Trial by Fire - IC Thread

[Random Word]

Maja flares her wings and circles the broad chamber to burn speed before alighting gently on the balcony. No one traps a fortress, except maybe in a retreat, and then the traps are quickly assembled things not built to last the ages. Still, no reason not to be cautious. Her soul is murmuring to her, something about touching that odd piece of glass beside the door. It sounds silly, but maybe it's a pressure plate, and her soul has suggested stranger things that turned out to be right. Today, even. If the pressure plate is connected to a water vessel it's likely long since dried up or clogged, but the mountain is still flying, so who knows how this thing works.

She suddenly feels very much alone. If the people who built this could make fortresses invisible and mountains fly so long after they died, their anger is probably terrible to behold and just as long lived. Aroca said Tah-Rue was waiting for her. She hopes that means she isn't desecrating anything. Fortresses can sometimes become tombs. Badly tended tombs. She takes a few deep breaths, then presses her back against the wall beside the glass plate and oh so gently reaches out a hand to touch it, letting her soul guide her fingertips in what seems to her a random pattern, the rest of her muscles coiled to leap away at the least sign of danger, breath held.

Why does it matter where she touches the plate, anyway? It's not like a pressure plate can tell the difference.

 

[Sherwood]

Maja flares her wings and circles the broad chamber to burn speed before alighting gently on the balcony. No one traps a fortress, except maybe in a retreat, and then the traps are quickly assembled things not built to last the ages. Still, no reason not to be cautious. Her soul is murmuring to her, something about touching that odd piece of glass beside the door. It sounds silly, but maybe it's a pressure plate, and her soul has suggested stranger things that turned out to be right. Today, even. If the pressure plate is connected to a water vessel it's likely long since dried up or clogged, but the mountain is still flying, so who knows how this thing works.

She suddenly feels very much alone. If the people who built this could make fortresses invisible and mountains fly so long after they died, their anger is probably terrible to behold and just as long lived. Aroca said Tah-Rue was waiting for her. She hopes that means she isn't desecrating anything. Fortresses can sometimes become tombs. Badly tended tombs. She takes a few deep breaths, then presses her back against the wall beside the glass plate and oh so gently reaches out a hand to touch it, letting her soul guide her fingertips in what seems to her a random pattern, the rest of her muscles coiled to leap away at the least sign of danger, breath held.

Why does it matter where she touches the plate, anyway? It's not like a pressure plate can tell the difference.

With the first touch on the smooth plate, it lights up in a quick rainbow of colors that quickly goes on to match the glow of your anima. There is a heavy 'clunk' deep inside the door, and it slowly starts to shift open. A whiff of dry, stale air comes puffing out, causing a brief coughing fit. It quickly clears up, letting you look inside for the first time in Sol only knows how long. It is dark, but with the light of your anima still glowing, you can see a corridor leading away deeper into the heart of the mountain.

Lying on the floor just inside the door are four bodies, withered and dried out from an untold number of years gone by. Not very surprisingly, they are all wearing some sort of uniform, but what may be a bit more startling is the fact that they all have drawn weapons and have fallen in combat, with dark burn marks visible on their lightweight armor from some kind of projected energy or Essence weapon.
As you glance down at the four dead figures, a slight flicker of light catches your eye to one side. There is a control pad on this side of the door, and the light is coming from it. Slowly, the glow intensifies as more power is routed to the panel, and then, an image of a three-dimensional geometric shape forms in the air.



It is a little larger than the size of a large man's fist, and the blue glowing crystal-like design points itself at you, and it appears to be looking you over, if it is at all possible. The different pieces of the shape twist and reform, and it says something in what you recognize as Old Realm, but you don't understand what it is saying. It continues to hover a few feet away at eye level, obviously expecting some sort of reply.

 

[Random Word]

Maja curses when she sees the bodies. This place is probably cursed, and these bodies haven't been given rites. They could rise up at any moment. Her uncles told stories about bodies that would lay dead and silent until the team had passed, only to rise up once no one was looking. When the blue light flickers Maja almost jumps out of her skin and quickly muffles an entirely undignified scream.

It speaks the language of Spirits, so it's probably not a ghost. If it is a ghost, it's the worst kind of ghost. She backs up slowly and bows without taking her eyes off it, ready to bolt if necessary, "Honoured Spirit. I, uh, apologize for the intrusion."

