Stress seemed high for some reason and taking a queue from Zander Kristi tries a song.  She would have figured one for Zander ell but could not find the perfect song to what he said.  Still a relaxation song for some,

"I have wist, sin i couthe meen,"
"That children hath by candle light"
"Her shadewe on the wal iseen,"
"And ronne therafter all the night."
"Bisy aboute they han ben"
"To catchen it with all here might."
"And whom they catchen it best wolde wene,"
"Sannest it shet out of her sight,"
"The shadewe catchen they ne might,"
"For no lines that they couthe lay."
"This shadewe i may likne aright"
"To this world and yesterday."

Singing the song in her voice half trained and half natural talent.  And one of the few times she had let loose with a song.

Zander bobs his head to Kristi's vocal jam.

He's glad that his favorite orphan is joining them on this trip.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:50, Wed 24 Jan.

Saskia smiled and hummed along with tune that Kristi was singing.  She had no idea about the words, and was preoccupied continuing to work on Victoria's shoulders.  The redheaded healer simply nodded with genuine affection when Victoria spoke in seriousness about their mission and their parts in it; but she had to chuckle at her erudite friend's remarks about trading favors.  Her hands deftly kneading away some of the tension.

"How are you getting all knotted up like this?" Saskia noted with only half-mock incredulity, "I think that your knots have knots on them..."  She resumed humming, her fingers working in time with the rhythm.

Clotilde was in a state of melancholia. She didn't ask for any of this, and although she'd now had an explanation as to why she felt so discombobulated, it was the worst thing she could have heard. Her spirit, or soul, or whatever you wanted to call it, was having a hard time coping, and she hoped Luna could do something about it. She was not ready to go, although with the way others had reacted to Heska's news, it almost felt like some of them were ready to let her go. She was especially hurt by Saskia's lack of communication. She understood the shock, and how hard it might be, but the lack of any sort of communication with her was making it worse.

It didn't help that Heska tended to interrupt or flat out shut her out at times to speak, rendering her unable to voice thoughts, although she wasn't surprised. To hear Heska speak, the body that was hers, was no longer hers, and it was a courtesy that the Valkyrie even let her speak. At least that's what it seemed like to her.

She sat quietly, brooding, stewing, sharing her space with Heska, and generally feeling, for lack of a better term, blue.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:30, Wed 24 Jan.

Victoria winced as Saskia found those knots on knots.  "I spend to much time writing and reading.  I stay up late trying to research more things to help us magically, and I also write down what we learn so I do not forget it.  And I read just things to amuse me.  But I hunch over when I do those things, many I do in bed in bad light.  And I think I sleep wrong, because I wake up so stiff."

Goddess, she was babbling!

"Forgive me.  That just feels so good I feel like letting everything out.  That's not like me."

Victoria's stream of consciousness ramble brought a slight, crooked smile of amusement to her burgundy lips.  She'd known that her friend was a boisterous and less-inhibited drunk, but it seemed that there were other ways of getting Victoria to open up as well.  The young lady seemed to have a fair bit (of just about everything, but anxiety seemed the most germane for the moment) pent-up within her.  And Saskia nodded in agreement, "Better than to have to keep it all inside and have it fester ...  You are amongst friends."

She paused for a moment, her hands continuing to work, "But there is time enough..." and Saskia stopped short, "time ... enough..."

Time enough... and the red-headed healer had to look away for a moment.  Her eyes finally falling upon Clotilde-who-was-now-Heska sitting alone off to the side.  Saskia averted her eyes, pursing her lips.

She apologized to Victoria, "There is still plenty to do here... but, I.. I need a break."  Swallowing hard, Saskia didn't really wait for an answer from her erudite friend and disengaged her hands.

She quietly approached Clotilde, not necessarily sneaking up on her, but more a tentative and hesitant gait of someone who didn't quite know what to say or do, but felt compelled to say or do something.  Tucking in behind the grieving blonde, Saskia wrapped her arms around Clotilde.  Resting her chin on Clo's shoulder, she let her forehead touch her friend's neck and cheek.  Saskia held on tight for a long, long moment in silence, stubbornly refusing to let go and to let the time drag out.

