[04:03] <Agata> "For what? Did he do something actually illegal by Winter law?" The girl is much distressed. "This has to be a misunderstanding of some kind... Florian mentioned it being common under fae law."
[04:05] <Wraithstrike> "My son was imprisoned in the Nevernever for helping mortals such as yourself, without using our ways of contracts and words of power. Apparently, they didn't appreciate a Winter fae showing anything resembling altruism."
[04:06] <Wraithstrike> Karina stares at everyone present, the hardest at Agata. "And it's all your fault."
[04:06] <Sasha> *Remains quiet and listens while Agata and Karina interact*
[04:08] <Agata> "Going by that logic, how can it be altruism if we are on the same side of this war against the Night Wave, and we were just allies helping each other?" Agata responds with disappointment in her tone. "That makes no sense. And... how exactly is it my fault?" gesturing to herself with her right hand?
[04:10] <Wraithstrike> "Ever since he befriended you, Ms Tatlin..."' she hits this name with venom. "He has helped all of you without demanding anything in exchange. From the Rosa Imperium, to the lessons in the supernatural, he has just given this information freely, without seeking recompense."
[04:10] <Sasha> "...where would they take him Karina?" *Something slightly more serious, mature and confident about Sasha than usual, there's a problem...its going to be solved.*
[04:11] <Agata> "Is that why the artifacts in this safehouse all take something away from their user?" Agata responds quite seriously. "Because the fae courts cannot see the value of lending aid to their own allies without asking for anything in return?"
[04:12] <Wraithstrike> "They would take him to the Crystal Prison. All Winter Fae who are punished are sent there. And your friend Crimson will tell you that there is a similiar prison for Summer Fae that he will be sent to when he fails."
[04:13] <Wraithstrike> "It is truly one of the many things that sicken Fae about humans. At your cores, you are kind and generous. You willfully donate your own blood and organs to help other humans, expecting nothing in return. It is anathema."
[04:13] <Sasha> " *To Crimson* Can I speak to you outside, just for a little while please?"
[04:13] <Wraithstrike> Sasha: Crimson nods and gestures to the outside.
[04:14] <Sasha> *Heads outside*
[04:14] <Wraithstrike> Agata: Karina looks deep into your eyes. "You tell me. What is so good about kindness? What does it get you but a knife in the back?"
[04:14] <Wraithstrike> Sasha: "What do you wish to know, Sasha?"
[04:14] <Sasha> (Other window, or should we do it here?)
[04:15] <Wraithstrike> (other window)
[04:15] <Agata> "Mrs. Geeste," her voice growing steely, "Please know that I do not think of the fae as bad people. Your son, even as a changeling, has helped me realize that. But I have to stand up against your kind if your values can cause us to clash like this."
[04:15] <Agata> "Does he not receive a trial under faerie law?" Agata continues "He is an expert on the Unseelie Accords; he could defend himself."
[04:16] <Wraithstrike> "Few things in this world are purely bad or purely good, child. It is in those grey areas where the Fae flourish. You understand this, considering your family's background."
[04:16] <Wraithstrike> "That expertise is exactly why he does not get a trial."
[04:18] <Wraithstrike> "Because he knows the laws, he will not be given a chance to defend himself. I have taught him well enough that he could make any other Fae barrister weeping from his eloquence."
[04:18] <Agata> "I have been training as a loremaster under him," Agata places a hand on her chest. "As a participant of this war, I should be able to stand up for him in court."
[04:19] <Agata> "I may not be as much of an expert as he is," Agata admits, "but a shred of hope is better than none."
[04:19] <Wraithstrike> "Our laws are not your laws. Even here in this frozen city, you have the concepts of fair play, habeus corpus and double jeopardy laws. If my son did go to a Fae court, he would do it as a broken being."
[04:21] <Agata> "So, he cannot stand up for himself in court," the disapproval in her voice growing, "and none of us can represent him either. That is not a gray area; that is just... unfair. Do you expect us to just let him stay imprisoned in that Crystal Prison forever?"
[04:22] <Wraithstrike> "I never said I expected you to let him stay imprisoned. Why would I tell you about him being imprisoned if I did not expect you to do something about it?"
[04:24] <Agata> "... do you expect us to break him out, then?" The girl's tone has not been uplifted; it remains the same, grim enunciation. "Even if we did, your court would just keep on coming back for him. Is that not how it always works?"
[04:25] <Wraithstrike> "I am asking you as a mother to your friend, to rescue him before he is forced to make a decision that will change his life."
[04:25] <Wraithstrike> "The court may come for him again if you break him out, but there are a few way to ensure that he is left alone by my associates."
[04:27] <Agata> "So, a jailbreak, like I said," Agata brings both of her hands together in front of her, cupping her right in her left. "before he has to make... the Choice, was it."