 

[Psychie]

As time goes by, Spider is starting to get a bit antsy. She wants to be out and about looking for this mystery flying fortress, not having tea with the locals. She glances over at Kuaidao, suddenly thinking. Maja flew on ahead of them; she's probably here already and looking about and getting into trouble. "Um, as enjoyable as this has been, we should be out and about, looking for the traces of the old fortress that we seek. Thank you for your hospitality."

 

[Sherwood]

Maja curses when she sees the bodies. This place is probably cursed, and these bodies haven't been given rites. They could rise up at any moment. Her uncles told stories about bodies that would lay dead and silent until the team had passed, only to rise up once no one was looking. When the blue light flickers Maja almost jumps out of her skin and quickly muffles an entirely undignified scream.

It speaks the language of Spirits, so it's probably not a ghost. If it is a ghost, it's the worst kind of ghost. She backs up slowly and bows without taking her eyes off it, ready to bolt if necessary, "Honoured Spirit. I, uh, apologize for the intrusion."

The spirit-thing bobbles in the air, twisting about. Suddenly, it speaks again, this time matching you in talking in accented Skytongue. "Processing complete. Please state your designation."

 

[Sherwood]

As time goes by, Spider is starting to get a bit antsy. She wants to be out and about looking for this mystery flying fortress, not having tea with the locals. She glances over at Kuaidao, suddenly thinking. Maja flew on ahead of them; she's probably here already and looking about and getting into trouble. "Um, as enjoyable as this has been, we should be out and about, looking for the traces of the old fortress that we seek. Thank you for your hospitality."

Sasha and Renault both stand and offer up a smile. "Of course. You may go where you will, just please remember that your presence has caused a bit of a stir, so you may find yourselves the subject of much curiosity."

As you step out into the open once more, Rory rumbles out, "Well, wasn't that fun? So! Where do we go to try to find this citadel?"

Walking along, Melinda says, "The Titan is inside this mountain, and it is what is keeping it in the air. All we need to do is dig our way in deep enough and we'll find it." She glances around at the many faces watching you as you walk. "We should find a place where we can be somewhat isolated, so we don't cause any concern from the locals. Once we have that, I can pull out a few tricks from my sleeve that will get the job done."

 

[Random Word]

Well, now at least it's Skytongue, but it's still making about as little sense. It's done making something? And it politely wants the condition of her... what does that last word even... her titles, maybe? Does she even have a claim to her titles anymore? Her family may well have disowned her by now, or at least disinherited her. This Spirit doesn't know that, though, and they'll have to put her in the line of succession again if she comes home with a flying fortress. Okay, that's definitely not important right now.

Why in the world does it want to know her titles? Maybe it thinks she's a local noble. Spirits are strange and unknowable. She draws herself up and recalls the few etiquette lessons she didn't sleep through to give a proper introduction, "Fruava Maja Visby, third rank, second branch of the line of polar explorer Håkan Visby, eighteenth in line of succession to the clan council seat that is his blood right. At your service, great Spirit."

 

[Sherwood]

Well, now at least it's Skytongue, but it's still making about as little sense. It's done making something? And it politely wants the condition of her... what does that last word even... her titles, maybe? Does she even have a claim to her titles anymore? Her family may well have disowned her by now, or at least disinherited her. This Spirit doesn't know that, though, and they'll have to put her in the line of succession again if she comes home with a flying fortress. Okay, that's definitely not important right now.

Why in the world does it want to know her titles? Maybe it thinks she's a local noble. Spirits are strange and unknowable. She draws herself up and recalls the few etiquette lessons she didn't sleep through to give a proper introduction, "Fruava Maja Visby, third rank, second branch of the line of polar explorer Håkan Visby, eighteenth in line of succession to the clan council seat that is his blood right. At your service, great Spirit."

The spirit replies, "Designation not previously listed in my files, but it has been a long time. Greetings, Noble Fruava Maja Visby. I am TARU. You are the first to walk these halls in thousands of years. How may I assist you?"

 

[jaydude]

Sasha and Renault both stand and offer up a smile. "Of course. You may go where you will, just please remember that your presence has caused a bit of a stir, so you may find yourselves the subject of much curiosity."

As you step out into the open once more, Rory rumbles out, "Well, wasn't that fun? So! Where do we go to try to find this citadel?"

