Crowspit: Week I

[Wixard]

As the train slows for it’s final stop in Crowspit, the students gather in uneasy peace. No one has seen or heard from Weaver since they got on the train. She, and the opal bracelet paired with the one Alyss wears, have vanished. A brief investigation of her room found it empty except for a which read. Don’t look for me.


Alyss recovered long enough to perform a divining. She confirmed that Weaver had written the note and left of her own volition. Weaver had also left behind enhancements designed to interfere with divinations targeting her, and Alyss had refused to try and work through them.


Two days had passed since then, and the students had been slowly coming together. Despite all the excitement during the first half of the ride, the final few days had proved to be rather dull.


It seemed that they all had at least a passing interest in board or card games, and several of them had brought some. The quiet diversions served to help them grow accustomed to each other’s presence, but many still had reservations of some sort.


Alyss had decided to ignore Micki’s obvious and sudden fondness for Xelon. It infuriated her, but things were too unstable for her to raise a stink about it. Instead, she tried to foster friendships with the other members of the group. Barlo was nice enough, but he slept most of the time. Mira woke him up when it was his turn, unless he was winning.


It wasn’t long before their delicate alliance stepped onto the platform in Crowspit.


A massive scarecrow--a ten foot tall mountain of straw--was beginning to load cargo from the train onto his cart. All the crates had an orange circle painted on them. An Onii, almost as tall and armored head to toe, glared down at the passengers as they unloaded. He carried a large pipe with several gadgety attachments.


And they were but two of the town’s residents. An arachnor, or giant spider, waited near the edge of the platform with a phantom. A slime giggled near the trash can as a railworker tried to mop it into a bucket three sizes too small.


(The turn order is reset, go at any time)

 

[Taggerung]

(Joint post with @Rum Ham and @Wixard)


Awrem tried to tune out the more outstandingly unnatural things she was seeing and instead focused on what was... Was that slug giggling? She tried to focus on what was actually important: getting to wherever it was they were to stay. She needed a place to sleep, of course, and a place to study. However, despite organizing and searching her belongings on the train, she had no information on where that might be. Awrem confidently looked around in confusion.


Mira skipped to the front of the platform and turned to watch all the other students unload. Were her ears visible, one might have seen them turn outward to listen for sound in her blind spots, but before arrival, the kitsune had hidden them, as well as her tails and pointed canid teeth, with illusionary magic, and for the time being, she would keep them that way. She was more focused on making sure none of the students wandered off to find a quiet spot where they could return to their solitude and probably get killed. Also, she had to be sure their deep wanderer actually made it off the train, lest he fall asleep while disembarking and be taken wherever the rail line went next. By this point Mira knew all of their names, although she was still not very familiar with some of them.


Most of the passengers leaving the platform were heading in the same direction, towards the center of town. Alyss had been tied to Awrem by a rope, since the opal bracelet was gone and she'd relapsed a few hours before arriving in Crowspit. They didn't want to lose her on the platform. It was hard to tell what she was looking at.


Faced with the realization that she had absolutely no idea where to go, Awrem found herself forced down a potentially unpleasant path; she would have to ask someone. Unfortunately Alyss, so far the most agreeable person in the group, wouldn't be any help at the moment, so Awrem went for the closest available person, Mira. "You know about this town, yes? Where are we to go from here? The academy must have arranged housing."


Mira counted that all of the Nocturne party, at least, the 7 of them that remained, had disembarked, and Xelon was nicely asking them not to go anywhere just yet. When Xelon asked nicely, people were usually pretty agreeable. Mira looked away to consult her crude and probably inaccurate map of the town that she had drawn from her memory of the Wispling's presentation. "No, actually, they gave us a considerable stipend, so I suspect we are to find our own accommodations. We should find a place where we can all get rooms in the same building." She proposed, looking up from her drawing at Awren. "That way we can also use it for meetings and routine check-ins for the teams we assemble."


Alyss giggled and reached for the map.


Awren: "And what, we're to just buy a house today? Alyss, don't do that. You know better." It was admittedly a good idea for the whole group to be in one building, but the fact that the greatest academy in the known world had neglected to do anything but cram them onto a train seemed wrong.


Alyss seemed upset, but reluctantly stopped.


Mira took out another piece of paper with one of her recreational sketches, and offered it to the delirious Astrid, while considering Awren's question. "Maybe one of these is an inn or lodging place?" Mira suggested, pointing to some of the multi-storied buildings on the map and looking around to see which of those structures was actually there, and which ones she had put in by mistake. "I don't think we were meant to buy a house..."


Alyss grinned and began to make writing motions as if she had a pen. Maybe she thought she did.


