Not wanting the woman to suffer another terrible fungal outbreak, Khalil offers one other possible suggestion. "Perhaps a simple nod or shake of the head might suffice and would not technically be speaking of her."
Sam offers the horse woman a sheet of paper and some writing instruments, smiling.
Diana nodded at Vashrin and Khalil, and shook her head at Sammy sadly. "Tried. Same." she explains tersely. She eagerly answers Karley with shakes at first... But as the list grows weirder and weirder, even including chipmunks, she begins to doubt the effectiveness.
"The unicorns!" she suddenly exclaims. She works the levers for the ride and brings it to a stop. The curvy riders disembark, all smiles. It hadn't been going all that long, her suddenly intense need to halt the ride evokes confusion, until she explains. "They aren't real unicorns. But there is some unicorn magic to them. They know things--possibly everything. Ask them! I'll shut the ride down temporarily."
Willow watches all of this unfold with mild amusement, the only hint of that being her eyebrows raising slightly and a quiet huff of laughter at Karley's antics.
After Diana stops the carnival ride, she takes a closer look at the unicorns. She knew of the ride and all, but she hadn't really sat with one of the unicorns to have a conversation with them...
"So...the unicorns can talk?" She makes a 'hmm' sound, approaching one and looking closely at its face. "Is there one that's like...the most old and wise? Who would know more than the others?"
Vashrin follows Willow's lead toward the unicorn, but defers her greater experience in the Carnival of how to proceed.
"They can talk when they ride is activated. Hop on, and I'll start it for you."
Anyone who wishes to boards the carousel, and Diana pulls the lever. As the music begins to play, the wooden unicorns, in four pairs, come to life.
"I heard what you asked, and I'm the wisest," said the unicorn with "Pride" on his barding. He was white a soft, light gray color with a white horn, and felt very much alive -- just about half the size a real unicorn might be.
"The oldest, maybe," jabbed the unicorn beside him. The paint of her name appeared to have flaked off at some point and all you could make out was an 'F'. She had white fur all over her body, but her mane was a rainbow of colors.
Willow gently rests one hand on Pride and another on F, addressing both of them.
"Ah, pleasure to meet you both," She says with as much cheer as she can muster in her voice. "I'm Willow. Did you happen to overhear our predicament? Your wisdom may go a long way in helping us discover what type of being could curse Miss Cloppington so."
Sammy chooses one random unicorn. He won't be able to ask much, but he's never ridden a carousel before in his entire life, and that's too juicy a chance to let it pass.
He introduces himself in front of the unicorn by the usual lip speaking.
Sammy he not-says, bowing graciously.
"We did indeed overhear," said an ebony black unicorn with a silver mane. His name was Stone.
"We wish to help...but first, you must earn our trust." This came from Stone's partner, a light pink unicorn with a hot pink mane. His name was also scratched out, but you could make out an M and an S.
Karley inspected the unicorn that seemed spun from gold, with cream-colored fur that glimmered as the light shifted, and a man that shone with a metallic luster. Quincy Celestialegs, or "N" as the scratched-out name plate read, inspected her right back.
As Karley peered into the creature's eyes, it was not the spark of life she found, but a magical aura. She got the impression that a single, actual unicorn hair was placed in the core of each wooden unicorn's horn. When they 'came to life', it was just a fragment of the real unicorn's essence manifesting. At least, she was pretty sure. Karley found herself wondering if the real unicorns, elsewhere in the world, had to stop what they were doing every time the ride began, in order to 'pilot' these simulacra of themselves.
Sammy approaches the unicorn next to Karley's. This one is the shaggiest, with a mane that covers her eyes. She's pastel blue in hue and smiles as he introduces himself, understanding him perfectly. "Hello Sammy. I'm Stitch."
The pair that had not yet spoken, been addressed, or inspected now broke their silence. "How are we to trust you? We've only just met." This was spoken by a unicorn whose color seemed to changed at random, pulses travelling across her skin as she shifted from red, to orange, to yellow, to green. Her name was Fortune.
