As the group travels through the vortex of light, they can feel a strange sensation which was not present on the other occasions they traveled through the portals.  There is a feeling of being light headed, and of the colours dancing in enigmatic patterns that are almost hypnotic.  So dazzlingly bright do the lights become that they eclipse everything else, enveloping each in a scintillating cocoon. Moments seem to slow into infinity, as if each person was somehow in their own private universe, travelling for eternity...no one else, just you and the endless continuum spread before you in all its glorious and profound silence...

Luke...

Malcolm...

Rhic...

Moon Child...

   Everyone awakens to the scent of fresh leaves, and the feel of dampness on their skin.  Above you is a canopy of ancient grey beech trees...the sun filters through the green ceiling in a few places, pales rays of light where dust motes dance and sparkle.  The sounds of a multitude of birds can be heard piping merrily, squawking noisily, or whistling curiously, the sounds echoing through the branches.  Nearby something scurries into the foliage, rustling the thick undergrowth for a moment before it disappears once more.  It would appear to be early morning, perhaps an hour after sunrise...

   Shakes his head and blinks, pressing his palms to his temples as he sits up.  Scanning the area around him, he he guesses he is in some sort of forest, somewhere.  Still trying to get the strange vision out of his mind, he turns left and right to see if his companions are nearby.
   "Everyone okay?  Did we all make it out?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:17, Mon 02 Apr 2012.

 She woke to a familiar smell, and when she opened her eyes, the woods seemed quite familiar. She wasn't sure where she was, but she knew forests. She'd almost bet there were squirrels looking down on them from the trees. She sat up and dusted off damp leaf litter and broken stems of small forest plants from her hands. With a sigh of relief, she saw none of those she could see had landed in poison ivy, oak or sumac. That was a boon!
 "I'm ok, just shaken up. Is everyone else ok?"

  "Yeah, I'm in one piece." Rhic sounded off as he got up and dusted off his knees. "There's no one firing at us and no one trying to spoon our brain out with a melon-baller, so we're good."
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:01, Mon 02 Apr 2012.

"Me too," Malcolm said checking himself out. 'Didn't pee on myself, so that's better than usual' he thought to himself.

He looked around with his Sight and his eyes using his considerable training as skills looking for danger.

He also pulled his iPhone from his pocket to see if it worked, and if it worked, would it tell him where they were?

 "Did any of you...dream or anything on that trip? Let me tell you, that was a longer and different kind of trip than when I went through the gate the first time. I wonder why? Anybody got any ideas?"

 She bent down to retrieve the gate device, to make sure it wasn't damaged. Then she looked around while scratching a mosquito bite on her arm. She could almost swear they were home, but with the gates, who knew? They could be anywhere. Still...it was at least warm, so hopefully they didn't need to worry about cold weather. Rain might be a different issue.

 "So, lets take stock, ok? What do you all have in the way of food, items that might be of use in case we're lost out in the middle of the woods? Pocket knives? Compasses? Radios or phones? Flashlights? GPS?"

  " Penlight, inkpen, chewing gum, wrist watch, half pack of Malborros, my zippo, one goo gun, and a rifle." Rhic said as he patted his pockets tucking the pistiol into his belt and held the rifle with an easy readiness."" looks pretty normal around her, so we should be able to find food and water. Once we can see the sky, we can find our bearings."

  Yeah, I had some odd...dreams but nothing too wierd. Just some guy shaking down the owner of the store I was nabbed in."

Luke lay in the potpourri of the forest floor; a soft blanket of moss, decaying leaves and such. Except for a few rude twigs, the bed was quite welcoming.

He stuck his hands under his head, as he looked up towards the unreachable canopy and yonder sky.  Waifs of cloud drifted through the friendly sky.

He had lost his duffle bag along the way, he realized ... somewhere between the university and the forest.  Probably when he'd tackled those guys.  He sighed, more out of respect for a fallen comrade than for his loss.

When the woman spoke of dreams, he lolled his head towards his companions and smirked, "Yeah.  I was reminded that it sucks to be Loki".
He then returned his attention to the skies, and watched a hawk saw by lazily on an unseen current.

"Name's Luke, by the way.  Fool to the Gods".

   Malcolm's iPhone registers 'NO SIGNAL' apparently unable to establish a connection for some reason.  Looking around the woods with his Dimensional Sight, the FBI agent does not discern anything immediately dangerous to the group, but he does notice something; the group is not entirely alone.  For Malcolm notices, perhaps thirty or so yards distant, amid the gnarled trunks of several old rowans, a young deer, with fur as light as a new snowfall, silently watching the group, almost motionless on its tall graceful legs.

"Hello everyone. I'm Moon. I think the one over there is Malcolm. Hello Luke. Does anyone recognize anything? I suggest we all walk a few yards in different directions to see if anything looks familiar, and see if there's a path or road. How about we all form a circle, turn so we face outward and take exactly 200 steps straight forward if we can, and see what we can see? Call out if you see anything. Then turn back the way you went and return here. That way we won't lose anyone, ok? If we don't see anything promising, we can make plans then on what to do next. Hows that sound to you?"
 She suggested a course of action because anything was better than people feeling lost or out of control of their situation. If they had to make camp next, then they could pool resources and assign or take volunteers for the business of setting up camp. Meanwhile she went through her own pockets. She always tried to carry useful items but she hadn't planned on getting swept away into a gate either. Still, she had a knife and a compass she knew for sure.

"Well, we're out of AT&T cell range," Malcolm said to no one in particular.

Always amazed at the wonders of the world, he stared at the motionless fawn and felt its beauty. But, as it always does, necessity drove him back to the present...

"Holster, two magazines of nine millimeter ammunition, no pistol," he started as he patted himself down, "phone with good battery but no signal, credit cards and ID, half a pack of Dentyne Arctic Ice gum, sugar-free, and this alien-tech firearm, unknown how many rounds are available should it come to that."

"Introductions are in order. Malcolm Laurence, American, originally from California, now live in northern Virginia."

He walked up to Luke, the only person here he hadn't interacted with up 'til now, and put his hand out, "Nice to meet you, Luke,"

   Alex looked around and nodded to Malcolm and stuck out a hand, a bit awkwardly.  "Alex De Marest.  I'm an I.T. and have been doing some work for the university in Seattle.  Luke I know...thanks for saving my life dude.  I ah...sort of met the others, except for the prisoner types, well, former prisoners I mean, no offense, but where are they?  I thought there were two more?"

Luke, still lying lazily on his back, looked up at Malcolm and offered his hand up, "And you, sir".

He then returned his attention to woman, and with a smirk said, "Moon? Are you shitting us? I'm guessing your parents wore a lot of tie-dyed, eh!".

He scrambled up from his place among the sweet smelling foliage and forest decay, dusting himself off as he did so.

"So, I need some private time, if you know what I mean.  So I'm gunna go and explore what's behind these trees over here," gesturing in some random direction, "while you guys play Square Dance Exploration".

And with a smile, he wandered off.

  " John Rhictor." Rhic Nodded to everyone and lit a cigarette. Lookign about the forest as he listened to Moon's Idea." Not a bad Idea. take a little walk and turn straight around and come back."

   "Hey buddy ever watch one of those horror movies, the guy who goes off on his own to goof off ends up nailed to a teee by some machette wielding nut job." Rhic added with a hint of a smile as he gave the guy a bit of a hard time." So be sure to scream real loud so we know you're not coming back."

Luke shot the old guy an amused smile, and chuckled as he gave the man a little salute as he headed for the woods.
" Don't you worry about me, old man, I got a bigger weapon than them" he called back, as he made a big show of grabbing his groin.
"Besides, I think it's important that we find out if bears really do shit in these woods, eh".

" Well, I warned him." rhic turned back to the rest of the group." Look I have some experience in handling myself in a fight, I've never had aliens with blasters coming after me but I can improvise pretty well."

  "It'd be great if one of you good folk might happen to have a fist full of merit badges."

"Nice to meet you, Mr Rhictor," Malcolm said as he watched, with Rhic, as Luke went for his exploratory hike. "I don't know about Merit Badges, but the Guidebook for Marines is pretty clear that once we're secured our initial area, the next thing we need to do is secure water... then shelter, then food. After that we can worry about where we are and how to get help and home."

"That is... if you don't hate the Corps too."

   Luke goes off to 'explore in the trees, finding a seemingly private spot, behind a gnarled old elm, while the rest of the group discuss the best course of action.  While is...admiring the scenery, he notes that he is not quite as alone as he surmised.  Thrushes, finches, blue jays, sparrows, and several rather large crows crowd the surrounding tree limbs, their numbers bending the branches and making them sway in the very slight wind.  Oddly enough they are not piping or singing or cawing, or making any other noise at all.  They just seem to be watching...

   Alex shrugs and nods.  "You all seem to be saying, more or less the same thing, so I believe we have an agreement.  In order to obtain water, shelter, and food we will have to explore our immediate surroundings, which I believe was mentioned.  If we can figure out roughly where we are, geographically speaking, we may have a better idea which way to go.  In all probability there should be a city, town, or street within walking distance.  And the odds are we will find signs of other people, campers, hikers, a park ranger even who knows, maybe even a shelt..."  Alex does not complete his last sentence, his train of thought quite thoroughly for the trees above the group.  They are now filled with squirrels of all sizes, red, grey, black, even a few white ones, silently watching.
  "Is it just me, or is does that seem like uncharacteristic behavior to anyone else?"

 She laughed and held up her hand, calling softly to see if any of the creatures would come to her. It all seemed rather familiar to her, since she had spent a lot of times in the woods. Still, it was rather unnerving to have so many creatures come like this. Maybe they were all like her, and the animals sensed it.
"I don't think they will hurt you if you don't mess with them. If you try to catch them though, they might bite. Now, I'm going to walk this way, and see what I see. You can do it, or not, but if you do, pick up firewood on your way back in case we decide to stay here overnight.
 So saying, she turned directly away from them all, sighted along a route with a large oak tree in the distance then headed for it, counting her steps. Once she reached the oak, she picked up a stick and placed it in the ground on the side of the tree she came from, then went around the tree and sighted a straight line toward a fallen tree and kept walking until she reached the tree. She repeated the steps of marking her line of travel, then continued along until she'd counted the correct amount of steps, then marked that spot as well before she looked around to see if anything looked familiar.
 When she started back, she gathered wood at the fallen tree before heading back to their meeting area.

The whole scene unnerved Luke.  Suddenly, John's words seemed somehow much more real.   He wondered if he really should scream good and loud right now, letting the others know that he wouldn't make it back.

It was like that freaky scene from the Hitchcock movie ... where all those Birds gathered and attacked everyone.  He looked around at all these Birds.  Like the movie, they just sat there silently watching him ... like that freaky movie.  With all the Birds.  What was it called?  Yeah, right; The Birds.

As he zipped himself back up, he nodded to one particularly big black crow sitting on a nearby branch, and said "Hey, how you doing?!?".
And looking at that big sucker, he was struck by the impression that it looked particularly hungry. This thought was quickly followed by a recent vision of an immense, bloodthirsty bird, like an emmaciated black hawk, swooping down and raking a giant's chest, ripping out his innards and carrying them away in its cruel talons.

Luke slowly backed up, and started back towards the others.

   Luke makes it back to the rest of the group in one piece, the birds watching him until the trees obscure them from his sight.  He finds Malcolm and Rhictor in discussion, while Alex looks up into the trees, an expression of concern on his face.  He doesn't seem to think the squirrels are trustworthy, and Moon Child's warning remains in his mind.  "Do they really bite?" he asks himself and takes a few steps away from the joined ash trees he was leaning against.  The squirrels make no movement, however, content to observe from their lofty branches.
   Suddenly there seeming to come from somewhere in the trees.  A young male voice that calls out a warning.  "You shouldn't go that way, not if you know what's best.  Trust me you won't like what lives there."  Says the unseen commentator, his jovial underscored by an edge of seriousness.  Shortly thereafter two young boys, the elder perhaps fifteen years of age, the other slightly younger, step from behind a thick stand of silver birches and walk nonchalantly into the clearing where the group now stands.  They seem extraordinarily quiet as they move, though they don't appear to put any effort into being stealthy.
   The oldest wears an oversize grey shirt with black sleeves emblazoned with teh smirking face of some anime character named Naruto.  A pair of ragged looking blue jeans and dirty reeboks complete his attire.  His hair is a bright red pulled back into a loose pony tail that falls down his back.  His features are sharp and he takes in the group with intense blue eyes. The younger boy has a mop of shaggy dark hair that looks as if its never seen a brush and large brown eyes that dart nervously about.  His grey hoodie is dirty from wandering in the woods (probably providing decent camouflage) and his hands are thrust in the side pockets of his black jeans.  He peeks out from behind the older boy, biting his lip...

   Meanwhile Moon Child, coming back from her brief foray, hears the sound of trees rustling behind her, followed by a familiar sound.  She turns around to see the face of her beloved horse, poking from the trees, ears cocked forwards, lips curled back in what can only be a smile.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:04, Sun 08 Apr 2012.

  Rhic moved out on his own arc keeping his rifle to his shoulder the muzzle of the weapon followed his eyes as he scanned the surrounding forest. The woods seemed quiet and peaceful, and for some reason he always got an itch on the back of his neck when things got quiet.
  Moving out several hundred steps he paused lighting a smoke and enjoying the view before he turned back once again into his low cautious heel to toe tactical shuffle as he moved to join the others back tat the clearing.

 She turned around quickly with her hands full of firewood ready to toss it all at the intruder when she sees it's Ben, her horse. That must mean they weren't far from the cabin! That was great news indeed! At least, she hoped it meant they were close. After the strange events of the day, she wasn't sure of anything anymore!
 "Ben! How'd you get here my buddy? Are we that close to home? How ya doing huh?"
 She petted him and thumped his neck and scratched his ear quite overjoyed to see him. She wrapped her arm over his neck and patted him as he nuzzled her pockets looking for a treat.
 "Sorry Ben, I gots no treats on me just now. I'll make it up to you though, ok?"
 She picked the firewood back up and carried it with her though, just in case. She could always stack it in a dry sheltered spot in case of need some other time. She headed back to the meeting spot, knowing that Ben would follow close behind now that he'd found her.
"Hey you all, I found a buddy of mine. That must mean we aren't too far from a cabin and a place to rest, clean up and get a bite to eat."
 She stopped though when she saw the two teenagers slipping into the clearing where they were to meet. She didn't recall ever meeting them before, so they must be lost hikers or something.
 "Hi. You all lost or something?"

As Luke arrived back, he seemed a little discombobulated, occasionally looking suspiciously at the trees behind him.
When he recognized a similar look in Alex's eye, he ventured, "The woods eyeballing you too, chum? Freaky, ennit".

The chick, Moon was wandering back also, with a pony in tow of all things.
And the big guy, what did he say his name was, 'John'? Was also drifting back towards the gathering, when they all were joined by two teens that came wandering out of the woods.
Luke wasn't sure why Moon pegged them as 'lost', cos they seemed right at home here.

But Luke wasn't one to wallflower away ... especially as there weren't any walls here to cling to.

He made his way towards the fore coming boys, and held out a hand to introduce himself, "Hi. Names Luke. 'Magine bumping into civilized folk out here, eh.
You, umm, wouldn't be willing to tell us where 'here' in, would you? Please?"

   OOC: Luke and Moon Child, I need a percentile roll from each of you please:)

rolled 25 using 1d100. As requested.

17:56, Today: Moon Child rolled 37 using 1d100. %.

   Alex nodded in reply to Luke's rather rhetorical question, his eyes never leaving the squirrels.  "Yep, definitely a ten on the creepy meter.  Not sure what stimulus would create such an atypical response in them."

   The two boys watch the exchange with seeming nonchalance, then the older red haired youth laughs and replies, first to Moon Child.  "No we're not lost, we're just out hunting...um mushrooms, heh.  No luck so far though.  We come here every once in awhile; haven't seen you before though.  I was just saying you  shouldn't go too far west, the old Indian ruins are there, and they're haunted..wooooooo...heehee."
   He turns to Luke as he approaches and takes Luke's hand briefly.  "S'cool, name's Dirk, and my friend's Eddie, though everyone calls him Scruff.  Heh, hard to get a word in with him around though."  Scruff just blinks and looks up at Dirk in silence.  "You don't know where you are?  OMG that's funny.  You're in the Shawnee Nat'nal Forest dude.  How'd you get here if ya don't know where you are?"

Luke smiled, "We kinda just fell out of anther world as it was passing by, and BAM, straight into this here nice forest ... if you know what I mean.
It's nice to meet you guys, though.

So, that way is some old Indian ruins, right?  Which way should we head for the nearest town, and ho long might we be walking that way?"

He liked these kids, and felt a lot more comfortable chatting with them than he had several minutes ago.

 She blinked at the boys, then blinked again before rubbing her eyes. She really must get to a doctor soon. Something was wrong, either her eyes, or maybe her brain was developing a tumor. Or something worse. Had those alien things even been real, or was it all in her head. Was anything real? She had to assume for now things were real, because if she didn't, and they were, she could be in for a lot of hurt. They all could be. She rubbed her mustang's nose for comfort as she answered the red haired boy's comments.

 "Ummm. Yeah. Old Indian ruins huh? Ok, we won't go that way then. Besides, I think we'll go that direction." She points in the direction she'd just com from, which was opposite the direct the boys indicated the Native American sacred lands were in.
 "If you're looking for mushrooms, look for May Apples and old orchards. That would be a good place to look."
 She looked at her horse to see if he was acting spooked or anything. Animals were sensitive to anything strange in nature...like sacred burial grounds or mutants.
This message was last edited by a game editor at 03:32, Sat 14 Apr 2012.

 Rhic watched the strangers, and the horse following along behind Moon Child. Both seemed freindly and helpful, but the forest itself set his nerves on edge. He scratched at a scar that reminded him never to take helpful strangers at face value and cradled the barrel of his rifle in one elbow, while keeping his hand on the grip and the muzzle pointed somewhere in the direction of the two strangers.
  "Shawnee Forest huh, well that's goood news."
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:23, Fri 13 Apr 2012.

   Dirk nods to Rhic, looking at his rifle nervously.  "Yep the Shawnee, hope that helps you get everything straight old timer.  You know, you might want to be careful with that thing.  Guns have a way of messing up a good day, y'know?  And hey, you'll get a lot more people to help you if you don't point your bang stick at em the very first time they talk to you.  Just sayin'.  I mean what is it with grown ups and guns, seriously?"
   Then the red haired youth turns to Luke, giving him a quizzical look.  "Another world huh?  Well, whatever, if you don't wanna talk about it, that's cool dude; hakuna matata and all that.  We all got secrets don't we?  The way the horse lady was pointing's right, more or less.  Go that way about five miles you'll find the main road.  Lots of horse trails along the way too, if ya want to ride that big ole horse."  He grinned at Moon Child's horse, Ben, who snorts in response, but seems otherwise calm.  "Keep on the down slope and you'll find the river soon, can't miss it trust me.  "Follow that and you'll get to the ranger station, not that they are all that big a help.  Anyway we..."
   Dirk paused as Scruff tugged on his jacket.  He bent down and listened as Scruff whispered into his ear.  He looked at Malcolm and nodded.  "Good point, Scruff.  "Scruff said the geezer in the suit's makin him antsy...say's he's way too quiet, says he reminds him of a cop.  He also wants to ask the Horse Lady somethin'  He wants to know if you're the daughter of that old arch..um archie..the professor guy who used to live in that big spooky cabin on the Wabash?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:01, Fri 13 Apr 2012.

