Duana taps her fingernails on the surface of the table, considering their position. She dislikes magicians, having so little for herself other than personal glamour to make her appearance as hideous as other mortals. Glancing at the man behind the counter, she recognizes that this is hardly the venue to be speaking of their plans in a language that mortals could understand easily.
"Apologies," she says, inclining her head to Axe for a moment, and then continues in the language of the court for Danny. "Have you established whether or not there will be an audience to this production of ours? I shouldn't like for me to be involved with the police any further," she indicates Gabriel by narrowing her eyes when she looks at him.
"Do you believe this creature to be of sufficient skill and arrogance to open a gate to NeverNever?"
Gelert
Andrews heckles are calmed, 'I mean no disrespect, Hunter. Bunny is of our pack. We keep her safe.'
Gelert can smell the faint scent of Duana upon him and it's similar to the unfamiliar scent she held earlier. The man moves allowing Gelert to freely enter his territory, with a accepting inclination of his head. Bunny bounces through the room wearing a summer dress, "Just going for a shower now." she cheerfully states before leaving.
Andrew looks at the Gelert warily; 'I thank you for keeping her safe,' he looks to the meat 'And for your gift. Of the Wyld Hunt, why are you here?' His voice cautious.
then we need to get you a pole arm like a pike; hehe a one man phalanx.
Danny's eyes go wide. Er. At Axe's story.
"Holy Moley. That's,.., That,... explains quite a bit my history classes didn't, actually." He finishes thoughtfully.
"Oh don't worry. When it comes time to start hitting things, I'll be behind you all the way. About ten feet behind you!" He smirks.
:)
could you remind me what time of year it is again; thanks.
Cafe Crew
There are few vehicles moving down the street, apart from the occasional taxi that flashes past. No-one else is observing the Gallery or any other shop. The dark skies and rain fell incessantly.
hey there neighbor, been watchin ya work and if you want; can give you some pointers. I been slingin hash in front of a grill fer a lot o years and with just a little technique; youse could get better results. Us chefs gotsta stick together yeah, I called Axe, whachoo called?
could you remind me what time of year it is again; thanks.
Cafe Crew
There are few vehicles moving down the street, apart from the occasional taxi that flashes past. No-one else is observing the Gallery or any other shop. The dark skies and rain fell incessantly.
The man smiles a pale smile and takes another drag on his cigarette. "Name's Brian, good to meet you. Hope those kids aren't bothering you." He points to the drunken teens, not too much older than him. "If you want to give us some tips, Mr Masterchef, feel free." he says laconically but not unfriendly.
Gelert licks his nose and chuffs out a breath at the man who bore Duana's scent. A small part of him feels real indignation at how he could mate with his Mistress but he could not enjoy the running of another Hunter. He showed his obvious displeasure with the man by a gentle rumble with his nose obviously taking in large sniffs of his smell, then he looks straight into the man's eyes.
Gelert is here to Protect his Mistress, the lady Duana. And I will protect her, Wolf-Blood. Best you keep your ears and eyes open, for if you wrong her, not even Gelert's fangs will pierce as deeply as hers will. A subtle warning for your behalf. He then sniffs at the leg and chuffs, he had been too long in this world to not want to eat part of a felled meal, much preferring the warmth and flavor of cooked meals now.
He eyes the man again a little warily but then visibly shakes his head. His was not the business to know of his other much more real mission here, and Gelert made no effort to tell him of it. He simply stretches, and saunters past the man towards where Duana would be. The hour is quite late but she was a creature of the night, as lively now as she ever was. He looks around the bar for her, allowing a couple people to pet him, but also he notices his nose keeps smelling for Bunny and he has to repress the urge to go find her again. He only hoped that they could run together again sometime.
Gelert
Andrew looks carefully at Gelerts sleek form and submits carefully to the inspection as their eyes meet. 'Yes, Hunter. I thank you for your warning. I will try to honour her as she deserves.'
Andrew watches as the dark hound leaves.
