The soft whisper of a magical communication from some remote point reaches Lynora's ears.
Lady Lynora?
She looks startled. She signals for quiet before she responds.
"Ye-es. Who is asking?"
The soft whisper of a magical communication from some remote point reaches Lynora's ears.
Lady Lynora?
She looks startled. She signals for quiet before she responds.
"Ye-es. Who is asking?"
Countess Sorsha, emissary of Her Majesty, The Elven Queen. Rumours that Her Majesty has it within her gift to permit people for very brief moments to slip in out out of particular gates to or from the Realms of Dream, even when that place is otherwise cut off absolutely from physical transitions with the rest of the planes, have some truth in them.
The soft whisper of a magical communication from some remote point reaches Lynora's ears.
Lady Lynora?
She looks startled. She signals for quiet before she responds.
"Ye-es. Who is asking?"Countess Sorsha, emissary of Her Majesty, The Elven Queen. Rumours that Her Majesty has it within her gift to permit people for very brief moments to slip in out out of particular gates to or from the Realm of Dreams, even when the that place is otherwise cut off absolutely from the rest of the planes, have some truth in them.
"...I see. And what can I do for you, Countess?"
"...I see. And what can I do for you, Countess?"The soft whisper of a magical communication from some remote point reaches Lynora's ears.
Lady Lynora?
She looks startled. She signals for quiet before she responds.
"Ye-es. Who is asking?"Countess Sorsha, emissary of Her Majesty, The Elven Queen. Rumours that Her Majesty has it within her gift to permit people for very brief moments to slip in out out of particular gates to or from the Realm of Dreams, even when the that place is otherwise cut off absolutely from the rest of the planes, have some truth in them.
(edited, phrasing/grammar tweaked)
As a courtesy, Her Majesty offers your daughter, Arielle, shelter and protection at her royal court for the next twenty one year's of Arielle's life. This offer is something I am empowered to offer you only the once, only with regard to your daughter, Arielle, and only now.Her Majesty is otherwise much occupied at this current moment, with enemies you might consider to be mutual, and is unable to otherwise directly assist you in a more practical manner by breaking such siege as you have at the Eyrie where you too sit amidst a sea of foes.
As a courtesy, Her Majesty offers your daughter, Arielle, shelter and protection at her royal court for the next twenty one year's of Arielle's life. This offer is something I am empowered to offer you only the once, only with regard to your daughter, Arielle, and only now.
Her Majesty is otherwise much occupied at this current moment, with enemies you might consider to be mutual, and is unable to otherwise directly assist you in a more practical manner by breaking the siege as you have at the Eyrie where you too sit amidst a sea of foes.
She was silent for a long while. "It is a...generous offer. Thank her on my behalf. But I must decline. We wish to keep our daughter here with us. Like everything in life, it is a risk, but one that we are prepared to make."
"If it is permitted, tell Eiboria that I wish her well, and that I have not forgotten her. And in addition to my thanks, tell Her Majesty that I wish her swift victory against her foes."
As a courtesy, Her Majesty offers your daughter, Arielle, shelter and protection at her royal court for the next twenty one year's of Arielle's life. This offer is something I am empowered to offer you only the once, only with regard to your daughter, Arielle, and only now.
Her Majesty is otherwise much occupied at this current moment, with enemies you might consider to be mutual, and is unable to otherwise directly assist you in a more practical manner by breaking the siege as you have at the Eyrie where you too sit amidst a sea of foes.
She was silent for a long while. "It is a...generous offer. Thank her on my behalf. But I must decline. We wish to keep our daughter here with us. Like everything in life, it is a risk, but one that we are prepared to make."
"If it is permitted, tell Eiboria that I wish her well, and that I have not forgotten her. And in addition to my thanks, tell Her Majesty that I wish her swift victory against her foes."
I shall convey your words. It may be a while before contact of any sort is possible once again. Such windows of travel are rarely available at times like these.
I shall convey your words. It may be a while before contact of any sort is possible once again. Such windows of travel are rarely available at times like these.
"I understand. Safe travel, Countess."
She sighed and released the tension that had built up in her through that conversation. They had always been civil with each other, but somehow she felt like she was walking through a minefield every time she spoke with Nirellia or her emisarries.
