Lyus:
Through the double-door is a landing that has some stairs leading off of it, the stairs spiral downwards.
Sam:
Todd & Paulus:
[ooc]It takes Paulus a while but as Ameei continues to look unimpressed at him he's suddenly reminded of the looks the dog in the woods was giving him.
Sam hiccups and looks at Oriniya
"But what happens now? I mean all I know is woodsraft, I can't do magic or nobbut like that, I don't think I can be of much use here."
Sam looks sad
"By the time I get back Misty will be married to Moss Fivetrees and she'll have a bunch of kids that have Moss' stupid squint-eyed face and onion nose."
Sam:
Sam smiles at Oriniya's compliments.
"So what should I do now? I've still got no idea what I am doing here. You say it's rare for folk like me to arrive, does that mean someone sent for me or did I just fall into the wrong rabbit hole or summat?"
Sam pauses for a sip
"Who's Lilac?"
Sam:
"Oh, Lilac?" She repeats with a small chuckle "She's the favourite daughter of Thallathorne herself. Mostly of nymph blood, some siren in there too, she's often trouble for men. Although she prefers to attract partners without using magical gifts, more of a challenge, the thrill of the hunt and all of that"
Kayos and Todd
"Woooo," he finally manages, drawing a deep breath and stretching his now aching jaw muscles. "Are you actually trying to tell me you can shape shift into a dog? How did you manage to change sexes as well? Isn't that a little confusing?" he asks, again wiping a stray tear from his face.
"Sorry Milady, I'm finding this whole thing very weird. Yes, we would certainly like your assistance in trying to find our friends" says the young rogue. He's about to make a humorous comment about offering her a doggy treat for her good work but he remembers the look she gave him earlier and thinks better of it.
Paulus & Todd:
Shaking her head a little she makes her way over to the reception desk and grins up at the woman with the hair coloured like autumnal foliage. "Good evening Fyrn, did a little human named Gracie or a young man named Sam wander through here?" she enquires with a bright smile.
"Young Sam is with Oriniya in the glade if that's who you're talking about" She informs the shorter woman before leaning in and adding something in a whisper.
Both girls laugh a little and Aimee leans over the desk and hugs the other woman. "Thanks cutie, you're amazing" Turning to the two humans she smiles a little "You heard the lady, we're off to the glade"
Lyus:
Will Save
1d20+0=7
Lyus:
"Let's go find this friend of yours and we can get to playing!" She chirps as she skips down the stairs with Lyus dutifully and blissfully following in tow. On the floor below she pops her head into the door on that landing and after a quick word with the staff there she pulls Lyus down several more flights of stairs eventually pulling him through a door.
Through the door is an autumnal glade, instead of walls there's a thick knot of tree trunks, the floor is littered with crunchy red, amber and yellow leaves and the light is exactly the same warm and brightness of an early autumn morning.
By the door is an intricately carved wooden bar but this is the only piece of furniture that breaks the otherwise perfectly believable glade. There is the occasional cushion scattered on the floor but most patrons in the bar are reclining in the soft grass and crisp leaves. Amongst the folk here is Sam, sat with a a tall, willowy woman with chesnut skin and deep brown hair. Her ears are pointed and her eyes are a piercing green that reminds Lyus of the grass in spring and the husky from the woods.
Sam:
She skips over and beams at the young woodsman "You ust be Sam!" She chimes. Just as both Sam and Oriniya move to question her an explaination comes into view behind the young woman in the for of Lyus Fivetrees wearing that dopey grin of a man utterly enamoured with a beautiful woman
Sam & Lyus:
The younger woman pouts "But he was ignoring me" She whimpers before waving a hand in Lyus' direction and whispering "Unthus"
Lyus' eyes refocus a little as he feels the compulsion fade, he is a little less enamoured with the girl but holds no ill will towards her, not sure if his brief love for her was something she'd done, an effect of the place, missing his wife or all of those factors combined.