[04:28] <Agata> Agata straightens herself, has a look at Sasha for ap-- scratch that, he seems to have slipped out beneath her notice. She looks at Karina directly in the eye, her poise firm, composed, and resolute. "We will do as you have asked, lady of the Winter Court. Could you please swear an oath that you will help protect him from everyone who would try to imprison or arrest from this day?"
[04:29] <Wraithstrike> "I swear it. And I shall also swear this, when you bring my son back, I shall give you whatever magical resources you need to defeat the Night Wave."
[04:29] <Sasha> "...it's done. Agata. Phone Nina."
[04:30] <Sasha> "We're going to the Nether-Nether, to save him."
[04:30] <Wraithstrike> At this moment, Crimson and Sasha re-enter. Crimson has a freshly signed contract in his hand.
[04:30] <Sasha> *Returns, walking with a surprisingly different air, more confident, more focused, less worried; more...well, hard.*
[04:30] <Agata> Agata turns to Sasha and Crimson, wondering what all this about a contract is about. "Sasha... what is that contract?" she asks with serious concern.
[04:31] <Sasha> "It's an agreement, Crimson will take us to the Crystal Prision, we're going to go find Florian."
[04:31] <Wraithstrike> "The terms of our contract are thus: I shall grant you passage to the Winter Court's holdings and help rescue Florian. In exchange, Sasha has offered me his kindess."
[04:32] <Agata> "Sasha, did you really have to do that?" she immediately speaks back. "Did you really have to give up something that made you, well, you?"
[04:32] <Wraithstrike> "For the duration of this rescue mission, and an equal time afterward, Sasha is an emboldened warrior, and his kindness belongs to me."
[04:33] <Sasha> "Hm; well, its done now. I'll wait outside and Phone Nina."
[04:34] <Agata> "As long as this is only temporary..." Agata acquiesces to Sasha's contract, although she still worries.
[04:34] <Sasha> *Turns to leave* "As for whats so good about Kindness, Mrs Geeste. Human Kindness and Agata's love of her friends is what's going to save your son. Nothing else." *Leaves*
[04:34] <Wraithstrike> Agata: Karina calls your attention to her. "Look at me, Agata Tatlin."
[04:34] <Sasha> *Go phone Nina and tell her to get to the house.*
[04:35] <Agata> Agata turns back to the winter fae, meeting her gaze as a show of confidence.
[04:36] <Nina> *after a bit of explaining, nina agrees to meet up at the house*
[04:36] <Wraithstrike> " I warn you now. You will see illusions that will shake you. You will be confronted with fae foes who will either try to kill you, or make contracts with you. And when you get to the Crystal Prison, you will be confronted by what you truly are. Are you prepared for this?"
[04:37] <Wraithstrike> Nina: When you arrive on scene, you see Crimson standing next to Sasha, a contract in his hand.
[04:38] <Agata> "I, along with my friends, I am sure... we are prepared to go through the coldest hell if it means rescuing a friend in need," her voice as heroic as a little girl's could be.
[04:38] <Sasha> *Before she arrives* "Hide the Contract."
[04:38] <Sasha> "This should have been between you and me Crimson."
[04:38] <Sasha> "Now, I'll be back in an hour."
[04:38] <Sasha> *Leaves, without saying goodbye, tell Crimson to tell the others I'll be back soon*
[04:39] <Wraithstrike> Crimson hides the contract from Nina, but cannot hide the look on his face.
[04:39] * Nina Glides down to the backyard, swooping onto the scene
[04:39] * Nina glances at Crimson "What is HE doing here ?"
[04:40] * Nina lands with a bat of her wings as she says that
[04:40] <Wraithstrike> Crimson responds: "I am here to help you rescue Florian. And to annoy the Winter Court while I am at it."
[04:41] * Nina narrows her eyes
[04:41] <Nina> Is that so...And this is ?
[04:41] * Nina turns to Karina
[04:43] <Wraithstrike> "I am Florian's mother, Karina Geeste. I cannot go with you, however, with the two of you both representing Summer, Winter's influence will not be as strong."
[04:43] <Nina> "Hah. Of course."
[04:43] <Nina> (is Sergei here ?)
[04:45] <Agata> "Sasha must have told you about Florian's imprisonment by now," her voice unusually calm when speaking of a friend she has a crush on being incarcerated in another plane, "All of us are invested in liberating him from this injustice."
[04:45] <Nina> Okay, I can see that. Agata, Swordboy, a word in private ?
[04:46] <Wraithstrike> Karina looks to Agata. "You had best be sure of your intent, Ms. Tatlin." She turns around for a moment, and when she returns, she's holding a glass eye. "This is a symbol of power in my people. Place an iron nail into it, and the fae will fear you."
[04:46] <Sasha> *Sword boy isn't there*
[04:46] <Nina> (Oh)
[04:46] * Nina Places herself between Agata and Karina.
[04:46] <Nina> A gift ? Like hell.
[04:47] <Nina> Step away, Fae.
[04:48] <Agata> Agata appreciates Nina's cautiousness. Still maintaining eye contact with Karina, she has a look at the glass eye and raises a concern: "What are the terms for my accepting of this gift?"