 She watches and listens, amused by the conversation and interaction between Rhic, Luke and the two "kids". The grey kid didn't talk much, but he watched the men with alert enough eyes. The foxy one was talkative enough for both. She turned the direction he gave, but didn't head that way.
 "Why, yes, I am. How did you know that?"

"Sorry to make you nervous, Scruff," Malcolm said, looking at the younger boy. "I didn't mean it. We're just a little lost, and I get really quiet when I'm lost. I tend to be quiet anyway...

Many things were going through Malcolm's mind. He still didn't feel safe... perhaps he never would again.

"We have to get out of here."

" Bad habit." Rhic smiled slightly and apologized as he turned slightly taking the muzzel of the weapon a little further away from the two teens." Spent a lot of time in the woods, with people who wanted to put big smoking holes in my teen aged arse...that was a few years ago buit it sort of sticks with you"
   You boys have any luck with those... mushrooms...I hear the local ones are really good with butter and a titch of salt." he broke intoe an easy freindly smile and lit another cigarette." You'll want to look on the shady side of the hill, find some nice moist ground, old rotten loggs and such make good places to find all sorts of Mushrooms...By the ay Names Rhic, well thats what most people end up calling me."he added with a slight grin.

"Well, then, ain't that nice, us all getting along.
Thanks for the GPS lads, and good luck with your endeavors" he said, then turned to his companions,
"Maybe we can all head on back to Moony's place up yonder then?" he continued. It was as much a question to Moon as a suggestion, "and rest up a little. Maybe strike up some friendly conversation and share some notes".

 Her attention was still mostly on the boys. There was a strangeness about them, but no one else seemed to think they were weird or anything so she kept her mouth shut. It was bad enough her name was Moon without making them all think she was nutty as a fruitcake. But she was still curious about the kids. They were pretty far off the beaten path and she still wondered how they'd gotten clear out here.
 "So, where do you all live? How did you know about my uncle? Not many people live this far away from town in this area. There's cougars, panthers, bobcats and rattle snakes out here. There's also feral pigs that's escaped from farms over the years. They do massive damage and are very dangerous to run into especially a sow with piglets. Most people don't like wildlife that inconveniences them so they prefer to live closer to town."
 She took her eyes off the boys briefly to answer Luke's suggestion then looked back at the boys to see what their answer would be. They didn't look like brothers either, so she had to wonder if they were runaways from some boot camp facility. Or maybe runaways from some foster home. Her mouth tightened at that thought. Some foster families were very bad news, so she prayed they weren't from such a place as that.
 "Ummm, sure, we can head to the cabin in a minute. It's probably a bit of a hike though. Of course, anyone who can't make it can ride. How is everybody? Any wounds or sprained ankles or anything?"

  "I'm okay, thanks Moon, just a few bruises, but otherwise I seem to be alright.  Actually your cabin sounds like a good idea to me, I'm not exactly a 'back to nature' kind of guy."  He wondered a bit about the boys too.  Something about them seemed strange.  And the combination of unusual activity that had befallen them in the last half hour seemed unlikely to be mere coincidence.  Then again, the whole day had been the weirdest he'd ever had and he wanted nothing more than to get back to so semblance of normalcy.

   The red haired teen waits as Rhic apologizes for the gun and then give the boys tips on mushroom hunting. "Its cool old dude...Rhic.  Good luck finding your way back; I mean it. Sucks to be lost, believe me no one knows better than me..."  His eyes searched Rhic's and Luke's for a long moment, lips pressed tightly together, his expression serious for that brief instant.
   Scruff just blinked at Malcolm, then he nodded almost imperceptibly, the brief smile flickering over his young face. "Oh....oh...oh...k..ku...kuku...kay," he managed to stammer quietly, as if that simple statement took all his effort.
   Dirk's attention spins back to Moon Child as she starts to ask other questions.  "Oh a few of the local kids know about the spooky old cabin on the river.  The old man hasn't been seen in years and there are a lot of stories about what happened...

   Suddenly, before he can finish his thought, a gunshot echoes through the woods, startling the wildlife, who quickly make for the nearest cover.
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:34, Mon 16 Apr 2012.

Luke seemed about to say something, when the explosive interruption caused him to proverbially soil himself, and he dived towards both cover and ground simultaneously, hoping that whomever was voicing their displeasure at his presence had the aim of your average Stormtrooper.

 She dived for cover and made a hand signal to her horse to lay down, a trick she had trained him to do for shows. She hissed loudly for the others to get down as well. Hunters sometimes shot at anything that moved, especially newbie hunters or poachers.
 "Get down!"

Malcolm stood calmly, searching the woods for a source for the sound.

"Stutters," he said still looking around, "I used to stutter when I was a kid." He looked down at Scruff. "Completely grew out of it by the age of twelve. No worries."

"And you've got good eyes," he said. "I'm totally a cop."

Turning to Rhic, Malcolm asked, "Hunting weapon?"

   OOC: Rhic can confirm Malcolm's question easily; the discharge did not sound like rifle fire, more likely a pistol.  And it was fired somewhere nearby.  Malcolm and Rhic may both make me a percentile roll to discern the exact direction.

   Ben, being a well trained horse, did not panic at the sound of gunfire, but instead obediently laid on the ground, surprisingly quickly for an animal his size.  Alex has already hit the ground and is scanning the area nervously, from behind an old fallen oak, fortunately there's enough room for two, since Luke seems to have found the same bit of cover.  Moon Child finds a large jutting moss covered boulder to hide behind.  Dirk stays with her, searching the woods with an angry expression.  Scruff, to the older boy's astonishment, hides behind Malcolm, but does not leave him.

OOC: Malcolm Laurence rolled 51 using 1d100. Perception.

  " Thats a pistol." Rhic warned as his rifel came up and to his shoulder in one smooth move his finger resting on the trigger guard as he scanned for the source of the shot.
  Moving in a low crocuh he side stepped to the cover of a tree his head on a pivot as he as he covered the rest of the group. " Malcom keep an eye on the civvies, I'll check out the shooter."

17:39, Today: John Rhic Rhictor rolled 78 using 1d100.

"You got it," came Malcolm's quiet reply. His stance shifted and he brought his alien firearm to the ready. "Remember to give the blood-curdling scream if you're not coming back."
This message was last edited by the player at 00:00, Tue 17 Apr 2012.

" Don't worry It's not going to be me screaming." rhic replied with a smile." But if you hear soemthing like a ten year old girl with a spider on her leg...go on without me."

Luke smiked at the banter between the cop and the big guy.
As Rhic moved, so too did Luke ... following Rhic's lead into the undergrowth.

 She giggled nervously at the idea of Rhic screaming like a girl with a spider, though to be honest, she rather liked spiders...the nonvenomous ones anyway. Some venomous ones were ok if it was just a very mild venom, but death bringing or mutilating ones were just not her thing. They could stay in their own place and leave her be, thank you very much!
"Be careful!"
 She peeked around then closed her eyes concentrating on hearing what she couldn't see. Sometimes the eyes fooled one, and sound was a better sense when that happened.

   Alex watched in alarm as Luke left him to follow Rhic.  The IT guy was completely out of his depth in this situation, and he felt very alone just now.  Taking a chance, he crawled through the thick undergrowth, to where Moon Child was hiding.  Malcolm is certain the shot was off to the north-east, but decides to remain with the rest, in case there's trouble.  Moon Child closes her eyes to try and discern anything more from the sounds around her, and instead notices how quiet it has become.  Opening her eyes, she sees Alex in front of her, but no sign of the red haired teenager, Dirk.  His companion Scruff is also missing from his place beside Malcolm.



   Although Rhic is not positive about the exact direction of the shot, he makes an educated guess and heads off into the trees, followed closely by Luke.  The land is rugged here, and slopes uphill, making for a rough climb, but less than fifteen minutes after they head out Rhic and Luke come across an thicket of slender ash trees, where the ground levels out some.  Beyond they can see a clearing where many old fallen trees have created an open space.
   In the early morning sunlight, Rhic and Luke can see five men and one woman, dressed in yellow and orange safety vests, grubby jeans, hard hats, and work boots.  One man, who looks to be of Latin descent perhaps, has what Rhic quickly assesses as a nine millimeter high power pistol in his left hand.  (Browning actually).
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:42, Wed 18 Apr 2012.

Luke settled into a hidden position, ready to watch for a short while to figure out what the group was doing.
Maybe they were a minimum security prison detachment doing public service ... or an Indi Jones style Nazi excavation team preparing to dig up the Noah's Ark right here in the good ol' US of A ... wouldn't that be a kick in the guts to the whole god-fearing sect?!?
This message was last edited by the player at 19:51, Wed 18 Apr 2012.

Back where he was holding down the fort... with the hairs on the back of his neck standing up, Malcolm watched the possum chase after his compatriots and said, not actually looking at the boys, "You guys wanna tell me what's really going on? I don't like games... especially games I don't understand. Maybe this is funny to you, but human beings tend to react pretty darn poorly to things they don't get and jokes that go past 'em."

 Rhic sized up the group, they looked like any work crew he'd ever seen. But He didn't like the gun being out and fired. Slinging his rifle he stepped out looking as if he were just out for a stroll, as best he could.
  " High folks, you guys like to scared the bejeezus out of me." He waved, doing his best to sound friendly" You guys see a snake or something?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:30, Thu 19 Apr 2012.

   Rhic's sudden appearance startles the group, and they swiftly turn towards him.  Seeing its a single man, the woman puts a hand on the shoulder of the man holding the pistol. "Its okay, Ernesto, you can put that away.  I'm sure its long gone by now," she says in a calm, but pleading tone, the gun clearly making her nervous.  "Besides, you're going to get us all in trouble for bringing that thing here, dammit!"
   "Ee's around here, somplace, an' chwen I find that PINCHE RATON, ees gonna pay!" he replies angrily, but he reluctantly clicks the safety, and replaces the gun under his vest.  As he does so, Rhic notes his right hand is bleeding.
   The woman waves to Rhic.  "Its okay, sorry we scared you. Ernesto here, just got bitten by a rabbit and he's a little pissed...okay more than a little." Quickly changing the subject when she sees the angry glare from Ernesto, the woman asks Rhic.  "Are you lost or something?  Or just out for a morning walk?"

   As Luke watches from the bushes, there is slight rustling in the undergrowth behind him, and a sleek red fox and pudgy grey opossum emerge and stop, seeing Luke.  As he watches, the fox grows and changes before his eyes, until he once more bear the shape of Dirk!  Dirk shakes his head as the opossum looks at him with an almost human expression of dismay.  "Its okay Scruff, he already knows," whispers the red headed youth. "Don't you Luke?" he asks, now looking up to him.

----------------------------------------------

   Malcolm does not receive any reply, and glancing around, sees no sign of the two boys; just himself, Moon Child, and Alex left in the area.  His question hangs in the air, until the silence is broken by an off white fawn that steps timidly into the small tree circled glade.  Malcolm is quite certain its the same one he saw earlier and, as he and the others watch, she begins to glow with a golden light, and shifts into a slender girl, perhaps seventeen or eighteen years of age.  Her shoulder length wavy hair is so blonde its almost silver, and her almond shaped eyes are a luminous blue.  Tall deer-like ears spring from the side of her head, and her face is covered by a fine white fur.  Except for a pair of black hiking boots, she is dressed completely in shades of grey.
  "A fair question," she answers Malcolm quietly, her voice calm as tranquil moonlit mere.  "You are not like the other mortals who come here.  And you can see through Fae Glamour.  Who are you?"

" car trouble, ya know it had trouble with moving after the engine wnet poof."" Rhic replied walking up and offering his hand as he gave the grou a freindly nod, and scanned the woods for the offending rabbit." Me and my freinds were sort of ..well lost out her so you did me a favor."

"I think," Malcolm answered haltingly, "that all of us have the Sight. I'm Malcolm. There's Rhic and, I think, Luke is his name. The girl is Moon. I think we're still trying to figure out who we are, Miss, and I apologize for not having a better answer. I can tell you we mean you no harm if you mean us none. We came here through accident and chance, an escape through a portal."

"This is all really new to us."

 She gasped as the girl appeared before them, first as a fawn, then as a girl. She looked at Malcolm with her mouth open, to see if he saw it too. She had an almost terrified expression on her face.
 "Wait! Did you just see a deer turn into a girl? Or was there a girl all along? Or...Is there even a girl there? Please, tell me you see her too! And that you saw a deer first? Oh my goodness! Am I going crazy? Is any of this real? Are YOU even real? Or am I in an insane asylum and just think I'm here at all?"
 She rubbed her eyes frantically to see if things changed afterward, as if she could rub out the hallucinations she'd been having for months now, the hallucinations that had steadily been getting worse as the weeks and months passed by. She was near to tears as the fear and stress of the past few hours was added to by the appearance of the deer girl, added on to the fox boy and possum boy. The fact that Malcolm seemed to be talking to the girl just clinched it for her.

"Don't freak out, Moon," Malcolm said calmly. "It's rude when you're in someone else's home. And shape shifting... Fae Glamour, right? Isn't that what you said, Miss? Fae are much less upsetting to me than alien humanoids who hijack humans' bodies."

Luke smirked, "Yeah.  I didn't know about the shapechangin', but I knew you were as much fox as human". He winked at the opossum and said "You're alright with me, Scruff. Although I had you pegged as a mole.

Say, I don't s'pose that it was one of your mates that did a mischeif to that ornery guy down there?" he asked them.

 "Don't condescend to me either! I'm not stupid! I can be smart and still be loony tunes! Lots of smart people are nutty as fruit cakes. People don't look like foxes and opossums and deer! That has to be the crazy part. I've seen imaginary stuff all my life! I guess it just finally got too strong."
 She tried to ignore the girl, knowing she wasn't really there. Maybe there had been something in the air at that alien faci... drat it, she was thinking that place was real and she knew it really couldn't have been. Could it?

"I'm not being condescending," Malcolm chided. "You're freaking out, it's rude, I told you to stop because it's rude. Why do you have to fight everyone... Is it like a rebellion to authority thing? You're not in Kansas anymore, Dorothy. The world is bigger than you thought. What more do you need?"

 "Fine. You stay and talk to imaginary people. I'll go freak out elsewhere!"
 She promptly got up and stalked away. She didn't need to be beat over the head with a 2 x 4 to know when she wasn't wanted. She called to her horse softly and headed away from Malcolm and his imaginary girlfriend. Besides, she knew exactly where they were. Well, pretty close to where they were anyway. She'd just head downhill until she found the river, or found a trail. Once she did, she'd know where she was, and would head home. The others could do as they please. If there actually was anyone there.

   The silver haired girl watched quietly as Malcolm and Moon Child discussed the situation.  But when Moon Child turned to go, she called out to her in a voice like pure music, stretching her left hand towards her and her right towards Malcolm:
  "Moon, I am as real as you are, Malcolm is telling the truth.  And you, most of all, must stay, you're closer to the Dreaming than any of your friends.  Take my hand, if you don't believe me.  Dare to touch the font of creation with me, and you'll see wonders you know are real.  Dreams are the truth, its the rest of the world that lives in Banality.  Come on Moon, what do you have to lose?  You too, Malcolm, you wanted answers, come and claim them."
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:28, Sun 22 Apr 2012.

   Dirk nods, that familiar grin spreading over his face once more.  "Yeah, that was April.  She took that fat guys keys so he couldn't start his tree killing machine!"  While Dirk is answering, Scruff resumes his shy teenager form and looks reproachfully at his older friend.  "Es..esc..esc...esc..ESCHEAT!"  He finally manages to expel the unusual word from his lips.
   Dirk nods and puts a hand on Scruff's shoulder.  "I know we're not supposed to tell mortals, but we need their help.  Besides, I got a good feeling about old Luke here.  So the we're going to ignore the Escheat this time okay?"
   Scruff looks confused for a moment, then his face turns up to Luke and he grins.  "Oh...k...k..ku..kuku...kay,"  he agrees.  Then peeks nervously through the thicket to see if they were overheard, but it looks like the workers are distracted.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:48, Sun 22 Apr 2012.

 She stopped and thought about it briefly, then shrugged and figured what the heck? In for a penny, in for a tenner. Might as well jump down the rabbit hole. If she believed strongly enough nothing could hurt her there, it couldn't...right? Well, she hoped anyway. She turned around and went back slowly, then reached out her hand to take the girls hand, holding her breath as she did, because she didn't know what would happen, if anything did.
"Ok, I'll take your hand, see if you're really real, and not part of my insanity. If even that can tell me. Crazy people don't always know they are crazy."

"Potentially, there's a lot to lose," Malcolm said to the silver-haired girl as he reached out to take her hand. "But if we don't find some friends soon, we're in real trouble. And what is the world without a little trust."

   The woman nods, shaking Rhic's hand with only a slightly less hardy handshake than the rest.  "Name's Jessie, this is Jimmy, Ron, Lee, BJ, and Ernesto of course.  You can come back with us.  You should be able to call for help from there.  I know there's really no way to get a signal with all these trees around.  Besides, we need to get back to work..."
   "WORK, how we goin' to geet back to work?  The rabbeet estole my keys!  I cannot drive the dozer without them! Madre de Dios!"
   Jessie holds up her gloved hands. "Oh for the love of...look Ernesto, we'll call and see if they have a spare set okay?  Geeze, just take it easy dude."
   "Fine," he says, obviously not the least bit mollified.  "Theese job is, how you say, cursed.  I'll be glad when ees finito, I don care how much day pay, one more thing goes a wrong, I'm trough!"
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:20, Sun 22 Apr 2012.

   Accepting Moon Child and Malcolm's hands in her own warm ones, she clasps them gently, the F.B.I. man's comment bringing a soft smile to her fair face.  "I agree, and in the spirit of trust, I offer my name, for I trust you both to use it with respect and care.  I am Rowan, and I am of the Kithain."
   She closes her eyes, and breathes in deeply, holding both their hands in her's as if they were precious keepsakes.  Both Malcolm and Moon Child feel the rush of energy flow through their bodies, reinvigorating them, tingling over their skin and exciting them.  Rowan begins to glow softly, a multi hued aura radiates from her and envelops them all.  They can feel their hearts beating faster, like the adrenaline surge a child feels when the roller coaster starts to move...

   Then Rowan opens her eyes, and the World changes!

   Everything around the clearing, every living thing, seems somehow brighter, clearer, and vibrant.  The trees sway and pulse with life, and from every rock, every flower, every animal, bird, and insect comes a glorious melody, as if each sings its own special note that mingles together until it becomes a harmonious symphony of life!  Rowan whistles a single note, and a rainbow of wildflowers spreads out from her, to carpet the glade, their mingled scents drifting up to Malcolm and Moon Child to delight their senses.  She blinks, then whistles again, and the wildflowers leap from their stems, the colourful blossoms transforming into exquisitely beautiful butterflies that swirl and dance around the trio in incredibly complex patterns.
   Rowan's face is glowing with delight, her voice echoing to them, as if she spoke directly to their minds, or perhaps to their hearts.

"Behold the Dreaming: behold the place all Fae belong!
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:32, Thu 26 Apr 2012.

Luke smiled down at his two new friends ... little and furry as they were, even in human form.
He watched the interaction between Rhic and the Flora Vandals ... and wondered what his little furry friends hoped he, Luke, would do.  After all, harm these guys, and the corporation paying them would simply send more people, probably with more weapons with which to protect themselves.

As he watched Rhic's back, he wondered.

 Rhic Nodded or offered his hand to everyone as they were introduced and listened to the back and forth. A rabbit stole your keys, not saying I don't believe ya...but that's some downright odd behavior for your average rabbit."