Her partner added, "Why, you don't even know our names. If you did, it would mean we were friends, and friends can be trusted." He was darkly chromatic, like an oil spill, black tinged with blues, purples, and greens that shifted in the light. His nameplate read "B" and some scribbled out markings.
"You make a good point. My manners are lacking. I'm Willow Breakbough." Willow performs a courtly bow to the unicorns she had approached and then addresses the unicorn with "Pride" on his barding. "I see your name may be Pride?" Then, she turns to the white and rainbow unicorn, and asks: "What is your name?"
"You tell me," replied the unicorn with the "F____" nameplate. "A friend would know."
Khalil steps onto the carousel and listens as the octet of unicorns speak of friendship and names. Names are always a tricky thing among the fey. He thinks as he watches the carnival spin past.
Stepping over to the darker unicorn he places a hand gently upon the wooden creatures neck. The same way he would with Bella when simply marking his presence and attempting to calmly connect with the mare.
"I am Khalil." He says to the black unicorn with the highlights of twilight blue and dark forest greens. A finger points at the scratched out nameplate. "It seems someone has gone out of their way to hide some of your names from others. And I am guessing that despite us telling our names, you cannot or will not simply tell us yours?"
His hand comes up to rub his chin thoughtfully. "Fortune next to 'B.' Stone with 'M S'. Pride with 'F.' And Stitch paired with 'N.'" He looks back at the darkly colored unicorn. "Beauty brings Fortune? Or perhaps Fortune favors the Brave or is it Bold?" He says squinting and rubbing at the name plate.
Vashrin rubs his chin contemplating the names of the unnamed unicorns.
"Khalil, I think you might very well be on to something. I believe the phrase you are thinking of is Fortune favors the Bold." he says to the farmboy, without truly committing to the answer.
Turning his attention back the unicorns, he adds, "I'm Vash, by the way. Nice to meet you all."
Thinking more on phrases, Vashrin mutters, "Pride...Pride...'Pride comes before the Fall' is one I've heard before...it would fit too if we are on the right track."
Looking at the name plates on the other two pairs of unicorns, Vashrin just stares blankly, genuinely at a loss.
Sam stands in front of Stitch. He points at the unicorn, then touches his own flank, makes a gesture in the air similar to scratching something and finally shrugs inquisitively.
Willow stares at Stitches and the other unicorn for a moment, then turns to Vash. "Snitches get Stitches?"
Vash chuckles, "I've heard that one too. Would that be an appropriate phrase for this place?"
"Ah! You do know our names!" the chromatic unicorn next to Fortune declares. "I am Bold. And that is Fall." He nodded towards the one with the rainbow mane, next to Pride.
"Do you know me, as well?" asked the pink unicorn, M___S, who was next to Stone.
"And me?" asked the golden unicorn that Karley was trying to barter with. Her nameplate read __N_ and she was paired with Stitch. "I assure you my name is not 'Snitches'. And if you would kindly stop bashing candy into my teeth, I'd take it as a kindness." She looked at Karley with sheer bewilderment.
Vashrin raises an eyebrow at the sight of Karley's seven fingered hand.
"Seven and two, seventy-two? No that doesn't fit. Twenty-seven, no that doesn't either. Nine? Is that what you're trying to say?" he asks the halfling, glancing toward Stitch's partner.
The golden unicorn looks up at the group. "Your friend is...odd. But she knows my name."
But a single unicorn remains unnamed, and then, you hope, you'll be able to get some answers.
Sam gets his sheet off paper and writes down whatever crosses his head that fits the letters in the name plate, as a kind of brain storm.
MorasS
MisS
MistresS
MarshmallowS
MendingS
Mortimer'S
MayIhavesomechocolateS
He also includes a sketchy drawing of the unicorn itself, though he lacks colour pencils.
Presenting the sheet to the unnamed horned horse, he smiles kindly, hoping to get its friendship at least if he didn't find the correct answer.
"The M and S make me think...Mines? Seems to be thematically appropriate with Stone." Willow shrugged and winced a little. "I've never been good at this kind of thing..."
