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>>2949721

Nikolai motions for you to sit in the visitors chair in front of the desk and then takes his seat behind it before leaning in and saying to you "Alright young man. You said you had questions, what would you like to ask old Nikolai about first?"

"One has many questions" You reply "But perhaps we might start with this one. What are the Courts Sir Nikolai? Every one of our kind this one has met seems to have spoken of them, yet none have taken the time to explain them. They seem to assume one should already know."

"Aw yes, the courts." He says as he leans back in his chair and strokes his long white beard. "Where to begin. I suppose you could say the courts are communities really, though all four are part of the larger community that is the Freehold. More properly I would describe them as organizations bound together by pledges and oaths of fealty where changeling's like ourselves come together for mutual aid and protection. If you're part of the court, or affiliated with it, then the court looks after you. But it's not a free hand out, you're expected to contribute something back to the community."

"There are members of the court proper" He continues "Those who have been accepted into the court and taken oaths, and then there are supplicants and potential members. Those who follow the court and depend upon it, but haven't been accepted into it yet. These typically receive patronage from a member of the court and serve them as members of their motleys, many hoping one day their work will be rewarded with full membership and they'll become made men as it were."

He leans in towards you and watches you closely with his pure blue white-less eyes and says "There are four courts, each of which has made a contract with a season for power and protection. Summer, Fall, Winter and Spring respectively."

"You say they have made contracts with the seasons" You interject "Are we then capable of making bargains with Kami here, as we had been in the land of the spirits? One has seen evidence of this, but one knows not how to go about it."

"Yes you can" Nikolai replies "Though it is not always easy, you have to call out to the essence of a thing, it's true self, and then convince it to treat with you. It takes practice, but we can do it. It might be easier though to try and renew the contracts you'd held in Arcadia rather than try for new ones, you should still have them if you can remember how to call on them. Or find yourself an intermediary."

"One understands" You reply. Perhaps you will need to meditate on this later, but for now you have more questions that need to be answered. You pause for a moment to collect you thoughts, and as Nikolai waits for you ask him your next question the door opens.

tbc

>>2949784

The shark skinned woman Natalia enters carrying a tray with a teapot and two cups. She sets it down on the desk and then pours out a cup for Nikolai. She does not however pour out a cup for you, before moving to stand in the corner.

Nikolai smiles and shakes his head, you can see a twinkle is his eyes as he gives a small barely noticeable shrug of his shoulders in your direction, and then pours your tea himself. You hear the woman behind you make a soft strangled indignant noise as he does. You take the cup, and inhale deeply before taking a sip. Black tea rather than green, not your favorite, but still a nice gesture. You take a moment to enjoy the drink before continuing.

"Thank you Sir Nikolai for answering this one's questions" You tell him. "One has only a few more. Do you perhaps know where one might find a man named Rico? One has need of information concerning the Day of the Dead in order to fulfill an obligation to a Spirit, and one was told that Rico would be able to provide the information one needs."

"You mean El Lobo?" Nikolai asks "Yes, I know of him. He's one of Summer's Knights. Just got elevated to a Barony actually now that I think about it. You can usually find him at the underground fight club he runs."

"Natalia" He says as he turns to the woman in the corner. "If I remember correctly I heard you talking about El Lobo's club with Felix, perhaps you could show our new friend here the way. I don't really know how to get there myself, and I hear it's quite tricky to find."

They both turn and look at you, how do you respond.

>Politely decline and ask for directions, but accept if they insist
>Decline. Seriously, we don't want to go with that woman
>Accept if Natalia is willing
>Write in

>>2949818
>>Accept if Natalia is willing

>>2949818
>>Politely decline and ask for directions, but accept if they insist

>>2949818
>Accept if Natalia is willing

Calling the vote and beginning the write up in half an hour. Last call for votes.

>>2950293
Ditto

>>2949818
>Accept if Natalia is willing

>>2950293
>>2950335
>>2950383
>>2950931

You look at them and then say "While one would not wish to impose, If Miss Natalia is willing one would be truly grateful."

Nikolai looks at her expectantly, and after a moment of meeting his gaze she turns to you and says "Yeah sure, I'll take you to El Lobo's place."

"You need not if you do not wish to do so" You reply quickly. "One truly does not wish to impose, and can surely find one's own way if it would inconvenience you."

"It's fine" She says with a small half smile as one corner of her mouth quirks up. "I got the time. Might have headed over that way on my own anyway."

"Very well then. If it is no imposition, then this one would gladly accept your assistance and thanks you for your kindness" You say as you rise and bow to her and she watches you with bemusement.

"Excellent" Nikolai chimes in from behind his desk as he reaches into the drawers and rummages around. "And I've just the thing to get you there. Here" He says as he holds out a small plastic square he pulls out from a drawer in his desk. "It's a bus pass. Can't very well have you walking there, it'd take far too long."

"One could not possibly-" You begin, but he cuts you off by standing up and shoving the buss pass into your chest

"Take it" He insists firmly "It's no trouble, I have a few. It's a gift. I don't expect anything in return."

Taking the pass you turn and bow to the old changeling and tell him "Thank you Sir Nikolai, one will not forget this."

"Just pass the kindness on" He says with a smile "That's all I ask. Now go on, you have a bus to catch."

He waves the two of you out. You open the door and let Natalia exit the room first. She nods to Nikolai as she leaves and then walks out the doorway. You pause and bow before you leave, and Nikolai tips his head in recognition, then you close the door and follow Natalia.

She silently leads you out of the soup kitchen, nodding to the other changelings as you pass who watch you with open curiosity, and once you're outside the soup kitchen she guides you back to the larger road where she stops at a small glass and steel building with a sign that reads 'bus stop.'

She sits down on the far end of the bench that is inside the structure, leaving plenty of room for you to sit down yourself. Other than the two of you, the bus station is empty.

Do you

>Sit quietly and meditate on what Nikolai told you about Kami and try to call upon your contracts
>Ask Natalia what she can tell you about El Lobo and his club
>Ask Natalia about herself
>Ask Natalia how she knows Nikolai.
>Wait and see if she will start a conversation
>Write in

>>2951063
First we
>Wait and see if she will start a conversation
If she doesn't speak we:
>Ask Natalia about herself
>Ask Natalia how she knows Nikolai.


I must say I liked the colorless leader a lot.

>>2951099
support

I'd Like to get in one more before I go to bed for the night. I'll give it another half hour and then we'll start the last write up of the day. Last call for votes.

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>>2951099
>>2951223


You sit down next to her. Rather than begin speaking immediately you look out at the cars passing and wait to see if she has anything she wishes to say to you. Out of the corner of your eye you can see her glancing at you, and wringing her hands in her lap. She opens her mouth slightly once or twice, before clamping it shut. Her brow furrows, and you get the impression that she is thinking deeply about how to word something. So you wait, and you watch cars.

After a minute or two she spits out "Listen before we go there's something I gotta tell you, something you gotta know."

You turn to face her and tell her "One will listen carefully then to what you wish to say."

She nods and looks around to make sure there is no one nearby, and then she starts speaking. The words come flying out of her mouth in a rush. "You can't trust the courts, none of em. They're all bastards, mean fucking bastards, and you can't trust them."

She leans in closer to you as she speaks. She doesn't even stop to take a breath before she keeps going, and there's a slightly manic look in her wide eyes as she continues her tirade. She's talking quietly, just above a whisper, but her voice is intense and filled with an audible tangle of hatred and fear. "They don't care about you, they just wanna use you. They talk about how the court's a big family, about how they'll help you out as long as you do your part. It's all a load of bullshit."

"Family, ha" She spits bitterly "Fucking crime families is what they are, they don't do nothing for you that won't benefit themselves. If they offer you to help get yourself a cafe set up, then before long they'll be coming to you telling you to help them launder money through it. If they help you get your fetch and claim his car lot, then they'll make you move stolen cars. And they'll make you do it, lean on promises and pledges you made when you didn't understand what it would cost and you thought they were just nice people looking out for you. Fucking poison that's all they have to offer, poison hiding barbed fucking hooks."

"They're gonna talk sweet to you" She tells you, looking intently into your eyes and reaching out to grab your forearm. "Ogres never want for work in this city, there's always a court looking for some more muscle. Just remember that. Remember you can't trust them, and if you let them buy you make sure you get what your soul is worth."

It all comes pouring out so fast, it seems she just started talking and then she couldn't stop spewing her hate. It catches you by surprise, you certainly hadn't been expecting that. You had just been planning to exchange pleasantries, ask her how she knew Nikolai, not this. Now she's sitting there breathing deeply and you have to come up with a response.

>It sounds like you're speaking from personal experience.
>Why didn't Nikolai tell me this?
>If you hate the courts then why go to El Lobo's?
>She's clearly distressed. Attempt to comfort her
>Write in

>>2951618
>She's clearly distressed. Attempt to comfort her

>>2951618
>>She's clearly distressed. Attempt to comfort her
>>Tell her a bit about our time as a warrior
"This one is done being a brutish pawn for others. This one will take your words to heart."

>>2951618
>>She's clearly distressed. Attempt to comfort her

>>2951618
>She's clearly distressed. Attempt to comfort her
>If you hate the courts then why go to El Lobo's?

Really like Nikolai and intrigued as to how we're going to get tangled up in this city, obviously gonna have people baiting us for the courts but the normal emotional arguements aren't going to hit the same way with us

>>2951618
>She's clearly distressed. Attempt to comfort her

>If you hate the courts then why go to El Lobo's?
But don't say the second part as her being a hypocrite, more that we are genuinely concerned of making her go to place that brings bad memories to her just to help us.

"Is there anything we can do to help you?"

Wish there was a power where we could share people's emotions so that it would be easier for them to bear it

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>>2951640
>>2951663
>>2951664
>>2951667
>>2951673

>Get back from cleaning up for bed, check on thread
>Mfw all these replies
>Mfw consensus.

Fuck it I can do one more before I pop off for the night. Just one more, and then I'll sleep.

>>2951640
>>2951663
>>2951664
>>2951667
>>2951673

Seeing that Natalia is clearly distressed, you reach out and place your right hand over her's where it rests on your left forearm. You gently guide it down, until her hand is cradled softly between your own massive red palms. And then in your softest and most smoothing tone, you begin to comfort her.

"One thanks you for your words" You begin. "You have done this one a great service, at cost to yourself, and one thanks you for it. One promises that one will take your words into consideration. One truly has no desire to be another's tool of violence again. Thank you for your compassion in warning this one."

She looks up at you. Her breathing is beginning to level out as you continue. "One can see that you have suffered much, and one grieves to see that you suffer still. One sees in you a wonderful and compassionate human being who does not deserve such suffering, and need not suffer further. Please, do not let them continue to hurt you. The Buddha teaches that as the snake sheds it's skin so too must we shed our past over and over again that we may live. You are free now, do not let them continue to hurt you. Take from the pain the lessons it was meant to teach you, and then let it go. Forget the past that makes you cry and focus on the now that makes you smile."

She snorts and grins at you, though it doesn't quite reach her eyes. "Where did you read that? In a Hallmark card?"

"In the Taishō Shinshū Daizōkyō actually" You reply with your own soft smile "But if these Hallmark cards contain such wisdom perhaps it would benefit this one to read them as well."

