? You want some of this, copper? Piss off, I ain't harming no one!

>Write-In

>>1517529
>(Subterfuge) Yesh, yesh, shorry, offishur...

The response they suspect

>>1517529
>(Subterfuge) Yesh, yesh, shorry, offishur...

>>1517529
>>Use the door to flee into the Hedge.

if the killer was a fairy this was probably how he fled, we could search for evidences on the hedge


also, our subterfuge is shit

>>1517781
Yeah, you're right actually. I'll switch to this.

Rolled 6, 2 = 8 (2d10)

>>1517781
>>1517836
You head for the door and turn the handle...

>>1517965
You pour a bit of glamour out into the world and swing the door wide into the Hedge.

A full moon shines out from behind the clouds, patterning the woods in a maze of light and shadows. Fog rolls across the ground, cold and damp. Somewhere, you hear a high-pitched screeching. You turn around to see the door behind you swing shut and vanish seemlessly into the gnarled, leafless old tree you stand beneath.

>Search the immediate area for clues

>Try and find a way back out

>Follow the path and see where it leads you

>Write-In

>>1518016
>Search the immediate area for clues

>>1518016
>Search the immediate area for clues

>>1518019
>>1518203
Roll Wits + Investigation (3 dice).

Rolled 10, 10, 4 = 24 (3d10)

>>1518225

>>1518016
>Write-in
Let's go find a line cop to shake down. Intimidation is our forte, might as well play to it.

Rolled 1, 10 = 11 (2d10)

>>1518236
>>1518237
...We're in the Hedge dude. I sincerely hope there aren't any line cops here. For their sake.

Rolled 10, 1, 8 = 19 (3d10)

>>1518225
Fug, ok rolling

Rolled 4 (1d10)

>>1518243
God, again? Damn.

Rolled 9 (1d10)

>>1518244
Rolling
>>1518243
Was meaning after getting back to the real.

Rolled 4, 10, 8 = 22 (3d10)

>>1518225

Rolled 1 (1d10)

>>1518289

Boom

>>1518236
>>1518243
>>1518255
There's bootprints in the muddy ground here: big, heavy ones that lead down a narrow path, winding down a hillside. The briars here have flecks of blood all over them. Some of the trees have old slash-marks driven into them, as if something sharp had been slammed against their trunk repeatedly...

You can make out a house in the distance, in the other direction from the boot-prints: an imposing mansion on a small, barren hill. You can see a light in the highest window, even from this distance.

>Follow the trail.

>Try and find a way to the mansion.

>Try and find a way out.

>Read the Paperback of Many Tales.

>Write-In

>>1518496
>Read the Paperback of Many Tales.

Now seems like a good point to use this, no clue where the separate paths lead on to and might drop a hint about the best direction to go

>>1518518
Seconded

Rolled 1, 6 = 7 (2d10)

>>1518518
>>1518823
You pull the paperback out of your pocket and prick your finger on the spine once again...

>>1518927
The title of the book swims into focus...

HE COMES AT NIGHT


Jeremiah Boskin ran through the woods away from the old house, sweat running down his back. His friends... all dead, at the hands of a deranged madman! The things that demented lunatic had done to them... the cruelty of it all was almost too much to bare! He could almost hear his mind creaking at the edges as he fled down the path, not caring where he went- not knowing of the other members of the degenerate, twisted McClintock family roaming out there in the dark, hungry for prey...


Well. That doesn't bode well.


>Follow the tracks.

>Try and find a way to the mansion.

>Try and find a way out.

>Write-In

>>1518941
>Try and find a way to the mansion.

More clues and it sounds like they should be out hunting a straggler

>>1518941
>Try and find a way to the mansion.

>>1518941
(aw snap, time to meet the vanguard serial crimes unit)
go to the mansion I guess, this does not bode well

>>1518941


>Try and find a way to the mansion

ols mansion, hook, deranged family.

it's Hedge chainsaw massacre, guys!

Use everysingle one of our powers to hide our presence while we investigate, no prints no nothing must be left behind

>>1520261

>Follow the tracks.

sorry, changing the votes to follow the tracks, the evidence is fresher that way

>>1520261
slashers are a thing in the world of darkness. when of the best parts of hunter along with the best compact: LoT

>>1520314
support my option my dear anon friend! I want to go after the tracks first!

