<whisper to Danny before going in> "am gonna be throwing darts; but will be watching you; if your talks need some intimidation; put up two finders on your hand like this <small guesture> and I will throw a dart to take off a hat or pin a pencil or whatever I see best; will be fairly close by, but I can usually move much faster than most can see; so they probably wont see me move; so will look like a dart from nowhere; did this once in Italy; pinned a guys finger to a table; hehe, he just stopped and looked at it for a bit. Darts usually have several players; so they wont know who threw it; not that I would care if they did <smirk>"
Danny blends in as a natural. While many pure-fae react badly to technology or more accurately, technology reacts badly to them. There are several half-fae changelings that have embraced cell phones and take the chance to snap, tweet, and text at Danny's arrival. His appearance here is quickly an undertone of conversation as he is the new appointee to the Winter Court.
Danny can quickly catch that there are two sides of the debate among the Summer Court here. Some of the people clearly see him as a traitor to the Summer Court for being the representative to the Winter Court. Other people see Danny as a status symbol that Summer Court still has a voice, even it is a token voice, here in the city.
The few Winter Court here that notice Danny, seem to sneer but not to his face. They know that they have people they would be held accountable to if they were to give true offense to the Summer Court representative. It doesn't mean that there isn't a sudden rise in flatulence in the bar as Danny gets his cider.
------------
Aximus is able to get into a game of darts with a short hob. Despite Aximus's considerable skill, the Hob is winning several beers off of Aximus.
The hob doesn't even take time to properly aim but talks animatedly with Aximus on various small talk subjects like weather, coming Halloween, the problems of being a Summer Fae. He just talks and makes a flick of the wrist and the next thing Aximus sees is another bullseye on the dart board.
---------------
You are pretty sure the hob is using an old fae con that your mother warned you on. The fae uses slight of hand with a bit of glamour to make the dart 'disappear' from the hand. The fae or an accomplice then uses glamour to make a dart 'appear' on the board. Usually, a fae is more subtle with the game and tends to mix winning and losing to bait the mark along till the bet is talked up to some extreme double or nothing before the fae goes for the throat.
Hobs, though, were never accused of being subtle and just enjoy making a person look buffoonish.
------------
You'd estimate the crowd is roughly 70/30 for the Summer Court compared to the Winter Court in the bar. The Winter Court present tend to be the bigger sort that don't have to fear walking out the bar and getting shiv'd in the back like the trolls sitting at the central table.
------------------
The trolls at their table are drinking and all but saying they were at the museum and are bragging on how they rolled through a pile of rich people recently and even captured a couple of trophies.
I am impresssed, I thought Hobs were blind; being a good sport I watch is technique; release and such; to improve my own skill and gladly buy him a few beers and listen to the chatter; remind me again what month it is in game, as he is talking about Halloween.
"problems with Fae is what you say; canna say I know much about Fae; but will lend an ear over a a flagon o beer. Try not knowing what you are and try telling that over a bar. Who wants to hear about a life so queer. Now heres a beer, to pay the till, I think I will continue still, for game nor beer is at my fill. Your technique is superb even great; glad this profession is not my fate."
slide the guy another beer and take inventory of the bar; look sideway at Danny.
Nathanial silently follows the rest of the group in. He doubts he will be unwelcome here, but better to fade into the background than to make your presence known.
Danny's lip flickers with the edges of a smile as he watches the dart game between Aximeus and the hob. It's fairly obvious that the hob is cheating, even without using his Sight to verify it. Most fae who run this scam on the humans (or near-humans) tend to be more subtle, but no one ever accused a hob of being subtle. As Axi seems to be taking it with good grace, (And Danny doesn't want to tip his hand yet) he lets it be. Maybe the hob will learn a lesson when he realizes that he was trying to make a fool of a man could rip his arms off. Danny snorts a small laugh, turning it into a cough to cover it up.
"Heh. Let the wookie win!" He mumbles into his cider.
Danny takes another look around the pub as the others make their way inside. He hadn't expected quite so much, response, from his appearance. But then he still spent most of his time with muggles. He groaned inwardly. It looked like he was going to have to start paying serious attention to what went on in the 'spooky-side'. He forgot that the courts are always playing games, and he was in it now. Whether he liked it or not.
He nodded politely to the summer fae who met his eyes, friendly and un-friendly alike. He was no Sherlock, but the looks and overheard snatches of conversation told him a lot. Of the Summer fae, A lot of the younger and half-breeds seemed to be glad to see him. Most of the older and pure-bloods looked at with him with varying degrees of pity or contempt. Of the Winter fae present, most seemed to settle for contempt. When they deigned to 'notice' him at all. Fortunately they were outnumbered almost 3-to-1 by the Summer fae present. Unfortunately the winter fae present were all of the larger varieties who tend not to worry about what the smaller species might think. Like the trolls they came here to see.
