| Logs |
2008 October 26
| When The Bough Breaks |
| Realms |
Retired
| Reality Fault |
General Info
 |
| Realms: Bough Logs |
First Movement, Fourth Verse
It is while Norris and Jareth are conversing with Pietr, Skallgrimson, and Ulflinde, that a man walks up to Jareth and asks quite directly and simply, "What trouble have you gotten yourself into this time?" All three -- including Mikal, who is hidden amongst the foliage nearby -- recognize him as Tomas, one of the village's oft-times night watchmen. Needless to say, his abrupt question makes the three alfar pause and blink.
Tomas nods to the three strangers and says, "'scuse me sirs." Turning to the blacksmith he says, "G'Day Norris" He continues to glare at Jareth.
Jareth waves to Tomas with a big, cheery grin.
Jareth is still grinning, "I didn't do it this time, Tomas. Swear to the One. They sent us out monster-hunting, there was a man that the critters really seemed to like and then he brought us here. Blame him."
Norris responds automatically with a friendly smile at a familiar face, knowing Tomas a bit better than others on account of his late nights at the forge, somedays. Engrossed in the conversation with his new associates, it takes him a moment to realize that Tomas is *here* in a world that is not the one they grew up with, and seeming to take things okay.
Tomas remembering how he got here, Tomas backs down. "A likely story," he grumbles, "But I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. Are you no gonna introduce me to your friends?"
The plaza is certainly large, and there are a lot of people milling about. Some are taking a passing interest in the coterie that has gathered involving Jareth and Norris and Tomas. Most appear to be elves, a few appear to be other mortal dreamers, and there's one rather large raptor-wolf sniffing around the area nearby.
Tomas looks aghast at the raptor-wolf. "How in the name of the One did that get here?!?"
The goat-herd can't help laughing a little, "Anything's likely here. So far, there are dragons, beautiful elf-women, palaces..." He trails off and ahhs as he sees what Tomas is staring at. He looks around peers into the bushes, "Mikal! You might want to come out of your hidey-hole!"
Tomas says, "Och aye, no-one's going to hurt you.""
Jareth smirks, "Least of all Raphael. Mikal! You're the only one that can translate, beautiful. You might want to get out here."
Norris steps in at Tomas's reaction, neither wanting Raph to get his hackles up, or for Mikal to get upset. "Hey, now, Tomas, s'awright. The wolf is...a friend. An certainly not more scary than world-eating wasps." he assures, trying to put himself between the two, and looking at Raph with what he hopes is a calming smile.
Mikal peeks out cautiously... then blanches when she sees what Tomas was staring at! She whisks swiftly out of the underbrush, her expression a mix of worry and defiance as she stands firmly between the raptor-wolf and the others, one hand resting on his powerful humped shoulders, "Leave him alone -- he's with me!"
Mikal gives Norris a worried, relieved little smile at his efforts.
Norris nods at Mikal, and looks back at Tomas. "Th' wolf is Mikal's brother." he says with all seriousness and no preamble. As if it made perfect sense...which to him, it does.
Tomas chuckles softly, "If I wanted to hurt him we would be tussling even now. If you say he's your brother, it's good enough for me."
Jareth adds glibly, "That's not my fault, either."
Mikal, who bristles about as convincingly as a barely-walking fox kit, relaxes a bit at Tomas's words. She leans to hug the big predator about the neck, adding, "His name is Raphael." After that she falls silent, looking around a bit nervously.
Jareth flashes his grin at Mikal, glad she's not hiding in the bushes any more.
Armaros steps quietly towards the group from the direction that Tomas approached them. "Ah. I am glad, then that you do know each other."
Mikal blinks a bit startledly at Jareth... then looks behind herself, wondering who he's smiling at. Oh -- must be Armaros. She looks back at the others, then whispers nervously, "So, um... can we accidentally fall into the mirror if we walk off the edge here?"
Tomas says, "Don't try. It was nasty there.""
Norris looks utterly confused by her query, and then he remembers what the natives call 'The Mirror' here. "Huhwhut? What happened, Tomas?"
Armaros shakes his head. "No, you would simply float in the 'water' there. But please don't jump in; it would take a while for us to send someone down with a rope to retrieve you.
Mikal thinks carefully for a moment, then stares at the ground as she asks, "Isn't th-that wh-where you said our other selves that are dreaming us are, or something? -and that's where weapons are found?"
Mikal says, "That and the wild, or something?"
Jareth says, "So, we could swim in it if we wanted to?"
Tomas says, "Some great worm attacked village. When Nico and I went to track it back, I went into the cave to kill it but it knocked me into the Mirror in its death throes.""
Armaros says, "On the other side of the Mirror, yes. And there are magics that can reach those pockets that are actually in the Mirror." He adds after a moment, "Mikal, I ask for your forgiveness. It was improper of me to snap the way I did. I can only offer the excuse of personal troubles of late as explaination, and I understand that is hardly an excuse. Please forgive me for my rude retort."
Tomas contiues, "I floated around in Mirror, drifting to this 'Void' hole, when I got rescued."
Mikal's face turns red, and she keeps staring fixedly at the ground, "S-s-sorry I was -- was r-rude."
Norris blinks. "That must be sommat worm." He looks at Armaros. "Might be this lend theory t' th' idee that the monsters in our dream worl' be a bit more than just stuff in nightmares, hey?"