"That was an emissary of Nirellia," she said by way of explanation to the two very confused people before her. "She was bringing a one time only offer of sanctuary for Arielle within Nirellia's palace. I hope you don't mind that I took the liberty of replying in the negative," she added with a wry smile. "I believe that the offer was sincere. I hope I was diplomatic enough in my refusal."
The woman's voice goes silent.
She sighed and released the tension that had built up in her through that conversation. They had always been civil with each other, but somehow she felt like she was walking through a minefield every time she spoke with Nirellia or her emisarries.
"That was an emissary of Nirellia," she said by way of explanation to the two very confused people before her. "She was bringing a one time only offer of sanctuary for Arielle within Nirellia's palace. I hope you don't mind that I took the liberty of replying in the negative," she added with a wry smile. "I believe that the offer was sincere. I hope I was diplomatic enough in my refusal."
CH sighs, "Hopefully, in time, these continual threats will diminish. It'd be nice to be a normal family, but being any kind of family is fine by me."
"Think about all that just happened. Now how did Aidan react when he remembered everything he did. Everything he would have done had no one been here and see him change. Now look at it from Aidan's point of veiw. If you realize you nearly ruined everything you knew, what would you do?""What do you mean, Oroth?""Maybe, maybe not."Aidan shakily gets to his feet, and begins to make his way down the mountain, turning down any help or attempts to make him stop, grim determination in his eyes as he heads for the omniportal.Allura exchanges glances with Devlyn.
"We can't let him go alone."
"Try to get away from everyone...but that's faulty logic," Devlyn says as he gently (but firmly) grabs hold of Aidan before he can go anywhere.
"If you had been by yourself, things would have been much worse - you would have succumbed to that power and done all kinds of bad things. That being the case, alone is the last thing you need to be right now. I think we just proved that there is strength in sticking together, so let's run with that, okay?"
"Now - that armor has to go. It either gets locked up someplace so nobody can wear it (preferably someplace soaking wet), or it gets unmade. Keeping it is not an option. We nip this threat in the bud before it comes back to bite us (and threaten you) again. We still have that little problem in the Bazaar to contend with, and we don't need any other worries right now."
:Sky, I'm sorry I couldn't give you more warning about this, but you won't be able to be my herald anymore. Not that you ever needed, or let's be honest, even used that power. You have plenty of your own. Djuhah will be taking over for me. I'm...not really sure what I'm going to be doing from now on.:
:To tell the truth Starsong, I did use it what I believed were the most important things. My young ones are quite the handful even for Blodwen and I. And a simple scrying to dertermine th- I think Blodwen should be the one to tell you. Don't tell her I said anything, okay?:
:And I'll always be your Herald. You've done to much for me for that to stop now.:
"Try to get away from everyone...but that's faulty logic," Devlyn says as he gently (but firmly) grabs hold of Aidan before he can go anywhere.
"If you had been by yourself, things would have been much worse - you would have succumbed to that power and done all kinds of bad things. That being the case, alone is the last thing you need to be right now. I think we just proved that there is strength in sticking together, so let's run with that, okay?"
"Now - that armor has to go. It either gets locked up someplace so nobody can wear it (preferably someplace soaking wet), or it gets unmade. Keeping it is not an option. We nip this threat in the bud before it comes back to bite us (and threaten you) again. We still have that little problem in the Bazaar to contend with, and we don't need any other worries right now."
Aidan smiles slightly.
"You don't have to worry, the armor burned away when my pa-... When Oroth saved me. I have no idea were it went if it wasn't completely destroyed."
He looks away, staring at the destruction he caused.
"I'm never using the Fire again. I want to avoid magic all together, but I have to use it, use the portal, just one more time."
He stares back at Devlyn, eye-to-eye.
"You don't have to worry, I've still got a dagger if I get into trouble, and I'll be moving to fast for most trouble to catch up. I'd just hold you back if we went back to the Bazaar now. I'm going to try my best to set things as right as I can. I did all this by myself, and I'll fix it by my self. I'll be fine, so please let go, sooner or later I'd go anyway. Why not when you don't have to worry about if I was taken against my will?"