Gelert quickly finds the trail of his mistress as he moves through the streets. It leads him to where he fought with the rotten blue-haired 'lady' the previous eve. The are inside an old cafe, with the smell of burnt grease and meat emanating strongly. Inside he can see his mistress, the knight Gabriel, the Summer Emissary and the Greek warrior.
Duana taps her fingernails on the surface of the table, considering their position. She dislikes magicians, having so little for herself other than personal glamour to make her appearance as hideous as other mortals. Glancing at the man behind the counter, she recognizes that this is hardly the venue to be speaking of their plans in a language that mortals could understand easily.
"Apologies," she says, inclining her head to Axe for a moment, and then continues in the language of the court for Danny. "Have you established whether or not there will be an audience to this production of ours? I shouldn't like for me to be involved with the police any further," she indicates Gabriel by narrowing her eyes when she looks at him.
"Do you believe this creature to be of sufficient skill and arrogance to open a gate to NeverNever?"
Danny looks skeptically at the beer he has just been handed.
"I dunno anything about opening a door into Neverland." He says absentmindedly. "That's more your department. I have to make do with doors that have been left for the rest of us to use." He adds, perhaps a teensy bit jealous? (Or bitter?)
"But that might be a bit, extreme. Considering the dangers involved in even a short journey through Nevernever. Not the least of which is we might travel ten feet, come back, and have lost an entire day. But I'll defer to your judgment. It would make passing any wards he might have a lot easier." He adds with a wry smile, and takes a swig of the beer.
At first his eyes widen briefly in panic, then he looks thoughtful.
"Hm. Not, bad." He wheezes with a straight face. Then he gives a broad stage wink to Axe and Gabriel.
"Best we can determine, he uses the upstairs as living space. But even if he does the threshold has to be weak. It's primarily a place of business, and he has no family to speak of. I think we can just walk in the old fashioned way. The less noise the better. We're not trying to rob the gallery, we just need to reclaim the box. Right?" He asks seriously, looking to both Duana and Gabriel for confirmation.
"The most important thing is timing. We don't want to jump in before 5, set off a silent wiz-watcher, and tip him off to his surprises. I suggest 5:01?"
Axe will clean up; scrub the grill and coffee pot, filter the oil; make a cup of coffee; give pointers on kitchen arrangement for ease of use; sharpen knives and talk of the value of sharp knife; and, handle any orders while discussing storage of foodstuffs. Axe does this in a big brotherly like fashion very much at home in this environment. Anything I make, I will explain what I am doing while doing it; like how to make the outside crispy while inside is moist and like for a burger; you add a few drops of water or broth covered for the last few seconds of a burger on the grill; makes it more juicy and helps steam melt the cheese in a hurry; stuff like that.
keep an eye on customers and chat innocuously about the gallery; do people tend to come here after they go there; how busy is it; how it could be a nice venue to pull in more clientel with a little adjustment here and there; why kind of people go to the gallery; just chat sending out feelers
"That gives us some three hours with naught else to do but entertain each other. I would suggest we visit the club and take in some lovely women, but I have burnt that bridge and pissed upon its ashes," Duana says, her smile sanguine. "And while group sex might entertain me..."
Duana sighs and looks about, her eyes narrowing when they fall on the youngsters. "They did not drive here. Shall we engage in what my peers call a pub crawl?"
Gabriel rolls his eyes at his ladies comments and occupies his thoughts with focusing his magic for later use.
Danny shrugs.
"I'd like to keep an eye on the place, make sure he doesn't double back. But it MIGHT be just a tad obvious that we are scoping the place out if we hang around here the entire time." Danny agrees, watching Axe chat his way around the kitchen with the young grease-chef. He shakes his head at how easily the large Greek warrior fits into such a setting. (Considering that it looks like he should barely fit into the tiny kitchen area!)
"This doesn't look like the safest part of town, not that that's a problem for any of you guys, But I guess if those guys can make their way around safely here, we shouldn't have any trouble. At least it's an excuse for getting out and seeing more of the town. I've been meaning to do that anyway." Danny agrees.
