It is around three hours before sunrise on Monday 4th September 1978 and Sir John Gates Hobbs Jr sets off on the required magical route, in a widdershins direction with Goffery and Percival beside him to guard against any attempts to prevent the maintenance of the wall.

They begin at the Reality Checkpoint and the Fae energy is strong as they begin to walk slowly, so slowly as if walking into a wind as they walk along the diagonal footpath across Parker's Piece that leads to The Roman Catholic Church of Saint Mary the Mother of God and the English Martyrs.

The seven foot tall stone form of Goffery Lemnin, or the shorter termed Go Lem, followed behind, in the dark hours before sunrise his stone form had a slight glisten and sparkle to if from the goose fat with iron and silver filings mixed into it giving him an almost glitter-like coloring in any torch light that shown over him.  His steps softer than one would think but not completely quiet, though just a bit quieter than the expensive wingtips on the gentleman joining them on this important task.

Looking around this path, paying attention to all he can, Goffery asked, "Sir John Gates Hobbs Junior, Master of Emmanuel College, can this ritual only be held at this time or was there another reason to keep this task until the very end of time until the Iron Wall would fail?"  He asked, still with the rather emotionless voice that seemed so hollow in sound.


OOC  Goffery Lemnin rolled 12 using 1d10+7 with rolls of 5.  Notice roll.

In reply to Goffery Lemnin (msg # 2):

"Certainly, Goffery," says Sir John, "The first wall was laid by Isaac Newton on 4 September 1667 (in keeping out the fey from the University, he also kept out the Black Death). By repeating the ritual on the Solar Anniversary of that event, we gain maximum power to resisting both the power and the presence of the Fae."
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 10:40, Mon 17 Jan 2022.

Percival walked along with the others, happily humming away as he dispersed the iron fillings. Like a man in a park spreading crumbs for the pigeons. As far as avoiding apocalypses went, this was rather amongst the most leisurely he had ever participated in. Still, he had the duty to help if such was required, it certainly wasn't strenuous, and the company was nice.

"While this will certainly keep out the Fae directly, I certainly hope there are other contingencies in place? The Fae nobility and royalty would no doubt have dozens of plans to bypass or neutralize this Iron Curtain, after all..." he asked mildly, but knowing how determined and devious the royalty could be.

"And since you two are undertaking this mission as part of what I can only assume to be your duties, might I infer that you are part of the numerous secret societies that know of the magical world? The Watchers Council? The Devon Coven? The Inquisitore? It's some time yet before the sun rises. Secrete societies are best spoken of in the dark, are they not?" Percival chuckled, but not at their expense. More an...appreciation for the splendor of life kind of laugh.

OOC Mechanics
09:17, Today: Percival Galois rolled 12 using 1d10+7.  Notice.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:18, Mon 17 Jan 2022.

Sir John keeps walking but more slowly, cocking his head to one side like a magpie and says, "What of you, Percival Galois?  What secrets do you bear?"

He lets a moment slide and says, "Hmm I wonder.  Sir Perceval de Galles?  The immortal ringbearer?  You are certainly welcome in Cambridge Sir Perceval although it is mildly disappointing that you chose a different college.  No matter.  The Fae will try all sorts of subterfuge to get around or through the iron wall or to prevent us from finishing.  They will fail, I am determined."

Both Percival and Goffery roll d6

OOC Mechanics
09:38, Today: Percival Galois rolled 3 using 1d6.  Mystery Roll.

OOC: Goffery Lemnin rolled 3 using 1d6.  Mystery Roll.

As the three were approaching the grounds of Newnham college, an arrow shot from somewhere to the left, passing through Sir John's bowler hat, lifting it from his head and pinning it to the tree.  "Down", says Sir John and takes his own advice, careful to land on the inside of the iron wall.

"Oh, I bear a great many. I might even be willing to part with some of them," Percival said with a cheeky wink.

"Lord, actually. While I bear a knighthood, when addressing me proper, the Lordship takes precedence. And my name really is Percival Galois. Although, I suppose if one wanted to be technical, if you wanted to pronounce my name in the proper Old Welsh to go along with my titles, it would be Percevaus li Galois. But let us remain in the present day. As for bearing a ring..." the young man began, stopping to remove his tailored leather gloves.

"...you will see I bear no such bauble. Though, such a thing would be useful," he chuckled, showing ten unadorned fingers.

"Still, you did manage to reveal yourself with that graceless pivoting from my question. Confidently asserting incorrect or partial information, that can only mean The Watchers Council," came a gentle rebuking that carried a hint of disappointment.