Walking along, Melinda says, "The Titan is inside this mountain, and it is what is keeping it in the air. All we need to do is dig our way in deep enough and we'll find it." She glances around at the many faces watching you as you walk. "We should find a place where we can be somewhat isolated, so we don't cause any concern from the locals. Once we have that, I can pull out a few tricks from my sleeve that will get the job done."

"Wait a minute." said Kuaidao, sounding quietly alarmed at the implications of what he'd just heard. "You're saying the flying fortress is the reason this mountain's airborne?"

Spoiler: Kuaidao Stats

Essence: 2
Personal Essence: 16/16
Peripheral Essence: 30/40

Committed Essence: 10

Willpower: 5
Join Battle: 7 dice
Health Levels: -0, -1, -1, -1, -1, -1, -1, -1, -1, -1, -1, -3, Incapacitated
Resolve 3, Guile 2

Attacks
Guardian Host (Orichalcum & White Jade Daiklave): 14 W. Accuracy, 11 D. Accuracy, 15 Damage, Overwhelming 4 (+3 ACC, +12 DMG, +1 DEF, OVW 4) (Lethal, Melee, Chopping)
Straight Sword: 13 W. Accuracy, 11 D. Accuracy, 12 Damage, Overwhelming 2 (+2 Accuracy +9 Damage, +1 Defense, +2 Overwhelming) (Lethal, Melee, Balanced)

Actions
Rush: 10
Disengage: 8

Evasion 4, Parry 7
Soak/Hardness: 11/7 (Dauntless, Soak +8, Mobility Penalty -1, Hardness +7, Attune 5)

 

[Sherwood]

"Wait a minute." said Kuaidao, sounding quietly alarmed at the implications of what he'd just heard. "You're saying the flying fortress is the reason this mountain's airborne?"

Spoiler: Kuaidao Stats

Essence: 2
Personal Essence: 16/16
Peripheral Essence: 30/40

Committed Essence: 10

Willpower: 5
Join Battle: 7 dice
Health Levels: -0, -1, -1, -1, -1, -1, -1, -1, -1, -1, -1, -3, Incapacitated
Resolve 3, Guile 2

Attacks
Guardian Host (Orichalcum & White Jade Daiklave): 14 W. Accuracy, 11 D. Accuracy, 15 Damage, Overwhelming 4 (+3 ACC, +12 DMG, +1 DEF, OVW 4) (Lethal, Melee, Chopping)
Straight Sword: 13 W. Accuracy, 11 D. Accuracy, 12 Damage, Overwhelming 2 (+2 Accuracy +9 Damage, +1 Defense, +2 Overwhelming) (Lethal, Melee, Balanced)

Actions
Rush: 10
Disengage: 8

Evasion 4, Parry 7
Soak/Hardness: 11/7 (Dauntless, Soak +8, Mobility Penalty -1, Hardness +7, Attune 5)

Melinda smiles. "Yes indeed. What were you expecting? Some tiny little castle in the sky? No, this is a flying city capable of housing many thousands inside it. In order to use the Citadel to its full potential, all of this," she motions with her hand at the surrounding buildings, "will have to be removed."

 

[jaydude]

Melinda smiles. "Yes indeed. What were you expecting? Some tiny little castle in the sky? No, this is a flying city capable of housing many thousands inside it. In order to use the Citadel to its full potential, all of this," she motions with her hand at the surrounding buildings, "will have to be removed."

Kuaidao let out a frustrated sigh, half because of this unforeseen complication, and half because Melinda was acting so blasé here.

"If I'd known about this from the start, I probably wouldn't have been interested in searching for this fortress." he admitted. "What about the people who've already made a home here? Are you planning to drag them into our war when we bring the Citadel back with them on board, or displace them so that we can make use of it? What if they refuse to let us take it? Are we supposed to go to war with these people for no other reason than them wanting to defend their homeland?"

Spoiler: Kuaidao Stats

Essence: 2
Personal Essence: 16/16
Peripheral Essence: 30/40

Committed Essence: 10

Willpower: 5
Join Battle: 7 dice
Health Levels: -0, -1, -1, -1, -1, -1, -1, -1, -1, -1, -1, -3, Incapacitated
Resolve 3, Guile 2

Attacks
Guardian Host (Orichalcum & White Jade Daiklave): 14 W. Accuracy, 11 D. Accuracy, 15 Damage, Overwhelming 4 (+3 ACC, +12 DMG, +1 DEF, OVW 4) (Lethal, Melee, Chopping)
Straight Sword: 13 W. Accuracy, 11 D. Accuracy, 12 Damage, Overwhelming 2 (+2 Accuracy +9 Damage, +1 Defense, +2 Overwhelming) (Lethal, Melee, Balanced)

Actions
Rush: 10
Disengage: 8

Evasion 4, Parry 7
Soak/Hardness: 11/7 (Dauntless, Soak +8, Mobility Penalty -1, Hardness +7, Attune 5)

 

[Random Word]

Thousands of years. She figured, but wow. How did those people live on the slopes all these years and never find this? Some people just don't have the spirit of an explorer.