Danny turned his attention back to the center of the room. He had planned on blending in and approaching them quietly, but his unexpected fame made that impossible now. Danny didn't bother to hide his grin. Being the center of attention had never bothered him before. And it made the others practically invisible at this point.
Danny takes a breath. 'Showtime!'
With a smile he refills the thimbles of the two brownies sitting on the bar next to him from his own cup. He solemnly taps cups with them when they raise theirs in gratitude. He finishes off his cider and clanks the cup onto the bar, then turns to the large fae sitting on his other side.
The fae was a,... well, Danny didn't recognize what it was, but it was large, almost as large as the trolls, if not as muscular, and seems to have been in a constant state of flatulence since Danny had taken his seat at the bar. Instead of giving the fae a look that might have been interpreted as disapproving, or pretending not to notice, Danny simply shook his head as if in sympathy. At the next burst of wind from the fae, Danny leaned in closer and sniffed.
"Oh. Oh you poor fellow! Tell me you didn't, <sniff, sniff> you did! You drank a Bourdeax, with a pizza? With, <sniff> with anchovies?!? I'm so sorry, no wonder you have indigestion! Barkeep! A Pepto Bismol for my friend here, on my tab. Oh, in the future? For pizza I suggest a fine white wine, like Mad-Dog 20-20." Danny says sincerely. His smile is genuine, his manners impeccable, and his demeanor concerned.
"Wha? But, No, I'm not,...!" The large fae feebly protests, still surrounded by his last gasp. The two brownies squeal with laughter, and promptly bury their heads in their thimbles when the large fae glares at them with his underbite jutting out.
"Have nice day. I hope you feel better!" Danny says to the fae with a smile as he gets up. He winks to the brownies as the bartender appears and plops down a tall glass filled with a thick, pink liquid in front of the large fae, and the brownies promptly bury their heads in their thimbles again. The brownies swiftly rise and dash to the end of the bar, tiny cups bubbling with suppressed laughter all the way. Danny leaves while the fae is still staring at the pink, viscous liquid in disbelief.
Danny slowly begins to make his way around the room. He greets all who meet his gaze with a friendly greeting. (Whether the gaze was friendly or not.) At first glance he is politicking. But Danny is not running for office, (He already HAS one, unfortunately!) He is playing the crowd. To those who greet him politely, (even if coldly) he has a polite word in response. To those who make veiled comments, swift gestures, or other subtle insults, Danny ripostes with polite anecdotes and innocent remarks, with just a twist of verse or pun to jab back as good as he gets.
Danny is in his element, the center of attention. He undoubtedly left some unhappy fae in his wake. But his quick wit and pleasant demeanor disarm all but the most die-hard grump, and any who might want to take offense could not possibly do so publicly without being boorish at best.
By the time Danny has almost completed a circuit of the room, the general buzz has changed. Less and less attention is being payed to the trolls holding court at their center table, and more eyes watch Danny. It is now obvious to even the most drunken hob in the rafters that Danny has a destination. Slowly it dawns upon the two trolls as well, and they look befuddled at the sudden inattentiveness of their audience. (Danny HOPES it is alcohol. And prays that a drunken troll is even easier to fast-talk than a sober one!) In response they begin their latest re-telling of their adventures again. Louder.
Danny slides in with the group still around the two trolls, and perches lightly on the edge of a table, listening with unfeigned interest in the trolls' tale.
In the alley, David waits for them to come out. In his career, he had been on perimeter duty many times. It usually wasn't glamorous, especially compared to kicking in the door and taking the suspect into custody. Generally, it was also less dangerous. Several of his friends had been shot over the years in such circumstances. A few suspects also tried to shoot David as well, fortunately without success.
Turning to Emily, he asks, "Do you have any clue what happened to Pernilla? Monoc is stonewalling me."
Nathanial silently follows the rest of the group in. He doubts he will be unwelcome here, but better to fade into the background than to make your presence known.
4d3-3
The place is fairly similar to many fae places in the human world. There is an open component and a threshold component with 'secret' ways to various points of the NeverNever within and near the place if a rapid departure is required.
The main bar where people are drinking is open and lacks a real threshold. The owner of the bar, a hospitality gnome or similar fae, has a doorway which leads to a private home area that does have a threshold.
The main bar is run under the rules of fae hospitality and people that are signatories are expected to follow the rules. People that aren't signatories like most humans are fair game. Emily, Munroe, and Aximeus would be considered fair game for any and all pranks the fae choose to use in this area.
Aximeus's game of darts with a blind hob is a perfect example. The hob is obviously cheating with a partner using glamour. You'd have to look closer to figure out the actual con but you are certain it isn't skill that is making the darts hit the mark on the board.
The symbols on the walls and much of the crowd shows a strong connection to the Summer Court but roughly thirty percent of the patrons currently are Winter Court. The Winter Court are the big tough types like the Trolls that don't have to worry on being able to jumped if they turn their back.
There is also something lurking in the alley near the bar. It is pretty clear that several of the fae know what is there but they are trying to pretend they don't notice.