Before he could continue, the arrow came flying out of the darkness, and the Englishman hit the deck. Instead of following Sir Hobbs' example, the young medical student raised a portion of his large duster to protect his unarmored head, and charged directly in the direction of the fired arrow, without a sound. Even the clip-clop of his wingtips vanished. And there was no friendly grin on his face now. Only a cool, iron determination.

Percival, roll perception plus notice please.

OOC Mechanics
15:59, Today: Percival Galois rolled 13 using 1d10+7. Notice.

Not fifty yards away, you reach a flowing brook, having seen no footprints or other signs.  Perhaps you are looking in the wrong direction?

Goffery moved along with the two, listening to their duel of wits and words.  The verbal feints, lunges, parries, and the Errol Flynn level of banter that was passed back and forth was enough to make his question the matter of secret societies, given that they both seemed to know enough about each other that it seemed more like a business convention than two separate individuals beyond the veil of normalcy.

To think he would almost be thankful of the arrow that shot out at them.  With Sir John Hobbs ducking down, Goffery stepped up between him and the source of the attack.  His arm raised to help deflect anything that might come towards his head, his other arm moving to cover Sir Hobbs Jr's back.  "We must keep moving Sir John Gates Hobbs Jr.  Allow Cival to distract our assailant.  Our Mission must be accomplished." He said, using his form to create a stone barricade for the senior Watcher.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:14, Sat 22 Jan 2022.

"Of course," says Sir John and began once more to move.  "As long as the threats are only from the Fae, he should be safe, unless of course he were to get lost, but it seems he is highly experienced."

He turned left and moved closer to Percival as he moved around the outskirts of Newnham to the old Newnham village site itself before moving off toward Wolfson and Selwyn.

OOC Mechanics
09:00, Today: Percival Galois rolled 19 using 1d10+11.  "Now, where would I shoot from...?".

By the size of the arrow and the angle it could be either four to five hundred yards away (but from that distance, the target would not be visible) or from a branch of a tree.

It wasn't an arc you fool, but higher elevation! he thought to himself, cursing his own initial reflexes.

Reorienting himself to where he would have fired from, given that direction and the lack of an arc, Percival ran straight for a stand of a half a dozen trees that might be able to support the weight of an archer. Still he used his duster as an impromptu shield to protect his unarmed head, but he made sure to not obscure his vision as he hunted for Sir John's hunter.

In a crook between the trunk and a large branch on the fourth tree you try there is a fragment of bright green cloth.  The wood there is warmer than everywhere else on this night and there is a distinct smell of ozone.

OOC Mechanics
14:27, Today: Percival Galois rolled 16 using 1d10+8.  Occultism.

You know that the smell of ozone could indicate high voltage electricity but with no nearby source, it is more likely to indicate a place where a being has passed through the 'hedge' from mundane reality into Tir na Sidhe

Not knowing if their were more assailants, and unwilling to leave a man ostensibly on the side of good to be murdered if he could do anything about it, Percival pocketed the torn fabric and took off after the fleeing duo. Percival wasn't worried about arrows being a danger to Goffery, but at the moment the two were ignorant of the probable identity of Sir John's attempted assassin. And so he sprinted into the early morning, duster sweeping out behind him as he attempted to catch up.

Sir John continues walking slowly along the road, letting the trail of iron filings fall down behind him to somehow dissolve into the ground beneath, forming a wall that is impenetrable to Fae but to everyone else, not so much.

"I'm grateful for the attempt but I'd be careful if I were you.  This time it was an archer but sometimes they try enchanters and illusionists.  My predecessor was lost back in 1957, we believe he may have followed some kind of illusion and wandered into Fae.  He may still be there for all I know." Sir John sighed almost wistfully, "And less than five minutes older.  Time moves differently over there."

Sir John trudged not slowly but certainly not at any great pace as he moved onward, enclosing Selwyn and Wolfson within the wall before making his way along the backs, cutting the Fae off from the verdant spaces of various college playing fields.

"To be frank, I am surprised that they missed. They had the high-ground, there was no wind, you were unaware of the potential attack, and Fae hone their skills over the course of centuries. By all rights, you should be dead, Sir. I am clearly relieved that they failed, however. Might you be acquainted with any Fae who's fashion sense goes along with this cloth?" Percival puffed when he finally caught up with the odd pair, and held up the green cloth.

