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==Session 1 "Nowhere To Stay, Nowhere To Go"==
{{:The Cereal Box:Log/Session 1}}
===Sunday, March 7th, 2010===


The player characters began on a train bound to Battle Creek from Chicago, most of them eager to start a new life in Battle Creek. The train trip was spent with the changeling characters and another changeling named [[April Jennings]]. They discussed their backgrounds somewhat, and were only briefly interrupted by a transit authority agent who may have been suspicious of [[Alana Diaz|Alana]] and [[Ernest Williams|Ernie]] for their unusual travel arrangements, but left them alone.
{{:The Cereal Box:Log/Session 2}}


Upon arriving in Battle Creek, the group was "greeted" by representatives of each season. Spring's representatives, [[Tiffany McIvor]] and [[Toucan Sam|Sam]], welcomed the group to Battle Creek, but admitted that Spring's welcome was of limited authority, given that they would not be in power until the 20th of the month. Sam sniffed the group over, but didn't seem especially interested in them. They handed the group the [[Map of Battle Creek|Map]]
{{:The Cereal Box:Log/Session 3}}


Winter's representatives, [[Shaun Schumaker|Shaun]], [[Gabriel Cole|Cole]] and [[Jacqueline Yamamoto|Jacqueline]] gave them a cold (pun intended) reception and, while they took some interest in Ernest and [[Evelyn St. James|Evie]], generally came across with a message of "GET OUT".
{{:The Cereal Box:Log/Session 4}}


Autumn's representative, [[Roper Red|Roper]], took pictures of them with a magical camera that took pictures of their Miens, and asked them questions about their plans, intimidating and mocking them in the process. He seemed to take some interest in [[Nikolai Petrov|Nikolai]]. Beyond that, he simply stood by and watched them from a distance.
{{:The Cereal Box:Log/Session 5}}


Summer's representative, [[Jack Strong]], was warm and said that the King of Summer was probably "the chillest Summer King you'll ever meet."
{{:The Cereal Box:Log/Session 6}}


The player character's got a ride from [[Sarah Richards|Sarah]], Evie's cousin, to Denny's, where they were approached by an ensorcelled mortal named [[Calista Moore|Calista]]. She told them that winter would be causing them all kinds of grief as newcomers, and wanted them to meet with [[Arianna Lassar|Arianna]], a woman who wishes to become the new winter queen.
{{:The Cereal Box:Log/Session 7}}


From there the majority of them (Nikolai and Evie excluded) went to Rodeway Inn (the hotel across from Denny's), where they bribed the receptionist into giving them a shitty room with no hot water (which Ernest took care of).
{{:The Cereal Box:Log/Session 8}}


Evie and Sarah drank Fireball and partied at Sarah's apartment until there was a knock on the door. A lumberjack looking man with glowing red eyes asked Evie if she knew [[Carl Crowley]]. She admitted that she did not.
{{:The Cereal Box:Log/Session 9}}


Nikolai broke off from the rest of the group, and was able to meet with a homeless changeling named [[Billy Goat|Billy]] who agreed to let him stay if he could help him buy a dime bag of heroin from a local dealer who hangs out behind the abandoned Toys 'R' Us. Nikolai acquired it (in the process backing the dealer off when he asked if the "has anything to do with Billy"). As they prepared to wind down for the night, a lumberjack looking man with glowing red eyes asked Nikolai if he knew Carl Crowley and told Billy that this "was not for him". Nikolai admitted he did not (with repeated questioning), and the man left.
{{:The Cereal Box:Log/Session 10}}


===Monday, March 8th, 2010===
{{:The Cereal Box:Log/Session 11}}


The next day, Evie looked for jobs, [[Persephone Beaumont|Sephie]] went to work (mostly orientation and busy work), Alana, Ernest and April helped [[Hestia Lamore|Hestia]] get a phone, and Nikolai realized how hard it is to look for work when you've got no fixed address and poor credentials. The session was adjourned with evening falling and the majority of the player characters looking at the prospect of where next to spend the night.
{{:The Cereal Box:Log/Session 12}}


==Session 2==
{{:The Cereal Box:Log/Session 13}}


The party discussed their options for places to live. They decided to check out the abandoned Toys 'R' Us as an option and, after breaking in, Nikolai looked into the back warehouse of the place and saw about a dozen changeling corpses hung from the rafters (appearing to have been there for quite some time). Eventually, they decided to stay in the woods near the Meijer off Beckley, where they set up a small campsite and waited out the night.
{{:The Cereal Box:Log/Session 14}}
 
Meanwhile Evie and Sarah found Sarah's apartment infested with a "Biblical Plague" level of roaches. They left with slight fear and great disgust.
 
===Tuesday, March 9th, 2010===
 
The party meets up, except for Sephie who goes to work at the urgent care clinic. Sephie treats a man who has blunt force trauma injuries to his ribs that he ''claimed'' were caused by a car accident, but upon examination, they were definitely from a fight.
 