Aximeus - The chef starts off quite surly and reserved but as you talk more to him he opens up. He is happy to have someone help out, he gets quite resentful of working in a dive for a pittance all alone (mostly). He introduced himself as John Campbell, he is not very ambitious, that's why he working here. Though he is grateful because he met the love of his life working here. She was a waitress studying law, an avid Everton FC fan. They are going out, although he finds the rest of his life a repetitive rut.
About the gallery, well the man, Henri, the local kids call him 'Sinistero' and when John was a teen a decade ago. There were rumours of what he did to the tearaways that played knock-chase at his door. No one dares mess with him. But John assures you they are just frivolous rumours. Henri occasionally comes in and is a nice gent, he orders a bacon sarnie and bovril.
But John prefers his secretary, she has lived in the area since the 60's, a nice woman - she has grand-children Johns' age and he went to school with some of them.
The gallery is a bit weird, a bit too upscale. But the area is 15min. walk from the city centre and it manages to draw off some of tourists. It also attracts the bohemian types, including 'hot hippy girls'. "No harm in looking." John says with a wink.
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Revelers
Leaving the cafe you meet Gelert outside. There are a number of local bars and clubs within a 5 to 15 minute walk, might as well try a divergent range - starting with the closest.
Sun Inn - A nice clean bar, all pine and real ales. The clientelle are a mixture of middle-aged middle-class couples and young professionals, having a good time. The bar is slightly winding down at this time of night but the service is good and the atmosphere friendly.
Sights and unusual people -
- A man in a sharp suit sips at his lager, his eyes unblinking as he reads a newspaper. The creases in the pages as sharp as his suit. You notice it seems to be the early edition of the morrows' paper.
- With the quickest of flitting movement, you see a small winged creature dive onto the bar. He picks up a nut the size of his torso, his wings struggling as he darts away to a corner. The creature seems to be some sort of sprite.
- A Girl in a white leather coat sips a cosmopolitan. She nods to you as you appear, but otherwise ignores the group. Her attention is focussed on a mussy fellow sketching on his napkin at the bar.
Cock and Bull - A dive, the stale smell of smoke and sour beer pervades the air. But there is a common decency to the place, it is what it is. A local pub, for local people. 'We don't like strangers, not around these parts.' The saloon being off-limits, though the public bar is open. However the chunky barman pours you a drink and the bar-maid in her late 40's and mini-skirt smiles at the men and gives a sly wink to Duana.
- Gnome, a short man is carefully drinking a pint of cheap beer. Nurturing it as if his life depended upon it. His skin brown calloused and old. But there seems a vibrancy to him and a the lines of much mirth etched upon his face.
- A man throws a dart at the board getting it in the bull each time. You see the slight strain in his eyes as he uses his telekinetic magic to subtly alter the trajectory.
Revolution - A club the modern music and expensive good drinks combines with the energy of the young. A perfect place to dance until you fall. The dance floor is buzzing and people from all walks of life mingle taking in the feelings of freedom.
- Girl in a white leather coat, dances without care her vibrant short blonde hair bounces. She smiles and dances
- Tim & Sara, the witch from the Evil Eye Lounge. He is dancing closely to the woman, his shirt off revealing a strong physique.
Other Sites/Sights
- West Bank Park a grassy area near the Gallery, it is littered with needles. However one area is scrupulously clean, a honey-suckle bush that is blooming a pale pink flowers. Nearby, a tramp sleeps upon a park bench.
- Elsewhere on the streets; Out of the corner of your eye, a sudden white spectral form flits by. A ghost? If you go after it, it has gone.
Sun Inn
Duana observes the man in the impeccable suit for a time, curious what could possibly compel a man to be reading the mortal rags so early in the morning. Everything she had seen of them, which... admittedly was not much, as she preferred slower moving forms of print media, it did not appear as though the "news" changed frequently. The mortal word was rife with conflicts, as was the Winter Court. In England, however, the conflicts were a good deal... further.
Duana glances at the man scribbling on a napkin as she approaches the bar and orders a scotch. She stays to the side of the man so the woman in white can continue to observe him from her vantage, but leans in a provocative manner since the woman's attention is honed.