"It is, um, an honour to meet you, great Tah-Rue," says Maja with wary optimism. This whole, 'show up and ask nicely' thing was really underrepresented in the great tales. She can't have been the first to try it, and it was really proving remarkably successful both here and at the invisible fortress. The stories were usually full of defying death and solving ancient riddles in the nick of time. Did they all just embellish for a good story? Maybe Bagrash Kol was just a complete nut and everyone before him didn't think covering their houses in fiendish traps was a reasonable hobby.

The Spirit was waiting. She should probably try to come up with an answer. What did she want, anyway? Oh, right. Another door. One for normal people who walk. Wow, how had she survived when she had to walk everywhere? It seems so long ago now. Focus.

"Great Spirit, are there other entrances to your hallowed halls? Uh, maybe more suitable for supplicants on foot? Oh! And can I ask for a blessing Great Spirit Tah-Rue? What offering might persuade you to move the mountain?"

 

[Sherwood]

Kuaidao let out a frustrated sigh, half because of this unforeseen complication, and half because Melinda was acting so blasé here.

"If I'd known about this from the start, I probably wouldn't have been interested in searching for this fortress." he admitted. "What about the people who've already made a home here? Are you planning to drag them into our war when we bring the Citadel back with them on board, or displace them so that we can make use of it? What if they refuse to let us take it? Are we supposed to go to war with these people for no other reason than them wanting to defend their homeland?"

Melinda looks over at Kuaidao and asks, "Without a crew, how did you expect to be able to operate the citadel? It needs people to make it work, and the interior space is large enough to comfortably house all the people on the mountain here and have room to spare. We need an army to fight the Deathlord, and these people need a place to live once we declutter the outside of the Titan. I see it as a winning situation all around."

 

[Sherwood]

Thousands of years. She figured, but wow. How did those people live on the slopes all these years and never find this? Some people just don't have the spirit of an explorer.

"It is, um, an honour to meet you, great Tah-Rue," says Maja with wary optimism. This whole, 'show up and ask nicely' thing was really underrepresented in the great tales. She can't have been the first to try it, and it was really proving remarkably successful both here and at the invisible fortress. The stories were usually full of defying death and solving ancient riddles in the nick of time. Did they all just embellish for a good story? Maybe Bagrash Kol was just a complete nut and everyone before him didn't think covering their houses in fiendish traps was a reasonable hobby.

The Spirit was waiting. She should probably try to come up with an answer. What did she want, anyway? Oh, right. Another door. One for normal people who walk. Wow, how had she survived when she had to walk everywhere? It seems so long ago now. Focus.

"Great Spirit, are there other entrances to your hallowed halls? Uh, maybe more suitable for supplicants on foot? Oh! And can I ask for a blessing Great Spirit Tah-Rue? What offering might persuade you to move the mountain?"

The spirit continues to float around, keeping its attention on Maja. "There are other entrances, but most are blocked by the debris that is covering the exterior of the fortress. The debris will have to be cleared in order to access any other entrance." Then, when you ask about moving the mountain, the response is, "Movement is not possible at this time. The citadel is in station keeping mode, and without increasing the power output of the reactors, hovering is all that is possible. Also, all movement commands must be made from the control throne in the command center."

 

[Psychie]

Spider looks over at Kuaidao and Melinda, feeling the tensions rising up from the Solar. She says, "Hey now, before we get too far ahead of ourselves, lets at least take a look at what this fortress can offer us, and if it can even work the way we hope it will. Melinda, what's your plan to get to this thing, considering that it is somewhere under all of this?"