She snorts again and lets out a weak chuckle, and her eyes light up slightly.

tbc

>>2951756

"One knows that these words may seem empty platitudes" You continue "But one truly believes that if you were to consider them, they may bring you some measure of peace. Please, for this one's sake if not your own, tell this one you will consider it. One will gladly assist you in coming to understand them if that is your desire, and even if you do not desire to learn of the teachings of the Buddha one asks that if there is anything this one might do to ease your suffering, that you would speak of it with me."

"Sure" She says. Her breathing's evened out and she seems much more calm now. She smiles at you and straightens up, but does not remove her hand from in-between your own. "You're just a big old softie aren't you? I never would have guessed you were all Zen. Awful quick to offer your advice and help aren't you?"

"One hopes one has not offended by being overly familiar with one's words or actions." You reply "One only wished to help. One could not look on and do nothing."

"No, no you didn't offend me. I'm the one who just freaked out on you after all, not the other way around." She tells you. "It was just a bit of a surprise is all. You might want to be a bit more careful about offering help like that though. It could get you into trouble if you say it to the wrong person and the Wyrd takes it as a promise."

"One will remember that as well." You tell her. "But this one's offer stands. One does not believe you to be the type of person to try and take advantage of an offer of help made in good faith."

You both sit there silently for a moment, her hand still resting between your own. Then she seems to realize it's still there and blushes slightly before slowly pulling it from between your hands, and you gently move them out of the way so she can pull it free.

"Pardon this one if it is overly familiar to ask, but one has a question." You say, and she looks up at you expectantly. "You need not answer if you do not wish to do so, but one wonders why you would go to El Lobo's knowing it is an establishment run under the auspice of the Summer Court?"

She tenses up, and you quickly say "One only asks because one would not wish to cause you further distress in bringing this one to such a place if you do not wish to go there. One does not mean to pry, forgive this one's impertinence, one will ask no more of it."

"No" She says "No don't apologize, it's alright. It's a perfectly legitimate question and you meant it well. The answer is just a little...personal is all."

"Then please, say no more" You tell her "One does not wish to pry."

"No it's alright." She says. "I don't mind telling you, just give me a moment."

tbc

>>2951767

The nicest fae damned ogre the Thorns ever spat out

>>2951767

After considering her hands for a few seconds and breathing in deeply she looks up at you and begins to speak, in a much more calm and level fashion than she had before.

"When I first got free and ended up in this city all I wanted to do was forget." She says slowly. "Forget what had happened. Forget the memories of blood in the water. Forget the screams, the taste. Push it away and deny it ever happened. I fell in with the Spring court. They just seemed so happy, so carefree, and I wanted that so bad. I guess I overlooked some things."

She looks down at her hands again and twiddles her thumbs as she says in a smaller voice. "That's when I met Victor. He seemed so nice, so caring. He took me to all the best parties, the best places to eat, and he listened so well. He made me forget. When he offered me a green scarf and a place in his Motley, said he'd be my patron in the court, I was so happy.I felt so loved and included...I didn't even stop to think about what I was promising."

She trails off for a moment and her shoulders hunch and then she chokes out "Fucker was a pimp.Tried to make me....I can't say it, I just can't. I owe Nikolai everything. He saved me. I don't know how he did it, if he bought him off or if he had dirt on him Nikolai won't tell me, but he saved me. Got me out of it before Victor could force me into anything."

"He tells me I don't owe him anything." She whispers "But I know it had to have cost him, and the old man really can't afford to make the courts too angry with him.They tolerate him because he has so many connections. He's been a member of the freehold for decades, so he has a lot of pull, but he can't stand up to the courts. Not openly, not often. He won't say anything but I know keeping me safe from Spring has to be risky for him, so I've been looking for some way to take some of the pressure off."

"Spring and Summer really don't get along that well." She says as she looks up at you. "So I figure if I can get some Reds in my corner maybe they can help keep the Spring court's goons off of me and Nikolai. I won't wear their colors, I'll never wear any of their colors again, but I'm hoping some networking and some connections might help at least a little. So I go to El Lobo's fight club and place a few bets. Most of the Summer Court love that place, it's a good way to meet them and feel out people I might be able to make some deals with."

How do you respond.

>Tell her that you may not have court connections, but that if she needs your help you'll be there.
>Thank her for telling you, and share some details about yourself.
>Ask her more about El Lobo's and the Summer Court.
>Respond with outrage and offer to deal with Victor for her.
>Write in.

>>2951796
>Thank her for telling you, and share some details about yourself.

>>2951796
>>Thank her for telling you, and share some details about yourself.

>>2951796
>Thank her for telling you, and share some details about yourself.

>>2951796
>>Thank her for telling you, and share some details about yourself.
>Tell her that you may not have court connections, but that if she needs your help you'll be there.
offer this so she doesn't have to put herself in further danger by dealing with the courts, that and the fact I liked Nikolai and want to help him


>>2951769
and now we remember him tearing people in two with his bare hands and sucking their contents dry during the wars his master put him up to

>>2951951
Agreed

>>2951769

Tis what you all made him yeah. I hope you all are enjoying it as much as I am.

>>2951951

Indeed. Time to bond over the taste of blood I guess....

Anyway I'll be working the update at lunch and on breaks. Might take a while though, this one's pretty lengthy so I wouldn't be suprised if I didn't get it finished until this evening depending on how busy I am this afternoon.

>>2952111
>I hope you all are enjoying it as much as I am.
Absolutely

I am late to the game but this quest is damn beautiful!

(Though mechanics are a pet peeve of mine and if I may offer a suggestion, something like the best of 3 after an action is decided upon instead of an average of 3 rolls seems to work in my opinion and doesn't clutter up the thread much.)

>>2952111
Love the quest, love the setting, as long as you qm I'll be playing

>>2952121
This, it honestly feels so much better than the last Changeling quest we had. I love how the Courts get deconstructed themselves as pale shadows of the True Fae, which elevates our war beyond good guys vs evil fairies.

>>2951951

Really looking forward to the first true fight sequence we have and the reactions from the people around us

>>2952220
*Ends up with someone's severed arm in our mouth.*

"Oh....o-oh my...."

>>2952111
I have not been able to post for a few days, but I am enjoying it. Keep posting and I will keep playing.

>>2952769
Backing up what this guy said. I'm just lurking, but I love the story so far. You remind me of a good friend of mine, the way you portray the courts is just how he did.

>>2951804
>>2951809
>>2951818
>>2951951
>>2952062

"One is honored to be allowed into your confidence." You tell her. "And one is truly grateful to you for teaching this one of the ways of the courts. One promises not to betray the trust you have shown in this one to share something so personal."

"One cannot claim to understand what you have suffered" You continue "One would not presume to do so, but one can understand desiring to escape from one's past. This one too remembers the taste of blood, and the screams."

You are peripherally aware that she is looking at you, but you're too lost in recollection to pay her your full attention. Yes, you remember the blood. You remember the rush when that salty iron taste gushed down your throat as you sank your fangs into flesh. Memories of twisting bones to crack them open and suck out the marrow and splitting open the dead to take the most choice organs flash before your eyes.

"Yes, this one remembers." You say as you break out of your recollections and return to the present. "But we are more than what they did to us. One remembers what it was to be that monster, but one chooses not to be such any longer. Before one was taken one wished to be a doctor, like one's father. Perhaps such is not possible for this one any longer, but surely this one can still choose to ease the suffering of others. One must believe that one can help. One would not know how to go forward otherwise."

"Hey" She says softly and lays a hand on your shoulder. "You're not a monster. I'm sure you'll be able to help plenty of people."

"One hopes you are right." You reply. "One apologizes for one's shameful display, here this one has caused you distress and you are comforting this one.”

“There’s no shame in it.” She tells you. “Memories of that place are painful for any of us, and they’re still fresh for you. No shame in it at all. If you ever want to talk about it, well I’d be willing to listen.”

>>2956075

“This one is grateful, and perhaps one day one will take you up on your offer.” You tell her. “It wasn’t all bad, sometimes it was quite beautiful. One has many fond memories of the temple where one lived before the war. It was quite peaceful, filled with the sound of bells and chanted Sutra. One’s favorite memories were of chanting Shigin together in the evenings, taking turns or singing together in the main hall around a central fire.”

“For me it was the coral reefs” She replies with a soft smile. “We don’t have words for the colors I saw there here on this side. They truly were beautiful.”

You both sit there for a minute, lost in memories before you speak up again.

“Miss Natalia” You say, calling her out of her recollection. “One would not wish to insult you by questioning your judgment, nor your ability, but one worries that you may be placing yourself in danger liaising with the representatives of this Summer Court.”

“One believes your actions to be admirable” You say quickly as her eyes begin to narrow slightly in response to your words “That you wish to ease Sir Nikolai’s burden is truly noble, one only wishes to say that surely Sir Nikolai would wish you to remain safe. To that end one wishes to offer one’s own assistance. One may not perhaps have the connections of a member of the courts, but this one is not unskilled, and one is willing to offer whatever assistance you may require that this one is capable of providing.”

“That’s kind of you to offer” She replies. “But even if you are ‘not unskilled’, I don’t think you can bring as much over to my corner as some court connections.”

“Perhaps not” You reply “But surely having this one in your ‘corner’ as you say, could not hurt. And if you must continue as you have among those of Summer, would you turn aside one willing to watch your back as you do so?”

“I suppose not” She says with a sigh, and then as a large vehicle pulls up she smiles at you and says “Thank you, it does feel good to have someone else I can turn to. Now come on, this is our bus.”

>>2956079

She leads you onto the vehicle, and shows you where to tap your pass to pay for your passage before leading you back into the bus. The seats are filled, but there are handles to hold for you as you stand, and the bus is not so crowded as to be uncomfortable, though the people around you do keep you from being able to continue your conversation with Natalia.

You try to keep track of where you are going, watch out of the windows for landmarks, but the buildings all appear the same. In the end you are not able to determine much more than that the bus went mostly straight, with the exception of a right turn at about the fifteen minute mark and a left five minutes after that. Over all you rode the bus for perhaps three quarters of an hour before Natalia motions for you to leave the vehicle and leads you out back onto the street.

She leads you away from the bus stop, and you walk down this new street for a few blocks more before she comes to a stop in front of a large building. It’s only two stories, but it’s wide, covering most of a block. A large sign hanging over the double door entrance proclaims it to be El Campeón Boxing Club.

Natalia motions for you to follow her into the alley to the side, and leads you to a smaller side entrance.

“Here” She says and motions you forward “Place your hand on the door-frame. The real deal is in El Lobo’s hollow. Cops can’t shut down an illegal fight club they can’t get to you know? Good a time as any to show you how to open a gate.”

You place your hand on the door-frame. When you do Natalia nods and says “Good, now concentrate. Remember the feeling of Arcadia or the Hedge, and look inside for something that feels similar, then reach for it and feed it into the door and order it ‘open says me’.”

You close your eyes and begin to breath rhythmically as you drop into meditation and search yourself. You don’t have to look very hard before you feel it, feel the energy coursing through your body. You immediately recognize a portion of that energy. It feels like red-plums-blood-victory, like the fruit you had been given by Jonathan. You reach for it and nudge it with your mind, feeling it respond to your will and flow through your hand into the door-frame as you declare firmly “Open Says Me”

You feel the power slide out of you into the door-frame. You can feel something leaving you. It’s an odd sensation. You aren’t tired, your muscles feel no fatigue, yet you feel in some way weaker than you had been. Lesser, diminished in some way you can’t quite describe.

