"Yeah so primary objectives are to 'gather information' and 'protect the public'" Elissa confirmed obviously agreeing "Making some sort of a truce is obviously the best way to protect them, but we ain't doing that with just one side there, and I don't want to be within 10 miles of a showdown between Goblin Joe and The Fae Queen. Well hell, who wants to live safely? Let's go have a chinwag with Joey-boy. Gotta say I'm actually looking forward to it. It's nice to talk to people that get stuff done and don't murder lots of people in the process"

It was clear that Elissa had little sympathy for Herne the Hunter or the Fae Royal Family. From her view they were child molesters and Goblin Joe putting the boot... or rather the knife... in was just good news

"When it comes to protecting the public, let's remember that we're part of it. If things go south, get out of there as best you all can. I'll do what I can to protect you."

She gave Elissa a look to say that she knew that Elissa was far less squishy than the others, and she'd welcome her help if it came to that.

"But we're not here to fight. Just talk. With any luck we'll get Joe to agree not to harm any humans and we can put this thing behind us."

She gazed onwards.

"Everybody ready?"

Standing up from a collections of rocks that had been gathered up the golem that was Goffery made itself visible to the slayer and those slayer adjacent, some moss and foliage that had been placed over his form as he waited being allowed to fall to the ground as the tall stone being approached the grouping of women.

"Be wary the notion that gods are to look after the people.  Most are focused on either protecting the manse of their power, or on fighting some great foe that humanity does not easily perceive."  He said with a deep gravely tone.  "Or they are busy drinking and partying and enjoying the creations of man and civilization, or being petty and spiteful... depending on which gods you come across." He said seeming to lose his point a little as he addressed the four of them.

"Lets hope his radical agenda does have a plan to replace the removed god, so that the power vacuum left does not destabilize so much more of our world that it hurts others from short sighted vindication."  He said, his face featureless and so he could not really be looking at anyone when he was talking, but there was a chance one might be able to project onto him to assume he was talked to them with those comments.

"Well hell, I don't know much about Gods and stuff." Elissa said, thinking about what Goffry said "Never given them a lot of thought. Read my Shakesphere of course, and they don't come out as some sort of 'shining light of goodness'. I guess we can ask Joe what the fuck he's going to do if he wins. I wonder if he's thought about it? I suspect he's too much into his shorted sighted 'I just want to kill the child-abusers' radical agenda."

She nodded to Ann "Let's do this, girl. Let's go chat"

"OK, let's get this over with."

So saying, Ann led the way towards Joe's court, warily watching for any signs of danger as she did so.

"We'll try to find out Joe's plans that way. And if we don't like them, I'll persuade him to change his mind. One way or another."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:33, Mon 19 Sept 2022.

Joe's Court, looks from a distance like a golden fairytale palace but as the group moves closer, they catch a whiff of the smell.  It's a combination of rotten potatoes and petrol and once the smell hits the nose, then sight adjust and it's clear that the 'golden palace' is an old, derelict concrete structure that could be a world war two pillbox, or even a disused service station with weeds growing up where the forecoart used to be.

There's a sound of motorcycles revving and horses neighing, and the laughter of an assembly of the uncouth.  And yet there's little sign of life.

All roll perception + notice.

Elissa had her backpack over a shoulder, and was wearing a black lacy number for a top over her leather pants. If she was going to be diplomaticing and maybe kicking butt, she wanted to wear clothes that made her feel good. Some people felt that lace and shit kickers didn't go together, but she mostly didn't care. Besides for all she knew, she would have to use the shit kickers for the stated purpose

"Just the place for a rave" she said approvingly. "Let's just hope there's not too much horse poo around"

Perception+notice 12.
Against stealth etc its 16
And situational awareness for another +2 if it's dangerous

Following behind the group of women he had placed himself behind Alice as he was attached to the Watchers and it would help bolster her presence some with having the golem with them.  While he was tempted to place the Watcher symbol on himself, he didn't wish to advertise so blatantly for the possible benefit it could bring.  However, the smells of this place were something he was unable to enjoy as he was just stone and olfactory senses were not something stone was known for.

"That or the set for one of those horrid film major projects.  Worst experience was when the Fencing club lent some of us younger fencers to help be... knights... in someone ones efforts to do a retelling a King Arthur story."  He said, then faltered for a moment.  Was that a thing he did, he remembers it, but doesn't at the same time.  Something about it seemed off or important, but he couldn't tell remember.  Then his thoughts focused on the moment again as they approached the site.

