[WOD] Eile

Eile's a true hunter, always looking for a tasty morsel, a quick fix, a get rich scheme. She uses her wits to get by as best she can in this world. She uses, steals and lies to whatever end will get her the gratification she seeks (usually short term). She escaped to the idea of freedom, rather than FROM something else. She's running scared, but keeping her nose in the wind for something better. The things she hopes and dreams of are deeply hidden, unlikely to surface or be recognizable (even to herself) until she grows stronger.

Eile (eee-yell) deliberately rejects the Hedge. She gathers no Goblin Fruit,  builds no Hollow,  doesn't travel Trods, doesn't dream, and rarely if ever shops at Goblin Markets. Those she frequents are built on the Edges of the Hedge, rather than in it. [My ST has a very different geography for Goblin Markets than in the book.] Thus, she feeds exclusively on emotions.

As a Spring Courtier, she works in desire, greed and envy very well. Her various tricks include cons, grifting, old fashioned street hustling, and using her very overt sexuality to her advantage. The fix she gets from each hit is now wearing off more and more quickly, leaving her very much an addict, coming at you for a little more.

Her human mask is a woman about 5'7", shoulder length soft brown hair, cut straight. She's got an angular face with a big mouth full of teeth, and a wicked smile. Very long legs, dresses in a "messy dressy" sort of way with clothes from Goodwill, Salvation Army etc. However, she has GREAT shoes. Think Eliza Dushku with straighter hair and you have the picture. She wears a RiddleKith disguise almost constantly to guard her true mein.

Here's her write up, including XP. (The ST gives 27 starting XP, and 15 additional XP have been spent here.)

Real Name: Ellie Stevens (this memory is lost in the echoes of Arcadia)
Other Aliases: Ellen, Eileen, Ella, Alana, Ellery, Emerson

Current name: Eile

Concept: Grifter/Con Artist
Virtue: Hope
Vice: Greed
Seeming: Beast
Kith: Coyote
(Special Rule: May spend Willpower to gain +5 dice instead of +3 to Socialize or Persuasion)
Court: Spring

Mental Attributes (tertiary) Int 2, Wits 2, Resolve 2
Physical Attributes (secondary) Str 1, Dex 3, Stamina 3
Social Attributes (primary) Pre 3, Man 3, Comp 2

[+1 to Presence or Manipulation when used to entertain, persuade, distract or deceive others]

Physical Skills (secondary) Athletics 2, Brawl 1, Larceny (Breaking & Entering) 2, Stealth (Quick Retreat) 2, Survival 2

Social Skills (primary) Animal Ken (Lupine)1, Empathy 2, Persuasion 2, Socialize (The "long con") 2 Streetwise 2, Subterfuge 2


Health: 8
Clarity: 7
Derangements: None
Wyrd: 1 (10/1)
Glamour: 9
Willpower: 4
Size: 5
Speed: 9
Defense: 2
Initiative: 6
Defense: 2
Armor: none

Merits: Barfly, Fast Reflexes, Resources 2, Harvest Emotion 2 (Each Dot adds 1 die to rolls related to Gathering Glamour) pg 94, New Identity 2, Contacts: Cons, Mantle: Spring 1, Striking Looks, Rigid Mask

Contracts: Tongues of Birds & Words of Wolves (dice pool 2+1 or 2) pg 142, Beast's Keen Senses (dice pool 3+1) (Lupine for Both), Riddle Kith (Dice Pool 5) pg 129, Cupid's Eye (Dice Pool 4) pg 149

Pledges: none

Seeming Blessings:

-8 Agains on Animal Ken rolls & get specialty to reflect seeming
-Can spend Glamour to add to dice pools to involving Presence & Composure

Seeming Curse:
-Minus 4 on untrained mental skills
-(Special rule) Minus 2 vs Willpower checks to resist Social Interactions

Court Mantle Blessing: +1 to dice pools for social interactions with members of court in question

Weapons/Attacks: none

I have some experience (apx 12) to spend. I'm considering any of  the following: 