>>1520534
I'll support the tracks

>>1520547

A free (You) for everyone that votes on tracks!!

here's yours sonny.

>>1520534
very well,tracks it is

>>1520581

Here (You) go!

Rolled 6 (1d6)

>>1520269
>>1520547
>>1520581

You follow the muddy boot-prints down the winding trail...

>>1521081
At some point, you realize you aren't walking down a muddy trail anymore. You're standing in the middle of a sterile white hallway, lit by the unstable glow of the ceiling lights. Upturned wheelchairs and trollies are scattered here and there along the path. Most of the doors are grown over by dead vines. A trail of muddy prints continues down the hallway, turning left at an intersection.

>Turn back

>Press onward

>Write-In

>>1521114

>Press onward

We're committed now

>>1521114
>>Press onward

>>1521114
first >press onwards
second teller I dont know how much you do WoD besides changling but I swear to god If you set up a slasher plot like this and no hunters from vanguard serial crimes unit or really none at all I will be sad, and it will be your fault

>>1521130
>>1521135
>>1521162

The muddy footprints twist through the hallways... then make a sudden left into a wall and vanish. Just like that. Shit. The Hedge must have restructured itself recently and sealed off whatever passage was used. You COULD probably batter the wall down and press onward... but that would take you off the path and into the Thorns.

It also looks like there's a door at the end of this hall that isn't blocked off...

>Go off the path.

>Try the door.

>Follow the prints back out.

>Write-In

>>1521222
>Try the door.

>>1521222
>>Try the door.

>>1521222
>>Try the door.

>>1521222
>>Try the door.

>>1521222
>Try the door.

Rolled 6, 8 = 14 (2d10)

>>1521248
>>1521263
>>1521391
>>1521396
>>1521463
You grasp the door and push it open...

>>1521512
A hospital floor is on the other side. The lights are fully-functioning, there's no plant growths anywhere, and you can see a nurse going into a room, pushing a trolley laden with hospital food. The only thing upsetting the scene is the yellow police tape halfway up the hallway ahead of you, and the guard stationed at the end of the corridor. He's dressed in a black three-piece suit, so clearly not just a cop.

>Close the door.

>Go through and talk to the suit.

>Go through and try to slip around.

>Write-In

>>1521526
>Write-In

Go through and try to talk to the Nurse instead

>>1521560
this

we should get a feel for the situation before talking with the suit

>>1521560
>>1521585

I agree

If we can't, I vote to talk with the suit instead.

>>1521526
>I agree
>If we can't, I vote to talk with the suit instead.

>>1521560
>>1521614
Supporting

Rolled 1, 10, 3, 7, 4, 9, 7 = 41 (7d10)

>>1521560
>>1521585
>>1521614
>>1521630
>>1521683
You try and slip past the police tape to reach the nurse. Roll Dexterity + Stealth (5 dice). May spend Willpower (1 point left) to add 3 dice, or Glamour (7 points left) to add 9-again. Must beat above roll.

Rolled 6 (1d10)

>>1521815
Explosion.

Rolled 8, 8, 8, 3, 4 = 31 (5d10)

>>1521815
I'll spend glamour

>>1521844
dammit.

Rolled 5, 8, 7, 3, 8 = 31 (5d10)

>>1521844
Damn, so close.
>>1521815
Rollin, and I forgot, but are 7s successes? Spending a Glamour.

>>1521852
8, 9, or 10 are successes.

>>1521857
So, we are good with this?
>>1521844

>>1521875
yeah my roll was good, i was just bummed because i paid for 9 again and succeeded without needing any 9's to explode

Rolled 6, 1, 6, 1, 2 = 16 (5d10)

>>1521815

Spending Glamour

Rolled 4, 6, 3, 2, 10 = 25 (5d10)

>>1521815

>>1521844
You manage to slip by the suit while he was looking down the side hall and head into the room the nurse rolled the trolley into.

The room's clearly a staff room. The nurse in question is off-loading her trays onto a dumbwaiter built into the wall. As you push the door open, she turns around.

"Um... Can I help you? The restrooms are at the end of the main hall."

>Why are the police here?

>I'm, I'm lookin' fer mah room. D'ya know where it is? I can't seem to find it...

