Samen quickly cuts the vines holding Lumi and lifts her from the slab , as the bloodstain soaking his clothing spreads.
The thing swipes at Samen!
Round 3
All allies: hasted, good hope. Large area is difficult terrain (entangle), smaller AOE is Dimensional Lock.
Klaytal
Hyajin
Ragamuffins
Lumi is free!
Gate
Devil Monk
Birne
Samen
Before he teleported, Birne called out, "We face a spawn of hell! Let’s grab our lass and run!"
The thing swipes at Samen!
Bine knows this is a Faceless Devil Monk, a creature summoned from the pits of Hell by powerful individuals to perform assassinations. Unlike a mortal monk, it depends on its spell-like abilities (including polymorph self and greater invisibility) to strike at enemies without any semblance of honor. It has solid DR/Good.
You see and hear spellcasting in the tree. A little viper there is hissing and weaving. It's taking a long time to cast.
The archers fall back into the shadows, protecting the Queen.
Round 3
All allies: hasted, good hope. Large area is difficult terrain (entangle), smaller AOE is Dimensional Lock.
Klaytal
Hyajin
Ragamuffins
Lumi is free!
Gate
Devil Monk
Birne
Samen
"The alpha wolf must join his pack!" calls a disembodied voice.
Knowing there could only be one alpha wolf, Gate moves to join the pack!
Gate bleeds!
The creature full attacks the one freeing Lumi — Samen!
Samen is unscathed now that he can see the creature attacking him! The faceless creature leans forward and hisses at him in frustration.
Round 3
All allies: hasted, good hope. Large area is difficult terrain (entangle), smaller AOE is Dimensional Lock.
Klaytal
Hyajin
Ragamuffins
Lumi is free, but inside the anti-teleportation field!
Gate
Devil Monk
Birne
Samen
Klaytal tries to dodge out of the way to get to Lumi.
Unfortunately, he dodges right into one of the devil's wild swings at Samen!
Klaytal gets atop the rock and gently pushes her into Birne's arms.. giving a concerned glance back at the devil!
Klaytal takes a fist to the face!
Round 3
All allies: hasted, good hope. Large area is difficult terrain (entangle), smaller AOE is Dimensional Lock.
Klaytal
Hyajin
Ragamuffins
Lumi is free, and outside the anti-teleportation field!
Gate
Devil Monk
Birne
Samen
Birne appears, looking a bit alarmed at the faceless creature standing before him. He looks at the small folk caught in the queen's clutches and mouths, I'm sorry.
Undeterred by the tangling vines, he reaches for his belt pouch and winks out of sight again.
Invisible hands reach out, and reality warps. Suddenly, Lumi, Gate, Samen, Klaytal, and Birne are standing on velvet carpets. No doubt, Lord Valta will fine the party for bleeding on his exotic flooring.
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Birne teleports you to Lord Valta's Reception Chamber, where he last saw Lumi's brother Lumikko.
Unbeknownst to Birne, this is a rather intimate room and also somewhat full at the moment. Valta, the Prince, Inguna, and several close friends of the family are gathered here to enjoy a fine — but informal — supper. A butler stands at attention by the door, and Lumikko sulks in the shadows by the mantlepiece. Mesta sits in a chair to the side, looking confused and worried.
You blink into existence atop the dining table, finding yourselves standing high above these gathered Lords and Ladies. Gate's foot is inside a warm salmon pie. Birne balances atop a truckle of cheddar. Klaytal has exploded the cormarye across a lady's face — as well as his fine new cloak. Samen, pale as some apparition from from hell, fountains a great gout of blood into the potage of turnip before stumbling and splattering gore and soup across the white tablecloth… but he remains standing (for the moment).
Lost in the chaos is Lumi herself, delivered to the very head of the table where sit Rhutin and Valta. She now sleeps with her head upon a pillow of aspic.
The initial reaction to your arrival is mixed, but universally negative. Terrible wails erupt from the ladies, and curses from the men. Valta strokes his chin, too unimaginative to experience surprise. Inguna grins openly.
Hesperance screams gibberish at Gate and tries to throw herself out of the window, but the man holds on tight while the ghostly courtiers look about, stupefied with humiliation.
The Prince leaps up and draws his sword; it points steadily at Birne, cutting a bright line through the air above his love's face like the last ray of a dying sun.
