On the road again [Lunar Fury]

Najya All Mice


"Perhaps there is a bath inside, ay?" said Najya, getting back to her feet with the crackle of tired joints. "Talgus may like smelling like the wrong end of a donkey, but the rest of us might like some soap and water." Her ears pricked forward; if Talgus's entrance was not followed by crashes and screaming, she'd follow him in.


Peering over Amina's shoulder, Najya sighed in relief at Khavad's now-regular breathing. "Looks like he'll live to make the ladies swoon again, ay, 'mina?" she said, aiming a friendly tongue-swipe at her blood-sister's shoulder. "Pfft, you really do need that bath!"
 
The sprites shake thier heads. "No, the cave is for Master Bal. If he wishes to let you in, it is his choice. Until then, you can join us in our home. Come." Several of the little ones gently lift Khavad up and carry him to a nearly invisible path, leaving a few to guide the rest of you, and a few at the cave looking stern.


They lead you to a treetop village similar to the Ewok one in Return of the Jedi. The settlement is widespread but not crowded, and at a guess you would think that there may be as many as several hundred residents. You are escorted to one of the larger buildings. It looks like a town hall or some sort of meeting room, but the only one you can see that looks close to your size. Small size blankets and pillows are being brought in for you, and for your bathing needs, one of the sprites tell you of a waterfall that they use.


Everything you see around you is very forest friendly, with the walkways and rooms made from living wood. Beautiful carvings and paintings decorate the walls, and in the room you are taken to, several tapestries decorate the walls. "Make yourselves comfortable. If you need something, just call, and if you wish to visit Master Bal as he rests, you will find him down the path to the east, then turn to the left. Food will be brought shortly."
 
Amina Ten-Spears


She had finally released her war-form, now that she no longer had to support her brother almost completely. Amina now studied the settlement, and the size of the people living on it, then glanced at Najya. "D'ya think that little folk like them would be after building platforms able to support us big folk? Still, they haven't been collapsing on us yet, so I will be trusting them for now."


The young woman stretched with none of the grace of her friend. "But, tired as I am, I'd be preferring a bath before I sleep." With that, Amina left the hall they were shown to, heading towards the waterfall the strange goblin-men had talked of.
 
Eva


Being somewhere she's unfamiliar with and at the apparent mercy of little green people has her on edge, but you'd never know it.


"Well, she called the shower so I'll see you guys later."


With that, she turns into a red squirrel with tufted ears [3m Personal] and leaves with a bound out the window, chittering away as she scampers up the side of the tree and off into the village at large.


["Casing the joint" as it were, looking for points of interest, potential escape routes and getting her bearings in relation to the rest of the world; Wits+Survival 5d.]
 
Najya All Mice


"'mina, wait up!" called Najya, shifting back into human form and hurrying along to the bath. Little green people, pfft, she thought, trying not to stumble as her feet got used to being in shoes again. That's solars for you, I s'pose: got to be flashy about everything. Me, I'd have made cat-servants...less mouthy, anyway. Wonder what they get up to when they're not startling the life out of us? Glancing around for signs of industry, she grinned to herself. A factory-cathedral was certainly not something she was expecting to see among the branches.


Her boundless curiosity, though, was rapidly being submerged by her excitement at the sound of the waterfall. A bath! And then sleep, sleep in human form on something soft with a blanket and pillow! Right then, she'd have happily given up a pile of artifacts for a clean, uninterrupted night's sleep.
 
As Eva begins her exploration, she sees that the sprites have done much to live with their forest enviornment instead of making the enviornment live with them. It makes for a very peaceful effect.


One thing you notice quickly is that the initial estimate of the numbers in the tree village may be a bit low. It looks like there may be as many as four hundred living above the ground. Much of what you see is typical daily life in a small community. The sprites seem to be hard workers, and the word of 'Master Bal' returning has put the little ones in a fesival mood. Workers sing while performing their tasks in a language you don't recognize. Probably a specific dialect that they use.


Eva also finds several different routes that can be taken to ground level. Most of these do have some traps and defenses about them, but aimed at keeping things on the ground from going up, not the other way around. There are a handful of guards at the lifts, armed with a variety of weapons. Mostly spears and bows.


Going up, you make a find of a Wood-Aspect Manse in the treetops in the center of the village. At first look, you don't see where the Hearthstone for it is.
 
Amina and Najya head down the path that was pointed out to them for the waterfall. Soon enough, you see a clear stream of water pouring out from a cleft in the tree. The water is quite brisk, but invigorating. As you bathe, some of the sprites come and join you. As you get a better look at them, they are green skined women about half the size of a person. Also, they look like close sisters. From what you remember, all of the sprites you have seen look nearly alike.