CH sighs, "Hopefully, in time, these continual threats will diminish. It'd be nice to be a normal family, but being any kind of family is fine by me."
"Me too. I hope that it will be easier to be something a little closer to normal now that I don't have quite so many responsibilities."
She reached out to smooth Arielle's hair away from her face and Arielle yawned.
"It looks like someone has had enough excitement for one day. You, my dear, need to get some rest."
After they get Arielle tucked into bed, she falls asleep almost instantly. LJ stands there and watches her sleep for a moment, a tender smile on her face before quietly backing out of the room.
Once the door is closed she turns to CH.
"In all the excitement I haven't even had the chance yet to ask you what happened on your quest. Did you find them?"
Once the door is closed she turns to CH."In all the excitement I haven't even had the chance yet to ask you what happened on your quest. Did you find them?"
"Them, and more. The Ch'acks weren't the only target of that beast. I made lots of new friends on the trip."
"I kept a journal, but it was a rough trip. You'll likely be angry with me."
Once the door is closed she turns to CH."In all the excitement I haven't even had the chance yet to ask you what happened on your quest. Did you find them?"
"Them, and more. The Ch'acks weren't the only target of that beast. I made lots of new friends on the trip."
"I kept a journal, but it was a rough trip. You'll likely be angry with me."
"Well, you're here and alive now, so that does a lot to mitigate whatever you did that I'm likely to be angry about," she said with a smile, leaning her head on his shoulder. "I'd like to read your journal if you don't mind. I'd like to know what happened."
"Well, you're here and alive now, so that does a lot to mitigate whatever you did that I'm likely to be angry about," she said with a smile, leaning her head on his shoulder. "I'd like to read your journal if you don't mind. I'd like to know what happened."
Once the door is closed she turns to CH."In all the excitement I haven't even had the chance yet to ask you what happened on your quest. Did you find them?"
"Them, and more. The Ch'acks weren't the only target of that beast. I made lots of new friends on the trip."
"I kept a journal, but it was a rough trip. You'll likely be angry with me."
"Sure. I scribed it in woad, so an old teacher would always have a copy. Thankfully, E7 retrieved it from where I 'dropped it'." he shivers slightly. "That beast that started this was pure evil. The trip itself a nightmare."
Aidan smiles slightly.
"You don't have to worry, the armor burned away when my pa-... When Oroth saved me. I have no idea were it went if it wasn't completely destroyed."
He looks away, staring at the destruction he caused.
"I'm never using the Fire again. I want to avoid magic all together, but I have to use it, use the portal, just one more time."He stares back at Devlyn, eye-to-eye.
"You don't have to worry, I've still got a dagger if I get into trouble, and I'll be moving to fast for most trouble to catch up. I'd just hold you back if we went back to the Bazaar now. I'm going to try my best to set things as right as I can. I did all this by myself, and I'll fix it by my self. I'll be fine, so please let go, sooner or later I'd go anyway. Why not when you don't have to worry about if I was taken against my will?"
"Because we've got several other things going on at the moment that speak strongly against the idea of wandering around alone, Aidan."
"If the Servants of the Board consider any existing Elemental Champion a threat to some so-called 'balance' they are trying to preserve (whatever that load of garbage means), then they'll leap at the opportunity to snuff out one of them travelling solo (and unwilling to use his powers to defend himself). They don't sound like the kind of folk with the understanding to differentiate an active Champion from one who is putting it aside, regardless of what they say."
"Sure. I scribed it in woad, so an old teacher would always have a copy. Thankfully, E7 retrieved it from where I 'dropped it'." he shivers slightly. "That beast that started this was pure evil."
"Trapping souls? Yes, it must have been," she said, with a shudder, remembering and wishing she didn't.
Once he hands her the journal she will settle down to read it through.
"Sure. I scribed it in woad, so an old teacher would always have a copy. Thankfully, E7 retrieved it from where I 'dropped it'." he shivers slightly. "That beast that started this was pure evil."
"Trapping souls? Yes, it must have been," she said, with a shudder, remembering and wishing she didn't.
Once he hands her the journal she will settle down to read it through.