  "I'll go round up my friends, they aren't far back down the trail.". He listened to the man rant a bit more and gave him a sympathetic nod.


I'm taking it this job has been a pain in the ass, most of these forest jobs are but it's usually people coming in and helping themselves to your gas, or stealing anything that ain't nailed down..."

 She gaped in wonder, but also in bemusement. It was all a bit on the Walt Disney side of overkill... But if it was real, it would take a lot of getting used to. She was afraid to move in case there was a fairy or a gnome or a brownie or some strange magic creature waiting to be trod upon. And really, what good would such a world be to humans anyway? If things came to easy, people would just get bored, or maybe try to cause trouble just because they could.
 "Oh. How...amazing. Fascinating. Truly. Ok, now we're here, what are we supposed to do? I feel like I'm on drugs or stuck in a movie setting."

"This..." Malcolm chuckled as he looked around, "is pretty cool."

He drank in the his surroundings, knowing that if his life were to change, like it certainly seemed to be the case, he needed to get used to, and gain experience with "other" ways of dealing with the world.

He engaged his Sight, hoping that adding the unusual sense would aid his understanding.

"Who's in charge here?"

    Ernesto seems about to explode, but another of the men, Ron pipes up first, to head him off, obviously used to the other man's temper.  "Oh we've had that and more, trust me.  Anything that can go wrong has.  Hell I still have welts from when that stupid wasp nest busted open in the middle of camp.  Just fell out of the tree, how does that shit happen?  Kwon Le Kim is still in the hospital from when his truck caught fire, but he'll be okay they said.  Luckily he got out before it did.  Its just been insane, like we're fighting the park or something.  Its kind of spookin' Jessie.  Company big wigs aren't laughing though, they're pretty pissed."
   Jessie rolled her eyes at Ron, then nodded to Rhic.  "Go get your friends, we aren't far from the work site, but we'll wait.  Just don't take too long okay?  We need to get back to work."

   As Rhic turns to go back to the rest, he sees out of the corner of his eye, a charcoal grey rabbit, in the undergrowth not five feet away from Jessie's boots.  It is laying on its side, blood darkens its back flank.  Its not easy to spot, but its frightened eyes lock for a moment with Rhic's...

  "Yeah, sounds like ou guys have had your fill of bad luck." rhic spotted the rabbit, it was hurt and should have been running for the hills rhic felt the hair on the back of his neck itch as he looked at the animal. He should have just finished it off, about the most humane thing to do with a wounded animal. but he was startled when it looked him in the eye.

  " I'll be back in a bit." rhic replied with a nod. He scratched his head going over the bad luck the crew had gone through. wasps, fires, animals getting into the vehicles.It all sounded like run of the mill bad luck but it had the crew riled up and that took a bit of doing most times.
  He made his way past jesse hoping to pas close enough to the rabbit to scoop it up and see if it were seriously injured or just grazed.

   As Rhic begins to make his way back towards Luke, the rest of the workers wait for him.  Jessie pulls out a smoke and lights up, while the others basically look bored, or in Ernesto's case, impatient.  As Rhic passes by he bends over down by the underbrush.
   "Did you lose something, dude?" Asks Jessie, turning towards Rhic...

   Nearby, hidden in the thicket, Luke and the boys watch the scene unfolding, noticing the rabbit in the underbrush as Rhic bends over it.

   "A...A...A..Ap..pu..pu...Ap...April!" gasps Scruff, a pained expression twisting his young face as he gazes helplessly over.  Reaching into his pocket, he pulls out what looks like a bag of marbles, upends it, and dumps them on the ground, not watching where they go.  His cheeks puff out, squeezes his eyes tight, and holds his breath, his small hands balling up into fists.
   "Um, if I were you, I'd get down," suggests Dirk, while he drops to the ground, barely rustling the leaf litter.

     Suddenly there is a loud ROARING, and the trees off to the north, being to thrash and crack, announcing the imminent arrival of a large and apparently angry animal!

   OOC: RHIC: Luck Roll please:)


21:50, Today: Secret Roll: LoC rolled 16 using 1d20. Workers' Luck Roll.

   "GEEZUS! RUN!" screams one of the workers, and they do just that.  Tearing off in the opposite direction.  Jessie grabs Rhic's arm. "COME ON!"
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:57, Tue 01 May 2012.

   Rowan grins at the irony of Moon Child's comment, and then nods to Malcolm.  Still silhouetted in light, she snaps her fingers and the thunder of hooves echoes among the trees.  The ground trembles, and suddenly there bursts into the glade a herd of Unicorns: with voices like bells ringing, manes like woven moonlight, pearly spirals of horn making arcs of silver as they toss their heads.  The sky now speckled with a billion stars, bathes the group in soft starlight.
  "The Dreaming knows no Master, Malcolm, save innocence, whimsy, and desire.  It can be shaped, coaxed, sung, or implored, but it may never be ruled.  But if you refer to the Motley of Changelings that call this place home, then I suppose I am as close to a leader as you will find.  And yes, the Dreaming is 'pretty cool' I agree." She laughs and the sounds become bubbles that float into the air.
   Rowan turns towards Moon Child with a knowing smile. "These are not my Dreamings you are seeing now, they are YOURS. For the Fae blood burns in you, just as it does in me, Moon Child. You have too long endured your burden alone.  Know this: you are not mad, or delusional. You are Kithain, and magic is your birthright.  And it is no accident that you are here."
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:26, Tue 01 May 2012.

 "Kithain? What is that? And how can these dreams be mine? I don't even believe in fairies and unicorns and stuff!" She did her best to suppress the imaginary world memories she had from being a child when she wandered these woods alone and had had so many imaginary friends and had made up so many fantastic stories in her mind of being a fairy princess. Those days of wild and free childhood were over and she wasn't 5 years old anymore.
 "How can I be part fae anyway? How can humans mate with fairies and stuff?" She looked at Malcolm to see what his reaction was to all these fairy tales. Her lips slanted in a wry turn as her thoughts ran to "fairy tales" in the pure sense of the words.
 "Ok. In for a penny, in for a tenner. If I am crazy, I might as well embrace it. Maybe they will find a nice home for me and care for me. My neighbors can take over my cabin and my animals I suppose. Maybe I can magically change my cat and my horse into charms to wear on a bracelet. Do you think they will let me wear a bracelet in the institution?" She asked Malcolm half jokingly, afraid to trust that Rowan was telling the truth, and half afraid she that she wasn't.

"You have a device that opens wormholes in the universe," Malcolm answered Moon Child off-handedly, still taking in the new scenery, "that allowed us to escape from aliens who ride human slaves by taking control of their nerves. Seriously, what do you know from crazy..."

He took the time to look and smile at the silver-haired girl then continued, "I new you had 'the Sight' the instant you ratted me out to the staff at Brandon Oaks and had them call the police. I've had it myself for about six months. I didn't see in you the 'Kithain' thing," he turned to Rowan and gave an aside, "I still don't see it in her, sorry," then back to Moon Child, "But you were doing an animal-tricks show when we met, and you did have that midget horse... Besides, they couldn't lock you into any institution that you couldn't get out of."
This message was last edited by the player at 06:29, Tue 01 May 2012.

Luke did, indeed, 'get down' when Dirk suggested it; but not so much that he couldn't now watch what was happening.

 "Really? But I just saw you had a gun, and I'd never heard of anyone visiting the old man before. Of course I was going to tell the Nurse. And it's not a midget horse. Those are deformed. I have a perfectly formed and healthy miniature horse. Plus a mustang I caught and trained myself. I won't say broke because he allowed me to because he loves me, not because I enslaved him. His name is Abednigo, or Ben for short. All my animals do tricks because they love me, not because I force them to."
 She laughed really for the first time, so very relieved that she wasn't going crazy! She hugged Rowan and Malcolm because she was happy she wasn't crazy, just moon touched. Then she laughed again, because of her name.
 "Thank you Rowan for telling me what was wrong with me. Now, how do I control it?"

   Rowan returned the hug warmly, arms holding Moon Child tight as if she'd known her all her life.  "You are so filled with questions that I wish I had time to answer for you.  Your Fae nature has been buried so long that it will take time to manifest itself, yet it will, in time, if you just let it be.  The most important thing is not to fight with it.  Embrace your dreams and allow your imagination to play, and Glamour will come to you.  If you see something that seems as if it should not be possible, then be more assured than ever that it IS!"
   She nodded slightly to Malcolm, and at Alex, who was quietly hiding behind Moon Child now, holding onto her hand.  "I did not expect that you would see the Fae soul that dwells in Moon Child's mortal form, Malcolm, not yet.  But trust me, you will, though how soon depends on Moon Child herself."  She closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, they were once more in the clearing, the Dreaming a brilliant and enchanting memory.
  "Now you understand what we are and what we protect.  We need your help, if we are to save our home."
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:41, Thu 03 May 2012.

 "Well, if you mean the forest here, of course I will do what I can, as long as I am able. But you know, we're just people, against a government project. I don't know if we can help. What is the trouble exactly?"
 She thoughts in her head were all scrambled what with everything that had happened in such a short time. Was it just an hour or two ago she was talking to a man in the nursing home? Yet it seemed like a lifetime ago all the same. She looked at Malcolm and shrugged.
 "Did I just meet you an hour or two ago? It seems so much longer."

There was an sad, far-away look in Malcolm's eyes as answered Moon Child with a shrug of his own, "A crisis will do that."

"Oh, hey? Did I say something wrong? I'm sorry if I did. Do you think the old Count is lost? I sure hope not. He was pretty nice when he was there, if you know what I mean. Why were you interested in him anyway? Someday you'll have to tell me. Right now we have to help these guys."
 She turned to look at Alex and got a funny smile on her face. She didn't know he'd been standing there watching. She imagined he thought they were all nuts too.
 "Oh, Hi."

"No, you said everything right..." Malcolm answered as he came back to the real world in which they found themselves.

"I was checking on him because we got reports that he was starting to talk about things he shouldn't have been talking about. He wasn't who you thought he was. I was there to find out if he was actually becoming senile or if something else was going on."

"I guess something else was going on..."

He turned his attention to the silver-haired girl, "So how large an area are we talking about?"

He pulled out his iPhone again, checking for a signal.

" Oh crap," Rhic sighed as he heard the sound of oncoming...something and closed his eyes for a second." Here we go again......I am getting too damn old for this."

  "Run, NOW!" Rhic ordered as he tried to scoop up the rabbit. If he was lucky he could manage to get it out of the way, and get himself out of the way of the stampede barreling down on them." I said RUN!!!!!!"


23:10, Today: John Rhic Rhictor rolled 20 using 1d20. luck.....come on daddy needs not to die .

   Jessie lets go of Rhic, staring at him in utter bewilderment for a brief moment, before she reluctantly flees, with the other men, back towards the work site.  Even as she disappears into the trees the growling and roaring grows in intesity, trees and branches whipping about as it closes in on the small clearing.  Bending down, Rhic is able to eventually dig out the small rabbit, who is weak enough that she can no longer struggle to get away.  He can easily see she's taken a bullet to her right rear flank and is bleeding profusely.  Even as Rhic glances at the wounded rabbit, there is a tremendous crash, and the beast smashes its way through.
   The creature before Rhic is easily the strangest thing he has ever seen, this side of a sci fi movie.  Its tallest head is easily fifteen feet in height, and its girth greater than any elephant.  The rear half of its body glistens with dark scales that seem to change colours in the sunlight; a reptilian body, muscular and powerful.  Upon its ridged back are a pair of vestigial batlike wings, certainly not powerful enough to lift such an enormous creature.  Its front legs resemble those of a lion, and tawny fur replaces the scales in a clear delineation from its chest upwards to its massive shoulders, from which sprout three heads!  The first is a shaggy maned lion, the second a fearsome grizzly bear, and the last is a savage looking wolf!  Perhaps the oddest thing about this weird amalgam of animals, however, is its outline.  To Rhic it looks slightly hazy around the edges, almost indistinct, like looking at something in the mist.  He quickly concludes that he can only see this beast because he has Dimensional sight!  Otherwise he's sure it would be invisible to him.
   Back in the thicket, Scruff smiles and dashes off through the trees towards Rhic, with Dirk shrugging and looking up to Luke.   "That's Scruff's buddy, what we Kithain call a Chimera, a creature of Glamour, but he just calls it Fred.  Don't ask me why, I have no idea."  Then Dirk sees Rhic holding the rabbit and he cries out.  "APRIL! Oh GAWD!"
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:18, Mon 07 May 2012.

   Alex looked sheepishly at Moon Child and let go of her hand.  "Sorry, I just, um, well I didn't want to be left out, like usual.  I didn't see a lot, but it was truly remarkable.  And now I'm left with nothing but a profound sadness...story of my life it seems.  I'd also be glad to help, of course, not that anyone asked."
   He stood by and remained quiet while Malcolm and Moon Child conversed, watching the willowy lady named Rowan with curiosity.   He wondered why she hadn't invited him to share in the wonderful place she'd revealed to the other two.  He resolved to try and find the courage to ask her...later.

   Rowan appeared visibly relieved, when they all agreed to help. "We are not far from the area called Pound's Hollow.  On the ridge, overlooking Pound's Hollow Lake, they planned to vastly expand the modest recreation area there; build cabins and accessories for RV camping as well.  We Fae are not opposed to this, in fact, the more humans that see and appreciate the natural wonder of this place, the more the Dreaming will prosper.  But apparently the plans also call for creating some recreational facilities and deforestation in the forest to the west of the lake.  We thought we knew exactly where they intended to build, so we were shocked to discover they had expanded their plans.  This threatens our home, a place far older than they can imagine.  If they are allowed to continue with this, it will destroy an ancient Changeling Freehold we call the Dreaming Tree Fort.  Its one of the rare places where Glamour flows naturally still, we must protect it.  It can't be allowed to be ruined just for some cabins, it can't!"
   She looks away, then swallows and composes herself before continuing. "But we cannot drive them off effectively, for we have other enemies within the forest.  The native Changelings, called the Nunnehi.  Our war with the Nunnehi means we battle two foes at once!  If we can make peace with them, and even get them to help us with their powerful spirit songs, we can convince the humans to build their cabins elsewhere.  Its desperate we know, but we ARE desperate!"


This message was last edited by the GM at 22:31, Sat 05 May 2012.

 "I can't say I blame you! It's near impossible anymore to hear just nature and not hear some kind of noise...traffic, a radio, the sound of equipment, something man-made. I hate it. It must be ever so much harder for your kind. I don't know what I can do, but anything you can suggest I'll consider."
 She wasn't a tree hugger, but she was a nature conservancy advocate! It was time mankind stopped ruining the natural beauty and habitats of wild creatures for monetary gain!

"I see two different approaches," Malcolm thought out loud. "Immediately, we contact the others on your behalf to broker an alliance to help you defend yourselves..."

"and I know some people in the government as a mundane follow up... it's slow, but it's good. I suspect Mr. Rhictor may know a few people who might be leveraged."

   Alex nodded. "Both good plans.  And I...well, I wouldn't say I'm that great at negotiations, but I'm sure I can do something useful.  I may not have government connections, but...if I can get to their home base I can sure as heck mess with their network."  He grinned at the rest, quite proud of himself.

   Rowan stares somewhat confused at Alex, then turns to Malcolm and Moon Child.  "While I am loath to turn down any offer of help, I fear that trying to work with the government will not provide results in time to save our Freehold.  You may certainly try, Malcolm, but I fear they are far more interested in discussion, and paperwork, than in swift action.  Also our ancient laws, the Escheat, forbid us to let mortals know we exist."  She mischievous smile played upon her lips.  "Yes we have broken our own laws in revealing ourselves to you, but clearly you are more than merely human.  Also my divinations revealed that someone would be here today who could help us, and so here you are.  The Goddess has clearly brought you here to help us, but allowing a few to know of the Kithain so that you may help us, and enlisting government assistance is a far different matter."
  "We have tried, too many times, to make peace with Blood Feather and his people, but it is hard to overcome so many years of distrust and hate.  There IS something they would accept as a peace offering though, I think: TECUMSEH'S SPIRIT MASK.  We have searched for some knowledge of this long forgotten Nunnehi Treasure, and have found proof of its existence.  According to his journals, it was found several years ago, and hidden away, by one Doctor James Edward Houk..."  She gazed intently towards Moon Child.

 "It was? Really? Does it have powers? If it would be dangerous to you and your kind in the hands of an enemy, it would be best not to find such an iconic item. Do you know anything about it at all besides they want it? As for your side, there should be an equal exchange to forge a bond or contract before asking or receiving help. It should be a bond with equals, I would not want an unbalance to be created. That would be bad in the long run wouldn't it?"
 She wondered where the old professor might have hidden the mask. She was sure she's not found all his hidey-holes and stashes. If he'd still had the mask when he'd disappeared, was it still at the cabin, or was it in some safe deposit box somewhere?

"WOW!" Luke exclaimed, rising to his feet, and being dragged forward towards the beast by sheer awe.

He was aware of Rhic, and the running away people, and the shot rabbit, and Dirk and Scruff ... but their presences were eclipsed by the magnificent and truly mythological wonder before him.

When he got close enough, his arm levitated towards the brute, to touch and stroke it.

  " So much for rabbits feet being lucky." Rhic let out another exasperated, very tired sigh. He had no doubt what he was seeing was real. after the day he had he would believe it if the Easter bunny and frosty the snowman showed up, riding Puff the magic dragon..

  Easy Big Fella, just don't do anything I'll regret later." Rhic kept his movements slow and easy. It was not an animal like he was used to but he figured one head was a wolf so it might have wolfish instincts, running was a sure way to get folded, spindled, and mutilated. I'm not going to hurt anyone, easy...easy....good chimera, nice chimera..."I am getting too damn old for this..." Rhic kept trying to calm the beast and praying that the next mythical figure to appear was Hercules.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:40, Wed 09 May 2012.

   The chimera, or whatever it was, roared at Rhic, but seems more confused than angry.  Scruff ran up beside Rhic and without hesitation hugged the strange beast's closest fore paw.  The creature, for its part, seemed to enjoy the attention, its demeanor changing at the approach of the young boy: its lion head began to purr, wolf's head started to grin, and the creature's rear leg started to thump the ground, its tail waving around vigorously in the air.
   "Fred" doesn't object when Luke comes forward to touch it, the burly man's hand touching the tawny fur of its other foreleg and shoulder.  The fur is the softest that Luke has ever felt, and its fur glistens like a brand new stuffed toy.  The creature seems to have no obvious scent at all.
   "F...rrr..fff..F..Fred," said Scruff happily, arms still tight around the massive furry leg.  "D..d..don't h..hu..hurt th..them, th...thu..they're f..fu..rr ah friends." he adds, looking back at Rhic and Luke and with a boyish grin.  "I m..m..mu..mumade h..him, L..Lu..Luke." he adds proudly.  His grin quickly drops to a sad frown though, as he sees the blood stained rabbit in Rhic's arms.  Dirk was looking at her too, biting his lip hard and trying not to show how much it affected him.
   Dirk removes the set of keys still clenched in April's mouth.  The tag on the end of the ring is black with a golden stylized "M" a crown surmounting it.  Underneath it says: PROPERTY OF MAJESTIC CONSTRUCTION.
   "Gawd, April...is she gonna be okay?"  he asks, unable to keep the trembling from his voice.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:08, Wed 09 May 2012.