"Allow a single drop of water to touch the surface," she instructs the 'keep.
Duana will try to make out what the artist is sketching.
well John, will a little work you could get that business from the Gallery in here and make a little extra pocket money; that is alway nice right. Little bling and jingle in your pocket; you girl will love that
you could offer a discounted or free appetizer for those with a museaum ticket and I can show you how to make some that cost you about 50 cents that in America; sell for 6-8 bucks. Places these days are about a theme; sports or whatnot; you might get some local as your staple, but you need to give em a reason to come here; somethign better than their own lives at home and something to pull that gallery crowd that won't affend their upscale noses. Thing about those gallery people is that they are out to relax and have a good time; they want to spend money; you just gotta give em something to spend it on.
What kind of people go to this gallery are they new people all the time or same people who might be distributers; those guys <smile> are the guys you want to put it in thier schedule to stop here for a bite or a pint.
the museum crowd; if thier Tourists; they want some "authentic" English stuff; get some spoons with your logo and a few T shirts made up; that can put you on the map and give you free advertizing. Any American would eat "Authentic Bangers and Mash" as it is probably the only thing they now offhand. now, Brits are famous for food in bread shell; like pigs in a blanket and such; thing that is pastry is really easy to make and freezed for months; or you can buy it frozen; but that will cost you more; thus you have to charge more.
Being a dreary and cold place; you need to make a good soup; that will get your locals. I will show you three easy to make;
you gotta chalkboard?; you need one; like an A frame that you can put on the sidewalk to get those going by to read it; so write big. Today lets make a potato leak soup, a cheddar broccoli, and a burgendy beef and vegatable; nice thing is you can make a lot; freeze it; warm it up and serve it with some bread and sells like crazy. If you not good at bread; find a local bread maker you like; get him to make you some bread bowls or just a good roll for starters; if your buying from him; he better let you put some fliers in his walkin business area nad some cuoupons; like for that appetizer; this you sell more; thus he sells more.
Always try to shake hands and scratch each others backs, that is community; that is what seperates us from the animals.
So; what do you think; interested; know your community; then feed em. you do some work on Sunday or Monday, make your soops and stuff you can freeze; then you skate all week just warming it up and if the freezer; their flavors deepen get better; now things like salad and fish; you want fresh as can be
"what else is around here besides the gallery - close,local" I ask
Duana
The smartly dressed barman, gets you a finely aged scotch just to your specifications.
Looking at the picture it draws you in, his quick motions creating perfect lines. The sketch is amazing the detail and beauty astounding, however at the same time disturbing. The picture appears to be of a woman and man entwined in a garden, the look on their faces a mixture of ecstasy and pain. The garden is some sort of nightmare, the plants seem to writhe in an obscene parody of life. The other objects in he background seem like nothing of this world or the fey realms but a vicious mockery of goodness and life, as the move towards the couple getting ready to perform a vile rite. The vivid colours don't quite seem right, too stark and grotesque.
Aximeus
John responds enthusiastically; "Cool, turn the place into a gastro cafe. Great ideas. Yeah, soup and bread great. Hearty stews and pasties - a bit 'Greggs' but if done right it could be great."
John carries on nodding his head, almost hopping in excitement. "Yeah, 'cause we have had a bit of competition from the Fish 'n' Chip shop across the road. But other than that, the Chinese and a few pubs there isn't that much around. Across the road is the paper shop, the gallery and a couple of charity shops and the book shop. So we get some passing trade, like the starving artists who regularly go to the gallery. There's about a dozen of them, they try to sell their stuff there then spend the night here. Or that hot red-head from their. And if I can get a bit of trade from the book-shop & the railway museum down the road then this could be a bit more fun. Although museum are free over here, doesn't really make more people go but..."
A Summer mind, Duana muses, a smile tugging at her sensuous lips.
"May I buy you a drink?" she inquires, letting the accent of the language of the Winter Court to bleed into her voice. For several hours now she has dwelt behind the facade of her human guise, and it was beginning to slip.