The party went to the abandoned factory, which they broke into with some effort. They found a gang sign that looked like a "SZ", but didn't know if there was some significance to it beyond just gang activity. Sephie met back up with the group.
 
===Wednesday, March 10th, 2010===
 
[[Alexander Smith]] called Alana and asked her how she was doing and what her work was. He asked about their housing and said that it would not be acceptable. He offered them temporary housing in the changeling ghetto. He also offered to reimburse them for the bribe they paid to stay at the hotel. He finally offered to look into getting them work. [[Changeling Home|65 23rd St. South in Lakeview]].
 
The party was advised, and met up at the new house (with the exception of Nikolai and Ernie, who met with [[Eric Rowe]] about the ID) where Jack gave them keys and explained to them that they can stay in the two rooms of the place, but that they cannot open Hedge gates there or make any major changes to the property. April shipped Strong and Alana.
 
Eric met with Nikolai and Ernie, and took a shine to Nikolai, giving him his info and suggesting that they talk.
 
==Session 3==
 
The party had the opportunity to explore their new house, 65 23rd St. S, a two-bedroom half of a duplex home with few amenities. There was a basement not especially fit for any particular use (but dry, Strong assured them), and an attic full of what Strong assured them was really itchy insulation. There was a kitchen that was partially separated from the living room, which in turn had a plastic crate and a folding chair as its only furniture. One bedroom had a queen bed, the other a cot and a twin bed. The stove was electric, with one reliable burner. The dishwasher did not work. The microwave "doesn't go at the same time as the oven" and "there's nothing wrong with the fridge, but the water isn't hooked up to it." There was also a broken full size mirror in the hallway with a sign that said "do not repair or replace."
 
The party decided they needed food for their new apartment, and went to the nearby grocery store, where Ernie and Alana dumpster dived for food while Evie stole an entire pantry's worth through sheer brazen thievery, bringing the entire cart home with her. They began making food when they heard loud music from next door and decided to meet the neighbors.
 
Sephie, Nikolai and Evie went out to investigate, but were ambushed by a flock of bats that drove them to the side of the house, where they were attacked by a deranged changeling with skin like the white flakes on burnt wood, armed with a nailbat. The changeling ranted about how she was the deputy and would bring them to justice. When Evie tried to retreat back inside to get help, they were ambushed by a pair of vicious hedge-creatures that seemed to be completely silent lizard-dogs. After some struggle, Nikolai shot the woman, who went unconscious, and the party members inside killed the beasts which collapsed into leaves. Nikolai and Sephie went around the house to avoid their neighbor, who went out to see what was happening (with the gunshot and all).
 
Moments later, they received a knock at the door and their neighbor, [[Freddie Gibson]], was there with the dying changeling. After some debate, they agreed to stabilize her and hold her there. They called Strong, who said he could deal with it in the morning and they just needed to hold on until them. Freddie smoked a lot of weed (with a weird chemical odor) and gave some "normal" joints to the changelings as a housewarming gift. His "heterosexual life partner", the ruggedly beautiful [[Aaron Mason]] (dressed in a toga and wielding an oversized plastic wine goblet) likewise came over and christened the event something of a party. The two related what had happened to Billy Goat - how during the war, he lost his one true love [[Clement Bonte]], and one day in court spontaneously declared "this isn't fun anymore! Whoever sits in this throne next is the new Spring King for a year and a day!", an offer which [[Matthew Kingman]] took up. Eventually, everyone agreed to settle for bed, taking watches over the changeling they had captured. She begged for water until morning, but was not given any.
 
===Thursday, March 11th, 2010===
 
Strong arrived with two thugs, who rolled the changeling up in a carpet. He told them that he was surprised that Aaron hadn't said anything, because he knew her - an Autumn courtier named [[Darlene Selfridge]]. He said that the summer king would doubtless want to talk to them about this. The party all went to their respective jobs, with only Ernie and April staying home. Part way through the day, April declared that even though she liked Ernie, she didn't feel safe and that she wanted to go to Horrocks to be near the other members of the motley. They went downtown to do so.
 
At Horrocks, the party members were each confronted by Cole, who informed them that the winter queen demanded their presence and they would present themselves, as the domain was still under her rule. He ushered them into the furnished back of a moving truck and drove off with them. Schumaker appeared at Sephie's clinic and, likewise, ushered her off. Yamamoto appeared at Hestia's work and took her as well. All converged on the [[Floral Lawns Memorial Garden]] at the grave site of [[Solomon Bynes]], where the Queen of Winter, [[Lyrissa Diamondheart]], explained to them that the Freehold was being subverted and that, as outsiders, they were in a unique position to help her by getting information on the opposition. Since they had been approached by one of the potential usurpers' minions, they would be able to, essentially, spy for her - but that she wouldn't force them to do so. She told them that she could promise them a place in the Freehold if they would agree not to work ''against'' the freehold's long-term stability (with the understanding that they might, if they opted to spy on her behalf, work against her ''immediate'' interests). The changelings agreed, and [[Johnny Starlight]], the Winter Court's most powerful enforcer, sealed the pledge, acting as the nemesis and warning them that if they broke their word, he would have absolutely no difficulty destroying them.
 
