Fae Spring Break

Log Info

• Title: Fae Spring Break
• Emitter: Aftershock
• Characters: Cryosanthia, Merek, Kira, Sabina, Zant, Pelka, Seldan, Konstance
• Place: Alexandria Noble District, Mystwood Homestead
• Time: Thursday, April 09, 2020, 2:28 PM
• Summary: Cryosanthia is following up on a lead she discovered in her research, and has gathered an escort from the Adventurer's Guild to assist her. The sith is acting strangely, very cold and disinterested. The investigators visit the patriarch of the Trisgwar family. His granddaughter was the only survivor, and seems to be seeing things and frightened Pelka will eat her friends. Carefully questionning her, the group determines she may have encountered Fae, and Salina came with them and caused her mental state. With her grandfather's agreement, the party takes her to the old homestead in the Mystwood. There, the landscape is devastated and magical, as if there was a holy and infernal war. They encounter hostile fae who say they can protect the girl in the Underhill better than the party will. Careful diplomacy and Cryo's singing sway the Fae, and they agree to let the girl go if someone stays. Faran volunteers before Cryo can; the sith is cut off on Fae time. Merek and Kira volunteer as well. Cryosanthia finally asks the Fae if they will them against the Endless Winter, a place and a name that is Salina. The Fae give the party the names of the other Fae Kings and Queens who will, and take the volunteers for a fun and forgotten break that lasts several days.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-  Appearing, in Order  -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Cryosanthia  6'9"     267 Lb     Sith-Makar        Female    A dashingly tall, elegant white-scaled lizard woman.
Merek        5'10"    215 Lb     Human             Male      A black-haired, dusky male with golden eyes.
Kira         5'0"     120 Lb     Human             Female    A young blonde woman wearing simple robes.
Sabina       5'4"     130 Lb     Human             Female    Tsuran woman of dark hair and green eyes
Zant         6'0"     190 Lb     Human             Male      Olive-skinned, wild-haired young man in simple clothes
Pelka        5'8"     140 Lb     Eaglefolk         Male      Egalrin Artificer, dark and brooding. skree.
Seldan       5'11"    187 Lb     Human             Male      Ginger-blonde human in armor wearing Eluna's symbol.
Konstance    6'2"     240 Lb     Human             Male      A human with blonde hair and blue eyes
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-  As the GM  -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Aftershock                                                   It's what comes after...
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=

A very short notice assignment goes up at the Adventurer's guild. Essentially, it's put up and the person offering it stands beside it.

She is a tall, white-scaled sith-makar woman wearing wizard robes who has really leaned into the snow and ice motif. Not only is she a brilliant white with pale, glacial blue highlight scales, her layered robes have the same colour pallet, predoninatly white, with some glacial trime and a repeating pattern of dragoneyes and snowflakes on some of the panels. Whatever warmth went into the design, seems to have used up all of hers. She is clinically cold, sterile, the air seems chiller around her, and her breath is visible at times. When she speaks, her voice is lifeless, disinterested.

"Hello. Thank you for coming at short notice. This is an escourt assignment, you, escourting me. I'm following up on something I read in the guild reports that happened a while ago, relating to the Trisgwar Family. They used to live in Mystwood, they live in Alexandria now. A group of adventurers rescued them from giant slugs and other potentially plague influed fauna at their homestead. The younger daughter seemed to be mind controlled. It was noted it would be good to follow up with them, but I couldn't find records that anyone has. So, I plan to visit them, question them in case there are details left out of the reports, and perhaps go to their old family home depending on what answers we get. Here is a copy of the previous group's actions, if you want to look it over."

She places a small notebook out for someone to take. It looks freshly copied. "I'm Cryosanthia. Let's Go."

Merek takes the time to put on his dark attire, while he places the scarf which he wears about him, then he makes a way into the meeting. He nods a bit, shifting his equipment while he waits to travel. He doesn't offer a lot.

Kira is always eager to help, and offers a smile to all. It's focused more on Cryosanthia as she explains what's going on, or what the task and needs are, at least. "You're welcome, and thank you for letting us help you help others." Maybe some of her warmth and energy will rub off?

Sabina seems to be to opposite of Cryo with her colorful peacock on her shoulder, it's tail like a cloak down her back. She listens to the woman and shrugs softly, seemingly along for the ride where ever it may take her. She does step forward to look over the copy that is handed out though.

One of the humans who happened to come along is a rather strong contrast to Cryo. Not just because Zant happens to have darker skin than most humans and elves in Alexandria, but also because much like Cryo seems to radiate chill from herself, he seems to radiate warmth in turn, and even some occasional hints of brighter shine only further exarberated by the presence of the two brilliantly-colored scarves coiled up over his neck and shoulders with one end each left flowing loose over his back.

He's quick to take the provided notebook with the report in it, and quickly skims through the page with the provided report in it-- and his eyes eventually narrow into a squint.

"Hold on. There's mention of a demon's presence here, but nothing on what was done about it."

"Oh yes, the Magnificient Demon Illfang. I believe it was small and they killed it. I've put both reports in there. In the second one they rescue the family's daughter, Sephielia, who was being mind controlled and did not want to be rescued. I'm unsure what happeend to their house in Mystwood. Their Alexandrian residence should be safer and hopefully demon free." Cryosanthia says. She makes a slight nod towards Zant, Merek. "I can answer a few questions, but my memory isn't great for detail. It would be best if you look that over and wonder what was left out, or not asked, by the first adventuring group."

"Trisgwar, Trisgwar," Pelka murmurs to himself as he walks along with the party. "Where have I heard that before..." Trying to remember seems to be somewhat of a distraction for him, and he only partially pays attention to the conversations going on around him.

Indeed, there's quite a lot of information in that little report that the party is given. But... perhaps not as much as one might like. The investigators make their way through the city as they talk about the report, up to the noble district where the houses are further apart and far more grand. The Trisgwar home is one of the smaller ones, and it looks a little bit like it has seen better days, but the door is answered by a butler in fine garb who welcomes everyone into the home with some surprise for the number of people that there are. The group is left for some time in the family room, and eventually an older elvish gentleman comes down the stairs to meet them all.

It's not often that one sees an elf with the lines of age on their face, or the color drained out of their hair by age. This man has seen too many years however for them not to mark him, and he looks at everyone with a weariness born of that age. He takes a seat immediately, and seems to need it. "How may I help you today? I rarely recieve so many guests."

Cryosanthia wills herself to put on a pretty face. Some of the stiffness goes out of her posture. She manages a small courtsey, dips her head. A smile. A fake smile, but a fairly good fake. "Greetings Mister Trisgwar, my apologies for interrupting your day. We were following up on events from a few years ago, that occurred in the Mystwood. I was hoping we might be able to question you on them. You and the rest of your family. Would you indulge us?"

Merek takes time to make his attire look presentable, while he shifts that scarf which he wears. There's a smile which is offered, while he stands next to Cryosanthia and all the party. He of course looks like he has placed all his weapons back with non-magical equipment, to present a whole nicer image.