You open your eyes and see the lights bleeding out from the door-frame to fill the space, swirling with their colors before resolving into an opening.

>>2956084

“Wow good job” Natalia says “Took me way longer to get a feel for Glamour and open a Gate my first time. Come on, lets go in.”

She steps through, and you follow her in through the gate. As you step through the gate you are immediately struck by a sensation of heat. The place you have entered into is sweltering. It’s lit by torches and large fires contained in raised braziers that cast flickering light that illuminates the space but casts dark shadows as well. It’s loud, you can here people shouting and cheering and the rumble of stamping feet and clapping and drumming hands.

Looking around you see that the place you have entered into is large and open. Most of the spaces' occupants are clustered around the edges of a large centrally located pit. They appear to be looking down into it as they cheer and boo for whatever is happening inside of it. There is another cluster of people around a large chalkboard on one side of the pit, where you see money changing hands as the people there gesture at numbers and names written on the board. Finally there’s a bar and some tables set up along the wall opposite the chalkboard across the pit, where some people are sitting around drinking.

Do you

>Go and see what’s in the pit
>Go to the Bar
>Go to the Chalkboard
>Stick with Natalia and follow her lead.
>Write in

>>2956087
>>Stick with Natalia and follow her lead.

ask her where we can find Rico

First off i'm sorry this came so late. I've had a crazy few days and not a lot of time to write, and trying to get this right has been driving me a wee bit barmy. I'll try to be better about updating in the future, or at least let you know when there will be delays. Hopefully this won't happen again, but even if there are occasional delays I am committed to continuing for as long as people are interested.
This is a lot more response than I had expected while I was gone.


>>2952121

Thank you for being here, assuming I didn't drive you off with my absence. Regarding the Mechanics thing, thank you for the suggestion. I'll keep that in mind. Ultimately I'm kind of hoping to use a simplified version of white wolf rules, but I might just stick by the d100 methods that seem common here on quest. They work and it keeps things simple and fast. I'll be sure to keep your recommendation on highest rather than average in mind.

>>2952136

Thank you for playing, I'm glad you like it. I hope it continues to be to your satisfaction.

>>2952161

Thank you for being here.

>>2952220

Well you may be getting your opportunity to see it sooner rather than later, depending on what you all decide.

>>2952769

Happy to have you post whenever you can. We all have lives of course, so it's understandable that people aren't always able to make the time.

>>2953692

Thank you for lurking, glad to have you. That's interesting to hear, I don't know that I've ever met anyone who does them quite like I do, they tend to be more benevolent with most storytellers I've met, but it makes sense that someone could put the same spin on them I do. Sounds like your friend is someone that would be interesting to compare notes with.

>>2956087
Pass by the pit
>Go and see what’s in the pit
But keep an eye on Natalia, follow her after it
>Stick with Natalia and follow her lead.

>>2956087
>Go and see what’s in the pit

Seems like a really cool quest, following!

>>2956087
>Stick with Natalia and follow her lead.

Would be pretty shitty to promise to have her back and then walk off the moment we enter

>>2956087
>Stick with Natalia and follow her lead.

>>2956087
>>Stick with Natalia and follow her lead.

>>2956316

Lol, that is a great point.

>>2956316

Oh right, supporting this. Was gonna say pit, but that's a good point.

Gotta say shark girl is growing on me. Didn't really care for her at first. She seemed like a bit of a cunt, but she doesn't seem so bad now.

>>2956090
>>2956108
>>2956140
>>2956316
>>2956326
>>2956338
>>2956408

You step up next to Natalia and gesture forward with a upraised palm while telling her "One would be honored if you would lead the way."

"Sure" she says with a pleased look on her face as she steps in closer to you so that she doesn't have to speak as load to be heard over the din "Follow me, and stay close."

You walk at her side as she turns and begins to make her way towards the bar. "First thing to do is ask Jerry if El Lobo is in tonight." She leans in close to you and tells you as you walk. "He should be, but it'd be good to get confirmation, and I can ask after some people I'm looking for while we are at it."

"One sees the wisdom in such a course" You reply "But one is curious, should it not be obvious if such a powerful man is in attendance?"

She stops and glances around quickly before leaning in towards you. She places a hand on your shoulder to support herself, and rising up on her toes so that her lips are right next to your ear she whispers to you "El Lobo's short, like really short. Don't make a big deal out of it, he hates it when people draw attention to it. If he's over by the edge of the pit there's no way we could see him without pushing into the throng."

You nod, and then she lowers herself down off of her toes and removes her hand from your shoulder, and turns back in the direction of the bar and the two of you continue on your way. The longer you spend here the more details you begin to notice. The smell stands out, a pungent mix of wood smoke and alcohol mixed with sweat and blood.

As you walk you turn to Natalia and ask "What is it in the pit which holds their interest so." In truth you would have liked to have gone to see for yourself, but remaining with Natalia and honoring your promise was more important than your curiosity.

"I would have thought that'd be obvious" She says. "It's where they hold the fights."

You nod. You had thought as much, but still it is good to have confirmation.

When you reach the bar you let her do the talking and you turn back out to get a better look at the crowd. The vast majority of the changelings you see are wearing some scrap of red. Scarf, bandanna, Beanie, and in one case a ribbon tying up a high mares tail. There are a few who aren't wearing an obvious piece of color, but not many. You don't see anyone with green, and you only notice a handful wearing yellow, all clustered together in a single knot by the chalkboard.

tbc

>>2957387

You watch the crowd for a while longer, keeping one eye on the room and one on the woman you came with, before you see out of the corner of your eye that Natalia has finished speaking with the bar tender and is walking towards you with two foaming mugs. She hands one to you and then leans in so she can be heard. "El Lobo's here. Apparently he's planning some big celebration for his elevation tonight. More fights than usual. Bigger prizes. Word is maybe even a knockout style tournament. He hasn't told anyone straight out yet, so it's a bit of a hot topic for gossip."

"If he is here than perhaps one should seek him out before he becomes to busy with the festivities" You say and look over to see her response.

She shakes her head at you and says. "No, you can't just walk up to El Lobo, he's too important now. I mean you could I guess. El Lobo like's boldness and confidence, but that might cause problems if he see's it as a public insult. He can't afford to have anything tarnishing his rep right now. No it'd be better to get an intermediary to introduce you, or to do something to catch his attention so that he comes to you."

How do you respond.


>"To introduce oneself and ask a simple question would surely not be seen as an insult."
>Look over at the pit and say "Catch his attention you say? One can think of a way to do so."
>"Yes you are right, it is best to work through intermediaries when dealing with those above one's station. Do you perhaps know of a suitable go between?"
>Write in.

>>2957406
>Look over at the pit and say "Catch his attention you say? One can think of a way to do so."

This one hasn't exercised since his escape, and to keep one's mind balanced one must keep one's body balanced

>>2957406
>"Yes you are right, it is best to work through intermediaries when dealing with those above one's station. Do you perhaps know of a suitable go between?"

Tempting but I'd rather we not fight until needed.

Also, I guess winter isn't a very showy club considering we've rarely seen any signs of them. Makes sense.

>>2957406
>>Look over at the pit and say "Catch his attention you say? One can think of a way to do so."

>>2957432

Have we seen any signs? Yellow is Autumn, Green is Spring, Red is Summer, but I don't think we've seen any other Color.

>>2957406
>Look over at the pit and say "Catch his attention you say? One can think of a way to do so."

One has not gone through our martial katas since leaving the Fariest of Lands

>>2957453

I would imagine Winter is grey and very understated, something like a grey pocket square or tie

>Look over at the pit and say "Catch his attention you say? One can think of a way to do so."

>>2957406
>>"Yes you are right, it is best to work through intermediaries when dealing with those above one's station. Do you perhaps know of a suitable go between?"
>"One should leave combat as a last resort, for one is trained to fight not in sport, but in war."

>>2957785

I was struggling with that balance but I considered that the Japanese traditions do use fighting tournaments in their martial arts and with us being a Lost I imagine our Keeper probably had us practicing against other changelings in between wars, but that's just my conclusions, totally fine if we go more pacifist route

>>2957406
>"Yes you are right, it is best to work through intermediaries when dealing with those above one's station. Do you perhaps know of a suitable go between?"
I feel like we’re more, “I have the ability to kick your ass, but I’d much rather not.”

....I am incredibly conflicted on this. This really does feel split right down the middle to me. I mean I know numerically there is a slight inclination to fight, but there isn't a clear majority in my eyes. The go between crowd are making good arguments here, and of course so are the guys advocating we fight. And I myself can think of half a dozen more motivations for either side, and I like both progression paths for the story. It's hard to choose either side.

At this point I don't know that I can choose. I'm going to leave it until morning. Sleep on it, see what more you all have to say, and then write the next bit first thing when I get up.

If you feel strongly one way or the other, now is the time to lobby for it. Some things to consider.

-The value of a reputation vs the repercussions of a reputation.

-Devotion to principles and working to achieve personal enlightenment vs delaying one's own passage into nirvana for the sake of others (Bodhisattva principle.)

Both of which I think are very relevant here personally. I really can see arguments for it either way, and I don't think either option is outside of the realm of possibility for Kentaro as a character. See you all in the morning.

>>2957785
>>"Yes you are right, it is best to work through intermediaries when dealing with those above one's station. Do you perhaps know of a suitable go between?"
>>"One should leave combat as a last resort, for one is trained to fight not in sport, but in war."
If this fails we can always fight in the pit. Let's try talking first.

I am more inclined to using fighting more as a sport than for war. We should evaluate whether or not an honourable fight is possible in this surrounding, though. I have doubts about this place where we are right now.

>>2957824
Ok
I'll try to explain my reasoning

if we go for the middle man we are probably going to have to offer a favor, since we are a newly escaped lost and we are asking an audience with a pretty important guy, I don't want to owe a favor to the courts right now, but it can get worse, since we don't have much value the intermediary may ask Natalia for a favor, which she would probably not deny given her kind nature, I would hate to impose something like this to her.

I would like a more direct approach, we could either talk with him directly since we are probably blunt like that or use the pit, fighting here is a sport and the exercise is an honorable way to improve one's mind and body. Also, they respect strength, which we have, so it is an effort to communicate with them with the language they use and understand the most.

as a friend from the monastery told us a long time ago "One must keep one's mind sharp as to be able to cut through the bullshit", we are not certain from which scripture he took it from but they are wise words indeed.

A simple honorable duel, a sport and exercise, to prevent others from praying upon us and Natalie for favors that may bring shame and dishonor to us and she like the other court tried to do.

>>2958060
This more or less fits my thinking. Martial arts as a means of balancing and strengthening the body seems right up our monk's alley. The question is really whether or not what's going on here is honorable/not causing real harm.

>>2958064
fighting, even as a sport causes real harm, the difference is in the intent, are these people fighting in camaraderie or are they trying to kill each other. Either way, I think we can show them how a true duel is fought, we probably are used to this since we must have fought a lot in the temple to train our skills.

>>2958065
There are plenty of ways to defeat an opponent without a bloodbath. With strength and the venerable arts of judo and jiujitsu, one can compel another's submission with a choke, lock or throw. Honor and benevolence do not imply feebleness nor softness.

>>2957824
You could also throw a die if the vote stays deadlocked.