The changelings returned to work and, after their workdays, returned home, where they found a note on the door only reading:
 
<pre>I know what happened
1023 Avenue A, Springfield, MI 49037
Hedge gate at the arch
9 PM</pre>
attac
==Session 4==
 
The motley prepared by eating dinner, and Sarah arrived to drive them to their meeting. After it was determined that she'd been drinking, they decided that she should stay with Aaron and Freddie. They were pulled over en route, and almost caught with an open container, but quick talking managed to avert this. They arrived at the meeting place, which was a middle school where there was an arch in the middle of nowhere and a bunch of creepy child faces on pillars.
 
Roper opened the gate and brought them in, guiding them through the dense fog of the Hedge to the Autumn Court's meeting place. There, they encountered the [[Pumpkin King]], who expressed his dismay that they had turned over his mad courtier to the Summer Court (and that they hadn't even brought him a gift "as is customary"). They learned that the Pumpkin King had once been the champion of the Autumn Court and saved the Freehold from Solomon Bynes, the late King of Winter, who had enslaved the changelings of the freehold. A great purge had followed and numerous changelings loyal to Winter (and/or the True Fae) had been hanged. They offered to help the Autumn King in vague terms, but did not Pledge in any way. The Pumpkin King also incidentally mentioned that he hated Cincinnati.
 
The oracle, [[Holly LeClerc]], announced that the reason that the courtier had gone rogue was that she had pledged herself to a Huntsman, a fetch-like being created from the shadows and reflection of the True Fae. It was revealed that Holly was letting the motley know because they're "the main characters." She revealed that the Huntsmen could be killed, but that this would not suffice to eliminate them permanently. Furthermore, that those who cooperated with the Huntsmen in bringing changelings back to the True Fae would be rewarded.
 
As they left the Hedge, Roper revealed that the Pumpkin King had lost his wife after the war, and that Holly LeClerc knew where she was buried. The Pumpkin King's great power came with the frailty that anyone who knew the location of her grave would hold power over him, and that Holly knew where she was buried and was, essentially, the shadow Queen of Autumn.
 
They return to find Sarah and Aaron cuddly together.
 
===Friday, March 13th, 2010===
 
Work happened. Alexander Smith, King of Summer, called about a meeting. Before the meeting, the motley hit up Salvation Army for stuff.
 
They arrived at the meeting at C.O. Brown Stadium, and were taken there by way of a utility hallway. The meeting was something of a formal meet and greet with the King, who expressed his desire to have a Freehold that works for everyone. Also present were Strong, a woman made out of leeches with a giant spider mount, an incredibly old, wizened changeling named [[Minerva Lovett|"Granny" Lovett]], a skinny wizened named [[Patrick Greer]] who seemed skeptical of the Summer King's  goodwill. Smith offered a significant home to Granny, and something in the changeling ghetto to Greer. Smith stated that Lovett was one of the most powerful changelings in her previous freehold.
 
When asked what was done with Darlene, Smith stated that he would meet with the Autumn King. Strong carried on about what a great guy Smith was, and Granny offered everyone Werther's Originals, which only Nikolai accepted.
 
==Session 5 "'Death' Of An Old Goat"==
 
Eevie drove Sarah home and didn't come back, but told the rest of her motley that everything would be fine for a couple of days. They put up some of Ernie's drawings and one of April's (at Alana's urging) and tidied up the place. Eric Rowe called Nikolai to offer him some work taking a package from the Meijer to the [[FireKeeepers Casino|Casino]]. After some hemming and hawing - and the implication the Rowe didn't feel he had other options for the job - he agreed to do so for him, but then some concern was raised over this being outside the Cereal Box.
 
Friendly cab company. They took a trip to the Casino. They dropped off the package to Paulie without seeing into the room. The casino has a strong draw, and they regained Glamour just for being in there, although Alana would have played in the casino (as if in a trance) but realized that she had no money. On their way out, a pure white cat watched them get in the cab. As they drove back into the Cereal Box, they were pursued just off the road by a dark man on a black horse of smoke, flanked by fae hounds (who appeared to be just a dude with dogs when viewed through mortal eyes) who instantly gave up the chase as they crossed the threshold of the Cereal Box.
 
The music was too loud next door. There was an argument and then it was turned down.
 
===Saturday, March 14th, 2010===
 
Hestia and Alana and Nikolai and Sephie work. Ernie is going to make some friends. April is the big sister.
 
Their neighbor from across the street, Carl Crowley, complained that the neighbors music was too loud and that it should only be two days a week. He asked them about their housing situation and suggested they look into getting it upgraded when possible, kind of implying that a squeaky wheel will get the grease.
 