Armaros shakes his head, smiling. "You had every right to ask the question you did, Mikal. It was my fault for not realizing this is all new and scary for you all. I shall remember that from now on, I promise."
Norris puts a protective arm around Mikal during her time of vulnerability as Armaros and her talk.
Armaros looks to Norris, considering. "Very likely. The worms that Tomas describes are parasites on the bodies of the spider-wasps, parasites which exist in the Dreamtime. But their presence is a good sign, actually; if this is the first you have seen them, that means they are only recently appeared, and so the spider-wasp only recently came to your world. So there should be a great deal of time to deal with it."
Tomas says, "Aye, there is that. Armaros here said it was a dreamspawn or something."
Mikal relaxes a bit, leaning into Norris and smiling nervously up at him.
Tomas says, "Now will one of you please explain how you got here?"
Mikal takes a deep breath, bracing herself, then managed to hastily get out, "S-so howdowegetthosemagicsplease?!"
The three alfar have been watching curiously this reunion of mortals. Ulflinde says, in answer to Mikal's question, "Well, the magics aren't a problem. We can provide talismans or teach spells that will open up such caches. The problem is just finding them. Most of the locations of the caches are scattered.
Norris is a little flummoxed by all the conversation going on at once. "Yew explain it, Jareth, yer more concice'n me." he suggests, as he looks back at the elves they just met looking bemused at this sudden interruption. "Sorreh bout that, folks...looks lak we gots a new refugee from our worl'." he drawls in explanation.
Mikal turns her gaze in some relief to the elf woman, "Is that how it is in the wild place too?"
Jareth grins again, "I told you! This man named Myrddin apparently smells like dinner to khidra, so they were packing up to go eat him and we found him. Then he opened up this door and brought us through to meet his friend Virgil who flew us by a spider-wasp and then brought us here."
Tomas looking back and forth, puzzled, "Magic?", looking at Mikal, "Myddrin?" looking at Jareth. He looks at Norris, as if to say something but closes his mouth.
Mikal shudders, remembering how horrible that had been, and turns her face into Norris' chest.
Ulflinde nods to Mikal. "Pretty much. If anything, it's easier since a cache in the Wyld can be opened by a mortal without magic."
Mikal murmurs muffledly to Ulflinde, "Thank you!" She's still a moment, then peeks sideways, adding, "D-do we need training to d-d-do that?"
Tomas asks "Spider-wasp? That would be the great git of a spider thing?
Jareth nods, glancing over to make sure Mikal seems OK with Norris and Raph, "That would be a spider-wasp, yup. And apparently one of them's trying to eat the planet the village is on. Why it would want to, I have no idea."
Norris strokes Mikal's hair, looking sympathetic to Tomas's confusion.
Ulflinde bites her lip, and Skallgrimson answers, "Training to open caches? No. Training to get to where the caches might be? Ah... yeah, that might be strongly recommended."
Mikal stays leaning against Norris -- she finds him weirdly calming just now, although she's not sure why. She whispers nervously, "Wh-what kind of t-training, please? A-and who does it?"
Tomas says, "It did have a big rock all webbed up, and Dabo said that the rock was where village was."
Tomas chimes in, "And when do we start?"
Skallgrimson says, "Well, not training so much as just getting experience of travelling in the Wyld. It's somewhat different from what you're used to.
Mikal says, "Howso?"
Norris's brow knits, then as some of what's being said starts to fit together. It's easy to physically comfort Mikal...he's just like a big puppy, and it's relaxing for him to do things he knows he can do. "Wait...so now our village really is in danger...cause th' spider wasp is attackin it from th' outside?" he queries, to clarify.
Sakllgrimson considers for a moment. "Well. There are forests there, like you seem to have in your dreamscape. But the plants and animals might be different. The lay of the land will be different. Some terrain you might never have encountered before. And you may need to be tougher to defeat some of the creatures out there."
Mikal nods to Norris, "The horror thing is trying to eat it. We have to kill it."
Armaros explains to Norris, "Not exactly. The worm-things are parasites on the body of the spider-wasp. The spider-wasp isn't attacking directly."
Norris looks quietly unhappy. "Then we caint really go home, can we. We wanna help, we gots ta do it from out here, not from inside." he murmurs, more to himself than anyone else. At Armaros's words, his head tilts. "Is that th' way this wasp 'ere works? Th' worm things soften up a world, or sommat?"
Mikal nods in silent unhappiness at Norris' words about not going home.
Tomas says, "Its more like gall wasp. It will lay egg in the rock, and grub will hatch and eat its way out. At least I think that was what Dabo said."
The elves look at each other with expressions that clearly say 'Better him than me!' Armaros bites his lip. "Not... exactly.--" He pauses as Tomas says it, then nods a little.
Mikal shudders at Tomas' words, umwittingly making a small, very unhappy sound and turning her face into Norris again.
Ulflinde clears her throat. "But come. Let's see what we can do about getting you folks involved against the spider-wasps. I heard the Seneschal bemoaning the dearth of available mortals earlier today. That way, the more powerful you get, the closer we all get to wiping out all the spider wasps, not just the one in your world."
Mikal shivers at Ulflinde's words, wondering what the Seneschal does exactly with the mortals he or she doesn't have enough of.
Jareth is keeping his distance from Tomas. He's not looking nervous, just prudent. He's been caught out by him one too many times.
Tomas says, "Don't you worry yourself. There's the four of us, and I'm told there are others helping. We should take down the great git of a spider thing and all its ilk and then worry about the getting home part." The worry in his eyes belies Tomas's brave words.