Interesting take on the Courts

>>2958120
But at the same time, injury does not mean that a combat is dishonorable, it is simply a normal consequence of a contest of skill where both parts do not hold back in respect to their opponent, giving their best in order to improve both their skills. We can use a form of combat that is more unlikely to cause injury but even if others don't use it it doesn't mean the combat is not honorable. The intent is more important than the method of fighting, if it is a duel in good faith it is an honorable sport, even if violent, if it is a fight to purposely try to harm or kill it is combat not sport

>>2958120
>>2958156

but again, the biggest issue for me it is not to owe the court any favor, since el lobo will already ask something of us, I would not like to be strangled by two summer courtiers having a pull on us

I'm fine with trying diplomacy first, then going into the pit if that doesn't work, or the favor needed is too much.

>>2957824
>delaying one's own passage into nirvana for the sake of others (Bodhisattva principle.)

I really think we sgould go with this principle, we can not let others suffer even if that would delay our enlightenment.

I agree with>>2958061, if it's a simple fight and we can do it without harming our opponent and at the sam time preventing Natalia from owing the summer court any favors I think it is the best course of action.

>>2958159
Personally, I think doing a favour for a Court is inevitable. No one will do anything for anyone for free. The only thing one can do is maneuver into a position of strength for fairer negotiations.

Fighting in the ring is not only a good way to show (and warn) others of our strength, but also our unyielding principles. Like a certain other fictional martial artist, we shall not take life or harm the innocent no matter the cause, and will not accept any contract that orders us to do so.

>>2957824

I think the Bodhisattva vow will be a good fit for us and I think our durance has an interesting interaction with that vow and the idea of the vow continuing through past and future lives. Were we Buddhist before getting taken or did we find it in Arcadia? Also not sure when we'll be able to but we should try to find a monk and tell through spiritual matters so we can get a better grip on our philosophy considering how much it affects all our interactions

Man did I oversleep. Nice to wake up to all of this though. Give me a minute, working on the write up.

>>2957428
>>2957432
>>2957444
>>2957480
>>2957687
>>2957785
>>2957805
>>2957990

You listen to her words, and your eyes slide over to the pit and the crowd surrounding it baying for blood. Catch his attention? You are sure that you could. You know that you are sufficiently skilled. You could win a fight in that pit. Or at the very least give a very impressive showing if you could not win. You should not be overconfident in believing your opponent would be unskilled.

But putting aside what you could do, should you enter the pit? It is difficult to say. Your blood sings, and a part of you desires nothing more than to exult in the challenge, to descend into the pit and test your skills and prove your strength. It has been some time sine you have had a chance to really exert yourself, a good spar would be an excellent chance to keep your body strong and your skills sharp.

But something in the atmosphere, the demeanor of the crowd gives you pause. You wonder if it would be a good spar, an honorable fight, or if you'd be whoring out your skills in a way that is unworthy of you. Perhaps it would be best not to be hasty, and to explore your other options before committing to the fight.

"It is true that when seeking to meet with one above one's station to work with an intermediary is often best." You say and Natalia begins to nod her head, but before she can respond you say "If we were to seek out an intermediary one cannot imagine it would be free. What would it cost us?"

You try to look her straight in the eye as you wait for her response, but when she replies she won't quite meet your gaze." Nothing big" She says with a wave of her hand. "It's no big deal, I know people, I can get us to El Lobo."

She isn't lying, she could, but clearly something is making her uneasy. That is all the answer you need. "But surely it would require the use of a favor, or to take on the obligation to fulfill a favor in turn, for one of your contacts to do this." You tell her. "If that is the case, then one finds the price to be to high."

You stand and look again at the pit, then you square your shoulders and say "If one would need to catch his attention to gain an audience, then one thinks one knows a way to do so."

tbc

>>2958592

Natalia follows your gaze over to the pit and then she turns and grabs your elbow and tells you urgently "No, there's other ways. You don't have to do that. I can get us to El Lobo."

You turn your head and look down at her. You can see the naked fear on her face, but you do not let it give you pause. "This one could not possibly ask of you to cause yourself inconvenience for one's own sake, that one can not. No, One will not allow you to take on this burden for this one. If one can gain an audience oneself without causing Miss Natalia further difficulty, then that is what this one will do."

"You idiot" She hisses "The fights aren't some little thing like a favor! People get hurt, you could get hurt. And you don't have the money for hiring a Healer to fix you up with their contracts, or for buying medicinal goblin fruit. If you get hurt you'll end up having to give away favors just to get yourself patched up, and you'd best believe they'll extort bigger favors of a guy lying in the sand bloody than they would of someone healthy and less desperate."

"Surely these matches can not be so dangerous as that." You reply. "One does not imagine they would be so popular if they were bouts to the death."

"Well no" She tells you. "They aren't to the death, but look at us. We can't exactly go to a hospital. The Mask isn't that good, the doctors would figure out something was up. If we get hurt we have to deal with it or find someone like us to patch us up. Getting hurt, it's a big deal for us. Even small wounds mean you have to take time to heal, and that's if infection doesn't set in. Guys with court affiliation can afford to get patched up, or ask their patrons for help, you don't have that if you get hurt."

"Then one will not allow oneself to be wounded." You say jokingly. She narrows her eyes and glares at you, so you reply more seriously. "Miss Natalia, even if one should become wounded and be forced to take a debt upon oneself to pay for healing, one would find that to be far more acceptable than causing you to incur a debt for the sake of solving this one's problem. One could not ask this of you. Better by far that this one should suffer rather than you."

She stares at you stunned for a moment, then looks to the side so you can't see her face past the curtain of her hair and mutters "Idiot." But she doesn't protest further.

"So" You say after giving her a moment. "How does one gain entrance to the fights."

tbc

>>2958645

"The bookie" She says with her arms crossed. She continues to look away from you as she tells you. "You gotta talk to the bookie over by the chalkboard. That's where they keep track of the fights and the odds for betting."

"Then one will go and speak with this 'bookie'" You tell her. "Will you accompany this one, or would you prefer to stay here?"

"Go on without me" She says. "I'm going to enjoy my drink for a bit. Leave yours here and come back over when you're finished. I'll be waiting."

"Very well then Miss Natalia." You tell her as you stand up and begin to move towards the chalkboard on the other side. "Enjoy your drink. One will be back. If you should need this one, remember that one is not far."

You take a few steps before she calls out to you "Hey." You turn and see she's giving you a thumbs up "Good luck."

You nod and then turn and continue over to the 'bookie'. As you continue to make your way you think further on your decision, and the more you think about it the more certain you become that you made the right decision. Not only are you sparing Natalia by taking the burden on yourself, but this will be a chance to establish a reputation for yourself. You know a good reputation is valuable. If you get enough of a reputation you really could help Natalia and Nikolai, and this could go a long way towards establishing you as a man not crossed lightly.

Furthermore you heard mention of prizes for the fights. While the thought of fighting for money seems somewhat dirty, you know of one whose need is greater than your own need to keep your pride. True some would say that lowering yourself to fight for others entertainment like this is shameful, and some might say that needless bloodshed violates the teachings of the Buddha, but you find that to you it seems worth it. After all how can a man look upon another's suffering and do nothing, and then call himself enlightened? Do not the Bodhisattva deny their own chance to enter Nirvana and remain in the world in order to help others? How then could it be wrong for you to take upon this burden if it gives you the chance to help Luke save himself?

tbc

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>>2958678

And if some small part of your soul whispers that those are all just justifications, that helping Luke or keeping Natalia from incurring debt are just convenient things to tell yourself so you don't have to think about how much you want this... If something deep inside you reminds you how much you long to feel the impact of your fist against flesh again, how much you want to smell blood on the air and watch the spurt of crimson, then it is easy enough to ignore.

Firm in your decision you step up in front of the chalkboard. Standing next to it is a woman in a loose robe, with skin like parchment and sheafs of paper that hang from her head in place of hair. Her robe hangs open showing wide swaths of skin covered in dark inky scrawling writing in a language you don't understand. The writing on her skin is outlined by fine red tattoos that trace over and around it, outlining the strange characters with a red glow.

"You're here to fight right" She asks you as she looks you up and down. "Doesn't look like you have much to bet."

"One is here to enter oneself into the fights yes." You tell her.

"Yeah you look like the type." She says clearly eyeing your horns and your size. "No killing, no permanent maiming. You able to keep those rules?"

"Of course." You say, somewhat affronted. "One is not a beast. One is here to challenge one's skills. This is a contest not a battle, one can tell the difference and control oneself accordingly."

"Good" She tells you firmly. " Hey listen, those clothes...you're like a martial artist right?"

"One has some small skill." You tell her.

She studies you for a moment and then says. "Listen, I can get you a fight now. It'd be just a friendly match. You'd get fifty for it, and twenty more if you won, but that's it. Nothing big going on this afternoon, so no big money to be had. Just small potatoes, nothing to glamorous. If you wait until this evening, then that's the big event. Normally that's the best time to come and fight, more people better contestants, more money."

"Now this evening is gonna be a little special" She continues. "They aren't letting just anyone in tonight like they normally would. It's going to be a tournament to celebrate El Lobo's elevation and he doesn't want any bum fights, so you can only get a place if someone in the Court vouches for you. Now I'm telling you this for a reason. If you want in I'll enter you as your patron. My guy is laid up at the moment so I can't put him forward. You look like you'd do pretty well, and I don't really loose anything for putting you in. You win and we split the prize fifty fifty. What do you say?"

>Just fight now. El Lobo is here right now watching anyway and probably not that busy. If you do well he'll probably notice.
>Accept the offer and join the tournament. If you do well you can't help but get El Lobo's attention and gain a bit of a rep.
>Write in

>>2958713
>>Accept the offer and join the tournament. If you do well you can't help but get El Lobo's attention and gain a bit of a rep.

Luke will need more than 70

>>2958713
Tournament is bound by the same rules as well, yes?

Also, can we get any money home if we win a match or two?

To be fair I would prefer to do a little spar here , get the seventy dollars and then join the tournament. Kick the rust off so to speak.

>>2958713
>Accept the offer and join the tournament. If you do well you can't help but get El Lobo's attention and gain a bit of a rep.

>>2958732
Seems reasonable plus if we fight here we can get a better idea of what we're in for if we get badly hurt in a "small potatoes" fight then we know we aren't actually cut out for the tournament.

>>2958713
>Just fight now. El Lobo is here right now watching anyway and probably not that busy. If you do well he'll probably notice.

Let's not get too cocky. We can always come back and fight again later.

>>2958713
>Accept the offer and join the tournament. If you do well you can't help but get El Lobo's attention and gain a bit of a rep.

In for a penny in for a pound honestly

winning this tornament might give us an opportunity even, if everyone knows we are friends with Natalia and Nikolai, which they will since we are here with her, they will be less likely to mess with them, once more, benefiting those we believe need protection

is the previous quest thread archived on suptg?

>>2958821
here it is
>>2918761

it is still in the boards auto archive but we should really archive it properly

since I was on it I went and archived it too

http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/2918761/

>>2958713
this >>2958732

>>2958732
>>2958713
>Both
It would make sense if she wants to gauge us properly instead of taking a blind bet, no? But this assumes we don't get too badly hurt...

>>2958713
>>Accept the offer and join the tournament. If you do well you can't help but get El Lobo's attention and gain a bit of a rep.

>>2958713
>>Accept the offer and join the tournament. If you do well you can't help but get El Lobo's attention and gain a bit of a rep.