Pelka turns his head slowly to stare at Cryosanthia. A few years ago? Has it really been that long...? He supposes it has. Then he blinks the thought away. He turns back towards the elf that greeted them. Then as if remembering what the elder actually said, he runs his eyes over the rest of the party. "It is a large group," he agrees. "But these are complicated times."

Kira dips in a curtsey. "Thank you for having us." She skimmed the journal of journeys, but was asked to escort, so leaves the questions to those more knowledgeable.

An older elf? Sabina smiles not remembering ever seeing an elder elf before. She partly bows her head making it look like a greeting to the host who suddenly finds himself the host. "Mister Trisgwar."

The elvish man's eyes drop, sadness overcoming his bearing. "I fear that I am to be the last of the Trisgwar line. My son and his wife vanished two years ago just before the events that you seem to have come here to question me about. My grandson passed away or so I am told, and my granddaughter..." He sighs. "She was harshly changed by the events that happened in her family home and has not been well since."

The gentelman nods politely to Sabina. "Please, call me Elduin."

Zant gives a subtle sideward glance over to Cryo over her particular manner of introduction. WEll. He doesn't comment on it, instead dipping himself over into a bow that ends up sending one of his scarves sliding sidewards a bit. "Mister Trisgwar. Truthsayer Zant, at service."

When he straightens up from the bow, he winces a bit at the elder elf's words. "I... My apologies. Do you... mind if I ask where she stays now?"

Kira blinks and her smile wavers at the news. "Oh. I'm very sorry for your loss, si... Elduin."

"I am sorry for your losses. Those would be a hard shock. I hope time has provided some comfort. I also apologize for my lack of introduction, I am Cryosanthia. We would be most interested in the answer to that question. I have a few additional ones. The adventurers encountered a boy, I suspect your grandson, who said his sister had been possessed by something from the well. Did anything unusual happen with the well, around the time your Son and his wife vanished, did the strange corruption spread from it. Had anyone visited, to draw water?" The white-scale sith delivers her questions as if she's reading them from a mental list. She sounded sympathetic at first, then went back to business. She keeps her hands clasped. They are clad in white-scale gloves with stylized dragoneyes on them.

Sabina reaches up to pet the bird on her shoulder and her smile turns sad. "Loss of family is like loss of laughter in the soul." She nods to Kira. "I too am sorry for your losses, Elduin. I hope we may keep our intrusion as light as possible."

Pelka bows his head slightly every time one the other adventurers offers their condolences. At first he head-bobs whenever someone asks a question because it seems valid and something Pelka's also interested in. The nods slow as more and more questions are asked and instead the Egalrin starts to dart his gaze back and forth.

The old elf nods his head gratefully to their words. "I thank you for your kindness, time has done little to heal such wounds as losing ones children can give, but it's nice to know that some good people are still looking for answers. "My granddaugthter lives here in a room upstairs. Though, I fear that so many people might be a little intimidating for her. If you truly wish to see her; I will bring her downstairs."

His tired eyes fall on Cryosanthia - she with her many questions. "I wish I had more answers for you, but I did not live with my son and his wife. I do not know if anyone was fussing with the well or not."

Merek looks between the party, and nods a bit to the man, "If you don't mind, may I have a drink of wine, I can wait a little bit away, so that she would not feel like there's as many people."

Sabina nods. "Perhaps we could spread out across the room then? Or across the room from her. Seated if we may?"

The white-scale sith stares back at the old elf, her nose dipping a bit in a nod. She says, "I expect so," very quietly. She waits, there is very little motion to her, her tail is tucked against the back of her legs.

"I would like to ask Sephielia questions if she is up to it. Do you need some of us to wait outside? Or seated, yes, that is less intimidating."

Instead of taking a seat, Cryosanthia crouches down. It lets her stick her tail out straight behind and she rests her hands on her knees. She's still a presence, with her size and robes, but is more contained.

Zant nudges his elbow lightly against Cryosanthia's side. "Perhaps the site itself should be studied with someone who has knowledged on demonology," he suggests.

His usual smile fades away further, while people speak on the daughter, and for a few seconds, he chews at his lower lip in thought.

"...If she is still dealing with it as a traumatic event, I can't imagine she would enjoy talking about it in a room with so many strangers regardless. We shouldn't... treat her like an object of research."

Pelka moves over to a corner of the room. He begins looking around and after a few moments it becomes clear he is...practicing how to pretend he's interested in a potted plant, a painting on the wall, or a bit of furniture, anything rather than the conversation going on in the room. After a moment he looks back and flashes a thumbs up. "Ready!"

Sabina smiles as people spread and sit. She nods with serriousness to Zant. "Of course not. Still wise to say." She finds a seat for herself and nods again to their host.

"Sit yes, by all means." The older elf rises to his feet wearily, motioning everyone to sit down. "I will have my man bring you drinks while I get her. I beg you though, be gentle with her. She is... not well."

Elduin nods respectfully to Zant, and then heads away. After a few moments some drinks and snacks are brought into the room for all by the butler who leaves as soon as he comes with only the tray left as proof that he had been there at all. It's a long wait before the older elf returns, leading a young woman into the room. She's a beautiful elvish girl with bright green eyes that have a distant look to them. She lets her grandfather lead her to a chair and sits down in it. He sits very close to her, settling a hand over her hand on the edge of the chair. "Sephilia, say hello to our guests."

The girl blinks and looks around the room, and it's very much as if she's seeing something that isn't there. "Hello."

Cryosanthia looks at Zant. There's no expression on her face, in her eyes. Usually she attempts something, not right now it seems. Her words remain flat, without spark, "I understand fully."

The sith turns her head to observe the elfin girl carefully, watching her eyes, examining her shadow and the space behind her. Crouched, she's just a little bit taller than her. She swallows, this time there is a gentleness as she says, "Hello Sephielia, I'm Cryo. Do you like to swim? I like to swim very much. I read in a book that your old house went underwater once. Could you tell me about that?"

Zant blinks a few times at Cryo. Concern flickers in his green gaze briefly, but he doesn't say anything.

With the granddaughter brought down, he considers the elven girl with an empathetic look-- a bit sad, even. He doesn't have time to say anything, however, since Cryo takes lead... even if he does give a bit of a widened-eyed look at the Sith. Regardless of what he thinks about that approach, he elects to keep himself quiet-- he probably figures he might overwhelm the poor girl if more people speak all at once.

Sabina can't help but offer the girl a smile and a wave of her fingers as a hello. But she tries not to distract the already distracted girl from the questions being asked.

The girl blinks and then blinks again, her eyes disfocused and her attention clearly not on this room. Or rather it is, but she seems not to see /you/. She seems to be seeing a scene other than what you present her. She smiles softly. "Yes, I suggest milk. It draws them in you see. Or you can find a nice circle of posies. They like circles."