WHAT IS THIS!?
… then, he looks down. The room notices the sleeping lady. The dining hall falls quiet. Valta stands, completely forgetting the litigious mathematics of his quotidian mind. The prince drops his sword; it rings on the stone in the utter silence.
Rhutin whispers — it's quiet enough now that all can hear. Is it — truly… her? He gently strokes her chin and leans forward, looking into her face…
Gate tastes some of the pie from off his boot.
"Are you surprised? Did you think we wouldn't actually succeed? You can kiss her now, you know. She's only been waiting for what feels like ten months."
Gate jumps down from the table with a wince, and looks for something else to eat.
Faced with the choice of making the prince feel as small as he is or saving his brother, Birne busies his mouth with song. "Let true hearts mend. In faith I beg, let brothers mend while true live waits another day." He completes his verse by scooping a fist full of treacle and applying it to Samen’s wounds like a salve.
Gate stumbles over to some blood pudding and bleeds on it.
The Prince looks at Birne, glances at Lumikko, and hesitates. It seems like he's about to wave the boy over…
But Gate's words ring true to him, and his eyes light with a defiant fire. Gate speaks with simple fidelity, not the pretty words of poets. I am a man of action. And True Love has waited too long — ten months? No! It feels like ten years! Not another moment!
He leans over and softly kisses Lumi's lips… the room watches with bated breath. Long seconds pass by in agony. She doesn't wake.
Rhutin slumps back in his chair, a look of sadness and defeat on his handsome face. The nobles in attendance suddenly seem fascinated with anything but Rhutin or the Sleeping Beauty.
He whispers: No. It cannot … Is this… is this another cruel joke? Does my Lumi not remember me? He runs his hands through his hair and gasps out a single deep and ugly sob.
You feel a moment of great pity for the Prince, who seems so pathetic slouched in his chair. But then he collects his dignity. He looks up at your group and hisses: Or have you done something to her? Taken her sweet memories? His fist clenches. Tell. Me. The. TRUTH.
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With a sad smirk, Birne walks over to Gate. He looks up at the taller man, brushes his hair back with a hand. He continues singing.
"For true love waits—does not abate—when men take time for decency. To touch those lips while others bleed...? No, give a kiss like this instead."
He leans up and plants a kiss on Gate's bloody lip. And lingers in spite of the taste of raspberry pie.
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For a moment Gate looks surprised, then he gives a wolffish howl.
”Aawhooo!”
He wipes his mouth with the back of his hand, grinning.
”That’s how you do it.”
Samen swoons and nearly falls before his brother's sweet touch revives him. "My lord, forgive our disruptive appearance. It was a narrow thing, wresting your daughter safely from the devil's grasp."
Valta peers at Samen; the soup splashed on his shirt unnoticed for the moment. As you have promised, mine very own Lumi, who is bethrothéd to Rhutin, is returned by your doing.
Alas… I did not stipulate the condition in which she were to be returned. It seems as if you have damaged her mind, else she would Waken Gladly to her One True Love's Kiss, received from that of His Majesty's Noble Son and Charming Prince Ruhtin Tolkovar's lips. Now, I must wonder why this is so while we fetch Doctor Turnipwhisper — Valta glances at the butler, who scrambles out to fetch the good doctor — who may yet remedy mine very own Beautiful Daughter, as you have been unable to do.
Further, you have followed the Letter of My Law regarding Klavakian Airspace… but not its Spirit, which is also Most Important. In the main, you have Teleported Most Carelessly into our dining room, exploding our repast, ruining many Fine Outfits, and instigating Further General Havoc.
Compounding this, Lumi's head rests upon an inappropriate Cushion; it is Most Untoward that a Lady's Pillow be made of Aspic, and a more Responsible Usage of Teleportation would have included a downy pillow of rabbit-fur and goose-feather for mine very own daughter's head. In this particular, you are Most Fortunate that she has suffered little Bodily Harm — for example, what if her face ended up in the soup, and she were drowned?
Luck does not indemnify Adventurers from Due Diligence. The Crown expects more Chivalrous Treatment of the Noble Souls to which it Entrusts Heroes.