Goffery moved along with Sir John Hobbs, trying to keep his vision out for any sort of attackers that may be coming still, noticing the return of Cival was not a horrible thing, though chasing after a fae always seemed a fools choice, though it could have led to Cival returning with the head of an Ass, so it might not have been that bad a move.  Upon Cival's declaration of fatality, Goffery spoke up.

"There are two factors that could play in to that.  One the assassin knew of the situation of the goblin and changeling and hesitated on the fear that the opening of the realms would allow the two to meet and cause far more damage, so they only made a token effort and showed what they could have done."  He then looked at Sir John Hobb's naked head and commented, "Second they misjudged the protective powers of a well made watchers bowler hat, and how well it can protect one's head."  He said with a small, "We shall need to fetch your hat on the way back Sir John Hobbs.  Perhaps see if the fletching of the arrow holds some heraldry we can use." He said before focusing again on the task of Protecting the Master of Emmanuel College.

OOC: Goffery Lemnin rolled 16 using 1d10+7.  Notice Roll.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:13, Sat 22 Jan 2022.

"It is cold iron that protected me," said Sir John, "Were the creature not Fae, I would indeed be dead, Milord.  Then again, were the creature not Fae, it would hardly be shooting at me.  I've never heard of them hiring mercenaries, although with this goblin, things may change."

Sir John climbed over a fence, making sure there was no break in the thread and just to make sure, he bent down and passing the bag underneath the fence and closing the line of iron beneath the wire.

"Make sure you stay to the right of the brook", said Sir John as he continues moving, this time across a small field containing a large, brown bull.  "Damn!" he whispered, "that's not supposed to be there."

Offered Sir John Hobbs help over the fence, his own efforts started by looking for a more sturdy point as he did not want to crush it getting over it, He would also offer Cival aid in getting over the fence.  Making his way back to Sir Hobbs and Percival, the sight of the brown bull was a bit off putting.  "Indeed, that is some bull right there." He said with as neutral a tone as he could.

He inclined himself towards Percival, "Would you care to act the Spaniard and use your coat to draw the bull off?  I feel you have the style amongst us to play the Matador."  He offered personally not wanting to have to take the bull by the horns in this situation.  And figured that offering Percival a chance to play the hero would be hard for the man to pass up on.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:14, Sat 22 Jan 2022.

"Well, when you are right, you are right, Mr. Lem," Percival replied merrily, hearing the flattering but agreeing that he was best suited for the task at hand.

"Well, he is certainly no Toro Bravo, but still..." the young man began, pulling off his duster and placing it in his hands before him.

"Buenos días Señor Toro! Olé! Olé! he called, waving the duster and stomping his feet to get the creature's attention.

It is not red that a bull charges at.  After all, bulls see only in black and white.  It is the movement that attracts them and so, naturally enough, the bull charges at Percival's duster while Goffery and Sir John move slowly across the field, laying a trail of iron filings as they do so.

Dex + Getting Medieval please Percival

OOC Mechanics
15:20, Today: Percival Galois rolled 17 using 1d10+12.  Bull Dodging.

As Goffery and Sir John kept on walking, Percival was able to encourage the bull into five separate charges, the last of them sending the bill to the opposite end of the field so that he was able to clamber over the stile mere seconds behind and they were able to continue their journey.

"Adiós Señor Toro!" Percival called back over his shoulder as he shrugged back into his duster.

Ambling back up to his two new companions, the young man looked like he had just done something naughty and bracing, like streaking. Smiling that way made him look even younger than he already looked.

"Well, Sir John, assassins, angry bulls...what is next? Moats full of piranhas? A Troll under a bridge? A dry pub crawl? Where does our path take us next?" he chuckled, clearly in a good mood now.

Sir John grins a mirthless grin that fails to reach his eyes.  He doesn't think the bull had any connection with the Fae but he can't be sure.  "Next we move North to Madingley Road, enclosing the bulk of the University within the Iron Wall.  It's 2 AM and we're slightly behind time.  Let's hope we can move a little faster over this section."

Following close to Sir John Hobbs, Goffery only partially watched Percival's theatrics, a small shake of the stone head before focusing again on the task of watching over the Master of Emmanuel College.  After clearing the field Goffery couldn't help but consider the things left to chance in this situation.  "It would seem a consortium formed to purchase or at least have stewardship over the lands that must be walked would make this ritual a much safer task in the future."  He might have to do some research into the lands they travel to find ways to make this maintenance much safer.  A task to distract him in his sleepless state was always welcome now.

"Then let us be on our way, we wouldn't want to disappoint the work of Isaac Newton."  He said as he maintained a protective stance around Sir John.

