In reply to Ben (msg # 436):

Whoohoo Mystal cheers delighted at their Swooshing execution and Oots declaration What Sayeth Thee.. be We off to see Thy Pappa anst Matta

"Oh boy..now were in for it" Togo chuckles. There was no telling what silliness would occur with fey. And pixies were among the worst of the bunch. He wasn't sure if they would be a good fit for watching the healer but anything was better than nothing.

Morgan lightly bit her lip, briefly hazarding the faun's suggestion.

She knew little of those folk.  While she did deem them more reliable than a pixie (but then...what wasn't?), she wasn't certain they would give the task its needful priority.

On the other hand, her heart did go out to the well meaning, fallen healer.  He wasn't a true adversary, to be dealt with in the most expedient manner possible.  Yet, he was dangerous, in his zeal, and folly -- or at least might still be.  It would be a risk.   She looked to the others.

"I don't know.  Florenza, honestly, do you think your people would understand how important it is, and be responsible in it?  We cannot afford a mistake, here."

The antics of the Fae cast a lighter mood over a very serious subject.   She admitted she had missed Flitter. And in combination with Mystal, and the dour Oote, it like a professional, ongoing, comedy.  But having pixies monitor the healer, and this tower, was straight out!

That was the stuff catastrophic mistakes were made of.

Florenza gives Morgan a slightly raised eyebrow.

"We aren't..."  the Faun begins.  She doesn't finish.  She doesn't have to... she just looks towards Flitter.  Everyone knows there is one kith among the Fey with a deserved reputation for not taking things seriously.

Well, maybe two if you count forest Gnomes as Fey.

The other Fey can take things very seriously.  Among the Treants, too seriously, by most standards.

"We can at least ask them," she suggests.  "I want to see home again, I am sure they would be grateful to your service to us, and the older Fauns among us, Fraeguld and Fiancha, they're very wise.  They would know if this is something we can do."

"It would do no harm to ask," the Healer says, knowing that the alternatives would involve either dying, or perhaps dying and then returning as something furry, but still, dying.  "I am sure I can resist any urges from the light for a few days, at least."

"Can we see Fauns AND Pixies," Flitter asks happily.

"It isn't all about fun," Florenza says.  "There are dangers in the forest too, you should know."

Flitter shrugs.

Pausing when Mia hears the fey talking about using some of their own to watch over the tower she shakes her head. And here I was thinking only of wizards. Togo we forgot completely about the local fey. They could easily watch over the tower and the healer. If he tries something the korrigans can make him dance and tie him up if they have to. The pixies can dazzle him and make him sleep. It should be just fine so long as he is watched. That would work and maybe if the other wizards come in due time they can look into things and settle it once and for all. That sounds fair enough I think."

At least that's how she felt. Then Mia can't help but laugh considering Oote and flitters conversation about joy and dizziness Combined with Mystals reaction. "I sometimes get dizzy myself when I spin around to much while dancing. Dancing is joy to me... Oh I remembered that. Mmmm. it's nice to remember something once in a while."

Mia looks at Morgan speaking softly. "I think the Korrigans can and will take it very serious. Especially when they hear about what happened to florenza and Oote. It's also true that they could call on other Fey. Like the treants who will show up no doubt to check things out if they hear about it. Treants are protectors of the forest and other fey. Also it occurs to me Togo can't be the only druid. Isn't there a fair chance that other druids might call this particular forest their home?"

After the healer speaks Mia nods. "Yes! Let's ask them as soon as possible. I am sure they will be willing to help."

Moving us along...

Back outside the tower, there is a different feeling in the air.  The Light from the portal was a light of power and energy and life, but not of this place- it was life that forced and intruded and burned itself into the world.

The Fey forest, on the other hand, is life that simply is, and rejoices in its own being.

It is spring, and shoots and buds are first opening- the early flowers are out, and bees are exploring, and the velvety moss is growing.

Oote rubs his eyes.  He hasn’t seen this in a long, long while.  Flitter takes his hand, but for the moment, doesn’t cajole him into flight again.

“Do you remember the way home?”  She asks.

Pixies are notorious homebodies.  They rarely leave their familiar territory.  One reason for this is that they have a poor memory, and they can easily get lost.