Allowing Alyss to happily make a fool of herself in public, Awrem responded, "We should see about rooms then, starting there." Seven rooms all at once, and at the same inn? Maybe it was possible, but Awrem had yet to see an inn nearly big enough to allow that. Then again, she was very far from home.


Lucilius spotted Alyss while looking for Cocoa. After watching for a minute, he handed her a pen, making sure that neither Awrem nor Mira was paying attention.


"Looking for an inn?" A scarecrow asked. She was about their age, with skin made of some kind of cloth, and a dress made of a much more common kind of cloth. She had silver buttons with sapphires set in them for eyes, and some kind of brown, high-end string for hair.


It seemed more like a high-end doll dressed in farmer's clothes than a scarecrow. Fortunately, Awrem had read about these. She couldn't remember the name for them, at the moment, but they were definitely a subclass of scarecrow. "We are, yes. Your creator owns one?"


Mira was about to reply when the Enchanting student spoke first, surprising her. Both with the action of actually taking initiative to speak to someone, and for addressing the scarecrow in the manner that she did. Creator? Oh right, this is a construct. Uncanny how alive they seem to be.


"My Mom does!" the scarecrow cheerily replied. "It's a little out of the way, but it's got nice view and cousin Tom makes great breakfasts! -I think...the coffee's good anyway. What brings you to Crowspit?"


"I am alive," she added, poking Mira sternly to punctuate that statement.


Mira colored slightly, realizing she must have spoken her thoughts aloud.


It spoke fluently for such a simple construct. Awrem would have to compliment its maker when they met, though insisting on being called "Mom" was definitely odd. A little unsettling, actually. "We've come from the Academia Nocturne. We're to stay here for a few months and do..." What in the endless hell’s was the word? Right. "Quests."


"Moms from Academia Nocturne!" the scarecrow said. "Ohmythreads you're *adventurers!* I'm Anna! Pleased to meet you!" She offered her hand to shake.


Awrem took the construct's hand and shook it lightly, trying not to damage it. Best not to insult its owner before even meeting.


"Was she now?" Mira questioned the scarecrow suspiciously. "What specialized school was she associated with?" She was partially distracted as she listen to Xelon's efforts to keep the group together. They weren't going to stay put much longer; she might have to assign them groups and allow the to explore a bit while the details were worked out. The kitsune herself was rather anxious to begin exploring. She hoped this business would be done before the illusion smelling crates had been offloaded and taken away, as Mira was hoping to follow them.


"Enchanting," Anna said, with a tone that suggested it was obvious.


Awren: "You have enough rooms for us? We need seven. Alyss, what are you doing?"


Alyss was giving the paper back to Lucilius. "Thank you," he said. Alyss heard her name and turned to smile at Awrem.


"Alyss!? did she fly o-" Mira started, before seeing that the astrid was still there... and giving away her sketch. She wasn't pleased with that particular piece of art; she had given it to Alyss to lose, not show to somebody else. "Hey, no, you are suppose to see that!" the fox girl cried, swinging her arm to knock the paper down.


The paper flopped to the ground and rolled open, but there was no sign of the sketch. Instead, an intricate and precise map had overrun the paper. Lucilius picked it back up. "You really should pay more attention to your oracle," he said.


The paper spun as it fell, revealing that its contents had been added to. Alyss was holding a pen. Where has she gotten that? Behind her visor, Mira's eyes fell on the wispling as he scooped it off the platform. "You," she whispered, becoming annoyed merely at his presence.


Awren: "Alyss, don't draw on other people's things. It causes problems." Turning back to the scarecrow, Awrem asked, "You do have rooms open, yes?"


"Of course!" Anna answered. "Um...seven is a lot though, you might have to double up...but it's cheaper that way!"


Not quite ideal, but whatever. "Before these two start a fight, we should go."


Mira was letting Awren handle the transaction. The enchanter was a logical girl, and understood money better than she did, so it was probably for the best. Instead, the kitsune glared at Lucilius, who was holding the paper map in his hand. "I suppose you think that's yours to take?"


"She didn't seem to mind giving it to me," Lucilius taunted, grinning toothily.


Mira resisted the urge to stomp her foot. "Well, that's my paper, and our oracle! Since you provided the pen, I'll let you keep a copy, if you care to make one. That's a fair exchange, isn't it?"


"How generous of you, you're going to let me keep what I already have," Lucilius answered dryly. "I was considering letting you make a copy, but I think I'll pay you with a lesson instead. Pay attention to your oracle." Lucilius started to turn into smoke.


Mira spoke a word of power and grew a small ball of flame in her hand, intend on destroying the map so nobody could have it, but Lucilius dissipated too quickly. The wispling gone, she focused her attention on the other guilt party, glaring at Alyss. "You're going to have a time out." she growled, snatching the pen from the astrid.