Further, there has been news of a Dimensional Anomaly in the Haunted Forest, news that I may now broach with you whilst we wait for the good doctor. This news, specifically, is that of a Bottomless Hole leading to the Astral Plane, which is Sucking Air in its Infinite Hunger. This Infinite Hunger is lent to the Rift via the differentiation of Pressures between our Airy World and that of Empty Space in the Astral Plane. This Sucking of Air may disrupt weather patterns and cause great harm to Morsain's agrarian industries, whereby the citizenry get their grains, sustenance, and golds with which they Gladly pay me the Just Tax to which I am Due for my Duties and Toil.
To wit: you have wantonly abused Mundane Space not once, but Twice: once by way of Gravity, and once by way of Astral Locomotion; therefore, it is only logical to suspect you of Vandalizing the Laws of the Universe a Third Time. Indeed, this rift might have been caused by the Placing of One Extraplanar Space into that of Another Extraplanar Space. Sadly, Klavek is having its air sucked away —
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Rhutin leaps up, tipping his heavy chair back. Spittle flies out of his mouth, and his eyes are wild with grief and rage.
He gestures at Lumi.
Lumi is RIGHT HERE. Your DAUGHTER. IS. RIGHT. HERE.
His face has turned beet red, and he begins hyperventilating. We need to bring her back! Who cares if she's sleeping on a supper dish?
Falling into his chair, Rhutin again puts his face in his hands, grief again overtaking his anger. The Lumi I know, the Lumi I love, would laugh about a pillow of aspic…
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Birne takes back his lips and says, "Come, Lumikko. Your sister waits." He goes to the mantlepiece and puts his hand on the boy's shoulder.
He guides his ward's brother to her side, putting her hand in his. "Milady, wake. Your brother's here."
Lumikko hesitates and looks at the Prince. Rhutin grabs him roughly by the shoulder. Come on, boy. He pulls him forward and continues to speak, his voice quivering with rage.
Prove your blood. Prove your prince unworthy. Don't be shy, now — save my bride for me!
When Lumikko places his hand in Lumi's, her eyes flutter open and she takes a deep breath.
The boy stumbles back and clutches his hand, as if he burned it. She opens her eyes and sees her betrothed first, and smiles. Rhutin…
The prince's face is a stern mask, but his posture belies the fury of a spurned lover. Without a word, he turns to leave and slams the door — hard.
What did I do? Lumi sits up. And why am I on our dining table? She sees Valta. Father? What's going on?
Lord Volta smiles lovingly at his daughter. He takes a deep breath before beginning to speak...
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Birne, standing beside Lumi, remains silent as Volta starts his response. He places his Rabbit Prince doll in her free hand, giving her a kindly wink.
Samen stands beside Birne, his hand on his brother's shoulder. "My lady, you have been through much, though mercifully asleep I pray you have not suffered. Please, do not worry; the worst is behind and you are home safe. Indeed, there is reason to rejoice: your curse has been lifted by a sibling united!" He squeezes Birne's shoulder as he gestures to Lummiko.
Klaytal bows, "Welcome back, my lady."
Gate pours himself a goblet of wine.
”So, that’s it then? All waking princesses, families reunited, and curses lifted? How my heart overflows. What would make this ending any happier?”
He takes a drink.
”Oh, I’ve an idea, how about settling up the matter of our payment?”
Lumi holds the rabbit doll close, and stares amazedly at Birne. Oh… Hucklepuck…
She regains what poise she can, still overwhelmed with this news, and grins at Lummiko. I'll be lonely without my best friend, so I hope you and I can spend some time together. What's your name?
Lumi hops off the table. And father, you never told me you had another child…
Valta blushes, for once at a loss of words.
Birne gives Gate a look that implies punishment later.
"You have me yet as friend, milady dove. And Samen, too, my brother ere I met the Rabbit Prince." He takes a heavy breath and shifts to less pleasant matters. "The one who lay a curse upon your brow has fled for now. Alas, I fear they’ll stay a threat if we don’t seek them out."
Crass words shatter the bittersweet moment, and Valta's face reddens.
Nevertheless Lumi smiles gratefully at Birne and clutches her brother's hand, happy to have a dependable friend in these confusing times.
