Anarion

Sunshards

“Thank you so much, Rose, you’re an incredible friend and it makes me happy how you’re so kind to me and such fun to do things with” ...is what the calm, thoughtful part of Chen’s mind wanted to say. However, that part of her brain was, at best, around 10% in operation at the moment. The other 90% was too busy having an extreme meltdown for coherent words.

It was somewhere around “polite little girls” that Chen just started imploding completely. Her blush, already building, completely overtook her from neck to forehead, her cheeks like bright little tomatoes. She vacillated between wanting to jump directly into Rose’s thick, strong arms and desperately begging the ground to open up a hole and swallow her quickly so that she wouldn’t have to endure a second longer. The result was Chen unable to meet Rose’s gaze and unable to stand still as that strong, firm hand cupped over hers held her firmly in place. She moved her shoulders, she shifted her legs, pulled her feet apart, brought her feet back together, and progressively started shaking more and more in that grip. She loved this, the games and the teasing, and the strength that Rose emanated. It was too much, aaaaaaaaah!

What came out when Rose paused and looked to Chen to use any words at all was something like “mmnnrrrfff” which might have made you think the gag was already in place, and then a high-pitched squeaking and shaking her head as Chen tried her absolute bestest to respond to Rose with something and failed utterly.

Sunshards

“Oh no, I couldn’t possibly...” Princess Chen grew immediately flushed and cut herself off.

Of course, Chen didn’t need an allowance. Of course. She carried some coinage in her bags for travel needs, and her reputation alone, people would happily trade her for a future favor or a good word with one of her mothers (though the cactus episode had taught her to spend that currency carefully indeed). Besides that, it would be incredibly rude for her to accept gifts like this given her station, and on top of that accepting a gift would mean that she would owe Rose a favor, which was out of the question given everything she knew now. It was definitely improper and she shouldn’t do it. But...she wanted Rose to give her a little gift and make a big deal of it. She sort of even wanted Yue to laugh again, even at her.

“That is...I...um...it would be rude...but...er...if you insisted...” Chen is barely getting words out in between short breaths as her embarrassment grows and her voice gets progressively higher as an embarrassed squeak builds in her throat instead. She can’t bear Rose looking at her that way, but can’t take her eyes off either, and with words failing her, she manages just the tiniest little nod that yes she wants this very much. The cherry tomato flush making her want to sink into the earth (or into Rose...aaaaah) finally becomes too much and she yanks her eyes down, looking back up just a sliver to see if Rose is indeed giving her anything.

[Chen is very much enticed and now flustered]

Dark Age (playtest): The Lands of Pendragon

There is a weight to the air that lasts beyond the departure of the spirit that was once King Pellinore. It hangs like a shroud over the world, reflects in the dark clouds gathering overhead. They threaten a summer storm, which ought to be a blessing, but might well cause floods with the soil this dry and loose. And in the meantime, it is like the world still holds its breath.

Knights begin to fill the village commons, perhaps ten or so all told, recovering from the quake. But they keep a respectful distance, clustering towards the town gate where Pellinore's ghost had ridden from and faded. The knights speak in hushed whispers, and the townsfolk cover their windows further afield. The events of this day will be known.

Mort hides behind Constance, though he spares a glance for Tristan scrambling down from the rooftops as well. He is at the least, bold enough to stay near the group, rather than flee at the death of his liege. He looks like he's considering trying to approach the spot where the body had fallen and trying to gather some token or perhaps just some bloodied grass to use for a burial, but he dares not approach.

Only the Lady Sandsfern seems unaffected. She steps forward, full of life and color, her cheeks ruddy, and puts a hand on Robena's shoulder. "Well done, indeed, Robena! Well struck! Ah, how I've missed your strength since we parted ways in near Byzantium! Knights will sing of this day!" It is like the gloom cannot touch her, and perhaps that is the truth, that the Lady Sandsfern is beyond such things as mortal ghosts. As to your forthcoming death in her service, it seems she offers neither acknowledgment nor care.

To all of you, how do you part from this moment, and what are your plans to pass the summer season?