 
===Sunday, March 15th, 2010===
 
At 4 in the morning, they hear a scraping at the door. Alana snuck around and found Eevie, dressed in rags and looking like shit, at the door with about an eighth of an inch of snow dusting her. She looked incredibly sick and was scraping at the door with a [[Badge of Horn|Badge]] made out of what looked like wood (and turned out to be horn). Alana dragged her inside, fearing for the worst. Eevie suddenly transformed into Billy Goat and activated an aura of command, prevent himself from being attacked. Near incoherent, Billy explained that he was trying to help them, that he had given a changeling - [[Caleb Martinet]] - to the Huntsman in return for the badge, which he said would prevent the Huntsman from taking them if presented to him. "I'm not going to use it," Billy said, "When the Huntsman comes for me, I'm not going to resist. Promise you won't stop him." Hestia pledged to "do what she felt was best" in regards to Billy, which Billy bound into a Pledge. Billy was placed in Hestia's bed. Billy pisses the bed and Hestia notices a lot of blood in his urine. Sephie discovers that Billy is on the verge of death and rotting away from the inside and so performs major surgery on him to save his life.
 
==Session 6==
 
Eevie came back and Alana put her in a headlock before confirming she was who she said she was. She was filled in and everyone took a nap before morning except for Hestia who make some breakfast.
 
Morning broke, and the motley prepared for church, except Hestia and April who stayed with Billy to keep him safe. Warehouse with a lighthouse attached to it. They met [[Craig Weston]], the narrator, and spoke with Kingman afterwards. Kingman expressed concern for their difficulties, but generally seemed content to leave them to their devices. The meeting with Kingman was interrupted by [[Dahlia]], who laid out her criticism of Kingman in no uncertain terms. Kingman gave them a ride home.
 
After the meeting, the motley returned to find that their neighbor, [[Isaac Oldman]], was disappeared after a struggle (which had happened a few minutes before they came back). Despite Aaron, Freddie and Carl being there, they didn't seem interested in doing anything about it. The motley decided to chase after him, as he appeared to have been taken by a Huntsman, after they contacted Johnny Starlight and Roper to let them know about the situation.
 
They entered the Hedge and ended up at the crossroads, where they fought the [[Man With the Badge]] and his deputy. The deputy had a ring of keys, which she dropped when she was intimidated into fleeing the scene, that allowed them to release Oldman from the back of his police cruiser / carriage. Upon finally freeing Oldman, the Man With the Badge disappeared.
 
Johnny Starlight acknowledged that the courtier that they had dealt with was a former Summer Court changeling named [[Neveah Barringer]] (implying that Summer's perfect record without loyalists was now forever tainted) and ran into the Hedge after them, but not before Ernie spilled the beans about the presence of a Huntsman (which, to the motley's knowledge, was something only the Autumn Court knew about).
 
==Session 7==
 
Roper asked some questions about the badge, but was not given satisfying information. Hestia went back to check on Billy, who was still catatonic.
 
The party returned home. Eevie and Alana spoke with Aaron about his music and his feelings on Kingman, who he said was kind of full of himself, and more than a little weird, but generally has his heart in the right place. Hestia is going to work toward getting a proper driver's license. They discussed the Spring Laws that would be in effect when Kingman is in charge.
 
===Monday, March 16th, 2010===
 
Hestia gets her driver's permit. The motley works for the day. The motley acquired a large practical unassuming vehicle. <del>Light blue</del> Blackberry blue / purple van that a soccer mom sort would drive with the remnants of a stick person family that Alana managed to peel half off.
 
Nikolai and Eevie together help Hestia learn to drive. Billy's circumstances were assessed and it was determined that he would likely recover partially - that there might be long-term consequences for his over-the-top binge. Hestia realized that he deal with Billy made caused her to become striking.
 
===Tuesday, March 17th, 2010===
 
Once again, workday. Billy has a brief moment of responsiveness. The motley decided that they need to meet with the Autumn King again. They met with the Autumn King at their home. They made rice krispee treats, a spooky drawing and some gum. The Autumn King refused the treats because they contain Rumchata ("I can't touch it"). He asked to see Billy, told them he wasn't going to reveal the existence of the Huntsmen until after the coronation.
 
They learned that with the badge, they could become deputized.
 
===Wednesday, March 18th, 2010===
 
Yet another workday. Nikolai performed an augury on the badge and became convinced that it did not have any powers beyond making a person a deputy and keeping them safe from the Man With the Badge.
 
Sephie, Ernie and Nikolai went to Granny Lovett's house for the evening. There, Granny served them their favorite meals and made a Pledge with them to find their family, involving a draw of blood from them.
 
===Thursday, March 19th, 2010===
 
Work day! WOOORK DAY! Billy is somewhat ambulatory.
 