Alyss was suddenly an owl biting Mira's hand.


Meanwhile, Anna was offering to take them to the inn in her cousin's cart, if they didn't mind waiting for him to finish loading it.


Awren: "Alyss! By Vesete, can you stop causing problems? And Mira, it's only a drawing. Don't threaten to burn someone alive over it." Harissna, keeper of the hell reserved for incredibly petty people, would have a field day with these two. Turning back to the construct again, Awrem said, "We will wait for your... cousin... to finish."


"Ow!" Mira yelped, pulling her hand away and clutching her finger as she smelled her own blood. She extinguished her flame and bit her lip, listening to Awren lecture her. Her! The one who was only trying to protect their resources, had been bested and mocked by a slippery wispling, and then bitten by an owl. She was in a foul mood at this point, and didn't want to deal with any of this right now. Mira knelt down and began running through the mental exercises Carn had taught her to calm herself.


Alyss turned back into a girl, reacting like she had no idea what she'd just done, and gingerly took Mira's hand to cast healing spell on it.


Well. Conflict resolved. Awrem silently congratulated herself.


Mira did not notice Alyss's ministrations, focusing only on her exercises until she felt in a stable frame of mind again. She had considered using the ball of fire on Alyss when she bit her. For just a moment, so fleeting she wondered if she just imagined the desire. But now she was collected, and stood to address the other students. Surely things could only go up from here.

 

[Pajamas]

(Prime joint post with Taggerung, Wixard, Martis, and myself)


Xelon tried his best to convince the others to stay together. And for the most part they did. He saw Awrem, Mira, and Alyss gathered together within sight so he only focused on the others. With the others he saw a great crystal looking being and turned his attention to it. Standing right in front of the sleepy looking hunk of crystal  and said, "Old one," he greeted with a deep bow. "I am Xelon, first tier at Nocturne. I was told you were in our party and I have wished to meet you." Xelon held Wanders in high regard, he had a theory of their origin, he wouldn't look at him directly until the wanderer addressed him.


Bartholomew was awakened, but by what? He looked to his right and left and then in front and slightly below his mid-line. His first thought was: Why is this person bowing to me, his second: How long have they been bowing? "Uhm Good evening, young story. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance..." Bartholomew had hoped that from the bow he was merely greeting him and not offering life long servitude (which has happened before). "I am Bartholomew, but the rambunctious often refer to me as Barlow."


Xelon raised his head very excited but also a bit coy (as coy as a siren can be) and said, "The pleasure is all mine, Yeros'mou." He spoke  the last word in the old tongue to test his theory a bit. "I am most pleased you will be joining us. May I ask what your study is at Nocturne?"


Bartholomew cocked his head quizzically at the old tongue word. It resonated deep within him, it was familiar, yet not memorable enough. "My main focus is Genomancy. I also dabble in the martial arts. And you?"


Xelon: The old wanderer seemed to reacted at his prod. A huge smile crept across his face but his eyebrows still locked close to the bridge of his nose. He was trying to remain coy but his excitement made him look a bit creepy... "My only focus is combat, Yeros'mou Bartholomew. That I may aid His Might my King Xenos." He wondered if the old one was what he thought it was. Would this Barlow know of the state of his people?


Mira strode purposefully out before the other students and attempted to call them to attention. "Students of Nocturne. Awren and I have located rooms for us for the duration on our stay in Crowspit. We will be heading out shortly, so gather your belongings, stay close, and make sure you have your silver. Once we have settled in, I will divide everyone into teams, and after a briefing on the town, I will release you to explore with your partner. If I catch any of you wandering off on your own, I'll do nothing and just let you go. Maybe one day they'll find your body. Anyone who finds my instructions disagreeable is also free to disappear now."


A roaring shriek split the sky. Looking up, you see a wyvern descending on the town from the northwest. It's attacking the clock tower! An explosion of flames strikes the minute hand, sending it crashing down into the street! The clocktower was just a block away, but it rose three stories high, at least one story taller than the next highest building.


As usual Bartholomew's memory was impenetrable. Something tugged at his mind, yet it eluded him. He was distracted by Mira's shouting. After registering the information he glanced back at Xelon, but his attention was immediately demanded by the attacking wyvern.