Sunshards

"Oh! My! Gosh!" Chen bounces up, almost standing in her stirrups to see as the balloons come into view. Her horse (she named her Hei because Chen took the black mare) prances forward nervously, feeling Chen leaning forward, and realizing she's distressing her mount, Chen leans back and urges Hei into a trot instead so that she can get to the full view over the hill faster!

The others might be forgiven for not immediately riding forward to match Chen. She had spent the entire trip bouncing up and down at new sights, sounds, and smells. She had been popping up out of hay bales and accidentally causing the boat to rock, and generally being an incorrigible little bundle of energy the whole trip.

You have to understand, it's not that Chen hadn't seen the countryside. She had her painting spots near Sourcefall, and a few special places further afield. And she had been kidnapped and dragged about a fair few times. But mostly, Chen flew, and the people who kidnapped her flew and stopped at little cottages or glades, whatever safe place they knew. She saw the world from above it, and often at a blur when she was in a hurry. She never just traveled. So on this trip, bouncing from wagons to boats to horses, everything was new and exciting because Princess Chen of the Northern Wind, for all her training and skills had just never traveled this way.

There had been a little glimpse of Chen's regular life when they got the horses. She had to go back, so she had stepped a little distance from the horses (so as not to startle them) held out her sword, and then zipped off just like that! She'd been back at the shrine within moments, bowed and offered payment without trying to negotiate, and then zipped right back, the whole morning's walking trip done in about fifteen minutes. And yes, she had been showing off a little bit, but she also didn't want to keep her new friends waiting, so she'd gone for a speed record on that route that wouldn't be broken for decades.

But, back to the balloons. Chen rode forward and caught the first glimpse of the flying dragon, bringing Hei to a stop. This, she had never seen. Her parents had taken her to visit the Sky Castle when she was little, but they didn't go to the market below (or maybe they were there at the wrong season, she didn't know) and so this was the first time she had witnessed their trading like this. It was incredible, almost beyond words. She gently urged Hei to a stop and just stared from their hill as the world flashed with dragon breath and the balloons began to take off.

"Amazing. This is just...have any of you ever seen this before?" She turned back to the group, sparkling wide eyes aimed mostly for Rose who seemed the best traveled. "This has to be special, right? They can't just do this all the time, can they?" She asks nobody in particular.

Sunshards

There is a moment where Chen looks uneasy. What if little Kat disdains her and walks away?! She'd be rejected forever by the most powerful authority in all the world and then where would she be? But then she hops into Chen's lap instead and she's making her way up for a head smash and oh gosh she's so fluffy and her paws are tickling Chen's thighs and she can't help but start laughing!

"T-thank you!" she manages between her laughter, pulling the little fox into a hug and getting those little paws off her very ticklish legs. Deep breath, okay. "Thank you. It's um, Chen of the Northern Wind, Princess of Sourcefall and Ys, heir to twin sunshards, and aspiring artist, but just Chen is fine. Unless you ever have to meet my moms, especially Hestia, she really likes all the formality stuff, then we can practice together."

Chen is all smiles though, the kind of unabashed, hug a fox, sunshine bursting through your face delight that's just impossible to fake. And for a moment, she just revels in that. At meeting all the people here who fill her heart with joy and make her flush with pleasure and just how great the day has been and how nothing could possibly take that away!

Then she remembers all the things that could definitely take that away and puts her game face on. "Alright, well, if you don't want to be Qiu's handmaiden, you're going to need to either convince her yourself or find a place to hide. And maybe some disguise magic too because she's got posters with your face in every town by the lakeside. Do you know a place that would be safe and hidden? Or does anyone here? Cyanis, or Rose maybe?"

Dark Age (playtest): The Lands of Pendragon

Tristan

Although you focus, what you see is a broader perspective. Looking closely at Pellinore, you can see that she is not...made of herself. Those are the words your mind would give you, that Pellinore is not made of herself. It is like a vast string stretches from Uther's throne in Camelot to entwine her and from her stretches out to the Questing Beast, lurking in a dell not so far from the village as you might have thought. There may once have been humanity in Pellinore, but it is not what constitutes her. Instead she is wrapped all about with the destiny and the darkness that comes from Uther Pendragon and manifests in the sickness and chaos in the land. Whatever humanity there was in her has been pressed down and down, then wrapped up with a monstrous destiny so tightly that you cannot see it.

And then, a blade falls and, for a brief instant, everything goes dark before you disentangle your senses and find yourself back on your roof.

Everyone

The blade falls with the weight of a mountain, lodging itself in King Pellinore's neck and biting into her back. Her body crumples and collapses, carrying the sword with it.

The last of the earthquake subsides and there is stillness and the settling of dust. Mort, the young knight in Pellinore's retinue, stands with mouth agape behind Constance, stunned by the scene. The folk of Southaven were already cleared out far away and none dare approach now. The knights returning from their panic pull up short when they come upon the scene.

Then, unnaturally, a ghostly aura of sickly green surrounds the corpse of King Pellinore. It stirs and rises inhumanly, the skin fading and blurring with the dry dirt and grass. Her head and neck dangle at a forward angle, barely attached to her body at all. The motion tilts the sword upwards and half translucent blood gently flows down her back from the wound before she cradles her own head in her right arm.

The ghost turns first to Constance and makes just the slightest bow, an act of grotesquery as the head and arm dip almost upside down. Then it turns to Robena and a voice somehow croaks out from that cut throat.

"The judgment of the Lady Constance is accepted. As recompense in a year and a day, your blow will be answered in kind."

The doom pronounced, the ghost steps past Constance and Mort, mounting Mort's horse, which seems to fade and blur as the ghost claims it. It goes to ride from town, but as it moves away, body and horse alike fade and blur with the distant forest until there is nothing left to be seen of the dead King Pellinore.

Sunshards

Princess Chen takes the last sip of her tea and lowers the mug gently and oh so carefully to the ground beside her. It is an old tea set, but full of love and she will not add a single chip or scratch to it. It makes a light clink on the stone where she rests it here beside the new shrine.

Rose finishes speaking and for a moment, that little clink from Chen's cup simply hangs in the air, too clear and pure to fade. The silence lasts as Chen rises from her seat and smoothes her silks, and only then does she break it. "Delicious tea. Truly special." In what must be quite the embarrassment to a girl mostly engaged in being covered by foxes, Chen puts her hands together and leans her head forward in a deep bow of respect for the meal, ducking her head beneath her locked arms.

Then she looks at Rose. In her mind, she files away the words 'she would never discover her own secrets' knowing that to ask of such a thing now would be the most perilous question. Instead she looks at Rose, at how the great monk carries herself. The feeling is fear, is it not, that rests in her stance. Fear of herself? "Your Way flows nearly as swiftly as the wind, I think. You are much changed from when I met you with the Scales of Meaning, Rose, and even from our fight. I thought you enjoyed that, does the Way allow you enjoyment?" Chen shudders for a moment, remembering some of Hestia's lessons on hard work and self-sacrifice. Perhaps her Mom followed the Way and didn't know it? No matter, the question was rhetorical and Chen swiftly fills the space before Rose can answer.

"You asked someone else to take a turn though, right, and I owe Yue, at least, an explanation of why I'm here. And perhaps Hyra as well. Though for my part, I'd like to know why one of Yin's handmaidens seemed ready to stab her." A glance for Hyra and a cute smile at what she expects to be a wolf baring her fangs.

"But, as I said, I'll go next." She steps over to Yue, covered in fox and fox maiden in their turn. "I'm sorry, this must be so much. I imagine that maybe you were prepared for an adventure with one special warrior and a fox who grants wishes, and instead the world has dropped four of them right on you, counting Yin, not to mention all manner of demons. Maybe it will make you feel better to know that my moms did something similar. When I was first starting to learn all the things for how to be a Princess, and my moms were still together, they introduced me to things like what Yin did. They're called Sunshards, the special magic of the suns of this world that used to once be in the sky in a time that Rose might even remember. Well, my moms decided they were just going to toss me in the deep end and see how I did. So they put their two sunshards together and they made a big world out of our palace. Some of it was full of caves with sparkling gems and light coming in at strange angles to make rainbows on underground waterfalls. Other parts were full of indoor deserts with their own little oases and palm trees rising up to the ceiling and such heat that the air shimmered and swayed like a dancer." Chen pauses and offers a little affect with her own silks to lighten the mood.

