Three white stone steps at the top of a cliff. ...Most of the time, anyway.

When the full moon shines on them, though, more steps appear... leading up to Tir-na nOg'th, the silvery city in the sky...

...But ONLY when the full moon shines down. If a cloud comes along, a lethal fall waits beyond the third step...

- and here comes a troupe of well-dressed ne'er do wells. It's a darned bit of a hike, but the view's probably worth it, with the sky city floating right there, and the stair touching the three white stone steps. Party time.

Even with growing up in Rebma, Jade is in awe seeing the sky city so close.

Her eyes catching and holding the moonlight as she gazed skyward her arm in Jon's squeezing without her half realizing it.

"It is so beautiful."

Ariadne tried not to look as awkward as she felt as she walked up the stairs.  She was wearing more comfortable boots under her fancy dress, though the boots were fairly fancy themselves, so they didn't clash that much.
Still, she was totally gob smacked by the city in the sky.

"whoa.....it's like something out of a dream..."

*smiles* as he watches Jade "I agree, it is beautiful site.  I look forward to exploring it one day with all of us."
*nods to Ari* "Indeed" he says with awe.

Ballad steps onto the first white stone step; but then she merely turns and sits on the second, using the third as an elbow rest - or she will use the third as an elbow rest. First, Ballad pops the cork on whatever it is she grabbed (wine) and she brought no glasses but she’ll pass the bottle around to anyone who wants a sip, there at the bottom of the stairs of Tir-na-Nog’th, dressed in ridiculously fancy clothing.

She is quiet. Hadn't she said to Ariadne and Jon something about singing songs? She is quiet.

Ariadne looked lost in wonder and then stepped forward and, impulsively, started singing, looking overcome with emotion

https://youtu.be/Li2hddmy63U

Ballad rests her elbows on her knees and her chin on the back of her interlaced hands when Ariadne begins to sing. She’d been studying the walkway, her expression all dark water under moonlight, rubbing her thumb along the stair. But now: she gives her attention to Ariadne, and the present. Jon and Jade. She feels like Lance should be here, too. And perhaps others. The song is a good anchor to now; folklore could rise from it.

Ballad smiles, lopsided; the dimple doesn’t quite come out until midway through the song at some lovely dip of Ariadne’s voice. When Ariadne finishes, Ballad toasts Ariadne with the bottle of wine.

"You're a dream, Ariadne," says she. "What a good song for now."
This message was last edited by the player at 04:33, Tue 15 Dec 2020.

Ariadne blushed deeply, smiling sheepishly.  She was obviously a little embarrassed by her impromptu performance, but flattered by Ballads kind words
"This place 8s definitely inspiring, i have to admit "

Jade will take a sip of the wine, thanking Ballad with a nod. She reaches down to touch the stairs almost as if fearing they might vanish.

Then she hears her cousin sing and a wonderous smile caresses the corners of her lips.

"Sung like a true Siren, Ariadne. I like hearing others sing,  almost much as I like singing."

She applauded her cousins performance.

*smiles* and gives Ari quiet applause in appreciation and awe. He takes a few steps down and then calls outs "Hey, look at this..." and when all three look this way he just smiles.  To the observant, there are tears forming in his eyes and one starts to fall down his right cheek. "I want to remember this vision forever..."
Ariadne standing center of the top step, turning to look his way with a questioning look, but traces of wonder left.  Looking like a fairy princess returning home.  Ballad leaned back resting on her elbows, her legs crossed, her eyes holding mischief, he head cocked just so to see what Jon wants.
Jade, beautiful, enchanting and otherworldly standing opposite Ballad and looking like a Fae Queen, regal in her pose..

A beautiful sight and one he will treasure. The tears are still there threatening to spill.  He then turns away, "I'll be right back, I want to check on the guards", he then leaves perhaps a bit faster than he intended and wipes his eyes.

Jon is confused and not sure what he is feeling or why and that scares him.  Overwhelmed is definitely an apt description.
Once out of the site of the three women, he leans against the wall and sighs. "Get it together! Now you are the one ruining Jade's night and over what?  Hell I don't even know." he berates himself.

Ballad is most extremely pleased to have caused Ariadne to blush!

Ballad says, goodnatured, to Jade when she tries to touch one of the moonlit stairs. "My uncle told me if you paid too much attention to them when you were walking they'd disappear under you." Ballad has -- there on the second ‘stone’ step, leaning on the first (highest) ‘stone’ step — positioned herself as a (very nonchalant [who, me?]) guard. She doesn’t make room for anybody to sit beside her. Moonlight suits her, and so do these stairs, and so does this vaguely Musketeer air she's ready to unsheathe if she needs to.

It should be noted: She does not look mischievous, and it's rather hard to see whether her legs are crossed what with the cascade of ridiculous shimmery-shivery glittering fairy tale skirts, but she does glance over when Jon conjures their attention.

He's going back to the castle to check on the guards? Here's a touch of 'perplexed,' but Ballad turns her attention to: "Then Jade, let's have another song from you - perhaps a Rebman song? Teach us a song we can sing together?"

Jade nods and moves a bit centering herself. Her mind wonders why Jon left as he did. She pushes those thoughts from her mind as she opens her eyes and begins.
A change comes over her clothing, and hair though she looks like herself. It is as if her clothing and hair were caught in a gentle current. Her dress becomes an animated panorama of her memories of Rebma and the sea, as various fish and aquatic animals make appearances and drift by. Clearly Jade is caught up in her singing much like she was in Ariadne's.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubZhS-0l4wk

Nearly this whole album.


08:09, Today: Jade rolled 8 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 5,1.  Disguise Self.
She is already tired so she will gladly say after this she can't use it till the morrow.

Hearing Jade start to sing, Jon moves quietly around the corner and up the steps, stopping just a few feet away.  He is total mesmerized by Jade as she sings and her magic flows from her. He is lost in her magic and music and he lets the tears flow there is no one else right now, just Jade, himself and the music.  Lost in magic and his own confusion, Jon feels everything from the last few days, hitting all at once.
No sound escapes as his tears fall, but he does slowly go to his knees, almost like supplication to a god.

He closes his eyes and sways with the music.

Ariadne smiled at her green haired cousin
"Jade, you are truly a wonder, an absolute treasure. "

"Thank you, all of you. I loved your song as well Ariadne, now though perhaps Ballad could sing us a song. Is that song you sung Ariadne the typical music of your earth ? If so I rather like it."

She saw Jon and walked over bending down, "Are you ok ?"

This is the first time Ballad’s seen Jade use powers of illusion and it makes her eyes go wide and introspective. How fantastic! How useful for the play! And how, at this moment, eerie and lovely.

The pale-haired young woman applauds Jane when her singing is finished, toasting her with the bottle (and passing it around again, a little moonshine for the moondrunk, hmm?).

At perhaps now Ballad can sing us a song, Ballad shakes her head, "I think it's Jon's turn. We haven't had a song from him yet tonight."

*nods* "Yes..." he wipes his eyes "Thank you.  And sorry for..." *smiles* "You were amazing the song and images, just awe inspiring."  He stands up and looks Jade in the eyes, looking up to her as she is a step up. "You are a gift and a blessing, never let anyone make you feel otherwise" he says with an earnest passion of true belief.

*chuckles* "You want me to follow those two performances?" *shakes his head* "I've neither's talent or skill for music.  But if you insist" *winks* at Ballad "And I know you will, I will give it a try."  He steps up to stand next to Jade.

And he begins to sing, but it is his "native" language.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFp9qGtqrbw

Ariadne gave Jon a heartfelt bit of applause
"Absolutely beautiful, Jon!  I've never heard anything about it "