Duana
From the corner of her eye the woman looks puzzled for a second before her mask slips back in place. The man barely into his twenties with slightly disheveled hair and a smudge of colour upon his cheeks, smiles at the lady.
"I could not refuse a beauty such as yourself but I wish I had the funds to purchase you a delicate beverage, alas I am but a starving artiste. Your accent it is exquisite, eastern Europe?" He asks an easy smile upon his face. Their is a slight smell of burnt umber upon him, giving off a tang of sharpness. His eyes are clear and a darkened honey brown to match his hair.
"And what, pray tell is a starving artist doing in a bar with two workaholics and a lady who pays twenty quid for a glass of scotch?" Duana purrs, sitting on the stool beside the young man. She gestures to the bartender with her fingers for another. "Or is it your way to impress with these sketches and lure fine young gentlemen and ladies with disposable income to your studio?"
The man laughs heavily; "Got a new commission, thus I am drinking the advance!" His voice has a slight slur that he tries to hide behind eloquence and verbosity.
"I always up for the challenge of 'luring' a lovely young lady as yourself to my studio." he raises an eyebrow with a cheeky smile.
Duana laughs softly and takes the young man's hand in hers, then presses it to the side of her head. She uses her fingertips to guide his across the extra features her mother's blood had given her, particularly her tall and alien ears, and almost purrs with pleasure.
"Any other evening and I might show you a great deal more exciting features," she hums. "If you've a card, or... I can see that you've the ability to write upon napkins, I might ring for another commission."
A look of interested befuddlement upon his visage, his fingers slightly waver as he writes down a number and places the napkin into Duanas' hands. "My dear lady, you would be a fine muse or patron."
Gabriel walks up behind Duana and glares at the man, "I think its time for us to be going." He says meaningfully.
Duana slips the napkin into her purse. "Forgive my escort, he was raised in a generation that cares nothing for protocol," she apologizes as she rises. "If you enjoy the scotch, I will bring you another for your advance," she says and smiles, and rejoins the others.
The 'artiste' looks to Gabriel and Duana and raises an eyebrow; "Oh dear, it's certainly alright. Interrupt me anytime." His voice holds a slight lisp as he looks to the pair. He then lifts a hand to call the barman for another drink. The bar is relatively quiet, the white lady looks on seemingly uninterested.
if their doing fish and chips; dont do that; good fish soup; or some baked fish will get the more health conscious; in America they got a Poor Boy sandwich; is a big cheap sandwich you put all your stuff that is still good but almost discard; lettuce; onions; day old stuff like fish; meat; spice it up; but it on a sandwixh; is a mixed bag type sandwich; you get to a place in your business where you will have the same sortof stuff and then make it out of that and taste good. One thing you have to do is learn to make good coffee and have a tea selection; good coffee requires good water and clean stuff as the oils in coffee get rancid and sour.; here try this. <hand him a cup of my coffee, invest in a decent coffee bean; something grown in the shade under a bananna tree is best. Let me know if one of those starving artists who go to the gallery comes in here, never know when one of them will make it big
Aximeus
John responds enthusiastically; "Cool, turn the place into a gastro cafe. Great ideas. Yeah, soup and bread great. Hearty stews and pasties - a bit 'Greggs' but if done right it could be great."
John carries on nodding his head, almost hopping in excitement. "Yeah, 'cause we have had a bit of competition from the Fish 'n' Chip shop across the road. But other than that, the Chinese and a few pubs there isn't that much around. Across the road is the paper shop, the gallery and a couple of charity shops and the book shop. So we get some passing trade, like the starving artists who regularly go to the gallery. There's about a dozen of them, they try to sell their stuff there then spend the night here. Or that hot red-head from their. And if I can get a bit of trade from the book-shop & the railway museum down the road then this could be a bit more fun. Although museum are free over here, doesn't really make more people go but..."
Aximeus
John thanks you shaking your hand, looking out of the window (as you have been doing occasionally all night) you see the rest of the gang returning from their alcohol escapades.