Her grandfather looks a bit apologetically at all as his granddaughter fails to answer Cryosanthia's question. "I'm so sorry. She... she is a little obsessed these days. Doesn't always understand what's happening around here. Dearest, these guests... they want to know what happened to you at the old house. Do you remember the old house?"

The girl blinks her green eyes and shudders. "Winter came and stole everything away. Winter came, cold and killed the flowers, and now they don't want to visit anymore. Aren't you glad it's spring? Spring is the good time. Everything is better when the last cold is gone."

The doorbell rings downstairs, a muffled sound upstairs, but as the group is talking, the butler taps politely on the door and turns his attention to the grandfather. Behind him is a fair figure in what looks to be armor of some kind, visible only as a crack through the door. "Sir, the Guild sent another that they thought might be of assistance to her." He steps aside to admit a focused and thoughtful-looking Seldan. "You have my thanks, master." The voice is tinted with the lilt of the Myrrish, and he takes a few steps into the room, looking from face to face in the tableau.

Cryosanthia straightens a little in her crouch. It almost makes sense. The answers are very poetic, lyrical, she's sure something song-like would help make them clearer, but that's all packed away. "What is the best colour of milk to use? There were some circles in the house too, and you made an icicle. Can you still call winter?"

Merek listens while he takes a drink of wine.

Pelka turns his head ever so slightly and peers at the Sephilia out of the corner of his eye. Then he turns back to the wall. After a moment he realizes it's a blank spot and then shifts his gaze back to a plant he was studying previously.

At the vacent look and strange words, Sabina's smile slips. She does her best not to frown or looks sad but it's hard to see a child so wounded. And in this cas the wounded child will have many many years to grow up and be a wounded adult elf. "Perhaps a trip to a temple for removing curses or soothing of the mind?" She says more to herself then to another.

"Blue silly! Blue as the moon when its the second of the month!" The girl seems to become a little excited when engaged, her smile turning to one of joy. "But winter has left me and I am /glad/ of it. Glad to be in full spring an look! You are full of beautiful love. Love is in the spring."

Her grandfather sighs softly, seeming hurt, but glad to see his granddaughter pleased. He looks at Sabina then half-rises as Seldan joins them, offering the man a welcoming nod. "Would that I could, but we can ill afford the treatment for her condition. Worse, the healers say they can not be sure that she might not be..." He bites his lip, and speaks the next word softly. "Incurable."

GAME: Cryosanthia rolls knowledge/the planes: (19)+2: 21
GAME: Seldan rolls knowledge/the planes: (4)+8: 12
GAME: Merek rolls knowledge/the planes: (15)+8: 23

Cryosanthia dips her head, she smiles at Sephielia. Again, it's forced, but her regular smile has a lot of teeth so it's also far from comforting. She closes her eyes, speaks, her voice is soft, but cold, "I like blue too. My eyes are blue, if you look at me. Blue Moons, are nice. It's how you can call friends, the fae. Were you lonely, did you call some friends?"

Merek listens to the party and girl while he thinks about it.

Seldan offers the grandfather a polite nod and a warm smile. "Forgive my tardiness, I did not return to the Guild until only a few hours ago." His attention, though, stays on the little girl. "May I?" He starts, then stops, eyes fixed on Cryosanthia as she mentions calling the fae, eyebrows raising. He nudges himself closer to the girl, still listening, but watching Cryosanthia now, trying to catch her eye.

Sabina stands slowly and lays a comforting hand to Elduin's forearm. "I am sorry. If one day I can help I will and I will pray that it is not incurable so that laughter can return to your home and hearts once again. Forgive me if my words were rash or hurtful."

The girl doesn't seem intimidated by the many teeth in Cryosanthia's smile, but then... she doesn't seem to /see/ the room. The grandfather welcomes Seldan in and takes his seat once more, clearly needing to sit down and comforted by the ability to touch his granddaughter's hand. He nods his acceptance to the paladin, and the girl continues to talk as if no one is there but her. "I woke one day and they were there! They wanted to take me away to their far-away land. I laughed and clapped but with my new friends came the winter cold. It stole their laughter and mine and we were cold. So cold. I'm so glad it's spring now. Aren't you?"

The touch of Sabina's hand on his arm makes Elduin smile softly, his eyes touched by tears. "Thank you. Your words are kind and they give me hope. Hope that someday maybe I'll have my real granddaughter back."

The white-scale sith has her eyes closed, in the hopes the little elfin girl will look her way. Her eyelids have the highlight scales, the scales with the hint of glacial blue. It might resemble the hue of milk under a blue moon. When she opens them she looks Seldan's way, her eyes are like sapphires, hard gems, cold and without expression. She looks at the man, but there is no reaction. Her head turns, and the sith delivers her words, flat, without inflection, "I'm very glad Spring has come for you. Are any of your new friends here, enjoying spring as well? Can you describe what you see."

Pelka sneaks a few more peeks at the girl and then finally seems to catch on that she's not paying attention to anyone other than Crysanthia. And in fact it's questionable whether she's even paying attention to the Sith. He steps away from his corner and over to where Merek is. "This is not what I was expecting," he admits.

Merek nods a bit to Pelka.

The icy look that Seldan gets from the sith-makar seems to frost him as well, at least towards her, for his own demeanor closes, and he turns his attention entirely on the little girl, listening closely. "Your friends did not know that the cold would come?" he asks the little girl, quietly.

Sabina stays where she is, nodding to the grandfather, agreeing with his hopes that his grand daughter is one day saved. She turns her head as Cryo asks this new question about friends perhaps being about and stands straighter. "Have strange things been going on here, Elduin?" She asks the elder elf.

Now the girl's eyes darken. "The winter is inevitable. It comes for us all. The winter and the death." She shudders as if internally cold and she looks around the room, chasing images that only she can see. "My friends! My friends! I miss them so when they are gone, but they would be so afraid." She finally, finally lights her eyes on Pelka, whom oddly it seems for a moment she sees and suddenly she lets out a little shriek. "OH NO! Don't eat my friends birdy! They're not insects I promise!"

The old man answers Sabina calmly, seeming tired. "Well, she does insist that I lay out milk for her... friends. And it /does/ vanish, but that's normal isn't it? And she... she talks to herself. Quite a lot. Little things go missing now and again. But I'm old and forgetful." He looks a trace embarassed, and then his granddaughter shrieks and he quickly goes to gentle and calm her. "Oh dear, he won't eat your friends!"

Pelka hesitates. He glances from the girl to her grandfather and back again. Now Pelka seems a bit embarassed himself. And flustered: he knows that he has to say something to try to salvage the situation, and soon. "Yes, I, uh...I am actually trying to become a vegetarian." He casts a longing look back at his corner.

"Summer comes first, little one. Summer comes soon. It will be warm and bright and you will see fireflies in the night." Cryosanthia says, her voice full of soothing tones, careful and gentle, "He will not eat your friends, and think not of Winter."

The sith makes an odd sound in her throat, and then she slowly rises to her full height. It's impossible not to think of winter with her around.