>Who died? I saw the man in the suit...

>Write-In

>>1522140
>Who died? I saw the man in the suit...

>>1522140
>Who died? I saw the man in the suit...

>>1522140
>Who died? I saw the man in the suit...

>>1522153
>>1522157
>>1522160
"Who died? I saw the man in the suit..."

"Oh, THAT. That was a week ago, some people from the FBI just turned up, wanted to see if they found something the police had missed. It was that case, you know? Like the other four. They're calling him "The Hollywood Zapper" now. Must be the real thing, what with the FBI coming in and all."

>Wait: I'm in LA?

>Okay, thank you (close door, then open it back to the Hedge)

>Thanks (talk to the FBI suit)

>Write-In

>>1522222
>Okay, thank you (close door, then open it back to the Hedge)

Checked Quints

I don't think that the FBI would take a random Hobo seriously, let's try to get back home

>>1522283
Yeah, and according to the pastebin LA isn't safe for us, so let's just go.

>>1522222
>Thanks (talk to the FBI suit)

>>1522354
Actually, we should talk to the guy just to be sure and then split.

>>1522354
>>1522358
"Thank you." You close the door and head across the hallway to the FBI suit.

The suit looks at you with baggy eyes. You can see with a casual glance that this man has long past his giving-a-shit threshold for the day.

"Move along, sir."


>What's going on here?

>Is this where it happened? The Hollywood Zapper attack?

>(Subterfuge) Listen, I think I saw something the night of the attack!

>(Persuasion) Listen, you people are in over your head. This killer, he's connected to something terrible. Something inhuman.

>(Subterfuge)Who are you? Let me through, I'm a captain! We need to get those damn Japs!

>Write-In

>>1522658
>Is this where it happened? The Hollywood Zapper attack?

>>1522658
>What's going on here?

>>1522658
>>(Persuasion) Listen, you people are in over your head. This killer, he's connected to something terrible. Something inhuman.

>>1522658
>>What's going on here?

>>1522709
>>1522990
"What's going on here?"

"Federal investigation, nothing to worry about. Just get back to... visiting your loved ones, or getting your kidney stones removed, or whatever it is you're doing here."

>Keep pestering him.

>Listen, I think I saw something last week! I need to speak to your supervisor, or whoever!

>(Walk away and go back into the Hedge)

>Write-In

>>1523223
>(Walk away and go back into the Hedge)
Let's not get ourselves arrested in the middle of Gentrytown.

>>1523223
>>Keep pestering him.
See if we can wheedle something out of him. A lot of trip for nothing otherwise.

>>1523223
>(Walk away and go back into the Hedge)

Still learned some stuff

>>1523236
>>1523289
"Alright, alright. Have a nice day, sir."

The suit just snorts in response and leans back against the wall. You walk a short distance away and pull on a door (6 glamour left).

You step out into a side-alley under the glow of a bright, cheery morning sun. Somewhere, you hear a band playing a jazzy tune for piano, drums, horns, and flute. It LOOKS like you're in a little side-alley in the sunny Hollywood Hills, but you can see the ivy growing up the walls, and how the sign looming up on the hill proper is written in some incomprehensible tongue. This must be part of the place you've heard of in rumors from your first day back from the Hedge: the City of a Thousand Stories; Gentry Central in the US. Great.

You take a look around the corner: looks like there's a street running down here. There's even transportation running about: cars, carriages, bicycles, wagons, and stranger things vie for the roadway as strangely-assembled traffic lights shine their orders in a whole palette of colors. Clearly, these goblins are trying harder than most to modernize.

>Maybe there's such a thing as a fairy taxi? Let's try and flag one down.

>You don't need transportation: let's find our way back on foot.

>Maybe one of these shops will have something...

>Write-In

>>1523362
>>Maybe one of these shops will have something...

>>1523362
>Maybe one of these shops will have something...

Should we use this opportunity to go check on our friend that's in area, the one that got taken with us

>>1523632
>>1524229
You walk through the first entryway you can find into a shop.

It looks like you drew a short straw, because this is a clothes shop. Piles of mismatched garments are strewn here and there across the floor, with more slung over the crossbeams. The styles range from contemporary three-piece suits to courtly garb to shiny chrome onesies, with everything in between. A skinny, six-armed goblin slaves away at a suit behind a counter, tongue stuck to the side in concentration.