Willow snaps her fingers, an epiphany hitting her. She hops a little in excitement, looking to the as-of-yet-unnamed unicorn. "A rolling stone gathers no moss. Your name is Moss, friend!"
The final unicorn laughs heartily. "Friends indeed! And well met!"
Pride speaks up. "Friends can be trusted with secrets."
Fall adds, "But which secrets are worth knowing, I wonder?"
Stitch shakes he mane out of her eyes again. "The crowd is getting restless."
Nine nods. "The ride must open, soon."
Fortune nickers. "Otherwise the owners will become cross..."
Bold chimes in, "And we think you don't want that."
Stone urges, "So you may ask us what you wish, three questions each."
Moss speaks again, "But mind prying ears...simply think them at us, and you will hear our replies.
Willow closes her eyes and asks her questions telepathically.
1. What trouble has befallen Prismeer and The Dreamwalker?
2. How do we fix what is wrong with Diana Cloppington?
3. What is the safest way to get Mr. Witch and Mr. Light to speak to us about our lost things?
"A pleasure to know you my friends." Khalil says bowing to the wooden unicorns repeating each of their names in his mind. There were many questions circling his mind like the very carousel he stood upon. Yet, there was a specific task at hand and he would abide by that need...mostly.
A deep breath as he considers all that is set before them and what question may provide the most useful and direct answer.
My first question is this. What specific series of tasks or deeds must be taken to completely lift the curse placed upon Diana Cloppington?
My second question is. Who cursed Diana Cloppington, binding her together with her poor equine steed?
He takes another deep breath to calm his mind. My final question, how did I lose my memories and come to be at the carnival when I was a child?"
"Understood, and thank you, my newfound friends." Vash says to the unicorns before thinking...
What is the best way to curry favor with Witch and Light so that we may speak to them?
Eight years ago, there was a thirteen year old girl here named Celeste that disappeared when the carnival did the last time it was on this plane. Do you know where she is?
Diana seems nice young woman, but terribly sad. What might we be able to do to help her with her problems?
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"The same answer can be given to all of your questions," one of them replied. You were having a hard time keeping names straight now that the riddle was done, let alone knowing them by their voices. You were pretty sure this was Nine.
"The Hourglass Coven." spoke another. Moss?
A third explained,"They have taken over Prismeer, Zybilna's realm. The oldest one made the deal with Diana, and only she can undo her work. And merely mentioning the coven to Witch and Light will certainly get their attention..."
"So polite," said one of the unicorns -- you think it was Fortune.
"And selfless, seeking to help others before himself." said Pride, with an unmistakably haughty tone.
"To restore Diana, you must convince Witch and Light to help you to enter the realm of Prismeer, then travel to Thither and locate and confront Skabatha Nightshade. Either by making a new deal, or by ending her and thus her magics, human and horse will be separate once more. It is she who cursed the poor woman." Moss explained, seeming pleased by the clever, specific phrasing of the question.
"Your memories, poor child," Fall said gently. "Your father distracted those at the ticket booth and snuck you in, not wishing to pay for you, and not bothering to get a ticket for you to enjoy."
"He was a harsh man," added Stone. "It may be a blessing you cannot recall him."
"Nonsense," said Bold. "His father was a mess, it's true. But to lose all of his memories? Memories are what make us who we are. They stole his very identity." Bold seemed to focus back on Khalil. "Minions of the Hourglass Coven hunt for little trespassers, and your memories were taken as the payment your father never made."
"Your friends can surely tell you how," added Nine.
"Your sister is safe, but is neither free, nor happy. She is in Yon, a prisoner of Endelyn Moongrave." Stone said sadly.
"To help Diana, help yourselves. You, she, and your friends are plagued by the Hourglass Coven. Deal with them, and all their evil machinations will be undone" said Moss.
"..." Karley heard nothing at all for a long moment. Then...
"...w-what?"
"One of you, say something before she tries bashing my teeth in with candy again."
"What are we supposed to say to that?" If thoughts could be whispered or hissed, this one was.