 

[Random Word]

Maja stares nonplussed at Tah-Rue for several seconds of incomprehension before she gives up. That first bit she followed. She's pretty sure the second bit was a, 'No'. The spirit seems to want her to take sacrificial offerings out of the... temple? Village? called Re-ak-tor and offer them up in a chieftains audience chamber? That's a funny place to make offerings. She hopes it doesn't want her to sacrifice the chieftain or shamans of Re-ak-tor to move the fortress. She further hopes Re-ak-tor isn't the name of one of the villages on the slopes. She's not okay with that. Even if it's not her people. Even to save Creation.

The door thing. Focus on the door thing. That part she understood. "Great Tah-Rue, would you guide me to the least obstructed of the passageways into your halls, that I may clear it and supplicants might enter?" She had no idea if anyone was interested in worshipping Tah-Rue, especially if it was going around demanding they sacrifice their village chiefs, but she had a perfect memory from the gem in her spine, and maybe Melinda would be able to make sense of this Spirit's weird Skytongue.

 

[Sherwood]

The door thing. Focus on the door thing. That part she understood. "Great Tah-Rue, would you guide me to the least obstructed of the passageways into your halls, that I may clear it and supplicants might enter?" She had no idea if anyone was interested in worshipping Tah-Rue, especially if it was going around demanding they sacrifice their village chiefs, but she had a perfect memory from the gem in her spine, and maybe Melinda would be able to make sense of this Spirit's weird Skytongue.

The floating object bobbles in the air. "Compliance! Please follow me." It turns and begins to float down the passageway, moving quickly enough that you will have to walk quickly in order to keep up.

As you hurry down the hall, you notice that even with as long as this place has been locked away, there is no dust on the floor coming up underfoot. It leads you along, and as you go, you spot more dry and mummified bodies littering the floor; several dozen of them on this level, in fact. TARU guides you down, deep into the depths of the citadel. It is a mind-numbingly large place, easily larger than many cities you have seen, and this is just a small slice of the whole of the place you are running through.

Finally, you are brought to another door and TARU comes to a stop. "Here, Noble Exalt. This doorway has approximately a hundred and twenty feet of rubble between it and the surface." It continues to float nearby as you look to the doorway.

 

[Random Word]

Maja nods and sets to work, and her form rushes to comply. Her anima, dimmed slightly by the passage of time, surges back to its full brilliance. Her muscles swell and sinew strains as she tears into accumulated earth with her claws, casually pulling free hunks of metal and lodged boulders to hurl back into the great hall behind or use as levers to pry free the next. She doesn't need to fully clear the hall, merely make a person sized hole that probably won't collapse, so she piles debris to the sides of the corridor behind her as she advances, occasionally pausing to shove huge piles of it out into the great hall to make more space. She works tirelessly, and with impossible essence fuelled strength and speed makes quick work of the obstacle before her, letting out a cheer as the first shaft of sunlight in thousands of years breaks through.

Spoiler: Mechanics

5m 1wp for war form, 3m for Surging Thew Technique
That gets her Strength 7, Stamina 5, and if she can complete a feat of strength she completes it in dramatically reduced time.

If you'd like me to roll, I can throw in an excellency.

 

[jaydude]

After listening to Spider's words - and silently accepting that he hadn't considered the possibility of recruiting the locals here - Kuaidao calmed down a little. Sure, they could check out the citadel before anyone else, and perhaps look into persuading the people upon this mountain to join them in their war. But if they refused, there were likely to be problems. Kuaidao had had enough of Exalted doing as they pleased during his Scarlet Empire days; he didn't really want to go down that route himself if he could help it.

Spoiler: Kuaidao Stats

Essence: 2
Personal Essence: 16/16
Peripheral Essence: 30/40

Committed Essence: 10

Willpower: 5
Join Battle: 7 dice
Health Levels: -0, -1, -1, -1, -1, -1, -1, -1, -1, -1, -1, -3, Incapacitated
Resolve 3, Guile 2

Attacks
Guardian Host (Orichalcum & White Jade Daiklave): 14 W. Accuracy, 11 D. Accuracy, 15 Damage, Overwhelming 4 (+3 ACC, +12 DMG, +1 DEF, OVW 4) (Lethal, Melee, Chopping)
Straight Sword: 13 W. Accuracy, 11 D. Accuracy, 12 Damage, Overwhelming 2 (+2 Accuracy +9 Damage, +1 Defense, +2 Overwhelming) (Lethal, Melee, Balanced)

Actions
Rush: 10
Disengage: 8

Evasion 4, Parry 7
Soak/Hardness: 11/7 (Dauntless, Soak +8, Mobility Penalty -1, Hardness +7, Attune 5)

