LOG: Arcadian Gateway: Blood & Roses Ch 1

===> COH <===> 3/27/2020, 7:59:43 PM <===

Wild flowers in the springtime
October we were wed
In winter time the roses died
Her blood ran cold and then she said
I want to live, but I don't belong
I close my eyes and I see blood and roses

- Blood and Roses, The Smithereens


The Eminence of Blades, Don Ferdinand de la Luna, known also as the Moonmaus, Eshu kinain, has been away from the County of Lion's Reach for some time, tending to matters in his homeland, the Arcadian Gateway. His ship, the Perilous, has recently returned, with a tale of intrigue and woe - Outlanders from the Wyrder parts of the Dream have slowly taken hold of various institutions at the Gateway, casting a spell on the natives, and begun changing the very foundations of the realm itself!

Ferdinand has been charged with forming a band of Maquis, to spark and support a resistance, and push back on the soft occupation of the Gateway by the Outlanders from the Land the Gods Refuse To See, The Place of Unreason - Isten Vak!

CHAPTER 1: Journey to the Arcadian Gateway to investigate the occupation by the lords and ladies of Isten Vak

	The Moonmaus was over by his ship, the Perilous. He was speaking in hushed toned with a redcap. And not just ANY redcap, but Ethan, lord protector of many a thing around these parts, and one of the moonmaus's nearest and dearest pals. The little creature was agitated, wondering who would show up. "You really think people will come, then? What if it's just the two of us? I mean, we are a fearsome pair, but..."

Ethan replies to the Moonmaus, "Well, that's the thing about being fearsome. You can also be awesome, and if you can manage that and not be a dick, then, well. Then people kinda wanna follow you."

Hop approaches, and gives them a wave and a cheery, "Yo!? Am I late? I hope not." he chuckles as he approaches. He's replaced his sandals with sturdy boots and a bunch of metal cylinders hang from his backpack straps, there's a pair of goggles on his head and heavy gloves are stuck in his belt, making him look like some kind of mad chemist on top of his normal clothes.

	The moonmaus adjusted his Tricorne of Eloquence, and then nodded at Ethan's words. The 'cap spoke the truth, plain and simple. "The Perilous, she hasn't had a full crew aboard in quite some time. She'll be happy to have a full complement!" And then? Voices! He turns and gives Hop a salute. And then there were 3!

Lance, who has somehow procured a rapier, arrives just in time to hear the Moonmaus' worries. "Never fear!" he declares. "I am here, and us three -" He sees Hop. "Four! Will surely vanquish any evil."

Arthur follows soon behind and nods his head to Ethan "Good to see you Ethan." He bows from the waist and nods to Moonmaus "Don Ferdinand, please allow me to present another dear friend. Master Wick, please allow me to present you to Don Ferdinand de la Luna, son of el Mouro Encantado - chief metallurgist, armorer and swordmaker to the Silver Knights at the Gateway Castle, rited by deed as the Eminence of Blades, known to all and sundry as also the Prince of Orphans, (current) Captain of the Perilous, (current) Lord Host at the Inn of the Crescent Moon, former champion (currently in exile) of the Last Garrison at the Arcadian Gates, former page to the Most Sagacious Library of the Archmasters at the Fors Collegis Mercuris on Mus before its fall and sack, sidekick (retired) to the Exalted Guardian of the Akashic Record known as the Fiery Fist of the Phoenix - the Fenghuang, etc, etc, etc; I cannot give you the sword at my side, it belongs to another, but I will wield it in defense of your cause."

Cristobal's body contorts, and he sinks down into a large, black wildcat

"Ferdinand?!" Yarden sounds both surprised and pleased. She makes her way toward the Perilous, smiling wide, nodding in greeting to all the unfamiliar faces. "You sent a summons, I have answered!"

	How did that unit of a bobcat-sized black wildcat get here? Either way, he's' asleep on the railing of the ship, his tail flipping lazily. Anyone who tries to dislodge him is menaced with claw.

	The moonmaus hops up and down excitedly next to Ethan as the 'caps words suddenly begin to take life and a crowd gathers! "Yessssssss!" He was an excitable little creature as faces both familiar and new assemble an answer the call of adventure!!! "You were right, cousin Ethan! You were right!"

Wick turns up with Hop and Arthur, keen for an adventure. He offers Ethan a broad smile upon finding him at the Moonmaus' ship. "Hi Ethan!" The Satyr just wears his usual leather jacket (no need for pants), but he's pulled a staff out of the arsenal Emrick had made for Ethan. His smile quirks as Lance turns up as well. He lingers at Arthur's side as he makes that formal introduction. Nodding to the Moonmaus, he says "Hope I can help."

	The moonmaus gives Arthur a salute, impressed that the man was able to recall and properly state the eshu-kin's peerage! "Outstanding job, man! OUTSTANDING!" Then he waves everyone towards the gangplank. "ALL ABOARD!!!" Like some pied-piper in reverse, the little creature leads the motley ... motley onto the dreamship!

The cat opens one eye and looks straight on at Ferdinand. Wait. Adventure? He was just taking a nap. His tail flicks from side to side, and then the cat begins to get up.

Hop doesn't need to be told twice, and moves to board the ship with noticeable excitement, he looks to the Bobcat and says cheerily, "Yo Bob! inside cuz we're gonna take off. But no nibbling on my ears!"

There are a couple people Lance doesn't recognize, so once he's on board the ship, he makes a big deal of bowing and spreading his tail. "Lance Keller, swashbuckler and adventurer extraordinaire, at your service."

Arthur nods stoutly and boards the ship, nervous, anxious and more than a little afraid. But isn't that just life lately?

"I've seen a bit of adventure, but none so far on board a ship," comments Yarden as she makes her way onto the deck. "So I'll just follow the good captain's lead!" She smiles in response to Lance's introduction. "Well met, sir! My name is Yarden, weather witch at your service."