[04:49] <Wraithstrike> "I give you this Eye of Fear as a tool to be used for the rescue of my son. I ask only your word that you will not stop until he is safely back on this side of the Way."
[04:50] <Nina> Don't accept it yet, Agata.
[04:50] <Nina> I need to talk to you.
[04:50] <Nina> And speaking of that, where is Sword Boy ?
[04:50] <Nina> He said to meet up here.
[04:51] <Agata> "I am sorry, Nina," Agata breaks eye contact with Karina to turn to her friend, "but I must accept this immediately. I do not want to disrespect someone who would like her son back as much as we want a friend back."
[04:51] <Agata> Facing Karina once more, Agata responds with resolve in her heart and her words. "I accept this Eye of Fear, and swear that I will not halt in my mission to rescue your son, Florian Maria Geeste, from the Crystal Prison."
[04:51] <Sasha> *Theres a Knock at the entrance*
[04:52] * Nina clenches her fists, teeth grinding
[04:52] <Sasha> *And again, Loud and Hard*
[04:52] * Nina says nothing and opens the door
[04:53] <Sasha> *Before you stands this, http://tinyurl.com/3ajehv stepped right out of a fairy tale...carrying a large, heavy looking metal shield.*
[04:54] * Nina steps back, crimson sword raised in a defensive stance
[04:54] <Nina> Who the hell...?!
[04:54] <Sasha> *The Knight enters without a word, stepping over the threshold.* "Sasha. I'm ready."
[04:54] <Agata> Agata has no time to be awed by this white knight; she is concentrating all of her will into dealing with this fae.
[04:55] <Sasha> *You notice that the word 'Hope' has been written on the shield in black writing on the dull Iron outer face*
[04:55] <Sasha> *Probably painted on, quickly by the look of it*
[04:55] <Wraithstrike> Agata: Karina hands you the eye, and points to a toolbox in the corner of the safehouse. "There should be a nail in there."
[04:56] <Agata> Agata has a look at the eye in question. Is it really a glass eye?
[04:56] <Nina> (You know what, no.)
[04:56] * Nina Nina tries to grab the eye with grasping vines before Agata can take it
[04:59] * Nina Nina : Before Karina can try to hand the eye to Agata, a slew of vines extend from the rod in a surprise attack, grabbing the eye and putting it in Nina's hand
[04:59] <Nina> I will NOT allow this deal to proceed. Now, we speak.
[05:00] <Agata> "Nina," Agata immediately turns to her, dismayed and disappointed. "Please do not interrupt this. I have already sworn an oath to accept it and use it to help rescue Florian."
[05:00] <Sasha> "We don't have time for this Nina. Give her back the eye, or we'll leave you behind and go, while you talk to Karina alone."
[05:00] <Sasha> *Says, Hard and blunt...totally out of tone for him*
[05:01] <Nina> The deal is moot, so long as you haven't received compensation. You give me five minutes to have a talk, or you forget about the eye.
[05:01] <Wraithstrike> Karina glances to Crimson, with a shrug as if to say "She's your Chosen." "I will talk with the Chosen on this matter."
[05:01] <Nina> "Not you, Crimson. In fact..."
[05:01] * Nina throws the Blossom Rod at Crimson
[05:01] <Nina> Hold this for me.
[05:02] * Nina goes into the next room
[05:02] <Nina> Agata, Swordboy. With me. NOW.
[05:02] <Agata> Agata lets out a sigh to relieve herself of some of the tension that has been building up. She then follows Nina along into the room.
[05:03] <Sasha> *To Crimson* "If she won't use the Rod, she won't be able to help us where we're going. *To Agata* We should phone Sergei and then leave. The longer we wait, the longer Florian is there, alone."
[05:03] <Sasha> *Doesn't spare words or put a coating on it, for once*
[05:03] * Nina If sasha isn't following, Nina will close the door after Agata
[05:03] <Agata> "What is it, Nina?" Looking at her in the face and not the eyeball that she has in her grasp.
[05:03] <Nina> Are you a complete RETARD ?!
[05:04] <Sasha> *Is Agata going? If so, Sasha follows*
[05:04] <Sasha> *Since no way I'm going to the Never-never alone.*
[05:04] <Nina> I figured you were a smart one, but jesus christ, what is wrong with you ?!
[05:05] <Agata> "If you are talking about the eye that you are holding," Agata's tone grows calmer and flatter, "then please know that I am willing to do whatever it takes to break a friend out of that fae prison."
[05:05] <Nina> You don't see anything weird with this whole situation ? Not the littlest nagging doubt ?
[05:06] <Nina> You don't even know what you are talking about.
[05:06] * Nina Nina takes a moment to calm herself down
[05:06] <Nina> You...Look, you don't know how the fae work. They never do anything if there's not a benefit in them for it.
[05:06] <Nina> THINK. What benefit is there for them to take Florian now ?