Norris marvels at Tomas's self-assured words, clearly not yet twigging to the look in his eyes. "This 's why you's a good watchman, Tomas." he drawls. "But yew need t' do better wi' the countin. There's five." he adds helpfully.
Raphael helpfully 'wurfs' at Norris's correction.
Mikal smiles at Norris, then takes a deep breath again, one hand closing nervously on Norris's belt as mental support. To Ulflinde she says, "Wh-where's this Seneschal who's using up the mortals then?"
Norris blinks. "Wait, whut? Usin' up?"
Ulflinde blinks to Mikal, then laughs softly. "She's not 'using them up!' There's just so much to do, there's never enough to deal with everything. And it's not all 'go here, fight Big Bad Monster, avoid becoming lunch, and come back,' I promise."
Norris considers that. "Ah dunno. Not becomin' lunch 's pretty high on mah list o' things t' do."
Ulflinde says, "There's a lot mortals can do that we aethyrs can't do. Opening caches in the Wyld is only the start. Rowan is inside the castle, right here. Do you want me to take you to her?"
Mikal sighs in some relief, nodding once, then says, "S-so where is she, please?" She bites her lip in chagrin when her voice cracks with nervousness. She keeps her mouth shut, simply nodding emphatically to Ulflinde.
Tomas looks at the raptor wolf. He chuckles as he says, "Oh that one I was counting. It was him I'm not too sure of," jerking a thumb at Jareth. "Too many pretty women here."
Norris opens his mouth to refute Tomas...and then shuts it again, and looks sidelong at Jareth.
Jareth looks injured. Or tries to. It doesn't really work very well, "I'm not a complete cad, Tomas. I spent an entire night with Mikal once and didn't so much as get a kiss out of it."
Ulflinde smiles, then hugs Skallgrimson. "You go back to the tower, brother, I'll meet you there. And you, Pietr, don't you have a 'mucking great phallic symbol' to make a hilt for?"
Pietr raises his hands as he rolls his eyes. "I'll be sure to tell Tyrsdottir that. In all seriousness, Norris, if you get some time, please feel free to come to the mines and ask for me, I'll be happy to show you the forges."
Tomas turns to Ulflinde. "Get us involved? You'll have trouble trying to stop us."
Tomas says, "It shows she has sense."
Mikal blinks at Jareth, "You did?"
Norris looks appreciatively at Pietr-of-the-magical-gold-hammer. "Would yew? Be most kind. Ah mean, ah's just an apprentice back home...by th' master said ah had promise. An makes more sense t' be makin stuff fer fightin' the wasp and his worms than t' just be repairin' wagonwheels annat sorta thing."
The slightly-too-pretty goatherd looks injured for real this time, "The day I met Raphael. When you slept at my hut."
Pietr nods cheerfully, then he and Skallgrimson take their leave. Ulflinde waits patiently, a foot on the steps that lead up into the castle.
Mikal says, "Oh! That's right. We all curled up together to stay warm." She adds to Tomas, "He brought blankets out for Raphael and me."
Mikal hastily heads towards Ulflinde, calling Raphael and adding to the elf, "Sorry, lady!" She adds to the others as she hastens, "Come on!"
Jareth trots to catch up. He puts an arm around Mikal if Norris doesn't stay right by her.
Tomas says, "I suppose we should see this seneschal person."
Mikal looks inquiringly at Jareth, whispering, "Did I say something wrong?"
Norris was a little slower than Mikal, but lets Jareth take his place as he walks alongside Tomas. "Always best thin t' be talking t' the folks in charge." he agrees. "Glad t' hear th' village is safe, fer now...but with so many folks missin, people must be worried awful."
Raphael lollops relaxedly forward past Mikal, past the elf woman, and into the building, where he looks around, sniffing interestedly.
Jareth shakes his head, smiling down at Mikal, "Not a bit of it. You're doing just fine except for the scampering off like a bunny."
Tomas says, "I suppose so." to Norris, "but we have to keep them safe as best we may from here."
Mikal blushes, looking hastily away, "S-s-sorry!"
Tomas says, "Besides, it has been a busy day and we need somewhere to settle in."
Norris nods assuredly. "Yew said it, fella."
Jareth pats Mikal's shoulder, "Don't worry about it. It's a startling kind of place."
Mikal nods several times, quite emphatically, at that comment! She patters hastily after Ulflinde.
Norris watches Mikal and Jareth together, and leans in to talk sotto voce with Tomas. "Ah love Jar lak he wuz mah own bother, but yew're right that he gets distracted by th' ladies. An e's already taken with sommat the exotic folks 'ere. Yew think e' needs to be kept an eye on?"
Tomas whispers back, "Nay, he's a good lad. When push comes to shove, he'll have is head set on right.
Norris grunts. "Ah think that world eatin' wasps do go beyond push or shove." he drawls grimly.
Ulflinde leads the group in through the vast, vaultlike doorways into the courtyard of the castle. The cobblestones seem to form a decorative mosaic, and the white gypsum walls continue on the inside. Many are elaborately carved in almost classical patterns, not only abstract suggestions of vines and trees but also statuary and bas reliefs. The buildings are solid but somehow seem organic in a sense; not at all displeasing to the eye, there are very few sharp corners within the courtyard to be visible. The main keep of the castle is atop a slight rise, but Ulflinde is leading the group to a large hall thats just to the right of the entry. "Seneschal Rowan meets with folks in the map room," Ulflinde explains. "It helps her to get a better picture of where everyone is and what's going on."