In the alley, David waits for them to come out. In his career, he had been on perimeter duty many times. It usually wasn't glamorous, especially compared to kicking in the door and taking the suspect into custody. Generally, it was also less dangerous. Several of his friends had been shot over the years in such circumstances. A few suspects also tried to shoot David as well, fortunately without success.
Turning to Emily, he asks, "Do you have any clue what happened to Pernilla? Monoc is stonewalling me."
'Well, la de dah, if it ain't Mr Fancy Pants himself come to grace our branch of Yggdrasil.'
'Har, brother, that's a good one. Fancy Pants. I like it. Fancy Pants.'
'So, oh mighty one of the Summer Court, come to learn how a real Troll lives and acts. Har har'
'Real Troll, you're on a roll, brother. Just like we were the other night.'
'Yeah, well, I wouldn't want to brag too much and make you and your Summer friends look too bad but we tuned a few pianos the other night.'
'Tuned pianos, like an orchestra of pain it was.'
'That's right for the silly human with the fancy bit of git flashing around. It ain't right to use iron in no street fight. A person could get hurt that way.'
'Like that human we turned into a book sandwich with human for the filling.'
'Yeah, he and the girly done gone and got squishy.'
'But that's okay brother, it meant that we got to bring mom home someone to sweep the floors and little john now has a pet pony to call George.'
'At least until the stuffing comes out of the thing and mom has to cook up the leftovers.'
'But, don't you worry Fancy Pants. Your lady's days are numbered. Mark my words, Winter is coming and the good Queen has a plan.'
'And we're in at the ground floor. Like, we're silver members in her private friends circle. We done good.'
'None better brother, none better. Who else would've done so good and gotten her her pet back?'
'No one, brother, that's who. No one better then us getting her poor bull back where he belongs. Now it is going to be Winter for a thousand years.'
'The great snowball world is coming and all you Summer court are going to be taking a long hibernation.'
4d3-5
There are a couple wolfen like forms lurking in a side alley near the bar. You can spot their icy breath as they wait watching the club door for prizes to come along and pounce upon.
You are pretty sure that the fae near the bar smoking are aware of the wolfen and doing their best to pretend they don't notice the wolfen.
Quietly, David elbows Emily to point out the pair of wolfen forms hanging outside the bar. He whispers, "Looks like we ain't alone. You got any idea what that ugly pair is?"
Emily looks to Monroe at his question about Pernilla, "No idea. Last I heard from her was before the party. I called a few times and left messages. Sorry, nothing. And I usually have nothing to to do with Monoc. I will ask around after this, see if any of my contacts have heard anything."
"Not too sure... Shape shifters of some sort. Werewolves or some such." the woman says as she leans against the wall close to Monroe to make it appear like they are being close, in the cold.
"Well Hob, must say; you got me beat, I guess I cant match your skill or whatever; heck I only know one trick I learned; its the dissappearing pencil trick; but your probably not interested <I suanter over to the bar> now, it occurs to me that this might not be my sort of bar but some of youse look bit familiar and maybe my fortuen will change; well, I am going out for a smoke; then I will be back in a few"
I look over to the others as I eye sweep the whole bar; then go outside; stick my feet in good solid ground; attune myself a bit and whisper "Blood of my forefathers here me; Blood of my mothers womb bless me; blood of retribution burn bright" <I summon my armor and sword to me under my duster. Have my smoke, go back into the bar and see if the Hob if anyone is stupid enough to ask me about my pencil trick unless I notice anything else to catch my eye; which isnt likely hehe. Am thinking my time outside is about 4 or 5 minutes.
Danny grins and nods at the brothers' teasing.
"Hm, 'Mr Fancy Pants', I like that. I really do! But please, there's no reason to be so formal! Just plain 'Fancy' will do!" Danny says with a grin.
The changeling listens with a pleasant dreamy half-smile on his face as the Trolls ramble on. His eyebrows furrow briefly at the insinuation of what has become of Pernilla, but he refuses to take the bait. He decides to try and weasel some useful information out of them, while they are both (hopefully) intoxicated, and so full of themselves that they think they really ARE big-wigs.
"How a real troll lives? Oh no, I'm not worthy." Danny says with a straight face.
"I just was just out on the town, troll-ing for stories, and heard about you two and your famous heist! I just came by to congratulate you on a job well done!" He says wide eyed.
"You there, be a good lad and fetch the heroes another round won't you? On my tab of course. Well, go ahead, don't keep them waiting, that's a good fellow!" Danny says to one of the troll's peers. The gnarly looking fae glowers at Danny. But the troll brothers ears had literally perked up at the mention of another drink, and their twin glare soon convinced the fae that he DID want to go and fetch those drinks. Right now. Danny smoothly sat himself in the sycophant's vacated chair and propped his feet up on the table.
