2023.02.16 Flea Market Treasures Part 2

02.16.23 Flea Market Treasure Hunt Part 2
A group of fae attempt to unravel the mysteries of the items they found at the Flea Market
IC Date	02.16.23
Players	Caressa, Clementine, Janneke, Kieran, Persy, Sebastian
Location	Spoonful of Sugar
Prp/Tp	Flea Market Treasures (ST: Clementine) Previous Part - Next Part
Spheres	Changeling

Spoonful of Sugar

Rich maple hardwood floors and warm light butter yellow walls welcome customers as they enter. Blown glass pendant lights hang from the ceiling, providing warm light. One wall features a long counter and display cases to show off the various pastries, pies, and other baked goods on sale. On the wall behind the counter are shelves with various glass jars filled with dried tea leaves. Pots of honey marked with different flowers and fruits line the lowest shelf. The counter has teapots and other jars lined up, as well as an assortment of tea cozies.

Behind the cash register is a set of doors leading to the kitchen. The facing wall has a large brick fireplace with a long maple mantle. There are scattered bistro tables and chairs with beautiful tablecloths. Around the fireplace are stuffed couches and chairs, with lovely afghans drapped over the backs.

Out the west window, the view is spectacular. There is the perfect glimpse of the ocean where the blue sky is interrupted by crashing waves and gulls scamper along the ground searching for crabs, or up in the air, looking for a place to come to rest.

Places and +views available

The last time we met, our intrepid motely went searching around a flea market for goods. They left together with their 'treasures' to go regroup and see what they found and how it could fit together. The tea shop was available and private (after hours), so off they went. We rejoin this series, already in progress, as they arrive here however each person made their way.

Having unlocked the front door, Clementine holds it open for them all to come in, having turned the lights on. Everything is cleaned up, freshly sanitized after being open that day. The case for the pastries lights up last, showing off there are fresh treats available. "Come on in, have a seat. Pick a table any table and let's see what we have here!"

Kieran finds a place to sit that isn't /too/ far from the treats... cuz, you know, Clem & Persy make good treats... and starts setting out her discoveries. "Ok, we've got this picture... well, map? and this bottle here. It's got the symbol from the map on it, and it's kinda... glowy. So that's gotta mean something."

Food good. "And there was a key, right?" Sebastian chimes in, looking around at the collection of purchases. "At least one."

Janneke follows the others in and smiles, charmed by the interior. She slips the duster off and drapes it over one arm, the heeled boots mutedly clompy against the floor. She steals a glance toward the pastry case, of course, but keeps focus, at least for the immediate moment. "Big table?" She motions to the largest table in the room, one that leaves all of them enough room to sit and lay out their finds. Once Kee's already taken a chair, she picks one as well, then takes the goblet from her own bag, unwrapping it and placing it on the tabletop. She then produces the key Sebastian mentions. "I didn't forget," she tells him with a smile.

Clementine brings over a hot pot of tea, with all the fixings to go with it. Included is a tray of fresh pastries. "Big table is good!" She starts the tea service as the items come out. "We should look closer at that map. Where is that symbol again?"

Kieran turns the picture over to show the set of map symbols. "Here... we should look to see if any of thse other symbols are on things, too... though..." She sighs, and shakes her head, "I have no idea what they mean. You said this was up north of town... the place in the picture, I mean?"

Sebastian looks over the collection of things again, pointing a couple of them out. "The cup and the tiny little hammer both look like they match. Maybe the Aeslin mice used to use the cup as a church bell, it'd be about the right size for them."

Janneke gets a good look at the map for the first time, checking out the symbols aforementioned, and considers them, as well as the other items. She holds up the goblet and asks, "Do any of you know musical notation?" The points to the rim of the glass, where a series of notes are inscribed. "I can play a little but I don't read music, unfortunately."

Clementine looks around at the different symbols on the different items. "I wonder if the symbols are to alert someone that knows it? Or maybe it means they are all part of the same collection?" The little hammer though baffles her. "Perhaps the key is wherever this location is on this map?" She looks over at that Janneke has. "I fear I do not read music. Perhaps we can find someone that does?"

Kieran glances between them all, "I mean... yeah, I do. I don't have my guitar here, but... I can try to hum or whistle it...?"

Sebastian shrugs as he looks over the little symbols. "And I can tell you if it sounds like you're holding it upside down," he offers to Kieran.

Janneke holds it out to Kee, and says, "You could give it a shot, why not? Maybe it activates something in the other items or reveals more about them? Or, if nothing else, at least it's cheerful?" She pauses to aid in the process of tea pouring and pastry-passing, largely because there's a chocolate croissant calling her name. She's still pondering the whole selection of items, with something percolating in her head somewhere.