	Once aboard the ship, the little maus draws his tiny saber as he approaches ... The Sanguine Drive - aka the ship's engine. "Bound as brothers and sisters in adventure and blood, we call upon the restless dreams of travelers to ensure our ship sails true!" He slices his little paw, and allows a drop of his potent blood to fall on the altar of the drive. It takes on a low, dark red glow. Then he passes the saber to Ethan, "Now listen up, crew! Cousin Ethan, lord protector of the county is this ship's Number One! Things will get interesting and uncertain - and he's as battle hardened as they come, so when he growls jump, we ask how high! Now, everyone offer your essence to the Sanguine Drive so we can be on our way!"

	Who woulda figured the little moonmaus for a blood witch! Then again, the dreamship did have a viking theme, echos of ragnarok hanging heavy in the air.

	Wick's hooves clack on the gangplank as he follows Hop up onto the ship with Arthur, a broad smile bright upon his features. He offers the wildcat a respectful nod before smiling at Lance and that tail of his. Catching Arthur's apprehension, he takes his hand and offers a reassuring squeeze. But as the Moonmaus addresses the motley crew, listens with his complete attention. He blinks. "Offer our essence?"

Ethan says with a grin, "Aw, Ferd, you're gonna make me blush." but he takes the saber, marks a cut into his right hand, and does likewise with a droplet of blood. He hands the saber out for the next. "Like he said."

Hop smiles, "I go by Hop, I'm a baker. Nice to meet everyone." and then he lowers his goggles to his face and tightens the strap. He blinks when Ferd asks for their blood but he walks up and uses the blade to repeat the process on his own left hand, then hands it to the next person. That done he gets out a bit of gauze and disinfectant and cleans up the small cut it made on his hand before pulling on his industrial duty elbow length gloves.

Lance beams to Yarden. "An excellent thing to have aboard a ship!" he says cheerfully. Apparently nobody told him that he'd have to offer blood to the machine to make it work, though, because he blanches slightly. He tries to make a brave show as he goes up and slices the back of his left hand with that rapier of his, but winds up wincing audibly. "Didn't hurt at all!" he declares after pulling his hand back, even as he nurses the injury.

Arthur takes the sabre, in turn, makes a fist, and solemnly draws a shallow cut across his knuckles, with a whispered prayer to Manannan, offering freely to the ship's engines and offers it in turn to the next person.

Wick nods - realizing that each must offer a drop of blood. Without hesitation, he approaches to accept the sabre. He takes the saber next and slices his left hand with a sharp hiss. Stoic he isn't.

Yarden nods respectfully to the First Mate. At whatever point the sabre is passed to her she takes it with reverence; with equal reverence draws its edge cleanly across the meat of her palm; with equal reverence tilts her hand above the Sanguine Drive to make her offering.

Ethan says, “You get used to it.”

Lance looks up from fussing over his boo-boo. "Fortunately, I am used to getting injured in the line of duty. I once took a spear right to the shoulder while saving a fair maiden from an angry goblin. Had to fight using my other arm."

Arthur affects an English accent and exclaims "It's only a flesh wound"

Hop offers up and passes around the roll of gauze and the disinfectant cream to whomever wants it, proper wound care is important after all. Then he smiles a sidesmile to Lance, "Got a hot scar to back that up?" he asks with an eyebrow wag.

Wick can't help but wince, glancing back down at his palm. But in mere moments, the shallow slice has already stopped bleeding. He grins over at Lance at Hop's words, but bursts out with a laugh at Arthur's quote.

	With each drop of blood that falls on the altar of the Sanguine Drive? The ship comes to life, rising up into the air. Wyrd-Wyld magic is at work! The fellowship, they have been bound to the ship for the duration of the journey! A good thing, so no one gets left behind by accident! The worldserpent carved at the bow, his eyes glow and then the Perilous? SHE. IS. SAILING. AWAY TO THE THE DREAM DO THEY ALL GO! Heavy thick Mists of Forgetfulness will surround the ship as she sails silently into the deep unknown. Ferdi looks around to make sure everyone is doing ok.

Ethan says "And like those of you who are students will have gotten used to me saying by now, "if you die in here, you're just as dead". So be careful." And then watches out over the side for a while.

Lance puts the back of his right hand to his forehead. "Alas, the maiden fair did such a good job of bandaging me up afterwards I don't have anything to show for my efforts, except her undying affection and thanks."

	Ferdi nods at the wise words shared by Ethan. "The Dream, she is unforgiving in her embrace. Now gather round - we need to get our cover story straight. On behalf of the Last Garrison, we sail with supplies of relief for the denizens of the Gateway, a gift from the County of Lion's Reach." Ferdi passes out letters of passage bearing a seal of the Last Garrison.

Arthur smiles brightly "A dragon and a flying ship in one week" but the smile falters at the warning from Ethan and he nods "I don't take your warning lightly, Ethan. But whether it's in the Autumn World or the Dreaming, freedom is a cause that matters to men. Perhaps more in the Dreaming. If we can't find freedom in our Dreams then where can we find it?"

"Hello Hop, nice to meet you," Yarden finally gets the chance to respond to the rabbit-changeling's introduction before Ferdinand calls his crew into a huddle for a briefing. She accepts one of the letters of passage and gives it a look.


	The black cat, in the the meantime, is crowding Ferdinand, being as obnoxious as possible. A cat, demanding attention from a rat? Surely this is a ship of fools! Either way, the cat proceeds to try to climb the Moonmaus.

"Got it," says Lance, taking a letter and looking it over curiously. "Of course, being as scrupulously honest as I am, lying might be difficult, but I will endeavor to do my best," he adds, in mock seriousness.

	"In other words, we are on a mission of mercy," concludes the moonmaus. Then a mischievous grin crosses his little face. "We need to record what we see, make mental notes, for our true purpose? Is to begin sowing the seeds of rebellion so that my people might be free again. But this will be low war - for we are outnumbered." A pause. "Make sense?"