"Uh, hrmhrm," one of them cleared their thought-throat. "Diana's, erm...lower half is not, in fact, a unicorn. For one thing, she's told you she merged with her horse."
"And for another thing, could you not tell the difference between another halfling and an ape, even if only looking at their legs? Honestly, we are much more refined than mere horses. Hrmph. And there are many ways unicorns are different from carrots! We aren't orange. We're warm-blooded. We have blood, for that matter. We have fur. We are much larger. We are intelligent. Though that last one is being called into question as I sit here humoring such a question!"
"Calm down, Pride, I'm sure she didn't mean anything by it. You know she's a bit off, what with the whole hiding-inside-herself thing," Fall finished mysteriously.
"Ah!" Moss said aloud. "We'd love to stay and chat, friends, but our audience awaits!"
Sure enough, the line for the ride had grown long, and several people looked restless. Diana was nervously explaining to the grumpy patrons that the ride was just under repair for a moment, but it didn't look like the crowd was buying it.
"It's freaking awesome to be able to communicate once more without relying on gestures, writing or lip reading! Thank you!" he says warmly.
"But I can see you've got people waiting, so let's go with the questions.
First, how do we get to befriend Mr Witch and Mr Light?
Second, who's after all this "stealing wierd things" affair?
And third, who here is willing and able to help us?"
Before leaving, Sam adds a final thought.
"Since you helped us because we're friends, that relationship should work bidirectionally. As such, if there's any way we could help you, please tell us and we'll do what we can. That's what friends are for!"
His questions answered, Vashrin regards the collective group of unicorns, "Thank you for your time and answering our questions."
Turning to his fellow Defenders and Khalil, Vash asks of Willow and Karley in particular, "What is the Witchlight Monarch and how does one become one? According to Stitch, it would seem that becoming the Monarch is the best way to gain Witch and Light's attention - at least in a positive manner."
Khalil gasps and stumble backward a step as the unicorn's answer his final question. The shock of truly knowing what happened shakes him to his core. Discovering it was his father that left him at the carnival. His father's negligence. The petty greed that resulted in his abandonment and the theft of his childhood. He had always believed it was some fault of his own, some weakness or damning deed he committed. Instead he was little more than a victim of his father's cold malice. Perhaps both Bold and Stone were correct. I am better off not knowing such a man. And yet, to know myself, I must know all of what shaped who I am, not just the years with Gorm and beyond.
Many thanks for your answers so honest and enlightening. The truth wounds but it rarely kills. Though my heart aches with this knowledge, a great burden has also been lifted and perhaps now there is a way forward where before all was shrouded in darkness. Truly you are friends of generous heart and wondrous abilities. I would spend more time sharing tales great and small, but it seems we've all much work ahead of us this day. Khalil think-speaks to the unicorns and steps off the ride to let the other passengers take his place.
Joining Vashrin and the others he nods toward the kenku. "It seems our friend's desire to get to Prismeer aligns with our own needs as well. Moss told me that to restore Diana we must travel to Thither within Prismeer. Once there we must find and confront Skabatha Nightshade and force her through word, deed or doom to lift her curse."
"And we should beware, for it also seems my memories were stolen by minions of this Hourglass Coven when I was a child. These creatures lurk within the carnival looking for young trespassers and exacting a steep price from those they catch." A brief pause before he quietly adds, "Whether the fault is their own or not. Given what we already know, I suspect these unseelie creatures still haunt the carnival."
Willow tries to telepathically smile by sending a good feeling to the unicorns, but even that kind of smile has her feeling twisted up. She settles for nodding and responding to them with words. Thank you for your answers. You are very kind. If there is something you need help with... you've shed light on a lot. Just want to repay you.
While she waits for a reply, Willow looks to Vashrin, listens to his question carefully, and then nods slowly--she did know what that is. "The Monarch is chosen by Mr. Light's weather vane. It picks whoever brings the most happiness to the carnival."