[05:07] <Agata> "By 'them,' do you mean Florian's mother, or his captors?" Agata grows a bit suspect.
[05:07] <Nina> You mean you still think they're two separate entities ?
[05:08] <Agata> "I would like to think so, Nina," Agata responds with confidence.
[05:09] <Nina> Then you're stupider than you look. Just think. Florian is helping us fight off the Night Wave. The Night Wave is the Winter Court's ennemy. So obviously, removing him from the equation is a disadvantage.
[05:09] <Nina> Which means...
[05:09] <Nina> There's an even stronger benefit to it.
[05:10] <Nina> You following me here ?!
[05:11] <Agata> "Just moments ago, I learned just how much the values of the fae and their treatment of allies was so different from our own," Agata's gaze turns to a wall over to the side. "Right now, they are doing something that harms them, just because of their own beliefs on 'altruism.' It cannot be helped."
[05:11] <Sasha> ...does it matter? We can either assume they mean what they said; and go...or assume its a trap. And leave a friend to die, slowly.
[05:11] <Sasha> *Agata's
[05:12] <Nina> Or we can go without making a stupid contract in the process. Do you have any idea how exploitable that was ?
[05:12] <Nina> Let me get you into situation. Here's something they might have planned.
[05:13] <Nina> You get the eye, accept the contract. Now, you have to do everything in your power to get him to the other side of the Way.
[05:14] <Nina> Obviously, you can't storm the Crystal Fortress and win, but they'll lower the guard count for you a little, let you advance a bit.
[05:14] <Nina> And then, they'll set up, let's see, some sort of impassable barrier.
[05:15] <Nina> Oh, but look, there's this Fae here ! And he's willing to take down the barrier in exchange for, let's see, your soul, your free will, and maybe killing a few infant babies here and there.
[05:15] <Nina> Can't refuse him. Contract.
[05:15] <Nina> And now they have a brand new puppet.
[05:15] <Nina> THIS is how they work, Agata.
[05:16] <Agata> "If they had asked me all of those directly in exchange for his," using a pronoun rather than his name, "freedom, then I would accept it wholeheartedly."
[05:16] <Agata> She is getting a bit caught up in how much she wishes for Florian's well-being.
[05:16] <Nina> So you'd kill Swordboy for him ?
[05:16] <Nina> You'd kill me ?
[05:16] <Nina> You'd kill your whole family ?
[05:17] <Nina> Don't get me wrong, the winter fey probably won't ask you to do that once you're their pet.
[05:17] <Nina> They'll ask you much worse.
[05:17] <Sasha> *Leaves the room*
[05:18] <Agata> Agata switches the logic train to another direction. "Nina, you said that they would not do something that disadvantaged them in their war against the Night Wave."
[05:19] <Agata> "Even if I had lost my free will, as long as I would still end up being used to push back the darkness... that would be fine by me," meeting Nina's eyes once more.
[05:19] <Nina> You'd be trading one darkness for another. You don't know the Winter Fey.
[05:19] <Nina> My guess, the first thing they'd use you for is to take control of your family.
[05:19] <Nina> They'd use you to rope them into Faerie contracts.
[05:20] <Nina> Make your whole family into zombies like you.
[05:20] <Wraithstrike> From the other room Crimson speaks up "The Summer aren't much better. We just make sure you're fully alive while doing our bidding!"
[05:21] <Agata> "Nina," Agata grows tired of this paranoid talk of fae enslaving everyone, "you are going a bit too extreme in your examples. Let us not make a decision based on our fears."
[05:21] <Nina> "You're making a deal with the fucking devil and I'm the one being extreme ?!"
[05:22] <Agata> "Was your Blossom Rod not from a fae contract too?" she points out.
[05:22] <Nina> I didn't have someone like me to tell me the Fae were assholes at the time.
[05:22] <Nina> And the Summer Fae are slightly better than the Winter. Maybe.
[05:23] <Agata> "And look, you are still fine, and you are still fighting the Night Wave." Agata closes her eyes and turns her head to the side.
[05:23] <Nina> What I traded was nothing like what you're about to trade.
[05:24] <Nina> You're about to limit your actions to a particular course. This is...pretty much game over.
[05:24] <Nina> They've got you at that point.
[05:25] <Agata> "What 12I am 12about to trade?" Agata opens her eyes and turns back to Nina. "Sasha has already traded in his kindness for courage. It is in a contract. There is no turning back for him until Florian is rescued."
[05:25] <Nina> ...What ?
[05:25] <Agata> "It is why he is in that armor now..." Agata trails off.
[05:25] <Nina> You're...what ? The...WHAT THE FUCK ?
[05:25] <Nina> What the fuck is wrong with you people ?!
[05:26] <Nina> You KNOW how bad the fey are !
[05:26] <Wraithstrike> "Hey, I resemble that remark!" Crimson can still hear your raised voices.
