Rose's Thorn, Part I Report
General Summary
It's after school, and the two sidhe sit on a bench together, huddled up against the cold breeze of mid-October. Hilda is teasing Frank relentlessly about his supposed relationship with Tiffany Burroughs - a slightly overweight, rather plain looking girl in their grade that previously had been bullied by Hilda. Frank had taken it upon himself to be kind to the girl at the Harvest Fest, and ever since, Hilda has refused to let the "relationship" matter drop. Frank, wanting to get her off his back, says dead pan that next time he wants to impress a girl, he'll dress up in a full mariachi outfit and serenade her to make his intentions perfectly clear. Hilda scoffs, muttering how Scathach are all the same: no better than commoners. Frank, of course, takes offense at this and shoots back that Aesin are all filthy fucking cowards. Hilda's face darkens, and she threatens Frank to not test her - she had killed all of Mrs. Grossman 's plants because the woman had once yelled at Hilda for trampling over her lawn. Their argument would have continued but for them both suddenly noticing a girl approaching them. She's a little older than both of the middle schoolers - probably around 15. She has a bat studded with nails over her shoulder, a trash can lid also studded with nails that she holds like a shield, and a jean jacket so covered with plastic buttons that the denim is completely obscured. The girl - a clurichaun - introduces herself as Lucky . She asks if they have time to help her with a quest, which at first Hilda scoffs at. She wouldn't help a commoner even if her life depended on it. Lucky corrects Hilda: she's actually a squire with House Leanhaun. Frank is instantly excited - "squire bros!" He crows, bumping fists with Lucky. Hilda sighs and rolls her eyes, but agrees to help. The two sidhe lead Lucky back to Hilda's Freehold, where George meets up with them. Lucky explains that there is an item of great value in The Near Dreaming, and she will pay the group a dross each to accompany her and retrieve this item. They all agree, and so they set off into the Near Dreaming. Lucky leads them to a large set of wooden doors, and with a creak pushes them open - inside, is a still, silent library. It smells of dust and stale air, but the four changeling children shoulder on.
Lucky leads them confidently amongst the bookshelves, until suddenly the group hears screeching and a grouping of large rats barrels towards the children! The rats, about the size of beagles, throw themselves at the fae as if determined to rip them apart. With a cry, Lucky's greatsword - for that is what her bat is in reality - kills one of the rats, not so much cutting it in two but causing it to explode, throwing blood and guts on the rows of pristine, ancient tomes. Skulde readies herself, blowing on her blade and watching her cold breath frost upon it as she prepares to cast Chill. George looks around and hypes himself up, shadow-boxing and readying himself for Burning Thew, as Frank points his sword at the rat closest to him and proclaims "you, my friend, will be getting no cheese tonight!" His preparations are also readying him to cast the same cantrip as George, but the rats have an opportunity to attack as the motley sits and prepares. Skulde is, unfortunately, the one who gets bitten on her leg, rat teeth sinking into her calf as she squeals and tries to kick it off. Another goes after Frank, but Lucky comes to his rescue and tries to punt the rat. It sees her incoming kick and veers off course, neither getting hit by Lucky nor biting the autumn sidhe. The arcadian sidhe, meanwhile, takes her blade that she had prepared to cast a Winter cantrip upon and stabs it into the rat still on her leg, over and over again until it's grip loosens and it falls over, dead. George also strikes out at the rats, abandoning his preparations and swings wide, missing all of the ones gathered about him. Frank and Lucky continue to swing at the rats surrounding them, and Frank brings down his sword on one of the rats - it attempts to skitter out of the way, but trips over a loose floorboard and falls sideways, giving an opening to Frank that he takes full advantage of. He stabs downward, imbedding the rat on his sword and the sword itself in the floor as the rat scrabbles in its death throes before going still. Skulde, unfortunately, has been having less luck. Three of the monsters converge on her, each attempting to take another pound of flesh from her. Two miss her thankfully, but the third sinks its filthy teeth into her again - this time on her sword arm. She screams and attempts to bat it away, but her blade glances harmlessly off its fur. George sees what's going on and runs over to Skulde, and rips the rat off her arm with a spurt of blood. He throws it to the ground and stomps on it repeatedly, until its stomach explodes and showers the ground, the other rats, the books, and George and Skulde with its innards. Frank recenters his blade and begins an ancient family tradition: the mariachi slash technique. It is a direct hit, bringing down yet another rat. The small motley has gathered together now, back to back as they fight off the rodents. Lucky misses her swing, but George hits. His blow doesn't kill, but does send the creature reeling. Skulde is the one who takes care of it, stabbing into the rat and killing it cleanly. Then stabs it a few more times for good measure (and to relieve her frustration). Frank sings mariachi, preparing himself for another cast of Burning Thew, but before he can finish it George kicks the final rat, throwing it against a wall where it slides to the ground, dead. It was a tough battle, and no one more than the poised Skulde has taken the brunt of the assault. She bleeds from several bites, all over her limbs, and she glares at Lucky even as the bright eyed, bold changeling girl picks up her blade and cheerily leads them further into the library....
Rewards Granted
- 1 dross each
Character(s) interacted with
Notes
Quotes of the Session
Frank: "I only talk about mariachi bands with you because mariachi bands are cool."
Skulde: "George, can you stab [Frank]?"
George: "We... kinda need him right now..."
Skulde: "We don't need his mouth."