Before she can speak, an outraged Valta begins to orate at Gate:
Payment? Mine Very Own Daughter is returned, however, undue Tribulations have Extended your labors Beyond the Term Phase of your Contract, as outlined in the Term and Termination clause in Section XI part 112B of your Employment Agreement. In this Clause under Paragraph 22, it is stipulated in the most Precise and Logical Language that the City of Morsain, as well as individuals who are tasked to Shepard Her into the Glorious Future for all of Klavek (that being Myself, or whomsoever be Mayor at the time, should I met an untimely End as covered in subsection 23a), view the Agreement as Continuing in Force and Effect until the twelfth night before the Great Feast Day of the month Kuthona, which is the last month of the year, the day of which passed at midnight last night. This I know, for I have written these Contracts in Mine Own Neat and Tidy Hand.
Viscount Sihteeri Tendered these Contracts to you upon your Employment, after the signing of which you hungrily received your Deposit of Gold. Could it be that you have Signed mine very own Contract without reading its Precise and Clear language? I have never head of such Hurtful and Disrespectful behavior from Goodly Heroes of the Realm, who, I have been told by Reliable Sources, Relish the Language of mine own contracts, in which their minds maybe Frolic among Syllogisms like Fairy Dragons.
Nevertheless, I am a generous Lord. I am wont to pay you the sum due, minus Late Fees, minus feed for Damaged Goods. You have, after all, returned Mine Very own Daughter whom I love Very Much.
However, you have also damaged out city's relationship wit the Crown. You have also shattered her True Love, that of the Chivalrous Prince Rhutin. Lumi looks at the floor.
Further, you have Slandered Her Majesty, and given no Accounting of your actions whilst away. I am sure Her Majesty return from her Shopping Trip Soon with pretty baubles, as befit one of hr station. Upon this return which case, if she have the Energy to Face Unruliness, we shall have her Testimony.
So it may be that, in the dungeon, Sir Gate, you may count your payment in gold and Ruminate upon the importance of reading Contractural Agreements Carefully, and the Consequences of Misbehavior.
He turns to Birne. Who has fled? Have you seen the Queen?
"Milord, to slander would require a falsity. And yet we've spoken true, as you can see before your eyes. As we did state, your daughter, Lady Lumi woke when joined with her lost brother, Lumikko. I beg indulgence as we prove the balance of our claims."
He looks around the room. "And that is this, may all the gods now curse me if my word is false: Attendant Queen Haijyin consorted with the Ragamuffins and a fiend most foul to poison, kidnap, and this very day to kill milady, whom the people love. The Lord Prince and the worthy councilwoman did declare it just that we pursue our case. I ask that you permit us to explore her chambers, and that she be brought before a council of her peers."
Valta listens carefully.
You are a convincing man. Lumi, has Hyajin done you wrong, to your knowledge?
Lumi shakes her head.
With no witnesses, it is your word against the Queen's. Are there any others who have seen these alleged crimes? I will put the full weight of my Legal Authority in bringing them safely here.
Birne rather presumptuously puts his hand on Valta's forearm. "Milord, why not allow yourself a moment's pause. Your daughter's back and safe. She loves you so. And now your son, so many years both near yet missing still."
He produces a handkerchief, prepared for tears if the older man does take his advice.
Valta blinks back sudden tears in his eyes. You… are right. He hugs his daughter.
Regardless of what happens with the Queen, you are all heroes for this.
"Lord Valta, I humbly suggest that you call for the small folk of the forest. If they yet live (for we left them injured in defense of Lumi, prioritizing her safe return), then they can speak to the Queen's assault."
”And while we wait for them to arrive, why don’t we investigate the Queen’s chamber?”
Birne turns to Klaytal. "And what of your dear friend, brave elf?"
Kltaytal ponders a moment, and agrees with Gate. "Yes, why don't we look for what may be in the chambers? Also... what of those fire folk and other friends we made down in the dungeon of the castle? They might be able to shed some light on the Queen and Huntress."
You mention Vartiomies, and the blood drains from Valta's face. For once, he is at a loss for words.
You… befriended… the… old… brass… dragon… He leans on the table, as if he might swoon.
I would send for her, but all fear the capricious being — and the one she guards. Perhaps you can go after searching the Queen's chambers.
One eyebrow raises, the only indication of emotion on Samen's stoic face. Brass dragon, hm?