Mikal looks around in awe, her mouth open and her storm-gray eyes wide with surprise and wonder -- she's never seen anything like this in her entire life! She closes a hand on Jareth's sleeve, following him blindly. She's busy craning her neck to try to look everywhere at once at this fairytale place.
Tomas follows. He is scanning his surroundings, keeping alert for trouble. He brings up the rear of the group to discourage stragglers.
Raphael idly sniffs around a bit, then snorts and sighs, shaking his heavy mane back. He heads over with his swift, ground-covering trot, his formidable claws click-clicking on the stone floor, and passes Ulflinde again once she opens the door.
Jareth nods at that, "It's good to keep an eye on where people are. Doesn't help much if they change their patrol every night, though."
Norris is promarily focused on the walls...as a crafter himself, he's most appreciative of the fine craftmanship of others...but the click of toenails on the stone makes him smile over at Raph. "Smell anythin' interestin', fella?" he queries, even though he hardly expects a response. Or maybe he does. He is, after all, a person.
Raphael snorts dismissively again, shaking his head. Clearly he's not fond of clean, well-swept courtyards.
Jareth's eyes are everywhere at once. This is the sort of place where you could explore for years and not see all the details. That thought makes his eyes gleam.
The 'map room' is past a pair of heavy wood doors, then through another branching corridor into a large circular room. The room is dim and comfortably cool. In the center of it is a circular table illuminated from above; the heart of the table is a circular mirror about four feet in diameter, with four points along it's circumfrence marked off. The rest of the table -- in total, ten feet in diameter -- shows a dizzying panoply of terrain and formations. The walls are also covered with more conventional vellum maps, and there is a constant stream of people in and out, carrying messages and delivering orders.
The center of attention in the room seems to be a stocky, yet stately elf woman of apparently middle age, in dark brown robes and leaning, lightly, upon a gnarled oaken staff. She watches the maps carefully, and listens with ears that appear to miss nothing -- including subtext -- to any message that she receives.
"That's her," Ulflinde murmurs to the group. "Seneschal Brehon Rowen. Rumor has it she was Seneschal of the Autumn Palace as well, before the Godswar."
Mikal nods blankly at the elf woman, then obediently turns her startled gaze to the Seneschal. Her eyes widen at sight of how many folks are kowtowing to this woman, and the little human girl starts to fade shyly back behind Jareth. Raphael, on the other hand, paces slowly through the room towards the Seneschal, sniffing interestedly at the people he passes.
Ulflinde is already leading the group to the Seneschal, when the woman looks down a little in susprise at the raptor-wolf. By the time Ulflinde reaches her, the woman seems to be having an animated conversation with Raphael, and she looks up at the others, giving a quiet smile. "Ah, here's your companions," she says. "I understand you only recently arrived at the Winter Palace. Welcome."
Tomas stains to look at the map while waiting for Ulflinde to make an introduction. "Uncle Oswind would give his eye teeth to see this," he mutters to himself.
Mikal blinks startledly, peering carefully out from behind Jareth. She whispers to Raphael, [Can you hear her talking to you, Raph?!]
Jareth puts a hand behind himself for Mikal to hold onto if she needs to. He follows along blythely, eyes shining at all the maps. There's a lot of information here. A wealth of it.
Tomas says, "G'day to you," After a slight pause, he adds "Ma'am.""
Mikal closes one hand on Jareth's, the other on his forearm -- it feels sort of bracingly suportive.
Norris bows stiffly to the regal seneschal. "Yew gots quite a place here, yer ladyship." he drawls.
Raph looks to Mikal, and gives a 'whuff' of affirmation.
Jareth grins his best grin and bows the way he's seen some of the visiting entertainers bow, "We're altogether honored to meet you, Lady."
Mikal's eyes widen even more at that! She ducks as Jareth bows, to stay mostly out of sight, and adds excitedly to Raphael, [How amazing! This is the first time it's ever happened, isn't it?] A moment later she curiously adds, [What did she say?!]
Rowan inclines her head. "We try, friend, we try." She seems a bit surprised, but also flattered, by Jareth's gesture. "You'll orgive me if I do not return the gesture, lad, I fear my back isn't quite what it used to be!"
Raph quietly informs Mikal that Rowan immediately recognized him as a mortal and was quite curious as to when he had arrived and if there were others.
Jareth is still grinning, "Backs are overrated anyway. It's the mind that's important when you've got all this around."
Rowan grins wryly, "Indeed." She looks at the group for a moment. "Please forgive my manners. Ulflinde, would you be so kind as to do introductions?"
Ulflinde does a slight bow, and introduces the group one at a time to the seneschal.
Mikal beams at Raphael, [That's so neat!] She blinks distractedly at the talking going on around her. A moment later she pulls her courage together and peers out enough that about half her face is showing. She gives a quick, nervous little wave, whispering, "M-m-mikal!" then hastily ducks behind Jareth again.
Rowan smiles -- non-threateningly -- to Mikal, and does not draw more attention to the forester than she needs to.
Mikal is distracted by the maps on the wall -- one of them makes her blink and study it more closely. She thinks it might be the grounds of the place where they are... maybe? She glances around, checking to make sure no one's paying attention to her... then releases Jareths' hand and drifts silently over towards the map, studying it more closely.