The next few hundred yards or so does indeed belong to the University of Cambridge, being part of the University joint sportsground.  To the lest is a running stream which should add it protection against any fae interference for now and indeed it does.  Within five minutes even at walking pace, the trio arrive at Madingley Road where Sir John comes to a halt and thinks for a while.

"We have yet to find a route to include New College." He says, "For now, Professor Brunhilde Sorensen walks as best she can to form a separate wall around New College, but the walls would be stronger if they were one.  Perhaps someone could remind me to contact Professor Sorensen and check how it went sometime in the next week?"

Percival walked along with the pair, spreading his iron filings as he went, lost in thought for a moment. This Iron Wall was a good idea, and despite the events of the night was rather easy to maintain. But it still struck him as inefficient, and he worried about seeding the local ground water with iron if this process has been going on for centuries.

"Sir John, have the Watchers ever considered making treaties with the Fae Courts? They lie, and play games that we can barely fathom, but they are bound by their word. You would need to provide them with some material or territory in recompense, but surely some isolated islands or tracks of empty tundra would be enough to let them ignore your holdings, no? You'd need a savvy negotiator of course, and someone so adept at reading fine print that it bordered on supernatural insight, but still, it is possible..." he mused, thinking of the Fae and their love of deals.

Sir John thinks as he moves along, across the main road and in the direction of the Isaac Newton and the Saracen's Head.  Before he answers he stands stock still and speaks to thin air, saying,

"As-salamu alaykum Selah Huddin Malik! Salve Domine Isaac, quomodo es?"

Cocking an eyebrow, Percival nonetheless dropped into a fighting crouch. If this was an incantation, or Sir John was jesting, or the man had simply lost his mind, he wanted to be ready for whatever happened.

"Salvē," he muttered, unconciously correcting the Latin pronunciation as he looked around.

Goffery falters in his steps for a moment, something ahead of them surprised him, but his stone features made it impossible to tell what it was.  This didn't help the concern that would put Percival into his fighting crouch.  Though Cival being unable to not try and correct things did break Goffery out of his surprise and bring him to the moment.

"You can calm down Cival.  Sir John, it seems, is merely addressing the spirits who have importance here."  He said as he looked at one of the figures he could see, wondering if he should kick himself for earlier comments, or learn to expect more things like that.

After finishing his polite conversation with the spirits and resuming the walk along the northern edge of the Cambridge wall, Sir John nods and says, "It is as Mr Lemmin says, Sir Isaac holds the place outside the wall, while Prince Saladin holds the inside.  Both of them are highly intelligent beings but both are limited since it is hard for a bodiless spirit to learn new knowledges that arose after their demises.  It's not impossible and these two are among the best, this is why we cannot make an agreement that allows the Fae to enter inside the Cambridge University reality bubble."

He looked at his watch.  "We'll soon be approaching Jesus College and Jesus Green, that is a place where we will need the greatest vigilance but also a degree of diplomacy.  Once we reach Fort St George and the Ferry, we'll be on the home straight."

Alcuin

As the trio walk toward Jesus College, a fog seems to rise up from the damp ground, not a freezing fog as they might have expected earlier but a thick and clammy fog, warm as fever and wet as a weekend in Workington.

Suddenly voices can be heard from all directions and with the way fog can distort sound, it is hard to tell whether those voices are coming from far away or from as close as an imp upon one's own shoulder.

"Have you paid the tithe?  Is your soul right with God?  Are you neglecting your duty?"

The journey was starting to get pleasant, almost nice until the fog became that much warmer, the condensation slicking small parts of his form as the those areas the walking rubbed at and made exposed for the water to set on the cool stone in places not protected by the goose fat laden with silver and iron filings.  A sweat almost look on the stone form if any paid attention before the call of the creature.  Not wanting to give words out to draw the ire of what ever creature might be ahead, Goffery turned towards Sir John Hobbs and made some hand signals to ask a course of action in quiet.

First a finger to about where his lips would be, then lifting his left hand palm up flat with his two middle fingers pointed down and making a walking like motion in an arc around his hand from the heel along the thumb line.  Then lifted both of his hands palm up in a more shrug like manner, then lifted two fingers and then pointed towards the voice, made a fist with his right hand and made a punch motion towards his left palm.  Another shrug and lifted three fingers and then pointed towards the voice and kept his fingers flat and the back of his hand up and moved his thumb in a way similar to a hand puppet talking and looked at Sir John Hobbs and Cival for an agreement on ideas for finishing getting past this current issue and making the wall whole.