>>2958713
>Just fight now. El Lobo is here right now watching anyway and probably not that busy. If you do well he'll probably notice.
>Accept the offer and join the tournament. If you do well you can't help but get El Lobo's attention and gain a bit of a rep.
Doing both will certainly attract El Lobo's attention.

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Give me a moment to get cleaned up and I'll get writing.

>>2959845

Still about QM?

>>2961387
Maybe he's all about that bass and left the thread to start his musical career.

>>2958722
>>2958732
>>2958742
>>2958786
>>2958787
>>2958798
>>2958913
>>2958886
>>2959099
>>2959693
>>2959795

You consider her offer for a moment and then reply "One is honored by your gracious offer to sponsor this one in the tournament this evening, but one thinks that before one agrees to this offer one might first prefer to test oneself in the ring with a 'small potatoes' fight. A chance for this one to warm up and determine if one would wish to participate in the tournament, and a chance for you to observe this one and see if you truly wish to sponsor this one."

She eyes you for a moment and then smirks "Clever and big, good. Okay, I'll get you in for the next fight once this one's done. Porkbelly Jim's been asking for a fight, you should do just fine. What's your name?"

"This one is called Kentaro" You tell her.

"Kentaro got it" She says as she writes something down and then hands it off to a small crook-backed man wearing a red beanie, who runs off with it. She watches him go and then tells you "Go ahead and do whatever it is you do to get ready and head over to the edge of the pit, they'll call for you when it's time."

You nod and leave her at the black board. It takes you a minute to push your way through the throng to the edge of the pit. As you make your way to the edge of the pit a great cheer goes up. Pushing your way through to the front you see a large man with massive shoulders and overlong arms that give him the profile of a great ape slowly climbing to his feet with one hand raised with the palm out to his opponent in a clear sign indicating he wishes to stop. His opponent, an individual who appears like a statue carved out of hard wood inclines his head in recognition, and then reaches out a hand to help the ape man up. Then both make their way to the edge of the pit where ladders are let down to allow them to climb out. Both are surrounded by others who lead them away, either cheering in the case of the winner, or seeming to console them in the case of the looser.

"That was fast" Says a snake eyed man to your right "I'd expected a better showing. They got the next fight lined up you think?"

"Yeah, I heard they found somebody to fight Porkbelly" Says the man next to him who has his face hidden by a large drooping black hoodie nd a red bandanna that goes over most of his face.

"Shit really" The first one says. "Then this is gonna be good, one way or the other.

You consider asking what they mean, but then a voice calls out "And now, a special treat and old favorite we haven't seen in the pit for a while Porkbelly Jim!"

The crowd parts and a massive man steps out to the side of the ring with both of his arms raised high.

tbc

>>2961387
>>2961688

I live. I'm sorry I've been such a flake. It's been a hell of a week.

>>2962185
> I live. I'm sorry I've been such a flake. It's been a hell of a week

Broseph, life happens upon us all. Don't stress.

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>>2962185

He's not your height. In fact he probably doesn't come up past your shoulder by much, but you think he might outweigh you. He has a large barrel chest and a bit of a gut, but despite the extra fat he's carrying you wouldn't make the mistake of thinking this man is weak. His arms and legs are thick with muscle and his shoulders are broad. His hair is short and bristly like a warthog's bristles and two small tusks peek out from under his lower lip. His beady eyes sweep across the crowd and as he shakes his raised fists you see each of his fingers ends in a little hoof rather than a human fingernail. He makes you think of a Sumo wrestler.

"And his opponent" The same voice calls out, from where you aren't sure you can't see, but it projects through the whole space "A newcomer. Give it up for Kentaro!"

People look around, and you figure that's your cue and step forward. The crowd looks at you, and you can see your opponent watching you from across the pit, and then the cheering picks up again louder than before.

A ladder is placed in front of you and you step down it's rungs into the pit. You feel loose sand beneath your feet as you step off the last rung and turn to face Porkbelly Jim. He smiles at you.

"Lets have some fun eh" He says as he settles down into a low stance with one hand braced against the ground and his legs bent at the knee in a three point stance. You can see he's preparing himself for an explosive charge. It appears he intends to rush you and use his bulk and momentum to knock you to the ground.

How will you handle this?

>Sidestep his charge and redirect him into the side of the pit. You're faster than him, you're skilled, don't let him hit you.
>Intercept his charge and use his momentum to throw him to the ground
>Meet him head on, this is meant to be a spectacle after all.
>write in

When you vote roll along with it. We'll take best roll of winning option.

Rolled 21 (1d100)

>>2962239
>Intercept his charge and use his momentum to throw him to the ground

Rolled 24 (1d100)

>>2962239
>>Intercept his charge and use his momentum to throw him to the ground

Rolled 65 (1d100)

>>2962239

>Intercept his charge and use his momentum to throw him to the ground

Rolled 71 (1d100)

>>2962239
>Sidestep his charge and redirect him into the side of the pit. You're faster than him, you're skilled, don't let him hit you.

This fights just starting let's be a bit cautious while we get his measure.

Rolled 49 (1d100)

>>2962239
>Intercept his charge and use his momentum to throw him to the ground

This is quite literally /the/ textbook response for fighting a heavier opponent.

>>2962239
While votes are coming in, any odds I could persuade you to expand on how you see the Courts in general? I know we're gonna discover the local variants during the course of the Quest here but I'm always interested to hear how other folks think about 'em in a meta sense.

>>2962239
>Sidestep his charge and redirect him into the side of the pit. You're faster than him, you're skilled, don't let him hit you.

Rolled 74 (1d100)

>>2962239
>Sidestep his charge and redirect him into the side of the pit. You're faster than him, you're skilled, don't let him hit you.

Observe first, we still don't know what we're getting into here

Rolled 90 (1d100)

>>2962252
>>2962258
>>2962262
>>2962270
>>2962280
>>2962410
>>2963559

Calling it.

>>2962363

Hey sorry I didn't respond to this sooner, I'd be happy to give you my general thoughts if you have specific questions, I'm always up for discussion, but if anything starts moving into spoiler territory I will plead the fifth.

>>2963712
Well I mean, you have a different general tone right off the bat from the other quest; these Courts have been characterized like criminal families, and the New Avalon ones are more like therapy groups? Religions? Something like that. It's an interesting contrast that I'm curious about.

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>>2963712

You move into position and wait. Your entire focus is in the man in front of you. You are going to have to time this perfectly. If you make a mistake he'll bowl you over.

You are barely even aware of the announcer crying out for the fight to begin, no your signal is the bunch of the porcine man's muscles, the shift of his weight as he begins to spring towards you his hands reaching up to grab at you for the takedown.

There are many ways you could deal with this. You could sidestep and pivot while deflecting his arms and pushing off of his head, letting him pass by you. You could throw back your hips and sprawl while catching his head in a clinch so that he can't grab your legs and is pushed down by your own weight tipping his center of gravity too far forward. You do none of these.

Rather you step in leading with your left foot and drop your weight, crouching and sliding under his torso as he rises up to slam into you. Your hips push in under his, displacing his center as your feet come together and your left arm wraps around his head. You twist so that you face the same direction while taking his left arm with your right hand, and then you push off explosively with your legs scything back with your leg and sweeping his from under him as you add the force of your own movement to his forward momentum and drag down on his head and arm.

He goes over your hip and is flung to the ground, but to your suprise rather than slamming into the earth he rolls with the throw, and smoothly regains his feet.

You had expected that to knock the wind from him when he landed wrong, so few know how to fall properly. It seems your opponent has skill of his own as well as well as size.

How will you proceed?

>Wait for him to make the next move, remain on the defensive
>Seize the initiative. He knows how to roll with a throw, let's see how he rolls with the punches.
>Attempt a takedown of your own and try for a joint lock or a choke.
>Write in

Rolls as well please.

Rolled 44 (1d100)

>>2963753
>>Attempt a takedown of your own and try for a joint lock or a choke.

submission game

Rolled 41 (1d100)

>>2963753
>Attempt a takedown of your own and try for a joint lock or a choke.

Rolled 77 (1d100)

>>2963753
>Seize the initiative

We ae facing a wild boar of a Changeling here. Better to not let it prepare another charge by delivering some well deserved harm

>Also

QM, you might want to do rolling AFTER the option has been selected.

If not, playrs just choose the option that has rolled the best

>>2963932
That or just take first three period without counting the thing they voted for

Rolled 53 (1d100)

>>2963753
>Seize the initiative. He knows how to roll with a throw, let's see how he rolls with the punches.

>>2963932
This anon is right about facing a boar, cant let him get too much momentum

>>2963932

That is an excellent point, and that would cut down on potential metagaming. My only concern is that calling for rolls after voring might extend time anf further slow things down. Perhaps do the vote and just make the rolls myself when I call it.....well we'll play with it and figure out what works. If you anons have mechanical suggestions let me know. I've never run a quest so I'm making this up as I go.

>>2963720

Yeah, that is quite a difference. I'll admit I haven't read all of the other quest. In fact when I started this one I didn't know it existed, but going over it is on my to do list.

As far as how I see the courts, well it goes back to when I was first introduced to changeling. Bit of a lengthy explanation and I gotta go, so I promise I will tell you as soon as I can sorry for the wait.

>>2964089
The usual solution is just to take the first three rolls PERIOD regardless of what they voted for.

>>2964089

I would be fine with just going with the first 3 rolls that were made regardless of which option they voted for

Need a Tie breaker.

>>2964187
>>2964194

Alright we'll try this then and see how it works out.

>>2963720

Alright, to answer your question, and this is actually a lot harder to put into words than I thought it would be, basically what it comes down to is when the game got pitched to me for the very first time even though my buddy was telling me about the thematic stuff, and even though that did catch my attention, what really stood out to me was how screwed new Changelings were.

You pretty much stumble out of the hedge homeless, and you don't even have a legal identity. You can't get work, not legally anyway, not without getting some fake ID. Way I figured it survival would be a struggle, and you would NEED help, there's no way you could do everything on your own.

So I went into my first game thinking I'd have to fight to survive, I was actually quite looking forward to it, and then the storyteller had the courts just kind of hand us places to live and jobs like it was nothing with no strings attached. All I could think was WTF? Not because that's bad per see you can do that and have a great game and we did, but it didn't fit in with what I was expecting. How the hell could they afford that? Why wasn't there a cost? Why was it so easy?

Way I figured it there would be people who would help you out of the goodness of their hearts, but there would also be a lot of people who wouldn't mind helping but weren't going to do it for free, and there would be some people who would try to take advantage of the desperate. Just like in real life. I just couldn't see the courts as these nice benevolent organizations, not entirely at least. Changeling are people, and while there are great people, most of the time when you see fringe communities the organizations that develop there aren't nice.

I mean a lot of real life organized crime organizations came into being because a group thought they couldn't turn to the police or the government and looked for their own solutions to their problems, so it wasn't really a stretch for me to see that happening for the Changelings Courts. At their best they'll help you out, but they won't do it for free even if they will give you favorable terms, because they had to struggle for everything they have and they won't just give it away for nothing. They can't afford to. At their worst they will exploit you for their own gain. Most of the time they fall somewhere in between.

That and criminal family courts could just make such perfect antagonists. The True Fae are too big of a threat for it to be real or immediate a lot of the time. A Capo you owe a favor to because he helped you take your life back from your fetch? He can be a very real threat. (incidentally I had that exact situation in a game once, it was a lot of fun)

I hope that makes sense, it's kind of hard to explain. I just read the books, played the game, and my mind looked at the courts and screamed CRIME FAMILIES, and I've stuck with it since.