   Rowan nodded.  "It does have great magic, but only in the hands of the Nunnehi, or at least so the tales say.  I suspect they know far more than they will ever tell to us.  Returning it to them would be a gesture of good will that should convince Blood Feather to listen to our proposal of peace.  Your adopted Father's journal said that he placed it: "Behind the doors of wisdom, safe in the arms of old grey, where no man can find it, and no kith may stay."
   Malcolm to his frustration, is still unable to get a signal for his iPhone in this area.  Rowan walked closer to him, and placing a hand lightly on his left shoulder.  "I think you may find a better signal closer to the Ranger Station," she offered somewhat apologetically.  "Perhaps I was too quick to judge before; please understand we have been exceedingly careful to keep our existence a secret here, yet we are desperate to protect what we have.  Do you truly know someone you can call who might be able to stop the digging, without revealing our people to the world outside?"

"I'm not a very good person, I'm afraid," Malcolm answered. "Part of being not very good means that I know some people. I might know someone who might be able to get some paperwork to a government agency that says there are rare, endangered critters living in the area (which is true) and that would make it so that no one could build here... possibly forever."

"It's more certain than trying to fight. The government doesn't do well with violence or threats of violence against it, so we have to avoid overt conflict if we can."

Heartened by the beast's welcoming nature, Luke roughly, yet affectionately, patted the brute, smiling up into the wolven head that slobbered down towards him.

When the attention turned to the injured rabbit, Luke joined his companions in concern.
"Do you know any healers or vets among your people or ours nearby?" he asked.

  Rhic relaxed visably as the chimera failed to rend him limb from limb. He hadn't shown any sign of outward fear at first but he seemed to be shaking off a good deal of stress and anxiety as he let out a long deep breath.

  "Little lady, you need to learn to duck." He warned as he took the keys and pocketed them for later." Now Would someone mind explaining what is going on around here? Fred's mighty impressive, but I'm thinking the chimera is not in the scout handbook."
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:02, Fri 11 May 2012.

   Rowan put one hand gently on Malcolm's shoulder, her bright eyes glistening as her expression turned to sorrow.  "I do not believe you are a bad man, Malcolm.  Perhaps you have made some poor choices, but it is never too late to make new ones.  The Dreaming teaches us that life is about growth and change.  As long as you are willing to do so, and plant your feet firmly upon the path, change will come, as sure as spring follows winter.  It is not running from your past if you choose to walk towards something better."  She smiled encouragingly.  "Come on, let's get you and Moon Child to the old man's cabin, I am sure you can call from there...
   Suddenly she turns, and an expression of fear came to her fair face.  "One of the children is hurt.  Come with me please, I must help if I can." She dashes off through the trees.  Alex shrugs and follows her, unsure what else to do.

   Rhic's arms grow heavier, and he looks down to find he no longer holds a rabbit, but a young girl, with an unruly mess of reddish brown hair.  her young face is engraved with lines of pain and Rhic can feel her shaking.  She wears an oversized brown coat, and green, blood stained leggings, and well worn hiking boots.  Reaching out one arm to hold onto her rescuer, her green eyes open and she winces as she asks: "Did we stop the..b...bad machine?"  Then her eyes roll back into her head and she passes out.
   Scruff looks as if he's about to cry, and as he does, so does his Chimera, Fred.  Dirk puts a hand on the young boy's shoulder, then looks at Rhic and Luke as he hears their questions. "Rowan can explain everything, and she knows some healing Cantrips, we should get April to her..."
   As if in answer to a summons, a woman comes swiftly through the trees and wordlessly approaches.  Scruff sniffs and manages a quick smile.
   "R..R...Row...wan," he says.
   "April's hurt, the bad men shot her," Dirk finishes Scruff's sentence.

"Oh yeah, you stopped it for now." Rhic blinked in suprise. He lifted the young woman and lookd to the others." Okay since I am thinking a doctor is out of the question We better get this young lady to someine who can get this bullet out." And then somebody got some 'splaining to do".he did in his best Ricky Ricardo immitation.

  " i'm guessing you guys are behind the trouble the work crew is having." He motioned as best he could for the others to lead the way as he held the wounded girl and tried, failing miserably, not to look too confused

 She followed Rowan and the others through the woods as fast as she could without tripping over vines and getting scratched by briers and wild rose bushes. She stumbled into the small clearing and saw Rhic and the others standing around looking at a young girl covered in blood. From the look of things, the other fairies knew her. She moved forward to see if she could help.
 "Is she dead, or just hurt? We must get he back to the cabin! But first, we should bind the wound so it doesn't get dirt in it, and help staunch the bleeding. Rowan, is there anything special around here that could be used to stop the bleeding? See if there's some plantain or yarrow; I've heard that those are good for bleeding. If not, I think I have a packet of sugar in my pocket."

PM
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:09, Tue 15 May 2012.

   Rowan stepped towards Moon Child, worry written on her fair face.  She put her hands on Dirk's and Scruff's shoulders as she passed.  "I'll do all I can boys, but this mischief has to end.  One of us will be killed if we continue like this, understand?"  The tone in her voice made it clear she wasn't asking.  "Our new friends will help us now, and we'll put this to rights I hope."  She looked at Malcolm and Moon Child meaningfully.
  "Yes, Moon Child, yarrow grows plentifully in the high meadows not far from here.  Dirk, Scruff, you know the white and yellow flowers, gather some quickly and return here, take Fred with you, meet us at the Dreaming Tree Fort."  The two boys immediately run off, Fred loping after; Scruff taking one last sorrowing look at Luke and Malcolm before he too is gone.  Rowan looked up at Luke and Rhic, whom she'd not met, and smiled gratefully.  "Thank you both, for saving April," she said to them, even as she began to tear strips from her clothes to bind the wounded girl's leg.  "We can bring her to our Free Hold, its a little ways, but some magick will help us to shorten the journey.  I would take her to your cabin, Moon Child, but she is Fae, like me, and she cannot enter your cabin, for it is warded against Changelings.  Will you come with us, to the Free hold?  Mortals are usually forbidden in such places, but we will eschew the laws for now. Besides, Moon Child is right, we must take April someplace safe, and quickly."
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:20, Sat 19 May 2012.

Luke stood by, feeling hopeless, and somewhat awed, by the events.
He watched, still in wonder, as the tri-monster loped away with the boys.

Then, his attention was drawn to the moment by the new chick talking to them all.
"You know, I could probably remove the bullet, at least.  I've had some practical experience with these kinds of wounds.
That would at least let you use your magics on an unobscured wound", he offered.

 "I don't know Luke. Would you use metals? I seem to remember some metals are anathema to some fairy creatures. Is that right Rowan? Would she be hurt worse if we used a knife or forceps on her? Ok, take us to your fort, then we can see to her there."
 She went with them where ever Rowan directed them to go, trying to make the way easier along the way by holding branches and briers out of the way, even if she got scratched in the doing.

   Rowan's face brightened at Luke's offer as she bound April's leg as firmly.  "Thank you, Luke I believe it is?  We would welcome your help, physician."  She turned to Moon Child, clearly surprised. "Pure, cold iron is anathema to our people, it is true, but steel will not harm her.  Only in its pure form can iron bring death to the Kithain by touch.  Bring April please, there is no time to delay!"
   She held her hands over her head, and closed her eyes, as if listening to the winds around her, then she turned around three times, counter-clockwise (widdershins) and each time said: "Eert gnimaerd ot og su gnirb, woN."

   Instantly the air shimmered around them, and everything changed, as if the world melted away, and then reformed itself once more...
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:10, Sun 20 May 2012.

Luke held his breath in antici .......... pation.

   At first, the deep woods around them seem undisturbed, a sea of pines, oaks, beeches, yews, birches, spruces, and yews, ancient and untroubled by the passing of the ages.  And then Rowan steps forth and waves one willowy hand, and a beautiful dwelling is revealed amid the trees, as if some misty curtain had been pushed back that had hidden it from view.  Rowan beckons the group, as she makes her way unerringly towards the rustic tree house, the lights within burning like a welcome hearth fire.
   Inside are many many more young children and teenagers, dressed in all manner of motley clothing, watching silently as Rhic bears the stricken April in his arms.  Rowan brings them to the spacious main hall, dominated by a long oval table carved of oak and decorated with patterns of leaves in intricate designs along its edge.  Nearby are well made wooden couches, and one of these has already been brought out by four young changelings, covered with fluffy down filled pillows, soft hand knitted cushions, and quilts of mismatched colours.  Numerous lanterns, hanging from the branches that entwine across the ceiling, cast plenty of golden light.
  "Here, please lay her down here.  Luke, can you try your art now to remove the metal from her leg, please?" Rowan asks, concern in her voice as she looks upon April's pale face.  The girl had lapsed into unconsciousness.
   The group is soon joined by Dirk and Scruff, bearing handfuls of white and yellow clumps of yarrow.
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:51, Mon 04 June 2012.

  Rhic carried the girl to the couch and laid her down with a delicate touch that it should be impossible for the big man. He brushed the girls hair out of her face and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.

  " Those bullets hurt like hell, trust me I know a bit about stopping one or three." He put on a cocky, devil may care attitude as he spoke. trying to cheer the girl up. Talking in an exaggerated manner, as he began an obviously tall tale..keeping his story up as the kid worked on the bullet. " I was in Angola way back then, you know teaching them to grow cotton, and other useful things...

      I'd never be in such a place in the employ of government agencies of less that sterling reputation you know. When one young fella' decided he didn't like my shirt, or some other trivial matter that was most likely a simple misunderstanding. Well this young fella decided to try and shoot me full of holes. being a reasonable man, and never one to turn tail from a bit of adversity,

           I quite rationally decide it was time to run like a bunny......... No offense intended, I deeply respect the ability of bunnies to haul their fuzzy tails out of a bad situation. As a matter of fact I on occasion have wished I could run as fast...........Well My ability to run like a bunny was better than his ability to shoot. So this misguided young fella, Only manage to put one of those fifty or so bullets he had on him in me..
       unfortunately it was in the one place no self respecting person wants to get shot." Rhic slapped his own right butt cheek and mimed straightening up in surprise with a comically pained expression on his face."BLAMM!!! right in the biscuits!......... Which is why I haven't been back to Angola in a long time." he finished matter of factly.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:29, Tue 22 May 2012.

Luke joined the growing comraderie as they entered the tree house; looking all around in expected awe of the place.
As they entered the Hall, and Rhic put the rodent-girl down on the table, Luke moved over to examine her wound.

He pulled a multi-tool from his belt clip, and used it to cut away some of the clothing, and to carefully prod at the wound.  He opened and looked at the plyer's of the tool, and scowled.
"I'll need tweezers, if you have them, and ..... um, a nail file.
From the look of it, when she grew in size, so did the actual wound a little. That means that it'll make the bullet a little looser, hopefully ... but means she's bleeding quicker.

I can't tell if the bullets lodged in muscle or bone. But at that range, if the bullet didn't pass right through, which it hasn't, it's most likely hit a bone" he continued, sounding hesitant.
"And we'll need towels ... and something for the poor girl to bite down on".


When the best available tools were assembled, Luke took a deep breath, and went to work trying to remove the bullet.

   Alexander looked around the tree house with an impressed look on his face.  He looked at all the young childrens' faces, although they weren't exactly children were they?  He walked up closer to Luke, but just close enough to see what he was doing, content to stay in the background while the Changelings brought him everything he asked for to help the wounded girl.  Wooden bowls (clean cool water, clean hot water, and an empty one), a pile of clean mismatched towels, a pair of tweezers (still in the store package), cloth bandages, a small bottle of whiskey, yarrow leaves, the nail file he asked for, and what looked like hair fine thread as well, and a slender needle.  Rowan offered April a stuffed rabbit, much worn from years of hugs and squeezes, as well as an herb to chew for the pain and a felt covered stick to place between her small trembling lips.
   Alex watched everything, stuffing his hands in his pockets and feeling more than a little useless right now.  Even Rhic had found a way to make April smile, and Moon Child apparently knew about herbal medicine, and Malcolm seemed to know someone who could help the Changelings save their home...but Alex felt helpless.  It wasn't a feeling he relished at all.  He watched biting his lip, but had to ask the nearby agent:

  "You're a cop right?  Do you think the girl will be okay?  Will they be charged for the mischief they've caused?  That just doesn't seem right to me."
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:44, Fri 25 May 2012.

Once the items had been brought, and the girl prepared, Luke went to work ... removing the bullet as quickly, but carefully, as possible. When that was done, he began sewing the wound up with as much precision as he could; figuring that when he was done, the woman who had brought them all here would use some mojo to help the wound heal.

He knew that 'chicks dig scars'; but suspected that they dug them on blokes, as a sign of manhood. He didnt think this young girl wanted any more a scar than was necessary, so did the best job he could with the wound.

   Working carefully, Luke finds that, as he feared, the bullet had indeed struck and lodged in April's femur, at the head, below the hip joint.  Fortunately her transformation back to her mortal seeming had stretched the entry wound, and enlarged it, as Luke had also thought.  It takes considerable patience and steady hands, to dislodge the metal pellet from the bone, without doing further damage, but with diligence and skill he finally removes it and sews the wound closed with the thin silver thread he is provided.  Although there will undoubtedly be a scar, with careful stitching it would fade somewhat.
   April was uncommonly brave, biting down hard on the stick and fighting back the screams of agony until she finally passed out when she saw the bullet come out of her leg.  Rowan speaks soothingly to her and holds her head gently, as well as assisting Luke with his efforts in every way she can.  She sighs with relief once Luke has finished the procedure and bandaged the wound.  The rest of the changeling childer watch sadly, faces clouded with worry.  When Rowan turns around to face them she manages a smile and addresses them:
   "Its going to be alright, we will tend to April and she will be okay, but she'll need her rest for awhile, so we are going to leave her alone for a little.  Go and play, and thank the Goddess it was not you that was hurt.  The humans are dangerous and I want you to stay away from them from now on!  These are our friends, Luke, Malcolm, Rhic, Moon Child, and Alex. They will help me make the humans understand so we can live in peace here.  Go play now, and stay close to the protection of the Dreaming Tree and out of the workers sight; I mean it!  Go now, SHOO!"
   She watches as the little ones disperse, many still looking sad and confused, then turns around to the group, her shoulders sagging, as if all their sadness was hers alone to bear.  "April will be alright in time won't she Luke? I am grateful for your help, I have little skill with those kinds of wounds.  I truly wish I did not have to ask more of you, but you know that I do.  But first, you must all be hungry and thirsty, and it is improper of me not to offer you something.  Even in difficult times, we must not forget what is right."
   She asks Dirk and Scruff and a few of the older Kithain still present to find some refreshment for their guests, and they quickly rush off, seeming to be glad to have something to do.  Dirk shakes his head before he goes. "You're using that fancy shmancy talk again, Rowan...sheesh."   She gives him a stern look and he shrugs and runs off with a final "whatever."
   Eventually a large platter is brought filled with melon slices, big juicy grapes, chunks of cheddar, small wheat crackers, a multitude of nuts, strawberries, pears, dark raspberries, and several kinds of cookies, including short bread and peanut butter.  They also bring a big tall pitcher filled with a red juice which they proudly announce is pomegranate punch.  Dirk and Scruff sit down on the tree stump stools, while benches are brought over for the visitors.  Rowan sits on a wooden chair decorated with plastic hearts and stars, and butterfly shaped dried pasta.  She looks, for a moment, very tired.
  "When you are ready, I will make you a doorway to bring you as close to the Old Man's Cabin, as I can, if that is where you wish to go.  Malcolm I pray your call will work, and Moon Child, I ask you once more to find the Spirit Mask of Tecumseh for us, so we can make with the Nunnehi.  Your horse somehow followed you here, he is quite a faithful companion to be sure.  I have asked Thomas to bring him into the root cellar of the Freehold.  Animals are seldom fooled by illusions and he would likely have found it on his own eventually.  When you are ready, he may of course accompany you home if you wish..."
   They are interrupted by a cat and a blackbird, who swiftly resume the shape of two teen aged looking changelings; a girl and a boy.  They blink as they see the strangers, but hesitate only a moment deciding that they seem to be friendly.  Facing Rowan directly, the girl speaks up first, her voice trembling:
   "The Company has sent some more security guards, a dozen big ugly looking guys.  They scared the boss lady there, heck they even scare Starling," she says, to which the dark haired boy shakes his head.  "For the tenth time, I didn't say they scared me Kat, I just said they looked dangerous alright?  Looks the the big bosses didn't like how things were going, I heard the boss arguing with them on the phone.  They fired the old security guy.  I don't think these guys are going to be as easy to fool."
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:12, Fri 01 June 2012.

She just watched and waited, since it seemed nobody needed her help or anything. In fact, nobody paid any attention to anything but the poor girl, as should be. She didn't even offer to help, since the men seemed to have everything in hand.

Instead, she faded back out of the group and into the shadows, where she sat and watched and looked around the house with awe. It was much bigger inside than it seemed from the outside. It was filled with light and yet, provided many shadowy mysterious nooks and crannies.

 When food was brought out, she hesitated to eat, since she'd heard stories about elves and food, then she laughed at herself silently and took a few bits to eat. She was being silly to worry.

 When Rowan spoke to her, she just nodded. She'd feel a lot better at home, actually. This was all still a bit much to take in, and she felt like a fish out of water here among all the fey, even if she was supposed to be a bit of a fey herself.
 "I'll go whenever you like. I'd like to take Ben home with me, yes, if I may."
This message was last edited by a game editor at 07:14, Thu 31 May 2012.

Luke sat quietly and ate, as he listened to the conversations before and about him.

He had washed his hands thoroughly after tending to the girl.  And now, as the 'queen'(?) spoke with her children, he wandered over to check on the wounded girl.  He felt a little responsible for her now, having invested in her well-being, and he offered her some fruit.

" You fella's certainly put the fear in the workers." rhic shook his head. " But it looks like you might have pushed them a little too hard if the company is sending in security."

  "I'm not really an expert on this sort of thing, I usually spent more time trying to keep workers from getting harrassed and attacked than monkey wrenching their plans. But I'd be very careful around them from now on."

  "If your human around them all they can do is try to arrest you, or chase you off. But they can shoot an animal and no one will ask questions..as long as no game wardens are around. So I'd stay in human form."

  "Normally I don't get involved with sabotage, but I'm thinking soemthing around here is damned important to you guys. What is that your so rield up about, well other than someone trying to bulldoze your house...."

   Rowan nodded to Kat and Starling.  "Keep watch on them, but make no move against them as yet.  Let us know when they begin their efforts once more.  It will not take them long I fear.  Be safe most of all.  Lord and Lady guard and guide you, "  She answered them, her face grave as she absorbed the news they brought.

   Once they had gone, she turned her attention to Rhic to answer his question.  In fact she was grateful for it, and his concern.  She smiled sadly.  "You are perceptive, Rhic, for this place is not simply our house, it is a Fae Freehold, a place where still the ancient Glamour that once filled all the land flows naturally.  It is a place closer to the Dreaming than most others left on earth, and they are very rare indeed.  We had thought the construction was to be further north of this sacred place, so why the company suddenly was contracted to dig here we do not know, but we are sworn to protect this place.  It is a haven for all the Changelings in the North American realm and a gateway to the Dreaming.  Why, of all places, did they have to build here?"

   Her eyes glisten with unshod tears.  Then she looks away.  "Perhaps you are right, Rhic.  Perhaps we have pushed them hard, but they have pushed us for centuries and there are few places left to which we Fae can retreat."

   She looked at Malcolm, biting her lip.  "Will you not make your call, please?  If there is anything you can do I beg you in the Goddess' name please do so.  We are but few, and we cannot fight forever."