Nikolai did some research and came to the conclusion that the Huntsman is a private security guard meant to protect a collection of changelings and retrieve them. What this means as far as collection is concerned, is complicated. It turned out The Collector was Hestia, April AND Isaac's Keeper. Ernie's and Alana's Keeper could have been ''anyone'', so it's hard to stay. Freddie's Keeper was the Dread Oubliette and Aaron's was NOT the Collector. They partied together. It was good time.
 
Dahlia came to their house to convince them to "vote" for her at the coronation. "Stand with me," she said, "and3 show Kingman that business as usual won't be tolerated!" Discussion was had regarding who they should stand with - if anyone. Dahlia admitted that it would not change the coronation since, ultimately, the Wyrd determined the outcome of such events, and the coronation would happen regardless.
 
==Session 8==
 
===Friday, March 20th, 2010===
 
Ernie looked into joining the Winter Court at the coronation, and learned that at the coronation, there will be an opportunity to pledge, during which anyone can join the Courts. Alana performed at amateur night at Hot's. Hestia performed as a street performer, which is weird in Battle Creek, but weird in a good way. Nikolai faked a heart attack and got very little attention.
 
===Saturday, March 21th, 2010===
 
Further Glamour harvest occurred, with Nikolai and Alana picking fights in the mall, Evie buying cute clothes, Hestia and Sephie losing an imaginary baby, and Ernie playing with his friends. They acquired a wheelchair for Billy Goat to use. They debated what they would do and discussed the possibility of standing with Billy. Eventually they spoke to Billy and he made them all absurd campaign promises:
 
* Nikolai gets his own Kremlin.
* Ernie would get a playground on every corner and a poorly secured credit card in every wallet
* Evie gets pumpkin spice EVERYTHING year round
* April gets her own animation studio and Community's Dan Harmon to write.
* For Alana, EVERYONE would require a green card ("easiest way to level the playing field")
* Hestia would get "1950's wedded bliss, and something in the end table to prolong the bliss"
* Sephie would get "pills... that you can give to me... an unlimited blank prescription pad with your signature pre-loaded on every page - I shall make you a queen! Dr. Queen: Medicine Woman!"
 
It is established that pumpkin spice lattes are AUTUMNactically delicious.
 
===Sunday, March 22nd, 2010===
 
The motley, apart from Sephie, attended a church service on how no matter how far you stray from God, it's always "just one step back." After this, they prepared for the coronation. Billy dressed as wildly as he could to make a shocking appearance to offend Kingman's sensibilities.
 
The coronation began with many of the familiar faces showing up. Nearly every changeling they had ever encountered was there. Refreshments were served and everyone awaited the crowning moment. Lyrissa removed the crown and asked who would be the Spring Monarch. Kingman stepped up and Dahlia stepped forward. Tiffany McIvor stood for Dahlia, which shocked Kingman, as she was his right hand, but no on else. Billy Goat "stood up" (metaphorically more than anything, as he only got to his feet for a few seconds) and the motley stood with him. There was a brief brawl over this as the Freehold devolved into name calling and chaos over the overt insult before Lyrissa forced everyone to come to order.
 
The crown was passed toward Kingman, but an upwelling of the Wyrd caused it to appear on a rejuvenated Billy's head. He stood up and, after Dahlia and Kingman both asked him to cede his throne to them, announced that he thought this was "going to be a lot of fun!" Billy declared his first edict - "Don't come to the party if you're not going to dance" and immediately turned the Hedge into a party zone. Evie joined the Spring court, Alana and Hestia joined Summer and Ernie joined the Winter Court.
 
==Session 9==
 
===Monday, March 23th, 2010===
 
5 AM, Alana, Hesita, Nikolai, April and Ernie managed to stagger out of the Hedge and make their way home. Evie and Sephie skipped work to stay at the Hedge party, one to party and one to care for Billy.
 
===Tuesday, March 24th, 2010===
 
In the wee hours of the morning, the party ended. Two days of perpetual partying complete, Billy prepared to reward his faithful with their own luxury accommodations, but the motley was less than thrilled with the offer and agreed they needed a house near the hospital and the college.
 
Billy met with Smith and discovered that his options were to either to wait to get cash (not credit, which is readily available, but untraceable physical cash for more than about $500.00 a day) or leverage his marker credit at the Firekeeper's Casino, which he decided was the best approach. Billy said that he could make a deal with the Wyrd to ensure that he would win at the Casino, and that he would just need to "make it a story that the Wyrd wants to hear!"
 
Billy reunited with his girlfriends Helen, who was turning tricks for drugs in an attempt to recapture the magical experience of Ensorcellment, and Lydia, who had returned to college (and was enthusiastic about the fact that it was not all delusion).
 
They traveled to the Casino to meet the Autumn and Winter monarchs there. Ernest acquired a pair of shoes that had the power to make him look like he belonged somewhere - ''barely'' - and April wasn't carded when Billy explained "she's with me." Each played some table games, with only Nikolai doing poorly (and April inexplicably doing exceptionally). Granny Lovett spoke with Ernest and told him that she had found his father in Oklahoma, but still did not know where his sister was, and believed that she would be able to find her if he could bring her an item that had belonged to his sister.
 