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->
Janneke rolls Perception(4) + Enigmas(2) (6 dice) vs 6 for 0 successes.
1 1 3 5 6 9
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->
Janneke rolls Perception(4) + Kenning(3) (7 dice) vs 6 for 3 successes.
1 2 4 +7 +7 +9 9
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->
Kieran rolls Perception + Expression vs 6 for 1 successes.
3 4 4 5 +6
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

Kieran attempts to whistle the tune, but no one recognizes anything of it. It starts on a note. It ends on a note. The one thing you can pick out is that it is a melody that seems a bit eerie. Like what a siren might sing.

Clementine takes a sip of her tea as Kieran whistles. "That sounds like something. I'm just not sure what. Maybe I heard it in my travels one night. Persy might know." But of course, Persy is getting something else out from the back of the shop and will be along soon to help.

Kieran nods, "Yeah... like... something. If Persy doesn't know, are there any loremasters in the area we can talk to? What about the lizard at Rhapsody?"

Sebastian scratches at his chin, gesturing with a hand as he tries and fails to place the tune. "It might need to be slowed down. Or sped up."

Janneke shakes her head at the whistled music. "I think it needs a flute or another wind instrument, maybe, though, we could probably try it on Kee's guitar later. Just my opinion, though..." She hrms. "This... is looking familiar. That looks like the blazon of House Ailil right there..." She points, and chews her lower lip in thought. "Silver dragon rampant, and all." She adds, quietly, "With a little effort and some Dross, I could try and see what I can See from each piece, but I didn't want to immediately go to the expensive solution. I'm a little shy of Dross at the moment."

Clementine has to look closer at what Janneke is looking at with the symbol. "Well look at you! If you clean that up a bit more, add some stars, that might just be it. But I'm no expert on that." Her head turns to Kieran, "You know, the Dragon there that protects the balefire. He just might know something. I can ask the caretakers there from the Blue Boar what we could bring to appease the Dragon to hopefully help with that. As for other loremasters, I'm afraid I am not sure. I think if we can figure out what the map is to, then maybe these items will make more sense?" She shrugs.

Kieran peers at what JJ's indicating, and when Clem agrees with the assessment, she sets her discoveries down and leans back, away from them, just a little. "Ailil... that can be some pretty bad juju... are you... I mean... we should make sure. Are there any in the area?" From the way she's looking around, it's like she expects one to just leap out at her right now.

Sebastian sits down and shrugs. "I guess. But only if you're careless, I think. Ailil always seems the type to give you about five seconds to get out of the way of whatever."

Janneke nods eager agreement with Clem. "Maybe the key is to the destination, and... well, the rest might tie into things we find there. You're right, hitting up the caretakers would provide us with some insight, and dragons often have knowledge the rest of us have long ago forgotten." She nods at Kee's statement, and says, "Bad juju, huh? Can't argue with that. I don't know, I've managed to avoid all the Sidhe here so far." From her tone, that's not a wholly bad thing. "I've had *no* dealings with them, by choice."

Clementine wonders aloud. "All these things together. The key, the hammer, the map, the song on that cup. Makes me think they were left as clue. Like, you need all these things to open Ali Baba's cave of wonders or something." She's seen Aladdin 3, of course! "I have some saved up Dross, and so does Persy. If we need to purchase anything. I just wish I knew a dragon so I had some idea on how to get a dragon to respond to questions. What would work with them, because I have a feeling, tea is not it."

Kieran considers, "I mean... we could ask around? I know a few people who act squirrelly enough they might not even bat an eye at being asked if they know a dragon. One of 'em is even kin." She looks to Clem, "Caressa moves in... eccentric... circles, right?"

Caressa has arrived.

The door is unlocked, the lights on, although the closed sign is out. Any Changeling or Kinain would realize they could still come in, but the general public walks just past.

Speak of the devil, maybe? Caressa rushes in the door, pausing to catch her breath. "Fuck, I'm late. I'm so sorry. Today got all sorts of out of whack." She pauses to think and tick things off on her fingers.

Sebastian shrugs. "Well, if I were a dragon, I'd probably want more gold. But then if I were a dragon, I'd probably want a /lot/ more gold, so I don't know how useful that is. Unless one of you just happens to have knocked over a jewelry store this week."

Janneke chuckles softly, "If we had a dragon to ask for advice, we'd have a dragon to ask for lore and insight as well." The idea of the items as keys to the location makes JJ nod again, and say, "Well, if the dragon happens to like rock n' roll, I could bribe him with rare bootlegs." A slow blink follows as she turns to regard Kee. "Eccentric circles by fae standards? Meaning?" She turns as the door opens, curious at the new arrival. She adds to Sebastian, "Not this week, I'm afraid..."

Clementine smiles as Caressa enters. "Oh come in! come in! Persy is still taking care of something in the back. Have a seat! Would you fancy a spot of tea, my dear?" She already has a cup ready, and a plate - just in case more came around. "Your ears must have been burning. We found a few items at the flea market and we have a puzzle on our hands." She lots the others share more about them.