   Nodding to Moon Child, she said quietly. "Yes of course, we would not keep your brave stallion from you.  I will gladly open a bridge for you that you may be swiftly home.  I would send you escort, but the Kithain cannot enter the Professor's cabin.  It is warded against the Fae.  I will give you his journals if you think they will be of use to you."

   Alex stepped forwards, unsure where the sudden surge of courage was coming from, but he wanted to do something.

   "Luke and I could go, maybe, with MoonChild, if she wouldn't mind."

Luke looked at Alexander, when the other spoke for him; but didn't immediately gainsay the fellow.  Instead, he had his own question to ask before committing to anything.
"You'd like us to find this Mask of ThisKumpsGuy, right?  Do you think it is that cabin? Or is it somewhere else ... like the old Indian ruins nearby?
And can you tell us what it looks like?"

"I would very much like to see his journals. How did you get them though if nobody here can go inside the cabin?"
 She was sad that Rowan seemed to know more about him than she had. James had always been her mentor and she loved him like a father. Indeed, he had been her only family she could ever remember. She loved the walks in the woods, and their camping trips they'd taken together. Now she discovered he must have had secrets he had kept from her.
 "I am willing to take anybody who wants to go with me. I know the cabin was stocked with food and supplies the last time I was here."

   Rowan brightened hopefully at Luke's question. "The Professor wrote in his journals of finding the mask in the ruins.  He wrote that he was fearful for its safety after attempts were made to steal it, and so brought it home with him to study.  He considered it an historic find, and truly it was.  The Nunnehi sent him nightmares and so he warded his home against them, and by doing so against us as well, for the Nunnehi are Fae, as we are."
   She paused a moment to reflect, then answered his second question. "As for the artifact, I have never seen Tecumseh's Spirit Mask, myself, but I am told it was fashioned from a very old oak tree, felled by a fearsome thunder storm.  It was carved to resemble a Raven's face, painted around the eyes, with a long beak that was said to be able to carry one's speech into the spirit realm.  It was given to Chief Tecumseh by his brother, a powerful shaman of the Shawnee Tribe.  It is said that Tecumseh refused to use it to save his people, believing the Shawnee should fight their own battles.  That is truthfully, all I know of it, Luke, but whether the mask can speak to spirits or not, the Nunnehi consider it a treasure of their people, and so it is valuable as an offering of peace to them."</Seagreen>




   Rowan then replied to Moon Child.  "The Nunnehi stole the Professor's journals from his tent, we believe, one night when he camped near to the Indian ruins.  Kat and Starling, the two young Changelings who just left, retrieved them from a Nunnehi brave during a rather nasty brawl about two months ago.  The brave would not release them, until he was chimerically dead, so he certainly considered them of great worth to his people."

   Stepping towards the corner of the room, Rowan sings a few brief notes, and there appears for her, a sturdy worn pine wood cabinet where none was before!  As if it had always been there, simply hidden, much like the Tree House had appeared to them earlier.  Reaching into her pocket she pulled out a large, old fashioned looking key of the same dark wood, and opened the doors on the front, drawing a large leatherbound book from within.  She locked the cabinet once more and then offered the stained and crusted book to Moon Child.
  "By rights we Kithain hold most sacred, they belong to you, his daughter." she added simply.  "I do hope Doctor James E. Houk's writings will help."
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:47, Mon 04 June 2012.

 She gasped as she took the worn and stained leather bound book. She had made him the cover of the book one year as a present. She was glad it had protected his journals so well. Tears formed in her eyes as she took the now sacred book and opened it up. She glanced inside, trying to decipher his notes, written in his own form of shorthand with many notes along the margins. And she saw a hand drawing of the mask among the pages therein.
 "Thank you Rowan. You do not know what this means to me! I thought everything of his was accounted for, but now I see I was mistaken. I hope this will give me some clue as to how to find the mask."
 She reverently stroked the cover as she absorbed some of the feel of her Mentor and adoptive father from the cover. She closed her eyes and hugged it to her chest as she felt a brief brush of his presence from the books memories. Tears run down her cheek unheeded as she tried to hold his memory close for as long as she could.

Luke nodded as he listened, then smiled and said, as much to Alexander and Moonchild as to Rowen, "Alright, I'm in. Let's go find this mask".
He returned his attention to Rhic and Malcolm, "Will you be ok without my leadership and guidance for a while?  Remember, if you get scared, just run and hide.  I'll find you when the time is right, ok?"

Finally, he turned back to the little ferret-girl that he had stitched up, "And you rest, eh.  I'll be back to check on you shortly" he said, ruffling her gray, furrylike hair before turning back to Moon and Alex.

"Right then".

   "Thanks Luke, I have a feeling we can use the help.  Okay, let's find this old relic and hope it helps somehow, to mend things with the Changelings' Indian friends.  We'll follow you, Moon Child, since you know the way."  He put his hands in his pockets and did just that, following her and wondering, not for the first time, if he'd ever get back to something familiar, like his university job, or at least a computer.

"Ok, I guess we're ready Rowan. Show us the way please?"
 She followed the fey girl to where ever the portal was, and her horse was awaiting them.

   Rowan smiled sincerely grateful, her eyes betraying her worry all the same.  "Of course, Moon Child, let us go and find your way home."  She lead them through a door on the right of the large main room, which opened out on to a well crafted wooden balcony.  From here you could look out, a long way through the wilderness to wear the lake sparkled on the horizon.  Blinking, the group can see a shimmering curtain of translucent light that marked the boundary of the Changelings' cantrip that kept their free hold from the eyes of mortals.
  It was well into the afternoon, and the sun peeking through the leaf canopy was warm, but up high amid the trees, a slight breeze was blowing.  Rowan brought them to an ingenious lift, fashioned of intertwined branches.  It was roughly square, although curved at the edges, and and thick ropes encircled it, tied in cunning knots, and thrown over a sturdy tree limb.  Dirk and Scruff took positions at the winch that would lower it to the ground.  Opening the door Rowan climbed in and then waited for the rest.  Once they were inside she closed and latched the door and waved a hand to the boys who dutifully lowered them to the ground.
   Once there, she exited and lead them to the edge of the magical veil of enchantment, then closed her eyes and began to softly sing.

Show us the secret doorway
Into your wondrous heart
then let us enter in,
for here our path must start.
Show me my deepest desire
that lives in my dreams
Take me to realms beyond
where hope still gleams.

   The forest answered her request and a doorway appeared, fashioned from the branches and leaves and moss of the forest.  The light of Glamour shone on Rowan's face as she watched it work, then waved a hand towards the door, playfully, like a child might point something out to another.

   "I have fashioned for you a chimerical doorway.  Imagination is a powerful thing, in the hands of the Fae.  But Chimera can be dangerous too, to those who believe in them.  This should take you to the Old Professor's Cabin.  Goddess guard and guide you.  I pray you find this treasure of the Shawnee."  She hugged them all and then stepped back.


This message was last edited by the GM at 01:54, Mon 18 June 2012.

" If you fella's think you can handle the mask alone...I want to check out the work site. Something about those new goons makes my neck itch." Rhic seemed reluctant to let the others go on without him.

 " can anyone tell me anything about these guys runing the work camp?" Rhic asked as he tucked a blanket around the wounded girl." I've worked with some of these companies, maybe I can find a way to put the brakes on for a while....without anyone getting shot at."

With nothing to wait for, Luke waved his goodbyes and walked on through the mystic gate.

 She walked through the strange gateway with her horse, leading Ben through carefully so he doesn't freak out by the flying branches. She felt a brief disorientation then appeared at the edge of the woods near the cabin by the river.
 "Well, we're here at least. I hope I can still find the key."

   Alex examined the magical door with interest.  "That's positively remarkable!  You do realize that, according to the accepted laws of physics, this structure is impossible right?  Wait, where did they go?  Hold on I'm coming..."

   Quickly Alex walked through the portal, still wondering about the odd doorway.

   Alexander, Luke, and Moon Child may post in the Professor's Cabin thread.

link to a message in this game
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:26, Fri 22 June 2012.

   Rowan walks over to the window, boots clicking softly across the plank floor, and looks out at her beloved forest.  After a brief moment she then turns back to Rhic and Malcolm with a profoundly sad expression.  "I can tell you what little we do know, Rhic.  The company is called 'Majestic Construction' and they have aggressively pushed deeper into the forest, though we knew of no plans for development in this area.  They have a forest harvester, and a few bulldozers, trucks and a couple trailers they use as for administration.  They have already begun felling trees and presumably they will widen the path they used to bring all their vehicles here.  The workers have spoken about new bosses, so I'm guessing there has been a change in management recently, and they are determined to do a thorough job and impress them.  Their site boss is a lady named Jessie Whitaker, who seems a firm but fair woman trying to do her job.  I don't think there is any malice in her, she is just doing what she's paid to do.  Still what she has been paid to do will destroy the Dreaming Tree Fort if they find it, and they surely will if they proceed as they seem determined to do.  The camp is not far, if you or Malcolm would care to take a look, Dirk and Scruff can show you the way."
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:11, Sun 01 July 2012.

  " I've worked with companies like this before, usually they are not all bad folk. I'm sure if they undestood.... well you folk they'd be more than willing ot leave you be." Rhic shed his rifle and looked around for a stachel or pack to carry the goo gun in." Sad thing is most folk out there don't see anything but bills, work, and the next paychck. Elves, and dragons, and ghosts, and shapechangers are just kids stories and something you see in movies."

  "Damn shame really. we've done a lot and seen a lot, we can fly to the moon, see millions of years out into space, and do some reallygood things when we put our minds to it. But they forot how to be kids, can't see whats around em."

  'Trust me some folks out there would sell body parts to see the world like you folks get to see it."

    Okay Scruff, Dirk. I need you to be my nephews for a while, just pretend we were out on a camping trip and our car broke down. Stay close to me, and keep your eyes and ears open....You might see or hear somethign I can't. If ya do just let me know real quiet like."

   Rowan wished Rhic and Malcolm good luck, caressing both of their faces for a moment in her smooth palm.  She knelt down and hugged Dirk and Scruff, bidding them keep safe and to listen to Rhic and Malcolm.

   At the edge of the clearing, still in the shadow of the great Dreaming Tree, the foursome comes to what appears a pale green mist, almost like an ethereal wall that surrounds the Fae Free hold.  Beyond they can see the rest of the forest, as if it awaited on the other side of a dream.  Stepping through the mist, they feel a momentary dizzyness, almost as if waking from a long sleep.  When they glance back behind them, they cannot see the Dreaming Tree fort at all, it is as if it never existed at all!

   Malcolm raises and eye brow, but does not comment, following Dirk and Scruff as they make their way to the campsite, which turns out to be less than fifteen minutes walk to the east.  Long before they reach the site, they can hear the sound of machinery, bulldozers, trucks, and chain saws.  Evidently they have returned to work.
   The site consists of a few trailers, (port o potties naturally) four heavy duty dump trucks, four bull dozers, and a forest harvester, for dealing with the timber; all state of the art, fairly new equipment, emblazoned with the logo MAJESTIC CONSTRUCTION on the side.  Their progress has been severely hampered by the Changelings sabotage, although with the little work they've actually managed to do they've cleared a fairly large area.  All the workers are currently busy, and Rhic recognizes Jessie talking to one of the men on the bulldozer.  Surrounding the work site are a dozen large men in security uniforms of black and gold.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:19, Mon 23 July 2012.

  " Here is your first lessen in crate Mayehm boys." Rhic paused well out of earshot." Machines need fuel, and spare parts on a regular basis. If things get to the point I can't see anyother way but to do some monkey wrenching. The fuel tanks are the first thing we need to deal with."

  "It doesn't matter how determined people are they can't work without fuel." He studied the guards and frowned slightly as he motioned for the others to follow him." Way too many guards, two or three is a lot for an outfit like this. They cost a lot of money and don't produce anything in return. And these guys don't look like your average rent-a-cop.. So stay rela close and dont say or do anything except for the teen age bored nephews bit."

as he walked down to the worksite proper he studied the guards looking for company patches, weapons, cell phones, and walkie talkies. anythign that would let him know who these men were, how professional they were, and how serious a threat to the locals they could be.

   A close scrutiny of the guards reveals several things of interest to Rhic and Malcolm.  They all wear a patch with a golden crown upheld by a stylized "M" indicating that Majestic Construction has its own security force.  The men, for they are all males, are all clean cut, with hair predominantly black or brown, sharp features and a slightly olive cast to their skin, indicating they are likely of Latin or Mediterranean decent.  All of them are large, physically intimidating men, definitely healthy.  All carry no visible weapons, other than a short black metallic truncheons.  They have no obvious communication devices, but chances are good, Malcolm says, that they at least have cell phones if nothing else.
   Dirk points out that they seem to be guarding the WORKERS as much as the site, Scruff accurately describes them as:

   "B...b..bu..bu..bullies!"

  " Good eyes. Yeah they are Scruff, and that means we have them licked already." Rhic commented as he paused and knelt to relace his bootlaces. He had to admit having the three as back up was certainly paying off. Even if it meant having to watch four backs instead of just his own.
  " Time to get our story straingt, We're visiting your folks, Jackie, and Linda.... I'm your uncle Rhic, and theis Is my freind Lawrence. we were heading up to see the woods, and do some camping when our car broke down.... It's working fine now but i insisted on coming back to visit the work site."

  Got it..if you don't know how to answer try the surly and bored move...it usually works."

   Stepping out of the woods quickly garners Rhic, Malcolm, Dirk, and Scruff some attention.  Three of the security guards approach the group, glaring at them menacingly.  And yet Rhic and Malcolm, having had enough experience in judging people, can tell these are more than a gang of swaggering braggadocios; they are trained and disciplined, they seem more like mercenaries or contract killers than rent a cops.  Malcolm looks at Rhic and confirms his suspicions with one glance.  These men are dangerous, very dangerous.

   "This is a restricted area!" Growls the lead security guard in a thickly accented bass, as the other two men behind him reach for the handles of their truncheons.  "You are all trespassing on a Majestic Construction project site.  Leave NOW!  I'm not going to say it twice!"

  " We are here to speak withJessie." Rhic announced as he stopped. his hands coming up as if to show he was peaceful. Instead, his feet shifted to a good solid base and his hands came up to a position that looked neutral and passive but also put his hands in a perfect defensive position.

  He smiled and offered a slight nod to the other men, but the smile didn't translate to his eyes, they were cold, hard, and full of "I'm not impressed...watch your step puppy, the old dog is in the yard." Name's Rhic, well John Rhictor, Our ride had a breakdown and she offered to help us out.'
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:17, Sun 05 Aug 2012.

   Malcolm watches intently, but doesn't speak.  He's seen men like this before, and has taken more than his fair share of them down.  He doesn't look in the least intimidated by them, though he has a healthy respect for their size and obvious physical ability.
   Scruff hides behind Rhic's pant leg, but Dirk looks up at him with a perfectly bored expression as he says, "okay we've seen the work site Uncle Rhic, its boring, can't we just go back to the car now, geeze?  Hello, they obviously don't want us here anyway."

   Seeing Rhic, Malcolm, and they boys, Jessie disengages from the other big security guard, much to the man's anger, and waves to Rhic.  She narrows her eyes at the security guard in front of Rhic and orders him coldy:

   "Back off Vittorio!  Rhic's a friend and I invited him here, so they are staying.  You may be the boss's personal security, but this is still MY worksite and MY crew you thug!  We're doing the best we can, as fast as we can, so you and the other corporate gorillas can get off our backs, NOW!  Or you can explain to Mr Cavaliere that my men and I are taking a permanent walk!  Now go guard something, and leave my guys and I alone, got it? GOOD!"

   The security guard in front of Rhic and Malcolm turns on Jessie, his face livid as he reaches for his truncheon...

OOC: If you want to do anything, I need an INIT.  Remember there are TWELVE guards, not one.

 22:26, Today: Secret Roll: LoC rolled 4 using 1d10+1. Security guard's Init.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:32, Sun 19 Aug 2012.

" I WOULD NOT DO THAT!" Rhic raised his voice a notch. Not yelling but putting his full force of personality behind his words.. and a hint of iron that promised bad things would happen if he was ignored.
  In case he was ignored,or the man was too enraged to listen to reason, his body tensed, his feet shift and he prepared to move. Already in his he saw the motions forming. Hand across the mans chest short step to his side and rear, center of gravity lowering and his hip placed against the mans. a simple twist, and shove with his arm to send the man up and over and to the ground...when the man is on the ground a stomp to his chest, a shift to one side to bring him into position to engage the next guard and shield the kids if he needed too.

   He knew it was a losing fight, twelve to two, or one. But he also knew there was no way in hell he was going to let anyone get beaten in front of him without at least an effort to stop it from him. his training and a lifetimes experience ready to act if the the truncheon cleared it's holster.




23:23, Today: John Rhic Rhictor rolled 8 using 1d10+1. init.
23:22, Today: John Rhic Rhictor rolled 3 using 1d20. attack using proper stuff.

   The security guard, Vittorio, swings his truncheon vicously towards Jessie, who is quick witted enough to jump back, avoiding the enraged man's numerous attempts.  He clearly isn't giving up, however, and Jessie realizes too late that she is unarmed and unprepared for the man's sudden violence.


OOC: 18:43, Today: Secret Roll: LoC rolled 19 using 1d20. Security guard's truncheon attack.

   Meanwhile the other guards pull out their truncheons, threatening the other workers in case they get any ideas.  Beside Rhic, Malcolm swiftly draws his tangle gun from its concealed holster...
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:55, Sun 26 Aug 2012.

  " That's yo ass"Seeing the man swing Rhic switched to offensive mode. His planned attack already in his head he executed, it without hesitation. The time for chat and bluster was long past, it was time to deal out a bit of good old fashioned "whoop ass"
This message was last edited by a game editor at 00:36, Sun 26 Aug 2012.

   Vittorio, being focused on Jessie, doesn't expect the attack from Rhic, and he is easily swept off balance and down to the ground, truncheon still clenched tightly in his hand.

   Jessie watches in alarm at the degrading situation, then blinks in amazement as she sees Rhic spring into action.  Using the free moment he has given her, she swiftly grabs up a large piece of wood from the ground, arming herself.

   Scruff and Dirk both prepare to run, if necessary.  A head on fight with burly security guards is NOT what they had in mind.

   The workers and guards glare and at one another, and a fight seems very likely, when Malcolm points his his gun at the fallen Vittorio and yells.

   "Freeze asshole, or so help me you'll wish you had.  All of you, all MajCon security, put your fancy sticks on the ground, NOW!"

  I know what your thinking, we have them outnumbered, we're Mercs, professionals, we can take two civilians." Rhic spoke matter of fact, his hand going into his satchel and revealing the grip of the pistol it held inside.He had a bit of experience doing Merc work himself, and most of it involved shooting." I ought to tell ya, Somalia, Sudan, Iraq, Hell I've done a bit of work in eastern Europe too. So you move, and you'll be collecting your paycheck in the next life."

   "Operor ut inquit, Miles Militis," the guard named Vittorio calls to the rest, raising his arms up in a sign of surrender. His fellow security guards likewise carefully place their truncheons on the ground as they reply in unison: "Etiam Caput."
   Vittorio meets Malcolm's steely gaze with the calm born of incredible discipline.  He turns to Rhic, watching him intently, as if taking his measure.
   "Majestic Construction will not..," he begins quietly, but is quickly cut short by Malcolm.
   "Don't hand me that BULLSHIT!" Says Malcolm angrily, his hands rock steady as he keeps his gun locked on Vittorio.  "Why don't we start with who you really are and what you are doing here?  I may have been away from school for a long time, but I know Latin when I hear it.  Now what the hell is going on?"