	The ship sails smoothly, moving at an impossible speed as the Perilous cuts through the Dream on a Silver Path!
Ethan takes a letter, looks at the faces gathered around, says "Maybe. But it's best we get our story straight, and go over the plans. Aha.. I wondered if that was a random chimera or not!"

	Eventually? The Mists of Forgetfulness surrounding the ship will grow less thick, and shapes will slowly come into view around the ship. Trees on either side, off in the distance. The sound of water will be heard, as the Perilous emerges from the Silver Path and ... onto a mighty river!

Wick seems to keep his footing with ease as the ship begins to move. He glances to Ethan and offers a solemn nod before smiling up at Arthur with warmth at his poetic words. Slipping his hands into his pockets, he watches the black cat with interest. But as they emerge onto a might river, his attention shifts to take in their surroundings with keen fascination.

Hop smiles a knowing grin at Lance, "Oh, of course, same with me, on all my wicked battle scars, though my maidens usually are dashing men." he chuckles and then says, "Nice to meet you too." he takes the letter and then nods, "Got it, good thing I packed food and medical supplies along too then, can hand some out as we go along too."

"Aye aye, Captain!" Yarden assures her compliance to the swashbuckling maus with a grin, then goes over to the railing to enjoy the view of the river.

"Ah, a fellow adventurer! Then I'm in good company," Lance tells Hop cheerfully, before immediately being distracted by the river. Oooh. He goes over to the side of the boat to look out over the water.

Arthur takes a letter in turn and puts it into his pocket and nods earnestly to The Moonmaus. "Understood Don Ferdinand, The Moonmaus", he adds the latter as though he were saying "the batman".

The cat eventually huffs, and settles onto his side, and proceeds to groom his shiny black coat -- though after a moment he reaches out with a shiny black paw to bap at the rat -- and then he pretends he didn't. Who me? I am just a cat, purr purr lick paw purr.

	As the ship sails along the mighty river, those aboard will feel something tugging at their OldSouls - something in this strange place pulls at the foundational Mythic Threads that make up their individual stories. Everyone's mortal selves will fall behind, and their Mythic Selves will come to the fore. <<FAERIE MIENS TAKE ON AN ARCHETYPAL QUALITY - REDCAPS ARE REDCAPPIER, ETC. LIKE THE OLDEST STORIES THAT GAVE BIRTH TO THE LEGENDS OF EACH KITH! SHIFTERS CAN TAKE ON THEIR NEAR-MAN OR WARFORMS WITH EASE!>>

Ethan says, “Well, if we can prevent a ship-wide /cuddle-puddle/ from breaking out, it will be best if we do not call too much attention to ourselves. OR what we can do. Like Ferd said, we are on a recon mission, first and foremost. The supplies are mainly a front, getting them installed will serve as cover for snooping around. We need all the up-to-the-minute information we can obtain about the forces installing themselves among the Gateway. We are NOT here to cause trouble. THIS trip.”

	The Perilous will slow her journey through the black water of the mighty central river that cuts the Gateway in half - to the East and West, two structures can be made out in the far off horizon. Westwards? A shining silver castle gleaming in the light of the dawn. Eastwards? A fortress of rock dark as night ominous in the twilight of dusk! But they seem to be fading IN and OUT of view.

	And then the ship makes landfall! "LAND HO!" cries out the moonmaus before he too becomes affected by the Mythic Energies that run rampant in this strange place!

	At Ethan's protest against all manner of affection, the cat gets up, gives a long, low, lazy stretch, and then proceeds to wind his way over to the Redcap. And then it *climbs* him, endeavoring to be as obnoxious as possible, purring like a motorboat. And then the beast starts to groom him.

"Professor Sienna, are you implying that I'm not always perfectly behaved?" Lance says, looking over and feigning offense. He barely even finishes the question, however, before one of the castles distracts him. Oooh, shiny.

Wick stills as he senses something tugging at his mythic nature, drawing it out further still. His voile fades. A set of panpipes hang at his hip from a loose strip of leather. He stares down at himself, somewhat bewildered. Glancing up at Ethan, now even Redcappier than before, he freezes, staring with alarm. Until the cat starts to groom him. The Satyr can't help but grin.

As they travel further into the Dreaming Yarden begins to sense her blood-ties to the Nunnehi, the dreams of the First People, grow dominant. That, and more: the dreams of her tribe, the Numuzo'ho, now manifest in her appearance. Her stature increases, her skin deepens its bronze hue, lightning arcs in her eyes and when she speaks, her voice booms out in a roll of thunder.

Hop huffs in humor, "Fine, no cuddle puddle but I'm not happy about it!" he smirks and then crosses his arm like he's upset, though the effect is probably ruined by the fact that his ears get pinker on the inside, his white locks turn into truly fuzzy wuzzy fur upon his head, and his nose and cheeks take on an adorable pink hue.

Arthur's Troll mien asserts itself momentarily, but even here, this deep in the dreaming, something holds it back. He looks at his hands as it happens and nods. Soon, he thinks.

Lance, who's even more feathery than usual, gasps at Arthur. "Why didn't you tell us you were part boggan?" He also seems more easily distracted than usual, because he soon looks away.

As the deep magic here rolls in, the scents of candy and baked goods permanently emanating from Hops backpack increase tenfold, until the cabin smells like Willy Wonkas factory.

Ethan experiences some trouble what with the fearsomeness, it's one thing that by this time he has trouble closing his mouth over his teeth, but that doesn't stop him from saying clearly "Oh come ON, get offa me. Down, you maniac, next time I swear I will not be glad to see you. Do I look like a fucking dark elf?!" shoving at the large feline. "Look, you have two choices: behave like you're listening, or a /leash/. Not very cat, but we have a mission, here."