Xelon felt the shriek before he actually heard it. It was deafening. He dropped the weighted end of his meteor hammer to the ground with one end of its rope in his right hand. He removed the rest of the rope from his shoulder with his left and turned towards the beast. He bolts towards the wyvern and began to swing his hammer in a small circle close to his body. He felt his jaw loose a bit as he tried to avoid the nearby people his jaw opened very wide and he let out roar that would rival the beast's shriek. Magic flowed through his throat and it burned him like fire. He would try to blind it. At the edge of the circle of his swinging hammer what would apear to be a bubble of light would emerge and build. He released the hammer in the direction of the beast and with it the bubble of light would be sent flying towards it. If it reched its mark the bubble would burst before the wyvern's head and a brilliant light would be emitted from it.


Mira spun to face the great flying creature and it's roar carried over the town, hand raising to hover above her sword handle. "Idaina seishin haha," She breathed, frozen by awe at the destruction of the clock tower. Are we supposed to fight that? She gasped as she saw her siren friend charge at the beast and hurl his weapon like a brave Idiot! Dashing after Xelon, she grabbed his arm, trying to pull him back. "Don't attack on your own! Baka! We have no chance against that thing by ourselves!" The wyvren was huge and as a species of dragon, embodied the pinnacle of fusion between physical strength and magical power.
 


As the exciting battle ensued... Bartholomew slept in the middle of the street.
 


Alyss felt like she was waking up from a dream. People were screaming. Things were on fire. What happened? They couldn't handle things without her for five minutes?


Then she noticed the wyvern. "That's fine," she said, wondering what to do about it.
 


Running at the wyvern on foot was probably not the surest way to catch it, it moved to another rooftop as Xelon threw his weapon. It wouldn't have reached anyway.


The inquisitors were faring better. Or, at least Dane was, harassing it with bullets. The other two were helping people in the street. One of them was cutting debris out of the air with a halberd.
 


The Oni warrior from the platform stepped past her, aiming a large metal tube over his shoulder. Fire spilled from the tube as some kind of projectile burst forth. Flames trailed in it's wake, and it exploded against the wyvern's belly. The angry beast took to the sky and retreated.


The warrior mumbled something about bigger rockets, then turned to the crowd.


"My name is Hwoardin, and I am the Law. I don't tolerate troublemakers in my town. You want the rules, talk to one of my deputies. You want my help, talk to a deputy. You want a job, look at the notice board in the town square."


Xelon felt someone grab his arm, with a firm grip. It wasn't quick enough to stop his hammer from throwing the ball of light. But as he heard Mira yell at him he watched his attack miss. He tightened his jaw before he yelled back, "Would you have me do nothing?!" He turned back towards the action in time to see an explosion and the beast's retreat. He pulled his arm away from Mira. It was taken care of. The guardians of this town were good he thought. Sirens would have destroyed the beast though... He gathered his wounded pride and sauntered back towards the others. His own Naga preys on insignificant beasts like that...


The wyvern fleeing from the Oni's formidable attack, Xelon shook free of her grasp and stalked back to the others. Mira had made him upset. Fine. Let him be. Now is not the time for that.The kitsune ran to one of the inquisitors in the street. "I'm an apprentice battle mage from Academia Nocturne. I wish to render assistance, if you would direct me where to help." She had forgotten all about herding the other students.


"Ah, yes," said the inquisitor. He wore a chest plate and carried a halberd. "The battojustu student. I am Nikeshi. We should talk. It seems that the wyvern was not unexpected. The people need less help than we had thought."


Oblivious to the world around him, Bartholomew continues to sleep.

 

[Wixard]

The inquisitor is called away, leaving Mira to gather the party so that they may set off.


The cart, where it empty, would be large enough for the six of you (not including Barlo) to spread a picnic blanket in and sit down comfortably around it to eat. Stacked with boxes and bundles of varying size, you're able to find spots to sit or lie if you desire. As it moves at a walking pace, riding it becomes a matter of preference rather than necessity. The giant scarecrow seems to have no trouble pulling the cart, but he does not speak and displays only a basic intelligence.


@Rum Ham Awrem, consulting her notes, may discover that the larger scarecrow called known to some as a dullion, and the doll-like one called Anna is a simulacrum. Simulacrums can be fully independent and some can learn magic, if made from the right materials.


The winding dirt road they follow out of town takes them through farmland. There's nothing remarkable except for the variety of crops, some of which require vastly different conditions to grow. All the fields are worked by scarecrows; mostly tall, thin striders and the occasional dullion.


@Taggerung Mira has information (which she has not shared for some reason) about Crowspit which may be useful.


@Deasi Aristarchus has ready access to an Oracle should he wish to seek advice concerning dreams or visions.


Traveling to the inn takes about half an hour. Upon arriving, you find that it's not simply an inn, but a collection of buildings resembling a small hamlet. A pair of striders with exceptionally wide-brimmed hats are laying the foundations of another cottage, but there are already two, as well as barns for storing crops. The inn itself is two-and-a-half stories high. it's bulbous, mismatched nature hints at multiple expansions over the years, and the windows on the northern half o the inn do not line up with those on the south. 