There's only one other customer in the shop; a cute-looking girl who looks to be in her late teens. She's wearing a miniskirt and pink T-shirt that cover her modest tan curves decently enough. She's facing away from you and crouched down, digging through a pile of cloths with frantic motions, her short blonde pigtails bobbing in frustration. She's definitely human; the realness of the human world sweats off of her in this place.

>Go over and offer help

>Leave

>Ask for a suit

>Warn the girl

>Write-In

>>1524346
>Go over and offer help

>>1524346
>>Go over and offer help

>>1524346
>Go over and offer help
>Warn the girl

>>1524351
>>1524932
>>1524975
You walk over to the girl. "Do you need some help?"

The girl starts up and turns around: from the front, her humanity is all the more apparent: her lovely blue eyes slightly asymmetrical, her front teeth have a slight gap, and her nose is large and upturned in an unflattering way that brings to mind animals born to root through dirt for mushrooms. She's attractive, no doubt, but lacks the flawless, too-perfect beauty of the seductive fae.

"Um, yeah? Like, so which do you think, would look better on a guy? This, or this?"

The girl holds up a pair of suits from the ground: one of them is a bright shade of blue with gold trimming, while the other is sunshine-yellow with a white shirt.

"It's for my boyfriend, so, you know, kind of important? Any time, now..."

>The blue one.

>The yellow one.

>Listen, you're in danger here. This is a Goblin market, these people will skin you alive if you aren't careful.

>Your boyfriend? Is he with the local Courts?

>You DO know where you are, right?

>Write-In

>>1525009
>You DO know where you are, right?

>>1525009
>You DO know where you are, right?
>The blue one.

That's the most likely to fit with various body types

>>1525009
>>Your boyfriend? Is he with the local Courts?

sunshine-yellow with a white shirt

>>1525025
>>1525052
"You do know where you are, right?"

"Yeah, why's that matter? My boyfriend says human clothes itch too much anyways."

"Your boyfriend... is he with the local Courts?"

"Oh, yeah, totally! He's a prince..." The girl's eyes mist over. "My handsome Prince..." She sighs lightly. "So, which one?"

"The blue one..."


>Is there any way I can talk to your boyfriend?

>Do you happen to know the way to Portland?

>Your boyfriend shouldn't have left you on your own here.

>Write-In

>>1525812
>Is there any way I can talk to your boyfriend?
>Your boyfriend shouldn't have left you on your own here.

>>1525812
>Your boyfriend shouldn't have left you on your own here.
>Is there any way I can talk to your boyfriend?

I am not entirely sure that her boyfriend isn't a Gentry but I might be shadowrunning too hard

>>1525812
>Your boyfriend shouldn't have left you on your own here.

>>1525940
You can never shadow run to hard

>>1525855
>>1525940
>>1525964

"Your boyfriend shouldn't have left you here on your own. This is a dangerous area."

"I can take care of myself!" The girl pulls on a necklace, where a rusty old nail hangs on a length of cord. "See?" She picks up the suit and walks over to the counter. One murmured conversation later, the girl picks the coat back up and starts heading towards the door. She pauses, and then turns to you.

"Hey... You mind coming with me? My boyfriend... well..." She bites her lip and kicks at nothing "-he's in a bad way right now, and he could use some help."

>I'll help

>Sorry, too much on my plate right now

>Only if he helps me

>write-In

>>1526085
>I'll help
Be ready to bail if he's a gentry though

>>1526085

>I'll help

How long ago did he come back?

>>1526085
>I'll help

>>1526115
>>1526128
>>1526203
"I'll help. How long ago did he come back?"

"Come back? He hasn't left- oh, you mean when I met him! That was around two years ago. He's a Prince, you know! So charming, so handsome... To think he'd choose a plain ol' gal like me!"

You follow the girl outside, down the street, and around the corner into a side-alley. Thing's aren't as bright and cheerful here: the music and the hubbub seem far away the second you walk into the poorly-maintained passage, with its dying weeds, loose bricks, and suspect odor. You can see a kind of tent made out of a big sackcloth canvas draped over a streetlamp and two small chimneys. The inside is lit by a cluster of candles, showing a beggar's attempt at re-creating some sultan's harem chambers; stained pillows lie scattered on the ground, cans burn with scraps of aromatics within, and a mattress clearly liberated from a derelict slum is propped up on cinderblocks in one corner. The girl opens up the tent.
"Hey, sweetie? You home?"