At midnight, Billy brought them to the high limit craps table where, with one mighty roll of the dice, he threw a hard eight to secure victory for himself and $50,000 walking cash. They cashed out quickly after that, as the motley spotted someone watching them in the high limits room (a nondescript looking man) and a conspiracy of white cats watching them as they left. They found out that the Autumn monarch stayed at the casino by himself for a while before leaving, but that he had gotten safely back into the cereal box. He seemed melancholy, and had been playing penny slots for hours ("I'm up almost $15!").
 
==Session 10==
 
===Wednesday, March 25th, 2010===
 
The player characters were summoned by Billy Goat, who explained first that he was now banned from the FireKeeper's Casino Hotel permanently as repayment to the Wyrd for enriching him. He then explained that while he did not believe that what he did could compromise the Cereal Box, that he knew precious little about the Cereal Box. He further explained that the other Seasonal Monarchs were not forthcoming with information on the Cereal Box, as it was one area they could hold over Billy's Head. Billy explained that he actually knew very little about the Cereal Box despite being a signatory to the original contract. He told them that the original contract could be found in a secluded grove in the Hedge and, with his permission, they could enter it and find the original contract (which was in a box protected against True Fae that any changeling should be able to open). Billy kissed each of them to give them permission to enter the hollow and sent them into the Hedge.
 
They entered the Hedge near the neutral meeting ground at Binder Park Zoo and stalked some ways. They found a place where bright yellow flowers grew amid the broken streets. Eventually, they encountered a buzzing nest of big eyed cartoon bees and were able to keep their cool among them.
 
They continued on until they encountered a Lumberjack looking mofo sitting on a stump who asked if they needed help or if he could so something. He elucidated that he was a Huntsman and that he was looking for Carl Crowley. He told them that for information, he would guide them to where they were going. They refused him and he threatened Ernie, saying that the law was coming for him. When they left, he followed them, and then lost interest when they refused to engage him further.
 
while on the path, they were attacked by a giant monster Dig'Em frog that they evaded until they got through the gate. Once through the gate, they saw a fenced clearing with a ribcage-esque canopy of trees protected a pool of magma with found pillars and a iron cases suspended from those pillars. Hestia entered the magma and tried to open the case, but could not. Alana parkour'd her way to the box and was able to open it without problems. Ernie was able to memorize and copy the entire contract, which consisted of complex legalese, references to other laws and contracts and obscure occult formulae. A few hedge ravens attempted to read the contract and even offered the motley a gold coin in return, but they kept the birds from seeing it.
 
They got out of the Hedge without further incident and gave Billy the information, for which he was very grateful.
 
They warned Carl Crowley regarding the Huntsman's inquiring regarding him, which did not seem to put his mind at ease or help him feel ok about things.
 
==Session 11==
 
===Thursday, March 26th, 2010===
 
A house was acquired near the hospital and college that the player characters could use as their new digs. Billy Goat sent movers. Baffled movers assisted them in moving.
 
Location: 3<br>
Size: 3<br>
Amenities: 4 - includes a vine trellis hedge gate just off the patio<br>
Security: 4<br>
 
Pool, hot tub, walk-in-shower, central air and heat, a refrigerator that orders food.
 
===Friday, March 27th, 2010===
 
The P.I. gave some new information regarding Albert Joad - he was informed
 
Nikolai read the book he was given and found it to be a relatively accurate analysis of changeling society, albeit with the accuracy of a 20th century weeaboo describing feudal samurai society. It had some useful information on changeling contracts and how they work, as well as a discussion of how changelings who fall to the typical foibles of fairy tales (such as straying from the path, eating forbidden fruit or otherwise acting in a manner prescribed against in fairy tales) will gain a connection to the Wyrd more quickly than others, and those with a very strong connection to the Wyrd can forge new contracts with the Wyrd.
 
Sephie stocks her hospital room. Hestia practices driving. Ernie, Hestia, April and Alana went to get decorations and amenities for the new house. They created a trellis in the backyard to create a gateway to the Hedge. The local Hedge is a fragrant neatly trimmed grass lawn with the distant buzz of lawnmowers working the land. Vines and thorns grow along white picket fences and chain link reminiscent of suburbia. Immature Oopsalberries grow nearby.
 
Size: 1<br>
Security: 1<br>
Location: 0<br>
Amenities: 0<br>
 
They lounged in the hot tub for the evening. Sephie is interested in acquiring a puppy. His P.I. received instructions on how to proceed with the investigation. He sent pictures of the house, the surroundings and Albert Joad, which (at the cost of his clarity) sparked a resurgence of memory in Ernie, including the fact that "Gert and Ernie" was from watching Sesame Street, seeing that G was the letter of the day, G was for Gina and Ernie and Bert would be Ernie and Gert if they were Gert and Ernie. He also remembered that Albert Joad was, indeed, his father, that was, indeed, where he grew up (and he remembered having several hiding places throughout) and, furthermore, he remembered that at some point his father shouted at his sister that she was a "stupid whore." He felt antipathy toward his father. He learned that his family home was in Elsewhere, Oklahoma. "Olahoma where the win comes sweeing down the plan."
 