Another scarecrow (a simulacrum, like Anna) comes out to greet the cart. She gives brief directions to the dullion before addressing her guests. Unlike Anna, she is made from much cheaper material. Her head is a pumpkin, and her body is fashioned from burlap. Her proportions are more irregular, her shape less precisely human than Anna's, but, she wears a medallion given to fourth-tier graduates of Academia Nocturne, specifically those from the school of Enchantment.


"My name is Anne," she says. "Please, come inside."


Inside is just as jumbled as the outside had suggested it would be. Many of the rooms are not level with each other, joined by short flights of stairs. The older parts of the building are obvious, the weathered wood faded to grey. In the older areas, every available wall has a shelf overflowing with various odds and ends. Some of the rooms have enchanting equipment, but it's the opposite of state-of-the-art. Some of the rooms have more basic tools and equipment as well, such as hand-crank sewing machines and a printing press for some reason. You're told that these sections are private, but if you need to use some of the workshops arrangements can be made. 


The newer parts have dark wood paneling on the walls, and comfortable furnishings. There is a small library, more of an alcove with bookshelves, really. There is a kitchen inhabited by a quintain with six arms, each grasping a different cooking implement. There is a seating area with a carpet and a fireplace. There is a cloakroom with a weapon rack, and there are four bedrooms, each with two beds, but none quite alike.

 

[Taggerung]

Mira took in all the details of the inn's interior, quickly reaching a decision. Turning and counting the students again, she told them all what she expected of them. "Everyone chose a roommate and book a place for yourselves. In half an hour, I want all of us to meet back here in this sitting area," she gestured to the comfortably sized carpeted room with the fireplace, "for a quick briefing before I send you all of to explore and... do whatever it is you think the headmaster expects from us, supposedly. I can guarantee that attending this meeting will be in your best interest, so I expect everyone to be here," she concluded with a hint of menace. "That will be all."

The kitsune wasn't sure if anyone would listen. She hadn't done anything to earn their loyalty or obedience, but she really wanted this to work. Maybe if she frightened them all into submission, they would cooperate. Only time would show them that following her was not a mistake.

Mira left the others to talk among themselves and figure out their rooming arrangement, She would take the last room for herself, because of all of the students, she trusted her own ability to handle trouble the most. Besides, this inn was run by a Nocturne graduate; it would be safe enough. before long she spotted the scarecrow she had met at the platform.


Anna kept coming in to peek at the adventurers. It seemed that the rock had chosen a room to himself and gone to sleep in the doorway, keeping anyone else from entering. That left three rooms, and six people. Perfect for everyone.


"Excuse me... Anna." the fox girl was still a little unnerved speaking to the construct that acted like a real person and called its creator mother. Mira sniffed curiously, trying to determine the validity of the scarecrow's claim to be 'alive,' but still smelled only cloth and magic. "Your... mother's inn is quite suitable for our purposes. May I purchase a room for the summer?"


"I was hoping you would!" Anna said, grinning. "Mom says you can have the whole suite for 40 silver dragons. That's 200 nobles, or 50 per room. Not exactly cheap, but it's a good suite."


"I..." Mira looked at the silver dragons in her pouch. 40 dragons... 50 nobles? Why was money so difficult? No wait... that 200 nobles... so 50 nobles is... ok, right. She took 40 silver dragons out of her pouch and gave them to Anna. "It is a very nice suite, and we could certainly benefit from having the kitchen and seating room as well. We will take it."


"Wonderful!" Anna said, accepting the coins. "We're going to have so many adventures together! Have you picked up any quests yet?"


"Uh, no, not yet. We are preparing to explore the town and see what we can fi-* Wait, we?" Mira shifted a bit, looking incredulous at the scarecrow. "You aren't coming, are you?" The construct was beginning to unnerve her a bit.


"Of course I am!" Anna exclaimed. "I've never had a party before, and you don't have any local guides. It's perfect!"


It was true; Mira couldn't deny it. "Very well. We are going to have a briefing in the sitting room in about 20 minutes. If you want to join our group, be there." She paced back to the others and sat, informing them that she had taken care of the payment... And seeing that Bartholomew had managed to indisputably claim one room for himself by blocking the doorway. Fine. She was in the pool for roommates now, that was all. The masked kitsune looked around to see who had already partnered up.