"Milord, have you a courtly mage? Perhaps a wizard from the town as well, to offer independent eyes."
”So, I’m friends with a genie and a dragon now? Seems about right.”
Gate gives a wink to his entourage.
”Independent eyes sounds good. Or perhaps you like to join us and see for yourself, Lord Valta.”
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Valta boggles at the thought of uncouth Gate befriending the noble ambassador, Ilmoiste.
The Prince accompanies you upstairs to the Queen's chamber — before you can stop him, he knocks for propriety's sake, and you suddenly hear a spell's incantion! You burst in, but the queen is gone.
Rhutin apologizes for his mistake. It seems as if this whole experience has humbled the spoiled noble.
Samen looks around and remembers that there was a mirror on the wall near the dressing table, but it's gone now.
Klaytal and Birne search a chest of drawers and find some herb-gathering tools along with some basic alchemical equipment, but there's no product left over.
Just when you;re about to give up, Birne and Klaytal notice a vial resting in the strands of thick carpet. Likely, it was dropped before the queen teleported away — she must have fled in a panic.
Between the four of you, you can figure out that this is a concentrated admixture of Pomum fruit juice, which you learned about from Drona in the Fairy Glade. Birne explains to the prince that Pomum fruit induces a deep slumber from which many have never awoken — exactly what Lumi suffered from.
From having encountered the Queen in combat, you can also piece together that the she dabbled in both the arcane and druidic arts, so using a naturally-growing herb fits her modus operandi.
Runners are sent to the Small Folks' home and to the glade where the ritual was being conducted upon Lumi. There, the bodies of Doc and Sneezy are discovered, tossed into a vine-covered ditch — their throats have been cut.
As witnesses to the crimes of a Queen, however, no expense is spared. (Well, some expense is — this is Valta, after all). You are tasked with carrying the two bodies down into the dungeon, to the silent room full of ash. Here, the skeletons perform a rite wherein they lower the small folk into the pit and then raise them back up. The small folk live again, and are relieved to see you but terrified by the gold-clad skeleton priest shushing them. This creepy ritual has saved Morsain the material cost of a resurrection.
On the way up, you bring Vartiomies and Ilmoiste. The little girl offhandedly casts a spell and shatters the reformed Jaa-Isanta shatters into a million pieces. "There! Now we can go have fun for a little while! Does Lord Valta tell good stories?" She is thrilled to see you have cherished her SNACKS bad so, and that it has even come in handy.
Ilmoiste anticipates a party, so he brings his favorite dancer — whose amazed by Birne's transformation.
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Emerging with your entourage in tow, you stop by the Cracked Kanik and refresh yourselves. With no Henrietta the Kind to do the work, the family is now employing local residents at fair wages.
In the castle, the small folk testify to the actions of the queen. While the citizenry are biased against the small folk, their stories of demon-summoning and ragamuffins demonstrate that the Queen herself has broken many dire taboos.
Lumi also recognizes their voices — as she languished in her dreamy stupor, she unconsciously heard them worrying over her. Lumi's testimony finally seals the Queen's fate.
The Prince seems a changed man. No longer haughty and quick with his temper, he vows to knight the small folk and make them official ambassadors. He also promises to try and convince his father to end hostilities with their nation.
The prince also offers to knight the four of you!
He then turns to Lumi and vows to protect her from the queen. My true love, whether marry or no, I want you to live happily ever after…
With these words, Lumi throws her arms around his neck and kisses him… then they both gaze into each other's eyes for long moments. The wedding may be back on after all…
Perhaps True Love is something mutable, something that can grown into over time and rediscovered when someone you love changes for the better.
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An impromptu celebration is thrown that night in your honor. Anyone who wants to be knighted and willing to vow to uphold the Klavakian kingdom can be.
Together with all the small folk, Vartimonies, Ilmoiste and his dancer, a happy Rhutin and Lumi, you celebrate long into the night. Mesta sits hesitantly nest to Klaytal; their hands brush and all the elf can think of is a way to undo the bargain he made. Inguna, the old werewolf-hunter, glowers at Gate, clearly plotting something. Birne dances with the dancer, and his brother Samen ponders his next move.
At one point, you see a little rabbit lounging below a potted plant, watching the party. Its eyes seem to glimmer with laughter.