He danced divinely

General Summary

As the siege ends (Orcs are sneaky ), we mop up the various odds and ends, and rest for the night as he slept Cap had a series of dreams/visions starting with a ship tossing on the sea. A voice called out from the depths, "How may a ship reach safety without a captain?" The scene changed and an army marched forth, "How can there be victory without a general?" The scene shifted again to a sick room, "How can healing happen without a doctor?" A starving young mother and child, "Who will care for the least with out the humble?" The scene shifted a final time to the wealthy assembled in a parade wearing their finest clothes, "What happens to a king without a prophet to proclaim and call him forward?" Cap woke up. I started the morning watching as Baba Yaga advised Marcus and the Lady over the coming fairy moot and what needed to be done.  "She will need to go disguised," Baba Yaga said as she ate, "She cannot speak until it is time to proclaim herself." She looked over us as we gathered for breakfast, and her nose wrinkled, "And you will need better clothes." "Clothes shopping! With fancy dresses?" the Lady clapped in excitement, "I cannot wait."

Clothes shopping

I have never particularly examined the extent of the shopping at Blackbird Point , but in the years we've been gone, the town has doubled and there are quite a few more shops to visit. The Lady leads us from place to place, she seems particularly drawn to dresses that swirl well. Baba Yaga held up a dress for me, "Perhaps you will be happy with this dress," she held up one with enormous hoops, "And just think you could incorporate your circle into the dress." "I fear Good Granny the circle would make the skirt too heavy for dancing," I answered as I think about the number of bruises I would have on my shins as the circle bumped into me over and over again. I shudder as I think of the circle opening with me inside of it. "A pity," she said putting the dress down. "You have a ring?" The Lady asks. She took it and twists it in her hands as she stares at the ring. Slowly as the ring twisted in her hands it grew smaller and smaller until she passed me the ring, "There it will fit on your finger now." I slide it on and realize I cannot take it back off. Baba Yaga glanced over at me, "Nicely done. That makes it so much more useful now, and now that takes away one more human from the group as everyone will think she is fae." "I'm sorry what did you say?" I blinked at her. "Oh yes," Baba Yaga grins widely at me, "Magically you read as fae now, you are still quite human I assure you, but everyone who looks at you magically will think you are fae."  I blinked several more times, "Okay then. Now we return to the inn?" "What?" The Lady said in shock, "But we need jewelry, and we need a good makeover." No matter how I argued I could not convince her otherwise. I ended up with silver knotwork jewelry, Athea's jewelry is copper, and the Lady had a combination of different metals and jewels. After we spent the day being pampered and primped.

Setting forth to Moonspire Keep

"We are setting forth to Moonspire Keep," Baba Yaga said as she looked over us in our finery. "The former home of the Moonlit King ." Marcus and I winced when we heard that (Killing a king and rescuing a damsel ). "Addie," then she proceeded to give me an extended explanation of how my ring can now create mushroom rings going from my location to any area in the wald I desire, but it works both ways, so for the duration of the time it is open people can come back through to our side. "In addition, are you all paying attention?" We all gathered in and she nodded in satisfaction, "I will tell you of the nobility you can expect to see at the moot. First you are familiar with Herne the Huntsman . I am sure your last fight will have satisfied his desire to hunt you. Next is the Bear King , Queen Titania , the River King , the Snow Queen , the Queen of Witches , and Wolf Prince . As we see them I will attempt to point each out to you. Addie, if you would loan the Lady your hiding from fae detection? It will help to hide her scope of power from their detection." "Of course," I passed the necklace over to her. Then concentrated on the ring around my finger imagining all I'd been told about the Moonspire Keep, and a mushroom ring appeared on the ground in front of me.
We stepped through into a cold land the path in front of us is paved in lightly glowing rocks and we walked up to the gate and the attendant stepped forward dressed respendlently in a formal gown, "Name?" Marcus blinked and then stepped forward, "Agrippa, bearer of Oberon's blade," he turned to gesture to us and Baba Yaga bumped the Lady so she stepped forward, "and I am accompanied by Lady Evalyn my intended, and the rest of my companions." She smiles happily at him taking his offered hand "Lady Starvine," she said bowing at the shoulders, "The steward of the house, and I welcome you to the home. I welcome you as a guest of the house.