[05:27] <Agata> "Misguided and stuck in gray areas, not bad," having taken Karina's words to heart and rationalizing them through her own. "At this point, one of us has already taken the risk. I might as well join in that gamble; friends stick together..."
[05:28] * Nina is speechless for a moment, then
[05:28] <Nina> Oh, fuck this. Fine. Have it your way.
[05:28] * Nina leaves the room, throwing the eye back at Karina once she's back there
[05:28] <Nina> Finish your goddamn deal.
[05:28] * Nina takes the Blossom Rod back
[05:29] <Agata> Agata returns to the previous room and extends her hand for the eye from Karina.
[05:31] <Wraithstrike> Karine hand over the eye. "Since you are willing to make this bargain, I must warn you to pay perfect attention to the details of the contract. What promise did I extract from you in exchange?"
[05:32] <Agata> "That I will not halt in my mission to rescue your son and my friend, Florian Maria Geeste," Agata responds almost monotone.
[05:33] <Wraithstrike> "Then you understand this. Your pledge means you simply will not rest. You will push forward, no matter how tired, hungry or wounded you become."
[05:34] <Agata> "Ever onwards, even if it means giving up my life for his sake," firm in her stance, eye contact with Karina unwavering.
[05:35] <Wraithstrike> "I shall give it to you then. To ensure your own safety beyond this contract, do not speak to any other fae save Florian."
[05:37] <Agata> "Is not speaking to any other fae a part of my terms?" Agata inquires, hoping it will provide her with some defense against future contracts.
[05:38] <Wraithstrike> "It shall be. Do you agree to remain silent while in that world, until you reach my son?"
[05:39] * Sergei (Sergei@MagicStar-29F4EFC2.hr.hr.cox.net) has joined #DFMirrorMaiden
[05:39] <Agata> "I swear not to verbalize a single word," hoping it provides some leeway for other sounds she might make with her mouth, "until I reach your son and my friend, Florian Maria Geeste, in the Crystal Prison."
[05:40] <Wraithstrike> "Then we have an accord. Claim the Eye of Fear, and find an iron nail somewhere in this underground to drive into it."
[05:41] <Agata> Agata accepts the eye back from the Winter fae, heads for the toolbox, rifles through it for an iron nail, sets the eye down on a table, and, holding it between her left thumb and left index finger, slowly, slowly inserts the nail into the oculus.
[05:47] <Wraithstrike> The eye gives off an audible scream, but you can see that the iron nail definitely had an effect on it.
[05:47] <Wraithstrike> Crimson even seems scared of the eye.
[05:49] <Agata> The nail pierces the eye, loosing a viscous, incandescent, icy blue humour. Its substance dissolves into the drained sphere, melding with the blue liquid.
[05:50] <Agata> Agata is taken by an odd sense of (fae) inspiration. With her finger, she reaches into the humour and draws it out towards her, then loops back, forming the vague shape of a necklace.
[05:50] <Agata> And it becomes so, solidifying into a sturdy chain of iron, tinted with a brilliant azure.
[05:51] <Agata> Agata takes the eye-pendant by the chain, finds a clasp along its length, and then affixes it to her neck.
[05:53] <Agata> "My vow of silence begins only once we are in the Nevernever," Agata reiterates. "Let us get Sergei and then have Crimson take us."
[05:54] * Nina frowns "Shouldn't he be here by now ?"
[05:56] <Agata> "He... should be," Agata looks around for a moment. "I think we had lost track of him when we took a portal back here..."
[05:56] * Sergei wanders aimlessly through the tunnels, wondering how only he managed to not end up at Crimson's hideout. His mind constantly switching from the annoyance of being lost to the overwhelming thoughts over the truth behind his very being.
[05:58] * Sergei stumbling into the room just then he waves awkwardly when he realizes they seemed to be waiting on him. "Umm... sorry. I don't know what happened."
[06:00] <Wraithstrike> Crimson has the portal open already, and it's still rippling from someone having passed through already.
[06:00] <Agata> "Florian has been arrested and imprisoned by the Winter Court, for real this time," summarizing the situation with grim resolve in her tone. "Sasha and I have accepted contracts that will help us in our mission. Sasha has traded in his kindness for courage, and I have sworn a vow of silence and an unceasing mission for this," gesturing to the eye on a chain.
[06:00] * Nina shakes her head
[06:01] <Nina> Why do I even go through that shit for you people ?
[06:01] <Agata> "We are going to the Crystal Prison in the Nevernever and breaking him out," the girl continues. "Will you help us, brave wolf?" Agata pleads with a reference that will probably be lost on Nina.
[06:01] * Nina steps through the portal
[06:03] <Wraithstrike> Nina, you have arrived in a garden in the middle of a battlefield. Just barely at the edge of your vision, you can see a silverclad figure near the edge of an iceberg field.
[06:03] <Nina> (A battlefield ? Who is fighting who ?)
[06:04] <Wraithstrike> (No one that you can see. It's the kind of battlefield that has been shelled repeatedly.)