"We found him! Can we go play now? Just the three of us?" Lilac asks Lyus hopefully, causing Oriniya to sigh.
Lyus and Kayos:
Sam had been just about to comment of Oriniya's cryptic remark about the two worlds coming together when Lilac and Mr. Fivetrees come into the room. He has never really had much interaction with Lyus, most of his experience with the Fivetrees family had been scowls from Moss, who saw him as a threat to Misty. Still Lyus had always been courteous when they did speak.
"Oh hello Mr. Fivetrees! I am surprised to see you here! Did you fall into the hole at the tree too?"
Sam suddenly becomes aware of Lilac. Being a healthy teenage boy he is entranced immediately by her.
"Ah err hum .. hello ..I'm ..um ...Sam"
Sam an Kayos
“Glad to see your well. Call me Lyus, Mr Fivetrees is my da. Anyway we'd best be on our way”
Lyus turns to the women sitting with Sam.
“Thanks for looking after him ma’am I’m grateful. Oh an thanks for... clearing my head.”
He bows slightly to the women looking a little confused. Lyus wondered if she was one of the elves he heard of. Then he turns to Lilac.
“I’m sorry for ignoring you Miss, I wasn’t thinking, I was worried bout my companion here. And I’d never betray my wife like that. She means the world to me. So no I’ll not be playing lass sorry.”
There is no animosity in his voice, but his words are firm and his face set.
“Now Sam any idea where Todd and Paulus are, or in fact where we are? And Misty’s safe Moss’s has taken her back to the village.”
Then something clicks in Lyus's head.
"Hole? What hole?"
Lyus and Kayos:
Sam brightens when Lyus mentions "be on our way".
"You know the way out Mr ..errr ... Lyus? That's great! I thought I'd be stuck here for a hunnert years like in the stories."
Sam frowns in puzzlement when he hears Paulus and Todd mentioned.
"I've nowt seen either of them. In fact you're the only villager I've seen since I arrived here. Are they lost too?"
Sam's face goes through a couple of expressions when he hears of Misty going back with Moss. Relief that Misty is safe and depression that Moss gets to play the rescuer.
"Oh. Well that's good then, I was worried about her. Did you folks find Gracie too?"
Sam frowns again when Lyus mentions the hole.
"Well, Lyus, to be honest I don't know if it were a proper hole, ye ken. All I know is I was wandering in the woods and I stumbled. The next thing I know I am here in this Elf Hill tavern. Miss Oriniya was nice enough to tell me a bit about the place."
Sam belatedly remembers his manners.
"Oh! Miss Oriniya, this is Lyus Fivetrees from the village of Clearbrook. Oriniya lives here, and was just telling me a bit about the place."
Sam's eyes drift over to Lilac unbidden.
Sam & Lyus:
Oriniya gives a shake of her head at Lilac, and an irritated, almost motherly expression appears on her face. "It's a pleasure to meet you Lyus. Would you like me to check with reception to see if your friends are alsohere in Thallathorne's?"
Lyus & Kayos:
Sam reddens as the scantily-clad girl cozies up to him.
"Umm ...errr...ahh...I... guess we could play something. Do you like Two Stone or Toad's Eye? I know a lot of card games."
Sam looks around at Oriniya, not sure what he should do, but sure that he is treading in unknown waters with the lovely Lilac.
Sam & Lyus:
Oriniya glances in Sam's direction and her expression silently conveying that what he does with Lilac is his choice but should he need it she's there for support.
Lyus & Kayos :
Sam looks over at Oriniya, not sure what exactly is going on. He is taken by the lovely Lilac, but a small voice in the back of his mind is telling him that going off with her might not be such a good idea.
"Miss ..umm ...Lilac, I'm not sure if I should go off just yet. We still have a missing child and some other folks from my village wandering about. I ..umm ..might be interested in spending some time getting to know you, but my Da always told me, 'Chores before fun.' I couldn't enjoy myself until we get everyone taken care of."