All {ooc]So is the plan to open up a portal through the Never-Never and a second into the upper rooms of the Gallery. The entrance is in an alley nearby, the exit in the Never-Never will be relatively close Duana feels.[/ooc]
:D
Danny nods at Axe as he rejoins them.
"Alright, now how does this portal thing work again? I'll warn you, I've watched a LOT of Dr. Who, and it never seems to turn out well. Except in the Christmas Specials."
"We crawl into the rabbit hole, like Alice, and spend several hours dancing amongst anthropomorphized childhood demons. Or, should you find that option to be deplorable, we can burglarize the home of a mad necromancer and discover what manner of wards he has in place first hand," Duana answers, her tone clipped and chilly. "Curious that I should find the portal through NeverNever safer but I have spent some time among wyld fae and they fear my Knight's steel and verbosity," she jests and laughs.
Entering the dark alley, only lit by the reflected light from the street. A slightly sour taste permeates the area, leftover refuse from the cafe, which distracts for a moment. Obviously this place is not what you thought of when visiting Britain. Walking further down the alley, Princess Duana can feel the presence of her home-land. A tingle of familiarity down the spine and the fine hairs raise upon your necks.
The air seems thin and before Duana the atmosphere like paper. Brittle, pale with a dream-like quality. She puts a hand out before her, around you starts to change; the harsh smell fades - a delicate pine fragrance in it's stead; the shadowy light drifts from the monochrome into a more vibrant contrast without colours.
In front of you at the end of the alley the air starts to coalesce, coming together in a fractal fashion to form a thin barrier of ice. You can all feel the power as Duana draws upon her heritage and starts to create the portal. The barrier between realities feels illusionary, casting a moment of doubt upon your ideology.
The ice then suddenly starts to creak and crack the sound small, but it echoes down the alley reverberating painfully off the walls. Although you are sure none on the street could hear, your senses feel more attuned to the new plane. Sharper but less solid; your senses feel as if they are deceiving you as you stand on the threshold.
The ice barrier shatters into a million pieces, a fine dust showers the floor but looking upon the ground it has not made it before you is a hole upon a different vista.
The noon sun gently cascades upon a meadow before a wood. The non- deciduous forest stands before you the tall trees creating dark shadows under their boughs.
Gabriel draws his sword of black ice and quickly enters first making sure it is safe for Duana to enter. When it seems it is clear he shouts back for her that it is safe enough.
"Don't wander off I don't have time to come save you if you go off alone here." he warns the other two men as they enter his and Duana's realm.
You find yourselves upon a windswept hill, a chill breeze biting into your skin. Vivid heather in bloom stands in relief against the dour ochre grasses that are dragged by the wind, their scent holds strong upon the air with just a hint of smoke and pine.
Out of the corner of the eye you can see the occasional 'insect' zip from the blossoms, taking nectar and pollinating the flowers. They seem to be caught on the breeze rather than using what you assume to be iridescent wings to fly.
Before you lies a great dark forest. The trees ancient soldiers against invasion, their high boughs and stout trunks permanently bent against the unceasing gale. Under the dark canopy the scrub is light, a bed of pine needles softens the ground. Duana can tell that the forest is where you need to head.
Where too
"We crawl into the rabbit hole, like Alice, and spend several hours dancing amongst anthropomorphized childhood demons. Or, should you find that option to be deplorable, we can burglarize the home of a mad necromancer and discover what manner of wards he has in place first hand," Duana answers, her tone clipped and chilly. "Curious that I should find the portal through NeverNever safer but I have spent some time among wyld fae and they fear my Knight's steel and verbosity," she jests and laughs.
To her (and probably everyone's) surprise, Danny doesn't have a clever comeback for that one. He actually looks thoughtful for a moment.
"Nah!" He says finally. "I'm definitely feelin' the urge for a walk here. The exercise will do me good!" He says with a smile, and follows the Winter Princess as she leads them to a particular spot, and works her magics.
Danny rolls his eyes at the Knight's tone. He eyes the portal warily as Axe steps through.