Dot 2 in Str (So I can buy Fleet of Foot Merit) (Cost: 10)
Dot 3 in Persuasion or Streetwise (Cost 9)
Skin Mask Contract (Cost:8)
Mask Of Superiority (Cost 6) [REQUIRES RP to justify per ST directions]
EITHER Buy Up Resources to 3 Dots (Cost 6) OR
Drop a Dot
(to justify a large amount of money Eile will get very shortly in game)
Fickle Fate (Cost 4)
Wrong Foot (Cost 4) (So I can buy Nevertread)
Perfect Stillness (Cost 4) (ROS Book pg 94)
Specialty in Subterfuge (bald-faced lie) (Cost 3)

Thoughts? Any other ideas?

[WOD] The Hedge Tales, Week 5 - The Show/The Mirror

[The Finale]

The Show

We line up backstage, listening to our directions again. We haven't been assembled all together like this in a great while. I'm careful to look straight ahead, but I gather hints of the ensemble through scent. I know most of the group either through interaction or reputation, but there's at least one new catch in the line. I'm just a little surprised to smell someone new, so I pay attention. I can't get much more than “wet” from the momentary “glimpse” I have of the newest; but I file it away for later.

I mentally prepare myself for the show, and submit to being brushed. The bristles and combs and scissors and fussing unsettle me more than words can say. I truly hate the grooming- I'm fairly good looking on my own and I care for myself well. I hold my tongue while paying mind to my tail.

[Mom Time] Later Rumblings

Sorry for the late-ish post guys. I spent a much needed day with my family- TheDude, TheBoy and TheGirl. We slept in SUPER late (3 of the 4 of us are night owls, so anything prior to noon is "early") and vegged around. We then went to TheParents' house for dinner.

That's right, I didn't even cook my own dinner, I made my parents do it! [No, really- they offered and I accepted.] Had a great time with my brother & his wife as well as a couple "bonus family" members and generally revelled in the fact that I have it pretty good.

My kids are quickly approaching adulthood, and so moments when I'm still "Mommy" are pretty rare. [Most of the time, I am "Mom".] I had one of those "Mommy" moments with each of my kids earlier this week (separately, of course) and recognized it for what it was- a gentle nudge that they're still my kids even as they grow up.

I just wanted to wish you all the kind of relaxation, enjoyment and genuine gratitude I had today.

[HS6e] Hawaii Action- (Session 8)

Over 2 hours of unabashed and much needed silliness transpired before our game ever got under way. There was a dropping of  an "H" and then turning it into a ladder and then steering wheel; admonishments to 'shoosh' and then fierce instructions to go outside, as well as ridiculous riffing on things unremembered. I completely lost ability to breathe and damn near passed out from the jovial hilarity we shared. I especially enjoyed my GM's unbridled rant (and I cannot remember what it regarded, dammit) as he has the most absurd sense of humor and outrage I've ever seen; and they're doubly hilarious when combined.

Quick shots of what happened:

-Syphon was out patrolling and 11 dudes with BIG GUNS tried to get the drop on her, however, they failed to hit her. She went to go get Agent Williams, as he's the only one who has a fixed location she knows.

Red Block Guys are a good stand-in for the bad guys Syphon saw.

-Agent Williams works at the Army base and some very amusing moments occurred when the MPs had to try to talk to her  Sample quote: " You don't SPEAK sign language, silly, you use your hands...(muttered) don't you?"

-Remainder of Ultras called and arrive at Army base. All gathered in Williams' (very crowded) office. Discussion of the various problems the Ultras face ensues.[Fairly hilarious one at that.]

-Lisa asks Jerry if he can reverse engineer the shoes in some way as she thinks they are part of how she's light & less strong. Jerry  attempts looking at them but is confounded by Lisa's Michael Kohrs dress (the boots go up much further than the hem of the dress) as well as the fact that the boots or mechanism reversing Lisa's abilities does not seem in any way technological. Jerry asks to see the rest of the boots/outfit. Lisa drops the dress and the crew finally sees the outfit 'Nani gave her (except Jumpshot who is off looking for something - he'll return soon.)  Jerry continues to examine the boots and has absolutely no luck cutting them or getting them unzipped. He tests the various straps on Lisa's outfit to determine everything but the bikini bottoms are made of the tougher, resistant material.

