"I'll take your levity to mean you're not in need of assistance, Kennedy," Joey says, "If not for the urgency of our mission I would offer you a hand up."

He unsheathes his javelin and carefully reaches with it to pry open the case with the tip.  Once again he steels himself for an expected trap.  If nothing happens, he'll ask, "Ok so now what?"

Kennedy looks up, raising up at this point seemed like too much work. His eyes widen as he takes in the scene. The large bunny. A Joey reaching for a box with his spear.

He waits.

Emerald is frozen in anticipation. When Joey opens the case, he can see a necklace inside. In response to the "now what" question, the dirt scrawls "Wear it"

Emerald says, "...I dunno, Joey..."

Joey exhales sharply before going to recover the necklace.  Assuming picking it up with his gauntleted hand doesn't do anything he'll return to Emerald, kneel down like he's about to pray to Mecca, request, "If something bad happens, please take it off me," then puts the necklace on!

Still on the ground Kennedy watches Joey in amazement. His eyes wide in wonder.

"No offense Joey, but if you die, I know some guys who know some guys that might pay a pretty coin for that thing."

Emerald says, "Yeah... and then give it as a gift to royalty, only for the king to die and a nation collapse."

When Joey puts the necklace on, it glows lightly before the crystal Reverie is encased in starts to pulse with light. The crystal then fades away and Reverie falls to the floor, gasping for air as if just released from water or an air-starved tomb. But she is very much alive and very much free now.

Reverie lifts her eyes up and cranes her neck some to see the three visitors while still panting, catching her breath.

"None taken, my friend," Joey answers Kennedy, standing back up from his knelt position.  He turns to face Reverie, and during the crystal light show and comments, "It's good to have a practical mindset.  I think in this case I'm inclined to lean toward Emerald's practical caution."

When Reverie falls, he reaches to catch her but isn't fast enough, so instead he offers a hand-up.  "Greetings, Miss.  My name is Joey.  These are my friends Emerald and Kennedy.  Are you in need of healing?  Food or water?"

Finally realizing that he was still grounded, Kennedy rises to his feet. Between dusting off his shirt and pants he waves when introduced.

Reverie takes the hand-up.

"Thank you all for helping me;
Emerald, Joey, and Kennedy.
To you three who saw my need,
My name, dear friends, is Reverie."

She gives a low bow.

"In the crystal I am no more,
But the curse remains on me for sure.
A temp fix you wear 'round your neck.
But good enough to keep me in check."

Emerald raises an eyebrow. "What will it take to break the curse?"

Reverie responds,

"Sadly, I do not know for sure
How it is we'll find the cure.."

"Well met, Reverie," Joey says with a polite bow, "I like your charming poetry."

He chuckles.  "Which is apparently catchy.  Perhaps there's a clue to a cure on this necklace."

He takes it off to examine it.

Reverie's eyes go wide as Joey starts taking the necklace off and she starts to motion, but... gets frozen in a giant crystal like before. Frozen in the pose of waving her hands as if indicating "no don't" or some such.

Emerald covers her mouth. Then says, "...I guess it has to stay on for Reverie to remain free. She DID say the necklace was a temporary fix and that the curse is still in effect..."

This all seemed kind of familiar, to a point. Being trapped by magic was never a good thing . . . only an act of pure desperation could free her from this magical entrapment.

"This is no way for one to live. She's better off dead," and draws his rapier.

"Oh..." Joey says, frozen in place when he sees what happened.  "Well...  How embarrassing.  What a terrible curse!  I'm so sorry, Reverie.  Please be patient while I..."

He stops himself when he hears the alarming sound of a rapier being drawn.  "What the..?"

He draws his own sword and follows Kennedy's eyes to see where he's looking...  hoping to find that Kennedy was drawing his sword to fight some ambushers... not to slay an innocent bunny lady.

Reverie is unable to do or say anything, of course.

Emerald unsheaths her sword as well. But Emerald, Kennedy and Joey do not see or hear anything threatening.

Seeing no immediate threat, Emerald asks, "...Why are we drawing our swords?"

"To live one's life trapped by dark magic is like not having a life at all. If it were me, I'd ask to be killed." His anger flares, "I know the terror of living under some one else's control, and I would not wish it upon anyone else. Death is the only way out!" His hand grips his rapier even tighter. The brush of leather on pommel can he heard, as the room is deathly quiet.

He pauses to consider saying more. The painful memory of his past haunts him to the core. Ashamed he lowers his rapier knowing that the choice should be Reverie's to make. Not his. "I am sorry Reverie," he places his hand on the crystal encasing her.