OOC: I honestly don't understand what you are trying to convey with your hand motions.

OOC: I suppose either if the storymaster wants you to roll something to figure it out I can tell you, I could just tell you flat out, or you can just play off having no idea what was pantomimed and hijinks can flow from there. Whatever would make it more fun for the story.

I didn't understand what you were saying either, Goffery.  I suggest though that you roll Dexterity + Language and Percival rolls Intelligence + Language to see whether (a) you said what you think you said and (b) whether Percival understood you.

OOC Mechanics
10:28, Today: Percival Galois rolled 21 using 1d10+11.  Intelligence + Language.

OOC: Goffery Lemnin rolled 8 using 1d10+7 with rolls of 1.  pantomiming hand signals. So that is a fail. And game matches reality.

Sir John pauses to try to understand what Goffery is trying to say after pausing and scratching his head he says.  "It only seems to work with pure iron or an iron-nickel mixture, preferably filings from a meteorite.  Sadly it doesn't work with pyrites, which is a shame because if it did, it might well keep certain kinds of demons out as well as Fae."

Then he resumes walking through the fog saying, "Ignore the voices gentlemen and try to put your feet in my footsteps.  Fort St George is that way." He takes out a gyroscopic compass.  "Oh... well THAT way, sorry." He adjusts his direction slightly and says, "I'm so glad they invented these things, the magic of the wall interferes with magnetic compasses.  Magnetic North is ever so slightly off on Jesus Green."

There was a silence as the seven foot tall stone creature looked at the two, waiting and watching for comprehension, and then when both didn't understand what he thought was simple and clear options the head ans shoulder lowered.  Listening to Sir John Hobbs Goffery gave a nod, "That is handy."  He moves to follow behind the Master of Emmanuel Leaving Cival to follow behind him.

However, he could not let it slide, "So we follow my first suggestion." He brought his finger up towards where he would have lips.  "We stay quiet."  And then he lifted his left hand palm up and moved his first and second finger while his third and thumb were folded up into his palm, one after the other along the heel of his hand, then along his thumb and past the first finger on his left hand.  "And walk around the voice."  He said unable to release the pettiness of his suggestion, following along right were Sir John Hobbs was stepping to stay with the warning.

Sir John nods and, as Goffery suggests, remains silent as he leads the trio to the point on the Cam which is exactly opposite Fort St George. He snaps his fingers and out of the mist a boatman appears poling a punt across the river.  When he pulls up at shore, Sir John hands each of his companions what looks at first glance to be a silver coin except for the fact that it has no corrosion and no markings.  "That is the cost of the crossing", he says, while ensuring that the iron wall reaches to the very edge of the river itself.

He hands his 'coin' to the boatman and says, "Here you are Karen, lovely day isn't it?"  The boatman says nothing and with gloved hands, makes the coin disappear into the folds of their hooded cloak.

Percy was happy enough to walk in companionable silence, even if these two weren't exactly blood brothers. He was just an affable person in general, and was happy to complete this task if it meant safety for innocents. When the mist-born boatman slides silently up, Percy slows his step somewhat. Not out of fear per say, but...healthy caution.

"Karen? My good man, might you mean Kharon?" he asked, cocking a surprised brow.

"Akóma éna nómisma, re palió agóri? O potamós Styx den symvadízei me ton plithorismó?"* the young man said to the hidden figure, the ghost of a smile on his lips.

*[Language unknown: "Ticlinill o somardpre ro, it iofi osom? Le iv Aralan Rat be le u hou wilweramecom?"]

Goffery enjoyed the quietness of the walk in the mist, thankful that the voice tried nothing against them, meaning it was a trap of ones own hubris, something he noted to himself for future reference.  As they slowed near the water, the golem moved with great care to take the coin from Sir John Hobbs without causing him harm.  Though as the senior member of the party addressed the boatman, There was a noticable slowing in his motions as he made the connection at about the same speed as Cival, maybe a little slower, but he was not as social a fellow, being that he was never the most social nor was he really a fellow any more. At least not in body.

And the issue of body made him concerned, thankful for Cival to take attention with his rather showoffish way.  He wasn't quite sure what Cival said, but it was all Greek to him.  For now, he waited in action, concerned if he got in that boat it might confirm his soul was either missing from the afterlife and in his form.  Or maybe worse that he was dead and it was only the memories of Goffery Lemnin that were pretending to be a soul in this form.