" Heh. 'Tuned Pianos', 'Orchestra of Pain'. That's very good. Did you come up with that by yourself?" Danny says, his mouth moving automatically, giving himself time to think. He was concerned about the vague reference about the 'Queen's Pet' Not to mention the outright threat of a mystic nuclear winter!
"So tell me boys, because I'm just dying to know. WHAT was SO important in that musty old museum that her Frosty Majesty had to send two of her BEST agents to retrieve it for her? I mean, it must have been something very special, to have required BOTH of you to handle it!" Danny asks wide-eyed and eager.
Emily looks to Monroe at his question about Pernilla, "No idea. Last I heard from her was before the party. I called a few times and left messages. Sorry, nothing. And I usually have nothing to to do with Monoc. I will ask around after this, see if any of my contacts have heard anything."
"Not too sure... Shape shifters of some sort. Werewolves or some such." the woman says as she leans against the wall close to Monroe to make it appear like they are being close, in the cold.
You're having trouble locating them now. They've probably pulled deeper into the alley as if sensing that they are being watched.
You know they're there and they know that you're keeping an eye on them.
The smokers sensing the change start to toss their butts to the ground and find excuses to be somewhere else.
It is soon just Emily, Munroe, and Aximeus outside and snow is beginning to fall. The first snow of winter.
With the first snow coming to Toronto, you start to hear a keening wail being picked up from street to street. It sounds like half wolf cry and half wind swirling by building corners.
Danny grins and nods at the brothers' teasing.
...
"So tell me boys, because I'm just dying to know. WHAT was SO important in that musty old museum that her Frosty Majesty had to send two of her BEST agents to retrieve it for her? I mean, it must have been something very special, to have required BOTH of you to handle it!" Danny asks wide-eyed and eager.
A creature that looks like a walking holly bush with a tray on its head shumbles over to the troll's table with a pair of large steins on the tray.
The one brother takes a hearty pull on his refill and touches his nose with his meaty paw, 'Oh, we, knowse, don't we brother. We knowse.
The other troll chips in, 'Aye brother, we knowse. But, if we were to say anything then the good Queen would skin us alive.'
'Trollsicles we'd be if she found out we talked of her plan.'
'But don't you fret Mr Fancy. Winter is going to be arriving soon enough.'
"was it something I said; i took a bath" glancing at Emily as most of the smokers left, "that is a strange howl, not sure if I should be out here or in there; got business in there; lot of murders in there and those who pray on humans; its my intent to thump a few heads and show them why that is a bad idea; I figure Dan got what he needed or not and every one is these killer beasties that I dont smack down will be killing another human soon enough. That aight right. You see anything out here before I go in there and invite a couple to take a nap?"
takes a couple puffs on his cigarette not moving till its done to give Emily a chance to answer having been oblvious to just about everything.
"Creepy is more like it... and the snow seems rather early this year. Especially here in the city itself. That does not bode well." Emily says to Monroe and Aximeus.
She looks to the larger man, "As much as you may want to knock some folks around, just hold off. We need information,Danny will do his thing, and we will be on our way soon. Watch his back and if the s$@! hits the fan, make heads roll. Otherwise, just keep," the woman grins, "Cool. No reason to start anything if we do not have too, right now."
"cold and new snow; you know what that means; lot of missing people; shelters packed with the homeless; some huddled around burning trash cans; some torn to pieces and killed by those right inside this bar; am thinken; breaking some of these guys will save some lives tonight; lives of the weak; the lost; those strugglin to survive; just cause your down and out dont mean that some bugger like these jerks have the right to feast on your bones; makes me mad; real mad; they want to play Darwin and say the strong survive; well, I am right here be they bone sucking vamp or glamoured up faerie or whatever. Any that want to live and let live; got no beef wit em; but far as I can tell; hobs and trolls are all bad; not like I am an expert; but they aint got teeth like that for chewing vegatables.
the is an aire of menance about <sniff> so like Teddy said; walk softly and carry a big stick; now I may be wrong; dead wrong; but most these folks about dont even carry a hockey stick much less know some dark nasty is gonna be pullin em into some dark place for a gruesome snack. Can you look me in the eye and tell me that sets well with you? can you? Sure, we cant get em all; but I aight looking for no glory or looking to make a name for myself; far as I am concerned, when they see me; if they say "Oh Crap; its Him; run", be knowning some others be thinking twice before they pull one of our fellow mankind into some hole tht maybe me and you and some others might start lookin for em. Why do you think I walk back alleys and hang out with the poor folks; aint to make me look like some pretty boy like Dean Martin among the Jerry Lewis' of the world.
... hehe, maybe I am the bad guy; look there; you got me monologin; aint said that many words in a month o Sundays. But, if you think best to hold fer a few; we can; but mark my words; if we dont make a dent; they will; do you suppose this is some sort of stronghold of theirs? wish I knew what I was looking at."
In the alley, mixing with the first snow, a fog starts to blow down the alleyway.
It is a cold, wet hoar fog that starts to set crystals of frost to the ground and walls of the buildings.