I change my vote to sieze the initiative to break the tiwe

Rolled 5 (1d100)

>>2963760
>>2963884
>>2963932
>>2964077
>>2965612

Calling it

>>2965663

As he stands and turns to face you, you pounce. Springing forward you lead with a jab towards his face, forcing him to react and seizing the initiative in the fight. He raises his arms to block and forms a shield out of both of his forearms in front of his face, obstructing his vision. You can see him moving back, trying to gain distance while one hand lowers slightly in anticipation of a follow up body blow.

But the body blow he's expecting never comes. You pivot on your forefoot and bring your rear leg up into a kick that slams into the thigh of the porcine mans leading leg. He stumbles a bit as the blow disrupts his stance and you see an opening. Moving quickly before he can recover you twist your hips and throw your weight into an upper cut that sinks into his solar plexus.

Your opponent gasps as the wind is knocked out of him and bends over

Do you

>Maintain distance and rhythm and continue to strike
>Take advantage of his posture to clinch and start kneeing
>Attempt to take him to the ground and force him into submission
>Step back and let him get back up, can't end this too quickly after all
>Write in.

Rolled 58 (1d100)

>>2965756
>>Take advantage of his posture to clinch and start kneeing

Rolled 54 (1d100)

>>2965756
>Attempt to take him to the ground and force him into submission

Rolled 67 (1d100)

>>2965756
>Grab him while he's bent over and give him a suplex.

>>2965756
>Take advantage of his posture to clinch and start kneeing

>>2965572
I mean...there are costs. There are explanations on the how and why. Lords of Summer has 'em. The Courts are survivors helping other survivors build new lives, usually if they go so far as to start extorting their own something is very wrong in the Freehold they call home.

I'll give it a bit more and then do the write up

>>2966670

And I get that. I don't mean to say that I think the way it is presented in the books that there is no cost. I know there is, that game was kind of off. It was fun but off, just in the opposite way of how my games are off. I know the way I present it isn't the same as the examples in the source books, but I figure it's more guidelines than hard and fast rules and every freehold is a little different. Lords of Summer was good book, I just like to do my own thing. I'm sorry if it isn't to your liking, it's just what I felt would be fun to run it as.

That being said you are darn right there is something seriously wrong here, but you'll learn more about that as time goes on.

>>2966687
I look forward to seeing it. Don't mistake me; I'm not pushing for or demanding changes. I just don't get to meet a lot of players of the game, so I get curious about the ones I do.

>>2966692

Yeah I don't meet many either. Been without a group for two years for Changeling. What with 2e it made me want to play it again, but my tabletop group ain't interested. Which is how I ended up here to be entirely honest.

.....random question, but are you not gonna vote? Or is one of those above already yours?

So what's your take on the courts and whatnot?

>>2966699
I've been refraining from voting for now because I feel like my biases are gonna creep through in weird ways. I'll get to it at some juncture.

As far as my take I'm the other guy.

If ya still wanna talk shop in ya thread I'm down to talk shop, I just don't wanna like, steamroll your game with my shit, y'know?

>>2966721

Ah, well hello. Pleasure to speak with you. The free thing wasn't a crack at you, just wanna make that perfectly clear. I honestly have no idea what the courts are like in your game. I keep meaning to read it and catch up, but I've been kinda busy.

Honestly I don't mind talking shop here. I like talking shop and it's not like it hurts anything.

>>2966732
For what is worth, I like the way you portrayed the courts so far, and the colorless too, they are usually brushed over in most games and here we are, helping them out. I'm not very experienced in changeling, read the book but never got to play it, the only experience I have woth it is a quest that started some time ago here, the nama was Lost in The Seventies. It was pretty good too.

>>2965788
Also, I change my vote to
>>Take advantage of his posture to clinch and start kneeing

>>2966732
I tend to start from the attitude that Freeholds are founded with good intentions. Some will fail those good intentions of course, but ultimately even a Freehold in freefall directly into straight-up evil was started not just to provide for the common defense, but to help and support one's fellow survivors - people who have suffered just as much as you.

Also I'm starting an article series on this! If you're digging it, I'd love ya thoughts on my first, for Winter:

https://qm-vox.tumblr.com/post/178975595826/so-you-want-to-run-a-winter-court

>>2965756
>Maintain distance and rhythm and continue to strike

>>2967392
>>2967766
>>2966573
>>2966311
>>2965788
>>2965781

Taking advantage of his slightly hunched posture following your strike you step in and clasp your hands around his head while dropping your weight, holding him down and preventing him from straightening back up.

And then you start to knee him. From your position it would be fairly simple to knee him in the face, but this is a spar not a struggle for survival, so rather than going straight up you bring your knees up at an angle from the side and you hammer his ribs instead.

Your leg goes up and down like a jackhammer. You strike once, twice, and you feel something give way the second time your knee connects. Your dropping it down and preparing for the third knee when Porkbelly Jim roars and lunges forward.

He reaches down and grabs your foreleg and slams his bulk into you, knocking you both from your feet and carrying you to the ground where you fall to your back. You release your hold on his head and use your arms to slap the ground as you impact, redistributing the force of the fall away from your chest by increasing the surface area at the moment of impact. As you preform the Ukemi you let out a Kiai, expelling the air from your lungs before the breath can be knocked out of you.

You bring your arms back up quickly to guard yourself. You lie on the ground on your back with your opponent held between your legs in the dō-osae.

What do you do?

>Wait for him to strike and then take the arm for an arm-bar
>Wait for him to strike and then trap the arm and clinch up, before disrupting his foundation and shrimping out from underneath him.
>Go for a choke.
>Write in

>>2969906
>>Wait for him to strike and then take the arm for an arm-bar

if we go for a guillotine now his arms will be free to pound our ribs, don't wait for tho, grab an arm and go to town, he is in our guard.
https://youtu.be/VXNroQ1-dWs?t=78

>>2967413

Yeah I'll check that out, and read your stuff. One of these days. Just based off of a quick look it seems like you've had them out themselves to the public, or had them outed, which I gotta say that is a bold choice. Of course I may be misunderstanding, I'll need to go read it all. But if that is the case that is quite the direction to take it in.

Don't take that as a criticism, bold is good in my opinion. I actually did something kinda similar once, though in my game the knowledge of their existence hadn't trickled down to the general public. I ran a game where the various governments around the world were aware of the supernatural and used them to their own advantage. In particular it was a cold war based game where the US and the Russians used Changelings, Vampires, and Geists as special agents. Very fun game.

I tend to start from the attitude that the Freeholds are founded out of necessity, and often good intentions, but that over time there's simply too much potential for abuse for there not to be problems. Usually I don't make it as pronounced as it is in this particular story, but I often try to portray them as morally grey rather than as good.

>>2969929

.....this is every bad stereotype about the BJJ guy who never learns anything but ground work, and then some. Wow. Just.....what the hell did I just watch?

>>2969945
lol yeah
It's really old, from 2008, when PRIDE was falling and UFC was gaining fame in the US so there was a lot of crazy stereotypes rolling around, when I wrote about the guard I remembered that video, end of /heem/

>>2969906
>Wait for him to strike and then take the arm for an arm-bar

Rolled 12 (1d100)

>>2969906
>Wait for him to strike and then take the arm for an arm-bar

Ah yes, thank you >>2970013 for reminding me. We'll need rolls everyone. If you voted without one please roll now. Best of first three to be taken for Kentaro's roll.

>>2970004
>>2967389

Ello, thanks for being here. Glad you like the Courts and the Colorless in the quest. That lost in the seventies you mentioned archived anywhere?

Rolled 16 (1d100)

>>2970024
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?searchall=Lost+in+the+seventies

We played as Jerry, a literal hobo and troubleshooter for Autumn court, shacking up with literal big foot and our adopted daughter in Portland. It was pretty cool but I left /qst/ before it ended. I'm particularly proud of an idea I had in it to trick a greedy Fae.

The first two threads had a different name since it was a surprise changeling quest and we didn't know we were going through a durance, can't find them now.

Rolled 98 (1d100)

>>2970051
And my roll

Rolled 44 (1d100)

>>2969929
rolling

>>2970055

Thank goodness

>>2970051

And hell I was really sad when that quest ended, it's rare to have a changeling quest that starts before the durance and runs through it all, I enjoyed playing in it

>>2970088

My exact thought actually. So i'll give it like...well however long it takes me to get through dinner and then I'll do the next update. Arm bar seems to be the consensus, but if you want something else feel free to make your voice heard.

>>2970109
I just think that if he is stubborn and doesn't tap we don't break his arm, we just transition to a triangle or another choke

>>2969929
>>2970004
>>2970013
>>2970055
>>2970058

Porkbelly Jim reaches for you, and you take the chance to seize his arm. You twist your body out from underneath him and throw one of your legs up and around his head while you rock back on your shoulders and the other leg braces against his torso. With his arm trapped between your legs against your hip and held in place by your arms you lean back on your shoulders pressing against his elbow with your hip as your legs push back on his head and body for leverage. You move slowly, gradually applying pressure so as not to break the arm before your opponent has the chance to surrender.

"Yield" You call out to him. "One has no desire to cause you greater harm."

"Damn it" He shouts as he struggles against you before crying out "I yield."

Slowly you diminish the pressure on his trapped arm before releasing him and then rolling away and regaining your feet. As you stand you can see the other man holding his arm and looking over at you.

Now that you aren't focused on the fight you can begin to hear the announcer again, or more accurately you begin to listen to what he is saying. " A strong showing by the newcomer Kentaro!"

Do you

>Go talk to Porkbelly Jim and thank him for the match.
>Nod to your opponent and then turn and leave the ring
>Leave the ring without acknowledging your opponent
>Play it up for the crowd.
>write in

Hope ya'll liked the fight alright. I assume that you all wish to continue with the tournament. If we do so for the tournament rather than do blow by blow since that seems to take a while how would you all feel about voting for strategy and then the fight just gets written out after that to save on time rather than blow by blow. Blow by blow is fine if that's what we want, I'm just concerned it might end up taking most of the week. Sorry about the delay in the post.

>>2970868
>Go talk to Porkbelly Jim and thank him for the match.

>>2970868
>>Go talk to Porkbelly Jim and thank him for the match.

Maybe save the blow-by-blow for the final match?

>>2970912

that might be a good way to handle it.

Looks like it might be a while before we get any more votes so the update will probably happen tomorrow and be a good bit lengthier than these recent ones have been to set up the tournament, assuming we wish to continue with that.

For the sake of discussion, and since there's gonna be a bit of a pause I've a question. How was the fight? I've never actually described or written a fight scene like that before, so i'd appreciate feedback and constructive criticism if any of you felt there were problems with the way it was described or the writing.

I know there's a bit of an art to writing interesting fight scenes and getting the descriptions right so that they create evocative images that the reader can understand and at the same time communicate tension, and I know I'm probably not good at it. So suggestions and technical tips are welcome. Don't really have much chops as a writer, and I'm always looking to improve.

>>2970868
>Go talk to Porkbelly Jim and thank him for the match.