	Smoke from a fire rises up into the nearby sky, wafting above the forest canopy. Ferdi gives the air a sniff. "The forge fire at the Last Garrison!" The gangplank will be lowered onto the muddy riverbank, connecting the ship to shore, and an anchor will be dropped to keep the ship steady.

	AND NOW ... THE ADVENTURE BEGINS!

	The cat hops down, and looks indignant at the mention of a leash. Fine! I don't like you anymore. He walks away, and then back to Ferdinand. You. Pet me. You adore me, you know it, rat. At least you better. Such is the language of cat, conveyed through body movement. Sure he could just change shape and tell you what he wanted, but what fun would that be?

	The wereratkinan reaches down and scoops The Cat up and sets him on his shoulder. "The smoke is the wrong color," he murmurs, concern in his voice. Whatever magic allowed him to speak in rodens form? Allows him to speak in crinos! "We should hurry."

	As the crew looks over the side and prepares to leave the ship for land, they notice:
	0 succs - ITS MUDDY!
	1 SUCC - A large group passed through here recently!
	2 SUCCS - The large group was moving in military formation!
	3 SUCCS - The group was a mix of humanoid and beasts.
	4+ SUCCS - Clearly, a platoon of soldiers, with warbeasts, and siege weaponry - this was some GoT Battle of the Bastards type thing that went down!

Ethan takes a look at the smoke and then says to Arthur, "Hey. Don't worry. It'll happen. And this trip? You might be better off." But he trails off, looking over the side.

Hop looks around, "Are we the second relief trip? The first one looks they came by on elephant or something?" and he points towards the tracks.

Wick lingers close at Arthur's side and smiles, watching the black cat with interest in that dark, star-filled gaze of his, keen for a bit of that affection himself. But as the gangplank lowers, he starts off for shore. But catching sight of the shore, he nods along with Hop's words.

Arthur nods, smiling uncertainly at Ethan, "You're probably right. Wouldn't do to be a cocoon on a ship in the dreaming now would it?"

"Blessed Gaia!" Yarden exclaims, leaning upon the ship's railing and taking in the sight of the riverbank. "You weren't kidding, Ferdinand, when you said we'd be outnumbered. Looks as if an epic army has passed through here!"

The cat, whose primary contribution to this crew seems to be cuteness and slinky black fur, makes himself comfortable, but seems... unflapped by all the chaos going on around him. Well, he does sniff the air curiously, but otherwise he seems inclined to let the others take the lead.

	Ferdi frowns at Yarden's assessment. "We need to get to the Last Garrison..." He reaches up to scritch The Cat, worry etched onto the ratkinain's face. "Bring the letters of passage, but no weapons out - yet." Even though the ratkinain's hand lingers near his saber unconsciously.

Lance looks more interested in getting ashore than in paying attention to what he'll be walking into. "This isn't messy at all," he mutters as he struts along the gangplank.

	The cat grooms at one mausy ear. It's fine, everything will be fine.

Hop nods, "Didn't bring any along anyway!" and with that he stretches his arms above his head to limber up, ready to make haste with the crew.

Ethan says "How epic?" towards Yarden. "I can't make out any individual tracks."

Wick glances at his staff with an arched brow as Ferdi tells them to keep their weapons concealed. With a shrug, he starts to lean on it, feigning a limp as he follows them off the gangplank. "No weapons here. Just a walking stick," he says with a broad smile, eyes shining with mischief. He glances to Arthur, making sure he's keeping up.

Arthur smiles at Wick's concern, having taken the time to leave his sword and guitar on the boat, per instruction "I'm fine, a chuisle mo chroí."

"There, what looks like evidence of a platoon," Yarden explains to Ethan, gesturing with her extended arm. "And there, signs of warbeasts....siege weaponry...."

"This going to be a problem?" asks Lance, gesturing to the sheathed sword at his hip.

	Ferdi shakes his head, "So long as we don't go in swords drawn."

Hop picks up the sword and then goes to hang the sheathe on Arthur's hip. "Just don't draw it till Moonmaus says so, lots of people wear them though, for style, Like Lance!." he smirks and then gives Arthur a quick hug before sliding down the ramp and onto the shore.

Ethan takes in the description Yarden gives, nodding. "Good to know, I suppose. Although not sure how well it ended for either side? We'll find out." He follows along as the group disembarks, keeping an eye out.

Arthur returns the hug with compound interest, "Gotcha, I may be a little nervous..... or afraid. But I think I got it under control now" he holds his hand out, it tremors a little but he smiles and disembarks

	The path leading towards the Last Garrison is /well trod/. A large platoon of soldiers /definitely/ came through, along with all manner of warbeasts and smaller sized siege machines.

	Eventually the path opens up onto a clearing ... and the remains of the Last Garrison of the Arcadian Gateway.

	It looks like a battle went down, and the Garrison ended up with the short end of the stick. Or the pointy end. All the remains is the forge, and the half burned out commissary that seems to have turned into a makeshift pub. Remnants of the once mighty and proud Aurum Mercenary Company are gathered over at the "pub" - weaponless save for smaller sidearms, their armor in disarray. A sorry looking lot to be sure. They look vaguely sidhe-like, though a few eshu-like fae are among their ranks as well.

Wick smiles with warmth and reaches out to ruffle Hop's hair. He leans on his staff with a relaxed ease, glancing off at

Yarden as she and Ethan confer over the prints in the mud. He glances to Arthur as he joins them on shore. "You'll do fine. This is in your nature. Even if it hasn't fully manifested."

Yarden has a sheathed dagger but no other weapons - well, at least not the traditional kind. She follows along as the group disembarks, continuing to look around and visually analyze her new surroundings.

	The cat, who fancies himself a living weapon, merely makes himself more comfortable across the rat's shoulders and continues grooming his ear. Unless the guardsmen tell him to check his Bastet at the door, he should be fine.