"I'll warn you; it'll be like reading a nightmare. I'm not even sure how much was real." he hands it over, as if he were handling a snake
"I'll warn you; it'll be like reading a nightmare. I'm not even sure how much was real." he hands it over, as if he were handling a snake
"Sure. I scribed it in woad, so an old teacher would always have a copy. Thankfully, E7 retrieved it from where I 'dropped it'." he shivers slightly. "That beast that started this was pure evil."
"Trapping souls? Yes, it must have been," she said, with a shudder, remembering and wishing she didn't.
Once he hands her the journal she will settle down to read it through.
"I know nightmares. I've lived them. But I appreciate the warning."
She begins reading through the pages. He can tell where she is in the narrative when tears start running down her cheeks. It's slow reading after that, since she often has to stop to wipe the tears from her eyes before she can continue reading. Eventually she reaches the end and closes the book, handing it back to him.
"I'm glad you chose to come back," she said softly.
"I'll warn you; it'll be like reading a nightmare. I'm not even sure how much was real." he hands it over, as if he were handling a snake
"Sure. I scribed it in woad, so an old teacher would always have a copy. Thankfully, E7 retrieved it from where I 'dropped it'." he shivers slightly. "That beast that started this was pure evil."
"Trapping souls? Yes, it must have been," she said, with a shudder, remembering and wishing she didn't.
Once he hands her the journal she will settle down to read it through.
"I know nightmares. I've lived them. But I appreciate the warning."
She begins reading through the pages. He can tell where she is in the narrative when tears start running down her cheeks. It's slow reading after that, since she often has to stop to wipe the tears from her eyes before she can continue reading. Eventually she reaches the end and closes the book, handing it back to him.
"I'm glad you chose to come back," she said softly.
He'd been drinking while she read. He looks up at the sound of her voice, "I've never had the chance to grow old. See my child grow old. Centuries of aimless wandering are but a blink of an eye when you're not truly alive."
"Probably why I listened when I heard the call to come back."
He'd been drinking while she read. He looks up at the sound of her voice, "I've never had the chance to grow old. See my child grow old. Centuries of aimless wandering are but a blink of an eye, when you're not truly alive."
"Probably why I listened when I heard the call to come back."
"I see," she said, turning away to wipe the tears from her face. "I think I can understand that. I don't even know how old I am now. Time stopped for me after...well, after. I don't know what it's like either."
"I see," she said, turning away to wipe the tears from her face. "I think I can understand that. I don't even know how old I am now. Time stopped for me after...well, after. I don't know what it's like either."
He'd been drinking while she read. He looks up at the sound of her voice, "I've never had the chance to grow old. See my child grow old. Centuries of aimless wandering are but a blink of an eye, when you're not truly alive."
"Probably why I listened when I heard the call to come back."
"Well, maybe we'll both have a chance to find out. We deserve it."
His somber face brightens a bit, "Besides a lady never reveals her age, does she?"
"Well, maybe we'll both have a chance to find out. We deserve it."
His somber face brightens a bit, "Besides a lady never reveals her age, does she?"
That got a laugh, albeit a slightly forced one. "No, I guess not. Vanity. Huh. I've never really bothered with it, but I guess it makes as good of an excuse as any."
She sat down in his lap and kissed him. "I think I still owe you an in-depth description of how much I love you," she said teasingly.
"Well, maybe we'll both have a chance to find out. We deserve it."
His somber face brightens a bit, "Besides a lady never reveals her age, does she?"
That got a laugh, albeit a slightly forced one. "No, I guess not. Vanity. Huh. I've never really bothered with it, but I guess it makes as good of an excuse as any."
She sat down in his lap and kissed him. "I think I still owe you an in-depth description of how much I love you," she said teasingly.
"I can't think of a better way to spend getting old", in between kisses. "So how long do you think she'll be asleep?"
Fade to Black
"Because we've got several other things going on at the moment that speak strongly against the idea of wandering around alone, Aidan."
"If the Servants of the Board consider any existing Elemental Champion a threat to some so-called 'balance' they are trying to preserve (whatever that load of garbage means), then they'll leap at the opportunity to snuff out one of them travelling solo (and unwilling to use his powers to defend himself). They don't sound like the kind of folk with the understanding to differentiate an active Champion from one who is putting it aside, regardless of what they say."