Visibility starts to drop.
David quietly mutters to himself. "Well, that ain't ominous at all." He surreptitiously unsheathes his dagger and puts it in his right coat pocket, then assumes a blades stance with his back to the wall.
"Fog; that is odd <bit nervousness in his voice>; well, I think we should head inside"; snuffs out his cigarette <secretly worried that the gates of Hades opened and Pluto is coming> and quickly goes back into the bar keeping his cloak buttoned to cover his armor and lets the snow drip off him and takes a place in the corner nervously watching the door and windows and if he sees any undead looking thing; he is gonna snap and smash it.
mumbles very quietly and sporatically "auntie told me, she told me, darn them stories anyway, like Hades really opens up; like someone is really throwing around lightening bolts from the heavons or stabs his trident to make an earthquake; and ghost ships; who owns those; Pluto or Neptune; damn winter; good dirt under my feet; growing things, feasts; what the hell, stupid twisted bar in the middle of the night with stupid twisted plots and sneaky gits and half baked ideas. give me a good straight fight any day. I am my own man and I aint bowing to nobody"
<sullen glare, wound tight as a coiled spring>
"Oh. Oh I understand completely!" Danny says seriously and sympathetically.
"I am many things, but stoopid ain't one of them guv'ner! I wouldn't want her Frozen Nibs to be cranky with me! At all! Not for all the hot mead in the NeverNever!" He agrees as they drink their foaming mugs.
"But,..." Danny drawls out slowly with an embarrassed grimace. He looks around pointedly, and several faces that were obviously observing the conversation suddenly found more interesting things to watch. Like the bottom of their own mugs. He leans in closer so he can talk without the entire bar overhearing.
"Well, I don't think they believe you. Don't look at me like that, I'm trying to help! The tale I hear, they say it wasn't just the two of you, it was a whole bunch. And they say that you wuz all getting your hienies handed to you by a couple of mundanes. THEY say that it was all you could do to turn a shelf over and get away with your lives! Now, I don't like hearing anyone being bad-mouthed for trying to make a living! I Believe you, and I know those lies aren't true. But they,... well." He shrugs.
"Hm. Look, Maybe I can help. If you tell me whats coming, convince me, then I could vouch for you. I'd tell anyone who asked that you guys are on the up and up, and that all those nasty rumors about you guys are obviously just lies being spread by your many jealous rivals. What do you say?"
David quietly mutters to himself. "Well, that ain't ominous at all." He surreptitiously unsheathes his dagger and puts it in his right coat pocket, then assumes a blades stance with his back to the wall.
4d3-5
It is clearly a tactic to unnerve and confuse prey before they attack. A little stumbling in a fog and a group would lose cohesion and then the wolfen would start to pick apart the stragglers or ends that got separated.
You don't think they are going to attack instantly as they are still putting pressure and scattering people prior to an attack but an attack is likely coming.
The snow while natural seeming does appear a little well timed but you don't think it is the wolfen that are doing it.
Aximeus steps into the bar again with tendrils of icy fog following close behind as;
'Hey, Mr Fancy, I don't care what you believe. We was there.'
'Yeah brother, we was there. We got the Dunn Bull of Cooley and Maeve will have her power.'
The crowd in the bar stiffens at the mention of the name.
Whatever the crowds reaction, the fog that seeped in behind Aximeus seems to suddenly get a strong which blows around him sending the hoar frost fog deep into the bar.
Mugs instantly start to frost and tables coat with ice.
The Trolls look at each other in shock and terror as their faces begin to grow icicles before your eyes.
Danny's blank look shows plainly that the name means nothing to him. But he quickly picks up the reactions of the those nearby that heard the name. (The trolls agitated 'whisper' being a dull roar to normal folk.) And he realizes that he's about the only one that doesn't recognize it.
I have GOT to do some research. Get a job description, 'Nevenever 101', SOMEthing!'
As he 'reads his audience', he notices Aximeus returning inside from his smoke. He releases tension that he hadn't realized he was holding at seeing the large man, but looks puzzled as he notices the heavy frost following him in.
"Hey, easy big guy! I'm on your side, remember? I believe you!" Danny rambles on. "I'll be sure to tell anyone who asks that you guys are on the elvel. And the guys to call if you need a job done right. I'll,... Brr, Hey, Someone close that door, I feel, a,. draft,..." He mutters off as the sudden influx of hoarfrost begins coating the tables and mugs with ice.
"Wow. Glad I wore my longjohns. When you guys said that winter was coming, I didn't think you meant NOW"
When the trolls start to grow icicles on their faces, he stands up and backs away quickly, eyes wide in surprise.
Nathanial stiffens along with the crowd. The tension was thick enough to cut it with a knife. This whole place could erupt into violence at any moment. It wasn't safe here, not anymore. They found some information, now they need to leave while they still can.