Hop as they approach the battlesite Hop stops in his tracks and blinks, "/Butterscotch/" he curses in a dark tone as he takes it all in. Then he looks to Moonmaus and Ethan, waiting for what they should do.

Wick leans on his staff, gazing across what remains of the Aurum Mercenary Company with casual interest.

	Ferdi's eyes grow wide at the scene - this was his /home/. Ha father served at master smith for the company before his murder. The ratkinain had won the title of Champion here. But - this was all wrong! One of the grump eshu looks over, and makes his way towards the strange faces. "There's nothing left that you didn't already take," he starts to say before recognition dawns on his face, along with a small bit of fear. Is it the mythic redcap? The wererat? Hard to say. "Wait - Fer - Ferdinand?" And then the mercenary rushes up to greet the party. "I thought they'd attacked your ship out on the astral seas, boy!"

Arthur exclaims "A leithéad de drochádh," the words foreign but the sentiment universal. Kneeling he says a prayer for the fallen keening to the Morrigan to guide their souls to their rest.

Ethan wanders up towards the front of the group, offering "We made our way here unscathed, actually. Ferdinand's ship is loaded with supplies intended to help. But this, we had no idea."

Yarden feels a sense of helplessness wash over her at the sight of the wounded. She has strong Medicine, but alas, not of the healing type. For the moment the best she can offer is quiet respect and a continued watchful eye.

	The grump looks to Ethan, then to Ferdi and the rest. "What's left of us would gladly welcome provisions. But come, have a drink and sit for a spell so that I can share what has happened?" He extends a hand to Ethan, "Captain Izad." Then he motions for the group to follow to the makeshift open-air pub. The atmosphere is sad. The might mercenary company has been laid low.

Lance seems to understand that this moment is not the right time for his usual bravado and nonsense. Maybe five minutes from now, but not this very second. He follows quietly, tail lifted enough to keep the feathers from dragging in the mud.

Wick's attention lingers on those just sitting with their drinks in the makeshift, open-air pub. His brows furrow at the air of sadness. And as his gaze wanders and catches the wounded, he can't help but wince. He drifts after Captain Izad to the pub.

Arthur stands and follows, there will be time to mourn later, for now there is work to be done.

Hop heads over to the group, but not to sit, he lowers his bag to the ground and pulls out gauze, disinfectant cream, and a few more medical supplies. "Someone be my assistant, hand me supplies while I tend to them?" he asks his crew and then looks at the survivors, "You guys mind if I patch you up a bit? My gran' would kick my ass if I didn't." he nods.

Ethan shakes the Captain's hand, simply offering, "Ethan, second-in-command," with a nod, and following. "My students may be green, but they're eager to help and we're intent on learning what happened here as well. I trust them to listen and keep an eye out, and I'll hear from wherever the wounded are." He nods to Hop in agreement.

The cat looks up at Ethan. Wait, you're second in command? He thought he was second in command! Wait, wait, no, he exists outside and apart from the command structure, because he's special. He purrrrrrrrrs.

	Izad nods, then leads folks over to a medical tent. The surviving members of the mercenary company gave as good as they got, but were clearly outmatched. Hop gets a kind smile from the grump as he begins to help with the triage. Then he looks back to Ethan, and Ferdi, who appears to be in a bit of a shock at the topsy-turvy turn of events!

"I'd be glad to help," Yarden offers to Hop, moving to fall into place beside him. "I'm not a medic, but I can handle supplies management!"

Wick's attention flits to Hop as he calls for an assistant. He's about to offer when he catches an Eshu in a group of battle-shocked soldiers staring at the panpipes on his hip. With a gentle smile, the Satyr drifts off towards them. Settling down with them, he begins to play a soft little song. It's not quite cheerful. This isn't the place for that sort of music. But there is something assuring about it. The night might be dark, but the dawn isn't far off. The music remains soft, not enough to disturb or distract from important conversations taking place. But as those with skilled hands offer medical assistance, the Satyr offers what help he can.

"And I'll handle morale!" offers Lance, falling in line after Yarden. "Whatever Wick can't."

	"The land is changing. Changes come to the West by the Gateway Castle of Lord Lysander and the Terrible Goblin Wood. Changes come to the East by the Grim Fortress of Queen Marianna and the Dvergar Mountains," says the eshu grump, who identified himself as Captain Izad. "Changes that, in my opinion, curry the Dream’s own disgust at the new lord and lady of the realm - Lady Marianna now falls under the thrall of the Heart Queen of Castle Cachtice that has manifested in the North, and Lord Lysander now falls under the thrall of the Red King, in Castle Poenari that has manifested in the South," he says, gesturing in each direction at two structures that while magnificent? Don't quite fit in with the vibe of the realm!

	"For not only has every kind of creation and creature been abused by the blasphemies and sorceries of the unfathomable war brought by these Outlanders from Isten Vak, but every force, law, lesson and explanation ever decreed by those above and those beneath. Meaning is meaningless and there are never any reasons."

	A frown. "There are, however, now monsters. Previously kept in check by our Mercenary Company here at the Last Garrison, there are now foreign monsters that run amok, having followed the Lord Lysander's and Lady Marianna's strange guests into our realm".

Arthur lends his singing voice to support Wick's, harmony to his melody, unsure of what else he can offer by way of purpose immediately. His voice equally as soft as the satyr's.

Hop smiles to Yarden, "Rad, thanks, I appreciate it." he hands her the supplies and then looks to Lance, and then fishes out a large handful of chimerical candy from a pocket to plop in Lances hand, the candy sparkling and changing colors from time to time, "Hand these out, they help with nausea, and make you feel full for awhile to boot, it might make the men feel abit better. When you're done with that could you be my hero and find or make boiling water? I have a tea to help with healing." and then he listens to the tale of what happened, while beginning to quietly work on the injured.