A light sniffle escaped her nose and that was when Saskia noticed the tears welling up in her eyes and drifting down her cheeks.  Finally, she asked gently, "Will ... Will you walk with me for a little bit?"

She melted, as she knew she would, when Saskia finally approached her, and wrapped her up. When she saw Saskia's tears, her own tears welled up as well, unable to stop. She nodded in the affirmative, and got up. _{I'm scared} she said, barely getting it out, and she took Saskia's hand, and let her lead her away.

Saskia got up slowly, but took Clotilde's hand.  She held fast, not wanting to let go and trying to make sure that they weren't separated.  "I ..I know." was the meek reply, "Me, too ... I-I can't lose you ... again..."  The words tumbled out then silence.

She started a slow meander towards the fort and one of their favorite lookouts.  She hoped that there wasn't anyone there, but would make due as needed.

The redheaded healer pursed her lips as she reviewed what Cosette had told her about what was reputed contained in the Book of Fates.  Saskia had asked about those whose time had come, whose skein had been cut.  The exchange had been tense, making angry and then afraid in turn.  The answer had been rather emphatic:

"No one comes back.  That thread is tied; their Fate sealed."
"Even prematurely?"
"Nothing is premature when it comes to the Fates, my child.  Kismet weaves unerringly..."

The response still tasted bitter in her mouth.  a bitter pill.  Another sniffle.  With more tears.

Climbing the stairs to the ramparts in quiet - only the light scuff of leather on cobblestones could be heard, she savored the touch of Clotilde's hand in hers.  When they reached the top, Saskia let her eyes wander over the landscape of the valley as it stretched out before them.  But her eyes always drifted back to the blonde warrior.  "Do you remember that first night?" she reminisced, asking rather rhetorically, "I made a pledge under Luna's gaze to be with you.  That I wouldn't leave you again."  There was sadness in her eyes, as the knowledge that she might not be able to keep that promise weight upon her.  It wasn't just the sacrilege to Luna that hurt though, the ache was deep and even more profound in a different part of her heart.  Saskia fully devoted to Luna, committed in every way.  But, she also loved Clotilde.  And apparently, that was almost too much for her to bear.

Saskia bemoaned, "It's not fair, Clo."  But, it was a flat dry statement, devoid of true passion - more filled with genuine resignation and profound sadness.  "I don't want you to go." she blurted, her eyes pleading and her gravelly timbre a mixture of frustration and terror, "You can't go!"  Then realizing the futility of such a command, she started to plead, "Don't go!  Don't go where I can't follow..."

Victoria watched Saskia leave, not saying a word.  She whispered a prayer as she left, her heart filling with remorse.  This adventure hadn't even started and already, her heard was filled with dread.  The hands on her shoulders and neck had felt so good, but she still felt worn.  Zander could sing all the songs he wanted, she was feeling nothing but pain.  Pain for her friends.  Pain for the world.  Pain for herself.  Why should she go on?

She looked at the remaining group.  "I... I must leave.  I have to go to my room.  I cannot stay here any longer." she stammered, trying to hold back her tears.  "See... see you in the morning."  With that, she literally ran from the room.

Christa nods, taking custody of the Kitten, "Are you really putting this on 'deposit' there have to be much more practical ... and inexpensive ways to find someone to care for this... perhaps one of Caroline's orphans would be more than pleased for a few coins... "

Christa takes custody of the kitten and does seem pleased to be in possession of the thing, regardless of what she's said, "If you're telling me she needs a home, i might be able to find her a place as familiar for an apprentice witch... or wizard... "

She provides you with the provisions requested, making notations in her ledger on your account.  One of the various clerks gathers your requested supplies for travel, packaging them nicely in tidy parcels wrapped in linen and tied with twine.  The Magic Shoppe was obvious a first class provider of supplies for a reason.

The day travel is pretty routine.  You're all quite familiar with the Misty Valley at this point, having grown up here.  The Portal itself is an isolated structure, that has been there around for generations.  They even predate generations of elves, which makes them truly old and mysterious on how they came into existence.