 

[Sherwood]

Maja nods and sets to work, and her form rushes to comply. Her anima, dimmed slightly by the passage of time, surges back to its full brilliance. Her muscles swell and sinew strains as she tears into accumulated earth with her claws, casually pulling free hunks of metal and lodged boulders to hurl back into the great hall behind or use as levers to pry free the next. She doesn't need to fully clear the hall, merely make a person sized hole that probably won't collapse, so she piles debris to the sides of the corridor behind her as she advances, occasionally pausing to shove huge piles of it out into the great hall to make more space. She works tirelessly, and with impossible essence fuelled strength and speed makes quick work of the obstacle before her, letting out a cheer as the first shaft of sunlight in thousands of years breaks through.

Spoiler: Mechanics

5m 1wp for war form, 3m for Surging Thew Technique
That gets her Strength 7, Stamina 5, and if she can complete a feat of strength she completes it in dramatically reduced time.

If you'd like me to roll, I can throw in an excellency.

Even with the great strength and phenomenal endurance of the Lunar Exalted, it takes Maja quite a lot of time to break through the rock to get to the surface and out into the fresh air and sunlight once more. Taking a few deep breaths, you are able to start to regain your spent energy, even if you are quite in need of a bath and a cool drink of water.

Looking around, you can see that you are towards the bottom of the mountain. It is now late afternoon, and the temperature is dropping fast, especially in the shadow of the mountain. It is unlikely to get anywhere as close to as cold as it is up north, but after the physical exertion of the past few hours, the cool breeze is quite welcome.


Elsewhere on the Slope, Rory, Melinda, Spider and Kuaidao make their way to a quiet and unobserved location where the Sidereal pulls out several crystals from one of the many pockets of her robe. Tossing them down in the dirt in front of her, a group of large ants the size of small dogs appear. Melinda looks over at the rest of you, saying, "Mercury Ants. Earth elementals that will do the job of clearing our way into the Titan with ease." Turning her attention to the small swarm of Ants, she says to them, "Dig your way into the mountain and find a way inside the structure underneath, leaving a path large enough to allow us to enter. Once you have done so, you are free to go."

The Ants clack their large mandibles together, then one says, "Noble Exalt, we shall complete the task." The five then begin to tear into the earth, moving the ground out of the rapidly growing hole with ease.

Melinda takes a seat on a nearby rock to wait for the Ants to complete their work with a smile. "There. All we have to do now is wait."

 

[Psychie]

As the ants do their work, Spider looks around, feeling a bit of growing concern. "We haven't had any sign of Maja in a while. Anyone have any ideas on how to find her? I don't want to lose her to some trouble that we could have taken care of if we were together. I'm half ready to take to the air and start scouring the place to find her."

 

[Sherwood]

Melinda reaches into her pocket and pulls out a small spider. She holds it in her hand and speaks to it, saying, "Where is the Lunar Exalt known as Maja located right now?" With a small flash of Essence, the spider vanishes, just to reappear a moment later. The Sidereal says, "She's below us, further down the Slope than we are right now. Right down that way somewhere, roughly a half mile from us."

 

[Psychie]

Spider nods, saying, "I'll go find her. Be right back." She stands up and shifts her form into an eagle. With a powerful downsweep of her wings, the Lunar takes to the air and heads off in the direction that Melinda indicated.

 

[Sherwood]

After searching for a few minutes along the path that Melinda indicates, Spider does come across Maja standing in front of a large hole in the ground, covered in dirt and breathing hard from exertion. It seems that she just bashed and dug her way out from underneath the ground here and is not just getting over a nasty fight with some unseen foe.

Random Word and Psychie You are now together. What do you do?

 

[Random Word]

She would be sorely in need of a bath, if this collar didn't shed the sweat and dirt from her as fast as she could accumulate it. Instead she emerged as if she had just dressed for the day after a morning bath, clothes freshly laundered and pressed, and smelling faintly of pine and heather.

The drink, though, that would be nice.

As spider alights Maja smiles and gestures down the partially cleared hallway excitedly, "Spider! I found the great Spirit of the mountain-fortress-thing, Tah-Rue, but I think it's gone a bit crazy down there after all this time. It said it would only move the mountain for us if we sacrifice someone powerful from Re-ak-tor on a throne. There isn't a village on the slopes called Re-ak-tor, is there?"