<@Dreol> [Somewhere in southern Ireland, January 1st 1262, 11:00 PM] <@Dreol> [After about twelve days of travel, you have crossed the water to the nearby island of Ireland. Helen's map and directions have led you to a lush green field, outside a wood. The map shows a large tree within that wood, which is where this Faerie is supposed to live. Helen mentioned that his name was Warren the Watcher, and you were to maintain respect at all times. As you travel deeper into the forest, the wind begins to have a hint of laughter in it, at least, you are all pretty sure you hear laughter.] <@Dreol> [Begin.] 06* Rolf whips his head around a little, eyes glowing in the dark as usual. He growls lowly, "Sounds a bit girlish." 06* Moriel 's ears prick up at the sound, but he doesn't comment. 06* Eliana scowls suddenly. She stops, looking around, then keeps walking onward, briskly. "We're in his domain," she informs the others. 06* Moriel flicks a glance at Eliana, nods, and then goes back to walking. Following her, because apparently she can sense something he can't. 06* Anstace blinks. 06* Rolf speaks up a bit to say, "Good, maybe he'll show up." <@Dreol> [After a few minutes you come to the large tree indicated on the map. It is a very old tree and is twisted in an odd way, almost as if it spun as it grew. It creates a large canopy of lush green leaves at the top, and is full of protruding branches all the way down. There is no sign of anybody there to greet you at the moment.] 06* Eliana glances at the map, then surveys the tree. "Hm," she says, softly, before rolling up the map and exchanging it for Helen's sealed letter before raising her voice and speaking in Gaelic: "" <@Dreol> [After another couple moments of silence, a voice is heard from the tree. The voice responds in Gaelic. "" Suddenly a young man has appeared in the branch above you. He appears to be in his late teens, has a pale complexion, short, wavy golden hair, and is dressed in undyed brown leathers and raw-colored cotton. He is wearing a pair of knee-high leather boots and his his legs crossed and resting on the branch while his back rests against the tree itself. He extends his hand and the letter slips out of Eliana's hand and whizzes up into the young man's. He opens it and his bright green (which are so bright that you can tell their color even from the forest floor) scan across it. He nods and tosses the letter into the air. It glides slowly down to the forest floor before propping itself up at its folds and inching away into the forest as if it were a flat, papery worm. "All right then." Warren says, and leaps down to the floor in front of you, crossing his arms and leaning against the tree trunk. "What can Warren the Watcher do for ya, then?"] 06* Anstace turns her head to the side and watches the young man. 06* Moriel watches the young man curiously, but keeps quiet and in the background. <@Dreol> [Victoria looks back and forth between Eliana and Warren and shakes her head, whispering to Rolf in French. "What kind of language is that?"] 06* Rolf blinks at the wormpaper, then licks his lips. It's Eliana's show, ho ho ho. 06* Eliana continues speaking in Gaelic: "" <@Dreol> [Warren nods and props his legs up, as if he were leaning back in a chair and propping them on a footrest, except, in fact, he is propping them up in thin air and seemingly floating. That is, until one of the smaller stumps uproots itself and walks over to Warren, placing itself under his feet. He nods again and looks to Victoria, ignoring the fact that she had asked Rolf and not him. He speaks in French. "It's called Gaelic... it is the language of the humans who inhabit these lands. At least for the time being. I could continue in this language if you'd like." That last part was more of an offer to everybody.] 06* Anstace nods. "that would be acceptable" 06* Moriel has no particular preference, since he can understand either language just fine. He's not the spokesperson, though. <@Dreol> [Warren shrugs and continues. "I may know the village you speak of. There is a village in ruins where very few mortals travel, as if they feel uncomfortable being near it. I could help you get there, but... not through normal means..." He motions towards the twisted trunk of the great tree and part of the bark straightens, revealing a kind of doorway a hollow inner-tree. "Helen has done me favors in the past, so I will do you one in her stead. When you are ready, rest here and tomorrow night we will travel to this village. I will take you as far as I can, but I cannot proceed into the village itself. The energy there is dangerous to us."] 06* Eliana snorts. "Doubtless dangerous to nearly everything. Thank you." 06* Rolf squints at the doorway. Hopefully he can fit. 06* Moriel stays quiet! Can't accidentally insult the fae if he doesn't open his mouth. 06* Anstace looks at the tree and the doorway, and then to Warren. "your hospitality is appreciated." she curtseys for good measure, because it is the style of the time. <@Dreol> [Warren nods and smiles, and then he slowly seems to just... fade away... until all that is left is the tree and the stump, which is now unmoving.] 06* Rolf growlumbles, "Hope I fit." <@Dreol> [Rolf can fit. It's a big tree. It's going to be a bit of a squeeze to get him in there, but then he'll be fine.] 06* Moriel considers the stump, and the tree, and the doorway in the tree. "Given how easily he made it, I expect he could expand it if necessary." 01 I imagine he could do practically anything he wants here. 06* Eliana heads into the tree. No sense in not at this point! <@Dreol> [The tree is very roomy inside. In fact it seems even larger inside than it did outside. It is also filled with a strange sort of mist.] 06* Anstace shrugs and walks through the door. 06* Moriel follows people into the tree. It does seem to be the thing to do now. 06* Eliana runs her hand along the insides of the tree and studies the mist curiously. 