February 2, 2008 

The Appointment

  • Ely attempted to communicate with the troll, indicating that he needed payment.  The man handed him a card from his boss.  Ely inferred that perhaps the troll had already paid.

  • Zoe took the card from Ely and examined it.  It was blank.  The troll pointed at Zoe.  Zoe declined emphatically and pointed at Kyna.  Kyna declined emphatically.
  • Kyna considered constructing a spell to enable communication.  She collected a hair from Ely and invoked a spell.  The troll threw a spear at Kyna, but missed.  Ely feigned scolding her to impress the troll.  The troll did not appear to be convinced.
  • Ely figured out that the troll could understand him.  Ely tried to convey to the troll that Walter was not a dark elf, and got an impression of anger in his mind.  He also sensed that the troll did not like that the dark elf brought a mage.
  • Zoe suggested contacting Ely’s boss to arrange a translator.  Ely was reluctant.  He conjectured as to why he was sent on this assignment.  He concluded that either his boss was trying to expand his skills, or he was the nearest available minion.
  • Walter assessed the troll’s mental state.  He determined that the troll was bored and lonely.  Ely got impressions of lust, and perhaps the desire to have offspring, and an image of Zoe naked.  Then he got an image of a dragon taking a bar of gold from the troll.
  • Zoe considered if she had any friends who might fit the bill, but could not think of anyone.  Ely suggested donating to a sperm bank.  The troll was angered.
  • Walter spotted someone with pointed ears standing behind Zoe.  Walter greeted the figure, alterting the others.  Kyna used her Sight to observe the being and saw a heap of vines with eyes glowing like the sun:  an emissary of the summer court.
  • The emissary assumed that Zoe was “the choice” and was amused that it was not the case.  He said to call him Vintner.  Walter recognized the name as Latin.
  • Kyna asked Vintner if he knew of a candidate for the troll’s mate.  Vintner mentioned that he would win the bet easily.  Zoe attempted to walk away, but could not proceed more than 10 feet.  Kyna realized that there was a ward up.
  • Zoe sat down and crossed her arms.  Vintner approached her from behind.  She noticed him and asked what he wanted.  He replied that when someone offers that opportunity to be tickled, you had to take them up on it.
  • Walter and Kyna deduced that Vintner might be Bacchus, the Roman god of wine and fertility (e.g., the god of parties).  Ely asked Vintner if he would help.  Vintner said he would not help because he had a bet.  Walter asked who the bet was with.
  • Kyna determined that the fey had established the ward to keep the four of them in the area, but would not prevent others from coming in.  It was clear that the bet involved what the four of them would accomplish.
  • Walter realized that if Bacchus was involved, so were the Fates.  Therefore, they were there becuase it was where they were supposed to be.
  • Walter asked if he could use the bathroom.  The troll pointed to the bushes.  Walter asked Ely to convey a bathroom.  Ely asked if they could enter the building.  The troll stepped aside.  They entered and the inside was a burnt out husk.  
  • Only the flagstones were significant.  They were incredibly ancient, glowed brightly, and were not happy that they were cut in half.  They were ancient portal stones that someone had turned into flagstones.
  • Kyna activated the portal.  Zoe was adversely affected.  She found it cold, but no one else did.   Then the four of them were standing in three feet of snow in some sort of clearing amidst trees.

Through the Portal

  • Ely realized that they had arrived at the location where they would find the troll’s bride.  They climbed to the top of a hill.  Ely and Kyna tripped over rocks on the way up.  Walter recognized it as an altar, and possibly was the North American Stonehenge, a purported location for the Holy Grail in Massachusetts.  Kyna recognized it as a site of power.
  • Walter sensed another troll and Zoe sensed that was they needed was in that direction.  Zoe felt a sting on her shoulder.
  • Walter changed into leopard form and pursued the troll stealthily.  Ely fell face first in the snow several times.  Eventually caught up to Walter and the female troll, who seemed amused by Ely.  She spoke perfect English and asked Zoe why they were there.  Zoe replied that there was a lonely man looking for some company.  The troll asked what they thought she was.
  • The troll asked Zoe what was the message.  Kyna conjured up a bouquet flowers.  The troll accepted the flowers and again asked Zoe what the message was.  Zoe replied that she did not know, but told her that there was a lonely troll who wanted some company.  
  • She got very angry about being called a troll, and a spear appeared in her hand.
  • Walter changed back and calmed the situation.  He mentioned that there was someone who was similar to her looking for a companion.  She was surprised that they knew someone who looked like her and said that she would go with them if the courts allow.  A path appeared directly back to the portal.

Back on the Stoop

  • Kyna opened the portal again and they returned to the stoop.  The trolls looked at each other and ran into the bakc of the house.  Vintner was not pleased.  He disappeared and the ward was gone.
  • Kyna realized that Zoe was marked by the Summer Court.  Kyna told Zoe that she should ask here grandmother about choices she will need to make soon.  When she got home, Zoe had a tattoo of a vine on her shoulder.
  • Walter invited everyone back to the diner for baklava.

The Group

  • Zoe Kallas – waitress at grandparents’ diner in Arlington; journalism graduate looking for a real journalism job. (Changling who has no clue, mother was fey of Summer Court)
  • Ely Vantide – debt collector – all kinds of debt. (Emissary of Power for a Dragon)
  • Kyna Quinlan – wizard of Irish descent. New to the White Council. Muscle for Ely.
  • Walter Ballard – were-leopard and therapist to the Supernatural.