Jareth's own gaze is drawn to the mirror map in the table. He's got his hand out to touch it before he even realizes it.
Norris bobs his head as he's introduced, and waits for the formalities to be out of the way before speakin. "Folks been talking about how there's trainin' t' be had regardin' fighting wasps and worms annat, ladyship. Ah hope we can get to that as quickly as possible, mebbe? Ah mean...livin arrangements be good an all, iffn we's drafted into war 'gainst wasps. But...ah mean, we's just barely trained t' be monster hunters as'tis, annats in our worl'. Hear folks say it, seems that things in this worl' is different, hey? An we're...special? So maybe we's should be learnin how t' take advantage of th' specialness, soon, yeah?"
Norris blinks at little as all that comes out, and seems somewhat perplexed that he, of all people, took the lead.
Tomas reaches out to try to stop Jareth. "Don't touch what you don't know, lad."
Jareth blinks and actually manages to look a little embarassed, "Yeah. Probably right there." He puts his hands carefully behind himself.
Mikal studies the map carefully, a small, longing sigh escaping her as she spots far more forests up in the north of the tiny peninsula. She looks around for any other maps of the Wyrd, hoping to discover whether there's forest there as well.
Tomas hears Norris's speech. "If we need training, we best start it as soon as possible. That great git of a spider thing is no going to wait for ever."
Rowan watches Jareth with a bit of amusement. "Oh, don't worry. It's not magical. It is, though, one of the few actual maps of the Dreamtime, if such a thing is possible." The seneschal looks to Norris, listening carefully. She nods quietly. "Ah. This is all very confusing, I imagine. I'm afraid I need to leave the explaination and details to good folk like Ulflinde here and Armaros, but I an tell you this much.
"Mortals control their dreams. You always have on some level. And so there are hazards here in the Dreamtime that will simply not affect you. You will not get wet, cold, hot, tired, or hungry if you do not wish it. The caveat is that while the environment cannot harm you, aethyrs can, and sometimes will."
Studying the large center map-table, Mikal thinks she can make out a number of forests, based on the textures and markings and colors.
Rowan continues, "We will not 'draft' you, since that's not our way. We will, however, ask for your help, and do our best to help you.
"To wit, there is something you can help us with right now. If you would be amenable to assisting us, we'll provide a small reward as well. Would you be interested?"
Mikal drifts back over to the others, slipping silently between people until she can stand next to Jareth again -- he doesn't seem to mind when she grabs his shirt. She leans against his back, peeking out shyly at the table map.
Norris moves up to engage with the seneschal as it seems everyone else is more interested in the map. He nods in response, very curious by the idea that eventually, they might to have to eat or sleep, or any of the normal functions they're used to. Towards the end, though, he's a little worried. "Right away, ladyship? Ah mean...ah wanna be helpful." he assures. "An I'm sure mah friends would agree. But as'tis, we's barely got our feet onna ground. Yew think we kin do it, bein' as raw as we is?" he queries doubtfully.
Mikal murmurs, "Da always says never say yes to a bargain until you know all the-" she blinks, realizing people are starting to look at her -- she hastily ducks back behind Jareth.
Rowan nods to Norris, then looks to Mikal, smiling. "Wise words," she says, then gestures. "Come. I'll explain it to you." She moves over to the chart of the grounds of the Winter Palace Mikal had been studying.
Jareth is listening to the exchange, but letting those that have more experience with battles do the actual talking.
Mikal tugs gently on Jareth's shirt, standing on tiptoes to whisper to him, "Ask her: isn't Armaros an aethyr?"
Tomas looks up from the map. "There is no 'draft' about it, Ma'am. Those spider things are after my kith and kin, for all you say they are dreams. You'll be hard pressed to keep me out of this."
The information and all the new things don't engross Jareth so much that he doesn't notice Mikal. He gives her a reassuring smile and says, "Armaros is an aethyr, right?"
Mikal looks relieved, squeezing Jareth's arm gently in thanks.
Rowan smiles a bit. "I'm glad to hear that, then, Tomas." She indicates the chart, pointing to the guard tower on the wall, 'north' or widdershins around the wall from the gatehouse. She pauses at Jareth's question, then nods. "Yes, he is. In fact everyone you meet who is not a mortal would be an aethyr, almost by definition."
Mikal looks astonished, her lips silently forming the word, "Everyone?!"
Mikal glances around a bit worriedly, putting her back to Jareth's, although she doesn't release his shirtsleeve as she does so.
Rowan nods. "Yes. Aside from mortals, as I said." She considers for a moment. "Aethyrs, like mortals, come in all strengths and levels of power, Mikal. The vast majority of aethyrs are much as the elves you see outside the castle, I would daresay."
Mikal jumps slightly at being addressed, then throws a guilty glance over her shoulder at the Seneschal.
Rowan is not at all offended. "I apologise. I sort of anticipated your question there."
Mikal hesitates, then stutters nervously, "S-s-s-so-so-so Armaros is an elf t-too?"
Jareth says, "No. I think some of them look different. Like we all look different. They just look a little more different."
Mikal looks confused, but just nods uncertainly.
Tomas whispers to Mikal, "Don't worry about it. We are a' confused. This is a great change for a' of us."
Mikal nods emphatically to Tomas at that. A moment later she leans forward from where she's standing and pats Tomas's arm reassuringly, whispering back, "By the way, don't worry about Jareth around me -- he only kisses girls! Be more worried for the elf girls, you know?"