>>2970868
>Go talk to Porkbelly Jim and thank him for the match.
>Write-In
Be sure to bow to him and bow to the owner of the ring if he's around the crowd

I really liked the fight scenes, for the tournament itself I think saving blow by blow for the final fight would work best, that way the preliminaries don't eat up too much time. I think you've got a solid grasp of the weight behind our actions, making them feel like they have impact, and giving us information about our opponent and their reactions. If I had to give a suggestion I would say to bring up the environment a bit more, the feel of the sand and the roar of the crowd sort of thing, those odd things that your mind notices when is running a million miles a minute. For this fight in particular I don't think it was missing too much especially since you said there wasn't a huge crowd but something to think on for the tournament itself.

>>2970868
>Go talk to Porkbelly Jim and thank him for the match.
Compliment his skill that fall was perfectly executed, ask if he'd be up for a friendly spar later.

>>2970868
>>Go talk to Porkbelly Jim and thank him for the match.


after it search for Natalia.

I'd like to see her reaction, maybe she believes we can help defend now

>>2971240
>Nod to your opponent and then turn and leave the ring
Respect


Now, a question:
As I undersntand, the lost feed from human emotions and it's usually based on the court they belong, since we are colorless, how do we feed? I ask because I thought it would be cool if we fed from giving them peace and confort, like a reverse winter, it would fit our Bodsathva way since we would be helping others to reach enlightenment, but at the same time it would create a bit of a conflict, are we helping them so they can reach peace or are we driven by a selfish desire to feed on their confort. One last cruel joke our Keeper left to us.
That is just an idea anyway, I don't know if it would work mechanics wise or if it isn't too drama heavy.

>>2972031
> As I undersntand, the lost feed from human emotions and it's usually based on the court they belong, since we are colorless, how do we feed?

Any Lost can reap Glamour from any emotion. Individual Courts emphasize particular emotions for ideological reasons, in support of their Contracts, and because they reap MORE from that emotion. That is to say, Summer's emotion is Wrath; they CAN harvest Desire, but they get MORE from Wrath. Courtless folks don't get the bonus, but they're not penalized.

>>2972040
I see, thanks for the info.

>>2971240
I appreciated your writing a lot. The fight scenes were gread; it was obvious you put a lot of effort into them. I am sure you are talented and will learn quickly to write them with less effort.

>>2972040
As I understood it the courts have strong powers backing them (the single seasons) that produce these effects. We would have to either found a special court that goes along our values or found a new one (I think that is currently impossible; we are just not important and mighty enough yet to get backing from such strong powers).

>>2972040
>>2972125

I don't have my materials available to me at the moment but I know that there are Eastern Courts that don't use the regular seasons as their source of power, I think it's the courts of Dusk and Dawn and we might look that direction for insipration

>>2972137
Inspiration is the key word here, I like the fact that we are not in a court, at least for now.

>>2972141

I'm with you there, happy to be colorless at the moment but would be quite the storyline if the courts here are truly rotten for us to found another and deal with the repercussions of that. But we need more information about what's going on first and I want some solid play time with the colorless folks first

>>2972137

There are quite a few courts outside the traditional seasonal ones. The more Asian influenced freeholds often have the directional courts for instance rather than the seasonal. One of which would actually be a shoe in for Kentaro now that I think about it. Of course those courts have no presence in southport, so getting affiliated with them would be quite the doozy.

>>2972247

That would be a whole arc I'm sure but depending on our actions that would be an interesting direction to take things

>>2972247

I'm guessing you're referring to the Court of the North as the shoe-in which I would love to be a pioneer in but that's meta knowledge at the moment and again would be a whole arc in order to even enter as there is no one to learn from or sponsor us in a sense

Anybody still about?

>>2975387
yup, waiting on the update

>>2975387

I live. I've been working on the next write up. I'll be putting it up as soon as I get home. Which given the length of my commute should be...well a few more hours actually. Sorry about this, I have a kind of inconsistent life schedule. I'll post as best i can. Some weeks I'll have more time, some weeks less, but I'll do the best I can.

>>2972538

I was actually thinking court of the west, but court of the north could be perfect to. Depends on how ya'll play things assuming we ever even go there. It's not like a sure thing, certainly not something I had innitially planned, but I actually really like that as a concept for a later story arc.

File: El Lobo.jpg (302 KB, 751x1063)

302 KB JPG

>>2971435
>>2971592
>>2971929
>>2971982
>>2972031

You pause and take a moment to look around the edge of the pit. You had been told that El Lobo was in attendance, you can't imagine that if he's here he won't be near the ring where he'd have a good view.

You look left and then right, and then you see him. Even at the first glance you are sure of his identity, for several reasons. His clothing for one. He's wearing a suit, and it isn't a cheap one either. It's clearly well made, but it’s more than the quality of the tailoring. The material catches your eye. His white undershirt has a bit of a sheen to it, like well polished metal, and the suit itself seems to drink in light making the area immediately around him slightly darker and more shadowed than it should have been.

The other thing that stands out immediately is that even with the throng of changelings pressed up around the pit to see the fight he's been left room. There's a guard on each side, but he has a bit of space around himself. The next detail you notice is so subtle you almost don't catch it at this distance. The air around him shimmers slightly, a heat haze that distorts the air slightly like mirage in a desert. While he appears entirely unaffected you can tell that his two guards are perspiring. You can see that their hair is lank with sweat. He's hirsute, with fangs poking out from under his lip and predatory yellow eyes that glow in the dimness created by his strange black jacket.

He watches you, and you turn to face him fully and then bow deeply to the master of the arena. It is only proper to show respect to the man, and you came here hoping to gain some small assistance from him. It cannot hurt to make a good impression. He nods back slowly, and you can see one corner of his mouth quirk in a toothy smile showing his fangs.

>>2975755


You then turn and bow to Porkbelly Jim before saying to him “One thanks you for the spar, and one wishes to compliment you on your recovery from the throw. It was very skillfully done.”

“Thanks” He says, looking slightly surprised at first and eyeing you for a moment before relaxing and saying “Wasn’t much of a fight though, you really got me good.”

“One was merely fortunate” You deny politely “One is sure that were we to test ourselves against one another again the result would not be the same.”

“Yeah, I’d last longer than a minute” Jim laughs “Listen I appreciate it, but you don’t gotta try and make me feel better. I lost, simple as that. I’m man enough to accept when I’m beat.”

“One truly does not intend to patronize you” You tell him “One did enjoy our match, and one does believe you to have been a skilled opponent. One would in fact be honored if perhaps we might meet again in the future for further spars.”

“Yeah sure” The Porcine man tells you with a wide smile“I’d like that. I’ll introduce you to some of the guys, it’ll be nice to have a new fight buddy.”

“One would appreciate the introduction” You tell him with a small grin of your own. “It would be good to have the chance to test one’s skills and remain sharp.”

“Right.” Jim agrees with you, and then he looks around and leans in a bit “Listen, word of advice. Don’t sign on with the first Knight to offer you a place in their motley. You did good with that fight, you’ll definitely have some people interested in you so good for you, but don’t get hasty.”

“Oh” You say. “One will receive offers then you believe?”

“Well yeah” He tells you. “It’s why most of the guys who hop down into this ring do it, to catch the eye of a Knight looking to fill out their motley. Ain’t that why you did?”

“One did intend to catch someones eye” You reply “But it was not one’s intent to seek out one to whom one could enter into service.”

“Ohhh so there’s a woman” Porkbelly says with a laugh that rocks his stomach as he slaps a hand down on your shoulder. “Well after that display I’m sure you earned some points. Shoulda let me rough you up a bit though, coulda had your lady love patching you up after the fight. Eh eh?” He says with a suggestive waggle of his eyebrows.

He looks at you for a moment expectantly, but seeing that a response is not forthcoming he lets go of your shoulder and turns to the ladder. As he steps up onto the first rung and starts to climb up he calls back over his shoulder to you “Look me up, I own a little barbecue place over on 60th called Kosher Fakin Bacon. Come by for dinner some time, I'll treat you to the best pulled pork sandwich in the city.”

>>2975766

A ladder is lowered for you and you climb up out of the sandy pit. As you come out over the lip of the pit and finish climbing out you are surrounded by cheering spectators. They don’t impede your progress, they let you pass them, but it’s loud and hard to see.

You try and make your way out of the crowd towards the bar, where you presume Natalia is waiting, when you are intercepted by the bookie. She latches on to you, placing one hand on your shoulder and one on your arm and pulls herself in close to you.

“That was impressive” She says to you. “Very impressive. I’m definitely entering you tonight if you are interested.”

“If the offer remains open, then one would gladly participate in the tournament.” You tell her as you continue to move towards the bar. After all, while El Lobo has certainly noticed you, it does not appear to have been enough to get him to come to you. You will need to impress him further, and this tournament seems a perfect opportunity. And your blood is up, you want more. The thrill of the challenge calls to you.

“Wonderful” She says as she keeps pace, hanging on to you. She slides her hand down your shoulder and across the back of your arm tracing the contours of your muscles with her fingertips “Listen, I know some people who’d be really interested in meeting you. Friends of mine, what do you say I introduce you while we wait for the tournament this evening?”

How will you respond

>Go with her, perhaps these people could help you get to El Lobo.
>Detach yourself and decline, before going to look for Natalia.
>Bring her with you to meet Natalia so you can let her know where you are going, and then take the bookie up on her offer.
>Write in

>>2975773
>are any of those El Lobo?

If not

>Detach yourself and decline, before going to look for Natalia.

Maybe after the tournament, we are only interested in one person

>>2975816
This

>>2975816
This

If she does offer us El Lobo we take Nat with us

>>2975816
This

>>2975773
>Detach yourself and decline, before going to look for Natalia.

"One has other business at the moment, one will certainly be around for the tournament and one has much to learn."

>>2975773
>>Detach yourself and decline, before going to look for Natalia.

>>2975773
>“If the offer remains open, then one would gladly participate in the tournament.”
Did we just miss the chance to re-negotiate? We should aim for less money for us, but the risk of expenses for healing not having to be paid by us.
>Bring her with you to meet Natalia so you can let her know where you are going, and then take the bookie up on her offer.

>>2975773
>Write in
Tell her we need to meet up with our friend first.

>>2976704

Well if ya'll want to try and negotiate something different it could still be done at this point. You've agreed to participate, the terms can be discussed.

Personally I felt that an opportunity had been given for people to voice their concerns if they had a problem with going forward with the tournament, but I suppose I didnt. My appologies if I have infringed on your agency as players, I'll try to be better about that.

In other news, twelve hour shift. Yay. I'll try and get something together during breaks, but it's entirely possible I won't be able to get anything posted until I get off work this evening. Just a heads up. I'll try and get at least two write ups in tonight though, and I'm looking pretty free tomorrow so hopefully we can get a good amount done then.

Thanks for being here everyone, even with the long absences. I appreciate it.

>>2976990

I'm not too worried about negotiating new terms for the tournament, and thank for the heads up, wont be losing me as a player even with the absences

>>2975816
>>2975827
>>2975834
>>2976274
>>2976426
>>2976452
>>2976704
>>2976742

"These friends you wish to introduce this one to, would the Honorable Baron be among them perchance?" You ask the paper skinned woman.

"Well no" She says somewhat bemusedly "Not the big man himself no, just some friends of mine in the court."

"Then one is afraid that one must decline" You say as you gently pull her hands loose from where they rest on your arm with your other hand "One has a prior obligation which one must attend to. I'm sure that one such as yourself, a member of an Illustrious Court, can understand the importance of fulfilling one's promises."