"I suppose they thought I'd rise to the occasion. At first it did seem enchanting. But it turned out the caves were full of all manner of things, scary crystal monsters that would come after me if I stayed in one place too long, and demons coming from the water, and then all manner of snakes and even one ifrit in the middle of the desert who had the most booming voice. I think that was actually my Mommy, Ysel, playing pretend. But, whatever it was, I wasn't up to it. I screamed and ran off and found a low little cave with a noisy stream where I thought I'd be hidden until they found me crying and had to carry me out of their special magic castle. That was the first time I ever had to deal with all this big magic stuff. You came out the other side of Yin, and now of our friend Rose here and you're okay. You even found a nice outfit and have some new friends!" Here, Chen gestures to Hyra, and then down to Cyanis, who is giggling in Yue's lap in a way that makes Chen very quickly blush and step sideways, clearing her throat to resume talking.

"So, I'm going to say some things about all the Princesses and such, but I think you shouldn't worry about them right now. Hyra will understand, and Rose might know some of them, and anyway I just want you to know why I'm here now." Chen nods and looks more at Hyra now when she's speaking, though she spares glances back to Yue. "Among the Princesses right now, there's one called Qiu Tian. She's very powerful and demanding, and she has this lovely strong dragon's tail and wears her dresses with a sort of confident lounging pose and...um, a-anyway, what's important is that Qiu has three of the sun shards now and most everyone else is upset about that." Chen looks at Rose to see whether she's upset about that.

"My parents split up, but each of them is in charge of a princess alliance that's trying to stop Qiu before she takes over everything. I'm supposed to try and get Qiu's shards. I could do that by fighting her, but I'd probably lose since she's so strong. But, I might also get them by embarrassing her or tricking her. So, right now, I'm working for her to bring her you, Yue! Because one of Qiu's special demon advisors (she has those) said you were the most valuable thing in her entire new kingdom. No idea why! But the special demon advisor said so, so it must be true. That's why Qiu drew your face on all those posters and she's offering a princess dance as a reward for whoever brings you to her, which is what I'm after."

Chen hesitates here, kicking one foot uncomfortably against some loose dirt. "Except...well, I think the Princesses are mean sometimes! My moms can be, and so can Qiu, and you met Yin. So, I want all that stuff I said, but only if you, Yue, want to become a handmaiden and train with princess Qiu. It would be tough, but you'd learn how to fly like Hyra and I can, and how to do some magic that you'd be good at, and how to duel with that sword you've got in the bag there. But, if you don't want to do that, well, I'd just like to be your friend and help you find a way to hide for a little while until everyone stops looking."

Chen looks around her. At Rose who is afraid of herself, clutching Yue's sunstones. At Hyra, who has a look of suspicion because she can't decide if Chen is legit or up to some kind of Princess trick (too wise a handmaiden by half), at the fox and the fox who have decided that Yue is very comfortable indeed thank you, and at Yue herself, for whom probably most of this flew over her head, but who has the unenviable position of having to decide things. She offers a curtsy to fill the silence. "I r-really hope that we can be friends" she adds, with some hesitation.

Dark Age (playtest): The Lands of Pendragon

Robena

With horses too risky in the face of a wrestling match, you dismount and strike King Pellinore on a blind angle with a powerful slam of your shield that would cave the skull of a normal person. In Pellinore's case, there is considerably less damage than you would expect, but the momentum of the blow is still present and it ruins her stance, sending all three of you into a tumble. You and Pellinore arise ahead of Sandsfern and you position yourself in front of your lady.

You can perhaps count yourself lucky. Pellinore had been arrayed for hunting when you saw her. Her spear and bow are useless at such close quarters (nor had she tried to attack you with archery at all) and her carving dagger was not built to thrust in the manner needed to pierce a chain coat much less your magically enchanted hide. So she has settled on a brawl, relying on the tried and true tactic that a knight thrown off her feet is just as vulnerable to being bashed with a rock as anyone else.