Goffery Lemnin rolled 12 using 1d10+4.  Perception+Notice with modifier.

Ann took in the beauty of the palace, but was disappointed as reality broke through and she saw what was beneath. And the smell wasn't exactly endearing. The lack of inhabitants worried her.

"Be on your guard," she said. "Either they're hidden like we might hide, or they're hiding in plain sight. If they can make this shit-hole look like a princess's palace, what other Jedi mind tricks can they fool us with?"

As they walked, she called out, "We come in peace. Take us to your leader." Turning to the others, she added, "I think that's what Tom Baker usually says in these situations."

OOC:
22:18, Today: Ann Winters rolled 10 using d10+3+2 ((5)). That's adequate, though she has Situational Awareness too if that applies.

Renee nods, "My eyes are open. I hope they are on the up and up, but open eyes will see what needs to be seen if they are around." She followed the others cautiously scanning and getting a feeling for the surroundings and their counterparts, but still she had some doubts about if things went bad if she could become badly hurt.

12:53, Today: Renee Stewart rolled 13 using 1d10+12.  Notice.

Everyone's senses are on high alert and adrenalin is racing through all of the human veins and whatever passes for veins in statues but there's more to it than not.  This is not a natural fight or flight response, it's as if something has turned up your threat awareness.  Could this be deliberate?

"Hah I bet this is a 'keep the hell away from here thing'" Elissa said suddenly "It'll stop our friend Joe from being bothered. Pretty cool stuff huh! I like it! Feels edgy. Just the kind of thing you need to keep you on your toes." she took a look at Renee "You OK, girl? Say the word and I'll escort you back. No messing. This is a place that's going to go high on the 'wierdshitometer'. Ann and Goffrey are super heroes. Anns like 'Wonder Woman', Goffery's the 'Incredible Thing' and I'm a sidekick. You can still back out though, and no one is going to feel bad about it or let down."

"Why would someone want us on edge?" Ann asked out loud. "It would make more sense to make us feel at peace and then ambush us. So unless this is some sort of test, perhaps they're trying to get us to fight something. So everyone try to chill out."

She breathed deeply, remembering the patterns Alice had taught her for breathing. It had never been as easy or fun as the fighting lessons, but it might calm her now.

"Joe, we just want to talk. Surely a god-killer isn't afraid to meet a bunch of girls and a, uh, statue."

Joe steps out from behind a nondescript piece of twisted metal.  He's wearing a long leather coat that would make Alain Delon proud and on his head is a matching fedora.  There's a Gitane in his mouth and you really should have smelled it by now if this was anything but an illusion.

"I'm not the god killer.  Remember, I was in Cambridge when it happened.  You know that, cause you were there."

"To keep people away, girl" Elissa started to explain "Without hurting them. Ambushing would be about harming people. It's not aimed at ..." then she stopped as Joe arrived

"Hi" she said cheerfully "Gotta say before we start. Big fan of your work so far. Just saying"

Ann smiled.

"You may not be the god-killer, but you were part of the plan. And calling you that got you to reveal yourself."

Elissa's greeting made her laugh.

"Elissa is a kindred spirit, and as happy at meeting you as a fifteen-year-old at a Bay City Rollers concert. However, we're worried about the fallout for normal people. So why don't we all sit down somewhere and discuss things? That's if your illustrious court is ready to accept a visit from a lowly Vampire Slayer?"

She hoped that turning on the charm might help get Joe's defences down.

"There is more than a little truth in that, girl" Elissa laughed "I like it when someone steps up at great risk to do the right thing. But Ann's right. You've kept the fallout low up to now, but..." her tone changed to something much more serious "We've had, like, prophetic dreams" she really carefully didn't name Renee, her body language implying it was herself so that any actions from Joe against that would fall on her not Renee. "and they ... shit they are scary... they show endless slaughter of normal people. Women, children. So, hell,  we came to chat with you about it. See if maybe together we can stop the spill out of what you are doing killing and harming more children than you are saving"
This message was last edited by the player at 08:04, Fri 23 Sept 2022.

Alice probably would have handled the opening exchange differently, but the girls had to learn things for themselves.  There was no faux pas or anything, just a slight overplaying of their cards.  But maybe this would prove to be the best course of action.  Alice would know by the end of the meet.