"Tell us about the monsters," Lance suggests, his voice more gentle and encouraging than usual. "Tell us about your brave battle. Come, honor your fallen comrades by telling their grand stories. We'll sing and drink to them, and then later, we'll take those stories with us when we all take down the intruders." He nods to Hop, taking the candies. "Got it." And off he goes to pass out candy, assuring the wounded that the pieces are perfectly harmless.

	Hop and Wick, they do good work! The injured mercenaries in the medical tent? Their bodies and their spirits are well-tended to by the pair. The two may have saved some lives tonight, with their joint ministrations to the wounded and near-lost.

Ethan lets Hop tend to those whom first-aid will help, and accepts Yarden's assistance. He takes on those most grievously wounded as-- who'd have thought-- the redcap actually knows the Arts that heal. Even in the Dreaming where Glamour is plentiful, Ethan is still careful with the casting.

	Izad is overwhelmed by the acts of mercy provided the remnants of Aurm Company by Ferdinand's friends. A nod to Lance's request. "For an age has Aurum Company maintained the peace between West and East. Undefeated. But now, now we have to contend with North and South, directions that previously held no sway here. Strange visitors from other dreams, with their even stranger beasts and machinery of war. Welcomed into the land by Lord Lysander and Lady Marianna. But I can't believe they would support how their guests tore through the Garrison," Izad says, trailing off.

Wick doesn't much follow Captain Izad's tale, far too lost in the music - in seeking to soothe the hearts of those deeply wounded by the horrors of battle. The soft music of the Satry's panpipes drifts through the make-shift pub and extends out through the camp itself. Those who need sleep are able to drift off. And those receiving care from the healing lands find the pain somehow easier to bear.

Yarden does own a massage therapy and holistic medicine practice in Prospect so she does know about the preparation of medicinal infusions and on a personal level is comfortable in the role supporting Hop's efforts. From time to time she glances over where the crew's captain and first mate are getting a report from Izad.

Hop works along, greatly helped by Yardens assistance and expertise, conferring with her on the best course of tending to some of the wounds, they talk and work quietly but efficiently together, as Hop listens to the predicament as he works.

Lance nods to Izad. "Then we will defeat these creatures, and those that brought them," he declares. "They will tremble before us! We'll lay waste to the intruders' castles until they're nothing but smoking rubble, and then we'll raze the rubble!" He makes a grand flourish with his hand. "Or something like that."

Ethan adds "Not the worst plan," and then comments to the Captain, "Maybe the nobles didn't know. Or were not capable of being aware."

	Izad looks to Ethan, and anger colors the eshu's voice. "There is a slow war taking place between West-South and East-North, utilizing the traditional tools of slow wars: sabotage, stealth, subterfuge, catspaw and intrigue, but in addition, both armies also make extensive use of networks of sorcerously linked interiors - tunnels and irrational portals brought over from their native realm of Isten Vak, moving from room to lonely room like rats in plumbing, eventually emerging miles away, ready to bring battle to the open gardens in the bleak red night. These linked interiors are of strategic importance, because the belligerent occupying monarchs and their thrall armies are all seemingly unable to cross the rivers with which the Gateway is densely latticed."

	"People now speak of things and places that were never spoken of before the arrival of the Outlanders - places like the Garden of Pests, the Tisza, and the Spires of Zombor." A frown, "Things are changing. And not for the better." He levels his gaze upon Ethan, "We're of no help, not in our current state. But there are others that you might be able to reach in time. You must make haste for the Orb Loc. There, seek out the Sisters of Merciful Fate."

	The Spires of Zombor? That sounds like an upscale place not at all infested by necromancers. The black cat's tail lashes, as he sniffs the air and flicks his whiskers, looking around.

Arthur tries to follow the particulars of the conflict, but they elude him. Instead nodding "orb loc, sisters of merciful fate" he says to himself nodding, trying not to be overwhelmed by the immensity of it all, placing his hand on Wick's shoulder and giving it a small squeeze of support.

Lance, having handed out the candy he was given, goes to get some boiling water for Hop. "I once took a vacation in the Garden of Pests. Good service, but too many locusts. One star out of four."

	It's all that the ratkinain can do to contain the rage that wells up inside him. Luckily? He has a cat that he can pet, and use to keep from flying off the handle in battle-frenzy!

Hop thanks Lance with a nod when the tea arrives, "I could kiss you dude." he says in all seriousness as he sets the pot down and then takes off his gloves so he can add in a few tea bags to steep for the company to drink in a few minutes.

Garden of Pests? That doesn't sound very nice, Yarden can't help thinking. Not nice at all! But she doesn't interrupt the briefing by speaking aloud her thoughts. "Thank you, Lance," she says when the boiling water is brought. Then, to Hop, she says, "You seem to have a calling."

The cat continues grooming the Maus's ear in the soothingest of ways. There there, even though our species are natural foes, I <3 you. Listen to my soothing purr. Violence later, patience and calm now.

Wick notices little until Arthur touches his shoulder. Returning to the moment, he peeks up at Arthur and then glances around. The soldiers he sits with - one has drifted off into a doze, and another smiles. An actual smile. The music ends and the Satyr offers them a nod, pleased to have offered some solace, however small.

Hop smiles warmly to Yarden, "My gran' she is a pro at all this, I tried my best to master what she showed me." he nods, "You're just as handy at it as me, wouldn't have been nearly as successful at tending the troops without your help and tips." he nods matter of factly as the tea steeps and he takes a moment to breath just a bit.

	As folks acclimate to the local peculiarities of the Arcadian Gates, they will notice:
	0 SUCCS - Nothing to see here!
	1 SUCC - The Glamour here is restless.
	2 SUCC - There's a tug of war going on!
	3 SUCC - And one side seems to be winning, pulling things North and South where they once oriented East and West.
	4+ SUCC - In fact, the two paths leading out from the Garrison once led either East or West! But now, they've been Glamoured North and South! Curiouser and curiouser!