Her head turns, she gazes sadly at the elder elf. "I hope she will not understand this. The records indicate she seemed possessed. I believe she summoned some fae, some how, and something else much more powerful followed along with them. It may have left her, but if she has not been checked, the Temple of Althea should be well versed in dealing with repairing enchantments and injured minds. I can cover that, if you take those services. It might be worthwhile to have some detections cast, here, on her, as well but one must be gentle with that, and I cannot."

Seldan slips out of his chair to drop to one knee near the little girl, careful not to touch or look at Cryosanthia as he does so. One thing is clear, though - something here interests him. Something -else-. Instead, he watches the little girl. "It is hard to miss one's friends," he agrees, -so- not looking at Cryosanthia. Nope. "If you went back to the place where you first met your friends, maybe they will return, and you will not have to miss them anymore," he suggests quietly.

"...The milk disappearing would be normal," murmurs Zant now, with his brows knitting together in thought. "If she drank it herself. Or a cat? Do you... have any pets here? Or have you seen her drink it?"

Sabina turns towards Elduin. "Hope is offered. Will you take it, please? For both your sakes." She asks and then turns towards Cryo. "Is there aught I can do to assist?"

It seems that Pelka is... fortunately as quickly forgiven as he was believed someone that might be capable of eating the girl's friends. She calms at his words and blinks her eyes as if he's disappeared and it doesn't bother her at all. "Can I go back?" It's a gentle whisper, a question that seems... perhaps deeper than Seldan's suggestion. "I should like to go back and see them again."

Her grandfather on the other hand seems a little bit uncertain about the idea, frowning deeply. "I don't know. It might not be /safe/ there. She's all I've got left." He blinks at Cryosanthia. "I don't understand. You say she was possessed, so why would you want to take her back there?"

"The SilverGuard must explain that need." Cryosanthia says, facing the grandfather, acting like a spire of ice. "It's not my desire to endanger her. I had an interst to see the homestead and examine some things noted in this report. If it is still your property and with your permission, we might investigate and inform you if it's safe to allow her to return. That she is taken to the Temple of Eluna and examined, are my thoughts for her."

"Just a moment." Seldan stands and turns to the grandfather, looking around at the others, but carefully not at Cryosanthia. Not yet. "I have two reasons for such a thought, sir. First, when one has lost a thing, does one not return to the place where it was lost, in hopes that one may find it again, or at the least, learn its fate? If the fae have seized her mind, as seems likely, perhaps we may find answer at the place where she first met her _friends_." He leans just a little on the word, glancing back at the little girl. "It seems likely that your granddaughter has found, or been found by, a fae circle. Such a thing, within Alexandria, may prove dangerous to any who venture too close, and if where it is is unknown...." He spreads his hand, leaving that thought unsaid. "I would at the least learn its location, that the unprepared be kept clear, that there is not another incident like this."

Pelka speaks up again, addressing Elduin: "If you're worried about her safety, we'll be there. We can protect her." He looks around at the other adventurers in the room to see if they agree, somewhat after the fact he realizes.

Sabina keeps her eyes on Elduin. "Elduin. Please. ALl of us here wish to help you and your grand daughter in any way we can. We can perhaps do so better by learning everything we can about her old home and what affects her now. Let us try to lift these sorrows."

Merek begins standing up, while he moves to follow with people.

Even with your assersions Elduin looks uncertain but finally he nods. "If you think it will help her, or keep others from her fate I can not tuly say no. Just... promise me that you will look after her as though she were your flesh and your blood." He sounds sad and vaguely heartbroken as he turns to his granddaughter and takes her hand, leading her to stand up. "Come dearest, these folks are going to take you for a walk doesn't that sound nice? I'll go get your shawl." He hands her - quite literally over to the nearest of you - who happens to be Seldan with his hands outstreched and gives the paladin a firm look before disappearing into the house to get the girl's things.

GAME: Merek rolls will: (6)+18: 24

"...If the estate could have a fae circle there," Zant murmurs out finally, once the two elves have left the room, out of earshot. "I am not sure I agree with putting her at risk like that."

Cryosanthia stares after the grandfather as he leaves to get the girl's things. She doesn't reply, she doesn't promise anything. Her hands curls up at her sides. She exhales. Without really looking at anyone, she explains in dead tones, "My understanding of what happened is that something went wrong with the well. I've seen other reports of ponds and wells being deliberately sabotaged. The grandson, said a thing from the well possessed his sister. She appears to have known how to cast a magic circle, and summon a demon. Strong magics were at work as well, as the house appeared to be underwater, and the surrounding plants and even slugs had become hostile. She was rescued, but fought the previous adventurers all the way. Taunted them in ways not matching her current demeanor. I have no idea what we will find after this time, but I wish to investigate. Her parents may have been sacrificed to summon the demon, or her brother. It may be a mercy she does not remember what happeend. The Fae aspect, is something new and unexpected, so there is more to find."

Merek begins loading the dragonspitter with him, while he walks along with the team, a nice special cartridge placed into it, brass which carries a mana charge. He then places the weapon on the hip, with a nod while he thinks about it.

Seldan takes the girl, settling her on his hip. "I could do no less, sir, for I know what it is that I ask of you." Once he is gone, he turns to the others, but listens to Cryosanthia before speaking. "It is less of a surprise to me," he tells her, without looking at her. "The reference to winter and death speaks of Salina to me. Salina, she who is of the immortal fae, she who is responsible for the plague that stalks Alexandria, she who is the Mistress of Kol Demontry. If she was touched by such evil..." He looks at the girl on his hip, suddenly frowning. "But she is of the fae, and if there is a fae circle in Alexandria ... it is both a danger, and potentially, an aid, for only the fae know how Salina may be destroyed. Taking her back there may be the only possible way to restore her mind, for She is ... known to toy with minds."

The group leaves the house behind, and pick up a few people along the way, but some hours later, they find themselves in the woods with only the old man's directions and his granddaughter for guidance to her familial home along with the notes that Cryosanthia has digested for everyone. Thankfully that's more than enough, and even as it seems that the pary might be totally lost they come upon a clearing where the grass has gone rust-red and yet doesn't crunch underfoot. There's several ginormous plants in the grass, huge purple flowers that wiggle and /move/. Beyond them though, everyone can catch sight of the mansion which is now long overgrown and yet still standing.

"Oh my," Kira offers to Seldan. "I didn't realize so much was known about it, or them..." Though she's not a scholar by any means. She does offer the girl an assuring smile as they travel. Kira is much more adept at that.

Cryosanthia for her part walks swiftly and efficiently without looking around. It's only as the party drawns near to the homestead does she really take in her surroundings. She gestures at one of the wiggling plants, "Those will swallow a person, if one gets near. If you see an especially large one we may need to perform a rescue, otherwise, we should stay clear. Things may come out of the underbrush at us. Wild Elves may also live in the vicinity. The house and well, can likely wait."