[06:04] <Nina> (oh, I see)
[06:04] <Sergei> "What? He was arrested? Why?" Sergei growls softly as he paces back and forth, his anger and confusion over the events of the last couple of hour starting to coalesce in his mind. "Was this my fault? He got arrested because of me, didn't he?"
[06:05] <Agata> "It... it was mine. It would be hard to explain quickly," trying to lessen Sergei's burden.
[06:05] * Nina waits for the others to follow
[06:08] * Sergei isn't quite sure he believes the girl, but does slow down his pacing as he looks towards her. "It... doesn't relate to who, no, what I am?"
[06:09] <Agata> "It does not. If it did, they would have tried to capture you too," Agata tries to spin some threadbare logic into her words.
[06:12] * DioGoldengate (~kenji27@MagicStar-91EB8C6A.range86-157.btcentralplus.com) has joined #DFMirrorMaiden
[06:13] * Sergei slows down to a stop, his tired mind seeming to accept that for now. "I guess... I'm sorry. I just." He looks away and growls. "Everything has gone too fast and... I don't want anyone to suffer just because of me and whatever plan destiny seems to have in mind for me to be born like I was."
[06:14] <Agata> "Then help us prevent the suffering of another, Sergei," Agata implores of him, gesturing to the portal with one arm. For once, ladies are not first.
[06:14] <Wraithstrike> Crimson holds the portal to the Nevernever open. "Hurry, everyone."
[06:16] * Sergei nods his head. "I'll try. Let's just hope that my strength is of use." He steps towards the portal, looking around the room at Crimson and Agata before stepping through.
[06:17] <Agata> "Thank you for helping us, Crimson," are Agata's last words before she begins her vow of silence and steps through into the Nevernever.
[06:18] <Wraithstrike> Both of you have entered a hilltop garden in the midst of a shelled battlefield. Nina stands by the wooden gate leading into the battlefield, and just on the horizon, you can see a silver speck near a field of icebergs.
[06:19] <Agata> Agata feels for the Eye of Fear dangling as a pendant just below her neck. How cool to the touch, she thinks, and the fae power thrumming throughout it resonates throughout her fingertips.
[06:20] <Agata> All she can do is gesture with her right arm towards the distant speck, hoping it will be a starting point for the search.
[06:21] * Sergei moves over to Nina and sighs. "Sorry for the delay."
[06:21] * Nina is warming up as you reach the other side. She stops, looking at you one by one
[06:22] <Nina> No problem, Sergei. You'd be crazy to just jump in uninformed.
[06:22] <Nina> Now, let's not waste any more time. Crimson, show us the way.
[06:23] <Wraithstrike> Crimson appears in the area. "The prison is directly to the north. Through that ice field, and whatever else lies beyond it. Don't simply trust your eyes." Crimson is now in full Summer battle regalia, prepared for anything. "Out through the gate. Let's go."
[06:24] * Nina nods, readying the Rose Blade as she heads north. She looks cautious, but not nervous or afraid.
[06:26] <Agata> Agata nods and begins to follow along. She keeps her right hand in a loosely closed fist just below the Eye of Fear.
[06:26] * Sergei has his shield and gloves ready as he starts to walk, keeping eyes, ears, and nose open and ready for anything.
[06:27] <Wraithstrike> The group marches across the desolate wastes of this battlefield. Heavy footprint can be seen heading north from where you left. But as you all exit the wooden gate in the garden, the garden vanishes like an illusion.
[06:27] <Wraithstrike> Once within the battlefield, creatures seemingly made of sand appear. "Tell me your wish. I can grant any wish..."
[06:28] <Agata> Agata gives a look towards companions, then shakes her head.
[06:29] * Nina doesn't even bother to comment on the sand creatures
[06:29] * Nina just keeps going forward
[06:30] <Wraithstrike> Since none of you seem interested in what the sand creatures have to offer, they leave you alone.
[06:30] * Sergei ignores the creatures for now, though keeping an eye on them in case they get aggressive.
[06:31] <Agata> Agata places herself in the middle of the group, between fully-armored Crimson and much-less armored Nina and Sergei. She should really be bringing out her folding ballistic shield by now, but she places enough confidence in the Eye that she thinks it unnecessary.
[06:35] <Wraithstrike> With that nonevent out of the way, you soon arrive at the edge of the icefield. Sasha is here, speaking with a few small fae.
[06:35] <Sasha> *Is sitting on the edge of the Ice field, talking to them*
[06:35] <Agata> There he is, Agata thinks to herself. Thank goodness he is alright; she was beginning to worry about where he had run off to.
[06:35] * Nina walks up to Sasha
[06:36] <Nina> What do we have here ?
[06:36] <Agata> Agata follows Nina forward to the ice field, hoping that her approach with the Eye can cause some of the fae to back away.
[06:37] * Sergei joins them in approaching Sasha. "Sorry that we're late."
[06:37] <Sasha> *Looks over his shoulder* "Are you ready now?"