Sam looks into Lilac's eyes and mentally kicks himself for being such a goody-two-boots. At this moment, his pet ferret Dancer wakes from her ferret nap and pokes her head out of Sam's tunic
"Hey girl!" Sam exclaims, happy to change the subject.
"Are you hungry little one?"
Sam looks over at Oriniya
"Could I please get something for my ferret to eat? Maybe a little raw meat?"
Kayos and Todd
"Uhm, maybe we should just go with you to find Sam then" He says, keeping his eyes lowered a bit. Casting a glance at the woman behind the counter "Thankyou milady"
Paulus and Kayos
Sam and Kayos
“Aye Sam I’m afraid the young lass is still missing.”
Lyus then also remembers his manners.
“A pleasure Miss Oriniya, would I be right in thinking that you run this fine establishment? If you wouldn’t mind having your folk see if Mr’s, Todd Peel and Paulus Crumb have ended up here an all. It’d be grand help.”
Sam and Lyus:
Chuckling to herself Oriniya shifts closer to the younger woman and whispers something against her ear. Lilac's eyes widen and a grin comes to her face. "Oooh!" Quickly she hops to her feet, seemingly unphased by the fact she gives half of the room a good view of her rear as her 'clothing' slips as she does so.
"My friend is here so I'm going to go play with him for a bit, maybe I'll see you when you've finished your chores Sam!" She chimes with a small wink before scampering out of the room.
Todd & Paulus:
Through the door is an autumnal glade, instead of walls there's a thick knot of tree trunks, the floor is littered with crunchy red, amber and yellow leaves and the light is exactly the same warm and brightness of an early autumn morning.
By the door is an intricately carved wooden bar but this is the only piece of furniture that breaks the otherwise perfectly believable glade. There is the occasional cushion scattered on the floor but most patrons in the bar are reclining in the soft grass and crisp leaves. The patrons of the bar are a variety of odd looking humanoids but the mens eyes are drawn to the center of the room where Sam and Lyus are sat with a woman with dark skin, the husky dog from the woods sat nearby, his tail wagging.
Sam & Lyus:
With a rather relived expression Lyus walks up to Paulus and Todd.
“How do, where’d you fellows get to?”
He shakes his head a smooth’s his moustache as a look of concern darkens his face.
“Now we need to find the young lass.”
He turns to Oriniya.
“Miss Oriniya have you seen a young girl come through here?”
Lyus describes the Gracie.
Paulus smiles and sighs with relief. Some of the tension leaving his shoulders as he sees his two fellow villagers.
"Thank the Gods" he states as he moves forward to shake each of their hands.
At Lyus' words, he nods his head in agreement. " Aye, the sooner we find young Gracie, the sooner we can think about getting back home. This is all making me feel uneasy, and I don't care to think what me Da and Marla are thinking!"
He looks expentantly at the ladies, wondering if they can provide any more assistance.
Sam greets Paulus and Todd warmly
"I'm glad you two are all right. I had just heard you might be here as well."
When the talk turns to Gracie, Sam chimes in.
"Miss Oriniya here was telling me someone who looked like Gracie took off with a stranger not too long ago."
When the raw meat comes to the table, Sam slices small ribbons off to feed Dancer. He also slips a bit under the table for the Husky.
Oriniya gives a small nod "A woman of that description did leave a while ago with a Seelie elf. she has gone to the land of magic and if you want her back all you can do is follow" She informs the group with a slightly apologetic smile.
For a moment Lyus stands looking somewhat confused before saying.
“She’s gone were with a what? Sorry Ma’am but all this is a wee bit... odd.”
He looks to the others for support hoping he was the only one feeling lost.
"A what now?" Paulus also looks confused for a moment before continuing on. "No matter, we need to get her back to her folks and I'm certainly keen to get back too. I'll not be leaving her behind though".