Of course, Aximeus' sudden entrance didn't help his nerves any. Suddenly Nathanial is on his feet, coat clutched tight around him. "Everyone! In light of recent events-" His gaze lingers on Aximeus. "-I am taking my leave. I suggest you all do the same." And with that last declaration to the assembled fey, Nathanial heads for the door.
4d3-7
Dunn Cow of Cooley? Given this is an Irish Pub it is probably some legend of how Maeve got a pail of milk from the fairy.
Fairy do have cows, dontcha know. They're red with white ears.
-------------
Summer Court people seem to be shocked and worried at the news but the Winter Court while shocked seem to be happier at the news.
Whatever the legend might be, the people here consider it a serious power changing event in their lives like hearing someone has won an election.
The Dunn Bull of Cooley is part of a couple of legends.
The first legend is that there were two great bulls. The Dunn Bull of Cooley and the White Horned Bull of Connaught. These two creatures were the manifestation of two opposite forces in the Seelie and Unseelie world. They took different forms at different points in history (swineherds, ravens, dragons, and other such things). The very nature of the creatures made them fight and compete for dominance.
It isn't clear on which is which in terms of ownership but by the second legend it appears that the White Bull was originally Maeve's. Unfortunately, at one point the Dunn Bull fought the White Bull and killed it which involved consuming the White Bull.
There is a theory amongst Wizards that this represented a major shift in magical power and the end of the Winter Court's dominance upon the land. This would be reflected in the ending of the last ice age.
The second legend is the tale of Maeve losing her bull and her attempt to steal the Dunn Bull of Cooley or Ulster (It has several names like all great legendary things). While Maeve was a powerful figure, she failed in her attempt to gain the Bull.
Here is one sample of the tale that you could find with research and their are several more on the internet as it is a popular tale in Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.
--------------------
Your leaving seems to be noted only by the bartender and waitress making sure that you aren't using the commotion to stiff them with the bill.
-----------------------
The fog moving in is clearly a Fae Seeming and on a high order type that is less illusion then manifestation of will. Something is reaching through the Nevernever and into the mortal realm.
Lore if I heard it
"Aint nobody leavin, nobody goes outside till we git a few things settled; we just wait on a few more to join us, so just sit down"
<take advantage of the weather for my presence usage and command; dont know how to use my -1 refresh; will add it into my presence to get peeps to not move toward the door>
Prensence
Danny swiftly looks around as the trolls look shocked, noting the looks on the faces around him. He may not know a clue from a corn-cob pipe, but he knows how to read an audience. And what he sees makes him want to groan. Whatever this 'bull' is, it CAN'T be good. Not if the winter folk are smiling and the summer,... are not.
"Wow. Look at that. Cold front must be coming in. I gotta run. Gotta beat the storm, I have a gig tonight. Great to meet you fellows, thanks for the tale. Enjoy your drinks! By the way, you have a little something, right here,..." Danny says swiftly without taking a breath, pointing to his own nose at the end (as if pointing out a bit of food stuck in the teeth) as he gets up with a smile. He heads casually but swiftly back to the bar, still smiling.
"BArkeep, close out my tab will you? Thanks. That was great by the way, is that your brew?"
"It's alright Axe, we're done here." He says in a normal, lower, voice as he scribbles his name on the credit card receipt. (And adding a decent tip)
Danny zips back up his heavy leather jacket, flips up the wide collar, and heads for teh door. He stops just long enough to look over his shoulder at Axe and mouth the words, 'you coming?'.
"Done here, I thinks weez just getting started, some of these maggot feasters know something and aint talking; so I am like to cut little parts of them till they talk. I think if you take one look outside, you too will decide being here is a nice warm bar, with drink and a little light excersize if preferable to cold, fog, and packs of wild dogs sniffing at your heals.
So they got the dog piss choice; either they talk to you; or I cut on em OR they can go outside and face whatevers comin, likely they will do that anyway, been a wierd night. <look significantly around the bar> Its a Hell of a choice; real nut buster, but there you go; LIFE and DEATH; probably lot better than what you did to others; least here you get a chance. <looking very very angry giving Danny a chance to work some crowd magic and maybe pull out another clue from someone who panics and shouts out something>
<if Danny is all close to Ax, then he might notice I am now armored and wonder where I got this exquisite sword as I didnt have it earlier>
[dice dont fail me now}
Presence attack as I draw my sword and look with deadly intent
quietly to Danny or any of the party with me: "as Persephone spends time in Hades, thus will we all on our day as mother earth slips into her winter curse from a rightous mother's anger, how many sons and daughters leave greaving mothers in this crowd, Demeters Vengence upon them all I say" <unknowingly invoking his mother>
Lore if I heard it
4d3-8"Aint nobody leavin, nobody goes outside till we git a few things settled; we just wait on a few more to join us, so just sit down"
<take advantage of the weather for my presence usage and command; dont know how to use my -1 refresh; will add it into my presence to get peeps to not move toward the door>
Prensence
4d3-5
You've heard of the Dunn Bull of Cooley.