Jareth stage-whispers back, "You're a girl, Mikal. I noticed."
Tomas whispers back, "I think they can look to themselves. I just hope he doesn't get too distracted."
and winks at her.
Mikal snorts amusedly at Jareth, "Half monster isn't the same and you know it!"
The goatherd gives both of them a look and rolls his eyes.
Tomas lets out a barking laugh.
Mikal smiles a bit uncertainly, not entirely sure what Jareth is reacting to -- must be the comment about being distracted by the elf girls, she supposes.
Rowan purses her lips. "Armaros... is a special case. He was once very powerful, but he basically... flipped off the Architect, and lost some of his power. Then the Godswar came and he lost most of the rest. He is now, I fear, about as powerless as an aethyr can be. Which is unfortunate, because we could have used power such as that against the spider-wasps, but as it is, his counsel and experience are appreciated and important.
Mikal's attention snaps back to the Seneschal. She wonders suddenly if this one is related to... who was it... Raven or Death or Winter or something?
Norris blinks at this news, and gives a meaningful look to Mikal. This, perhaps, explains Armaros's earlier reaction. To have once been so mighty, and now to have next to nothing? Surely, most frustrating.
Mikal blinks uncertainly at Norris, quite confused at the looks people are giving her. Did she say something wrong? She hushes up nervously.
Mikal stands on tiptoe to whisper to Jareth again, "Ask her what she wants us to do, please?"
Jareth's eyes are twinkling, "How could we be of most use to you and yours Seneschal?"
Mikal beams in relief, leaning against Jareth's back again.
Rowan breaks herself from her reverie. "So!" she says, with more animation. She taps the chart. "The first widdershins guard tower. Right now it's surrounded by a nether-squall, one of those annoying meteorological features of the Dreamtime that are painful at best for aethyrs to cross, but which mortals can blithely ignore. The squall is projected to last for the next ten measures -- ah, 'days' -- but they had already been overdue in reporting in before the squall hit. ON the surface, this is simple and easy... but there's not a single person in the Palace who can do this other than mortals. Believe me, the irony is not lost on me, and I loathe this sort of irony."
Norris considers. "And...yew want us to go an talk to th' guard tower? Get their report?" he queries, her request of them not entirely clear.
Mikal listens, unsure what Rowan's talking about, but guessing she wants her guard tower checked out or something.
Jareth says, "Aaaaaaaaaaaand you want us to go through this storm?"
Mikal wonders why the woman didn't just say what she wanted... but she keeps her mouth shut.
Tomas looks at where she is pointing on the map, and asks, "And once we get through this storm, what would you have us do?
Rowan turns to them. "I would like to ask you to check the guard tower, please. You did, after all, ask for information before agreeing to help. Go to the guard tower, penetrate the squall, and get their overdue report. Or at least find out why their report was overdue."
Tomas asks, "Whose overdue report?"
"The report of the guards in the tower."
Mikal whispers nervously, "H-how d-d-do we get them to open up t-to us?"
Norris opens his mouth and looks wryly at Mikal. "That wuz gunna be mah next question."
Jareth says, "Passwords? Amulets? Secret signs?" He seems to be warming to the idea. He has, perhaps, listened to a few too many bards.
Rowan says, "We'll give you the keys to the tower, as well as the pass phrases. They should be expecting a mortal to pass through the squall to check on them."
Tomas shrugs, "Well then, sooner started sooner ended, as they say. We may need to recover some gear from Armaros's house, and then we'll be on our way."
Mikal whispers nervously to Norris, "Sorry, Nor."
Norris shakes his head. "Naw. Ah like yew askin questions, Mikal. Yew feel free t' ask thing b'fore me alla time, hey?" he assures with a big grin.
Rowan nods, smiling. "Thank you, all of you. There is a small detachment of guards around the perimeter of the squall. It's a bit of a trip, so if I may suggest, you should go either to the Foresters' lodge here, and then go wallward -- you can see the wall from there, I imagine -- or go accross the Plaza of Songs to the gatehouse, then turn widdershins and go to the tower that way. The second route is a longer but you're not likely to get lost.
Mikal blinks at Tomas's words, then looks suddenly relieved, "Oh, good!" She darts out of the room, unexpectedly longing for the outdoors again. Maybe she can talk the others into going the long way around the castle and that big open plaza -- so they spend more time in the forest! She pauses in the doorway only long enough to flash a delighted smile at Norris, "Really?! Thanks!" -- and then she vanishes.
Rowan blinks at Mikals sudden disappearance, then smiles quietly. "Not an indoors person, is she?" she asks cheerfully.
Raphael snorts amusedly, his deceptively slow-looking, rangey trot carrying him swiftly out the door after Mikal.
Tomas says, "No' really. We best be off as well."
Jareth grins and shakes his head, "No, no she's not." He bows again, winking up through his hair at Rowan, "Many thanks."
Rowan continues, "Well, then! Come back here when you get the report and their reason, and I will have the treasury reward you for your time and trouble. Safe paths!"
Tomas shoulders his pole ax and follows in Raphael's wake.
Norris inclines his head. "Be seein ya soon then, ladyship." he drawls, moving into line with Tomas. He feels relieved that whatever it is doesn't require fighting, at least for now.
Jareth follows after Mikal. He figures she's headed for Armaros' house and then maybe the forest.