" Latin?" Rhic raised an eyebrow," You fellas don't look like priests, and last I heard there weren't many roman's walking around."

  "So which Grand Order of loonies are you fellas working for?" He moved closer to Vittrio, patting him down Looking for his wallet, cellphone, hidden weapons and other items of interest." Now don't make me get unfriendly, I hate to ruin a perfectly good day digging holes out in the woods."

    Searching Vittorio, Rhic finds what looks like a compact cellphone, a leather bundle with carefully wrapped glass vials of some clear liquid, stoppered and sealed with wax, two leatherbound books, one a small careworn bible, and another that says RITUALIS ROMANUM in gold letters on its, likewise creased cover, a large silver crucifix on a leather thong around the guards neck,  and a silvery grey stiletto dagger, surprisingly heavy for its size, it's blade engraved with odd looking sigils.

   Vittorio speaks quietly, with incredible control, but those around can feel the unquenchable passion in his voice.  "You are right, the others are not priests, only I am so honoured to have taken holy vows.  You have no idea, what you are doing, Rhic.  You stand in the way of a greater purpose.  Greater than you, or me.  Because of your ignorance, I forgive you, but I cannot allow you to interfere any further.  This task must be accomplished, for the good of all humankind, and it would be best to let us go and forget that you saw anything at all.  There are...things...in these woods: horrible things, abominations, hateful in the sight of God, and they must be dealt with!  There's not a single man here who will not die to fulfill that purpose.  So I am giving you this one chance; walk away."

   Jessie and the rest of the construction crew carefully make their way to stand beside Malcolm, Rhic, and the boys, leaving the security guards on their own.  Jessie looks furious, her cheeks flush with the intensity of her anger.  She bites her lip hard, obviously fighting the urge to hurl a few invectives towards Vittorio and company, echoing the sentiments of her bewildered crew, but to her credit she instead turns to look at John and Malcolm.

   "I think there's more than one explanation owed someone, Rhic, don't you?  Its pretty obvious your not just some lost campers.  Your buddy right there is a cop, or I'm a pack mule!  Does that make you one too?  I have to admit I'm losing it here and I really need something like an answer right now."
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:34, Sat 08 Sept 2012.

  " I'm no cop that's for sure. Back in the day They used to call us soldiers of fortune, gunslingers, Mercs, Now they call us Private Security specialists. But i don't work for money, and not fame, fortune or glory or any of that." Rhic examined the items opening the bible and reading a few of his favorite passages. as he considered the next step.
  " Now father Vittorio, would you mind explaining what your looking for, and what abominations your after, some of the folk living out in this wood just want to be left the hell alone. I've fought enough evil in my life to smell it a mile off. Nazi's redcoats, Indians, Ivory poachers, pirates, you name it I've shot at it..hell I'm pretty handy with a sword so I figure I've done more I just can't remember it."

 So if it's just things that ain't "natural" we better get to the fighting portion of this little crusade, cause I am tired, hungry my feet hurt, and right now I am pretty pissed off at you and your goons....so be a little more specific and you might have some allies, or a few more enemies, your choice."
  with his piece spoken Rhic handed back the priests goods, and the dagger, making certain her wiped the blade neatly and returned it hilt first.

   Vittorio accepts the return of his things, never taking his eyes from Rhic's.  His calm seems unshakable, as he considers Rhic's words.  When at last he speaks, his tone is icy

   "If your words hold any truth, then you are far older than anyone here could guess.  For a man to live so long, and show half his age, one would say is most unnatural...Rhic.  Understand that we will triumph in our holy quest to erase the taint of Lucifer from this place.  This wood is a nest of the unclean, a pit of vipers, hateful in the sight of God.  Demons so craven they would enslave the very souls of children to fashion a portal to this world.  We know what it is they want, and why they are here.  Their diabolical plans have been revealed to us, a revelation from our Heavenly Lord.  We shall expose these blasphemies to the holy light of day, that they may be cleansed and in his exalted name release the innocents they have possessed and be exorcised from the earth!  Stand in our way and you will be swept aside by the tide of righteousness of which we are but harbingers!"  He narrows his eyes as they fall upon Dirk and Scruff, and his grip tightens on his dagger.

   As if in answer to his words, Rhic and Malcolm both hear the sound of an approaching helicopter.  As the wind grows, Vittorio smiles triumphantly and raises his arms crying out:

   "Venite sancti bellatorum Dei,  Venite Gladius Dei! Gloriosa bellum cipiendu!"

   Jessie looks to Rhic and Malcolm, one hand holding onto her hard hat.  Her expression turns from confusion to anger, and she shakes her head, trying to hide the alarm in her voice.

   "They...they're all crazy?  I mean mad as march hares.  No amount of money is worth this!"
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:00, Mon 17 Sept 2012.

 " Great," Rhic sighed and drew his tangler out of his satchel."And who has revealed this plan?" Rhic met Vittorio's steely gaze with his own.
    Not overly concerned with the mans attempt to intimidate or his words of a larger force. The sound of rotors in the distance did set him his attention. " Jesse why don;t you and your guys take the day off, I get the feeling those are Vittorio's friends coming to back him up."

  "you and your freinds are making a mistake Vittorio, the demons and vipers aren't living out here in the woods. They work in offices, and sometimes they wear robes, and collars. Your about to turn this forest into a battlefield where the people aren't your enemy. Make sure your not being deceived, and used by the evil you want to fight."

 Rhic motioned for everyone to fall back keeping himself between Vitorio as he walked slowly off the clearing and them looked at the rest and motioned for them to run back to the tree.
This message was last edited by a game editor at 04:05, Mon 17 Sept 2012.

   Vittorio's gaze returns to the retreating Rhic, his expression hard now, eyes as cold as iron.  There is something truly chilling about the intensity of his expression.  His long dark hair tumbles down his shoulders as his hat is swept off by the wind from the helicopter, coming down for a landing.  He raises his truncheon and, suddenly it extends, telescoping out to become a long spear with a long tapered end.  He raises it into the air and sweeps it forwards to point towards the now fleeing construction crew, and Rhic and company.
   In response, the MajCon Security guards open up their own hidden weapons, swords, spears, maces.  Then with a cry, they begin to surge forwards.

   Malcolm looks at Rhic gravely, then quickly takes charge as he has been trained to do.  "Jessie, take your men and follow the boys, Scruff and Dirk, they'll take you to their Dreaming Tree Fort.  Rhic and I will slow these guys down if we can."

 " Watch the right, I've got the left." Rhic called as he moved to flank the group as they retreated. Keeping trees between him and the on coming wave of armed men. He knew they were hardcore killers, and armed with a variety of some very odd weapons. But then again so was he.
  He took out his tangle pistol and aimed for the first guard in the rush toward them. Pulling the trigger as he led the man hoping for a good first shot.



22:48, Today: John Rhic Rhictor rolled 10 using 1d10+1. init.
22:47, Today: John Rhic Rhictor rolled 3 using 1d20. tangle pistol shot.

   Malcolm nodded to Rhic, agreed.  Nice knowing you Rhic," he adds sincerely.  He fires off a few carefully aimed shots of his tangler, managing to take out one of the approaching MagCon Guards.  Along with Rhic's shot, this left ten men still to take down, and more exiting from the helicopter as it touched down.

   "Always wanted to go down fighting," he gritted his teeth and prepared to shoot again.

12:39, Today: LoC rolled 3 using 1d20. Malcolm Tangler attack.
12:37, Today: LoC rolled 9 using 1d10+2. Malcolm Init.
21:48, Tue 25 Sept: John Rhic Rhictor rolled 10 using 1d10+1. init.

Gennadovy had been working on replacing the fuel lines of a damaged 'dozer when he noticed the subliminal growl of the engines had coughed then died.

Looking around the body of the vehicle, he saw Jessie shouting and cursing those Mafia men (they looked like them from all the American movies he'd seen, so why not call them that?) who had managed to rub everyone raw with their strutting and self-importance, and the rest of the crew getting out of their vehicles or coming in from their assignments to watch the ruckus.

At first, Yuri figured to leave it alone: it was none of his business, but Jessie was standing there shouting at those dogs all by herself.  With a grunt and a sigh, he got up and joined the crowd.

Besides, he told himself, it was good to see the workers' coming together against a clear atangonist; he should be a part of that.

When he saw that one fascist bastard pull his club on Jessie, Yuri immediately began to push through the crowd, cursing in Russian.  Damned Americans!  Always thinking it's like TV: just sit and watch!

When he finally managed to break through the press, Yuri was pleased to see the girl unhurt and her attacker on the ground, a gun (held by some strange man) pointed at his midsection.

(A civilian with a gun?  Eh!  America!  All cowboys here!)

He listened to the strangers (another one with a gun, and he as much as called himself a cowboy, with his talk of mercenenaries and imperialist intervention) and the guards (??  What?  Priests?  Is the imperialist Vatican at work here, too?) exchange words, feeling the tension ratchet up as time passed, the priest's words grew more crazed.  When the mercenary cowboy handed back the knife he had taken from one of the priest-guards, Yuri had to bite his lip to keep from telling this fool not to do that; the tension was high enough already, and he didn't want to add to it.

(Just to be safe, he slowly shifted his position around the watching ring until he was beside the priests' leader and waited, flexing his muscles and preparing to spring . . . .)

At the all-too-familiar sound of helicopter blades cutting through the hush that had fallen over the group, Yuri felt an all-too-familiar sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach.  When the small group of strangers made to retreat, Gennadovy was hard pressed not to start walking as well!

What finally tore things, though, was seeing the truncheons turn into spears and other ancient weapons!  Too much craziness in one day (even for America!)!

However, leaving two men to stand against all those crazy, bullying priests while he ran with the civvies didn't sit well in Yuri's gut!

He stooped to pick up a rock and prepared to hurl it at the priest who had been doing all the talking.

   The dozen Majestic Construction security guards surge forward, two of them taken out fairly quickly by Rhic and Malcolm's Tanglers.  The guards are enveloped in the black sticky tendrils and are immobilized, which just seems to spur the remaining guards to greater fury.  The ten remaining stride determinedly forwards, their weapons held before them in a wedge of razor sharp iron.  Quickly closing the gap left by their fallen comrades.  They do not look back, but keep unnervingly focused on the two adversaries before them.
   Suddenly, however, one of the construction crew decides to join the fight, standing his ground and reaching for a rock as some sort of weapon to use.  He looks grizzled, and his expression says he's not about to back down, that a line has been crossed and he's seen enough.  Its going to be a nasty fight.

22:09, Today: Secret Roll: LoC rolled 6 using 1d10+1. MajCon security init.

  "get over here with us! don't let them get around us... Malcom right flank I've got the left.." Rhic called out in a crisp calm tone. combat was only frightening when you hadn't been there before. exprerience and training tended to kick in and leave little things like fearing for your life outside until after the fighting was over.
   " Lets give these guys some guerilla warfare, hit them once mre then we move...stay out of their reach." He snapped off a shot at the new lead guard and began to back off to try and keep ahead of the advancing zealots.


15:19, Today: John Rhic Rhictor rolled 1 using 1d20. tangler.
15:18, Today: John Rhic Rhictor rolled 8 using 1d10+1. init.

This message was last edited by a game editor at 19:21, Tue 09 Oct 2012.

Yuri hurled the stone with a grunt of effort, putting all his strength into it and aiming at the nearest priest!

20:05, Today: Yuri Gennadovy rolled 17 using 1d20. thrown rock.
(OOC: I'll make a guess that a thrown rock does damage bonus in damage, so 2 damage.)
20:10, Today: Yuri Gennadovy rolled 6 using 1d10+2. initiative.

   Yuri's rock flies is batted from the air by the mace its intended target, who angrily scowls at the mechanic, marking him as the target of his wrath.  The wedge of Mag Con Warriors rushes the three men, swinging at them ruthlessly with their medieval weapons, like a band of avenging knights.

   Three surge forwards to strike repeatedly at Yuri, the warrior he first targeted with the rock managing to give Yuri a glancing blow to the left shoulder.

21:39, Today: Secret Roll: LoC rolled 12 using 1d20. MajCon security attacks Yuri
21:39, Today: Secret Roll: LoC rolled 2 using 1d20. MajCon security attacks Yuri
21:39, Today: Secret Roll: LoC rolled 18 using 1d20. MajCon security attacks Yuri.

22:30, Today: Secret Roll: LoC rolled 2 using 1d6+1. MajCon security damage to Yuri.


   Three more warriors attack Rhic, who is able to evade their blows easily, except for one warrior who manages to cut him with a glaive across his chest, slicing Rhic's shirt and drawing blood.

21:39, Today: Secret Roll: LoC rolled 13 using 1d20. MajCon security attacks Rhic
21:39, Today: Secret Roll: LoC rolled 20 using 1d20. MajCon security attacks Rhic
21:39, Today: Secret Roll: LoC rolled 4 using 1d20. MajCon security attacks Rhic

22:32, Today: Secret Roll: LoC rolled 4 using 1d6+1. MajCon security damage to Rhic.

   Four come against Malcolm, who is overwhelmed and suffers several hits by morningstar, broadsword, and svardstav.  He barely manages to stagger backwards, his gun smashed from his hand, blood flowing freely from his forehead and right arm.

21:39, Today: Secret Roll: LoC rolled 5 using 1d20. MajCon security attacks Malcolm
21:39, Today: Secret Roll: LoC rolled 11 using 1d20. MajCon security attacks Malcolm
21:39, Today: Secret Roll: LoC rolled 7 using 1d20. MajCon security attacks Malcolm
21:39, Today: Secret Roll: LoC rolled 16 using 1d20. MajCon security attacks Malcolm.

22:33, Today: Secret Roll: LoC rolled 7 using 1d6+1. MajCon security damage to Malcolm.
22:33, Today: Secret Roll: LoC rolled 3 using 1d6+1. MajCon security damage to Malcolm.
22:33, Today: Secret Roll: LoC rolled 7 using 1d6+1. MajCon security damage to Malcolm.

  Just to let you know, the base physical for the MajCon Security (Gladius Dei) is 13, which is modified in this case only by their movement and yours: minus one for their movement of 60' per turn, and another minus one for YOUR movement of 60' per turn, so they hit on an 11 or lower :)

NEW ROUND.  23:01, Today: Secret Roll: LoC rolled 4 using 1d10+1. MajCon security init.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:02, Sun 21 Oct 2012.

Run for it!" Rhic Shouted to the others as he moved to cover their retreat for a few seconds more.  He didn't know what half the weapons being swung at him were but he as damn certain they would leave one hell of a mark if he didn't step lightly and find something to fight on even terms with them.

He swung the pistol aiming for the wrist of the first sword wielder within reach, a sword he was fairly comfortable with at least in theory. .


08:35, Today: John Rhic Rhictor rolled 10 using 1d10+1. init.
08:34, Today: John Rhic Rhictor rolled 3 using 1d20. disarm. and grab weapon

Yuri curses again, hating to run from bastards like these priests, but not seeing any point to standing and fighting them!

He turns tail and sprints for the trees, trying to stay with the others.

   Rhic disarms the nearest opponent and takes his sword, but in that time bending down he sees the gathering troops of warriors rushing to join their comrades in arms.  They way they move, their eagerness for combat, their methodical movements and offensive formations could only be performed by trained warriors.  Whatever, whoever these men are, they are NOT security guards; of that one fact Rhic, Yuri, and Malcolm (all of you with military backgrounds) are absolutely certain...
   You race from the clearing, with the MagCons in pursuit.  Malcolm cries out as his left calf is slashed by a MajCon warrior, but he does not stop.  He is wounded and is the slowest in your group, but his training kicks in, he grits his teeth and refuses to give up or accept help...

OOC: Okay the MajCon security have an initiative of four.  Essentially this is now going to become a pursuit, if you are retreating from combat.  You can break away and retreat if your initiative is higher than your opponents, although each of you will receive one free attack from the nearest opponent as you flee.  One hit, to poor Malcolm.  He's not looking too good just now.

22:59, Today: Secret Roll: LoC rolled 13 using 1d20. MajCon security free attack Yuri.
22:59, Today: Secret Roll: LoC rolled 16 using 1d20. MajCon security free attack Rhic.
22:58, Today: Secret Roll: LoC rolled 1 using 1d20. MajCon security free attack Malcolm.


   At this point the MajCon are moving at 60 feet/turn so they are at least equal to your group.  The best INIT bonus for both your groups is +1 so you are equal there as well.  Essentially, as long as you keep running from them they will not catch you, unless something happens to you during your flight.  Since this is the first time we've dealt with this, the synopsis of the MOVEMENT rules follows, so you understand how I am resolving this situation :)

MOVEMENT

   Movement is expressed in feet per turn (km don't impress me).  Basic movement for humans is 60 feet per turn.  Basic speed is known as WALK MOVEMENT.  This is the number of feet you may move while walking in a single turn.  RUNNING MOVEMENT is the number of feet per turn an individual can run.  Running is twice as fast as walk movement.  Thus run movement for humans is 120'/turn for an average person.  SPRINT MOVEMENT is an individual's fastest movement.  Sprint movement is three times walk movement.  Basic sprint movement for humans is 180'/turn.

   HOUSE RULES: You can only RUN for a number of turns equal to one half of your Stamina, you can only SPRINT for a number of turns equal to one third of your Stamina.  These conditions can be changed by magical, psychic, or super-technological means, but otherwise apply to all physical beings.  Once you have reached the limits of your Stamina you must rest.

   In a chase, the faster side will eventually catch the slower side, unless circumstances intervene.  If both sides are equal in movement, the faster side is the one with the greater initiative bonus.  If both sides are equal, or the slower side is trying to catch the faster side, the chase only succeeds under unusual circumstances (one side stopped by a locked door, chased into a dead end alley, etc).
   The character, or side (if rolling for the entire group) with initiative moves first.  If already engaged in close combat, a character with initiative can move out of combat.  To do so, the character must take one "free" attack from his or her opponent.  Note that, on the opponents move he might catch the character and attack again.  If a character does not have the initiative, he can't move out of close combat.
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:03, Tue 06 Nov 2012.

Yuri stays with the group, keeping an eye on stragglers or wounded.

 Rhic feinted to one side then sprinted for the trees hoping to keep them running around in circles while the others reached safety. He did his best to keep the direction to the sanctuary in mind as he moved. " Where the hell is a bloody chimera when ya need one...

   OOC: Fast Forwarding some to get to the good parts, and to unite the group at long last.  Let me know if I really need to backtrack for something, but otherwise you reach the Changeling's Tree Fort.  Rhic has a sword, but his Tangler gun is now broken and Malcolms is out of ammo. 