Kieran shrugs a little, "Just meaning she knows about us, and probably wouldn't..." She looks over as the very much not devil herself walks in, and waves, "Speaking of... wouldn't bat an eye at being asked if she knows any dragons. I mean, it's a long shot, but it ain't like I've got a lot of exceptional friends around town."

"Yeah, most of them are a clue to /something/, we think," Sebastian chimes in. "Except this one, which I think is just an old hair clip." That would be Janneke's 'torture device', which he tries to sneak onto the tips of Kieran's hair while her attention is elsewhere.

Janneke smiles affably at Caressa and says, "I'm Janneke Johansen in the autumn world, Juniper Jupiter in the world of dreams, and JJ in both." She extends a hand to her, and then asks, "So. House Ailil or dragons among your acquaintances?" In front of her is one of the items, a goblet with gold chasing along the rim, with a small print of musical notation, and a symbol on the back of a dragon rampant.

Caressa smiles and makes her way over. A touch of a blush in her cheeks, "Tea would be lovely, thank you." She moves over to where the cup and saucer are placed. "What is this about dragons and puzzles." She looks over to Kieran, then is distracted by JJ. She extends her hand to the woman's, "Doctor Caressa Perlman, nice to meet you JJ." Her violet-silver gaze washing over everyone in a slow circle, "Why?"

Clementine pours the cup for Caressa, and offers her sugar, milk, etc. She has a scone ready for her as well if she wishes. "In our trip to the flea market, they found several items all with a symbol that has been identified as possibly the symbol of House Ailil. It has a dragon as part of it. We were talking about maybe trying to speak with the Dragon that guards the Rhapsody Freehold balefire, but thinking it would be good to have some insight into dragons before we did. Etiquette and such." She points to the map they have, and the little tiny hammer, and the glass and the screwdriver. All things that seem to hold glamour.

Kieran nods, pointing to Clem. "Yeah... what she said."

Caressa oooohs softly to Clem's explanation. Milk and sugar were accepted for her tea. First the takes a nibble of the scone, "I know a bit about the mythics... and I've known a few of them, various types and such." She lifts the cup to take a sip, "Thank you Miss Clem, this is just what I needed."

Sebastian leaves the hair clip to its own devices - it hasn't sprouted giant fangs, at any rate - and inclines his head to Caressa in turn. "Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good dipped in ketchup, as the saying goes. Oh, where'd that screwdriver end up, is it any more readable here than it was at the shop?"

Janneke replies, "Likewise, Doctor," and then lets the others get a word in. As Clem explains, she nods agreement, and says, "And while I would love to talk to a dragon just on general principles, I'd rather not anger one. Even if I don't think I'm good with ketchup." Then she falls silent as Caressa mentions knowing a few mythics. A few! "Um, I didn't have it, I think Persy did."

Clementine looks to Sebastian and gives him another pastry. "Those are wise words. Although I've prefer Honey Mustard if I was going to be dipped into something. I'm not sure why, perhaps it is the color. More like sunshine than well... death. Still death though.. hmm." She has to ponder that a moment. "Oh, yes, the screwdriver." She calls out, "Persy! Are you about done in there?" She shakes her head, "Not sure what is holding her up but I think she got caught in a debate about what next months special flavor will be."

Kieran smirks, "I generally prefer chocolate syrup.. and less 'dipping' and more 'drizzling'. But that's just me. And... you know, over and above the dragon issue, there's the Ailil. I just... I'd rather not pissed them off unintentionally. I mean, if I /know/ I'm gonna do it, that's fine, it's the 'oh crap, I didn't realize!' stuff I wanna avoid. They get... really pissy."

Caressa chuckles. "One should always handle dragons with caution. Just the same way you should be cautious with any strange animal. Except that dragons are as smart or smarter than we are. So show a huge amount of respect. Hence the saying about ketchup is valid. In my experience, every mythic is an elemental spirit. My own familiar is tied to air. Then knowing that, gives some clue to what the dragon might like or dislike."

Janneke is leaving the condiments alone for the nonce. "I'm more afraid of a dragon than an Ailil. Maybe that's naive of me." She shrugs. "I just try to avoid pissing people off as a general rule." The explanation of dragon handling -- or perhaps, etiquette? -- is given her full attention, almost like there's going to be a quiz on it. "Would you say dragons are mystically tied to fire as a rule?"

The boggan that works as the pastry chef comes out swiftly from the back, with the screwdriver in his hand. He quickly drops it off to Clementine before scurrying out the front door, only saying, "I need mint!" And he is gone.