He takes a moment to look around at the glade, he looks at the two women who have accompanied him and then thinks about what has happened so far this night. As his head swims with the overwhelming information and realisation that 20 years of beliefs about the fey realms and magic are crumbling before his eyes, the young man has to sit. He rests his head in his hands briefly then rubs at his suddenly tired eyes.
"Actually, before we go running off blindly again, perhaps you would like to explain some of what has happened to us. This is all playing out like one of the stories my old man used to tell me as a kid". He looks plaintively at the people around him, hoping for a hint of sanity in an otherwise confusing situation
"Well" Oriniya starts, looking thoughtful "It is a long story so you had best all make yourself comfortable" She tells the group as she motions for the bartender to bring over more drinks.
"A long time ago by human standards, and quite a while ago for us also, your lands were filled with magic. Humans learnt, like all the other races, elves, dwarves and gnomes to name but a few, to weild the powers of arcane and divine. However, a man from Clearbrook saw how his fellow humans were misusing their power, commiting such atrocities to even think of them makes the skin crawl. He took it upon himself to do something, he as the most powerful archmagus known to all races created a ritual. It took days to cast and when he was done he had seperated the humans from the magic, and all creatures inherantly magic. Creating Pandaemya, your world, and Myr D'Vaern, our world. However, Thallathorne's stands as a gateway between the two worlds, whether it was an oversight on the part of the mage or a clever way of making sure a few magical folk could keep an eye on humanity we'll never know. he just disappeared after the ritual, or at least that's how the story goes, I'm no historian. I couldn't even tell you his name."
"Iori Flint" Ameei pipes up with a certain nod as a tray containing an assortment of oddly coloured drinks is brought over. "That was his name, he conducted his ritual by Thallathorne's tree, one telling of the story states that the ritual is what killed her but also kept her alive."
Lyus nod’s slowly, his face become slightly less perplexed.
“So all the stuff about elves an Pixies and such aint’ just story’s for little ums?”
Now properly looking around this strange pub glade. He sees that indeed he and the other villagers appear odd and out of place, and says quietly to himself.
“Bugger.”
Sam looks up from feeding Dancer and the husky treats
"Maybe it's time for the magic to come back to our world. "
Paulus leans forward and grabs a drink, Something orange looking with a little umbrella in it and takes a sip. He smiles at the refreshing taste and takes a bigger mouthful before going on.
" So we're on another planet, where people can use magic and there's such things as Elves and Dwarves and Pixies. Ok." He drinks again.
"What about the other stuff in those stories? Are there Trolls and Ogres and hoard keeping dragons? And , um, why is everyone I've met so far a beautiful woman?"
He turns as Sam suggests they bring the magic back to their world and nearly chokes on his drink.
"Now Sam, as exciting as all this is, lets look at all the angles before we close any deals on this thing." He drinks again, finishing the strange beverage with only the smallest sucking noise through the straw that came with it. He turns again to the to ladies helping them and waits.
And , um, why is everyone I've met so far a beautiful woman?"
"Now Paulus you say things like that and you'll jinx it," Todd says with a smile,
“Todd has a point Paulus lad.”
Lyus looks at the tray of foreign drinks and takes an oddly glowing golden one. Mainly because it has less foliage then the others, and takes a drink, he smiles. It reminds him of summer when he was a small boy. ‘Odd’ he thinks to himself. Then he looks up and says matter of factly.
“Well If that’s where the lass has gone then that’s where we go. Dragons or no dragons.”
Sam daydreams of rescuing Gracie and the look of wonder on Misty's face when he returned with her.
"I agree Lyus. We need to get Gracie back, no matter what."
"Of course there is both good and evil on our side as there is yours so there are goblins, orcs, dragons.. lots of things really. Although don't judge a book by it's cover; some membersof those races can be good or at least helpful" Oriniya warns.
Ameei gives a nod of agreement "I love bronze and copper dragons they're lots of fun at a party" She announces with a little grin.
"As for the number of women here, that would be because Thallathorne tends to enjoy having people that remind her of herself on staff" The older woman adds witha small amused smile.