It was a tale that you heard back during WWI when you were whiling away some time during an artillery barrage.
You and a couple of mates were drinking bathtub gin as you sat crouched in some stone caves in the dark. The caves had been converted by some miners into barracks to shelter out the hours of barrages.
While you sat and drank gin in the dark, you took turns telling tales that you had heard.
An Irishman told a tale that his aunty had told him when he was a lad.
The tale went something like there was a lass named Maeve that was like the daughter of a king or might have been a queen herself.
Well she originally had the biggest Bull around. A big white bull, it was. Well, one day another bull spotted this white bull. It was a brown coloured bull from Ulster or Cooley or some such place.
Anyway, the bulls fought and the white bull was eaten by the brown bull.
Well, Maeve, being out her prize bull went on a quest to get this brown bull to replace her missing bull.
Something happened and some son of a king ended up stopping her so she never did get the Brown Bull of Cooley.
Some of the people in the bar initially hold back from Aximeus who guards the door and is surrounded by the wintry fog but there are several that look like they are prepared to challenge Aximeus.
That is until he pulls out his sword and shows his armour. He clearly has moved up to a serious threat at that point and the folks in the bar are thinking twice of going near the crazed person who is now clearly not your garden variety human.
While Aximeus impresses upon people his dominance, the pair of trolls start to freeze to ice before your eyes.
Anyone standing too close starts to them starts to suffer frost bite.
Danny turns to Aximeus, doing a brief double take at the armor and sword that he didn't remember seeing earlier, and makes a placating gesture.
"I'm sure that won't be necessary Axe. I'm sure they'd be happy to share what they,...Whoa!" He cries, interrupting his flow as he sees the icy tendrils become almost solid. He hops up onto the nearest barstool, then the bartop trying to avoid the icy touch of the fog,...
The woman watches as Aximeus heads inside with a determined look. She comments, [/b]"I hope he does not start something[/b]
As the cold continues to settle and the ice fog emerges she turns to Monroe, "This is not right... Not here. This kind of weather does not hit Toronto until after the New Year. Especially in the city."
As the tendrils of icy fog reach out Emily dodges aside to safety before they can reach her. The already formed ice seems to give the young woman some trouble as she slips.
"That ain't good, I hate the cold!" David's too old to be jumping out of the way, but he is still pretty tough. Tough, though, is nothing against the bone-chilling nature of the frost. He grits his teeth in pain, wishing desperately to be back along the Gulf of Mexico and its scorching heat.
For his part, Nathanial continues to force his way through the fog, a bubble of force surrounding him. This place was becoming a death trap. He leaves now, or he doesn't leave at all. If the others don't get out, too bad for them.
The cold tendrils flick through the air of the bar and several of the inhabitants feel its bite. The weaker individuals are more prone and a few fall to the ground.
These are just the fall out for whatever has targeted the pair of trolls.
The pair rise to run but find their feet have already frozen to the floor.
They attempt to run and they break their legs off at the ankles. Only the extreme recuperative powers of the trolls keeps them alive.
They attempt to howl their agony but their lungs are filled with the frozen mist.
Finally, they are frozen Popsicles of troll ice on the floor of the bar.
It is only then that the fog starts to relent and begins to dissipate leaving a mark on everything it has touched.
Emily shivers from the extreme chill and enters the establishment at the sounds of harm. Seeing the trollicles the woman makes an ewe face and then looks about as the icy fog retreats...
Emily will go to the others who have fallen to the floor and attempts to help them from their obvious wounds. She points to one of the nearest fae and in a commanding tone, "Call 911! Tell them have multiple injuries due to cold."
Several in the crowd appear to chuckle at the idea of calling 911 for fae.
They were sure the ambulances would arrive but they were almost as sure the ambulances would arrive to the bar that faced the main road.
The only thing keeping the crowd here is Aximeus and his dominion of the doorway.
Several of the fae, have other ways to leave that don't involve doors. At least not doors to the mortal world.
Danny watches the tendrils withdraw from his perch upon the bar. He looks to the trollcicles.
"That's cold man." He says with a straight face.
"With friends like that, who needs enemies?" He says casually, deliberately not looking at the winter fae in the bar.
At a glare from the barkeep, he looks sheepish, and hops down from his perch. He puts his hand on Emily's shoulder.
"I don't think that 9-1-1 handles this kind of frostbite." He says seriously.
Danny looks at the barkeep.
"So. Can I get a hot toddy? To go?" He grins.
He exchanges noncommittal glares with the barkeeper, and breaks eye contact first to acknowledge the owners' right to be upset.
"Sorry. But that wasn't me. I was just here to talk." He says somberly.
"Come on Axe, judging by the look on Nathan's face when he left, I'll bet he knows what the name means." He tells the large warrior quietly.