[06:37] <Agata> Agata offers a nod in response.
[06:37] <Sergei> "Yes."
[06:38] <Nina> She's done selling her soul, yes. Are you making friends ?
[06:38] <Sasha> "Levkin, you and your friends stay with Sergei, the large man. He's strong and he'll keep you safe."
[06:38] <Sasha> *Gets up and climbs into the water*
[06:39] <Wraithstrike> "As you wish, Doughnut boss!"
[06:40] <Wraithstrike> "As I have told the Doughnut Boss, the water here is safe to breathe. It might make your travels quicker."
[06:40] <Sergei> "Somehow I feel like I've been put upon by Sasha of all people."
[06:40] <Sasha> *Literally underwater, you see a shape moving under the lake as Sasha starts heading forwards*
[06:41] <Agata> Agata offers a "dunno"-esque gesture with her left hand, palm upwards, towards Sergei.
[06:42] * Sergei shakes his head and sighs as he looks first to the fae and then to the water. "Won't know until you try..." With that he moves forward to climb into the water to follow Sasha.
[06:42] <Sasha> *Is surging ahead under the Ice cold water*
[06:42] <Nina> Of course. Water. Fucking great.
[06:43] <Wraithstrike> Sergei enters the water, and as the little person has spoken, you can breathe in the water.
[06:43] * Nina grabs her crowbar, transforms back, and enters the water
[06:43] <Agata> Agata stops to think about something for a moment, looking at the water. She figures that her phone is sturdy enough to survive submersion while in a pocket, and even if it did break, she could always have it replaced.
[06:44] <Agata> After that moment of being concerned with the well-being of her phone rather than her own body, she follows on in into the water, awkwardly doggy-paddling her way forward.
[06:44] <Wraithstrike> Crimson enters the water, a shield of summer magic surrounding him to keep him from freezing.
[06:45] <Nina> (wait, he can use his magic underwater ?)
[06:45] <Wraithstrike> (He can.)
[06:45] <Nina> (in that case, I'll try it too)
[06:46] * Nina imitating Crimson, Nina decides to transform back and create a sphere of flowers around her
[06:46] * Nina then has the sphere dive underwater
[06:47] <Agata> Agata finds her eye to be passively sucking in even the slightest bits of hesitance to enter water all around her.
[06:47] <Wraithstrike> Now that the group is underwater, and walking beneath the ice floes...
[06:47] <Nina> (It doesn't dissolve ?)
[06:48] <Wraithstrike> (You're safe inside your floral shield)
[06:49] <Nina> (Right, probably isn't real water)
[06:49] <Wraithstrike> Sergei, you see it approaching first. a trio of humanoid green women swimming towards you.
[06:50] <Wraithstrike> Each of them has bright green hair and where they would have clothes, instead you see various kelps and crystals.
[06:53] * Sergei hopes he doesn't have to fight down here, but is definitely getting ready to if it comes down to it.
[06:53] <Wraithstrike> Nina, you are suddenly overwhelemed by  a sense of longing. A desire to be with those green girls.
[06:54] * Nina simply doesn't stop, she keeps advancing straight towards the nixies
[06:55] <Agata> Are these mermaids or something similar? No, no, nixies, right? she tries to recall from her lessons on the types of fae roaming the Nevernever.
[06:55] <Wraithstrike> Nina: As you approach you can hear them singing to you. They want you to take off your armor and join them in the joy of swimming forever.
[06:56] <Agata> Agata wonders if they mean harm. Yes, probably; they are the kind of fae who like to drown people, sort of like kelpies... but they cannot drown in this water, so what will the nixies do? Wonder, wonder.
[06:56] <Nina> Swimming, huh ? Doesn't sound bad...
[06:56] * Nina dispels the flower shield around her
[06:57] * Nina keeps swimming towards the nixies, absentmindedly
[06:58] <Wraithstrike> Nina: "Come sister, lay aside your weary load. Those clothes are only holding you back anyway."
[06:58] <Agata> Upon seeing Nina begin to swim towards them, Agata's level of concern rises dramatically. She begins to funnel her willpower into the Eye of Fear, hoping that she can invoke its power against the nixies if they display any signs of hostility or obsession.
[07:04] * Sergei seeing Nina approach the creatures and dropping her shield so suddenly he twitches, knowing it was too much to hope to get through this without a fight. With a quick turn and practiced skill he makes his way to get between Nina and the creatures.
[07:08] * Nina transforms back
[07:09] <Agata> That is absolutely not a good sign, Agata thinks. They have succeeded in getting her to lower her defenses, she rationalizes.
[07:09] <Wraithstrike> Crimson swims up to within a few feet of the Nixies, waiting for them to make another move.
[07:13] <Wraithstrike> One of the Nixies moves back a few feet from Nina, and sizes up her enemies. She settles on Sergei as her target.
[07:15] <Wraithstrike> With her fist moving like a torpedo through the water, she lashes out at Sergei.