A pile of fur on the floor shifts, revealing itself to be a man-shaped beast in a VERY dirty and stained frock coat. It raises its head, showing a face that isn't quite fox, wolf, dog, or coyote.

"JUST LEAVE ME BE, PIGBABY! I am in RUINS! REJECTED! REPEATEDLY HUMILIATED! REDUCED to squatting in an alleyway like a toad! I should just cast myself from the tallest tower in this hateful city and be done with it! FINIS! No more this tiresome vale of tears and torment! Just the grave's cold grasp on my red heart forevermore!"

His voice is high and whiny, with strange emphases and pauses, and a bit of a lisp. If you weren't currently having a fierce attack of the willies, you'd be surprised he's the sort INTERESTED in a girlfriend.

"Aw, come on honey, don't be like this! Look, I got you some nice, clean new clothes, just like you wanted!"

The ears of the mongrel prick up, and suddenly, his arms are flung around her neck in a warm embrace. "Really? Oh, Pigbaby, you are a veritable oasis of niceness in a desert of unpleasantness! Let me see, let me SEE!!!!"
He reaches with furry hands for the suit's box.

"Okay, here you go..."

The thing tries it on. "Ah, yes... yes, yes, quite nice, and such a good color too... and the pants- the pants..."

The beast pauses for a second, then suddenly whirls and backhands the girl across the face.

"YOU STUPID LITTLE GIRL! I TOLD YOU SPECIFICALLY TO MAKE SURE THESE CLOTHES WERE TO HAVE A HOLE FOR MY TAIL! DO ALL OF YOUR MEMORIES RUN OUT OF THOSE MASSIVE PITS YOU CALL EARS? MUST I CARVE MY INSTRUCTIONS INTO THE INSIDE OF YOUR SKULL, YOU MEWLING STRUMPET?!?"

The girl raises a hand to her cheek and looks at her alleged boyfriend, eyes brimming with tears.
"I... I'm sorry, honey, I'll fix it, you know I'm good at sewing, just don't be mad at me-e-e!!!..."

>>1526463
>Back off on the lady, creep.

>(Punch him)

>How about you pick on someone your own size, Gentry.

>As a servant of the Autumn Court, I DEMAND that you unbind this girl from whatever spell you have on her, Fae fiend.

>You always pick on little girls to make yourself feel better?

>Write-In

>>1526479
>"You always pick on little girls to make yourself feel better?"
>"Let me see that." Cut a hole in the seat of the pants. "THERE'S your hole."

>>1526479
>You always pick on little girls to make yourself feel better?

>>1526479
>You always pick on little girls to make yourself feel better?
>How about you pick on someone your own size, Gentry.
Can we roll for intimidation? can we even intimidate gentry?

>>1526830
Yes, and yes, although a successful check will NORMALLY give the Gentry the impression that you are an entity of sufficient power as to be on level footing with them (and therefore worthy of what passes for respect and courtesy among the Lords of Dream and Nightmare).

>>1526830
I'd say our best bet for dealing with this guy is to play on his personality, he's probably powerful but he has emotional issues we can exploit

>>1526830
this

>>1526479
>You always pick on little girls to make yourself feel better?

>>1526525
this try not to antagonize the gentry

>>1526525
>>1526531
>>1526830
>>1527416
"You always pick on little girls to make yourself feel better?"

"Who are YOU?! You dare question me, commoner?!? I should... I should..."
The beast sags slightly, and the fire drains from its eyes. "Oh, who am I kidding? I'm nothing. A fraud! An impostor, even! No kingdoms, no servants; nothing! Forced to live on the wrong side of the gates! What cruelty!" He shuffles over to where the girl is seated on the ground and reaches out. "Oh, Pigbaby, I'm sorry, don't cry. I didn't mean to get so upset at you. It's just that all of this... thisness, it's so stressful for a refined person of taste such as myself. Come here, let me wipe those tears from your eyes. I promise, when I get my lands back, you shall eat finest sweetmeats off of a golden plate every day, my love."

