Corner of Greensbriar and Pulaski (Twiddle's Beat)
Low Town, Bay City
Early Summer
Just Before Sundown

Twiddle was an magical being, scion of an ancient lineage, the child of a royal line older than the moon and stars, citizen of a reality where dreams walk the streets and all you could wish can be yours if you have the strength to take it and the cunning to keep it. He was, in many ways, invincible. Immortal. Eternal.

He was plying his trade. It was tedious work.

The thing he was noting to himself this evening was the recent sharp increase in customers that felt like magic. Like human magic. Like Wizards. But not wizards like the stuff-shirt tight-vest Hebrew-Latin old-timer's club like what's apparently running the show these days downtown. These are hedgey wizards. Scruffy wizards. Wizards who maybe had better luck turning lead to gold than they did darning socks or shaving beard stubble.

All the same to Twiddle. A customer was a customer. But the product he sold (like all products really), had one price: what someone was willing to pay for it. The canny capitalist kept an eye on his market, as much for demand as for supply.

So it was that, this night, up came a young-ish guy. Sidled up, like they do when maybe they don't want too many folks watching or seeing. Like maybe they're afraid someone's gonna pop up and yell SHAME at any moment. Sidling like they maybe aren't even all that interested in whatever it is they're going to such effort to acquire.

"Are you... Twiddleskimershim?" he asked, his voice as low as his sidel (and that was another thing, the ones that smelled like magic always got him name exactly right). "I've heard you have... stuff. Special stuff."
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:02, Wed 09 June 2021.

In reply to System (msg # 1):

Twiddle smiled broadly with Omar's face. "Most people dont know my real name. That's says to me you did your homework. Maybe you went to Hogwarts?" He loved teasing the wizards about that.

Human magic was a skill they had to learn. The Fae where pure magic, made by the High Kings and Queens of Faeland, and all semi gods in thier own realm.

That's why they where all so cruel. And cold. And very, very dull. Watching earth with evivous eyes, and most of them unable to admit to wishing to be lesser mortal creatures.

Not Twiddle though. While he was not the first to fall in love with humanity, he was diffent then the other Fae. He was willing to risk true death by staying here long term. Just to be human, and to be among them. So they love only him above all other Fae.

"What is it you desire? And...are you willing to pay for it?" Twiddle said, his stare a little too long and his smile a bit too wide to be normal.

The scruff-Mage smiled and uneasy smile. "Names are important to my kind. As is research. We're a cautious lot."

A pause.

"I need what you give to the Mundies. What you call dreams. Don't worry about forming it into anything in particular. I need it raw, as unshaped as you can make it."

Another pause. Longer.

"In what unit of measurement do we negotiate? I have access to... many things."

In reply to System (msg # 3):

"People come to me for thier desires. What they cannot get for themselves In life. That way, I channel thier dreams to them."

He paused. "When you say...many things. What do you mean? If you did your homework, then you know what the binding word does to and for my people. I know mortals lie freely...but for us, the oath is everything. If you just want raw fae magics...well, that is possible. The question is what are you willing to offer for it?"

The scruff-Mage winces and looks slightly pained.

"Is it cash you need? Money? I can call such from the Great River."

He steps a little closer. He smells as though calling soap is harder than cash.

"Maybe you wish to know the future? Or the past? Or harm those who spite you from a distance? You know what I want, child of the Summer Courts. What do you want?"

In reply to System (msg # 5):

"We all know the past...and as I am sure you know, the future never arrives. When it does, its the present." Twiddle shrugged. "What I wish from you is several debts. One debt is an oath that you will not harm me or mine with whatever is you are doing. Another debt for my service. A third debt...just for fun." He smiles, but the smile grows cold. "I am willing to knock off a single debt if you truthfully tell me what it is you are up to with the raw Faestuff I provide..."

OOC: Persuade an NPC

15:15, Today: Twiddleskimershim rolled 9 using 2d6+2.  Persuade an NPC.

When you persuade an NPC through seduction, promises, or threats, roll with Heart. On a hit, they do what you ask. On a 7-9, they modify the terms or demand a Debt.

The scruffy guy pauses and his face contorts in thought and frustration. However it was he thought this was going to go, it wasn't like this.

"Okay," he said, "I'll tell you. And I'll owe you a service. One service. But..."

He pauses.

"Tell me first, where I can find a young woman named Tessa. I know you know her. I can feel her weave all about you."

In reply to System (msg # 7):

"Unless I know your intensions, and your oath behind them, I won't tell you anything. And that's two services." He holds up two fingers. "One for the for faestuff I provide, one for leading you to Tessa. Assuming you meet my requirements." He still was annoyed how he was fooled into leading a hunter into Lilith's home...

The scruff-mage shook his head, "One service. One for the faestuff, one for Tessa, less one for telling you the truth about what it's for."

A pause.

"You can't be selling for one genuine service a pop. That's unsustainable."

"Prices are set by me, and I decide how many oaths a service requires. It depends weather I like you or not." He said, raising his eyebrow.

He sighs. "That being said, I have little patience for this. Very well, one service. But first, you tell me what this is all about. And if you lie...I will know. Plus, you need to swear this will not harm me or my friends."
This message was last edited by the player at 15:41, Wed 09 June 2021.

The scruffy guy frowns. "I swear this will not hurt you or friends."

He pauses a moment, as though trying to scent the air.

"The Hegemony," he starts up, voice low and intense, "Has taken many of the city's Concordancecs, places where the raw building blocks of the universe can be drawn unformed and unshaped and used by Mages. They've taken them, and deformed them so they can only be accessed by Mages who do magic the way they do, and they hold them hostage. My people call it the Wyrd. Some of us, instead of Concordances, can get by on Faestuff."

He made a sour face. "I might have just signed my death warrant, but I have told you the truth. And I owe you a service. I will take the faestuff now, please."

Pause.

"And. Tell me where Tessa be found. I know you can't lie to me."

In reply to System (msg # 11):

Twiddle twists his hands about, reshaping the air with strange patterns of light that looked like some sort of language. Not any human one however. There is a hiss, a pop, and a wind picks up...only to have Twiddle open his palms to reveal something in a 'ta-dah!' gesture.

A single leaf. He hands it to the man, and upon closer inspection the leaf has strange runic letter woven into its substance. As if it grown that way.

"As for Tessa, I said I would lead you to her. Which means I need to ask her first. One moment."

He gestures, and produces his cell phone. The 'magic' of summoning the device is nothing but slight of hand. He proceeds to text Tessa, while holding up a single finger in case the wizard objects.


OOC-Does this mean I can highlight the 'power' faction of my character's group stats?

OOC: For earning the Debt, yes, absolutely.

The wizard takes an aggressive step forward (but even in that moment, carefully cradles the leaf in one hand - an addict is an addict no matter the fix). "That wasn't part of the deal! You're supposed to tell me where I can find her!"

Message from Lilith:
"Hey there! Are you busy? We need to meet somewhere... private."

In reply to System (msg # 14):

Twiddle raises an eyebrow. "Please recall the terms of our arrangement. I said I would lead you to her. I did not say when or how.

She is my friend, and her safety is important to me. And I dont know you. If you want this meeting, give me your phone number and I will tell you the time and place when she is ready. Understand?" He says firmly.

Twiddle replies to Lilith's text.

Message from Lilith:

"My office might be compromised. Let's meet at my place. I'll be there in about 15-20."

In reply to Lilith Voss (msg # 17):

Twiddle replies to Lilith and Tessa's texts.