@Rum Ham @Martis @Wixard @Demon's Little Angel


@Deasi @Pajamas

 

[Deasi]

(Joint Post with @Wixard )


Ari only had a backpack and a satchel. He kept them with him began to explore a little. Though, he kept thinking about the Oracle and wondering if they could explain some things to him. Or perhaps it was too obvious and the Oracle would grow mad? He gulped and rubbed the back of his neck, but soon found himself walking towards the correct location. He stopped in his tracks, worried again.


Alyss had come back to her senses and was looking around irritably, trying to figure out where they were and why without having to ask anyone. At least it seemed like a nice enough place.


Ari stopped and just stared out a window. He leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, lost in thought. Thinking every detail of the vision over in his mind. Why had he received a vision? What did it mean? He groaned and rubbed his forehead. Thinking about the same thing over and over without getting anywhere closer to an answer was tiresome.


Alyss gave up. Everyone else was doing something, so she picked Ari. "Hey, where are we?"


Ari looked at her, a bit surprised she was asking him and not one of the others. He had his arms crossed underneath his cloak, "Crowspit. Guess this is the Inn we'll be staying at for the duration of the mission." His voice was soft and calm. His grey eyes didn't show much expression.


"Well, it seems nice," she said.


Ari nodded. There was a pause, and he was surprisingly enough the one who broke the silence. "We'll have to be on guard though."


"You're right," Alyss said. "We don't know what's out there."


"Beauty is a mask. Often one to cover the danger." Ari turned away from the window and leaned his back against the wall. "Anyway... are you looking forward to this?"


That was a difficult question. Alyss hadn't really thought about whether this would be fun or not. "Well...I guess so. I haven't done this before, so I don't know what to expect."


Ari nodded, "Even if you had, this would be different. Different place, different people, different happenings... if adventures were all the same, they would be boring."


"That's true," Alyss agreed. "How about you? Is there anything you're looking forward to?"


Ari grew quiet. He shrugged and seemed to stare off into space. "J-just being out there..." he responded softly.


Alyss watched the boy drift off, wondering what he was thinking about. Was there a place he'd rather be? Alyss's problems followed her anywhere, so it didn't much matter to her. But that didn't mean it was the same for other people. She took his hand, gently, to keep him from wandering off. Uh-oh. What was she supposed to say to him?


Ari jumped a little, snapping back to the moment and looked at her hand around his. He began shaking. "Uh... um... d-did you say something?" He stuttered wondering if he had zoned out and missed something.


Alyss let him go. "What's wrong?" she asked.


Ari ran his fingers through his hair as he tried to calm down. "N-nothing... just wondering if a place is real, I guess. No, sorry, uh that sounds stupid. Forget I said anything." He looked down and shuffled one foot.


"A dream?" Alyss guessed.


Ari looked at her, then nodded slowly.


Alyss pulled him gently into one of the rooms. "Tell me about it," she said.


Ari's eyes were wide. He looked confused and surprised that she wanted to hear.


"How did it start?" she prompted. Usually, dreams were nothing, but sometimes, they were more than dreams. Hopefully, she wasn't wasting her time.


Ari looked at her for a long time, staring into her eyes deciphering if she was serious. He relaxed a little when, to his great shock, he saw she was. He rubbed the back of his neck, "W-well... it's twisted with Druid things..." he shuffled one foot. "It starts out in the woods, somewhere around here. I got separated from the group and am running from some large hungry creature. I trip and roll down a hill in the midst of an ancient stone structure. The creature doesn't follow. Smaller gentler animals approach and get me to follow them. There's distant music from fairy pipes. It grows louder as we walk along. The place is calm and feels magical." He stopped, worried he was boring her.


"Is that it?" Alyss asked, wondering why he'd stopped.


He shook his head.


"Well go on then!"


Ari jumped a little, but nodded and cleared his throat. "R-right. We, um... we reach an opening in the forest and rock formations, a pond out in the middle. Not far off, a girl in green is sitting on a large rock near the water. She addresses me by name and says she's been waiting for me. I find out later that she's a shrine angel. She called me there for help, but turns out I wasn't ready for what she needed. So, she doesn't tell me what it is... in the mean time though, she gives me a different task." He stopped and rubbed the back of his neck. "I just keep thinking about it..."


"A shrine angel?" Alyss asked. "Did she give you her name? Tell you where you were? Anything?"


Ari nodded and looked thoughtful. "Her name is Liliana. Green Glades; she said it was a sacred and protected Druid place right next to the most dangerous part of Crowspit. She said only a Druid can find it, if led."


Alyss sat down. Those were some hefty names. Ysmara. Liliana. Green Glades. If Aristarchus was having visions of those things, there had to be more to the skittish druid than anyone here realized. "You...you can't dream about sacred places, or archangels, shrine angels, or gods. Their likeness and names belong to them and can't be borrowed by any dream."