This rush is the hardest moment. You don't have an effective method to harm Pellinore, and Pellinore has decided that her approach will be as direct as possible. She leaps at you, ramming you with an armored shoulder that meets your shield with a deafening crash of metal. You hold your feet, barely, skidding backwards across the dry earth, your boots sinking into the loose soil and throwing up a dust cloud. The Lady Sandsfern mercifully rolls behind you and regains her feet so you do not trip on your own liege. So pressed, you continue to hold even as Pellinore rams a gauntleted punch past your shield and into the armor against your chest and stomach. Yet you are as strong as the bear whose skin rests upon you and you find yourself steady and locked in your lady's stead: you have no means to harm your opponent, but neither has she surpassed you yet.

You can feel the magical strength empowering her though. That punch hurt even through your armor and more are coming. Time is not your ally. Fortunately, the lady Sandsfern is your ally and she is gathering herself. You can feel a heat build behind you and as the dust starts to clear, she appears ready to unleash some sort of magic of her own. However, the fight is interrupted by a clarion call of a voice you know well...

Tristan

From your vantage on the roof, you wince as the melee goes down in another tumble (the clang and clatter of it reaches you even this high up) and then they rise and Robena has taken Sandsfern's place in the wrestling match. There is a large dust cloud, but as it starts to clear, you can see from your vantage that Sandsfern was never entirely human (you pretty much knew that already) and that her hair is blazing as though it is actual fire. She is gathering some sort of magic, which will be fire, and will likely be overkill and might start a fire in light of the setting (dry grass and thatch rooves being well known for mixing predictably with fire).

You are internally debating whether Robena would be justified in murdering you for betrayal if you were to disrupt Sandsfern by shooting her and whether that would be a good idea for Robena's short-term health when a shout rings out across the field and your view is drawn to the town gates, where the Lady Constance, spiritual advisor to the Duchess Marianne, strides forth with a knight that looks like Mort in tow with her.

You can also see that other knights from Pellinore's hunting party are gathering outside of the town gates. The two that fled from the initial charge seem to have met a party of four more, and a few that panicked in initial terror are visible further out and have gotten control of their horses.

As a lookout, you are probably best positioned to protect your friends by ensuring that nobody in the central party is surprised. Consider a shouted warning if the reformed knights try to return or a threat to them to approach the town commons only slowly so that none of the powerful, dangerous, jumpy people resume hostilities. Try to also be careful not to make yourself the source of surprise so that nobody thinks a sudden betrayal is in progress. It seems likely that either Sandsfern or Pellinore could cause significant destruction if they are spurred back into conflict.

Also, if you can find the time, Pellinore is more than a little distracted right now and is not presently denying your right to comprehend the supernatural. A focused examination of her (that is not interrupted by a cadre of knights) might offer you some insight.

Being the lookout sure is a busy job!

Constance

As you stride into the village commons of Southaven, past the crash of metal and the shaking of the earth, you appear, for a moment, as the great Lady of the Hunt, that fell dame who crosses the sky on howling winds and thunder leading the Wild Hunt ever onwards. You are awesome and terrible in your countenance, and before you all show due respect and the combat ceases. Pellinore releases her grip and goes down on one knee heedless of Robena, and the Lady Sandsfern, your dragon no doubt by the fire that suffuses her, relaxes and a look of severe disappointment crosses that bright countenance as the flames fade to merely the bright red of her hair.

Before you then is King Pellinore on one knee, head bowed, eyes not meeting your own. "Lady of judgment" she says quickly "pray forgive me. I know not who I am fighting. There was an earthquake and when I and my knights left the keep, these two set upon us in sudden charge. I have fought fiercely, I admit, but only in self-defense. I demand recompense for this unprovoked assault, and for the two of my men wounded and their horses killed by the third of their party, who has beat a hasty retreat!"

Constance, you have arrived in judgment, what say you to this?

Sunshards

"I don't think we have any outstanding contract" Chen says, with a sweet smile over her tea.

She had blushed when Yue had offered it to her so kindly. Then she had blushed again when she had taken her first sip and remembered Hestia telling her that this type of tea only grew in the first budding of spring, yet Yue had offered it as if it were just a trifle. The latter, at least, she had been able to hide in the steam from her cup and a second sip, and had decided to settle herself to relax and simply enjoy the time. There was a great deal of trouble still coming due (worst case scenario: rumors reach Kikil, Yin, Ysel, and Qiu at just the right timing that they all arrive within moments of each other while the team is already engaged with the Scales of Meaning, who probably was a serious demon and not just a huffy traveler based on how things had shaken out). So, better not to think too hard about what could go wrong and just enjoy the tea and the twilight.