As you dry off, you hear soft singing from the trees around you in a language you don't understand. Probably a local dialect.
 
Najya All Mice


Shaking the waterdroplets out of her braids, Najya twisted and secured them close to her scalp with the ease of long practice. "Ah, we smell like people again and not smelly oxen, ay?" she said, pleased with herself. The water had been near-frigid, but the air was warm enough that her goosebumps quickly subsided, even if she'd have preferred a longer soak.


"Shall we have a look around, 'mina?" she said, holding her robe into the water again and scrubbing it with the strange, herbal-scented soap the green sprites had provided them. The gray linen would dry quickly even in the humid jungle, of course, and there was no harm in going clad only in her last clean undershift until the rest of her clothes were laundered. Hanging the robe on a convenient branch, she added, "Perhaps we could go check on that brother of yours?"
 
Amina Ten-Spears


She finished hanging her clothes on the branch next to Najya's, leaving her with her last mostly-clean tunic and trousers. "I hope these are being dry by morning..." she muttered, then quickly paid attention as Najya spoke.


"That's after sounding like a good plan," said Amina. Her braids were undone - she didn't really feel like going through all the effort of reworking them when all she really wanted to do was visit Khavad and sleep. She bit back huge yawn, then continued. "Mind you, not a long visit. He needs his rest."


The young woman glowered at her companion. "And yes, that was after being aimed at certain young Lunars in the vicinity. The very, very close vicinity."
 
Eva


The red squirrel snorts approval at the emergency exits and makes her way back to the pack's appointed chamber to wait for the munchies as a girl [1m Personal].


Her mind wanders as she peers out a window of the little building, watching the shadows and sun-beams dance around the leaves and the green people at their lives. The sound of water in the distance and scent of green makes her wistful of home, her parents, her siblings, even her husband (a childhood friend and good person that spoke her own language, even if he wasn't her first choice in lovers). Mmm... Lovers... And she begins absent-mindedly tracing the moonsilver tattooes over her upper arms and shoulders with her finger-tips.


Be mine, she'd said, in a voice like silk.


That mean you're mine?


(And she'd smiled then,) There are many that would claim me if I let you. Would you fend off the whole Silver Pact?


Long as I'm one of'em claims you I'll fight or not fight as you say so. If you get to choose me, I get to choose you.


And it had been the sweetest kiss Eva had ever known.
 
Najya All Mice


"Off we go then, and if your brother's still asleep, why, we can follow his example, ay?" said Najya, slipping into sparrow form and flitting her way back along the path to make sure Amina was close behind. Bet he'll be wherever the little green ladies are all excited, she thought, darting upwards to get a better view. Can't blame them; he must've been gone for ages. All ladies, looks like? Little giant, I didn't know you had it in you!


In a cheerful mood now, Najya landed on a high branch, twittering to herself and surveying the tree-village with her black, shining eyes. She'd left plenty of room for Amina's mospid form, too, but she didn't fancy trying to fly as something big through the foliage. Ah, well, now where would the little giant be resting? Someplace big enough for him to lie down, ay?"
 
A short flight later, you find a small sleeping chamber housing Khavad. He's sitting up, propped up by pillows, having a conversation with one of the sprites. The first thing you notice is that he's chatting away in their dialect as if he's been doing it for years. Second, the sprite is wearing a ornate headband with a Hearthstone fit in it. He looks up with a grin and gets up slowly.


"Najya! 'Mina! I'm glad to see you!" He gives both of you a big hug that shows off just how much he's build up muscle, and a kiss for each, with the one given to Najya seeming to linger just a bit longer than just friendly. "This place is amazing! I feel like I've been here before, even though I've never set foot in these trees. And everyone keeps calling me 'Master Bal' for some reason. Kinda wierd, huh? Is everyone ok? I don't remember much about traveling here." He rubs at his chest where the arrows had struck him. The skin is smooth and unblemished. One of the gifts of the Unconquered Sun is rapid healing for your young giant. Lucky for him.
 
Amina Ten-Spears


Amina squeezed her brother back. "You're after looking better, little brother. Did these little fellows bring you enough oxen to cannibalize?" She glanced at his torso, where the arrows had left...not even a single scar. "My regeneration is still faster. Perhaps you might be after looking into a way not to get hurt at all?"


She gestured to her companion (incidentally thumping her in the shoulder warningly - it wouldn't do to let her get ideas now that Khavad was better again) and continued, "She is having a way of dodging absolutely any attack she can see. Maybe you can be doing something like that?"


She glanced at the big, bulky, slow young man. "...except, perhaps, by not getting hurt when you are getting get hit?"
 
