(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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