Mikal pauses outside the castle, waiting a few minutes to see if her pack turns up. She has neatly tucked herself out of sight as she waits.
Jareth is moving at a pace best called a mosey and pauses at the outside door, looking around for Mikal. Finally, he raises his voice, "No fair hiding when I don't know the terrain!"
Tomas strides out toward the house. He looks for Mikal or Raphael, wanting to keep everyone together.
Norris stays with Tomas...not that he could hide from the man. Not unless he was hiding behind the castle itself.
Mikal giggles at Jareth, stepping out of cover and slipping up behind Norris. "Hi, everyone! So, um, after we get our stuff I was, um was w-w-wondering if we c-could go deosil around the c-castle, please?"
Jareth says, "More cover that way?"
Tomas says, "I suppose. "
Mikal grins shyly up at Norris, adding softly, "I don't mind you either, Nor. Thanks for not minding me." She nods emphatically to Jareth, then beams as no one seems upset at the idea. She trots swiftly through the light, park-like forest around Armaros' house, gliding almost soundlessly through the trees.
Norris shrugs. "Doan have no argument withhat." he drawls, embracing Mikal behind him. "Couldna never mind yew, Mikal. Yew's muh friend." he drawls happily, glad to see her smile.
Mikal sighs happily, hugging Norris back tightly for a moment. She murmurs, "It's so nice to have a pack now!"
Norris makes a contented sound. "Things is always better when Mikal is happeh." he says to no one at all. Or everyone, depending on how you look at it.
The trip to Armaros's cottage goes at an easy pace, through the small grove of trees. Once Mikal's bow and Norris's maul is retrieved, they return to the castle's gate, and begin to travel around it.
Mikal will, unless the others suggest otherwise, reflexively skirt the village of Icewell, moving to the border of the land and traveling along there so they meet as few people as possible. She's also got a strange desire to look down into the mirror, to see what the edge is like.
Jareth falls back to walk with Tomas and Norris as Mikal and Raphael take point, watching the pair of them with a bit of a smile, "Not much to distract me out here, hm?"
Tomas marches on, keeping an eye out for trouble.
Mikal is laughing as she scampers along with Raphael -- when she's confident and secure, the big raptor-wolf tends to be playfully teasing with her.
Tomas says, "Not yet," he grins back. "It's best we don't go through village, though." He calls out, "Don't get too giddy there, Mikal. Keep a sharp eye out."
On the deosil side of the castle, there is literally an entire village, not even entirely unlike their own village though the architecture is more "organic;" it appears to blend more with the landscape, with houses tucked into the side of hills and built into the living branches of low, broad evergreen trees. It is a lively village, serving mostly apparently as a marketplace and a place to live for most of the elves. There are a few more exotic-looking people there as well, but again ljosalfar appear to be in the majority in the village.
SKirting the village, the five keep the cliffside that leads down to the Mirror to their left.
Mikal glances over her shoulder startledly at Tomas -- then stops laughing immediately and hastily disappears into the underbrush.
Jareth doesn't exactly get distracted so much as fascinated. He even turns around to walk backward to study the trees and the way the houses are built into them. It might just look like he's watching the lovely elves, though.
Raphael gives a disgusted look over his shoulder, then huffs and trots swiftly down the path.
Norris feels much more comfortable with his hammer. He's considering it grimly, though, when he remembers the last time he used it, and how he felt. He considers talking about it with Mikal, but she's dissapeared to scout. He looks dubiously at Tomas...he likes the fellow well enough, but isn't as close to him as Mikal. But he closes the distance between them. "Kin ah bend yer ear a moment, Tomas?" he queries politely.
Tomas says, "What do you want, lad?"
Norris tries to work out what he wants to say. "Yew's been fighting monster longer'n me. When ah was defendin th' wizard from the khidra, th' beast seemed...maybe not t' hate me specific-like, but felt lak there wuz real malice. Lak it wuz gonna enjoy maulin me. But when it charged, ah struck true, dealt it a real blow. Ah wanted t' feel proud...but watchin the khidra, hurtin', it made me feel a lil' sick that ah might feel good hurtin' sommat, e'en a monster. Izzat normal?"
Jareth does finally turn around, walking behind Norris and Tomas, seeming to be simply strolling along.
Skirting the village, and then going to the far side of the castle -- the part furthest from the gatehouse -- leads them past what looks like a broad, two-storey structure at the back of the castle, apparently a lookout fort for observing the Mirror. A guard tower is also in this area, and the group has to pass between the fort-structure and the tower.
Mikal steps out of the underbrush next to Norris, looking up at him earnestly, "You were defending your pack, I bet, Nor. That's something to be proud of. Only kill when you must, but kill as quick and clean as you can." She pats his arm lightly.
Tomas says, "It shows you still have a good soul. Some people stay that way, and that is a' to the good. For others, their souls harden and they don't think about it. Then there are those that grow to like the pain, and they are a bad lot."
Mikal glances at Tomas and vanishes into the underbrush again.
Norris is startled by Mikal, but smiles at her thankfully at her encouragement. He listens to what Tomas has to say too, turning that over in his mind, grimacing. "Ah hope ah never feel lak that, hey. What's yer experience wi' fighting beasts, hey? Didja kill th' worm before it pushed you t' this side o' things?"
Tomas considers. "I think so, but I didn't get a good look," he says. "It wasn't moving, the last I saw of it."