06* Anstace peeks out of the door and checks the outside, and then back inside. she hmmmms, thoughtfully <@Dreol> [The mist seems to make anyone who breaths it in feel very relaxed and drowsy.] 06* Rolf rolfs his way in last, then, so everyone else fits. <@Dreol> [Once Rolf has entered, the wood warps back to its original place and you are all closed off from the outside.] 06* Eliana removes her cloak and wraps her bag in it before setting it down in a small area she is now claiming as her own. 06* Anstace looks around the inside of the tree curiously, peering at the walls. 06* Moriel looks at the door closing behind them with interest, and then around at what there is of their surroundings. Soon, though, he settles down not far from Eliana. 06* Anstace settles down once her curiosity is satisfied and sits down against a wall. <@Dreol> [Oh! Before Rolf goes in, Victoria also enters the tree and leans against one of the walls.] <@Dreol> [Warren the Watcher's tree, January 2nd 1262, 5:00 PM] 06* Anstace wakes early, as usual. she looks around, reassuring herself that she is still in the tree, and that everyone is still present. 06* Moriel wakes up too, and sits quietly waiting for Warren the Watcher to reappear so they can be on their way. <@Dreol> [After a day's rest the tree opens again, revealing the same forest that you entered from the night before. Only, this time it feels different. You all are not sure whether or not you are actually awake. This all still feels very much like a dream. It feels like you are detached from reality somehow. Warren is waiting outside of the tree, but behind him are several other beings, who you assume <@Dreol> are other faeries. Some of them have wings of various sorts and are flitting from tree to tree, a few of them are talking to forest animals, and the animals are talking back. Warren stretches. "I trust that the accommodations were suitable."] 06* Moriel half-nods, half-bows at him. "Yes, thank you." 06* Anstace stands up and streches. "you have a very curious tree. but it served its purpose." she curtseys again after noticing Moriel's bow. <@Dreol> [Warren furrows his brow and tilts his head. "I don't think it is particularly curious, though it did wonder why so many of you were sleeping in it during the day, rather than at night. I assured it that it was just the way of your kind." He nods, and it is not clear whether he is serious or not.] 06* Eliana just peers at the faeries and talking animals, because fascinating. 06* Rolf growlmbles as he stirs from sleep and goes outside and looks at the storybook around him, even though there really aren't storybooks yet. 06* Anstace tilts her head thoughtfully as she regards Warren's words. "interesting" <@Dreol> [Warren motions towards the forest. "Are you ready to go then?"] 06* Moriel glances around at the others, who are mostly wakeful, and nod/bows again at Warren since Eliana seems to be preoccupied. "We are, thank you." <@Dreol> [He turns around and begins to walk in the direction you came from the night previous.] 06* Eliana just keeps watching. 06* Moriel starts to follow Warren, but stops when he realizes Eliana isn't. He walks quickly over to stand in front of her and catch her attention. 06* Anstace watches for a few moments, and then follows Warren. 06* Eliana blinks at Moriel. "What is it?" And then she glances to see everyone else leaving. "Ah. Very well." She adjusts her bag and turns, walking after the others. 06* Moriel follows after Eliana and the others without further words, since they aren't necessary. 06* Rolf heads after Warren, because it makes sense. Well, the most sense? <@Dreol> [Victoria also follows everyone else. After about twenty minutes of walking, which is roughly how long it took you to get to the tree in the first place (or exactly that amount of time plus 87 seconds if you're Anstace) you arrive outside the woods again, except this time you are met with the familiar sight of the same rolling hills from the vision that Belit-Sheri treated you to. You can see the valley below the hills where there are still a few villages, and one, in particular that is completely in ruins except for one stone structure on the north end of the village. Warren nods and bows. "I have fulfilled my debt to Miss Helen and you may tell her so..."] 06* Moriel returns the bow. "We shall. Thank you." 06* Eliana blinks, trying to orient herself, and looks to the faerie. She bows. "Thank you, Warren the Watcher." <@Dreol> [Warren smiles, and once again fades from sight, as does the forest. And once they are both completely gone, you all feel like you have just woken up from some bizarre dream, and are not entirely certain what, in the past twenty minutes, was actually real.] 06* Anstace curtseys to Warren as he disappears 06* Rolf waves a big hand at him, the wave kinda cutting a little short as the dreaminess of things ends. 06* Moriel eyes the place where Warren disappeared and then turns towards the valley, frowning down at the ruined village. ... ah... yes. 06* Anstace watches the space where the forest was for a few more minutes, and then looks down towards the village. 06* Eliana shakes her head rapidly and rubs at her forehead. She was expecting this, but UGH. i doubt we will find out much from up here 06* Anstace turns back to the group. "i can tell you how long till the dawn, but i do not think that will matter as much to you" 01 No. 06* Eliana heads on down to the village. 06* Moriel starts walking, too. <@Dreol> [And our heroes travel down into the valley to investigate the ruined village. Find out what happens next week. Same wamp time, same wamp channel.] <@Dreol> [Session End]