To Khalil: "Our new friends mentioned the Hourglass Coven to me as well. The coven has taken over Prismeer, which is run by someone named Zybilna. If Skabatha is the one who cursed Diana, she's the oldest."
She motions for them to move out of the way of the carnival ride so that the crowd doesn't get unruly and Diana doesn't get into trouble because of them.
"We are pleased that we can relieve you of your burden, even if only for a short time," said Bold. "You have done well to overcome such adversity."
"Witch and Light have no friends, save, perhaps, one another," Stitch warned. "It is possible to garner favor, however. This carnival is their life, their everything. They are very protective of it. Take care of the carnival, and they will favor you. Endanger it, and you will have made dangerous enemies."
"The thieves work for the Hourglass Coven," explained Moss. "Skabatha Nightshade is the one who took your voice."
Fortune somehow seemed to smile as she spoke, though it was only words in his head. "You have as many allies as you care to make. Many here have been wronged, several by the very hags who have caused you all such strife. Help them, and they will help you."
"You may wish to start with one you already know," Pride said, "a storyteller, who is freshly experiencing the very same loss you have..."
As Sammy hears their responses and offers help in return, the unicorns murmur together excitedly. Sammy catches snippets. "He offers help!" "Do you think they could?" "Someone has to. Who has a better chance?" "His heart is pure, or near enough for a mortal." "
Fall's voice sounds clearly as the discussion calms. "One of our brethren has been cursed by the witches. Should you find yourself Thither, beholding a pond of the most pristine waters, take our blessing with you, and a path will open."
Sammy feels...something. It's difficult to quantify, but it's like...your heart feels ever so slightly lighter. More optimistic. And for a moment, you have no doubt whatsoever that the Defenders of the Dawning Bastion will find these villains, this Hourglass Coven, and right all of the wrongs they have inflicted.
"You mean you don't know?" Stone responded to her question.
"Silence -- if she doesn't know, there must be a reason. It's possible telling her would only result in her drawing more attention," Nine warned. "That is a question we cannot answer, little one. Perhaps you will find out one day, if you are meant to."
"We would ask that you remain strong," Moss said kindly. "Your burden, more than any save perhaps Vashrin's, is the most painful to bear. Such things weigh heavier with time, and will become more difficult with your friends around you...resist but a short while longer. A chance for happiness lies ahead."
Vashrin nods, following Willow's instruction to leave the area. Once away from the carousel, he asks the others, "While I won't pry as to any private questions you may of asked, what did you all find out that may beneficial to our mutual mission?"
Not wanting to be secretive with his own information, Vashrin relays, "If we are still looking to alter the mood of the carnival as a whole, this idea of one of us becoming the Witchlight Monarch has merit...and certainly fits with what our original plan was.
Continuing on, he adds, "If we are intent on helping Diana, which I believe we should, I was told the best way we could do that is to help ourselves and deal with this Hourglass Coven."
Finally, with something might be a mild sigh of relief - given it was the first real information he had about his sister since she was taken - he concludes, "The unicorns have also told me that Celeste is safe, but the prisoner of someone called Endelyn Moongrave, in someplace called Yon."
"Everything links back to the Hourglass Coven, it sounds like..." Willow looks around at the others to confirm--if they've been told something similar. "They're responsible for Diana, for our problems, probably for many, many more. And if they're in Prismeer, that may also link back to The Dreamwalker's silence." She glances at Kettlesteam at the mention of the Dreamwalker.
"Our new friends also told me to have hope." She adds on, quietly, not looking anyone in the face as she speaks. "I think that message might be good for all of us."
Sam slaps his own face in disgust when he remembers something.
Trying to explain it, he points to the whole group, then negates with his finger and head. His hands mimics the gesture of "speak" and then he claws as a feline, ending with his thumb and index finger closing, as the international gestor for "little" or "small".
[I]"We haven't asked about Star!"]/i]
"Hope can be a dangerous thing." Vashrin says to Willow's last comment, "But in this case, I believe you are right...for us, it is a good thing."