Najya All Mice


Grinning more like Amina's hyena form after the lingering kiss, Najya shrugged, blushing a little under her tan. "Any attack I know about, ay, but it takes loads of practice, an' we haven't got the time. Maybe you left some armor 'round here last time you came through?" At Khavad's odd look, she exclaimed, "Oh, right, you weren't in any shape to hear! It turns out the artifact we're looking for, the one that binds demons? Well..."


After Najya finished explaining what she'd remembered about the history of Gideon Bal, along with the information that his last incarnation entrusted the green sprites with the care of the cave until he returned. "...so that's why you remembered it, ay? When you get done lounging in the lap of luxury, maybe we could go check it out?" Feeling momentarily a little shy, she ran a finger over his chest where the arrows had been. "You don't look any worse for the wear, little giant. Don't scare us like that anymore!"
 
Najya's blush is not lost on Khavad; he slips his hand out to cup her cheek and look directly in her eyes. "Don't worry. It will take much more than a few arrow to get rid of me. Lets go check out this cave and see what the big deal is."


Khavad heads out to the walkway and leads the three of you to a vine lift. As you drop to the ground, you are joined by two of the sprites. They dance and jump around like kids on a trip to the park. With their tiny voices, they ask all about you, and hardly give you any time to answer one question before the next one comes.


It takes a few moments for your eyes to adjust to the low light inside the cave, but as you go foreward, you see a soft glow from up ahead. The cave walls lose their rough texture and are clearly carved and polished, and covered with detailed designs.


The tunnel opens up to a plush entry hall decorated with paintings and tapestries, statues, and objects that you can only guess their purpose. Khavad slowly walks around the room with a look of wonder on his face. "This place, I know this place. These things. LIke this," he picks up a jewled statue. "This was a gift from a vizier from Gem. I can almost see his face in my mind."


Instead of a dry, dusty hole in the ground, you have come across a luxurious villa filled with treasures from centuries ago. Khavad shows you several different rooms before guiding you to a large workshop room. Tools of all sorts are neatly arrainged on tables and wall racks. Items and gizmos that boggle the mind fill the room. One display that catches your eye, is a suit of Orchalcum plate armor on a stand with Bracers and a Dire Lance. Khavad picks up the Lance and spins it in his hands with a ease of many years of practice. His face lights up with a smile. "I feel like I have finally come home."
 
Najya All Mice


Najya let out a low, impressed whistle. "If my cousins could see this, they'd be cursing their past selves for sending you on your way, and I can't say I'd blame them. Good thing the little sprites guarded the hoard so faithfully, or it'd ruin markets from here to the Blessed Isle!" Surely, and I'm glad this all stuck around until we got here. Hopefully this'll take Khavad's mind off leaving home...and Amina's mind off those warstriders, she thought. The treasure itself was impressive, but her eyes were quickly growing used to the gleam of jewels and precious metals.


"That armor might do some good in keeping your hide intact, little giant?" she said, pleased that a solution to his vulnerability was so close at hand. "Let's see you in it, ay?"
 
Amina Ten-Spears


Amina glanced around her, interested despite the churning of her stomach and the thoughts of the destruction that four Warstriders could wreak. Wonder of a lost Age abounded in every direction, as far as the eye could see, and she couldn't identify a one of them. "You were after being quite the prolific craftsman then as now, eh Khavad?" she joked awkwardly, as he spun a lance he couldn't have seen before.


"So...what else are you having here that's interesting?"
 
After some exploring, Khavad, Amina, and Najya climb back up the trees to the room where River and Laughter are resting. River tells you that Laughter is showing signs of waking up. Once Eva comes in, everyone spends some time sharing what they have seen and found.


That is, until the door to the room is smashed in by a well placed kick!


The figure in the doorway is a Lunar in its war form, a bird totem, most likely a owl. Armor of bone and Moonsilver cover the figure, along with fearsome claws and bracers. A Daiklave is held in the left hand, and a staff is in the right. The bright anima flare shows signs that powerful magics have been reciently used.


The figure steps into the room and slowly drops the war form to reveal a battered and bleeding Kieroon with a thundercloud over her head. "What the hell is the matter with you? When you didn't return to the hotel like you were supposed to, I went looking for you. What I found was a city in flames and they Wyld Hunt going berserk! What did you do? Is this your idea of keeping a low profile? If this is what I'm to expect, it will be a miracle if we live long enough to find the talisman and stop the demons and fae from destroying all of Creation!"


She pauses and directs her glare at Eva and Khavad. "Who the hell are you?"
 
Najya All Mice


Gods of heaven and earth defend us, thought Najya, ducking her head down, but at least Khavad's okay and I got a bath. I don't think she'll kill us. Hopefully.