   Rhic, Yuri and Malcolm run through the dense trees, with MajCon very close behind.  Some of the MajCon warriors have cross bows, and the bolts that lodge in nearby trees keep the group racing ahead, until their hearts hammer in their chests.  Malcolm is not doing so well, his endurance ebbing as his wounds take their toll on him, in spite of the adrenaline coursing through him.
   The land begins to climb roughly uphill as Rhic banks east, leading the way as best he can remember, back towards the Changeling's Freehold.  As far as Yuri can tell the forest just seems to go on with no refuge in site, and well trained and physically active man like himself must rest eventually.  Their pursuers are nearer now, taking advantage of the groups gradually slowing pace.
   Suddenly from up ahead there is a growling sound, and trees thrash about as if buffeted by some powerful beast.  And indeed, even as they push forwards, the three men see a bizarre creature, a strange hodgepodge of different animals, all in one huge hulking behemoth that looks enraged.  At Rhic and Malcolm's assurance to Yuri that it will do them no harm, they race past it, and Yuri can just make out some smaller animal riding atop it.  The Chimera, Fred, for so it is, does his best to stall the oncoming warriors to guard their retreat.
   To Yuri's astonishment, at the top of the hill there appears the largest sprawling oak he has seen.  Truly it is an extraordinary to him as one moment the crest of the hill seems bare of anything save wild thyme, and then suddenly the tree is there.  Amid its branches is built a most elaborate home, indeed there are numerous platforms and buildings nested in the mighty branches, connected by ladders and bridges of rope and planks.  At the base of the tree are perhaps thirty or so children, the oldest looking appearing no more than seventeen or so to Yuri.  Rhic and Malcolm immediately know them for the Kithain, the Fae Changelings that have long hidden in this forest.
   Their leader, Rowan, the tall willowy girl with silver blonde curls runs forwards, a look of anguish on her face as Malcolm smiles at the sight of her, then collapses to the ground!  Outside the night is falling fast as they see the warriors stop at fifty yards from the Dreaming Tree.  A possum and fox come running through the green field of magic obfuscating the Changelings Freehold, fur askew, looking frazzled and panting.  They change an instant later to the little boys Rhic knows as Scruff and Dirk.
  "Th..th...they...they...ch..cha..chased..Fr..Fr..Fred aw..away.  He..he ne...ne..nev...ver g..goes aw..away..."  Scruff gasps incredulously.

Yuri's jaw dropped when he saw the Thing in the trees and very nearly decided to sprint off in another direction before that cursed tendency of his instead put him between It and the wounded man!  When the two men hastily explained that the beast was friendly (and a crossbow bolt embedded itself in a tree-trunk with a lound 'THUNK!!' close behind him), he decided to listen to the crazy Americans ('When in America . . .' he thought to himself) and just ignore it.  It did help some when the Beast crashed through the trees to attack the trio's pursuers.

"So what is next?" he gasped as they continued to race up the hill, "Baba Yaga's dancing hut??!!"

Upon seeing the tree-houses, all Yuri could do was keep muttering to himself, "America . . . America . . . . This is just crazy, bourgeois America . . . ."

When the children looked over his shoulder, Yuri checked back to see the progress of their enemies and was further astounded to see them stopping with the tree in plain sight!

"And talking animals," he remarks to nobody in particular.  "We are either in Disney film or back in old Kiev.  Next, the firebird will appear . . . ."

{IN Russian]" We went down the rabbit hole a while back." Rhic moved to help Malcom who looked as if he needed a doctor.{IN Russian]" You'll get used to it. Maybe..Names Rhictor, John Rhictor. Friends, and fellow refugees from sanity, call me Rhic".

  [In English]" Don't worry bout Fred, he'll be fine...I need to talk to the woman again...We have a big Problem."

   "Oh..k..k..kk kay, if you s..s..say so, Rhu..Rhic," Scruff looks like he's about to cry, but Rhic's words make him nod sullenly.  He wipes his nose on his sleeve and tries to believe that Fred isn't gone forever, but the anguished expression on his face is truly heartbreaking.  He wants so desperately to believe.  Dirk steps up beside Scruff and points over to Rowan, who is now bending over the prone form of Malcolm, close by.

   "I'll look after Scruff, he's a tough lil guy, he'll be okay," says Dirk, his eyes conveying an uncharacteristic amount of concern on his young face. "I see you brought a friend with ya Rhic."  Dirk looks Yuri up and down, clearly uncertain just how trustworthy he is.  After a long pause, he sticks out one dirty hand towards Yuri.  "I've seen you, workin' on the tree killing machines.  Had a change of heart, huh?  You come in with Rhic and Malcolm, your alright by me."

   Rowan lays her hands on Rhic's chest, her face grave.  She lifts her head and gazes over towards Rhic, a look of grim resolve on her face.  When she speaks, her tone is icy; this is a side of her that is new to Rhic, the determination on her face, the fierce light in her eyes.  She is no longer simply worried now, she is truly, angry.

   "Tell me who has done this Rhic?  Malcolm is gravely injured, we must get him back to the Dreaming Tree Fort at once.  I will do all I can for him there, but how long will we have to help him?  Our Freehold is laid bare to these loathsome people, my Glamour will not keep them out for long, now they know where this place is.  And if they would do this to Malcolm, I no longer doubt their intentions.  They will not stop until they have destroyed our home will they?  What can we do now?  Please in the Goddess name tell me you have some plan?"

   Outside the shimmering wall, the MajCon warriors fall to their knees, place their weapons before them hilts up, and bow their heads in unison.  They then proceed to begin chanting in Latin...

Yuri glances at Rhic, startled, at the Russian words.  He automatically responds in the same language that his name is Yuri Gennadovy.

Still looking around him in interest, Yuri's hand automatically extends to clasp Dirk's.

"I do not know about 'change of heart', but I did not like what I saw from those priests," he nods towards the MajCon men.

" Nice to meet you Yuri.well maybe not so nice considering the Situation..sorry you got dragged into this."

" You're dealing with a rogue faction of the Vatican i guess. Loyal, trained,  and fanatical.and worse than that they have some serious political muscle if they were able to get this Forrest job and slip in fifty or so of their goons." Rhic sized up the opposition outside the barrier.  "These guys are hard core killers, and they are't going away. If I killed all of them they'd just send more."

 I think we either have to find out who is pulling their strings and cut the strings. Or get the press and the cops in here. These fellas can't work in public, and especially not with cops and press all over the place. Malcom's an FBI agent, so the fact MajCon nearly killed him is going to cause them all sorts of trouble if we can get to the outside and let them know they have "crazy Mercs" running around attacking people."

 Glancing back toward The direction of the dreaming tree he scratched his chin and looked thoughtful." If we can hold out a couple of days the locals are going to miss the work crew, and come to see why their friends and family haven't came. Then These Inquisition boys have to lay low.
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 04:27, Fri 23 Nov 2012.

   Rowan's face drains of all colour, her luminous eyes widen as the truth becomes apparent to her.  She still wears an expression of determination, but there is a tremor in her voice that reveals her fear as she turns her face skyward and pleads for understanding.

   "Rogue faction of...no, it cannot be!  Oh gentle and loving Goddess, how can You bring this upon Your own?  Tell me this is not your will?"  She returns her gaze once more to Rhic and Yuri, and for a moment she more resembles a confused, lost child, than the chosen leader of the Kithain.
  "I know of this 'rogue faction' Rhic.  They are called the Gladius Dei, the Sword of God, and you are right, they are relentless and fanatic hunters or all creatures that do not fit into their narrow vision of reality.  They fancy themselves modern day knights, crusaders in the name of their God, priests and warriors who have slain many many Kithain.  They have lost the belief in wonder, in magic, in the Dreaming, and so have became agents of Banality.  Our Glamour is useless against them, for there must be belief for our magick to weave around, and there is no room, in their zealous hearts, for anything else to exist.
   It may be that the authorities could force them to leave, but those same authorities, press, police, Federal agents, they would investigate, ask questions, and then our presence would be revealed to the world!  The cold light or reason and science would drown us like the sea, and that would be the end of us as surely as the Knights will be.  No, no police, no authorities!  There is one other choice left to us, the only one now.  We must flee...flee or perish here with our beloved Tree.  We cannot save our Freehold, our home, but mayhaps we may yet save the rest of these innocent Changeling children."

" Lady to coin a phrase...It ain't over, till it's over.." Rhic looked thoughtful and seemed to be studying the doing some very deep thinking. He Looked down at the sword he was holding and shook his head." If they we're knights this would be easy, call out their leader, challenge him to trial by combat then whoop his ass medieval style."

Yuri frowns as he works to follow the man and strange woman's words.  He then proceeds to walk quickly around the tree, looking outwards from it.


When he gets back, he asks the woman, "How many do you have here who can fight?  And do you have way to get away secret, a 'back-door' I think is word . . . ?"

He then turns to include Rhic in the discussion.

"I saw more of them," he waves back towards the security men, "Coming in helicopters.  I do not think we can hold for long here.  You are right, young woman," he says to Rowan, "Best idea now is leave, but we should have rear-guard to hold off priests while you leave.  If you can," he adds ominously.

" I can fight with the best of them Yuri, and you don;t seem to be bad with a rock yer self." Rhic chuckled at the memory of rushing hard core killers and one pissed of Russian tossing rocks at them." I can help handle some of them, but were going to need to come up with a plan, and a way to stall them for a bit while we evacuate the youngins."

pm

Yuri grunts in acknowledgment when he finds out what the set-up is like.  He thinks a bit more, looking around.

"You have friends outside here?" he asks the young woman, waving his hand at the tree.  "Friends who come when called?  They can hit priests from behind, thin out cordon, then," he makes a shooing gesture, "We go."

Luke wasn't sure what to do once he'd lost his pursuers.  He wanted to return to the cabin and check that Alex and Moonchild were ok. But he figured that was dangerous. The goons following him would undoubtedly return there once they realized that they had lost their quary. And Luke couldn't afford to test fate in another encounter with them.
He could only hope that his allies had taken his warnings, and taken the opportunity he had given them to make their escape ... whether or not they had managed to find the mask.

And if they had, they would be returning to that fairy tree, right? He couldn't figure anywhere else they'd go.

So that was his obvious destination.


********


Therefore, not not after, Luke came jogging through the trees towards that faerie place.


for my reference, please: what can Luke see as he approaches?  Are there any PCs in sight {that would certainly be convenient}. If so, they should feel free to see Luke's approach ... he is no longer being stealthy by this time

   In the moonlight, peeking through the trees at the edge of the clearing, Luke can make out the face of Rhic, along with Scruff, Dirk, and Rowan and another man, looks like a construction worker, whom Luke does not know.  Someone is on the ground where Rowan is bent over, Luke thinks it could be Malcolm.  Their faces show up very clearly as the dim light of moon and stars illuminates the glamour shield that protects and obfuscates the Changeling's Tree from the outside world.  Many other children, changelings in fact, are also gathered around the base of the tree, there faces confused, lost, frightened.

   Luke has no doubt of what is frightening them.

   Surrounding the Dreaming Tree Hill is what can only be described in one word.  An army.  Men in armour, kneeling to pray, a silent vigil, as if a host of crusaders were offering fervent orisons to the Almighty to bless the coming battle with the infidel.  Although the symbols of Majestic Construction abound on their vehicles, they have shed any pretense now and don black or silvered armour, emblazoned with a golden sword, blade upright.  Many now also wear helmets or coifs of chainmail.  Its like a scene out of a history book...except that the oldest "infidel" in question is perhaps eighteen.
   Their numbers have swelled and by now there are probably close to one hundred knights encircling the base of the hill.  Guards have been posted at each of the four cardinal directions; alert guards, armed with cross bows.
   They stand between Luke and his friends, this weird, anachronistic army.  And all around him the branches of spruce and birch and aspen are filled with owls, silently watching.

Luke quickly took cover.
     'Dang, mother of the great ghost' he thought to himself.

As he crouched there in the darkness, his heart beat itself out of his chest;  felt like it was breaking out of his bady and flying away, like a bat out of hell.

There were so many of them; these archaic morons with their swords and shields and shit.



Moving Armour.   Metal Skin.  That's what he needed.

He wondered how much time he had, as a plan began to draw his lips into a smirk.

 She stopped when she saw all the people near the tree, and crept stealthily behind bushes to look and watch. She really didn't understand what was going on, or why. Or even what to do. Out of fear of losing it or breaking it, she slipped the mask onto her face, forgetting briefly that it would suck her into another dimension.
 "Shhhh, Be quiet Alex. There's an army out there!"

Then the mask drew her in...
This message was last edited by a game editor at 14:36, Wed 12 Dec 2012.

pm

   The moment that Moon Child puts on the Spirit Mask, the world about her goes through a most startling metamorphosis.  Alex can be heard asking her..."Do you honestly think that's a good id... and then his voice is lost.
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:57, Sun 23 Dec 2012.

"Hey everyone? If you want to save yourselves and your land, you maybe ought to fight these guys, maybe?"
 She wasn't sure she even believed she really saw what the mask seemed to show her, but if they were more than just a halucination, she thought maybe she should say something, even if it would get her killed by the army of knights or whatever they were.

   IN THE SPIRIT WORLD: The spirits' reaction to Moon Child is immediate.  They turn to regard her with a mixture of expressions ranging from shock to wonder to fear to anger and curiosity.  Many of the spirits flock towards her: fleet deer spirits, leafy tree dryads, tiny dragonfly sprites, whirring beetle wisps, wary wolves, rascal raccoons, timid rabbits, squeaking squirrels, precocious possums, and brightly hued bird spirits of all kinds, EXCEPT the owls (which stay with the Nunnehi (Amerindian Changelings).  The Nunnehi simply watch with wary stares, but if they can also see the spirit world, they do not reveal it.

   As the spirits converge on Moon Child, they begin to debate, one to another:

   "Who is she?" growls one grizzled wolf spirit.  "How does she dare to wear Tecumseh's mask?"
 
  "She has the gift, it gives her the right," replies a young doe totem, drawing cautiously nearer.

  "Why she speak fight fight, so strange Woman says so, we hears hears," chitters a grey squirrel spirit with a silver white tail.

   "There is much danger, too much danger!  Why should we fight the dark shadows in the shape of men?  They are empty, their spirits are like cold embers.  We should flee!" says the rabbit incarna, peeking up above a log warily.

   Then, through the trees appears a beautiful shimmering equine, golden mane flashing like sunlight, its pure white coat dazzling.  A single pearly spiral horn shines in the center of its forehead.  All other spirits part for it as it trots forward with incredible dignity.

   "SHE BEARS THE ANCIENT MASK, THE PROMISE BETWEEN HUMANKIND AND SPIRITS, THE BRIDGE BETWEEN OUR REALMS.  ALSO SHE BEARS A TOTEM OF MY OWN KIND WITHIN HER BREAST, THOUGH NEWBORN IT IS STILL.  LET HER SPEAK!" the Unicorn says in a gentle, androgynous voice then bows its head to Moon Child and awaits her reply.

  "I'm going to distract them.  Get the kids, and the noncombatants, out of here while I have their attention."  Out of ideas, Rhic stepped forward, hefting his new sword. He raised a hand as he approached the line of armed men and motioned to the man he had spoken to before.

   "You claim to be fighting for God, and following his wishes." Rhic spoke up drawing himself up to his full height and presence.  "I don't think you are. I think your being mislead, and doing the work of fools, and psychopaths.

  "I seem to recall a way of settling such things, an old way...one I think you might be just the person to remember. I, John Micheal Rhictor, will serve as champion for this realm, I challenge the Gladius Dei to send forth it's champion and face me in single combat. If God is on your side then he can not lose.  If I win this challenge you leave this place in peace and haul your ass back where it came from!"
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:28, Sat 05 Jan 2013.

Yuri, eyes on the woman, turns at Rhictor's voice.  His jaw drops at the man's words, and he stares at him for a moment as if he's lost his mind!

He quickly hurries over to Rhictor and grabs his elbow.

"You crazy?!" he hisses in his ear, "They kill you, then they attack, no problem for them!"

" Not planning on dying tonight Tovarich."" Rhic assured Yuri. with a cocky smile that hinted he was definitely up to something." If I can slow them down it'll give you guys more time to come up with something damn clever. I really wouldn't mind if you came up with something even more clever and saved my crazy cowboy ass. before that crazy bastard put a sword in it."

   Vittorio strides forward as he sees Rhic exit the protective field surrounding the Dreaming Tree Fort.  He listens to John's speech, then notes Yuri by his side.  A frown crosses his face as he recognizes the former MajCon engineer:

   "That was the old way, Rhic, though it brings me great sorrow to see you throw your lot in with these accursed demons!  You have made your choice then, and before the day has dawned in full, you will come to know the depth of your mistake!  Your challenge is accepted, abomination, though we are not such ignorant fools as to believe you mean to abide by any vow you make.  We know you and all your kind serve Beelzebub, the Prince of Lies!  Yet are we still the Gladius Dei, Knights who's swords reside in GOD's service and his alone.  Refusal is not our creed.  We do not fear any of your unholy ilk, for faith is our shield, truth is our righteous blade to strike down all who would follow the Dark One!  We will bring you to your knees, demon, and when you implore God's mercy, we will grant it, and send you to Hell to cringe in the pit infernal, tormented until the Day of Judgement!  This one who stands beside you is your second?  Very well then, he too has made his choice.  I shall be the second in this case.  Come forward Brother Braggio!"

   Vittorio raises one mailed fist, and a hulk of a knight plods forth from the crowd.  He stands close to seven feet, if Rhic and Yuri are any judge, and his face is criss crossed with scars.  His nose has clearly been broken before and his eyes have the cold sheen of a trained killer.  No one would mistake him for a noble knight, in fact he seems more like a mercenary thug!
   When he speaks, his voice is gravelly and deep, and there is a glee in his tone that is unsettling, in light of the deed he is about to perform.

   "May the Lord lend strength to my arm, and may he send you, with one blow, back to the abyss demon!  Bring me my armour and mace!" He bellows to the waiting crowd of knights.

   Vittorio smirks as he sees the two mens' reactions. "You have five minutes to arm yourself and to pray for salvation!  Seconds will ensure the fight is fair, and retrieve weapons and shields when commanded.  The battle shall commence thereafter, and shall not cease, until Rhic...or Brother Braggio, lies dead!"
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:15, Sat 05 Jan 2013.

 "I have no problem with my choices.

 You see demons, I see children." Rhic ignored the bluster, he studied the champion, how he stood, how he shifted his weight, how he held his weapons. Looking for some sign of weakness, or a habit he could exploit." you remind me of someone...a certain man who set out to persecute heretics, to punish them for their belief in a false prophet...some upstart rabbi they had gotten rid of.Seems he had a little change of heart on his way to Damascus...."

   You might want to think about that friend. You might want to think about the men who followed another cross, one with a few crooks in it...and how they thought they were doing good works against abominations...I sent more than a few of them to the almighty... I'm still here, I'm still kicking. If I'm still kicking come sun up you might want to think about that too.....

  Rhic wasn't going all preachy to stall, it was a thought out, deliberate act. Undermining their belief, making them doubt their cause. If he could slip one moment of doubt into Vittorio's head maybe he could end this without anyone but the big guy getting hurt...odds were he'd be bleeding a bit himself but he wasn't going to be the only one.

  He looked at the weapons he had available, swords, maces, axes, he spotted one he liked the look of. a simple short straight bladed combat knife, almost a dead ringer for a marine K-bar." I'll take that knife. I wont need anything else."

  His plan was simple, keep just out of reach, use his opponents size and confidence against him. get him to over extend himself then get in too close for anything bigger than a knife to be useful...It sounded good in theory, he just hoped he could manage not to get his skull smashed before he made t work.

Yuri groans at the theatrics but figures if that Rhic fellow wants to buy them some time, he'll see if he can use it effectively.

Yuri once again looks around the tree, trying to find something he missed, some clue as to where they can break out.

"Think!" he growls at the others standing about, "We must find way to get out quickly!"

 She stared in amazement at the mythical magical unicorn! Never did the imagine they were real! She bowed back to the unicorn, shocked that one so pure as the unicorn should bow to her. She was just a lost and abandoned girl, nothing special that would warrant such an action from a mythical beast.
 "Why are you bowing to me? It is you, all of you who matter. These empty ones cannot see you or the beauty of this place. If you would not see it all destroyed, you must fight. You must bend their hearts or their minds, make them see, make them believe, even if for just one second. Even if it's making them see something they can believe in, we must show them something miraculous. Then they might believe and might go away. Can we make them see angels? That is something they might believe if we can reach them at all. If we can't, maybe we can scare them away."