Popular theories are wide and varied.  Some presume they're ancient artifacts of a lost age, crafted eons ago, and surviving the knowledge of how they were made.  Others say the Divine brought them into existence and they are an artifact ancient design that requires some sacrifice of mana to operate.  A few determine that they are a natural formation occurring from the ley lines that intersect one another.  Regardless, they exist, and have been in use for longer than anyone can remember.

The Emerald Isles, are actually a little bit of an anomaly, a little bit isolated (by accident or design is uncertain) and requires a native or a guide to properly path to.  It's fortunate that you have both in the form of Saskia.  Most of you know she calls the place home and goes home to visit from time to time most recently over All Hollow's Eve.  You linger the night there to get a good nights rest to start in the morning, and get queued for travel in the morning.  Between Saskia's knowledge of where you're going, and Victoria's resources to cover expenses the arrangements are made smoothly.

For those that have used the portals before, its a little disconcerting.  The 'return' from travel is a little rough leaving most of you disoriented and nauseous.  Saskia is the only one that feels okay stepping out of the portal.  When you feel well enough to look around, you find yourself on a slightly raised mound of ground with stone structures around it an an altar in the center {Think stonehenge}.  You're all positioned around the alter.

It's currently a few days after Halloween (early November), it's morning, and Sol is up, but you all know he'll be retiring early and yielding to Nyx soon enough.  It's further north than the Misty Valley which is reflected in the temperature being a few degrees lower.  It's also clear grass lands just about as far as the eye can see, with light wooded areas here and there allowing for cutting winds to blow freely.

Mei pursed her lips thoughtfully looking about slowly.

She wasn't sure what she was expecting, though this was... interesting.  It felt like a lot of nothing, and a rather cold nothing at that.  Wide acres of rocky soil with tough fauna that grew in the unforgiving climate.

Slender fingers pull her travel cloak a little around her shoulders as a sudden gust blew through the area.

There was nothing in any direction to discern the way they should go.  Worse... there was no portal here to actually go home.  Usually portal travel was linear, taking them from one portal to another.  At the moment... they were definitely not at a portal.  Did something go wrong?  We're they stuck here?


Mei tilts her head to regard Saskia to see if this was the expected outcome or if there was a note of alarm in her demeanor.

"Do you perhaps have a suggestion of direction?"

Zander had been psyched to travel through the magical portal, but then he actually did it, and it was horrible.  It felt like waking up from a nightmare in someone else's body.

Zander quickly checks that he is indeed in his own body.  Yes, all his familiar parts are there, but not all of them functioning as expected.  His inner ears, for example, seem to be slacking.  Zander stumbles sideways two steps and falls over onto his hands and knees.  He stares at the ground which is still dipping and swaying, opens his mouth, and prepares to lose his lunch.  Oddly, nothing happens.

"Why didn't anyone tell me?" he moans, more to the universe than to anyone in particular.

Zander goes from crawling to sitting on the ground.  He pulls a bottle of wine from his pack, tooths the cork loose, and pounds back more than a cup's worth in one pull.

"Give me a few minutes, please."

With the cold, there were very few flowers that were available to pickup along the way to the portal.  Saskia had made sure to bring a small gift - in this case, just a finely polished rock from one of the local stream beds; it was granite, but had a streak of red ferrite running through it which reminded the red-headed healer of her own locks.  She continued to rub the smooth rock in her hand as they'd made their way to the portal and even continued to pass it over her fingers as paid the mana and passed through the gate.

Saskia had forgotten what it was like to travel the first time through the portal.  For her it had become relatively routine, having passed through it many time over the years - both with her family and on her own.    She held up a hand and simply nodded to Zander and the others, "Oh, yeah.  Uh... transition nausea..."  Her burgundy lips were pursed for a moment before she offered, "Just give it a moment to pass."  She tried to gently guide her friends (starting with Clotilde, first, of course) off to the side to ensure they didn't block out any other travellers.

Standing slightly off to the side from the others, while she let them recover, Saskia pulled the fur-lined collar of her heavy woolen cloak up around her neck and ears.  She pushed her hair out of the way, letting it cascade down the outside of the cloak.  She took in a deep breath, allowing the crisp air to fill her lungs.  A light sigh escaped her lips as she exhaled, "Invigorating..."