Either way, the near 2.2 meter tall creature of stone approached following behind the Master of Emmanuel with the coin held to pay his passage and finish the wall before it was too late.

Percy, could I have a perception roll from you please?

OOC Mechanics
07:27, Today: Percival Galois rolled 9 using 1d10+7.  Notice.

Karen's hand is small and feminine.  She says nothing but cannot suppress a giggle at Percival's comment.  It's hard to see her face beneath the shadows of the hood but there is no evidence that this is anything other than pantomime and the Cam is still the Cam and not the Styx.

Goffery at times was glad for the lack of emotions on his features as he stood for a moment and then realized that the bits of the fantastical had made his imagination grow far too big.  They were circling the grounds not traveling to the underworld, though the payment was a bit interesting.  His stone hand patted Percival on the back, possibly wobbling the smaller man.

"You need not get too into the myths of old Cival.  Come along, we have quest to finish, Oh knight of the tea cup." He said with a bit of tease, more personality showing since Sir John showed up.  He took care to get into the boat, giving the payment to Karen to allow his passage as he returned his focus to the task at hand.

"Selíni se álla potámia? Ti tha élege o Ádis?"* Percival asked with faux-seriousness, and accepted the general mockery with good grace.

"Myths don't often stay in the past, Mr. Lemnin. But you are right. Enough socializing. Shall we gentlemen?" he agreed, clambering aboard in the few spaces that the Golem wasn't taking up.

*[Language unknown: "Preverundresthe en ivelesera forallcon? Ortie hehase Eauessany illpe?"]
This message was last edited by the player at 21:14, Mon 14 Feb 2022.

Both Sir John and Karen grinned at Percival's Greek witticism but, while Karen does indeed wink, she does not say anything because right now, her role is that of the silent boatman, carrying out her part in the ritual of sealing.

As the boat sails into and then out of the fog, the world passes into utter silence and it seems as though the journey was longer than it should have been, but nevertheless, when you reach the other side, you are on a footpath leading across Midsummer Common in the direction of Victoria Avenue.

As soon as the boat touched down, Percival jumped out and did his best to secure the vessel. With soemone like Goffery aboard, his width and weight could easily swamp the boat, and that might ruin Sir John's night very quickly.

"Efcharistó, Káren," the young man said with a slight bow as he held the boat.

Goffery waited in the boat for a bit longer, letting Percival take the lead again, he took hold of the other shore and held onto it, holding his hand out to help Sir John get out of the boat before he made his way out.  His great strength enough to pull himself out of the boat without much issue.  Standing he turned towards Karen and gave a simple bowing nod to Karen.

"Thank you Karen."  He said simply before turning to follow after Sir John to protect him on this quest.  Looking up towards the horizon as best he could, trying to get a gauge on the time and how little of it they had left.  Then looking back at Percival he said simply, "You really couldn't make sense of the simple hand signals from back by the mocking voice?  How do you deal with the trickery of the fae if you can't follow simple gestures?" He asked with a bit of concern in his voice that was either worry or well formed teasing.

As the trio walked over Midsummer Common, dawn was approaching, but not too quickly and five minutes later, having surrounded Christ's Pieces and moved through a backstreet, past the Cricketers' Arms, there they were at last, returning to Parker's Piece and closing the wall for one more year, a breechless bastion built around the bubble reality that is Cambridge University.

They reached the Reality Checkpoint at the very moment when the first rosy fingers of the coming dawn caressed the cast-iron finger of the lamppost.

As they made their way to the checkpoint, Goffery looked about, waiting to see if the wall came down, if they failed it, watching for the fae to burst through.  But after a few moments and nothing happened, the golem took a less guarded position, and he looked at both Sir John, and Percival.

"You have made us safe again Sir John.  Thank you.  And thank you Cival, you were a most useful distraction on the path."  There was a pause that one could almost think a smile was trying to be manifested by the stone statue, but there was nothing to move.  Then it turned towards its head towards the sun rise and waited a moment, then back to the two of them.  "The sun is rising and people are coming out.  I should make my way back into the back of the library.  Last time I had to play the role of statue on the streets, I had three different people graffiti me, and an uncomfortable pairing take shelter behind me to make out.  So Good day to you Cival." He gave a slight nod, "Sir John." He gave a much deeper bow and then made his way to Emmanuel college to hide himself away.

Though he stopped a few strides away to look back to Percival.  "And should you need my help in stopping yet another end of the world situation, please try to avoid having it happen on a Saturday Afternoon." He then turned and continued his way back into the Emmanuel College Library.