The palescale sith sounds a little more engaged as she crouches down to the elf girl's height, "Sephielia, could you show us your circle of friends? We're Home now."

Because walking would have taken forever, and really gotten on everyone's nerves, Faranmidahn, the lucht sorceress follows the directions to the grouping she'd recieved astride her giant glossy black spider, her cloak pinned with a humble broach, but the rest of her accoutrements in place. She spares Cryosanthia and Sir Seldan concerned glances and a quiet wave before she considers the others, including the young miss under escort.

Pelka peers at the mansion. He turns towards Sephilia to watch for signs of reaction. At Cryosanthia's words he stirs slightly. "I'll check if there's more to see from above." He spreads his wings and crouches slightly. Then he pauses and turns towards the girl. "I won't be far. Call if you need help." Still not sure if she understands he leaps into the air and begins a slow circling above the mansion.

GAME: Cryosanthia rolls perception: (18)+5: 23
GAME: Konstance rolls perception: (13)+8: 21
GAME: Seldan rolls perception: (7)+5: 12
GAME: Pelka rolls perception: (7)+18: 25
GAME: Zant rolls perception: (12)+14: 26
GAME: Merek rolls perception: (5)+25: 30
GAME: Kira rolls perception: (2)+21: 23
Faranmidahn would probably go blind, but would like to detect magic and look around just in case
Seldan will also detect magic, but ... detect evil first.
Aftershock says, "Okay no sight of evil, but if you're using 'Detect Magic' you'll need a fortitude save :"D"
GAME: Faranmidahn casts Detect Magic. Caster Level: 2 DC: 14
GAME: Konstance casts Detect Magic. Caster Level: 2 DC: 13
GAME: Seldan attempts to cast Detect Magic but fails due to ASF.
GAME: Seldan casts Detect Magic. Caster Level: 12 DC: 15
GAME: Faranmidahn rolls fort: (8)+6: 14
GAME: Seldan rolls fortitude: (15)+18: 33
GAME: Konstance rolls fortitude: (2)+4: 6

Kira blinks and peers at the wiggling plants. From a safe distance, she hopes, "...Swallow a person???" Now she's looking around with the others, concern growing. "Are the plants here normally like this?" It could be a fae thing... or maybe she just needs to get out of the city more.

Faranmidahn, suspecting any number of things are possible as they're seeking fae decides, as she's looking around to invoke one of her detection cantrips in a soft voice, "blah beagle beagle bleh blrgl blrgl beagle blah blah bleh sandy blah sandy" there is a moment where the little sorceress's eyes take to a pinkish glow, an instant before, without so much as a gasp, she wilts like a flower in the saddle. The good news is she's buckled in. The bad news is... Spiders aren't particularly... gifted. <unknown>

Konstance been walking along with Seldan, wearing no armor and just his usual clothes and robes. When he looks around he decides to detect for magic and the brightness of the magical light causes him to lose conscious, fighting to regain control only to lose the battle and fall against Seldan.

Zant may or may not have been pretty skittish around a spider as large as the one Faranmidahn is riding. He is... not good with spiders. Not even a little bit. But when the Lucht girl up and slumps over on the saddle, he lets out a quiet squeak of surprise, and apparently forgets about his issue with spiders, quickly taking the few required steps over to try and steady her there. "H-hey...! Are you alright??"

GAME: Seldan rolls reflex: (14)+14: 28

Kira's smile dims as people start slumping over. She looks between those slumped on Seldan and zonked by Zant. "Is everyone alright?"

Seldan looks around him, frowning at whatever it is he sees in the area, and moving to pick up the little girl again as they enter the area. As for the new arrivals, it is Torrent he spots first, and the recognition is instant, and although Faranmidahn gets a return wave and a smile of acknowledgement, that smile quickly dims as he spots the brooch. He doesn't say anything about that now, though, his eyes instead unfocusing for a brief breath or two.

They refocus, and turn to Kira. "They are affected by the plague," he tells her. "The grass, the trees, the very earth, reek of it. The plague ooze is a living being, crafted by a wizard's hand from the Source itself. It has been ... co-opted to serve Her in evil ways. What you see is what it does to those not intelligent."

So saying, he lifts a hand and draws about half of a sigil before Konstance falls into him in a clatter of metal armor. "Agh! What in-" Somehow, he keeps his own balance -and- keeps the child from falling, but it's at the cost of the spell he was casting, which promptly fizzles in a flash of pale green light. Swiftly, he sets the child down and kneels, casting the spell again and this time with much more success. He looks around for a few seconds, blinks, and dismisses it with an arcane gesture, turning immediately to see if Konstance can be roused. "The whole place is magic. It's a magical wasteland. The very earth reeks of it."

Seldan looks around him, frowning at whatever it is he sees in the area, and moving to pick up the little girl again as they enter the area. As for the new arrivals, it is Torrent he spots first, and the recognition is instant, and although Faranmidahn gets a return wave and a smile of acknowledgement, that smile quickly dims as he spots the brooch. He doesn't say anything about that now, though, his eyes instead unfocusing for a brief breath or two.

They refocus, and turn to Kira. "They are affected by the plague," he tells her. "The grass, the trees, the very earth, reek of it. The plague ooze is a living being, crafted by a wizard's hand from the Source itself. It has been ... co-opted to serve Her in evil ways. What you see is what it does to those not intelligent."

So saying, he lifts a hand and draws about half of a sigil before Konstance falls into him in a clatter of metal armor. "Agh! What in-" He staggers at the weight on him, but somehow, he keeps his own balance -and- keeps the child from falling, but it's at the cost of the spell he was casting, which promptly fizzles in a flash of pale green light. Swiftly, he sets the child down and kneels, casting the spell again and this time with much more success. He looks around for a few seconds, blinks, and dismisses it with an arcane gesture, turning immediately to see if Konstance can be roused. "The whole place is magic. It's a magical wasteland. The very earth reeks of it."

"Casting may draw out an ooze." Cryosanthia says, moving over to check on Faran, reaching out to steady her shoulder. "If one appears, no magic, no edged weapons. Fire and blunt. Alcohol can dilute it, and soapy water, but do not caste create water."

The girl for her part seems utterly entranced by the sight of her home. "So bright! So beautiful! Look how it /sparkles/!" She rushes off the moment that Seldan releases her, heading for the house full-tilt. She's amazingly fast given that until a moment ago she had been stairing off into space as if totally lost. "FRIENDS!"

Kira lets out a gasp of realization at Seldan's words and nods. "I didn't know that..." She then nods to Cryosanthia. "I won't be using any magic, if I can help it."

Kira blinks as the girl darts off, and instinctively darts after. "Be careful!"

Konstance shakes his head. "Bloody hell what hit me?" He says softly as he stirs and tries to get up away from seldan. "Sorry." He says as he looks about. "MAgical signature is strong. a veritable magical wasteland. I have heard of such places where the divine and the infernal had their battles." He says as he gets his crossbow.