Turning to answer Mei, a light smile touched her lips.  "Yes..." Saskia breathed, "Well, sort of expected.  This is the southern junction.  So, while this portal services a fair few destinations.  None of them are towards 'The North', which is what I believe we seek."  At least, that is what she presumed.  She'd always been told that was simply the direction that this confluence of ley lines flowed.  Saskia frowned slightly, "It is said, this place is laden with magic and the veil to the First World is thin..." she rubbed her fingers together to emphasize the closeness of the two planes, "I'd hoped we'd see ... some one... some Fey, but apparently not."  She knew they could be shy around strangers.

"Hmm,..." she begged of the others while they recovered, "Give me a moment."

Given the circle of stones, she moved away from the portal and the altar and into the surrounding field for a moment.  When she found a small fairy circle, Saskia simply gave the small river stone a light kiss and then placed it in the middle of the circle of mushrooms.  [Language unknown: "Éomicer us Ceámo (Preallich Is pl capr)... E thtr masi ar Olfiil Intinerat, e essenthas."] she intoned before stepping away and rejoining the others.

Rubbing her hands, she asked with a slight bounce in her step, "How is everyone feeling?  My family lives southeast of here.  But, I suspect that we want to head North - towards Belfast.  Or perhaps Donegal."  She seemed slightly less certain about those destinations, which was likely due to the fact that she was less familiar with the North of the Isle and the South, "We should be able to find an inn along the way..."

Zander perks up a little.  Is it the wine?  If so, it sure acts quickly.

"You want fairies?" he asks Saskia.  "I know a few tricks."

Sitting cross-legged on the ground he takes one more undainty swig of wine, throws open his cloak, and starts plucking out a tune of single notes.  The music rises and falls like gentle, mesmerizing, breeze-blown waves on a lake.  The song is quite mellow and doesn't have the sometimes jarring energetic edge that most of Zander's songs do.  In a second uncharacteristic move Zander starts to whistle an accompanying melody, giving the effect of two artists, one playing the strings and one playing a woodwind.  It's pretty and really does evoke a sense of the mystical fey.

Soon as he stops whistling, shimmering silhouettes of two fairies appear and start frolicking and dancing to the music.

"Anyone else want some wine?" he offers, nodding to the bottle sitting open nearby.

"Kristi, can you call out to fairies magically?" he asks as he plays.

"Sara, Mei, see if you can find small stones and stack them into little balanced columns 5 or 6 high."

"Victoria, do you have anything to write with and some small scraps of paper?  Write these phrases out on separate scraps in as feminine a script as you can and let them float down to the ground:  Do geese see god?"  He pauses a moment to let that sink into her memory.  "Eva, can i stab bats in a cave?"  Another pause.  "Live not on evil."

Zander beams with a glimmer in his eye as if he is just about to tell you, and only you, a juicy secret.  He starts singing.

"In a tree by the brook, there's a songbird who sings."
"Sometimes all of our thoughts are misgiven."

"There's a feeling I get when I look to the West,"
"and my spirit is crying for leaving."
"In my thoughts I have seen rings of smoke through the trees,"
"and the voices of those who stand looking."

"And it's whispered that soon if we all call the tune."
"Then the piper will lead us to reason,"
"and a new day will dawn for those who stand long,"
"and the forests will echo with laughter."

This is a long song.  Zander goes on for quite a while before reaching the bridge.  At one point the dancing fairies wink out and disappear, but Zander summons them back, this time they appear a bit more lithe and voluptuous at the same time.  By the time he's reached the instrumental bridge the song has picked up the tempo and energy.  During the lengthy solo it starts sounding more like one of the bard's wailing, power chorded rock songs.  Zander squeezes his eyelids shut for many seconds to concentrate on the solo, sweat beading on his forehead.

He leaps to his feet dramatically.  His long blonde hair flows a half step behind his head and his cloak flutters as if blown by a wind that just isn't there as he dances around in place almost as frenetically as he plays the guitar.  In a high, nearly falsetto voice he belts out...