Ethan uses a cloth to wipe all the collected blood off of his hands and arms, in any other instance that would be a fairly disconcerting sight. "We appreciate your story, Captain," he says, a touch more quietly than his usual booming volume. "I did say we were here to help. Guys, and in this sense Yarden you're a guy too, wrap up the USO show. We're getting to that Orb Loc, ASAP."

Yarden looks up, lips morphing into a lopsided smile. "Yes, sir!" she replies to their first mate, Ethan. Then she glances at Hop. "Let me help get the remaining supplies back inside your pack...."

Wick glances off at Ethan as he calls them to wrap up and prepare to leave. He nods and offers a quiet farewell to the soldiers he'd been sitting with before rising. He casts a warm smile up at Arthur before drifting over to the others, staff in hand, ready to head out. But then he pauses, head tilting. "Does anyone else feel that? The glamour... it's like... a tugging. Shifting... North and South..."

Arthur shakes his head at Wick's question "I think my senses aren't yet aware enough, a chroí." Nodding to Ethan, he adds "Lead the way, Ethan, I have your back."

Hop nods to Ethan and then smiles and nods to Yarden, thankful for the help, "You boys drink that tea now, and rest, doctors orders!" he says to the troops and smiles reassuringly.

Ethan says grimly, "Even here, where the natural order of things is to be chaotic, there is still a way for them to Be. And it's off. Way way off, like someone took a bulldozer to the landscape. Redirecting the flow of a river, only that river is the land itself, now running in the wrong directions."

Lance shakes his head to Wick. "No. It's absolutely normal. Lined up East to West and West to East, just like it always should be," he says confidently, and nods in self assurance after he's done talking.

	Ferdi hasn't said anything since arriving. Many of these mercenaries had been his childhood friends. The place where he spent his earliest years, had been ravaged. His home was in the process of being irrevocably changed. His people, they needed help before their unique culture and Dream was lost, forever. He rises at Ethan's proclamation, and looks at the two roads available to them. The paths which can be followed led in one of two directions:
	NORTH, towards the the Heart Queen and Lady Marianna in Castle Cachtice
	SOUTH, towards the Red King and Lord Lysander in Castle Poenari

	The cat looks back and forth... and then he points his paw north.

	Well, who was the Eminence of Blades to look a gift-cat in the mouth! "This way," growls the ratkin-ain as he heads in the direction pointed out by the eldritch cat!

Ethan follows up, literally and figuratively, saying "You heard the man, we're moving north," as he does so.

Wick looks to Ethan and nods. He's just glancing off to the North when the cat sets their course. He grins. "Mm. In the keenest of instincts, we shall trust." He sets off. Might as well continue to use his staff as a walking stick.

	The mercenaries wave as the party departs, glad for the small comforts and no small amount of succor that they brought with them. The party, they had made allies for life this day.

"North it is then!" Yarden echoes with a quick glance at her companions before setting off to follow their fearless leader, the Eminence of Blades!

	The road north rises in elevation. The woods grow colder. Snow dots the ground in some places, and people's breath is visible in the air. The trees are coniferous out this way, less deciduous.

"Perfect peacock and rabbit and goat and cat and rat weather," Lance declares with his usual pooka-ish cheer, though it looks like even more fake than usual.

	Through the woods and over the snow, away the party goes! The winter wind howls fiercely out here. Ethan, he'll notice it first though. Its NOT just the wind howling. There are tracks, the party is somehow being ... herded? Followed? The redcap's keen senses, especially in his current mythic state, will pick up the spoor of something ... dire.

Arthur says, “Faith manages, Lance"”

Wick glances to Lance. His smile quirks and he offers the peacock pooka a gentle bleat. "Ne-e-e-eh..." His eyes shine with an assuring warmth as he continues on after Ethan.

Ethan pretty much gives away that he's onto something, stopping abruptly in the path and holding up a hand as if for silence, also you can hear him sniffing.

	Ferdi, thankful he's carrying the cat for extra warmth, stops dead in his tracks, a hand going down to rest near his saber.

Hop is a bit cold, but the fact that his white hair has turned into fuzzy wuzzy fur is keeping him pretty well insulated. He's glad we wore his boots today though. At the hold up his bunny ears perk up and swivel around as he tries to sense for danger but doesn't catch anything yet. He reaches up and snags one of the canisters off of his backpack to ready in his hand.

Yarden suddenly stumbles, crying out and going down to one knee. After a moment, she shakes her head and looks around, eyes narrowing. "Arm yourselves! Something dark comes, with many teeth and great hunger!"

Arthur places his and on his sword, closes his eyes, breathes in, smiles, opens his eyes and breathes out. His face now a mask of grim determination, he looks at Wick and Hop and nods.

	The wind howls around the party, the sound reverberating off the ancient pines. Snow blows up from the ground, and then begins to fall anew.

Lance talks a big game. A really big game. But can he back it up? He doesn't seem so certain about his swashbuckling skills as he draws his blade and steps closer to the group.

	While the cat is a short-haired breed, he seems quite comfortable snuggled up to the maus. He purrs and radiants warmth, as they plod along. He could eat, but that's really his only complaint, though he does half-heartedly chew at the Maus's ear for a little bit.

Ethan sniffs yet again and says "There's... five of them. Not sure how far we are into their territory, whether it is worth trying to outrun them. Or even IF we could scare them off."

Wick stills as Ethan holds a hand for silence. He can't help but shiver with the cold, though not as much as one might expect for someone bare from the waist up. He reaches out to place an assuring touch at Arthur's arm before holding his staff at the ready.

	It's so quiet other than the winter wind howling through the tall piney trees. And then? The howling will stop, and one can almost hear the snowflakes falling around them, even as the temperature begins to drop several degrees. In this part of the woods? Its perpetually twilight. Out among the trees? The lambent glow of several sets of eyes can barely be made out.
Arthur draws his sword in anticipation, steeling himself for what is about to come.