Clementine looks a bit confused and shrugs. She has the screwdriver in hand, and holds up to the light there. "Oh, I see something!" Anyone that looks can see there appears to be some tape starting to come off the handle. Clementine is taking the tape off and slowly some words are revealed. "Huh. It is inscribed here under this black tape." She shows it around to the others to see. Sure enough, carved into the actual handle are the words 'Death Before Dishonor'. "Curiouser and Curiouser this gets."

Kieran blinks. "I guess someone needs mint..." Shaking her head, she looks back to Caressa, "and can you think of any other... mystic... types that might know... old lore of the area?" Blinking again, she looks back to the screwdriver. "That sounds... more Gwyd than Ailil, doesn't it? They're the honor-boner types... if both of the apex houses are in on something..."

Sebastian walks over to get a better look at the inscription. "That's a military saying, isn't it? I don't remember which, but yeah, Gwydion would probably track."

Caressa shakes her head to JJ, "As a rule? No. There are earth dragons, air dragons, metal dragons, etc. Now, I don't know if it is a rule or not, but all the ones I've know did have some sort of flame breath." She takes another sip of tea, "Forgive me, this Ailil, it doesn't sound familiar to me. I don't recall anyone ever mentioning to me before." She tilts her head at the screwdriver, "No, It is the first code of the Seelie." She remarks about the screwdriver, then looks over to Kieran, "I don't know. I have some skills, if I know what you are looking for. Maybe I can find something."

Janneke furrows her brow as she regards the screwdriver Clem holds up. "That's the Seelie-- yeah, what the good doctor said," she adds. "The idea of those two houses putting aside their enmity to work on something together is frankly, kind of terrifying." She nods at Caressa's assessment as well, and says, "That flame breath is what made me think that."

Clementine offers, "What if... No no, that wouldn't happen." She shrugs that thought off and asks, "Miss Caressa, by chance can you read music?" She shows her the glass that has the musical notation on it. It is at that moment that it dawns on her. "I wonder if perhaps the dragon would be open to something other than more wealth, but stories or lore to be shared with them? Knowledge. Perhaps of something he does not come upon often if at all?"

Caressa smiles and nods to Clem, "I can read it, and sing a bit. Some have hungers for bizarre things. Some like informatio, so I suppose some might like stories and entertainment too." She offer her hand out for the glass, "May I?"

Kieran settles in to just listen, for the moment.

Janneke hands the goblet over to her with a nod.

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->
Caressa rolls Intelligence + Singing vs 6 for 1 successes.
2 4 5 +6
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

Caressa loses one Willpower

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->
Caressa rolls Arete vs 5 for 3 successes.
3 4 +6 +6 +10
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

Given the goblet, Caressa looks it over and gives it a first shot at the music and it just sounds like some notes again. She takes another crack at it and now it sounds like a distinctive melody. Janneke will probably recognize it right away with her knowledge from listening to so much, and memorabilia, etc. Even without the words, Caressa has brought this song to life now.

Janneke ahs and perks up, singing softly, "If you're lost you can look, and you will find me, time after time..." And yes, that's what it turns out to be. She grins and says, "I didn't know she was one of us, but it makes sense."

Caressa reaches for the glass and studies it. Turning it around slowly. After a few moments, and with a brief frown, she reaches up to fiddle with her raven pendant. Once she gets to the end of the score, she sets the glass down again. "Good ol' Cindy Lauper."

Kieran perks up a little, "Please don't tell me that's just 'Time After Time'..."

Clementine ah has! "Cyndi! Of course. Now it all makes sense. I always thought I saw something more with her, but I thought it was just part of the whole magic of entertainment. So makes sense." She wonders, "Now, what that song has to do with it. That is a good question." She's looking over at the map, and she notices something. "Was there those extra sparkly marks before?"

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->
Janneke rolls Perception(4) + Kenning(3) (7 dice) vs 6 for 6 successes.
3 +7 +7 +7 +8 +8 +9
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->
The map does look a bit different. It seems to have had a path in sparkling tiny footprints that after the song was sung have appeared. They seem to be showing a path, and with the curves that goes along, Janneke realizes something...

Clementine pages: Because you have been making trips into the Dreaming, you realize that the footprint path starts and goes throught the Lost in Time Market - as that has a unique pattern like the face of a clock to get around in it. There is a path there that leads to a part of the Dreaming you have not been to before, but you think you can direct a group through.

Caressa fishes around in her purse, leaving her card on the table for anyoen that wants her number. "If you need further assistance, just shoot me a text or call. I do need to be getting home." With that she rises and makes her way out.

Janneke traces the marks with a finger held over the map, not touching, just pointing. "That's going into the Lost in Time Market. The clock face layout, you know? I think it leads to a spot I haven't seen yet, but I'm pretty sure I could get us there."

Kieran says, "So the map leads to the market... hm." She considers, "We should check everything else for new clues, too..." And with that, she starts re-examining the bottle."