"I don't think that's why this place is like that," Merek looks to the girl that's fleeing to the house. He then sighs a bit.

Pelka has been keeping an eye on the area, but mostly on the girl. When she runs for the house he gapes for a moment and then swoops down, landing in front of her. "Wait!" he shrieks, hands raised in case she runs into him.

The armoured Lucht's eyelids flutter after a few seconds as her criends so quickly look to her condition, murmuring, "Wh'apen....?" and straightens in the saddle. She looks between Cryo and Zant with a slightly embarassed smile, "Thank you for the concern... There was a flash... was worse than looking at Sally."

The white-scale sith immediately bolts after the little elfin girl, catching up with her, then continuing to follow. She keeps an eye out for surprises.

Cryosanthia pages: swaplines on those

"Yes...." And that is when the girl bolts. "Look sharp!" Seldan shouts, bolting to his feet and giving chase. Others are quicker to get to her, though, and soon enough, he catches the others. "Do not separate. This area reeks of the plague, and any caught alone ... I cannot say what will happen." He nods to Cryosanthia. "It is as she says. Fire, and blunt weapons. No magic, and no edged weapons. Let us try not to provoke one. Enough have suffered from that."

"W-who's Sally?" Zant asks of Faranmidahn with several rapid blinks of confusion. This is just in time for the girl to nearly run off on her own, and his green gaze turns, widened towards her and the people running after her. "...Oh, no. This was a bad idea."

Kira puts a hand on the girl's shoulder. Not to restrain her, but assure her, and so she can stay with her. "Please, I know you want to see.. your friends, but try not to run off, alright?"

Sephielia stop short of Pelka and shrieks at him, immediately twisting the other way to run /away/ from the egalrian. This means however that she runs headlong into Cyrosanthia. Panting a little bit the elvish girl tries to get through her, scrambling against scale in an attempt to flee the thing that had frightened her. It's a long moment before she calms down, and that's when you realize that there's a distinct feeling of being... watched here. You couldn't say where the watching is coming from, but the /sensation/ of it slides down your spine uneasily. "Friends, friends, where are my friends?"

GAME: Merek rolls will: (20)+18: 38 (CRITICAL SUCCESS)
GAME: Kira rolls perception: (11)+21: 32
GAME: Zant rolls perception: (13)+14: 27
GAME: Faranmidahn rolls perception: (13)+4: 17
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls perception: (2)+5: 7
GAME: Pelka rolls perception: (13)+18: 31
GAME: Merek rolls perception: (1)+25: 26 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Seldan rolls perception: (20)+5: 25

"She of the Shard Tower. Do not say her name, it calls attention." Cryosanthia explains, "Although it feels like attention has been caught."

Merek takes up both hands to his sides, while he draws his nails along his palms, blood beginning to gently fall upon the ground from it, "We shouldn't... Bring the girl to this place," he says. The man controls that rage within him though, while he looks to the whole place, though anyone can probably notice he's trying to keep back a lot.

"A bad person." Faran replies grimly, "Or a very, very broken person." She smiles briefly to Cryo at her elaboration and nods back to Zant, "As she says. I never use her name aloud." In her head, she uses it to curse the fae down to her forsaken bones. 'Damn her eyes with iron filings' is a recent favorite.

Pelka strides after the girl. "That's right," he nods at Merek. And gives him a second, odd glance before turning his attention back to the girl. "Sephilia," he says firmly. "You shouldn't be here. We have you get you back to your grandfather..." he reaches out as if to grab her and then hesitates and glances around. "I'll fly her back," he says, speaking fast now. "We told Elduin we would protect her..."

"I thought this would help heal her?" Kira looks between Pelka and Merek. "Isn't that why we brought her?" She knows that it was mentioned and suggested, before. In looking between them, she notices other lookers. Onlookers, ever.

"Oh! Hello..." she crouches, looking to the grass and the teeny eyes of the teeny audience. "How are you? We don't mean to intrude.."

"They are not friendly," Seldan warns, nodding to Pelka, and speaking just as quickly. "We will not find her healing here. Let us get her out of here, I believe that I can find this place again." He, too, seems to be aware that they are being watched. "I would return, but not with her. Come."

Cryosanthia looks around, looks down at the small audience. One she is in danger of stepping on. She doesn't move and keeps her tail elevated. Carefully, she speaks. It's a soft and musical language. "Friends, we have brought your Friend back. We mean no harm and wish to speak." <sylvan>

Sabina freezes where she is lest she step on someone. Scanning the grasses and such she moves in closer, step by slow but sure step. Looking up at Cryo as the new language is spoken aloud.

Merek looks over to Cryosanthia, and watches for a bit, while blood from the hands begin to smooth along the ground, "We are taking the girl back home before we talk to them."

There are in fact, tiny people watching the party. Minscule individuals who are wearing grass and tiny flowers as outfits so that they blend remarkably well in with the surroundings. They watch everyone with an air that's this side of hostile. They've got tiny weapons drawn and aimed at each person. "Release our friend at once or face our wrath scaled-one!" One of the little creatures pipes up, yelling in a voice that sounds like an insect whine and the sound of the language makes the girl perk up and struggle once more in Cryosanthia's grasp.

'Friends!' <sylvan>

"We don't know they aren't friendly, or won't be, until we try, " Kira notes, "and even if they choose not to be, that doesn't mean we can't be." She smiles at the girl, though isn't sure if her comment helps or hurts Kira's own ideas. Her lips purse some. "I just wish I could understand them." Not a scholar, not a woodswoman, and not a linguist, either.

"They're threatening us for the girl, they are not friendly," Merek offers then, nodding to Kira.

Seldan freezes cold at the sight of the weapons, but nods to Pelka. "If you can carry her back - I think we will not be permitted to leave so easily, but I would not have her here." He unslings his pack, and pulls from it a scroll. "Tell them that the spell I cast is so that I may understand them."

Sabina ones her hands ans shows them empty. The Peacock on her shoulder canting it's head toward the strange new critters. "Easy.. Please. We mean you nor her any harm. We brought her here in the attempt to make her better." She nods at Selden whom she points to. "He wishes to speak to you as well and will cast a spell to understand you. Please take no alarm." <sylvan>

Cryosanthia looks at the struggling girl in her arms, her head lowered, trying to catch her attention. Her voice unlike most times, has real emotion in it. She's pleading, 'Sephielia, please. This once is in a deep winter and needs your warmth. I can't let go. Ask your friends to understand. To stop and talk with us.'

To the small, very small, warband arrayed against her she says, "I can't be the reason another is lost. Please listen to us." <sylvan>

GAME: Cryosanthia rolls diplomacy: (1)+8: 9 (EPIC FAIL)
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Cooooooool I accidentally step on one"
GAME: Sabina rolls diplomacy: (6)+11: 17
GAME: Kira rolls diplomacy: (15)+23: 38
GAME: Merek rolls diplomacy: (6)+25: 31
GAME: Seldan used a Scroll of Tongues.
GAME: Seldan rolls diplomacy: (7)+16: 23

Pelka comes up behind the girl and grasps her under the arms. He looks left and then right in quick practiced motions. This turns out to be so he can make sure he doesn't bump anyone when his wings spread to their full span, in preparation to lift off again.