[That the bikinis are made of regular material is news to both Lisa and ME- I didn't ask enough questions and made an assumption. And the GM is definitely one of those "what do you get when you assume" kinds of guys.]

-Somehow Lisa's predicament becomes the focus of the group (maybe it's because she's half naked in the middle of the room, I dunno) and various attempts are made to remove the boots. Jumpshot pipes up with "has anyone tried to open the lock?" and there's dead silence. Then an uncomfortable pause as everyone generally looks at him just a little presumptuously (assuming a black man will know how to pick a lock). 

Jumpshot calls for some bolt cutters. He asks Lisa if she wants to go through with trying to open them. he makes it plain that once it's done, there's no going back. Lisa is more than a little conflicted, but comes away with some firm resolve after realizing that 'Nani is out there somewhere, and Lisa has no way to protect her without abilities. Lisa tells Jumpshot to go ahead and try.

Jumpshot attempts to cut the lock open. No dice. Another couple attempts are made and the lock is simply too sturdy for the cutters. Syphon decides to drain the energy/(something) from the lock, and THEN cutters are attempted again. It takes several tries - with several different members of the Ultras attempting- before headway is made.

-As all this is going on, Agent Williams has been on the phone the entire time. He's apparently been negotiating with head honcos in Washington (or somewhere other than Hawaii) to get more resources, support, a GUN. Lisa overhears some very telling comments that make her more than a little nervous that what she's about to do (return her Ultra powers) is actually something she wants to do.

-The lock opens. Lisa heads to the bathroom to change because she knows it won't be long before there are many broken things if she doesn't get out of the boots. She changes and makes minor adjustments, and returns to the group.

-Agent Williams gets off the phone. He tells the assembled Ultras that he's been authorized to offer the group "jobs" as federal agents, working in the HURT division. The deal is pretty much all or nothing- he either gets the whole group or none at all. He hands out a massive manual, which is the stuff an agent is supposed to know and/or do. The group discusses the possibility along with the many things the group is attempting to resolve. Pretty much everyone except Lisa and Freestyle are on board. Freestyle's main concern is age, as he's 16 he's not sure he'd be eligible for a position. Lisa flat out refuses to do anything until 'Nani is found.

--I can't remember exactly what happens next. I think it was discussion of getting radios and fining a place for Syphon to sleep as she was attacked very close to her alley. I know Lisa offered a temporary place to crash at her beach home. I'm pretty sure this is where we wrap up for the night.

[40K] Beginner's Project: Advice

I put a lot of stuff onto the Beginner's Project page. I hope to have some time in the next day or couple to organize some of it and get it into an easier to use format.

I have gotten a LOT of fantastic advice from you guys- you've been so generous and helpful, I really appreciate it. I have to admit I'm considering teaching TheGirl once I get a lid on 40K, as she LOVES blowing stuff up without exception. I think she might like BA or DE (either faction really fits her personality- a scary thing to say) but that's a  LONG way off.

I know most of the advice you guys have given me has been in response to a specific question; but I'd love to hear your generic, single best offering so I can add it to the Project. {PS: I'm working on a button or banner, but I stink at it so don't sue me if it's awful}

So, please chime in: What's your single best comment or advice for a brand new player starting out?

Have at it, guys!

[Blogging] Schedule stuff

My schedule may be in dissaray this week as I deal with my car. I hope y'all understand.

[Weekly Whimsy] "Let The Boys Do It"

[Welcome to Weekly Whimsy! Loquacious lets loose, laying low long-lived lamentations on living as a lady.]

[Absolutely not at all in response to Dethtron, but it's pretty fitting.]

"When a man asks a woman, "Would you like help with that?", what he's really saying is:
"Would you like some d**k?" "- Chris Rock, Bigger & Blacker

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I honestly and truly don't see myself as a feminist. I have too many old fashioned values for that; but I am a highly modern woman, trying to get by in a (mostly) modern world.