Nikolai returned his book, having gleaned most of nothing of value from it. The woman at the Magick Shoppe was happy to put out Nikolai's name looking for books on the topic of Fae magic.
 
===Saturday, March 28th, 2010===
 
Sephie went puppy shopping and everyone went to see "Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World". Hestia did not get it but everyone else thought it was great. Billy calls them and lets them know that Sunday, 7:30 PM, a whole group of 8 changelings would be coming to the Cereal Box, and Billy would like the motley to act as the welcome wagon for them instead of the usual vicious and aloof approach to the situation. Billy further told them they would present the keys to their old digs to the changelings so they could use it as their home.
 
Nikolai called Roper and received the Camera non Obscura from him to photograph the changelings (as well as a instant disposable camera for the other picture) and note taking materials. Alana spoke with Strong (who said he would be there for a head count) and Smith, who stated that he needed her to represent Summer. Ernie spoke with Johnny, who said he absolutely couldn't be there, but demanded immediate information on anything that happened ASAP. He also bought Rice Krispie Treats to hand out to the changelings.
 
===Sunday, March 29th, 2010===
 
Hestia decided to prepare a week's worth of casseroles for the incoming changelings. Sephie spruced up the old house to the best of their ability. Ernie collected job applications and information about Battle Creek.
 
7:00 PM rolled around. They all dressed up and met on the platform. 7:30 the Amtrack shows up, the doors open, and the train is filled with vines and a crumbling of sawdust and goldenrod blows out.
 
 
==Session 12==
 
The motley and Strong made their way into the train after briefly calling Johnny Starlight, Roper and Billy. Johnny explained that he had vowed not to interfere with the meeting, so... good luck with that.
 
The motley entered the train car, which had a (now closed) gateway to the hedge. They reopened the gate and found a trail of blood leading them into the woods, with indications suggesting that they were meant to find the trail. They skulked and followed the trail to a clearing where the Red Eyed Woodsman had bound all eight of the newcomers, who appeared to be drugged. He had already decapitated one of them (a canoptic jar woman they learned was named Ife Fatim). He demanded that they immediately give him the location of Carl Crowley, the True Name of Lyrissa Diamondheart, OR hand over the Man With the Badge's badge. The motley refused and a fight ensued, at the onset of which the Red Eyed Woodsman killed another hostage, a car man named Troy Benz.
 
Strong was attacked by a werewolf creature known as the Fruit Brute, which he threw into a nearby tree. Nikolai, Evie and Alana piled onto the Woodsman, while Hestia tried to intimidate him. April used her contracts to learn that the Woodsman is afraid of the Man With the Badge, but that didn't seem helpful. Sephie went to help free hostages.
 
The remaining hostages were Crystal Quartz, a jeweled woman, Elissa Krantz, a Cyclops, Orlando Wood, a leaf man, Chelsea King, a living vinyl phonograph, Joshua Carlisle, a butterfly man much like April (although his wings were torn off), and Blair Hopkins, a sort of anime jackelope. A fearsome battle continued, with the woodsman axing people, throwing a tree at them, and spreading narcotic poppies. Meanwhile, the trees pelted the changelings with disgusting fruit. Strong and the Fruit Brute battled and, with Evie's help, he killed it, delivering the thrilling one-liner, "YEAH! Yeah." Ernie declared it a "FRUITALITY."
 
Blair shook off her bindings, grabbed a sword-shaped chunk of hedge, and went about freeing the other hostages. Likewise, Elissa Krantz was able to break free of her bindings, and went on to assist. April and Sephie freed the rest. The woodsman was overcome, and, as the hedge violently shifted to a pacifistic tone, the voice of the Collector came through, promising to "bring the woodsman home", at which point, it begged them to kill it. Alana and Nikolai obliged, but Alana's coup de grace was somehow insufficient to kill it. When Nikolai killed it, it broke into pieces of junk like a fetch coming apart.
 
They made it out of the hedge, and Ernie told Johnny Starlight about the situation. Starlight congratulated them, but followed it by saying, "That's two on your boss Billy." Billy, meanwhile, was adamant that introductions should continue, and the motley took the newcomers to their house for medical attention before taking them subsequently to their new digs and showing them around.
 
It was determined that the Collector happened to be Chelsea, Joshua, Blair and Orlando's Keeper (Elissa's Keeper was the Lotus Eating Beast, and Crystal's was The Moleman Prospector).
 