"We didn't come to fight," Merek offers to the creatures while speaking Sylvan, then he looks to Cryosanthia, back in Tradespeak, "If you really want her safe, we need to bring her back to where she came from."

Faranmidahn looks around astride the spider, vaguely concerned, but not sure what to offer as the languages flying around aren't known to her.

Seldan waits for some sort of confirmation that his casting will not further upset the fae, then unrolls the scroll in his hand. He frowns at it, but casts the spell, and when the parchment crumbles to dust in his hand, stays exactly where he is, listening for a sense of the dialogue.

Sabina's words seem to calm the little people, but Cryosanthia's passing of the girl off to Pelka draws a chitter of angry voices and they /all/ level their weapons at the man and at the sith-makar herself. The girl looks forelornly at Cryosanthia, then at Pelka. 'I want to go to the spring with my friends!'

"Give her back to us! She belongs with us! You big-folk can't keep her safe and happy! Give her back!" There's chanting now from the little people. Over and over the same phrase. "Give her back!" <sylvan>

Merek steps between the girl and fey, then he looks to the creatures. "We can keep the girl safe. You all, would you take a girl from her loving family?" The tone of voice is calm, diplomatic, still he doesn't look like he's actually in a wonderful emotional way. <sylvan>

Zant, for his part, remains mostly still, though he does end up wandering a bit further up-- and ending up stepping besides Sabina when she seems to get through to them... somewhat. He can't tell for sure, since he doesn't understand the language. "...Please tell me negotiations are still on the table," he murmurs... only for the little people to level weapons out right after. "Alright we *absolutely* need some way to get out of here now."

Pelka pauses with his wings still outstretched. He turns his head to pan his gaze across the little creatures. "YOU can keep the girl safe?" he repeats. "Surrounded by the plague?" <sylvan>

"What are they saying?" Kira asks. She does her best to show her hands are empty, and in a non-threatening way, or so she hopes.

"I was happy to come without her Merek. Seldan felt her being here might heal her mind. Perhaps she's a changeling, perhaps they know something. I don't." Cryosanthia says, without turning, without moving. Her voice is even and disinterested as Pelka snatches Sephielia away from her. She's alert, only in the sense that she's really looking carefully underfoot. She spreads her hands wide, "I'm sorry. I am not in control here."

'They want Sephielia back, because we can't protect her. She belongs with them.' That's what they're saying. <sylvan>

Still a little ways back, Seldan begins to translate for those who do not understand. The spell is imperfect, but he seems to be getting the gist. "They want her back, they believe that we cannot protect her here. This place is filled with corruption," he points out, his words in Tradespeak, but the magic translating them to Sylvan as well. "The big-folk will be destroyed if they remain in this place. Nothing can protect them from it. It is not their fault, nor is it the child's. It is the doing of a single person." He lowers his eyes. "Nothing and no being will be safe here until that threat is ended."

Sabina checks behind herself and under before sitting on the grasses. "Please.. please listen. You have a sense of nature and the world we do not. We came to help her, not to tease you with her presence. We need ways to heal her and understand what happened to her and her parents here. Can you help us to help her?" she says in sylvan.

"Wait, if they are just offended at her being unsafe in this place specifically, will they allow us to take her out of here?" Zant asks, after being provided with a translation, blinking slowly. "It... sounds like they're not the ones responsible for what's hapepend here and to her, at least."

Merek nods a bit to Cryosanthia, "I know, I still think it wasn't the best idea, in any case." He does look to Seldan, "We need to, share with them, make sure they know we can actually keep her safe. Still it's best we get her away before."

"Underhill, underhill! We'll take her to underhill and eternal spring! Far from you big lumbering folk!" One of the fae creatures laughs at Merek and buzzes upwards to look him square in the eye. "What's family for? Nothing! They can't keep her safe from the ever-winter. Only Wee folk know the secret places where a child can grow safe and sound. A gifted child! Give our friend to us!"

A little cloud of fae rise up around Sabina. "We'll take care of her! Keep her safe and healthy! We don't care for you big-folk, but the little ones are ours to care for! We can help and you can not!" One of the fae creatures laughed. "You can rot!"

"They said that normal people can't protect her," Pelka says uneasily. He's starting to think that things may be a bit more complicated then they appear. And they already appear complicated. "'Bigfolk' as they call them. But if that's their only reasoning for why we should leave her with them, well...they're going to have to do better. We haven't even tried the temples yet."

GAME: Seldan rolls knowledge/the planes: (7)+8: 15
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls knowledge/the planes: (4)+2: 6
GAME: Merek rolls knowledge/the planes: (3)+8: 11
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls perform/sing: (19)+10: 29

"What's... the eternal winter supposed to be?" Zant asks, eyes widening with some growing dread. "Not the plague, surely? Something else?" Incidentally, he does cast a look aside to Cryosanthia, pursing his lips with sudden concern.

"I cannot," Seldan says simply. "I have given my word that I would return her to her birth family. I cannot release her to you. I am bound by my word. If you will let us go, I will convey your words to those who bind her. No more than that can I promise you." Cryosanthia thinks hard about Underhill, but her mind comes up blank. She's unsure what to do, and copies Sabina sitting down on the ground. She lowers herself very slowly, snaking her tail out behind her. Hopefully any little fae have enough warning.

Once seated she closes her eyes and starts singing something in Sylvan. She picks a tone, and the words come, and it's almost automaic for her and very beautiful.

"Sally, maybe." Faran replies with a speculative shrug, looking at the little people before slowly easing up her visor and trying a smile and a little wave.

The fae make rude noises at Seldan and Pelka, more of them in the air now that more of you are sitting. "Very well, take her!" One of them shouts and the rest fall silent save the sound of buzzing before the speaker rises up and brandishes herself. "But one of you has to stay in her place until the light of the full moon when we can capture her for our prize!" The rest let out a hearty cheer and several of them start dancing around Cryosanthia merrily.

Seeing the fae gther around Cryosanthia, faran automaticly says, "I'll stay."

"I'll stay," Merek says.

"We would always do our best to keep her safe. Keep everyone safe." Kira assures, though she then blinks at the demand. "Why do you need to to capture her? I'll stay if you need someone."

Kira might be able to learn their language with the time in their company, afterall!

Pelka looks back and forth. "You want someone to...to stay here?" He asks in Sylvan. Then he glances at the rest of the party and adds in Tradespeak. "They want someone to stay here, in her place. How crazy do they think..." he trails off as multiple adventurers volunteer.

"...Let me just be sure I understood right," Zant says, clearly having been delayed from volunteering by the need for a translator. "The intend to capture her regardless, when the full moon reaches the sky?"