"Steward Kieroon, this is Eva, sent here by a friend of One Tusk, and Khavad, Solar and brother to Amina Ten Spears," she said, adding in a formal bow but leaving out the flourishes. "My blood-sister's and my visit ended in a quick reunion with Talgus Blood River and Unyielding Laughter in the company of another Solar, and the Wyld Hunt arrived on their heels." Now, too, she wished she was in her warform, or at least her caracal body; she could feel her ears wanting to go back, but they lacked the musculature to do so at the moment.


"Khavad and Laughter both recieved wounds at the hands of the Hunt; as we had wounded who could not shapechange, we fled here on the strength of Khavad's memory. The inhabitants of this place have succored us and healed the wounded, and here we have recieved another piece of information that may prove interesting to your stewardship: the sprites have identified Khavad as the reincarnation of Gideon Bal, the maker of the artifact we seek." There, maybe she'll be interested enough to keep from sending any more splinters into my hide. She looks angry enough to tear the whole village apart, and I don't want to see what the little green ones look like on the inside.
 
Amina Ten-Spears


Amina leaped to her feet as the door crashed in, trying to raise hackles that weren't there. She slowly un-bared her teeth as she recognized the Lunar beneath the war-form, and settled back on her haunches. Idly, she prodded Laughter with a toe - his faking unconsciousness was not fooling anyone. Besides, Kieroon looked to have some sharp questions, and Amina would rather have Laughter or - even better - Talgus answer them than Khavad or Najya.
 
The dark cloud over Kieroon's head does not diminish as she stomps inside. Normally, someone her size trying to look scarey and fierce don't do so well. Not her. She may be short, but she has a sense of power to her that makes you take notice.


She slowly circles Khavad and Eva, looking over each one as if she is deciding which one to carve up into finger food first. She glances over at Amina. "He's your brother? And he just happened to recieve the shard of the greatest artificer of the First Age?" She shakes her head in apparent disgust, then suddenly lashes out with a nasty punch at his head. The blow never lands, however. Khavads hands move in a blur and he catches her fist in his own. "Not bad, little boy. Perhaps, if you are lucky, you will live long enough to learn a bit more than that."


Turning her full attention on Eva, the Steward begins her verbal attack. "You were sent by a friend of One Tusk? What's his name? Where is his domain? Why were you there?" You get the feeling that the wrong answer could be quite hazardous to your health.
 
Eva


Oh not again. With an air of indignant authority that would shame a new Dynast she crosses her arms and stares the woman down. "His name is Lucas Sharp-Smile. His domain is none of your business. He's a friend of mine; I stopped to say hi, and he sends me farther and faster than I really appreciated to look after these folk."


"And just who


are


you."
 
"I am Kieroon, a savant in the Silver Pact. I know Lucas; he was a part of One Tusk's circle many years ago. If you were sent by Lucas, do you know to what purpose your comrades travel?" Once she is satisfied that you have some idea about the upcomming Fae invasion, she continues, "Fine then. One Tusk is a skilled warrior, but he is not the most skilled loremaster. He called me for help. Once I found out exactly what we were dealing with, I set out with these others to reclaim the talisman that was hidden in the old city of Rathess. We had stopped to let the children go play with their friends, and the result is a disaster! Scores of people are dead and the city is in ruin!"


She stomps over to the still prone form of Laughter. Prodding him with her foot, she leans over and says in a drippingly sweet voice, "Its time to get up from your nap, dearie. If I don't see some life in you now, I'll cut out your liver with a spoon."


To the rest of the group, "We leave within the hour. Too much time has been wasted with this nonsense."
 
Najya All Mice


Najya sighed as quietly as she could, hoping not to attract Kieroon's attention again. It figures; Talgus and Laughter let us take the brunt of it, even when they're the reason the city was destroyed! They might explain what happened to Kieroon themselves; all we know is that they showed up with a loud Solar and an armful of jade weapons while Amina and I were having lunch. With Khavad. Oh, thank you gods of heaven and earth, he's okay. Gathering up her pack, she gave a sidelong glance to the young Solar; he seemed hale enough, if rather confused. Hiding a blush, she quickly turned away before he caught her looking.


When she felt like her cheeks were no longer ablaze, she finished gathering her pack and prepared to go fetch the clothes she'd hung out to dry. "'mina, I hope your clothes are dry too," she said, rather ruefully. The thought of how many days would pass without the opportunity for more than a tongue-bath in caracal form was depressing. For that matter... "Eva, if you wanted to rinse off, best take advantage of that hour, ay?" If Talgus and Laughter wanted to reek their way into Rathless, she wasn't going to stop them.
 
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