Ari looked at her a bit confused. It made sense, but he had been having visions like this since he was a kid. He didn't answer and just nodded, watching her as she thought.


Alyss grilled Ari about the details of the dream, asking him to retell different parts of it over and over. She took notes as she went, drawing diagrams and pathways between different words. "Okay," she said at last. "I think I can figure it out."


Ari finally felt like he was allowed to sit down and flopped back into a chair. He took a few deep breaths. "R-really? How?"


"Visions are my specialty," Alyss said, feeling useful, for once. "I'll need to prepare some things. We'll need some kind of item connected to Liliana, or I could teach you to make a totem, if we can't get one. Then we'll need a good place to meditate."


Aristarchus nodded. "Alright," it sounded interesting, and he wanted to know more. He wanted to learn to figure these things out on his own one day, since they happened so often.


"Keep your eyes peeled for a place where different kinds of druidic energy meet in balance, a harmonious spot on the border between field and forest, or an island where two rivers meet, or a clearing on top of a well-positioned hill."


Ari listened internally and nodded. "Will do."

 

[Rum Ham]

(Joint post with Pajamas)


The inn's architecture was an interesting departure from common sense, but Awrem could find no particular reason to complain. It was confusing and chaotic, but at least it held up so far. As she was searching for somewhere to put her things down, she overheard the small scarecrow and Mira rather loudly discussing payment and lodging. It would have been hard not to, really. Evidently there really wouldn't be enough room for everyone individually, and the stone creature's insistence on sleeping in a doorway meant that there was even less room for them all. Oh well. Rooming with that statue would be outright dangerous. Who, then, to room with? Awrem didn't want to be burned alive over a misplaced pen, so Mira was out. Alyss, tolerable as she was, would likely cause too many problems. Obviously the druid and red-haired girl weren't ideal either, leaving one option. Fortunately, Awrem had heard only good things about Xelon so far. She decided she'd have to find him.


Xelon was very confused by the crowscarers... scarecrows... Whatever they were. He had heard of them before but didn't realize they were a living race of beings. He tried to stop himself from staring at them on their way. The Inn that they were to stay in reminded him of the outskirts of his home prefect. The parts that no one had lived in for hundreds of years... When Mira "dismissed" them even though they never formally put her in charge he thought about who he might like as a roommate. The old one confused him and he might frighten Ari further if they were forced to share quarters. So that left one of the girls but he hadn't a clue who to chose. He still hadn't met Awrem, at least not officially...


Well, there he was. It seemed odd that Awrem hadn't yet spoken to Xelon despite being on that train for a few days in a row. If she had, maybe the 'group leader' wouldn't be someone with such violent anger issues. Oh well. What was done was done. Time to make new things happen. She approached him. "Xelon, we have not properly met. I am Awrem." She held out her hand to shake. She heard somewhere that people in the outside world did that, and it seemed like the kind of thing you'd do when meeting new people.


As if the girl had read Xelon's mind she came up to him and introduced herself. Maybe she does read minds... Xelon eagerly shook Awrem's hand. She seemed very polite. "Forgive me, I had hoped to have met you on the train but it was a bit chaotic. Its my pleasure to make your acquaintance." He bowed to her shallowly and respectfully before he released her hand. "Do you have a lodging mate in mind yet?" He asked a bit more telling than he meant it to sound.


So far he didn't disappoint. "I don't, but that is what I meant to ask you about. Do you?" Please, merciful and loving Vedess, whose grace extends to all but those who disrespect sturgeon, don't stick her with Mira.


Xelon was taken aback a bit. She does read minds!!! He gave her a sideways trollish sort of grin. "Why no, I don't yet. Would you like to room together. I have a few odd sort of habits being from an underwater realm but I am respectful and I'm told I'm easy to live with. It could be a good way to get to know each other since we met this late in our travels." Since this Awrem could read minds he was convinced she already wanted him as a lodging partner.


How could it possibly be this easy? This absolutely had to be a gift from Vedess. "I would, yes. I am told you are a strong, clever warrior. If this is true, then you are a good person to know." She smiled. For once, it was passable. "Please remind me, what is it you study?"


Xelon thought he had won this exchange the girl gained a clever warrior in him sure enough but a mind reader is the greater prize! And Awrem was not without her own charm either. She had manners that put most of the other students to shame, at least by a siren's standards. And she had very pleasant features for a human. Can humans read minds? Maybe she wasn't human. Xelons eyes narrowed to match his grin. He didn't realize it but he looked as though he was teasing her. "Right! Well that was easy, now maybe we can have first pick at our room!" His face looked much more normal now. "I am a first tier combat student. Though I am no stranger to combat. And yourself?" Xelon was glad this worked out!