After a few sips, Chen had made to move closer to Hyra. The wolf maiden obviously did know something of what was going on and had been ready to pounce on Yin, but since then she had mostly been protective of Yue and not in a mood to talk. Before she could do much of anything though, Cyanis had popped up with her silly idea of stealing a shard (in fairness, it could work, but negotiating the deal would have taken forever and Chen was less confident in herself avoiding fox trouble than she was in stealing Ysel's shard shard in the first place). And then it was suddenly treefolk chasing fox in a little merry go round and Rose had interposed herself between everyone to round up the little two-tails.

"Besides, I already dueled this huntress and found myself in much the position you are now, Cyanis, as you might remember. I very much doubt that my help would lead to anything but both of us trussed up together." Chen blushed again. That comment was just her being silly of course. She didn't want that to happen while Yue giggled some more! Absolutely not! Besides, she had to investigate first and learn more before she got into the fun and games part. So, that was just a joke, of course, haha, she's just warm from the lovely tea right now. But...nobody look at her, okay?!

Sunshards

"eeemmmmmph!" shouts Princess Chen as she's suddenly smothered into Rose from the River in what will surely go down in the Princess annals as one of the greatest betrayals of all time. Chen is pressed into Rose's smooth, firm body. Her legs dangle off the ground and she tries to wriggle them and squirm out of Rose's grip, brushing against the wood nymph's thick legs with her shoes as she does so, but it is all to no avail. As she feels the pressure of Rose's chest pressed against her face, the light brush of the almost polished bark, her familiar blush runs up from the base of her neck and suffuses her face. Chen then makes a very undignified squeaking noise and redoubles her leg squirming. And Rose, why, you might think that little Princess Chen is enjoying herself she's leaning into this so much. But of course that's impossible because clearly you are entirely in control here and disabling her so that she will not manipulate poor innocent Yue.

Oh gosh, oh no, is Yue giggling?! Chen lets out a very distinct high-pitched squeak and does her utmost to bury her head even further into Rose's bosom. If...If she can't see anybody, that means they can't see her, right? Right?! Rose, you can feel Chen's face warming against your skin and the light brush as her dark hair tickles your chest must be ever so present against that tough, strong body.

The moment is, however, brought up short as Rose's attention turns to Yue and, as Rose moves, Chen sees the sudden tears on the other girl's face and the words Yue was saying catch up to Chen's brain. Oh no, oh goodness. Of course this would be too much for a village girl. This is what Chen had been worried about, why she'd wanted to reach Yue ahead of everyone else and try to protect the poor girl. Yin had made a mess of that and now this was all just too much despite her best efforts.

Rose goes to comfort the girl and Chen can see her doing something with her chi to ease Yue's pains and soreness as Chen catches her own breath. She's still red, but she's taking a few deep breaths, calming herself down and waiting a moment. She knows she shouldn't crowd Yue with even more people all at once, and she needs to get herself together anyway.

Chen takes another deep breath and smoothes her hair, then straightens up her scarf. That was important to do first. To make herself look nice and a little less disheveled. So she could go up to the poor girl and not add to everything being overwhelming.

Presently though, she sees that Rose has trailed off, and so Chen walks up, slowly, in her turn. She doesn't touch Yue, but just walks up close enough to speak. "Did you say you could make some tea?" she asks gently. "Tea sounds wonderful. I'm a little chilly without my dress, and I think a warm cup of tea would be just the perfect thing. My Mom always likes to talk over tea, too, she says it's easier, you know? Why don't I get a little fire started for us, and you can make us something and then we can sort out all this businesses of princesses and such."

Then she looks at Yue and waits for even the slightest of nods to get a fire going.

[Chen rolls a 1+4+2=7 on emotional support. If Yue opens up, she can select from the options. Chen is also smitten, so if Yue doesn't, Chen would get a condition.]