   Rowan looks at Yuri, the rest of the Changelings huddling about her while she reaches her arms out to all she can, like a mother gathering her children to her to protect them.  Her expression though, is a heartbreaking one, her eyes filling with tears in spite of her determination to be strong.

   "That's the problem, Yuri.  There IS no other way out!  There are no hidden tunnels, no cunning magic doors concealed anywhere, no final escape plans.  We Fae have always relied on Magick: Glamour, Illusions, Obfuscation, Misdirection.  I had hoped we might somehow make our way unseen, but now that we are unmasked there is no way left to flee, unless, by some miracle, we could fly as the birds do, into the heavens themselves.  And even then we would but prolong our end, for we cannot live long apart from a source of Glamour, and our Dreaming Tree is the only source we have ever known here.  If we leave, if we abandon this place to the darkness of Banality, we may survive, at least for a time, but then we are condemned to a fate far worse: a slow death of hope and beauty.  We will slowly fade, like the embers of a fire gone cold, until we are utterly without dreams or magick, as these very men who seek to destroy us are, and then we will simply cease to be.  I will not let these children suffer such a fate!  Perhaps if I offer myself they will let my beloved go unharmed..."

   A cursory examination of the hill surrounding the great tree confirms what Rowan has said, there's no other way to leave.  The hill is surrounded now, like an island floating in a sea of enemies.  Soon the island would be engulfed beneath the rising tide of ignorance and hate.  As Yuri is desperately searching for some kind of miracle, there is a tug on his shirt, and looking down he sees the young boy, the Changeling named Scruff.
    "W...w...we ha..ha..have t..t...tt oo f..fi fight them.  C..cc..ca..can't l..let th..them ha..h..harm the T...tree.  Its our h...h...HOME!" he stutters, a determined look on his cherubic face.

   At that precise moment, Yuri hears a great wind moan through the trees, whipping them to fury in the twilight of the pre dawn...

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

   Rhic wades out to confront the now fully armoured Braggio, As the shadow of the brutish knight looms over him, Rhic seems very small before the horde of enemies arrayed against him and those he has chosen to defend.  Braggio sneers at his opponent, before lowering his helm and raising the ugly looking heavy morning star he has chosen.  His shield, emblazoned with the gilded lion, seems likely to be the last thing Rhic will ever see.  Around them the knights cheer for their champion, and hiss at his foe, calling him all manner of ungodly things.  Then battle between the two fierce warriors is joined.  Savage blows are exchanged, each opponent resolute in his determination to win or die.

   At that precise moment, There is a jagged spear of lightning, and a crack of thunder that shakes the ground beneath the two embattled men...

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

   Luke is sneaking forwards, having effectively sabotaged yet another ATV, he spies one guard with keys in his pocket.  As he considers whether he should go ambush the guard and his friend and take the keys, there is a sudden crash and the sky darkens and the stars disappear from the sky...

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------


 The sky darkens as great clouds roll quickly forwards, covering the moon and her stars.  Thunder booms and lightning flashes, like the wrath of some ancient beast.  The trees themselves begin to sway as every living thing in the forest becomes alive, and for one awful, incredible, tumultuous moment, the veil between worlds is rent asunder, and the true and terrible wonder of the Spirit Realm is revealed to all mortals within the clearing!

   And the forest is filled with the deafening roar of the wrath of millions of spirits of the Shawnee wood and the screams of those knights who unwisely did not avert their gaze, and dared to look upon the Spirits of the Forest Enraged!  The entire clearing is bathed in a light so bright it blinding, ending only when the rosy hues of dawn at last illuminate the eastern sky.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:13, Mon 21 Jan 2013.

 She flinched as she hears and feels the thundering and the lightning, but keeps her concentration and her attention upon the here and now, and the Unicorn. She grasped the mask close to her face and struggled up upon the unicorn's back, wrapping her hand in the mane and braced herself. She'd try her best to stay upon the magical creatures back without dropping the mask, because she didn't want to risk breaking it. She must save it and the fey, and especially the tree!

(OOC: Are there stones or rocks lying around?  If so, how big are they?)

(OOC: There are stones imbedded in the ground around the hill where the Dreaming Tree grows that are anywhere between a pebble and a fist sized rock.  Although they are in the ground, they can be dug out without much effort.))

   Many of the Gladius Dei knights flee screaming from the clearing, clutching at their eyes as if they would claw them out.  Others fall upon their faces, or wander around looking lost and confused.  The blindingly beautiful vision lasts less than a minute, yet none are untouched by the moment of divinity they have witnessed.  Not one of the once proud warriors remains capable of challenging anyone.

   Rowan and her Fae followers, who watched the pure Dreaming vision with silent astonishment, begin to cry and laugh and clap and even dance, the joy upon their faces like the wonder of young children beholding the world as if anew.  Tears stream down Rowan's face and she hugs Scruff to her, and any others in reach of her eager arms.  Dirk spins April around happily, while others fall to their knees, expressing their gratitude to the Spirits for their deliverance from harm.

   Rhic can now clearly see Luke and Alex and Moon Child, who wears the Mask of Tecumseh upon her face arms open as if hugging the air.  He also sees movement, as does Yuri, as the Owl cloaked Nunnehi, the Amerindian Changelings now swoop down from their perches in the trees, landing in a great host before the Dreaming Tree.

Yuri blinked at the heat lightning then blinked again when the fanatical Christians dropped or ran away!

Snatching up a fist-sized stone, Yuri cautiously advanced towards the nearest one of the former enemy to see just what was wrong with him, fist poised to bring the rock down if needed.

 rhic ducked a skull crushing blow thankful he wasn't encumbered by armor as he felt the brutes swing pass a hairsbreadth over his head. His arm was numb and stinging from several heavy blows that had landed on the shield he had taken.

  Holy !!!" Rhic cut off his curse as the Forrest exploded in light and noise. seeing the warriors panic and flee was a relief. It seemed he had succeeded in stalling just long enough for someone to come up with a plan.

  " Not that I am ungrateful, since that big sod was giving me a fit. But what the bloody hell just happened?"

   Approaching cautiously, Yuri walks past Rhic, who is relieved, but just as confused as the mechanic. Coming up to one of the remaining Gladius Dei, Yuri sees the tears falling in rivulets down his cheeks.  His expression is one of fear and confusion, but more than that...his face is like a child that is lost, searching for something familiar, something comforting.  Seeing Yuri approach, stone in hand, he throws his arms over his face and cries out in a pitiful voice.

   "Please don't hurt me, I don't want trouble. I...I just don't know where I am!  I'm lost, I...I don't even know who I am...(sobs) What's my name!?"

   Slowly the Nunnehi in their Owl Feather Cloaks approach.  In their copper toned hands are primitive implements of war: wooden fighting clubs, spears, long knives, hatchets, bows, all decorated with beads and feathers in the traditional Amerindian style.  Their red faces are painted for war, though they seem as amazed as everyone.
   One tall native Changeling (Nunnehi) comes forwards, a tall man, young of face, though his eyes say otherwise.  His wooden shield is adorned with many scarlet feathers.  Beside him comes another older looking man who carries a ceremonial carved stick, topped by the shell of a turtle, painted with bright patterns.  As the tall man speaks, the older man translates.

   "Wah-nah-ghee-yah-dah kee-pah-zoh ohn-shee lah doh-kah!  Kuh hay-nah doh-kay-chah oh-kee-woh-dah-hay-nah ohn-shpay-wah-kee-yea.  Chuen-shoh-kay dah-wah chee slohl-yea woh-wah-ghwah.  Nun-ne-hi na-kohn woh-wah-ghwah kee-chee kith-ain.  Gli ay-lay uen-kee-yea ee-doh-ghee Te-cum-seh, nah ah-yue-shdahn shkee-chee-yea oh koh-gnah uen-kee-dah-wah oh-yea-Day ee-hahn-kay!"

   "The Spirits show great mercy to their enemies.  Give to them another chance to learn what they have forgotten.  Now this forest will be at peace.  We Nunnehi also would have peace with the Kithain.  We ask them to return to us the Mask of Tecumseh, and let the strife between our tribes end."

   The Nunnehi Chief points to Moon Child who still wears the mask.

   Alex tugs on Moon Child's shirt and says.  "Um, I'm pretty sure the natives are asking you for their mask back, just thought you should know."
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:01, Mon 11 Feb 2013.

**"Hi-ka-ni-ti-mo-la? na-he-wa se-ki-ti? ka-gi-ke pi-pa-ki-ta-fe-pa. We, sha, cat, we, lo ke, we, la, wapa. Ne, we, can, e, tepa,we, sphe, ma, mi, too. Mercy on those who can relearn!"

 She also spoke in their language, briefly then jumped when Alex tugged on her shirt.
"Oh, but of course!"
 She reached up and took the mask off and bowing, offered it to Rowan to give back to the Tribe.

 **"Can I help you? What do you want? Lets all work, and always do good for the Great Spirit is Our Friend."
This message was last edited by a game editor at 03:51, Tue 12 Feb 2013.

Yuri put down the rock, eyes showing some shock!  What had happened to this man?!

"Um, stay where you are," he said to the man, patting him clumsily on the arm, "We will see what happens next . . . ."

When the Indians showed up, Yuri shook his head in bafflement.

"America: first, cowboys, and now Indians," he muttered, watching the preceedings.

" Don't worry Yuri,Not even Americans understand America" Rhic offed the dazed ex-fanatic a hand up. " About all you can do is hold on tight, and try not to left behind when things get a little crazy."

   The leader of the Changeling came forward to accept the Spirit Mask of Tecumseh from Moon Child.  Behind her, the other Fae started to laugh, dance, even cry as their initial shock gave way a flood of relief!  Dirk hugged April and Scruff wriggled into their embrace as well.  Even Malcolm seemed moved, and his face was happy, the pain in his expression lessened as he watched the rejoicing Fae.  Scruff, seeing Luke, ran out to meet him and hugged him enthusiastically.
   Rowan gazed around in wonder at those of her former adversaries who wandered around in dazed confusion.  She placed a gentle hand on Rhic's shoulder, and gave Yuri a soft smile, then stepped forward to meet Moon Child, taking the worn wooden artifact in her fair hands, long fingers tracing the mask's features slowly.  Looking up, her emerald eyes meet Moon Child's and she beams happily.

  "You truly have the soul of a Kithain, Moon Child.  I do not know how you found this, or convinced the spirits to help, but...thank you."  She threw her arms around the young woman and hugged her happily.  "Thank you," she whispered again.  Then giving her one final hug, and winking at the still bewildered Alex, she walked gracefully on to meet the Chief of the Nunnehi and return their Spirit Mask.

   Eventually John, Yuri, Moon Child, Luke, Malcolm and Alex come to the realization that the remaining "knights" have been given a great gift by the spirits of the forest, a second childhood!

   "The appear to have been reduced by enforced amnesia, to the mental equivalent of perhaps four or five years of age.  Their cognitive reasoning is still there of course, but they will need to be taught all over again.  It really is quite remarkable, I wonder how they managed it."  Mused Alex out loud, as he joined the rest of the companions.

  "The rest of the Gladius will not be able to remember this place, so I think the Fae will be free of their menace for a long while.  And they have united at last, Kithain and Nunnehi, so they should be able to defend themselves in the future, now they are aware of the danger." added Malcolm after his usual careful consideration.  He was, and would always be, an F.B.I. agent at heart it seemed.  "I am going to stay with the Fae, for awhile, and make sure they are safe.  I have contacts with the government that I can use to make certain this area doesn't get slated for 'development' again.  Where will you go now?" He asked as he shook Rhic's, Yuri's, and Luke's hand, slapped Alex on the back (to the others surprise, and slight annoyance) and offered Moon Child a hug.

Yuri's head was a-whirl with the sudden rescue and the explanation for what had happened.

Clearing his throat, he gestured at the afflicted men.

"They are like children, now?  Then who will take care of them?"

 She looked around as the celebration took on a life of it's own, laughing as she realized the fight was over with. She walked toward Rowan and held out the mask, placing it in her hands, and hugged the Fey girl back gratefully.
"I am so glad to be able to help. I give this to you so you can return it to it's rightful guardians. I hope this brings peace between your people and the natives. It's not right that there should be strife between you here. Thank you for your help as well."
 She left Rowan to return the mask to the tribe to go speak to Malcolm, where he stood near Yuri. She smiled at them and Rhic, glad to see they were all ok.
 "I'm sorry I gave you trouble back at the nursing home. But you can see how it was. I was just trying to protect the old man. I didn't know he was possessed by aliens! I hope you're not mad at me anymore."
 She returned his hug then turned to Yuri, who she hadn't met before. She gestured to the FBI agent and shrugged.
 "I suppose he will take care of them and see that they have help getting retrained and readjusted. Hi, by the way. I'm MoonChild."
This message was last edited by a game editor at 08:04, Tue 19 Feb 2013.

Non-plussed at being addressed by the strange woman who had had custody of an even stranger mask, Yuri offered his hand.

"Yuri Gennadovy."

He turns a somewhat skeptical gaze on Malcolm.

"You are doctor, then, to be able to take care of all these?"  He gestures at the huddled, amnesiac men.

   Shaking his head and grinning, Malcolm gave Moon Child a surprised expression.  "Mad? I was never mad at you, Moon Child, frustrated maybe, but its okay, neither one of us had any idea what was going on, and truth is I'm still not sure I understand it, but...no hard feelings.  I wish you the best.  And yes don't worry, I'll stay with the Kithain awhile and make sure they and their Freehold, will be safe."

   Malcolm met Yuri's dubious gaze with a wry smile.  "No, actually I am...or rather was, a federal agent before my life was turned upside down.  I do have quite a few connections though, I can handle things from here.  They won't be giving these Fey any trouble now."

Yuri's mouth twisted at the mention of "federal agent", but he stayed quiet, sighing once through his nose as he glanced over at the helpless men then walking away.

   Malcolm watched Yuri go with a shake of his head.  He looked as if he was about to say something, but then bit his lip and instead turned to Rhic, Moon Child, and Alex.  Rowan came up beside the ex agent and hugged Rhic and Moon Child,Luke and Alex, who responds rather awkwardly, as if unsure exactly how to return the gesture.

  "I know not where now you will go, but you have the friendship of our small motley of Kithain here, should you ever need our aid.  Let an Oath of Goodwill be here decreed, between yours and mine, and let no one and no thing put this bond of fellowship asunder.  You are always welcome at the Dreaming Tree Fort."

   Dirk rolls his eyes, one arm around April (who still sports a fluffy tail from her previous form as a bunny).  Making a face he looks apologetically at the group.
  "There she goes again with the fancy words...doesn't she ever get tired of that..."  A stern look from April cuts off the rest of Dirk's rebuke.  "Well anyway, she's right I guess, we owe you.  THAT was epic dudes!  And no matter what anyone else says, you're awright with me."

   Scruff nods his head emphatically and hugs Rhic around the waist.  "Th..thuthu...thank ky...y..you.  I...I wi..will m...mi...miss you," he offers with some effort, his unabashedly sad expression speaking volumes more.


OOC: OKAY, It seems this adventure is about wrapped up, unless you have any more business to conduct with the Kithain, Nunnehi, or the remnants of the once proud Gladius Dei (which I will happily do, if anyone wants to do so).  Let me know where you want to go now.  Remember Moon Child does have a cabin nearby if you'd like to go and discuss things.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:38, Sat 23 Feb 2013.

Yuri turns back to the group after surveying the men briefly.

"What now?  More men might come for those," he gestures towards the helicopters, "But I can overload engines if enough fuel, make them go up . . . ."  His hands sketch an explosion.

 "I don't think that will be necessary. I think they can be hexed if needed. But it would be better if they were driven away to the parking lot of one of the tourist sites. Cave-In-Rock or Pounds Hollow maybe."
 She looked at Yuri, wondering where he had come from anyway. She knew he wasn't with them when they were kidnapped by the aliens and their symbiots.

Yuri shrugs.

"You want helicopters fixed, I ask you how much time I have then finish early; you ask me to fly helicopters, I ask you where to put key, please . . . ."

Rhic gave the kids a friendly scruff of the head waved bye and joined Monchilde and Yuri. tossing away the shield and knife as he walked. " Well this day just gets more interesting. I'm expecting oompa lumpas and smurfs next."
 He dug out a Marlboro and lit it looking back toward the direction of the work camp and the Choppers." If you can fly I know a place we can lay low for a while and try to get things back to normal. I have a house and a farm, more than enough beds to go around...and didn't you say your uncle had a cabin around here Moon?"

"No, no!" snaps Yuri, waving an irritated hand, "I not know to fly!  I said you before, 'You ask me to fly, I ask you where to push button' . . . ."

"Yes Rhic, I have a cabin very close by, if you want to go there. We need to decide where to go from here. I do want to gather some things, if we're to travel. And I'll have to ask a neighbor to take care of My horse, pony and other animals if we're to be gone for very long."
 She looked back at Yuri, and frowned slightly at the man's accent.
 "Where are you from? You sound like Yakov. Are you from Russia? I've never been out of America, except that time we were sent to an alien base or ship or something. Does that count as being out of the country? As for flying, I don't think I want to go flying right now."

   Alex pipes up, seemingly unperturbed about entering into a conversation he wasn't part of to start with:

   "Oh Moon Child's place is close, we walked here in approximately thirteen minutes, and I'd suggest that its an excellent place to regroup as it were, you know, sort of reevaluate our situation and compare notes and all that."

   He looks around at everyone as if he expects them to immediately agree.

   Malcolm ends the debate over the helicopters with a knowing grin.

  "Oh don't worry, I will have those taken care of as well by the local authorities, and make sure that Majestic Construction gets the bill.  Unfortunately the construction company is going to be in for quite a bit of trouble once I have them under Federal Investigation.  Unfortunately that probably means you're out of a job, Yuri.  Sorry about that."

  OOC: So where is everyone off to then?  Moon Child's cabin or Rhic's farm?

OOC: Go to Moon's cabin first then we can head to Rhic's farm, or move on to the next phase ))

In reply to Moon Child (msg # 217):

"I am from Soviet Union; 'Russia' is old, dead country."

When the woman mentions going to an alien base, Yuri does a credible double-take then eyes her speculatively.

At the mention of being out of a job, Yuri shrugs.

"I have been out of job before.  This is America, so must be some capitalist pig to exploit me for my labour . . . ."

At one point, Yuri sidles up close to Rhic, hopefully out of earshot of the one called "Moon Child" and asks, "Is that one . . . ?" nodding discreetly in her direction and tapping the side of his head.

" Russia, Soviet Union, different name, different government, different problems.  Same people... Not that that's a bad thing. Would rather drink with them than fight them."


"Only as crazy as the rest of us" Rhic chuckled and gave Yuri a friendly slap on the shoulder." Earlier this morningIi'd have called the guys in the white jackets...now I'm not sure whats crazy and whats sane."

Moons cabin it is. Nice shave, and a shower, then on to whatever else we have fall in our laps."

   So, taking your leave of Malcolm and the Fey, the group returns to Moon Child's cabin in the woods.  the mid morning sun peeks through the the green canopy above as you wend your way over roots and hidden stones and old fallen trees until you eventually find the ring of trees that surround the quiet cabin once more.  You cannot help but wonder what the day will bring, all of your lives having taken such and odd turn, but you know that it can never again be the same...

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