“No,” Oote says.

“Do you remember anything about your home?”

“Trees.”

“Well I know of a Pixie tribe,” Florenza says.  “It’s not far from our glade. Maybe we'll be lucky, and it's his tribe.“

“How do we get there?” Flitter asks.  “Do you know the way?”

“Past the purple fortune-flowers,*  and the fragrant butterfly-vines,”  Florenza says.

“And that would be?”

“We must follow the river north to find my folk.  We live along the river.”


*Togo has heard of these, being a specialist in magical plants.  It is said that the flowers hold luck, and wearing them brings you good luck.  But it is also said that you need to have a significant portion of your body covered by them for this to work.  For the Pixies, this is not a problem.  A handful of petals could be made into a nice outfit for a Pixie.  But anyone larger would probably need to devastate a whole field of fortune-flower plants.  This is probably why they are so rare.  Fey folk can be very hostile to people ruining their flowers.

Delighted by the morning sun Mystal skimmed the river; teasing its surface playfully with her fingers and flicking drops at the adjacent flowers. Banking to the left and spiralling upwards for several seconds before diving sweeping around several trees and through several flowers. We're off to see the orchard the wonderful orchard of Oot, because, because, because; because of the wonderful things he's done
Comeing to a halt several feet infront of and above the others

Good morrow to Thee one anst all. One doth trust Thy night was relaxing and filleth with dreams of dewdrops anst sugarplums on smiling warmly at most save the halfling who she blinked at, whilst deciding how to respond to him this day.

"Not having to worry about being stretched to death has certainly lowered my stress level. Do doth dig dat?" he says with a smile and picks a fortune flower and puts it in her hair. "Here, this may bring you a bit of luck lass".

Assuming, then, it's off to find the other Fey.

As Togo certainly knows, Pixies and their kin must be cautious about what kind of flowers they can wear in their hair.  It's a matter of scale.  They do like wearing flowers, but they can use only the smallest of blossoms for this.

The fortune flowers are not that small.  Putting one in a Pixie's hair is more or less putting a large purple sun-bonnet on her head.

There does seem to be a large number of potent magical plants in this area.  The party noticed the same thing before reaching the tower.

Florenza wonders if there is a connection.  Hopefully, not.  Hopefully, it is the magic of the river, and not the tower.  But still... maybe the energy from the tower played a role.

As they travel along, away from the austere, bright interior of the tower and into the lush and fragrant world of magical forest in the spring, cracks slowly form in the wall of Seriousness that Oote has spent so long building.

Two cheery, frolicking fey maidens... no Pixie can stay serious in such company for long.  He struggles... but Mystal notes the concessional smile.. when Oote thinks no one is looking.

The intent was to find Fauns, but sometimes, in the Fey Forest, it's what finds you.

There is motion in the plants around the party- small, rustling and twittering sounds, quick flashes of glitter, and plants waving around where something just was.  But nothing is visible.

In reply to Ben (msg # 445):

Mystal's eyes sparkle at the glimpse of the waving plants. She clasps Oot by the arm giving it a friendly squeeze. Motioning to the others

Be Thee all ready to frolic ast One doth suspect there be a Glitterdust anst associated Jitterbugs hereabouts she informs Seeith yonder Mistal adds pointing at several different locations

"I think there be fey about he says cheerily." He quickly casts detect magic and rotates around like a lighthouse beacon determining what the magics he detects are as best he can.

Something like a spray of little sparks comes out of a bush, aimed squarely at Togo.

A few hit him, and they burn and sting, but on the other hand, they certainly did show up well with the “Detect Magic” spell.

The sparks are followed up by a few tiny flying creatures, at first, they seem nothing but points of light.

And he hears a tiny voice shout "It's a wizard!"

One of the puzzling thing about the Fey is the absurd range of sizes they take.  The difference between largest and smallest, in scale, far exceeds the difference between Humans and the tallest giants.  (apart from purely legendary beings which must surely not exist, because they would be impossible to hide).

Pixies, despite their apparent small size, are nowhere near the smallest.  There are the Petals, and the even smaller Gorse, and others.