	After a moment, the cat hops down off of Ferdinand's back, stretches his paws out, and then turns to saunter out into the dark -- which seems to reach out to swallow the beast up like an old friend.

Yarden gets back upright on both feet, her breathing still somewhat elevated due to the violent vision. She inhales slowly, then exhales slowly, summoning the necessary calm and focus to work her Medicine.

Hop reaches up and pulls off another one of the many small canisters that hang from his bag, now with one in each hand he readies his thumbs on them, preparing to pop them open. He nods to the group, his goggles and long gloves ready to protect him from whatever's in those canisters, and moves over to stand with Yarden, to cover her back.

	From the darkness, comes the pack of dire wolves that had been stalking the party, skillfully herding them to this clearing between the tall ancien piney trees - the killing field. The howl of the winter wind kicks back up, scouring the bark off the trees as it blows through, and a fearsome collective growl resonates in the twilight darkness.

Cristobal's body contorts violently: he becomes a large, black sabre-toothed cat.

	The cat's eyes appear in the dark... but the creature that leaps out of the shadows is as big as a lion, black as midnight, with sabre-tooth fangs and paws the size of dinner-plates. He hurtles itself into the Beta's side, and the two go down in a heap - the cat springs back up. The dire wolf does not. The Saber-Cat lets out a challenge to the rest of the pack, part roar, part feline scream.

	In an instant, the wererat moves, a blur of blue-black fur, his mooncolored cloak and the silver blade of his saber the only thing visible in the twilight as he runs to attempt to intercept the trio of dire wolves heading for his friends!

	Snicker-snack! Snicker-snack! Snicker-snack, goes the Eminence of Blades Rat King's Saber! One wolf yelps as it falls to the snow midleap, while the another is grazed and wounded. The third? he's tougher than he looked, and takes the slash like a champ!

	The alpha rushes towards Ethan, growling and leaping at the fearsome redcap! Word of advice? Never go maw to maw ... WITH A REDCAP?

	The alpha moves with preternatural speed, rushing Ethan and taking a bite out of the mythic redcap!

Ethan practically jumps into the dire wolf's jaws and lets it bite the shit out of him. Hard to tell how much damage was done.

Lance does his best Zorro impression, whipping his rapier (safely pointed away from his compatriots) through the air to spell his name. "En garde, fiends!" he cries, and even more than usual, his confidence is quite clearly a show. It doesn't even remotely reach his eyes.

Having permitted the alpha of the pack to do all the work in closing the distance and using him as a chew toy, ignoring the damage done, Ethan is in close enough range to simply grab the dire wolf and inflict his own jaw-unhinging bite attack. Probably a good thing nobody is able to see that head-on. Except the wolf.

	The alpha yelps as suddenly going maw to maw with a mythic redcap maybe wasn't such a hot idea!
Hop pops the top of the canister off and a spurt of liquid starts spraying out at high volumes, its red and black and /stinks/ like pepper and paprika. Hop winds his hand back and yells, "Eat Pepper you Fanged Fucks!" and then whips it at whichever one is the closest.

	One of the two trio-wolves left standing lets out a howl of pain as its senses are assaulted with Hop's sudden blast of BLINDY-BLINDY!

	In its blind rage, it tries to take a bit out of the EoB!

	The beast snaps its jaws at the EoB, nipping him, but the Eob takes the bite like a champ and shrugs it off!

	The remaining trio-wolf takes a snap at EoB, but he must be the runt of the litter because he can't make a dent in the wererat!

Wick's hooves drag in dirt, kicking the dust out behind him. He bows his head like a goat about to charge. A bunk for Quicksilver - preparing to spring forward at the remaining dire wolves.

Arthur offering a silent prayer to the Morrigan, then screaming in fury, Arthur strikes, his blade hitting home and the silver torc emits a flash of light granting support to his fury.

	As Arthur strikes out at the blinded trio-wolf? The beast goes down for the count! Tonight, this killing field would taste blood it was unaccustomed to tasting!

Yarden taps into her soul's magical connection with nature and summons down fire from the heavens, directing it to the remaining dire wolf bearing down on her and those nearby.

	The remaining trio-wolf yelps as the smell of burning fur fills the air. Suddenly, the beast begins to think the pack bit off way more than they could chew! These weren't the usual easy chew toys!

Lance launches himself at the wolf that's on fire, a blur of steel and iridescent feathers. He shimmers around the wolf, too fast for the eye to properly track, and the flaming beast goes down, covered in wounds from the peacock pooka's rapier.

Wick darts forward at the Alpha currently trying to tear Ethan apart. His first swing with the bow misses, but the others -all three of them- connect. And connect HARD. It's just a staff, but the strength is brutal - particularly of that last strike. The Satyr roars as he lands a blow full of rage, enough to send the direwolf alpha's head flying.

	Ethan was about to take advantage of the satyr going to town on the huge alpha of the dire wolf pack to bite down through the beast's thick neck, neatly severing its head from its body in one clean bite! BUT THE SATYR BEAT HIM TO THE PUNCH! RUT ROH! At any rate? The lesson here? A party of friends bound by loyalty and adventure beats a pack of dire wolves bound by wicked hunger for longpig. Or something.

	The cat looks around at what's left of the wolf-pack, and then promptly picks up his kill by the neck, walks over to the Maus, drops it in front of the rat, and leans into him hard enough to possibly knock him over. Given that the cat is currently the size of a male lion. A big one. RRrrrRRRRrrrRRrrr pet me rrRRrrrRRrrrRrr.

	Once the melee is over, and the bodies of the dire wolf pack litter the snow covered ground, staining it crimson? The party will have time to come together and catch their breath. It's only then that they will notice three slight and silent figures, watching from outside the circle, in cloaks of white. Enter the Sisters of Merciful Fate!
===> Log ended by user <===> 3/28/2020, 12:46:28 AM <===