He looks to Joey, "sorry my friend." Then turns to look at Emerald, "and to you little one."

"We must find a way to free her," he says desperately as he looks upon Reverie once more.

Joey stares and blinks a few times, flabbergasted.  "Yes we must," he echoes in agreement, sheathing his sword, "I'm glad you've come to your senses."

He then puts on the necklace to free Reverie, this time ready to catch her if she should collapse again.  "Sorry about that, Reverie."

He looks again to Kennedy and adds, "But I must ask, if death is the only way out, how is it you are alive now?  And that's not meant as a tease.  It's important that we know how you freed yourself."

Reverie is released from being frozen once more when Joey puts the necklace back on. She falls into his arms and looks lightly frightened, even shivering a little.

Reverie seems to burst out in quickened breath,
"I have so much life left to fill,
Please spare me, I don't want to be killed."

But she calms down some and says,
"It's quite alright, I'll be fine.
Just startled this little heart of mine."

Emerald sheaths her sword. She seems to be giving Kennedy a sad look. But she goes to give Reverie a reassuring pet. "We all got a startle. This isn't exactly a normal situation." She then looks back at Kennedy. "I second Joey's question. After that, I think we need to know a little more about you."

He looks to the floor, and kicks at specks of dust on the floor, much like a child would when he knew they had to confess for doing something wrong.

"It was some time ago. I lost my way and fell into a dark pact with an entity known only as 'The Dark One'. He, she, it, bound me to their service. It was utter terror . . ." His mouth goes dry, lost at what more to say.

Silence falls. He sniffs back a tear.

"I will not let anyone else live as I did." He looks into Reverie's eyes, "my blade is yours until you are free."

"It seems Reverie's curse is very different from what Kennedy suffered, so it looks as though we won't be gleaning any clues on how to free her from that any time soon," Joey surmises.  He releases Reverie once he's sure she's standing on her own.  "Please forgive any rudeness, but the three of us are on an urgent mission to track down a young lady who is a danger to herself so long as she continues on the path she is on...  As Kennedy apparently knows all too well.  You are welcome to join us, Reverie.  It may very well be the safest place for you to be right now."

Emerald nods to Kennedy. "Thanks for sharing."

Reverie finally does stand on her own (took her a bit as she was shaken and weak).

"I have no choice as it is anyway.
Because the curse, with you I must stay.
When farther from the wearer,
Crystal encases the curse bearer.

There are other things that are involved
But I can't say 'til the curse is resolved."

She then looks at Kennedy.

"I am truly sorry for your pain
And all the things you now disdain.
But I'm glad you feel this way,
Lest you not, and go astray.

These are the things that heroes feel
For if you didn't, you'd never heal."

Emerald nods. "She's right. We're all glad you chose not to stay the course. There are all too many who would continue the path of darkness out of bitterness and spite, forever feeling the pain and terror. But your choice is to never go back to that. Your choice will set you free. And you have my sword and song to help you, Kennedy."

She reaches up to pat Kennedy's side.

Kennedy gives Emerald a weak smile. There is only shame and guilt written on his face.

His eyes are void of any spark of life.

Joey gives Kennedy a manly shoulder-pat hoping to help snap the man out of his daze.  "I second what the ladies said.  But let's not forget about the damsel in distress we came out here looking to save.  Every passing moment puts her at greater risk, so let's get going."

He hurries out the door then looks back to make sure everyone is keeping up.

The new "member of the team" sticks with the group as they continue to follow what appear to have been the other lady's tracks. There is a trap here and there, some of which nearly succeed, but with the team on their toes, the 4 manage to avoid all traps. The tracks eventually lead inside a cave, where some distant murmurings can be heard echoing off the cave walls from deeper inside.

The murmurings sound like droned chanting.

Kennedy stops to listen careful, hoping to recognize the dialect; as well as remain quiet as they enter the cave.

---

^{02:35, Today: Kennedy rolled 28 using 1d20+10. Stealth.
02:34, Today: Kennedy rolled 17 using 1d20+8. Perception.}

Joey also stops to listen, but his attempts at being stealthy are understandably far less impressive than Kennedy's.  Regardless of what he hears, he motions for Reverie to hang back before cautiously continuing forward, sword and shield at the ready.

---

21:56, Today: Joey rolled 1 using 1d20-4. stealth check.
21:56, Today: Joey rolled 15 using 1d20. perc check.