"If the Servants really believe that, we need to find Mr. Duskwalker and Rio."
"I understande the danger, and I have a comm crystal to contact you if I get in trouble. Once I get my ride, they'll be hard pressed to catch me, magic or no magic. Please, I have to try and make things right."
"Because we've got several other things going on at the moment that speak strongly against the idea of wandering around alone, Aidan."
"If the Servants of the Board consider any existing Elemental Champion a threat to some so-called 'balance' they are trying to preserve (whatever that load of garbage means), then they'll leap at the opportunity to snuff out one of them travelling solo (and unwilling to use his powers to defend himself). They don't sound like the kind of folk with the understanding to differentiate an active Champion from one who is putting it aside, regardless of what they say."
"If the Servants really believe that, we need to find Mr. Duskwalker and Rio."
"I understande the danger, and I have a comm crystal to contact you if I get in trouble. Once I get my ride, they'll be hard pressed to catch me, magic or no magic. Please, I have to try and make things right."
"Last I heard, Kaelar was still in Mirathan's kingdom. I think the Servants would have a very hard time getting to him that far underwater. But just to be on the safe side, yes, we should use the comm crystal to let him know what's going on. As for Rio, I'm not sure where he is exactly. He might still be at the Oasis. We can try to contact him by crystal too. And if that doesn't work then we can start searching."
"Aidan, even if you don't want us all to go with you, will you at least take someone with you? Please?"
"Because we've got several other things going on at the moment that speak strongly against the idea of wandering around alone, Aidan."
"If the Servants of the Board consider any existing Elemental Champion a threat to some so-called 'balance' they are trying to preserve (whatever that load of garbage means), then they'll leap at the opportunity to snuff out one of them travelling solo (and unwilling to use his powers to defend himself). They don't sound like the kind of folk with the understanding to differentiate an active Champion from one who is putting it aside, regardless of what they say."
"If the Servants really believe that, we need to find Mr. Duskwalker and Rio."
"I understande the danger, and I have a comm crystal to contact you if I get in trouble. Once I get my ride, they'll be hard pressed to catch me, magic or no magic. Please, I have to try and make things right."
Devlyn closes his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger, silently mouthing something...or maybe counting.
"Alright - go. Whatever you feel like you have to do, make it fast and do not put yourself in harm's way in the process. You can't make anything 'right' by getting yourself killed. Understood?"
"And Allura is right - you still need someone with you. Kaelar and Rio sound like perfect candidates."
Devlyn activates his crystal and tries to contact both of them to meet him at the Eyrie.
Devlyn activates his crystal and tries to contact both of them to meet him at the Eyrie.
Not long after he finishes talking, a large whorl appears a few feet away. Kaelar walks through it. His sliver clothing soaked from his time underwater.
Mist slides up the side of the Eyrie, taking shape and becoming Rio.
A new blue-black trench coat flapping in the wind.
"Long time, no see. How have things been?"
"Hey Devlyn. I see you still smell like cookies."
Devlyn activates his crystal and tries to contact both of them to meet him at the Eyrie.Not long after he finishes talking, a large whorl appears a few feet away. Kaelar walks through it. His sliver clothing soaked from his time underwater.
Mist slides up the side of the Eyrie, taking shape and becoming Rio.
A new blue-black trench coat flapping in the wind.
"Long time, no see. How have things been?"
"Hey Devlyn. I see you still smell like cookies."
"Things have been amusing as always, gents," he says with a slightly strained smile.
"Listen - I'm trying to organize an 'Elemental Champion Retreat' of sorts. Aidan here has had a bit of a hiccup with the whole Fire Champion thing, and wants to undertake some things to address that. We think it would be a good idea to have fellow Champions go with him to provide perspective that we can't. Are you two up for it?"
"Just one thing, Devlyn. It may take a while, or a day, depending on the choice made."
A dream floats amongst those sleeping. A raven-haired man holds a small box. He speaks to it.
"Yes, Mother. I will not forget."
"Yes, it is being arranged."
"Yes, I will hurry. The gnomes will not know what they build until it is too late."