>Get your hands off of her, monster.

>(Sucker-punch him)

>Wait... you were kicked out of Faerie? I didn't know that was possible.

>(Leave this sordid scene and try to find a way back)

>Write-In

>>1528299
>Wait... you were kicked out of Faerie? I didn't know that was possible.

>>1528299
>Wait... you were kicked out of Faerie? I didn't know that was possible.

>>1528333
>>1528375
"You were kicked out of Faerie? Didn't know that was possible."

"What you mortals don't know would fill a well. But yes, I was exiled, most unjustly, I must add."

"What did you do, you-" you catch the worlds 'sick bastard' before they come out of your mouth: there's that girl still under his spell, and you don't want to risk her getting upset.

"Apparently, I was very rude to the wrong people, so they stripped me of land and title under false pretense! I barely managed to escape with my life! That day, I made an oath: that I shall fell three of their kind and take their titles from them, and secure my place once again! My humiliation shall be avenged!"

>That's nice and all, but you're still a threat to the Courts. Send the girl away. We settle this now.

>...I think the two of us have something in common. Let's talk somewhere else, though. Do you know where Portland is?

>Good luck with that. (leave)

>Write-In

>>1528424
>>...I think the two of us have something in common. Let's talk somewhere else, though.
Do you know where Seattle(or another nearby city from Portland) is?

Let's not bring him to our yard, but still talk with him

>>1528424

Oh goodness, this is a choice and a half, on the one hand he might be able to help with that Gentry that we've got pissed off at us and is out for our blood. On the other hand he's still one of the Gentry and we would need to have an ironclad Oath to be able to trust him with anything. Great risk, great reward.

>...I think the two of us have something in common. Let's talk somewhere else, though. Do you know where Portland is?

>>1528448

Smart, Seattle might not be a bad idea though I wouldn't want to piss off the Courts there if they found out we brought him.

What if we shifted him towards the coast? Put him in Astoria

>>1528424
>...I think the two of us have something in common. Let's talk somewhere else, though. Do you know where Portland is?

>>1528424
>...I think the two of us have something in common. Let's talk somewhere else, though. Do you know where Portland is?
lets see if we can get some use out of it

>>1528448
>>1528450
>>1528457
>>1528478
>>1528511
"I think the two of us have something in common. Let's talk somewhere else, though. Do you know where Portland is?"

"Of course I know where Port-Land is. I assume you plan to aid me? On what terms?"

"That's what I want to-"

"We'll decide them now. I'm not getting lured into a trap."

>Dictate your terms.

>>1528519
You will not harm me, harm being defined as causing intentional physical or emotional pain or altering my body or my mind without my consent given while unaffected by drugs, the supernatural or heightened emotion, you will also avoid antagonizing the seasonal, directional,day, night, dusk, and dawn courts, I will aid your attempt to fell your foes as long as it does not violate federal or court law.

>>1528568
Also in the event that I my friends, or the seasonal courts are attacked by one of the gentry you shall provide prompt, substantial and sincere assistance in defending the attacked party

>>1528568
Here's some ideas from the Discord
>Help us with Keepers in exchange for the titles we will give you
>The content of our dealings may not be divulged to anyone
>He must not target Portland or Changelings affiliated with Portland's Courts once he has his Titles and lands nor harm them indirectly consciously or by negligence
Not a complete set of terms, but something to think about

>>1528608
>>1528568
>>1528603
We should offer these terms to it, but if it gets antsy about the contract then we should back down to a contract thats less binding for both parties to be improved at a later date

TL;DR supporting these anons

>>1528608
By "anyone" I mean everyone outside the deal. I don't want our acquaintance to not be able to talk to us about the plan.

>>1528568
>>1528603
>>1528608

Supporting a combination of these

>>1528608
>>1528603
>>1528568
yup, let's try it

>>1528519
Last thing! Make him promise to treat the girl better.

>>1528568
>>1528603
>>1528608
"Fine. You don't harm me in any way, shape, or form, or use any kind of magic on my without my freely-given consent granted not under the influence of drugs, magical control, or emotional disturbance. You don't fuck with the Changeling Courts, and if my people in Portland, my friends, or myself are attacked by the Gentry, you'll help, no bullshit. In exchange, I'll help you take down three of the Gentry in any way that doesn't violate the laws of the Courts. You don't talk about our deal to anyone. And afterwards, once you've got all your power back: Portland is off limits. Forever."