"Well, Alice in Wonderland never learned her lesson, why should I be any smarter?" He murmurs (mostly) to himself. And then steps through before he can change his mind.
Danny looks cautiously around the woods they find themselves in. He backs up slowly, allowing a floating 'insect' to glide gracefully by the tip of his nose, it's wings not moving.
"I don't think we're in Kansas anymore Toto." He says to Gelert.
Alice was a child easily frightened, we are not, as was Dorothy. Unless you have a house in your pocket; lets avoid any wicked witches if we can
murmurs
[b] other than the one we brought with us...[\b]
Duana laughs at the simpleton's mumbled statement. "Such a darling pawn," she coos, "if you had the necessary courage to address such an insult to my face it would please me mightily."
Duana glances around at the scenery and is pleased. There is just enough shadow to skulk if she wishes, and perhaps, tear at the Achilles tendon of the pompous ass who insulted her, then ride him into the ground and call the hunt upon him. A feral smile tugs at the corner of her lips and she becomes vaguely aroused by the fantasy and she sings a soft lullaby in the language of the court that is a thinly veiled cautionary tale not to whisper secrets because Mab rules the air upon which they travel.
Without another mortal to appease, Duana drops her human guise completely, and for several long moments contemplates stripping down to her nylon and steel, but for the cosmetics still on her legs and how silly it would appear otherwise. If the threat of the necromancer is neutralized, the field would be excellent to hunt in, she was sure, hours of hunting and running and not one minute would pass without. Perhaps she could spend days avoiding Gabriel within and he'd be none the wiser, or able to find her.
Duana glances at Gabriel as her song concludes, pondering if he recognized the significance of the lyrics, then reaches and scratches behind Gelert's ear and encourages him to run before bolting herself.
As the group walk through the dimly lit woods, shadows fall deep all around. The sound of footsteps is lost upon the bed on pine-needles, Duanas' watchful senses guide you through the forest towards where she knows the portal to the mortal coil is.
The forest has few animals and seems still and undying, the tall pine trees stand like menhirs or grave-markers. Ancient sentinels watching. The heavy wind is broken and beneath the trees' boughs all is calm. As you draw further into the wood, the smell of burning peat grows stronger. Until a small path breaks out onto a clearing, centrally is a low building. Reminiscent of Viking long-houses like those of Northern Scotland, the turf clad roof goes down to a low eaves. A pair of chimneys in the centre of the building put out the smoke. With a short door facing you.
It is inside this building that the portal is.
[b] "Mother's undying love, this aught to be interesting, are you going to knock or just huff and puff and blow it down with your arrogance? Waddaya think Danno, we're at bit out of my element, dwarves maybe or some kind of viking goblin? In stories these always seem to end up as contests of skill or wits, but I aint never read about a group like ours, most teams are more concerned self preservation and professionalism rather than causing yet additional distractions. In my experience, is due to lack of leadership and unclear goals."[b]
Gabriel turns and looks at Aximeus for a moment. "Just keep your mouth shut for a time if you can manage it. And you to summer lad. We are on the borders of winter as such most of the wild fey would tend to their side. Winter holds very many nasty fey allegiances."
Danny resists the urge to facepalm himself, barely, at Axe's not-quite-silent enough comment. But the smirk he almost manages to stifle is genuine amusement. He obviously thinks along similar lines as the warrior.
Whether that says something about his heart, or his ego, is something Danny decides to ponder later.
As they travel, Danny finds himself following Axe close enough to be his shadow. At one pause while Duana stops to look around, Danny doesn't quite stop quick enough and treads on Axe's heels. HE looks up at the large man with a small smile, and takes a deliberate step back with silently mouthed 'Sorry!'.
Danny examines the small cottage with a wary eye.
"Of course it couldn't just be in the open. THAT would have been too easy." He grumbles with no real gripe in his voice. He looks thoughtful at Axemeus' questions.
"I don't know Axe. I've only traveled the NEverNEver very recently, and only one doorway so far. But something about this does seem familiar,..."