"And as we wind on down the road"
"our shadows taller than our soul."
"There walks a lady we all know"
"who shines white light and wants to show"
"how everything still turns to gold."

After he plays the final note

"And she's buuuuuuying the staaaaairway to Heeeeeaaaaven."

Zander feels so vivacious and virile when he finishes the song.  He looks around.  Are there any fairies around.  If so he will convivially lift the nearest one of them up with an open hand and plant a welcoming kiss on her.

Clo nearly retched when stepping through. She'd only does this once before, on the one occasion that she'd come with Saskia to her home, and it was sort of bittersweet that she was returning.

Heska was slightly annoyed that the form she was in would react so, being a Valkyrie she was used to travel of this sort, but she couldn't deny the loveliness of the terrain and the climate, and felt much better in this place. She felt like they were finally getting somewhere.

Ugh said Clotilde, her head still spinning.

Kristi after passing through the portal feels gross....heck she is ready to hurl but forces herself not to.  Hearing it is because of transition she takes a moment to center herself just like they taught her.  Although she was horrible at the monastery she did still pick up a trick or too.  Once her head is on right is when she can pay attention again.

It did not matter if it was cold or not this was an adventure which of all things she loved.  Yes the travel sucked but the here and now was beautiful in it's own right.  She too for now draws her cloak up to help shield against the wind.

When pressed about about magic to do with fey she was about to respond but Zander went into a song again.  While she did not know the song so could not support vocally she could do one other thing.  She could dance and that was another thing she was truly good at...and it helped she enjoyed it too.  Her hopes is if the beauty of music does not work maybe dancing would.

Something worked.

---

00:31, Today: Zander Val Banjur rolled 24 using 1d20+8.  Diplomacy

25 (+1 for charming) if the diplomacy target "could be attracted to" Zander.

Vague clapping can be heard from somewhere around the hilltop.

It's abruptly stopped among a few insistent shushes.

It's soft and very vague and easily overly looked as a trick of the breeze or the wind.

---

You're free at this point to proceed onward, or if you're inclined you can linger and investigate.

Zander hears clapping.  Now, it must be said that in his mind he hears showers of applause at the end of every performance, but this wasn't just his active imagination.  Was it fairies?  Maybe.  Or maybe it was local children hiding in the bushes.  Either way, Zander is pleased.  They liked the song whoever they are, and that shows they have excellent taste in music.

Calmly, so as not to spook the timid sorts out there, he heads casually in the direction of the claps and shushes.  He nods to Kristi, with an expression that says 'good job, it worked.'  Many of the others had helped too.  Along the way he plays a quieter, more subdued version of the melody.

"Hello new friends.  So glad you liked the song."

He really hopes it's fairies

...or pretty girls.

Victoria too clapped.  "Bravo, we come as friends.  Let us rejoice and dance with each other.  We have friends, love and joy to spread!"

Victoria was still feeling a little out of sorts, but this was the sort to make things right.  Music, dance, song and love.  That was universal, and she would do all she could to make it happen.

Saskia chuckled lightly, "They're watching us."  The light lilt in her contralto betrayed her amusement at both Zander's antics and reticence of the fey guardians who usually patrolled near the gate.  The redheaded healer gestured towards the hilltop and grabbed both Victoria's and Clotilde's hands to lead the others there; up and away from the portal proper, "They're eager for more."

Since the more musically inclined pair seemed to ready to engage with the faeries with song, Saskia figured a little time to unwind (and shake off the portal transition) might be in order.  She bade Kristi and Zander to follow and to sing to their hearts content, "C'mon!  You definitely have an appreciative audience waiting ..."

Heska/Clotilde followed along happy to be on solid ground.

Heska was a little irritated that their progress might be slowed, but Clotilde on the other hand was eager to have something to be happy about, and the distraction was a good thing.

Kristi for most part cuts back on the dancing now that the music had stopped and more openly scans and observes the entirety of the area and see if she can glimpse where the claps came from.

Victoria sings, as best she can, for she knows Zander's music and this is not so different.  She wants them to to know they are friends, and how better?  She is not much of a dancer, but she will try.  After all, if a Princess cannot dance, what good is she?