Jareth is smiling a little to himself. Despite the surface animosity, he likes that Tomas is here. It's nice to have someone a little more experienced, even if Tomas thinks of Jareth as a shiftless lecher.
Reaching the widdershins-mirrorward tower of the castle reveals a vast, lush evergreen forest. With the chill in the air, it's like the forest itself is waiting for the first snowfall to come, eager to welcome it and let it be blanketed in chill white down.
Mikal sighs in sudden relief -- then she and Raphael slide into the familiar and well-loved environment they're so used to.
Tomas calls everyone together. "Now it is probably perfectly safe, but be alert. If nothing else, it is a good habit to get into, and good habits are as easy to form as bad ones, as my uncle would say."
Norris nods agreeably. Habits are good. Habits are how he manages, when it's not easy to think fast. If it's a habit, you don't need to think - just do.
Mikal glances out at Tomas from the underbrush, then turns and continues running point. That information she already knew, so no need to come out into plain sight.
As they go along the doesil-side of the castle into the forest, the forest gets thick and close, though never so much that walking along it, even without paths, is terribly difficult. Still, Mikal seems to glide through the undergrowth without any trouble whatsoever.
Tomas continues through the forest, trying to keep track of everyone while also keeping alert for surprises.
When the going gets a bit rough, Jareth moves up so that he's more in the middle. He doesn't want to be trailing in terrain like this. He has no illusions about his skills in a fight.
Norris hefts his maul, moving it from hand to hand, keeping a little motion in his move, to make the hammer mobile for when he needs to start swinging it. Granted, they've been told taht this is just a mission to go talk to folks. But - habit. Plus...everyone's always saying to expect the unexpected. Which is a strange turn of phrase for Norris. Because there's so many things people don't expect, how could one hope to expect them all?
Raphael ghosts along as silently as Mikal, the two of them appearing or disappearing unexpectedly through the thick underbrush. They seem to be circling the group, as well as running point -- they're doing their best to cover the rear as well.
In this part of the forest, there's no apparent threat, though there are a few occasional winter-white- or pale-blue-feathered birds flit here and there, and with the occasional white-furred fox that bots through the brush, it adds to the expectancy of snow, there is even occasional frost on the ground. After some time walking, the group can see, through breaks in the treeline, some of the buildings and pillars of the Plaza of Songs, far off to their right.
Tomas thinks, when Mikal "vanishes" into the underbrush, that we better review some signals, so that she doesn't get caught out on a limb, so to speak, with noone to help her and the raptor wolf.
Mikal appears out of the underbrush to murmur quietly to Norris, "The forges are off in that direction, Nor -- Raph says he can smell them!"
Norris smiles wryly. "M'thanks, Mikal, but we aints huntin forges atta moment...an be sure n' tell Raph that forges aint good eatins for wolves." he drawls.
Mikal laughs up at Norris when he speaks, her eyes sparkling. She gives him a quick hug, "You're funny, Nor!" then vanishes into the underbrush again.
After a time, they start to spot a building to their left through the trees; it appears to be quite cunningly built into the landscape, though no especial work has been done in trying to make it 'invisible.' This appears to be the forester's lodge that Rowan pointed out.
Mikal deliberately leads the small group so they go past the Foresters' Lodge. She'd like to see a forester here, and Rowan did say something about going there first.
Jareth chuckles and looks over his shoulder to wink at Norris, grinning. It's good to see the self-effacing young man make jokes.
Norris grins at the bushes, but he does look wistfully towards the direction of the forges. Mikal feels most comfortable in the woods...but it's by the heat of the mighty fire, hammering metal, that he's most at home. He notices Jareth winking at him, and looks abashed.
The group makes their way to the foresters' lodge. THere are a few elves there, who welcome them; mostly it actally appears to be one part lodge for the foresters tending the forest, and one part training facility for the pioneers and scouts of the elven army.
Mikal looks around with avid curiosity, wondering if there's anything useful she can learn here. She'd very much like to do so if the answer is yes.
Tomas asks them if this is the way to the first widdershins tower, to make sure they are on the right track.
Mikal gives Tomas a surprised look, "Yes, of course it is! I wouldn't lead you wrong, Tomas."
Tomas says, "Not that I don't trust you, but it is always good to check. Check twice, move once, as my uncle would say."
Norris grins. "Mikal's the best tracker. With Raph's help, they coul' find a specific raindrop onna leaf inna forest." he assures.
Mikal gives Tomas a dubious glance, then slips silently off. She's not used to being mistrusted. She smiles back at Norris before she vanishes out the door.
Tomas says, "shrugs. He is use to being careful, and extra careful in a strange place (not that he has been in any strange places, having never left the village.)"
The lodge is warm and comfortable, but it's more than just quarters and a small tavern/lounge for the foresters; there are also charts of wildlife and snow patterns, a watchtower, books and scrolls on wildlife in the forest, and several classrooms devoted to forestry topics, including tree and plant life and animal tracks. The group is welcomed by the lead forester, Hrothgar, a dokkalfar, and he confirms that this is indeed the foresters' lodge on the way to the guard-tower. From the watch-tower, in fact, one can see the guard-tower: the guard-tower seems enshrouded in waht looks like a rainshower... but a rainshower with orange rain.
Norris puts a hand on Tomas's shoulder. "You'll see in time. She ain't never steered us wrong."
Tomas says, "Aye, but this is a strange place. There are magics and spells and other things we don't know about. Careful is as careful does, as my uncle would say."
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