Danny zips up his heavy leather jacket, and his dignity, and heads outside,...
oooh, very cool :)
-------------------
endurance roll; not sure if inhuman toughness applies or how to use it
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did I roll to many dice; I thought it was 5d3; ack; with my first 4 numbers I would have a score of : 2
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Lore if I heard it
4d3-8"Aint nobody leavin, nobody goes outside till we git a few things settled; we just wait on a few more to join us, so just sit down"
<take advantage of the weather for my presence usage and command; dont know how to use my -1 refresh; will add it into my presence to get peeps to not move toward the door>
Prensence
4d3-5
** spoiler omitted **
Some of the people in the bar initially hold back from Aximeus who guards the door and is surrounded by the wintry fog but there are several that look like they are prepared to challenge Aximeus.
That is until he pulls out his sword and shows his armour. He clearly has moved up to a serious threat at that point and the folks in the bar are thinking twice of going near the crazed person who is now clearly not your garden variety human.
While...
To Danny outloud so anyone could hear.
"Dunn Bull of Cooley; hmm, I mayhap something about that; told to me by Irish back when I was a doughboy; hmm Jerry was shelling us, mustard gas in all the tunnels so we was up in some caves. Was a mighty Bull story much like that of the Cretan Bull; a Bull of massive, monstrous stature that the Demigod Heracules battled and defeated so my Aunt says. This Dunn Bull was like that; but matched up against another bull; one was white; the other brown, I recall, anyway, one wins and eats the other which more or less means gains the power of its enemy; so anyway; this Maeve who owned the bull that lost; was out her prize bull being outwitted, perhaps, by some King Ulster or some such; anyway; she was looking fer this Bull o'Cooley or Ulster or some such. I was pretty drunk at the time and it was nearly a century ago and being told about something even older by a fairly stoned lad from Queens County; think he said he was Ui Bairrche, so we called him "Wee Bear Irish" as he was a tiny lad.
but then, maybe I have been to close to to much exploded ordanance; but this gas here reminds me of the Big War; weird gasses killed a lot of chaps, a lot of em never knew what hit em. Think this is some sort of liquid helium or hydrogen weapons? Aint nothing I no of"
-----------
if it dissapates I hold true in the doorway but if not or gets dangerous to me I move out of it with alacrity.
Danny,
You sure we got what you need here; these guys look like that gots lots more to tell, I aint got no personal beef with them...yet, but I dont like leavin so many at our six.
Danny looks at the barkeep.
"So. Can I get a hot toddy? To go?" He grins.
He exchanges noncommittal glares with the barkeeper, and breaks eye contact first to acknowledge the owners' right to be upset.
"Sorry. But that wasn't me. I was just here to talk." He says somberly.
"Come on Axe, judging by the look on Nathan's face when he left, I'll bet he knows what the name means." He tells the large warrior quietly.
Danny zips up his heavy leather jacket, and his dignity, and heads outside,...
------------------
Having gotten the information that you could from the bar you have now to plan your next point of investigation.
You are fairly certain that the trolls have captured Pernilla and that Maeve has some plans with the Bull of Cooley.
Nathan still has the opportunity to do a ceremony on the blond hair to try and trace the owner.
You have a couple of people that might have the Heretic's Fork to look at and talk to.
It is late Saturday.
Sunday night is Halloween and Monday is the Day of the Dead.
Grimace at the cold and the frost growing on my armor and body.
"Damnn, that is as cold as the wind off the North Sea on the North Coast of Germany in January; iced over so bad you crackle when you walk. Least it dont smell like rotten fish and burning...."
"so; where to next; turn that car heater up! Anybody got a flask of Mothers Milk to warm a body up."
------------
How long will it take to heal up two stress boxes?
Danny grins at Aximeus, despite the seriousness of the situation. There is something about the large red-headed warrior that he likes.
He frankly scares the pants off him. But he likes him all the same.
He shivers too as the others regroup and get into Emily's van.
"Well, I guess we know what those winter wolves were looking for. The same thing we were. Two troll-brothers with big mouths. Guess 'somebody' figured that they were talking too much, and decided to quiet them. Very Mafia. I'm certain the Godfather would approve." Danny says with a grin, sliding into a heavy, Italian-mafia accent.
"Fortunately, that also tells us something we needed to know. They weren't just blowing smoke. They were spilling the beans on something that 'Her Nibs' or Her friends didn't want getting out just yet. So this 'Dunn Bull of Cooley' or whatever is what they grabbed from the museum, and it's apparently important to Her Frozen Niblets, and will supposedly give Her the power to change the balance between Summer and Winter. Possibly forever. Great. Tell me again HOW do I keep getting in the middle of these things?!?" He asks the van at large.
Looking around, and getting no immediate response, he shrugs and hunkers down into his heavy leather jacket.
"Well, maybe, since it seems that someone is trying to get rid of potential information sources, we should go talk to the club owners or the fences first, before they put THEM on ice too. The mystic tracking-spell thing is something they likely don't know we have a lead on. So maybe save that one for last?" Danny suggests, (more like asks) everyone.