"Listen - I'm trying to organize an 'Elemental Champion Retreat' of sorts. Aidan here has had a bit of a hiccup with the whole Fire Champion thing, and wants to undertake some things to address that. We think it would be a good idea to have fellow Champions go with him to provide perspective that we can't. Are you two up for it?"
"We will accompany him. Don't worry, three Champions will be safer than many these days. Come along, Little Fire, let's get you were you want to go."
The three begin to leave, and Kaelar glances back at Devlyn.
"Say high to my ex for me, will you?"
"Just one thing, Devlyn. It may take a while, or a day, depending on the choice made."
"I wasn't assuming this would be accomplished in a day, just to be safe," he says with a nod.
"We will accompany him. Don't worry, three Champions will be safer than many these days. Come along, Little Fire, let's get you were you want to go."
The three begin to leave, and Kaelar glances back at Devlyn.
"Say high to my ex for me, will you?"
"Thanks guys."
"Your ex? Okay - as this is news to me, who am I looking out for?"
Stepping into the omniportal alone, Aidan rides out on a strange bike. He waits at the entrance to the Eyrie for Rio and Kaelar.
[/QUOTE"Your ex? Okay - as this is news to me, who am I looking out for?"
"Look for a lady with a bat, she might be wearing a veil."
[/QUOTE"Your ex? Okay - as this is news to me, who am I looking out for?""Look for a lady with a bat, she might be wearing a veil."
"Veiled lady with a bat. I'll keep an eye out then."
A dream floats amongst those sleeping. A raven-haired man holds a small box. He speaks to it.
"Yes, Mother. I will not forget."
"Yes, it is being arranged."
"Yes, I will hurry. The gnomes will not know what they build until it is too late."
Djuhah looked at the scene before him. Everything seemed so different. There was so much he had to do. But first he needed to take care of this place and the people in it. They were his responsibility now and he intended to keep them safe. Power surged through him and into the Eyrie, repairing the fire damage and moving things around. Instead of a spiral galaxy, the place was now designed in the shape of a concentric spiral with a little wave on the end. It looked like a gust of wind. The other symbol was Starsong's and always would be. He was careful to make sure that no one inside could feel any movement even though he was rearranging things, and the corridors for the most part led to the same places they had before. He made some changes to the kitchen in the Hole in the Wall, giving it enchantments so it would produce food on request. Heroes could not be trusted to cook for themselves and he did not wish his charges to go hungry. Or be forced to eat young Arielle's cooking, which was infinitely worse. He then turned his attention to the wards. When Starsong had first designed them he thought she was out of her mind. Allowing evil creatures into a sanctuary of peace seemed completely insane. But he had seen this tactic of giving everyone a fair chance regardless of moral differences pay off more often than it had backfired. He decided to keep the condition as it was. He strengthened the wards repairing them and making them unbreakable even by a Champion. He didn't want any more scenes of destruction like this last one. Not here. Given that they were currently trying to besiege the place he also left in the restriction keeping the servants and their allies out of the Eyrie. He could always change it later if they decided to be more reasonable. And with that it was time for him to turn his attention to other matters, secure in the knowledge that this temple was safe from attack.
Frost flies into the Eyrie.
"Excuse me? I have heard rumors that the Star Song is dead. Is there truth to this?"
Frost flies into the Eyrie.
"Excuse me? I have heard rumors that the Star Song is dead. Is there truth to this?"
:I do not know, old one. She was unwell. And then she called for Djuhah. He is now the god of this place. That is all I know. There has been no mention of death here.:
:I do not know, old one. She was unwell. And then she called for Djuhah. He is now the god of this place. That is all I know. There has been no mention of death here.:Frost flies into the Eyrie.
"Excuse me? I have heard rumors that the Star Song is dead. Is there truth to this?"
"I see. Do you know where I might find out more?" Frost does not look concerned in the least, but merely curious.
"I see. Do you know where I might find out more?" Frost does not look concerned in the least, but merely curious.:I do not know, old one. She was unwell. And then she called for Djuhah. He is now the god of this place. That is all I know. There has been no mention of death here.:Frost flies into the Eyrie.
"Excuse me? I have heard rumors that the Star Song is dead. Is there truth to this?"
:That is all any of us knows right now. We will likely learn more in the morning.: