[IC] The Storm Cycle: Reclamation

[BrokenPromise]

”Yay! Rune remembered to tag me!.”

— Luana Roycroft

_{@Crimson Paladin@Rune_Alchemist}

It wasn’t uncommon for ambush predators to retreat. While it felt like the fighting had only begun, there was no reason to assume something that preyed on villagers would want to fight trained knights.

Luana hadn’t acknowledged Lugh, likely because she couldn’t hear anything. The green cloth was still spilling out of the skunk’s ears as it ran after the tree monster.

Ethelred was likely the strongest out of all of them, but even he had to realize the situation wasn’t great. It was trying to run off with him and seemed to be assisting with splitting itself even wider. Was this even their mark or merely a puppet controlled by some mastermind? There was no way to tell, but destroying it was a priority.

The charging skunk gradually morphed into a larger shape. Its twig-like legs became furry logs, and a grizzly lumbered its way after the tree. A bear’s claws were unlikely to do much damage to such a thick trunk, but it may have been enough to strip the bark off the roots for a good bite. The goal wasn’t to put the tree out of commission, but to prevent it from running off.

”Can anybody cook this thing?”

[Crimson Paladin]

A horrific smell made its way into Ethelred's helmet and into his nostrils as he heard Lugh's protests. He glanced back just long enough to see the poor Tuatha near Luana, who had taken the form of a skunk.

Poor Lugh, I hope that they have a magical way to get that smell out. Luana was probably trying to help counteract the tree's strange scent, but why didn't she just spray the tree instead, he wondered.

He didn't have time to think too much about it- the much more pressing matter was that the tree seemed to cease as the trunk finally cracked. Once it did, however, the tree began to move again. A large mass of branches came towards Ethelred, compelling the Frozen Knight to withdraw his lance from the widened crack and attempt to move away from the attack- assuming the frozen roots around him did not maintain their hold.

It was curious, perhaps perplexing when Ethelred saw the tree seemingly trying to widen its crack. Nothing could prepare him, however, for the sign of the tree trying to move away, seemingly in an attempt to escape its attackers.

Normally the Frozen Knight didn't like to chase down fleeing enemies. But regardless of whether it was an Unseelie or simply something twisted by their curses, this tree was a threat to the good people of Albion, and it needed to be stopped before it could place its roots down elsewhere and consume more people. Assuming he escaped the tree's grip, he would pursue the tree and attempt to drive his lance into one of its roots in an attempt to stake it into the ground. Regardless of his situation, he would convey what was likely a rather pointless ultimatum, and one that'd probably appear rather silly to everyone involved.

"You've taken your last innocent life, tree! If there's any intelligence in that trunk, you'd better surrender else we'll cut you down!"

@BrokenPromise@Rune_Alchemist

[VitaVitaAR]

"She should be a lot more aware," complained Fio, her slender legs still kicking irritably as her grip on the pillow tightened, "It's not as if I think she's endangered, but just running off... hmph."

The Sword Witch's irritable huff was followed by her pressing her face into the pillow, only her eyes now visible.

"I go through all that effort, the least she could do is be here to say I did a good job..."

Of course, her voice was so muffled by the pillow it would be very difficult to make out what she was saying in the first place. Indeed, even though she was exhausted, there was no way Fio would let anyone hear her complaining about a lack of praise from the Queen. She was supposed to be verifying if she was even who she said she was in the first place, not complaining about her not being around to praise her. Besides, it wasn't as if she cared in the first place!

She definitely didn't.

Clearly.

When she fell onto her side on the bed, she hugged the pillow even harder. It was as if she was imagining it was Sorcha's head, and she was squeezing it until Sorcha apologized for just disappearing like that.

@Rune_Alchemist

[Pyromania99]

"What do you mean by that Lady Sarah...?" Luna started to ask before looking over at her maid. Sucaria, for her part, seemed normal. Mostly. There was just this hint of... Something. Luna couldn't quite put figure it out before Sucaria helped her out and suggested putting a healing salve on her head which. "Yea... That's not a bad idea, Sucari--a!?" The Knightess exclaimed as this Lady Sarah started to pull her back into the festivities.

She wass suggesting to continue joining in on the festivities and in her semi-dizzy state, it was hard to really fight back being pulled along. Sucaria, for her part, did not want to stay here and said they needed to head back to Airedale. "Well, Sucaria, I won't take part in any more drinking of alcohol, but it wouldn't be a bad idea to stay with them to sleep before getting back on the road." That was when she remembered that Sucaria felt, odd, about this place. She frowned as she pondered it for a few seconds. "Hey, uhh, Lady Sarah, would you mind if I talk privately to Sucaria for a bit so we can discuss our plans?" She tried not to look the elf directly in the eyes as she asked, to avoid any more of these blushing incidents.

Once the elf let her go, she went over to Sucaria. "Well, while you're applying the salve... Are you still having that bad feeling about this place and is that why you want to leave? If not, we probably should take a rest here while we can do so safely. If so... Well, we could get going."

[Guy0fV4lor]

---

@Rune_Alchemist

As the creature faded from existence, Reinhardt jerked his head to one side then the other; as series of soft pops sounded from his neck. With a deep breath, the Knight's expression returned once more to the usual stoic slate he was known for. Checking the condition of his weapons, Elias then turned to the Mages=-- eyeing her up and down to assess her condition.

Fortunately, the only wound seemed to be to the girl's pride.

"There's no need for thanks. I was simply doing what was necessary."

The knight continued about the clearing; gathering his scattered equipment back into the canvas wrap. A small frown formed on the knight's lips as he eyed the thin trickles of blood that slowly dripped from his bandaged hands before he would wipe them clean on his pants.

Hefting the canvas once more onto his shoulder, Reinhart would turn to the Mage once more-- "There's food, lodging, and bath in the city nearby. You look like you could use the rest-- and I'm headed there myself. Would you like to accompany me?"

[Rune_Alchemist]

Location:
Nids End
@Pyromania99

---

Sarah shrugged, allowing Luna to head off with her maid as she’d run back over to the other group of elves, giving a friendly toast to what she was now calling a ‘victory’ on her end that Luna could very clearly hear her bragging about. The elf was certainly…embellishing the events of the duel just slightly.

“Yes.” Sucaria replied simply, motioning for Luna to sit in front of her. The half Fomorian would pull a small box full of a fragrant herbal paste from her satchel of supplies. She’d place it near her, before grabbing Luna’s hair and pulling it back, tying it into a braid and keeping any errant strands from her forehead. “I can’t…explain it. Well.” She’d lather up her hands in the herbal remedy, gently starting to massage Luna’s forehead. “Don’t want to…tire you.”

The decision seemed to be left up to Luna, as it stood, though it seemed Sucaria was still feeling uneasy; she didn’t want to make Luna travel just because she was feeling a bit ill.

Location:
Hjrelskins Fall, Forest
@Crimson Paladin@BrokenPromise

---

The branches coiled around Ethelred. Breaking them once frozen, was not terribly difficult with his own strength and a helping hand from Elnith’s own blade. The Black Knight used her blade to keep more branches off Ethelred, cutting them with the range her weapon had as the Frozen Knight impaled his lance into the ground.

The tree jerked to a halt, its roots frozen and impaled in place, while Luana had successfully managed to sink her claws into its bark…its…surprisingly fleshy feeling bark. Lugh wasn’t far behind, having chased after the tree, using his superior agility to run a bit of the ways up its trunk, trying to slash more of the branches that were trying to widen the crack in its trunk.

“Tree…?”

Words. Coming from the tree. Understandable, this time.

“Tree. Yes. I’m a tree now. A pretty little tree!” Laughter, the bark rumbling as Lugh lost his grip on his footholds, jumping away from the creature as it pulled harder, bark creaking and cracking as it ripped itself more and more. Lugh landed on the ground, taking a few quick steps back.

“Do you want to be a tree too? We’ll be such good friends. A lovely little wintry tree~” The tree would state. The party would become quite aware that now there were about two dozen or so of those small, plant-like imp things that had now surrounded them, watching them from various places from the trees, to the underbrush. It stopped pulling now, and instead, seeing that escape was going to be more trouble than it was worth, immediately turned around and lunged at the group, using its mighty weight to simply try and crush the four combatants.

Location:
Airedale Forests
@Guy0fV4lor

---

“Hmph, I was in fact, heading there myself. I don’t need a babysitter, though.” She replied with a dismissive huff, though it’d quickly turn into a mildly embarrassed seeming sigh. “...Raella. Raella Norinth. Student of the Great Witch Morgan. If I am to go with you, you shall show me the proper respect I am afforded.” She’d grip her staff a bit tightly before giving another humph and starting to walk off towards Airedale.

“Also I can find lodgings myself! I don’t need any help don’t even think I do!” She’d say quickly…there was probably a story behind that, but she didn’t seem like she wanted to share given how quickly she was running off. "...but you could point me in the direction of the keep I have business in the castle!"

Queens Quarters
@VitaVitaAR

---

While it could be said that she had indeed, muffled her voice, there was an audible ‘pfft’ noise from Vyrell as he went about cleaning up the room and he was for some reason, making sure to keep his back to Fio for a few moments before he’d finally turn back around wearing a smile full of levity.

“Well, while I can’t say what she is up to, Fio,” He’d say. “I can see that you’re fairly tired from that. I’ll leave you be for now, I’m sure the queen won’t mind you staying in here for a bit. Maybe she’ll be embarrassed enough not to pull a stunt like this again anytime soon.” Vyrell offered her a small smile as he finished up doing some small bits of cleaning. “If there’s nothing you want to report to me, though, I must get back to my own duties. With her highness gone I need to make sure no one else stumbles in here…haa…”

Assuming Fio didn’t stop him, he’d do just that, allowing Fio to stay in the Queens quarters for now.

The luxurious room was likely the largest bedroom in the keep, as expected. Shelves full of books. Many of the Queens belongings were within easy reach, if she was perhaps to be curious about it…but surely Fio wouldn’t be the snooping type. As the time drug on though, she’d find the room fairly peaceful, perfect for taking a nap in. In fact the bed was extremely comfortable. Unreasonably so almost.

At least until she’d become aware of a small fairy fluttering in through the balcony.

“Whew, finally managed to get away from that cat. Ugh, dumb feline…” The fairy grumbled. “Hmm…so this is that Queens room, huh? Pfft, what kinda queen leaves her trash all over the place…” The fairy, not seeing Fio, fluttered over to the small pile of plates and began observing the rest of the mess in the room. “Is she so poor she doesn’t have servants? Or maybe she just likes living in a trash pile…trash queen? Ahaha, she’s a trash queen of garbage, ahahah~! Ohoho, maybe I should do a little prank…”

[Crimson Paladin]

The tree's reply to his demands answered one question. The tree was indeed an Unseelie, with all of its kind's twisted mockery of the concept of friendship.

There was a much more dire concern than the nature of the malevolent tree- the knights had found themselves surrounded by the plant-like creatures from before. It would appear that Ethelred's previous worry that there were more of those things lurking around wasn't too far off. Now they'd have to fight both the plant creatures and the tree.

They had finally come face to face with the corruption in these woods. Now it was their duty to cleanse the forest and make it safe again.

"Look out!" Ethelred warned as he lunged away from the incoming tree.

"Elnith, keep that tree's branches off us!" he shouted, reading his lance. "Lugh, Luana, don't let yourselves get separated!" He didn't know if there were more of those beasts concealed in the brush, and didn't want any of the knights to get cut off from the others. Staying close would keep them within reach of the tree, but he trusted in the skills of his companions to support one another.

@Rune_Alchemist@BrokenPromise

[BrokenPromise]

”...What?”

— Luana Roycroft

_{@Crimson Paladin@Rune_Alchemist}

Bears were a lot of things, but nimble wasn’t one of them.

Luana, deaf and biting onto the tree’s roots, was not in a great position. The lunging tree smashed into her with its lunge and carried her through the air. A tree weighing several tons was about to come down on her chest. She had little time to recover, even less after getting her wind back. Her body began to change again. Her flesh glowed, but that glow was snuffled out under several tons of cursed bark. She disappeared with a slam. The earth shook, nearby trees lost their leaves, and even those wearing earplugs might have heard a sound.

When the dust cleared, half of a druid stuck out from the base of the tree. Her eyes open in horror as she stared into the sky. She laid there unmoving with a drop of blood rolling out of the side of her mouth.

”...ow.”

Under normal circumstances, the lower half off Luana’s body would have been crushed flat, but the dirt was soft. The tree’s roots had been burrowing through it as well as a cavity from where the tree rested. The lower half of her body was hanging in this void, and the weight of the cursed tree was just enough to pack down the dirt around her. She was stuck, and might have broken something, but she was alive.

Something she hoped wouldn't change.

Luana had put off attacking the tree directly, but she didn’t have too many options. She’d have to put what wasn’t in her immediate surroundings out of her mind. Not hard, given that she was effectively deaf and couldn’t turn her head that far. But she could turn her head a different way.

She grabbed onto the tree with both arms and swung her head at it. Before Luana’s face made contact, she had given herself the head of a woodpecker, which slammed into the tree’s roots like a jackhammer. She didn’t need to kill it, but if she could clear enough of the tree away, maybe she could pull herself free. Though if someone wanted to help her, she wouldn’t pass up assistance.

[Pyromania99]

"Well, Sucaria, I don't want to set traveling again without proper rest. What say we spend the night here with the elves and set out at first light?" Luna asked her maid. As much as she would prefer to set the maid's mind at ease, while she healed from these wounds, she didn't quite want to set out with no rest. "If it makes you feel better, you can stay close tonight in case something happens." With that, Luna had made up her mind and the two would head back to Sarah and the elves.

"Would you all mind if we rested here with you all for the night before heading out then? I think I could join in on the storytelling bit though I think I might need to hold off on the drink." Luna mentioned, wanting to stay fully sober to put Sucaria at ease. Luna grinned a small bit, "I have plenty of my own to tell, though I don't know how they'll compare to your own." It was almost as much a challenge as it was an admittance.

[VitaVitaAR]

Still clutching the pillow tightly to her slim, petite frame, Fio didn't move to prevent Sir Vyrell's departure, instead glaring at a space on the wall irritably as she lay on the bed.

That stupid, stupid Sorcha.

After all that effort she put in, she couldn't even be here...

Under most circumstances, Fio Fan Falisse would never have considered ever falling asleep in Sorcha's bed. Doing so was tantamount to surrender. To allowing all sorts of misfortune to befall her.

It was, to put it simply, placing herself in needless danger.

However, the exhaustion that had overtaken her after the experience in Cethlann's dream was impossible to ignore. As she gripped the pillow tighter, her eyelids began to grow heavier, dropping as her glare became less focused. Indeed, it seemed everything was catching up to the Sword Witch as she lay on the Queen's exquisitely, extremely comfortable bed.

Her resistance to falling asleep was rapidly crumbling.

At least, until something cut through her exhaustion.

She caught sight of the tiny figure fluttering through the window, commenting to herself entirely obliviously as she fluttered over to the plates. Trash queen. Prank.

Fio was certainly angry with Sorcha, but at the same time she was in her service.

This was a matter of pride.

"Sura, spectral swords. Bar the exit."

The blade shimmered into view, and with a wave the window was promptly blocked by the glowing blue form of multiple blades interlocking to create a barrier.

"A prank, unseelie? You were going to prank her?" she commented, placing the pillow to the side and rising to her fee.

Perfect. There was no escape from the room, and she had someone to take her frustration out on.

Someone who unquestionably deserved it.

"I think you're the one who invited a little bit of pranking."

@Rune_Alchemist

[Rune_Alchemist]

Location:
Nids End
@Pyromania99

---

The elves were busy carousing, one was dancing a rather entrancing, flowing dance around the flames and Sarah was busy regaling the elves of the tale of some far off battle with a demon. A ferocious battle, where all she had was the great shield she was carrying, and the well wishing and training of her teacher that left shortly before.

She was mid sentence when Luna returned with Sucaria.

“Oh? By all means, having someone else familiar with these lands telling stories would be appreciated!” Sarah replied with a friendly grin. “Come on, you start then. I can finish mine later.” Sucaria would stand pensively next to Luna, seemingly still uncomfortable but acquiescing to Luna’s commands. Curiously the cyclopean fomorian could be caught casting a few glances towards the maid, but he didn’t seem to say much or do anything aside from join the elves in their carousing, challenging a few of the elves to arm wrestling contests or other shows of strength.

Eventually though, as the night wore on the elves would turn in one by one. Sarah was completely smashed by the end of the night as they say, and had at various points in the festivities ended up leaning and falling on Luna, earning more than a few cool glares from the maid before said maid also helped carrying her off to her tent to prevent further incidents.

It was in the middle of the night, after Luna and everyone had fallen asleep would Luna be woken by a somewhat familiar voice.

“Oi, human. Get up.” It was the fomorian. He was leaning against a rock wall, seemingly sharpening a few sticks of large pieces of wood into spears. “I’ll smack ye if I have too, on yer feet. That maid of yours needs some help.” He’d gruffly reply. “Elder Beast out there’s being ornery tonight. Her fomor blood is listening.”

It was true, Sucaria didn’t seem to be anywhere. Up on the hill at the top of the rocky shoreline she could see little motes of yellowish light over it.

Location:
Hjrelskins Fall, Forest
@Crimson Paladin@BrokenPromise

---

Elnith deftly avoided the slow, cumbersome tree, having been a distance from it to start with made it easy for her to avoid most of the blow as she’d avoid the hefty blow. Lugh fared slightly worse, being knocked on his feet from the impact and tumbling across the ground a bit…and giving the little Unseelie the perfect opportunity to swarm him.

“Aw, they wanna be new friends!”

“Garden~garden~”

“Cut and prune the flowers~”

“Until they are done~”

Lugh growled, quickly rolling along the ground, avoiding one of the creature's claws and jumping to his feet, but one leaped into the air and latched around his head and neck, proceeding to viciously claw and rip at his hair and head. The tree would slowly try setting up from where it had fallen - only for Luana to grab it with her hands and proceed to well, quite effectively peck it.

“Ah~ah! Oh that tickles!” The tree giggled as Luana’s head viciously began hollowing a hole in the tree’s bark. “Oh, but…I don’t think its ready! I’m a tree! Still a tree! Can’t be something else!” Luana would feel the branches wrap around her, swiftly yanking her off of the tree and tossing her away, and towards a group of the ravenous little plants.

There was however, now a fairly deep, sizable hole in the tree’s bark. Green sap was leaking from its body now, and the tree would turn its attention towards Ethelred and Elnith, the initial crack had almost completely extended from the creatures base to its top, along with the hole, the thing was nearly falling apart. Some of the things roots were still trying to pry itself apart, for some reason, but it also had significantly slowed down.

“No you don’t!” Elnith swung her sword, the blade bonking the one trying to get Lugh off and sending it to the ground, earning a huff from the youth and a thankful nod. His face was pretty badly scratched, but otherwise he seemed fine. “Any ideas, Ethelred?”

“I’ll carry an axe next time.” Lugh commented, readying his own weapon. They likely needed to finish this fairly quick or find a way to deal with the small pixies before they were overwhelmed entirely.

Queens Quarters
@VitaVitaAR

---

“Okyaaa?!” The little fairy immediately did a 180, wings fluttering in a panic as she’d shout in surprise, somehow, having been completely oblivious to Fio. She initially seemed like she was ready to bolt, but upon seeing the diminutive witch, the Fairy's posture relaxed slightly, a look of mild annoyance forming on her face before her mouth turned upwards into a grin.

“Ahaha, its a human child.” She’d laugh. “A teeny tiny itsy bitsy human child! Ahaha, like I’m scared of a pint sized child that’s barely bigger than me!” The pixie derisively cackled. “For annoying me, I’ll guess I’ll curse you instead!”

The pixie raised her warped, twisted hand. She was certainly building up magic, though Fio couldn’t say what for. In fact, she could barely detect any magic at all! Was it because the fairy was too powerful for her to feel? No, in fact, it was quite the opposite.

This fairy, was so incredibly weak she’d barely be a threat to anyone. The curse would probably be an inconvenience at best for a few minutes, whatever it was if she was allowed to finish.

[VitaVitaAR]

". . ."

She was tired. She was already irritated.

That was enough to make this stupid little fairy's intrusion even more aggravating then it would have been otherwise.

But then the useelie opened her brainless little mouth.

And she spoke.

And the words she said...

Had she come here with a desire for punishment? Was this unseelie a twisted mashochist who wanted to suffer? Perhaps that explained her behavior.

Fio's left eye twitched as she watched the utterly pathetic display of the fae's attempt to curse her. She could barely even detect it, it was such a weak buildup of magic that it might not have even existed. What was it going to do? Turn the tips of her hair purple? Give her a minor cough?

Whatever the case, she wasn't about to give this idiot the satisfaction of a successful curse.

"Moonlit Shine," she said, in a casual, noncommittal manner as she put only the barest amount of mana into applying a ward to herself. It wasn't necessary, really, given how weak the curse would almost certainly be, but it was a perfect demonstration of the distance between the two of them.

The only sign it had been cast was a brief blue-white light that flowed across Fio's body, before she simply reached out to grab the unseelie from the air.

"A child? That's what you called me. A child," she said, wrapping her slender fingers tightly around the tiny fae's small body, "You're not talking to a child, you total idiot!"

Placing her free hand to her chest, Fio continued.

"I am Fio Fan Falisse, and I am going to make you remember that name, you brainless little moron! You absolute fool. Maybe you secretly wanted to be be punished, and that's why you came here?!"

As she spoke, her free hand left her chest and sharply prodded the unseelie's cheek. By this point, the seething fire within her heart had completely overpowered her physical exhaustion. The Sword Witch was utterly livid. This stupid unseelie came here first intending to curse the Queen and then her, and yet she was that week? She was that utterly stupid? And so dumb she thought she was a child on top of that?

She was perfectly mature! Perfectly adult! Who would ever make that mistake!? Only an idiot! That's just how stupid this unseelie was!

"I have not had the best day recently, and lo and behold, a pathetic little ignoramus whose magical power is so low she couldn't curse a frog has decided to volunteer herself to help me let my stress out! If she's stupid enough to call me a child, I can't tell if it's idiocy or masochism that made her decide to help out!"

@Rune_Alchemist

[BrokenPromise]

”That tree dropped a doom reference.”

— Luana Roycroft

_{@Crimson Paladin@Rune_Alchemist}

Well, that was one way to get out from under her opponent.

The branch coiled around Luana's shoulders and freed her from that dirt prison. Just as she was whipped away, she reached for her seed pouch. A vine burst from her hand and coiled around the spear head still stuck in the tree. When she was thrown, she wouldn’t move to far as-

Oh, the spear head came free.

Luana hurdled through the air. She had some choice words for the tree that kept throwing her, but that wasn't her problem anymore. In just a few seconds, she was going to land on a bunch of carnivorous creatures. Her head changed back just as one of her arms turned into a wing. This acted as a sail that stopped her from spinning through the air. Her remaining hand tightened around the spear-tipped vine, which spun overhead.

The plant creatures scattered, likely not wanting to become a salad. Luana stumbled as she landed, but was able to stay on her feet by using her wing as a giant air brake. But the creatures weren’t stupid. They had surrounded her now, but none of them wanted to make the first move. They’d make threatening advances, only to hop backwards once Luana looked in their direction. An attack was coming, and it would come the moment's she didn't expect it.

With a yank, the vine and spear head flew into her hand. Her winged arm turned back to normal as she reached into her seed pouch and pulled out an acorn. In just a few seconds, Endless Eclipse had been restored. One of the mandrakes felt this was a good time to attack Luana, and lunged for her ankle. As it drew close, she thrust the butt of her spear into its head and smashed it into the ground. If it had seen Endless Eclipse’s sheen, it might have noticed Luana could see herself from an overhead view. No attack would have come as a surprise. But now an opening had been created. Luana spun like a whirling dervish, and a tiny green creature was slain with every swing. With every creature she slew, her smile broadened.

Though her rib was starting to bother her.

[Crimson Paladin]

The group now found itself fighting not just the tree, but the surrounding Unseelie. If it were one or the other, it'd be manageable, but combating both at the same time was a lofty challenge, and the fairies seemed emboldened by their considerable advantage in numbers.

"I've got one," he answered Elnith. "Keep them off me."

With the druid dealing with the smaller Unseelie quite effectively, Ethelred saw an opportunity to strike at the tree. It was still attempting to pry its damaged trunk apart, and while Ethelred wasn't sure why it'd be worsening the damage, it did present an opportunity for the Frozen Knight to do some damage.

Ethelred charged the tree and stabbed his lance into the tree's hole. There was something very odd about how this arboreal abomination was trying to pull itself apart, along with its strange words- was it perhaps trapped in a wooden prison much as Ethelred was trapped in an icy one? If it was not an insane, murderous Unseelie, he might even feel sympathy for it.

In any case, they needed to take this tree out of the battle before they were overwhelmed. With this in mind- and perhaps because he was both curious about whether this thing might parallel his own curse, and because he believed in looking his foes in the eyes- he used his lance to try and pry the tree's damaged trunk apart.

"Let's see what you are underneath all this, Unseelie!"

@BrokenPromise@Rune_Alchemist

[Pyromania99]

The night went fairly smoothly for Luna. Other than a few instances of a certain elf woman drunkenly clinging to her at the least. The knightess had removed her weapon from her waist and shield from her arm but kept her armor on. It wasn't all too uncomfortable to sleep in but she wanted to be ready in case something happened. Sucaria had such an off look about her.

Not to much surprise, someone had woken her up because something had gone wrong... It just wasn't who she had expected. It was the cyclopian fomorian that Sarah had fought earlier and he mentioned that her maid needed help. "Maid... Sucaria needs help?" Luna said, half-sleepy still. As soon as the meaning of those words clicked into place in her mind, she hopped out of her rest to her feet and quickly gathered up her sword and shield. The instant lack of Sucaria's presence was more than enough for Luna to trust that much from this Fomorian. Though... Well, she was obviously skeptical of his words.

"What Elder Beast do you speak of?" Luna asked, taking note that her head was feeling perfectly fine by now. Sucaria's healing salve was doing great. "And where is Sucaria? The maid?" Luna continued to question before looking up and seeing the yellow lights at the top of the hill. "There?" She asked a last questioned as she secured her shield to her arm and her sword to her side. She was ready to get moving to help Sucaria from whatever Elder Beast was a threat. The thought that this may be a trap never left the back of her mind though.

[Guy0fV4lor]

---

@Rune_Alchemist

Reinhardt's brow furrowed as he tried to recall what he knew of the Great Witch Morgan-- only to end up pulling a blank. With a few long strides, he managed to seamlessly catch up to the diminutive mage before providing introduction of his own. "A pleasure to meet you Mage Raella. You can call me Elias."

Though he didn't intend to accompany the woman all the way to the keep, Elias intended to at least pry into her reasoning as to her sudden appearance, "So, what business brings you to Airedale?"

[Rune_Alchemist]

Location:
Nids End
@Pyromania99

---

The Fomorian didn’t bother immediately responding, merely tilting his head up towards the hills as if she should hurry. Once at the top, she’d find Sucaria looking out over the craggy, rocky shoreline. The desolate, nighttime expanse extended far to the north, and along the shore in the distance she could see it.

A beast of some sort, walking along in the distance of the shoreline. It was too dark to make out, but where its head seemed to be were some sort of flickering, yellow fire burning into the skies. Pale and sickly, while various spots of its presumably extremely long body extended down the rocky cliffside and into the sea below. It was sitting fairly low to the ground, but she couldn’t make out much more besides what could probably be four legs, curled at its side.

More notably though, was the entire host of Fomorian’s that had gathered around it…in an almost worshiping like manner. It was difficult for her to make them out too much as well, but they were carrying torches of similar yellow fire.

Sucaria stood at the top of the hill, seemingly transfixed.

“We call it the Ollipheist.” The Fomorian replied. “Dangerous beast, even the brainless fools among our kind even avoid. The thing has the power to enthrall us…and only us. I don’t know what it is about that fire, but anyone with Fomorian blood aside from those of our particular lineage are affected by it.”

Location:
Hjrelskins Fall, Forest
@Crimson Paladin@BrokenPromise

---

The tree creaked in groaned, bark breaking and giving way under the strain of being assaulted. The creature, though was no longer singing. The Melody had silenced, though that sweet smell still lingered in the air as the crack widened and widened, as the thing began to shudder and -

Crack

The entire side of the tree facing Ethelred cracked apart. With a shriek, and a shudder, the trees entire fleshy bark began to shudder, its branches retreating back towards its body as an odd, green goo began leaking from the wound.

“NNgh…will I? Can I? Bloom? Bloom prettily?” For a moment, it seemed the tree may indeed have something else up its branches. From this green goo, at the very top of the tree between its branches where the crack was being pried apart what appeared to be a giant hand was reaching out…before it’d lose all cohesion and fall back in on itself.

“GGhhk…ah…no-no…to soon…too soon…” The voice lamented, the tree would fall over onto its side with a thud. “Ah, I’m sorry…sorry mother…sorry…I couldn’t…”

The Unseelie that had been surrounding Luana immediately froze, turning to see the felled tree. A few tense seconds of silence.

“...Ah, the bullies killed sister!”

“Meanies! Meanies!”

“Run away! Waaah, mommy!~”

The group would proceed to do just that, fleeing into the underbrush.

Location:
Airedale Forests
@Guy0fV4lor

---

“I want to speak with this Queen’s Court Mage.” Rael responded with a humph. “I can not stay long, and anything we discuss is meant for them, not…extremely physically fit peasants like you.” Oddly enough, it didn’t seem like she was trying to say that as an insult as she’d head into Airedale proper. “You wouldn’t happen to know where the keep is, would you? I would erm, like to not get lost. N-not that I would, ahah.”

Queens Quarters
@VitaVitaAR

---

“Eeeep!” The Unseelie immediately knew she had, as one might say, royally messed up. From the moment her ‘curse’ if it could even be called that seemed completely ineffective, from the clearly outmatched magical power that this ‘child’ she had antagonized had begun to summon. The more Fio ranted, the more the fairy shrunk in demeanor and seemed to almost want to retreat into Fio’s hand for protection.

“Fio Fanny Fannise?” The fairy responded, tilting her head to the side, clearly not particularly feeling threatened despite Fio’s apparent rage or her deciding to hide. “Fia Fanna Fannise? Ahahaha, what a long silly name! Humans have really long silly names, ahahah. Fanny, pfft.” The fairy in question seemed to be quite amused by this. “Okay human you made me laugh so I’ll be so gracious as to not super curse you for this transgression of touching me. In fact, I’ll let you have the honor of doing a task for me!” The fairy would nod. “Your house is now mine! Don’t you feel honored, yes? A great and powerful unseelie like me giving you the boon of my presence! Hahah, you should thank me now!”

[BrokenPromise]

”TIMBERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!”

— Luana Roycroft

_{@Crimson Paladin@Rune_Alchemist}

Luana did not hear the tree fall, she felt it.

When the ground shook, Luana and the mandrakes looked towards the Tree. It seemed that the tree was a cocoon for the Unseelie inside. But much like a cicada pupa, it was freed from the cocoon before it was strong enough to survive. Her eyes jumped from the motionless tree to the fleeing mandrakes. The druid stood up a little straighter and yanked the ear plugs out of her head.

”An exhilarating hunt!” She shoved her spear into her scabbard before approaching the others. ”Though I imagine they will become emboldened as soon as another strong one joins their ranks. I would give chase, but I suspect they're splitting up as we speak.” She gave Lugh a sniff as she walked past him. ”We'll be a bit too easy to track ourselves. We should return to town and get some tomatoes for Lugh's bath. So long as we have one, I should be able to grow as many as we need.” She patted him on the shoulder before stopping in front of Ethelred. ”That's my suggestion at least. When you're satisfied with your expedition, I would like to meet your boss.” She bowed, but winced when her rib acted up again. ”A-anyway! We didn't have much time to talk before the fight. I'll gladly answer all of your questions.”

[Crimson Paladin]

The Unseelie's demise was a victory, for sure. However, when it uttered an apology to its mother, Ethelred found himself taking and holding its emergent hand as it expired, somewhat touched by its sorrowful last words.

"If you loved her, perhaps the goddess will consider it when you are judged," he spoke softly, unsure if the Unseelie held on long enough to hear his words.

Following his foe's death and the retreat of the other Unseelie, he headed over to the others. Poor Lugh was dinged up a little and smelled awful, but that was the worst of it. Elnith had avoided injury, but the newcomer- the druid- had been unfortunate enough to be under the tree when it fell, yet seemed barely fazed by it. In fact, she was invigorated, and even willing to continue the fight despite having just taken a blow that could've killed a person. He certainly couldn't question her fortitude.

"Yes, I have questions," he responded. "It's not every day we meet someone whom being crushed under a tree doesn't even slow them down. Where are you from, and where did you learn your magic?"

Someone of her magical skills could be useful to Sorcha's cause, if she was willing. If not, she could still be a very useful contact and ally.

"And, err, I don't suppose you know any any magic that can get the smell out of Lugh, do you?"

@BrokenPromise

[VitaVitaAR]

"..."

Fio wordlessly turned, still gripping the tiny unseelie in her hand. At first she was checking over the mess in the room, looking for anything that would serve suitable for her goal. A jar, a bit of twine, some cloth...

Thankfully, all these things didn't seem particularly difficult to find. As much as the Queen's room was completely unkempt, at least it that meant you could find virtually anything you needed in there. What was she even doing with the jar?

Regardless, she now had her method of punishment.

The unseelie was unceremoniously dumped into the jar. Before she could do much of anything, Fio had already placed the clothe over the opening and secured it with the twine, ensuring that the diminutive fae would have no way of breaking out from the inside. Just as an added measure, she put a small amount of magical power into the cloth, reinforcing it to ensure it couldn't be torn through from within.

"And now I've shown you to your room, unseelie," she commented, sitting on the bed and holding the jar in both hands. "Is it comfortable? Do you need some furniture? Maybe I'll consider it if I get an apology."

After a few moments, a new question rose in the Sword Witch's mind.

"... Just what are you doing here in the first place, unseelie?"

@Rune_Alchemist