You hear a snorting kind of chuckle bubble out from behind the beast's muzzle. "Don't you think this deal is in violation of the laws of your pretender 'Courts'? How would your 'kings' and 'queens' react to this little arrangement? If I swore to this pact, you would be guilty of breaking it the second it came into being. Which would be very bad for you..."

"Pigbaby" looks up. "Uh... what's going on?"


>You're bluffing. Swear to it.

>Amend terms

>Hey, if you don't want a deal, you can always send "Pigbaby" away.

>Write-In

>>1529027
>Hey, if you don't want a deal, you can always send "Pigbaby" away.

>>1529051
add on
>Of course I could just call in the courts on YOUR ass.
>Im dangerous too, sonny

>>1529027
Te contract specifies that you you can't make me break court laws, not that I can't of my own free will

>>1529091
*The

File: best compact.png (104 KB, 209x415)

104 KB PNG

>>1529091
nice... seconding

>>1529091
>>1529134
"I will help you take down three of the Gentry using methods of my discretion."

"Good, good... clever. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't making a deal with an idiot who will end up dragging me down; no offense. Alright: I swear on pain of losing that which I love most that I shall abide by these terms until the end of time. And should you betray me to my enemies among the Gentry, or to your Courts, from now until the end of time, you shall lose that which you love most, as is fair. I swear, for I am the Stripling Prince."

You brace yourself for the cold squeezing that always accompanies an oath, but it doesn't come. Instead, you feel something like a hot, howling wind blow through the alleyway, almost bowling you off of your feet and making the cloth of the Prince's pauper pleasure-dome whip like snakes. The Prince grins at you briefly. "I'll ensure to it that you return to Port-Land safely: I have my contacts among the goblin carters and highwaymen. Now, if you don't mind, I need to talk to my sweet suckling Pigbaby's family. They need to understand why they need to move, after all."

END CHAPTER 15

You've gained Ally (The Stripling Prince) 2! (He may be allied with you, but he's not particularly reliable.)
Your Hollow has a new Door: Hidden Entrance in side alley of your apartment complex.

CHOOSE UPGRADE:

MENTAL: GUMSHOE
>Intelligence increases to 3
>Investigation increases to 2
>Politics increases to 1
>Streetwise increases to 1
>Empathy increases to 2
>Your Jeremiah Bates identity gains Status (Private Investigator) 1! (Hope you don't mind using your apartment as an office). Just remember: you don't have the authority to arrest people.


PHYSICAL: WILDMAN

>Stamina increases to 3
>Medicine increases to 2
>Animal Ken increases to 3
>Weaponry increases to 1
>Gain Direction Sense

SOCIAL: HOBO KING

>Presence increases to 3
>Empathy increases to 2
>Subterfuge increases to 3
>Socialize increases to 2
>Resources increases to 2 (You've got some money scraped together from all of the bums you've helped)


SUPERNATURAL: GENTRY-TAUGHT

7 points for contracts (dots 1-2 cost 1 point, 3-4 cost 2, and 5 costs 3. Add a dot if not affinity. SPECIAL: The Stripling Prince is willing to teach you some forbidden, dangerous powers. Goblin Contracts are considered affinity, and Goblin Contracts and Contracts of Lucidity are half-off!)
Also, one more thing... Roll four dice.

Rolled 4, 2, 5, 1 = 12 (4d10)

>>1529601
oh dear
Gunshoe

Rolled 2, 3, 8, 7 = 20 (4d10)

>>1529601
Seconding Gumshoe

Rolled 3, 3, 5, 3 = 14 (4d10)

>>1529601
GUMSHOE

Rolled 4, 10, 9, 5 = 28 (4d10)

>>1529601
Gumshoe

>>1529629
>>1529758
>>1529764
>>1529795
Gumshoe it is, and you managed to avoid losing Clarity! Good job! Next time: Mary. Should be tomorrow afternoon

>>1530017
(Hit post too soon)

Don't worry, the duel is still happening. Thread AFTER this.

>>1530019
Thanks for running man

>>1530017

Thanks for running Teller

>>1532103

New thread?...