==Session 13==
 
The motley photographed the newcomers and showed them their new digs. They discussed the monarchs with them and freaked them out about Roper and the monarch's usurpers. It turned out that Orlando (Do to his friends) had conspiracy theories about every single supernatural creature being real and secretly running the world (and aliens being humans from the future that traveled faster than light to earth, thus making a one-way trip back in time, and mummies being real, and a cabal of Vampires and Mages running the world from the shadows, and swamp creatures being real and breeding with people in New England, and the God of Abrahamic religions being a machine built by the Jews in the 6th millenium B.C. in an attempt to solidify what was previously several concurrent historical narratives into a single "true reality, and so on). Elissa explained that he was like this the whole way to Battle Creek and that she worked in logistics. Joshua was largely concerned with whether Spring was party time, and was pleased to hear it was (incidentally, he had a huge gaping scar on his chest from where he had been pinned through, and explained that he had ripped his wings off escaping.
 
The motley dreamed of the Red Eyed Woodsman:
 
Nikolai - Dreamt of fighting the Red Eyed woodsman in an "another time, another place" feel with a friendly air to it. Nikolai is a GENTRY'S GENTLEMAN, whatever that means.
 
Sephie - Had a memory dream of the fight with the Red-Eyed Woodsman. She knows in her heart that she has the JAILER'S KEY. She can free someone from bondage, real of metaphorical... for a price.
 
Hestia - Had a dream wherein she interrogated the woodsman, asking him several questions. (The Collector wants to reclaim what is his, and she's the one drawing him to the Cereal Box). THE BURNING QUESTION will give you the answer when you want it... but not all questions should be answered.
 
Alana - Dreamed about the experience of trying and failing to kill the Woodsman. (Dramatic Failure) Alana will know when the Woodsman is going to be in a scene but IT'S ALL FUTILE - she cannot truly defeat him.
 
Ernie - The huntsman tells him all the horrible things he's done - twisted the head off doves and eaten stray cats alive. He also says it was good of someone in the Freehold to open the door for him. He is interrupted by red and blue lights and a siren and suggests that Ernie sort of got off easy, but not really as he slinks into the night. Ernie is now a FUGITIVE.
 
April - Dreams of the woodsman pursuing her. Dreams that while she keeps hiding behind her friends, it was ultimately futile - that she was being pursued endlessly - that the woodsman was denigrating and desecrating her notebook. She burns the page of her notebook where she shipped the Woodsman and the Sheriff. She knows a SECRET she can't tell anyone just yet.
 
===Monday, March 30th===
 
They discussed their dreams and some of the ramifications, as well as whether to tell anyone. They realized that if Billy was the one who brought The Man With the Badge to the Cereal Box, someone must have likewise brought the Red Eyed Woodsman into the Cereal Box. They speculated regarding who might have done this and how.
 
Sephie expressed an interest in going to the gym to learn to fight. Nikolai and Ernie went to the Enchanted Attic, Nikolai for information on dreams, Ernie came for information on Vampires, knowing it will be of dubious value. Barb informed Nikolai that there was a man named Arthur Sullivan at the corner of Capital and Kingman who can "tell him more about the Wee Folk." Hestia walked by a construction site to provoke and spurn interest for glamour. Nikolai also rambled at the park about local urban legends to gain glamour. Nikolai fucked up and lost his ability to be spooky, but bought a pair of iron punchy things. Hestia did some research regarding her family, and discovered that her fetch and her fetch's husband had died some time ago. Alana vandalized cars. Nikolai researched dreams expanded his Wyrd and obtained a frailty: he cannot refuse food offered to him. Sephie volunteered at a soup kitchen and worked into the evening. Busy days all around. Evie went to Menard's and got some iron deck nails for her bat, then ran a couple of errands for Billy.
 
==Session 14 "April Fools"==
 
Hestia practiced driving with Nikolai, Sephie and Alana worked out while April hung out, Evie went to talk to Freddie about doing something nice for the Spring Court and learned that she would impress the hell out of Billy with some Hedge weed.
 
Ernie memorized a map of the Hedge roads to and from Battle Creek.
 
Nikolai met with Arthur Sullivan (the mothman) and discussed the politics of the Freehold, including and especially the fact that Billy was not so prepared as Kingman to be the leader. Nikolai pledged for the remainder of Spring for access to the mothman's library in return for allowing Sullivan to see any Tokens he gains access to.
 
===Wednesday, My Dudes, April 1st, 2010===
 
The morning was broken with Billy requesting Alana let him into Evie's room. Against all reason, Alana allowed this and Billy got Evie to agree to something wtihout further explaination. She suddenly became Queen of Spring.
 
Billy took her to get Starbucks and discuss what being Queen entailed, including telling her that she has the right to enact an edict. Together, they decided that Evie needed a dress to wear to the soiree he would be throwing that night at the church. They gathered the motley (who were morning pranked in harmless ways several times throughout the night) and went to the goblin market in Lakeview square mall.


==Session 15==
==Session 15==