“Hello, Joe… do you have a title preference?  As the girls said, we’re here to discuss the public’s safety, but we’re very curious about you too.  Can we have a sit down?  I brought a gift…”

She stayed pleasant, semi formal, and let her Irish accent become more notable.  From her pocket, Alice showed a wrapped item… and then placed it somewhere for Joe to take (or passed it to a Slaugh henchman, if he Preferred).  The gift turned out to be a fancy Fob Watch made from copper.

“Are your boys around?  They must be excited to see some of city.  And we heard motorcycles and horses on the way in… do you have those as well?  I like horses.”

Joe stands still for a while, stroking his chin as he considers, then he sits down cross legged.  "Look those boys are mad.  Yes Christopher killed the god and the Sluagh are angrybut the truth is, me and Christopher have been fucked right royally by both courts and by the hunt and by England.  We should be seventeen years old and I should be frollicking in the golden meadows while Christopher should be studying for his A'levels or maybe starting a punk band.  What we would like is not gifts and power, it's a way back to 1961 to unmake all the shit that's happened since"

Then he looked to Elissa and again to Ann.  "I don't know what you are but you're the Slayer  Your heritage is full of regrets.  You must have learned by now that there's worse things than vampires in the in your world and leanan sidhe in mine.  It's broken.  It's all broken.  So how do we fix it?"

"I'm the slayers sidekick" Elissa offered before commenting "I get where you are coming from" she was going to say some more but it seemed that this sort of thing was best done by Alice or Ann. If she wasn't carefully she'd get them enlisted in Joe's crusade. And while she respected him for it... it wasn't her crusade. The last thing she wanted to do was to get them tied into a civil war, pick one side, and then crazy violence and deaths would happen

"Everyone has regrets, Joe. You think I don't wish I was a normal girl, rather than the Slayer? Spending my nights patrolling the streets with a life expectancy of reaching my twenties at best?"

She shook her head.

"You can't change the past. What happened to you happened. Accept it. All we can do is try to make a better future. That's all anyone can ever do. If an innocent is killed by a vampire, I can't save them. I can only stake them to stop them from turning others when they rise. You were an innocent, so the only question is what you intend to do from now on? More fighting? What will that achieve?"

Joe sighed a heavy sigh at Ann's answer.  "That's what Christopher said.  He's convinced that you can't turn back time whereas I... well I know better at least in theory but now with Christopher's once human hands dripping the golden blood of Herne the Hunter I know that in practice, the world's too messed up.  I don't know what to do now.  What's best for me and for the Sluagh?  That's the question and as you say, preferably without hurting innocents."

He paused and added, "Herne wasn't innocent either you know.  He's the one who killed the nutcase and started off this whole thing.  If Herne had left Robin Rszaikovsky alone in the Maudsley everything would be fine."

Elissa couldn't help but be pleased at Ann's little speach. It made her realise she'd made the right choice joining up with the Slayer and supporting her.

"Sheesh it's a hard place you in mate. See more violence and killing causes more violence and killing. When I was a kid, my dad took me to Angola. Mum went spare with him afterwards, mind. When I was there with his squad we came across a village that had been slaughtered by invaders. Bodies lying in the dirt, covered in flies with dogs and birds mauling the bodies. I didn't even know why the war was being fought... I just saw the dead baby with a fucking bird that was all black eating its eye. I had nightmares for a year. Mum was right: it was no place for a kid. But those people didn't have that choice"

"Those people were just living their lives and their deaths was so fucking unimportant it didn't even make the news. That's what happens when great powers war with each other. Little people get caught up in it and die. Often horribly"

"You've managed to avoid that Joe. More power to you. Respect! But it will get harder and harder to avoid, and with each death you cause ever so much easier to do the violence."

"You're telling us a bit of history though. History we don't know: hell I was hundred of miles away when it happened, and didn't know a thing about Fey other than 'A Midsummer Night Dream'. Can you tell us about Herne and Robin Rszaikovsky?"

The girls seemed to be doing great on their own and Alice didn't want to ride roughshod over their progress.  They all needed to know more about Herne and Robin Rszaikovsky.  So Alice picked her moment to ask a question.

"Afterwards could we meet one of your boys (or girls)... from the Slaugh?"

Doing everything she can to try not to draw the attention of these dangerous individuals. Her role here is to observe, to get a feeling for these folks, to not get herself killed. She does quickly scribble a note down on a notepad.