After a few moments of watching Sammy mime his concerns, it finally dawns on Vashrin what Sammy is trying to say. "Star? No can't say that I used one of my questions for that purpose. Maybe if we're lucky Nuruk will have."
Regarding everyone, Vashrin comments, "As Khalil has said, it would seem we all have reason to get to Prismeer and points beyond. Seemingly the best route to do that would be through Witch and Light, so I would think in the short term at least, we need to continue on our path of positively influence the Carnival and see if one of us can become this Witchlight Monarch."
"Ugh, I didn't think to ask about Star, either. We can still ask Dirla for details. The Coven seems to have a hand in everything... I bet they're involved in disappearances, as well. Vash, I think your plan is the way to go. If all else fails, we can confront them with our knowledge of the coven."
Willow stretches, heaving a heavy sigh and looking around at her reunited friends and their new friends. They were only reunited for a few moments and already things were all business--she supposed some of the "getting to know you/what happened these past 8 years" talk would have to happen as they went along trying to garner the attention of the elusive leaders of the carnival.
Diana, overhearing some of their talk, remained tight-lipped to prevent further fungal outbreaks, but was crying tears of relief that the unicorns had told these kind do-gooders what she could not. At the suggestion of doing something about it, she sort of sob-laughed. "I don't know who you people are, or why you chanced to speak with me," she said, wiping at tears, "but hope is something I haven't had since before, and you've given it back to me."
She reopened the line, taking tickets and getting a few curiously looks as she calmed down and pulled herself together. "I hope we meet again, whether you succeed or not. And thank you -- for noticing me, for caring, for everything."
Kettlesteam, who had waited back with Diana and not spoken with the unicorns, fluffed her neck feathers at Willow's mention of the Dreamwalker. "I will help you all however I can," she said in Candlefoot's voice.
Nuruk, after the fine feast, had been awfully quiet behind his companions. He had learned with his late master that sometimes the best thing one could do was to simply observe. It was the wise decision, Diana's tragic situation had left the paladin boiling in a quiet, simmering rage. The scales upon him almost seemed alight with fire with the lights of the carnival around them. So cruel a trick and for what? To steal the happiness of some poor girl and force her into the carnival? His master was quite right; there was a darkness lurking within the carnival and it must be extinguished in purifying light.
With the unicorns, his clever friends quickly undid the puzzle of their names and earned the trust of the noble beasts. When offered a chance to ask his questions, Nuruk bowed his head in reverence and quietly broadcast his thoughts.
Pride spoke first. "The Hourglass Coven stole from you and your friends...Bavlorna Blightstraw, specifically, possesses your song."
"Their servants do not work for the carnival, they creep about hunting," Moss explained.
"The Lornlings assaulted you and Willow," Nine added. "Bavlorna creates them, small homunculi in her own image."
"Sammy and Karley were victims of Sowpig," Fall said. "A ghoul risen from a child that died toiling for Skabatha."
"And Vashrin's sister was taken by the Shadow, a minion of Endelyn," continued Stitch. "It was torn from one of her performers."
At your last question, the unicorn, in unison, murmur their approval. "That is, indeed, an insightful question," said Bold. "And one with a long answer. Fortune? You're the best storyteller among us."
Fortune's voice began the tale. "How Witch and Light came to possess the carnival is a story worth the telling. Under different names, they owned another carnival that prowled the edges of the Shadowfell. It wasn't like this one...it was full of gloom, and fear. Their carnival and this one crossed paths many years ago, and after much wine was consumed, the owners could not agree on which carnival was the better of the two, so they decided it would be great fun to swap ownership. This arrangement was to last until the two carnivals met again, which has not yet happened.
"When the Hourglass Coven assumed power in Prismeer, the realm this carnival is tied to, they gained leverage over Witch and Light. They threatened to orchestrate a reunion of the carnivals -- and Witch and Light have come to love this one, and are terrified at the thought of returning to their own. The Coven demands to be allowed to prey upon the fairgoers -- but only those without a ticket. To try and counter the witches, the owners have done all in their power to prevent trespassing... but, as you well know, there will always be some who slip through."