Perfect. "Yes, we should go find one. I study enchanting, though I can defend myself." Not that she had ever tested her skills in real combat, but there was no need to tell him that. "I suggest we pick whichever room is farthest from Mira's in case she lights hers on fire."


Xelon let out a deep and sincere laugh at the thought of Mira burning the building down. He didn't mean it but his laughter would be very enticing. It probably wouldn't affect Awrem due to her mind magic. He stopped laughing immediately once he realized Mira could have still been close by. He scanned the room to see that she was still talking with the crow-scarer girl. He also noticed Alyss and Ari went off to a room together. "Agreed far as we can from Mira." He said this in a hushed tone but he was mostly joking. "Looks like we get second pick Alyss and Ari seem to be rooming there together already." He gestured towards the direction they left to. "Shall we?" Xelon offered her his arm as he would any other girl.


Xelon had a surprisingly enjoyable laugh. Awrem almost laughed herself, though she was unaware of any joke. She found herself presented with his arm, which must have been some outsider custom. Because she could obviously walk on her own, she knew that this would never fly back home. However, the gesture seemed to be much less of a big deal here, and it would be unwise to offend her roommate before even seeing the room, so she took his arm. "Do you suppose they'll room together as well?" The fact that Rista was interacting with someone was a surprise.


Xelon thought maybe the best room would be closest to the entrance of the building."How about the closest room to the exit? For just in case purposes?"


"Good idea. I expect there will be enough windows to jump out of too." Awrem had only started to think maybe they should take that room. Was it possible that Xelon could read minds?

 

[Adorable Monster]

{Joint Post between me and Taggerung.}


 It was just Micki and the one person she had such a creepy feeling about. Glancing at her with curious eyes, Micki awkwardly clutched her hands tightly to her sides. There was no way she was going to ask her to room with her. No way in hell.


Everyone else had left. There was one partner left. It was Micki. There was one room left. It was at the end of the hall. Mira cocked her head as she examined the frightened looking human girl before her. Seemed rather boring, but she wasn't irritating like Awren or a handful like Alyss. Micki would do. "It would seem we have room four. We should put our things away and get settled while we still have a chance." 


Mira could see that the girl was going white once more. If she clutches her skin any tighter, she'll break it again. the kitsune noted. How is this student supposed to handle a monster in a fight if she couldn't cope with a friendly one passively occupying the same room?


"O-oh. Okay." Recoiling a bit in surprise, Micki looked at Mira and nodded. I guess it would okay to bunk with someone like this. It's not like I am having to heal or anything. 


 "Sure. I do not mind." 


Micki picked up her bag and headed towards the one last room. There was nothing more for her to say, so she opened the thick wooden door and stepped back to allow Mira go first. 


Mira was pleased with the gesture. Maybe she supports me as leader. None of the other students had done anything to show that they cared on way or the other, except Alyss who had nominated and backed her initially, and Xelon, who was probably still upset with her.


She entered the room and claimed the bed closest to the window, placing her small travel case on top to unpack later. the kitsune had never been traveling, and decided not to bring much luggage. Some things were more a hassle to keep track of than they were worth. waiting for Micki to enter and take care of her own things, Mira gazed out the window at the little assembly of buildings that made up the inn compound.


 Stepping into the room after Mira, Micki set her small pack of belongings onto the bed nearest the doorway. "I apologize if I seem awkward or frightened." She wasn't even sure why she was even saying this, but she continued, her emerald eyes going from the door to the window where Mira was gazing out of. "I am not the most social of people." 


 Well, that was one way to explain yourself Micki. With a sigh, she rubbed her aching temple. Beginning to unpack her small bag, she placed her small box of magic to the side of the bed, out of the way of feet, yet close to her in case of any trouble. Besides that box, and a few clothes, that was all she owned, and all she really needed.


 Finished with unpacking, Micki climbed on top of her bed and played with her necklace that was around her neck, a small bright blue globe, reminding her of the sky. 


 "What should we do now?" 


"That's ok." Mira replied still looking outside. "I don't mind if your awkward or unsociable. You don't have to force yourself to be something you're not." Her voice took on a strange tone as she finished, almost as if she wasn't talking to Micki in particular.


When Micki was done, Mira told her to come on out to the sitting room where she would tell everyone what she knew about the town and how they would keep track of the teams and know if anything was amiss. "Don't forget to close the door behind you." She finished, slipping out of the room.


"Coming." Hurrying after Mira, she followed close behind her, Micki's crimson hair flowing behind her. Keeping in step behind Mira, she awkwardly looked from one person to the next, watching every expression that crossed each person's face.