Togo and the others hear a tiny, shrill voice shouting at them:

“Surrender your captives, villainous giants, free those Pixies or feel our wrath!”

Something like a tiny human with wings of orange fire hovers near Togo’s ear.  It is about 2 inches long, and brandishes a flaming sword about half its height.  It approaches menacingly… possibly meaning to engage Togo’s earlobe in combat.

"Greetings little ones. I applaud your bravery.." Togo pauses a moment to pat out some smoking embers and then continues. "..but I'm not a wizard and further more our lovely pixies with us are here of their own free will." He continues checking himself over as the smoke whispers dissipate. "Say, that's a mighty nice sword you got there but I think my ear doesn't need any exploration that this time."

Mia makes her way outside following the others. The sunlight felt good and she liked the air outside of the tower. She looks worried for a moment when it's obvious Oote has no idea how to go home. Then smiles as Florenza essentially comes to the rescue. "Well if we can't find your tribe your welcome to come with us Oote. One more pixie certainly won't hurt."

She smiles at Mystal watching her play over the surface of the water, as well as generally having fun! "I think the flower is lovely Togo. Mystal, Flitter both of you can get a view from above if you like. If there is a tribe of fey close by your more likely to see them from afar then we will."

She looks curiously at Mystal. "Jitterbugs?" She knew there were fey about, however she hadn't a clue what a jitterbug might be.

She was rather impressed if a bit surprised that the tiny fey would eagerly threaten giants that halflings and humans must appear to it. Fortunately so far his attack hadn't seriously hurt Togo. "It's true flitter and Mystal are our friends. We came here as a group and rescued Oote and Florenza the Faun from a tower not far from here. We are trying to find Oote's tribe so he can be a proper pixie again. He's gone all serious and we want him to be able to play and laugh again. My name is Mia, that's Togo that you zapped, Flitter is over there, that one is Mystal, this one is Oote and she is Florenza. Might you help us please? We were briefly prisoners as well before we all escaped together."

In reply to Ben (msg # 448):

In support of her Feykin, Mystal snatched up a twiglike stick and turned to face the longlegged outsiders.  Indeed surrender Our kinfolk or suffer our chastisement. she challenged the nearest non fey, with the stick she waved about menacingly.

"Uh...yeah" Togo says obviously not impressed rolling his eyes hoping it didn't get to a point of real violence.

At the moment of Mystal’s “defection” the little fiery fey turns toward some nearby bushes and says “Aha!  I told you!  Get them all, they are your enemies!”

Whereupon, several small arrows fly out from the woods, being launched by Pixies.  And… they are the legendary Pixie Sleep Arrows.

Togo seems doomed… except that Togo has an Animal Companion, and it’s a bear, and now that the group is back on the move, the bear can join them again.  Bravely, the Bear takes an arrow for Togo, and then.. begins to slow down as the Pixie spell takes effect.

The little fiery fey attacks Togo, and suddenly, the little swoosh of flame from the sword grows in size.  It’s all of three inches long now, but Togo realizes… if that thing actually connects, it’s going to hurt.  This guy is for real!

Flitter seems to realize something has gone Terribly Wrong.

“It’s a Spark!” she says.  “A Wicked Fire Fey!  But other Fey believe them… “  Her voice trails off, and then she adds, quietly and sounding a little baffled,  “Why didn’t I?”

“Human influence,” Oote says in his bored sounding voice.  “Makes you think more rationally, not like a silly Pixie.”

"Ok. Enough is enough." Togo says clearly getting angry. He casts wind wall so that both the little evil fey or their arrows won't be able to harm him.

"If they don't knock it off, everyone stand behind me" Togo says flatly. "I'll show them wizard"

In reply to Ben (msg # 453):

Mystal stars at the appearance of the long flame. She looks about slightly confused. at the Feys action Brethren surely use of open flame be counter the principals of our heritage. Such unpleasantness anst danger. Mystal exclaimed looking about in dismay. Flitted doth yon fire-eater hath sway over our kinfolk we needest wrestle it away anst restore liberty to each. she squeeked concerned by the fire. Turning she angled towards the Spark gesturing; a mist formed engulfing the Spark and quickly turning to condensation soaking him and inhibiting the flames.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:38, Tue 27 Aug 2013.