Sam sips his drink
"I like the women here." he declares, looking around
"I could get to like it in this world." he proclaims, a bit boozily. "It would be fun to meet a dragon."
"Well, it would seem we have a majority. Aye, we need to go get Gracie. And I agree, if that means heading into a new world of magical beasts to do so then so be it" Paulus says with a sigh.
"I seem to have bought nought but my dad's old armour and my two blades to help me though. OH, and some ...tools, I occasionally use. Can you tell us how we are likely to be recieved on this world of yours? Will we be able to get to Grace without causing too much trouble?" he asks, enthusiasm creeping into his voice now they'd planned on a course of action. As much as he wasn't going to admit it after his little bit of doubt earlier, he also thought it would be great to meet a dragon.
"Did Gracie go of her own accord?" he asks as an afterthought.
"People in our world will be curious about you, but not too much, you will be in a minority but there are a few humans on our side that slipped through at one point or another. What will be noteworthy to them is that you haven't chosen a side in the conflict" A note of irritation hangs in her voice on the word 'conflict'.
Oriniya meanwhile simply nods at Paulus' question about Grace.
Paulus' eyebrow raises at this term "Conflict?" he asks "Is Grace in danger over there?" He stands abruptly, truly worried for the girl now.
"What conflict?"
Lyus puts down his drink an looks towards Ameei at hr mention of conflict.
“Aye are we goin’ to be stepping out in the middle of some war?”
The concern is plain on Lyus’s face and in his voice.
"Well ok then even if I'm hardly equipped for an extended foray out in the wilderness." Todd pulls various bits of barbering paraphenalia out of various pockets and looks them over, "at least we can look good doing it." he smiles and puts the stuff away.
"Not a war, more.." Ameei gives a sigh and clicks her fingers a couple of times as she searches for the right word "Factioning. The fae have always been in two factions, the seelie and the unseelie, each with their own courts and practices. Over time the other magical creatures started to fall into one faction or another until it was a real rarity not to swear fealty to one of the courts. In fact it soon became law that everyone should pick a side, those who don't are punished, marked as outsiders and unable to interfere in any way in the conflicts or the running of fae society."
She gives a small wrinkle of her nose "Whilst it's not a war you will need to be careful as all sorts of fighting, physical and political occurs to try to strengthen one side or another or expand territory."
Lyus looks down at what he’s wearing; hardly the clothes to be going into a violent and unknown land full of gods knew what, at least he was wearing his work boots. He look to the others and then at Ameei and said.
“Don’t suppose you have any weapons here by chance? Or tools would do at a pinch.”
How was he going to get word to Aria, she’d be worried sick.
“Also if it’s not too much trouble do you have a messenger here? I like to let my wife and folks back at Clearbrook where we’ve gone an such. So they don’t worry too much.”
Sam tries to figure out the issue
"So what yer tellin' us is that there are folks fighting where Gracie went? That can't be good."
Sam looks around
"We need to go save her folks!"
"Actually sounds more like skuldugery than out and out fighting, and I don't suppose anyones thought about the situation of Grace not wanting to be rescued"
Sam looks at Todd
"She's just a little kid. Even if she doesn't want to get rescued I think her mom would want her back."
Todd gives Sam a patronising look. "Guess you've been too busy mooning over her sister to notice the fact that she's grown up, or at least thinks she has," and as to the situation deepens his voice to a heroic timbre "Grace we're here to rescue you,"
falsetto "but Sam I want to stay here with my elven love,"
heroic "Grace I'm afraid your too young to make that decision we're taking you home,"
falsetto "Help! help! these men are trying to kidnap me."
then back in normal tones "get the point!"
Sam's face flushes at Todd's mocking tone
"I was just sayin' she's a bit young to be running off to Elf Hill without so much as a by-yer-leave to her mother."
In a much lower tone
"An' I wasn't mooning over Misty."
Sam goes back to feeding Dancer, the smile he had been wearing wiped off his face, replaced by a stony countenance.