June's Guild report - 0.6.29 agf
Farora's Dream
After months of research, June was convinced she finally found a way to break Farora's sleeping curse. She believed they needed to go inside Farora's dream and wake her within. June provided shimmering cold potions (a gift from her patron) that would let them step into the cursed world. June spoke of no reward and no plan. She simply had a hope that she may be able to end this once and for all.
Phyrra and Galan promised to look over their bodies while they slept. June and Sailehn would accompany the five willing members into the cursed dream. The dream shimmered and shifted, solid yet flowing. They all appeared on the edge of a wintery forest before a grand castle surrounded by thorny briars that could not be cut. The only way through was to sacrifice part of one's life. All did, for how else were they rescue the princess within?
The castle appeared empty aside from fallen soldiers and warriors withering away. There was a laughter in the walls and just as the team decided where they might find Farora, they were faced with their worst nightmares, literally. A single white streak of hair appeared among all as they battled their living nightmares. Not Farora's as one expected, their own for this was no ordinary dream. This was a dream crafted from corrupted curse magic now threaded with a fairy tale. When it came to June, should one expect anything less.
Farora's sleeping form was found in the highest room in the tallest tower. Just like her real body, she could not be woken. Their efforts were interrupted by an entertained Spring Eladrin, June's Step Mother who looked at June with a grin and simply told her that June knew what she had to do. When June refused, the roof of the tower flew off and they all stared down the eyes of a nightmarish beast taking the form of a great dragon.
The nightmare dragon slashed and bit, taking hits until one final blow, right through the eye sent it falling down the tower and disappearing into smoke and dust.
But what of June's step mother. She was still there, watching, waiting, revealing in the drama. No one attacked her. Not even June nor Sailehn for they both knew they needed her to figure out how to wake Farora. But June... June knew. She had always known. This story. This tale her mother had crafted from the past. It ended in pain... and death. Holding a silver dagger, June turned the blade towards her own heart. Her step mother grinned, waiting...
Sailehn snatched the dagger out of June's hand. “You will harm my daughter no longer.”
June's step mother laughter. “Daughter? She’s no daughter of yours. You’re the one who stole my children a way.”
A brilliant shimmering violin appeared in her hand and she struck one string. One was all it took. Half the party disappeared, waking in the guild courtyard with no memories of ever having stepping inside a dream.
For those who remained they witnessed Sailehn's anger. "How dare you use my own magic against me?" The elven form disappeared. A lady of winter and cold took its place. A beautiful, ancient fey stood before them all, her powers stirring, shaking the ground as she glared at the wicked step mother.
June too was surprised to see that violin in her step mother's hand. Something snapped inside of her. She disappeared, misty stepping right next to her step mother who had little time to react as a dagger pierced her heart. As her blood started to run Sailehn turned to the remaining few. "Thank you. But this is no longer your battle to fight."
With a wave of her hand, the remaining guild members woke up but they still remembered all they saw.
June and Sailehn did not wake. They still sleep, even as the minutes and hours went by. The only comfort the guild had was seeing their breaths rise and fall...
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