Mia was completely shocked by mystals reaction wondering if she was joking with them. blinking she hadn't a clue what was going on until flitter explains. "Oh I see. Perhaps I can help. I will stand back if this doesn't work togo."

Getting out a pot or something suitable and preferably made of metal she then attempts to use it to scoop the spark out of the air brining it to the ground. Likely if it connects theres a metallic clang noise. her intent isn't to kill but to capture the fey as the pot comes into contact with the ground effectively making a airtight prison. "If I catch the Spark it will have no choice but to put the fire out. It probably won't hold it forever but I bet he will be willing to negotiate if the spark loses control of the other fey."

If the fey is hit there is a faint kaboooong sound from the pot/pan. "Take that! You need to behave!"
This message was last updated by the player at 06:08, Wed 28 Aug 2013.

The Spark, as Flitter called it, attempts to attack Togo again, even as Mystal tries to douse him, but the tiny creature is repelled forcefully by Togo's Wind Wall.  He meets Mia's pan at a significantly higher relative speed than Mia had expected.

From the concealment of the bushes, a score of small Fey eyes watches the fire fey execute a graceful trajectory up through the canopy of a nearby willow tree, and far out over the forest.  As they follow the flight they comment:

"Ooh, she got all of that."

     "Good swing, excellent form, is she using a twelve inch?"

"Yes, I think so.  Twelve inch copper pan."

     "And the follow through was superb."

"I think that one's over a hundred yards, easy."

     "Y'see the way her lead foot's planted?  And she got him dead on, yeah that's the way to do it."

     "Mmm... good stance is important.  So is a good pan, though.   A little omelet pan won't give you that kind of distance."

"I think he's still going."

Finally, a few bold ones make their appearance and step... well, fly... forward.

Pixies.

One approaches Mystal and asks, "Just to be clear, are you or are you not a captive of these tall ones?"

In reply to Ben (msg # 457):

Mistal blinked in surprise as the Spark's pan assisted propellant. Watching as it flew through the air its firey sword creating an afterburn effect. Oooo yon doth appear it wouldst smart quite some. she declares. Turning to watch the pixies approach and giving them a friendly wave Greetings Feykin One be Mystal anst yon ist Flitter, Oot, Florenza We with assistance of these longlegged hat rescued Oot anst Florenza. she informs then introduces the longleggeds to her Feykin She considers for a moment We shouldst search out yon Spark anst bring him affor the Feycouncil she suggests
This message was last edited by the player at 06:19, Mon 09 Sept 2013.

Blushing slightly at the feys comments Mia looks around slightly startled by just how effective her frying pan had been. She smiles slightly at Mystal when she explains they were all friends. She couldn't help but smile slightly at the fey as they come out. "Is it really over? It's nice to meet you and I hope your all free of the sparks wicked influence. I hope it didn't hurt any of you. Togo maybe you should make certain the spark isn't going to come back to make more trouble. Although I am not entirely sure anyone will be able to easily find it again."

She asks the other fey wondering what they would do. She also thought just perhaps these pixies could very well be the tribe they were looking for. "I am worried that the spark might try to control you again. It's possibly you might need to have a gathering of the fey to decide what to do. Also do any of you know this pixie here we are trying to find his tribe. He calls himself Oote."

Togo watches the Spark fly. Well, THAT was certainly not expected. One could see numerous heads tilt in unison as the Spark gained ludicrous altitude and vanished from sight. That was certainly one way of breaking the ice sort to speak. Togo kept his wind wall up until he fairly sure the situation had turned away from being violent. It was probably a good thing too for his next spell may have very well doomed them all. Instead he was thinking while the conversation continued with the other party members.

When Sparks Fly
they do so high
with windwall and pan
they make flight quite grand

up up up they do go
into the sky
so far you know
that when they return
they are quite aglow

what a rush to fly and return
will they know where to go
to find their friends by yonder urn

step up step up, next in line
for your turn to fly divine

Still about, folks.   Just sitting back and enjoying the show.  The last bit was so endearingly humorous, it didn't need anything else!  ~_^
This message was last edited by the player at 18:18, Wed 28 Aug 2013.