"I see" She says in a rather flat tone "This obligation, it won't get in the way of your participation this evening?"

"No" You reply "One's obligation would not prevent this one from joining the tournament. One would not have offered if one was unable. Is it presumptuous of this one to believe that you remain willing to sponsor this one's entry?"

"It isn't" She says as she steps away from you. "Take care of your business then. Just make sure you are here come sundown for the big event. If you punk out on me It'll cost you."

"One has given one's word" You tell her "One will be there."

She nods and then turns and leaves through the crowd. When she has left you continue over to the bar. Natalia is sitting at the edge of the bar nursing a drink. She's hunched down over it with stiff shoulders, she doesn't look at you until you sit down next to her. She jerks and looks over at you, inhaling deeply. She looks at you for a moment, and then she loosens up and straightens in her seat.

"You aren't bloody" She says with faint wonder

"One is quite unharmed." You reply

"Well I figured you would be" She says somewhat defensively. "I heard them announce you won. It's just normally the fights don't end without blood on the ground is all. I was gearing myself up to deal with you coming back bloody, and there isn't any on you."

"Does bloodshed distress you?" You ask.

"No" She says with a shake of her head before she looks slightly to the side and says with a hint of shame "It's not that it distresses me. I can smell it is all, and I don't like what it does to me. It's not so bad over here by the bar. It's away from the fights and the alcohol covers up most of the blood scent that carries over, but I made the mistake of getting too close to the pit once when I first came here."

She shudders and trails off before looking back up at you "Anyway, it's amazing that you were able to win that fast, and without even hurting the other guy from the looks of it. How'd you do it?"

"There are ways by which one can force submission" You reply. "One can show you when we have the opportunity."

"Yeah sure." She says "I'd like that. Honestly that sounds like a really useful thing to know. You should like teach self defense classes or something."

tbc

>>2978919

She grabs her drink and takes a swallow, and you look over at the bartender and contemplate whether or not it is possible to get more familiar libations than stout or if they may have some proper Tea.

How do you wish to spend your time waiting for the evening

>Talk with Natalia while you wait and possibly meet some of her contacts. (Write in with desired conversation topics.)
>Take the time to meditate and run through Kata in preparation for this evening
>Since you have time before this evening leave and explore the city before returning
>Leave and go check the homeless shelter and see what's going on with Luke and the sick man before returning
>Write in.

>>2978921
>>Talk with Natalia while you wait and possibly meet some of her contacts. (Write in with desired conversation topics.)
Inquire more about teaching self defense. This might lead to us trying to get our own dojo in the future. It'd be a good place to help out other new and/or colorless changlings.

>>2978919
>You should like teach self defense classes or something."
You know that's honestly not a half bad idea. Something to keep on the back burner until the time comes to start earning some money.

>>2978921
>>Talk with Natalia while you wait and possibly meet some of her contacts. (Write in with desired conversation topics.)

Ask her how is her business here, is it concluded? we could follow her if she needs to talk with someone else.

get a drink for us, ask for tea.

ask her if she knows any good parks or calm places where we could meditate later

and also this>>2978966

>>2978978

Agreed with all these

>>2978966
>>2978976
>>2978978
>>2979080

Natalia keeps her eyes on your face as she sips at her drink, clearly waiting for your response. As you think about it, the idea has a certain appeal. Perhaps it is beyond your resources at the moment, but opening up your own Dojo sounds like something that might be worthwhile in the long term, and teaching those in need how to defend themselves is a cause you feel you could get behind.

"Do you think that there would be interest in such classes?" You ask Natalia.

"Well yeah" She says "I would be, I think I'd feel safer and I'd really like that, and I can think of a few other people I know who would probably be in the same boat."

"It is an intriguing proposition" You say musingly "But in truth one would not know how to go about organizing such a thing."

"You could talk to Nikolai" She says "If you want to do it I mean. He knows a lot of people, and he's good at that sort of organizational thing and getting people started."

"Perhaps one will" You tell her. "It is certainly something to consider."

Looking at her sipping her drink you feel the desire for a drink of your own. Tea, yes a good cup of tea would be perfect. You despair of getting a good Gyokuro, and you wouldn't be able to afford it if they had it, but perhaps you could get a simple cup of Sencha. For half a moment you let yourself fantasize about Matcha, but quickly squash that down. The odds of anyone capable of a proper tea ceremony being in this place are phantasmal.

"One moment please Miss Natalia" You tell her. "One has need to speak with the bartender, one will return shortly."

She nods at you and asks "You need me to loan you something to get a drink with?"

"No" You reply "One is due money for one's participation in the pit, surely one can 'run a tab' as I believe the phrase goes."

"Alright" She tells you, and goes back to her drink. "I'll be here."

You leave her and walk over to the bartender. He's a small man with sallow skin and overly long fingers with too many joints. He's polishing a glass when you approach him.

"Ah, our winner." He tells you. "Come to get a drink to celebrate? Might I recommend some of the local brews? Potent stuff, with a bit of magic in it depending on what you fancy."

"One is grateful for your suggestion." You tell him "But one merely wished to ask for a cup of green tea."

"Tea" He says incredulously "Does this look like the kind of place for tea? Sorry mate but I don't have any. "

"That is unfortunate" You reply "But one understands."

"Sorry" he says somewhat abashedly "Didn't mean to be rude, I've just never been asked that before. Tell you what though, if you end up coming here regular I could start stocking it for you maybe."

"One is grateful for the offer" You tell him. "But please, one would not wish you to go out of your way for this one, and one does not yet know if one will be returning here after today, or how frequently one might visit if one did."

tbc.

>>2979894

"Alright" He says "So is there anything I can get you then?"

"No, one does not wish to partake at this time" You tell him "One has further plans this evening which will require a clear head, but one is grateful for the offer."

"See you around then" The bartender tells you, and goes back to his work tidying up.

You make your way back to Natalia, and she looks over at you and quirks up an eyebrow in question before asking "Did you change your mind?"

"No" You reply "They did not have anything this one desired to partake."

"What was it you wanted?" The shark skinned woman asks you.

"One was hoping for a cup of green tea" You reply casually as you sit down next to her. "One is quite fond of it."

"Huh" She says "Yeah I can't see them having any here. You could probably try a cafe, or if you wanted like a more authentic Asian experience there's Korea Town."

"Korea Town?" You ask

"Yeah" She says "Southport has a decent population of em, they got their own neighborhood you know? It's pretty easy to tell when you've found it. All the signs are in Korean and it's got kinda that oriental flavor you know?"

"Perhaps one will seek it out." You tell her, and then you have a thought. "One apologizes, one must surely be keeping you from your business."

"No not at all" She says with a dismissing wave of her hand. "Gal I was looking for isn't here today, actually I don't think there's too much point for me hanging around to be honest if you're done. You are right, done I mean?"

"Not entirely" You tell her as she looks at you intently while waiting your answer. "One has agreed to participate in an event this evening."

"Oh" She replies. "Well were you intending to just wait around or what then? There's still hours before it gets dark."

"One had thought to help you with your business and observe" You replied "Though if you know of a quiet park nearby, one would appreciate the chance to meditate."

"Yeah willow garden park is only a few blocks away, that would probably work" She tells you "If you want I could take you there so you can meditate."

"One would be grateful" You reply "But one would not wish to desert you or cause inconvenience."

"It's fine" She says "I've got a few things I can do this afternoon. Tell you what, why don't I take you to the park so you can do your thing and I'll come back for you when it's time for tonight. If there really is something big going down Christy will be here this evening for sure, so I can meet her here then."

"If it no imposition" You reply "Then one would be most grateful if you would show this one to willow garden park Miss Natalia."

"Sure" She says "Seriously, don't worry about it."

tbc

>>2979963

Natalia finishes her drink and then stands up and says. "Well lets go then, no point in sitting around."

You stand up and take your place next to her and follow as she leads you back to the door. You can feel eyes on the two of you as you make your way to the exit, and you can see people watch you go, including the bookie whose eyes follow you across the room.

When you get to the door Natalia places her hand on the doorway and opens the gate for the two of you, and you step back out into Southport proper. Natalia leads you back to the street and then the two of you turn back towards the bus stop. You walk past the stop and then at the next intersection she turns and leads you south. After you've gone two more blocks you see the trees of the park.

You can see how it was named. The lush park is full of willow trees. Natalia leads you to the entrance of the park and then turns to you and says "So yeah, this is the park. I'll be back in a few hours I guess if you'll be alright."

"One will be fine" You tell her. "Thank you for bringing this one here"

"Your welcome" She replies. "well, see you later then I guess."

You bow, and she smiles and tries to return the gesture and then turns and starts to walk away before stopping and turning around to wave at you before she leaves.

You make your way into he park. It is quiet, there are not many people in the park. You walk off of the path into the tree's following the sound of running water, and find a small stream with a large willow tree standing next to it's running waters. It is a peaceful place, it feels appropriate.

Do you

>Slowly run through Kata and practice moving meditation, preparing mind and body
>Sit at the foot of willow and focus on preparing your mind
>Sit down next to the stream and take the opportunity to meditate on the "contracts" you had formed in Arcadia and try to make contact with the Kami you have bargains with (write in for contract. E.g. stone)
>Write in.

>>2979995
>Slowly run through Kata and practice moving meditation, preparing mind and body


Also I don't understand the last option, could you clarify?

>>2979995
>Slowly run through Kata and practice moving meditation, preparing mind and body

>>2980033

Sure. At the moment we don't really know what our contracts are, contracts being the basis of changeling magic where one gains power though making contracts with natural forces or concepts etc.

We know we had contracts with various forces and phenomena, which Kentaro thinks of as Kami, from our memories of our time in Arcadia, and we know it is possible for contracts to work here in the real world because of what we saw Malone do.

Nikolai suggested that we could figure out what our contracts are and start taking advantage of them with some effort on our part, which in this case translates into meditation to try and contact the "Kami" we had them with.

Basically Meditate and go inward to regain use of contracts, aka the opportunity to get a bit of changeling magic going for our man Kentaro if we want to try and do that now rather than just focusing on the fight. Basically following the thought process of doing general meditation and soul searching rather than hyper focusing on the upcoming tournament.

I hope that helps it to make sense, I probably should have been more clear on that.

>>2980048

To further clarify part of it is write in so people can propose contracts they'd like to have, and I gave stone as a generic example.

>>2980068
Could you direct to a list of those contracts? 'm not familiar with the system, sorry to be a bother

>>2980089

Not a problem. Here's a link that gives the general idea of what does what. Each contract also has a catch, a condition which if fulfilled allows you to use the power without having to spend glamour for it. Affinity means that it's easier to learn. You can have contracts you don't have an affinity for, but they are more expensive.

https://sites.google.com/site/wickedciti/home/changeling-the-lost-contracts-list

...man I wish 2e was out.

>>2980112
Nice, I change my vote to try and contact our contracts, I actually liked the ogre contracts.

Stone and
Oath and Punishment

So I'm gonna give it a few more hours, and then I'll start up the new thread with the next write up.

On a related subject new image or same image.

>>2980735
>>2980137
I support this

>>2980137

Agree with meditation, should go Might of the Terrible Brute

And same image, consistency helps with keeping players

Bugger. Went to get the new thread started before heading in to work, wouldn't let me due to being a duplicate and it deleted the write up.

My appologies for the delay. I'll get it up this evening when I get home.

>>2984516

No worries at all, I'll see you over in the new thread