[07:16] <Agata> At first, it was suspicious actions and getting Nina to untransform; now, they are physically attacking, as Agata can see through the chilly water. That is a definite sign of hostility. Her Eye of Fear begins to charge up with invisible, fae magic.
[07:20] * Sergei manages to turn himself enough so that the punch only clips his side, causing it to sting a bit but being otherwise fine.
[07:24] <Wraithstrike> The second Nixie moves away from Nina and stares through the eyeholes of Sasha's armor.
[07:24] <Wraithstrike> Sasha: you can feel her mind speaking within your own. She wants you to join the fun.
[07:29] <Sasha> *Sneers under his mask, as it draws forth what should be pleasure and joy, only to find a cruel, dark heart*
[07:31] <Agata> Now, it is time for Agata to be the killjoy who crashes into the raucous party with the psychic equivalent of a squad of police cars. She sees a nixie swimming around Nina, and notices that Nina is being unresponsive and not trying to defend herself. She has to separate the two somehow.
[07:32] <Wraithstrike> Nina is still enraptured by the Nixie maiden, and hasn't moved from that spot.
[07:32] <Agata> She holds her left hand over the Eye of Fear, then quickly extends her arm in the general direction of that nixie. What better way to force those who love the water to leave it, than by turning their affinity into fear? Agata thinks to herself, and her will is translated exactly so, gripping one of their minds.
[07:33] <Wraithstrike> The nixie looks around, suddenly taken with a horrid case of hydrophobia. she screams a low wail and tries desperately to swim to the surface.
[07:36] * Sergei moves in on the nixie, hoping to force her to lose concentration. He brings his fist around hard and fast as it displaces water.
[07:43] <Wraithstrike> The nixie's body floats up towards the surface, carried away by some unseen current.
[07:46] <Sasha> *Charges the one remaining Nixie with a bubbly bellow*
[07:53] <Wraithstrike> Crimson, seeing that only one Nixie remains in the water, launches a spell similar to Nina's grasping vines on the last nixie.
[07:53] * Nina stares at the nixie, gracefully dodging the blows
[07:53] <Nina> So...beautiful...
[07:56] <Wraithstrike> The nixie near Nina seems to freeze in place, as if held down by something.
[07:57] * Sergei hoping to end this fight quickly he moves over to the last Nixie and does a fast jab, hoping to just knock this one out unlike the last one.
[07:58] <Agata> Agata figures that she should support Sergei and Sasha by weakening the will of that nixie to survive. Gathering potency from her Eye of Fear, she lashes out through the blue water into the last fae remaining in the water.
[07:59] <Agata> Just... lay down... and...
[07:59] <Wraithstrike> The nixie crumples over, unmoving.
[08:06] <Wraithstrike> And with Sergei's jab, she moves not at all.
[08:10] <Wraithstrike> As Sasha swims upward, he can see the last nixie praying for relief. She's on a tiny island, surrounded by water which just terrifies her more and more. She doesn't want to move from that spot.
[08:12] * Nina 's eyes focus once again as she regains control of her mind
[08:13] * Nina : shaking her head, she transforms back at once and rushes towards the last nixie
[08:14] <Wraithstrike> Crimson follows Nina up to the surface, making hand signs to her to ask if she's all right.
[08:15] * Nina nods at Crimson
[08:16] <Wraithstrike> Nina and Crimson break the surface next to Sasha. now you can see the terrified nixie on the island. She see you coming and begs for her life.
[08:16] <Sasha> *Grabs the Nixie and drags her down into the water, hacking with the sword as he does.*
[08:17] <Agata> Upon seeing everyone swim up to that lone island, Agata doggy paddles, paddles, paddles... come on, swimming upward should not be this hard... just a little... come on... 12there.
[08:17] <Agata> Just in time to see Sasha's act of baptism by steel.
[08:18] <Sasha> *Swims out the blood red mist and drops to the floor of the lake again...and keeps on walking*
[08:18] <Agata> Agata can do nothing but stare in awe and consider what Sasha has just done. He... this is not the Sasha that she has come to know as a friend. This is definitely not. Sasha...
[08:19] <Agata> She tries to console her mind by rationalizing that the nixie would have pestered them with offers of contracts anyway... and it would have tried to antagonize them further had they let it go.
[08:19] <Sasha> *Leaves the body floating, it wasn't an excessively cruel death, not sadistic; just...cold. One or two really brutal and deadly hits and then just moves on*
[08:19] * Sergei stares in shock at the depravity Sasha is committing at the moment. The Nixie he is attacking is helpless and yet he doesn't show the slightest signs of caring.
[08:20] <Wraithstrike> With this battle over, the group soon arrives at the other shore. Now the Crystal Prison looms closer, but to get there, another obstacle awaits. A hedge maze, seemingly cloaked in a silver mist.
[08:20] <Wraithstrike> And we end there for the night
[08:21] <Agata> Agata stares down at her Eye of Fear, beginning to wonder about the own contract she had made. If Sasha was like that...