Cryosanthia keeps singing. She doesn't interrupt it to volunteer herself, although the impulse is strong in her mind. Her song was one of winter turning to spring, but seeing a small group of revelers start dancing around her, she alters it to be more about spring, the liveliness of birds, the industry of bees, flowers blooming are all evoked with a light and happy pace that matches the little fae's antics.

Sabina tries not to sigh and blow away any of the small ones. "Why do you need to capture her? What do you intend for her? Keep her safe until she grows to be big? And then what? Toss her away because she is big?" she says in sylvan.

Seldan opens his mouth to speak, but shuts it again as several others speak first. "I ... are you certain? I will see her home, but ... we still must determine what possessed her."

The fae buzz loudly, excited by your excitement. "So many voleenteers!" They buzz around those that made offers, grabbing at hair and dancing around you. "Stay, stay, stay!"

One of the little ones lands on Sabina's shoulder and starts to fiddle with hair. "We'll keep her safe until she's big. We'll keep her forever unill she wants to go away. That's the way of us. The light of the full moon will make us strong and quick and then we can take her off to the endless spring."

Another one of the fae flies around Seldan's head, still making rude noises and then nearly falling out of the sky with laughter at him. It has to fly back up to look at him. "You don't even know that the endless winter tried to take her? /That's/ why you big-folk can't keep her safe!"

Merek nods a bit to the fey.

GAME: Cryosanthia rolls perform/percussion: (4)+10: 14
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls diplomacy: (9)+8: 17
GAME: Merek rolls perform/dance: (1)+9: 10 (EPIC FAIL)

Kira can't help but grin at the buzzing wee folk flitting about. "The endless spring is safe from the endless winter?" she asks, though someone would need to translate for her.

Faranmidahn has a lot of hair to play with; scalp and shin, no less. She slowly lifts a hand to offer a finger at one of the little one's (how often does she get to use that sort of comparison, really?) with a gentle, "Hello...!" She looks to Cryosanthia, watching her sing and considers the situation.

The palescale's song finishes. She looks at the crowd hovering around her and starts tapping and clicking along her scales. She can make a rasping, washboard sort of effect when she flicks them just right. She attempts to keep up something jaunty sounding as she says, "We know she shadowed her, sent a demon, caused tragedy to her family and perhaps all of this. I cannot contradict you, this one does not know the details. I do wish to learn them."

Mildly, and rather unimpressed, Seldan simply holds out a palm for the wee little fae making rude noises at him. "That seems clear," he agrees mildly. "But the endless winter is also what has destroyed this place, is it not? Yes, perhaps the details of the endless winter, for surely it threatens you as much as we?"

GAME: Seldan rolls diplomacy: (5)+16: 21
GAME: Sabina rolls knowledge/local: (1)+7: 8 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Konstance rolls knowledge/nature: (8)+7: 15
GAME: Konstance rolls bluff: (10)+5: 15

"It sounds like the Endless Spring is a place," Zant suggests-- really, all he can do is offer suggestions, at this point, since he can't directly talk with the fae himself. "And the Endless Winter is... either some powerful being, or another place that houses some kind of malicious beings?"

"Well, if they're creatures of the wilds," Kira takes a guess at possible correlation, "spring is a time of life and warmth, and winter is cold and deadly."

The fae circle around Cryosanthia, encouraging her to sing more, cheering for her. Meanwhile the fae who made rude noises at Seldan alights upon his palm and eyes him seriously. "The endless winter is a place and a person. A single name for both for we dare not speak the true name of Her." Several of the fae near this fae draw back and buzz away to brigher places. This fae however boldly eyes Seldan as if they're the same size and then suddenly takes off. "Take care of our girl for us big-folk. Be sure we'll come collect her on the bright-moon!"

Konstance watches the goings on curiously. Remaining silent he pulls out a box of tobacco and a piece of paper and begins to wrap it together, forming a cigarette. once complete he licks the paper and wraps it together. Using an artificer's device for fire, he lights the cigarette and looks to the other fae. "You are aware fae cant be trusted. Minds like a bag of cats and just as fickle and capricious." He says as he exhales a plume of smoke.

GAME: Cryosanthia rolls diplomacy: (12)+8: 20

Merek begins dancing along with the fey while he nods a bit, then he manages to get a little bit tangled up into a mess of the nice fey!

Cryosanthia smiles at the fae around her, her eyes bright and glittering. She asks sofly, "My friends, if you will allow me to call you so, the Endless Winter has taken much from me, from us. We seek a way to end it. All our questions here lead to that end, something that will defeat Her. Destroy Her. End Winter, bring Spring. Do you have a such a thing, would you help us on the task on a Full Moon when you are most powerful? You have seen we are willing to trade, do you have something worth the exchange? Speak with the others please, I will return to singing for you."

Her words spoken, she does just that. Her voice going light as she sings of hope.

"Perhaps not," Seldan answers Konstance, gesturing for Pelka to hand him the girl. "But it is as she says," he nods to the singing Cryosanthia, but now speaking to the fae, his words translated by the spell. "We know of the endless winter. We intend to see her stopped, and we work towards that end. None know the endless winter better than the singing one. Perhaps ... we can protect her," he nods to the girl, "and you can help bring down the one that menaces us all." With that, he turns to take the girl back.

Merek begins dancing along with the fey while he nods a bit, then he manages to get a little bit up into a mess of the nice fey!

Sabina grins at Cryo's words then looks at all the little ones about her. "You hear that? What would the end of the Endless Winter be worth to you? I susspect the idea has merit and value of a special kind to you all. What say you?"

Several of the fae leave Konstance's vicinity, coughing and making ugly faces at him. In fact they pretty much vacate his vicinity entirely. Meanwhile the fae start singing along with Cryosanthia, bringing her little gifts now. They encourage the you all to drink with them. Specifically they insist that those of you who voleentereed to stay drink. It would be rude they insist, if their guests were to turn down their hospitality. So they bring out food as well. Wild rabbit caught and killed. Berries, acorns, and a dozen things made from their fruit. They bring out a veritable feast.

They sing a song and teach it to Cryosanthia. A song that says that there's no end to the endless winter, no safety or shelter from the storm. But there's light they say, in the summer-lands. In the endless spring and morn. Eventually they chase off everyone who didn't agree to stay with them, harrying them off into the night and keep their special ones. No one /really/ remembers what happens after that. Except to wake up several days later in the same place with vague memories of an epic party. There is one thing though, that they leave you with. One promise of help that echoes in your memories.

The names of the royal fae have been imparted to you, if only in the way of the wee ones. The Queen of Air and Darkness. The King of Light and Illusion. The King of the Slaugh. The Queen of the Wee Folk. And the Queen of Endless Winter. They, and they alone your memory whispers, might have the sort of power you seek. Only - of course... The Queen of Endless Winter is already your foe.

Cryosanthia's copied report

Cryo's AG Report handed out to the others covered these two logs:

Trisgwar

Trisgwar_(Part_2)