The Faerie Ball

As we enter, enchanting music comes from the ballroom, and to the side delicious smells waft from another room. I follow my nose and discover the most amazing food. I lose Cap in the room as he heads over to the bar. After eating some snacks I head into the ballroom.
As I enter the room, I see Marcus and Lady Evalyn dancing. She is smiling as if every wish she'd ever had has come true. I roll my eyes and continue to scan the room. I see Athea dancing with some fae lord I don't recognize. I stand and watch for a bit and each time she dance, she dances ever so slightly better. The music ended and I applauded politely when I heard a soft, "Excuse me," I turned to see a man wearing a wolf-hide-lined cloak and a regal bearing standing before me. "I am Calimon," my mind did a quick flick through the people Baba Yaga had named and came up with the Wolf Prince , "And you are Lady?" he paused waiting for my reply holding his hand out to take mine. "Addie," I respond putting my hand in his. He raised it to his lips and briefly kissed the back of it. He straightens up, but still keeps hold of my hand. "Would you be so kind as to grant me a dance?" he asks. I smile and nod, and he gracefully leads me onto the dance floor. "You keep august company, my lady. What schemes is the Lady of the Huts up to now?" "Why, my dear Calimon," I said smiling up at him, "I would not speak out of turn. It is not my story to tell right now, but I'm sure it will be very entertaining when it is revealed." He threw back his head and laughed, "Have you known her long?" I smiled as we turned, "I have been acquainted with her for some time, but have only been intimately acquainted for a short time relatively speaking. It has been rather chaotic." The music ended and he stepped back continuing to hold my hand, "I look forward to another dance with you later." He bowed shallowly and kissed my hand again before releasing it. "I look forward to it, sir." I watch dancing for a while, occasionally being asked to dance by various fae lords, after all I am new here, and if nothing else, there is a curiosity for who we are. I enjoy my turn as the mysterious new figure. "My Lady," Calimon says quietly appearing beside me. "Have you come to claim your dance?" I asked smiling. "Sadly no, it will have to be put off further," he smiled sadly, "I have been called to an important meeting that might take some time. I wanted to be sure you didn't leave before I could have my second dance." I nodded, and he bowed briefly from his shoulders.
I weave my way through the crowd gathering them, and trying to keep an eye on where Calimon has gone. "Marcus," I hissed, "It's starting. We need to get in the room." He nods and we all walk over to where the dignitaries are subtly walking into a guarded room.

A secret meeting

Marcus leads the way, but the guards step in front of the room, "Sorry sir, but this is only for invited people or those judged worthy." "I am the bearer of Oberon's sword, the Lord Agrippa," Marcus said. "And why would that entitle you to enter?" the guard asked. "I am Lord Agrippa, slayer of the Mad Moonlit King, friend of the void dragon, and ally of Ezra the Enchanter. I need to be in that room and you will let me through." The two guards exchanged a glance and stepped aside. We all stepped through. The room is mostly empty, we see various dignitaries there amongst the people we see, a large man with a curly beard sitting at the end of the table, I'm assuming the Bear King , "What's this? Who are you to enter uninvited?" Marcus smiled and held his hand out for Lady Evalyn, she stepped forward and laid her hand regally in his, "Do you not kneel to the Lady's consort and the Lady returned?" As she finishes stepping forward she begins to glow and everyone feels the sheer weight of her power. Most, including myself struggle to stand before being forced to kneel. I glance over and notice Calimon has chosen to kneel willingly, he smiles briefly at me before winking.  "I am happy to be returned to my children here and I will be happy to take your oaths of allegiance." I watch as they all sear allegiance to her, some willingly, and some grudgingly. As they swear I can see the oaths of loyalty binding them to her so they are truly hers. Baba Yaga happily renews her vows to the Lady before all, and finally Marcus takes a knee before her and vows his fealty to her.  She lifts him gently and turns to them all as she announces, "Meet Lord Agrippa, my consort." I feel a shift in him, it's a sense I hadn't been aware of before, but I can tell his is now fully fae, and I think a wild fae, not tied to a specific abode.
"I have some things to attend to," Lady Evalyn said and the area in front of her cleared, "Morrigan, I require your presence." The Morrigan appears looking darker and more corrupt than before. "You have something of mine. You are not what you once were and are not who you should be. I deny you that which is mine." She reached out and pulled something from the Morrigan, who gasped and staggered back. "You are banished from my lands. I will meet you again soon Dark One." She holds a glowing ball in her hand and turns to me, "There is one you used to bring me across and pull me back to what I am now. Who would you bring back?" "Maab," I replied without a moment's hesitation. Lady Evalyn gestures and she merges the fae spirit torn from Morrigan to something I cannot see and Maab emerged from the Song.
Athea jumped, and I turn to see the beam of light broadening just slightly and a man stepped out. He held a slim blade of light and bows to the Lady, "Sister niece, it is good to see you walking again, but it is now the time to act."

The next task

There is no rest for the weary.
The Lady turned to Marcus, "Long ago, there was a flaw in the Song, my brother guards the gates. It is his job to guard the Song from that which would assault it from the Other Side. In his constant battle, something stepped through and stole something from this realm. We need you to recover the athame, sometimes called the talisman, unsure exactly where it is. It has allowed one of the Lords of Outer Night to enter into reality, and it must be removed from him. As I said, my Lord guards the gates between this realm and the other and there is an attack entering now while our foe's attention is on that, there may be a chance for someone to venture out beyond the song and recover this so that the song may not be threatened by those who do not feel. I trust that you will be willing to do this at great risk to yourself, and though I am unhappy to give you this task, they will know if my brother or myself went forth. Will you accept this charge?" the Lady asked.
Marcus accepted on our behalf.
"Know now that I am the lady of forests and mysteries, and dark places, guardian of such places. Among my secrets, there is a way through that is not the great gate that the foe bang against and they may not know of it. You may take any who you wish with you, but know that any who fall out there, there is no way back. This is beyond the border of the Song."
Her brother bows and throws a small stone to Marcus, "One time, and one time only you may call and I will arrive, whether this side or the other side of the wall. We may not have much time, but we will see ourselves free." The lady stepped forward and pressed a small vial of ointment into Marcus' hands, "This will let you see through their illusions. If you apply it to your ears, it will allow you to resist their voices. It will not last forever, but it can help you see through most of their illusions. Also, know that they do not fear the bite of iron. You will need to arm yourself with weapons not composed of iron when you go forth to retrieve the talisman. I only have a few more minutes before we must go, what questions do you have for me?" "Where are we going?" Cap asked. "You must seek out the Tower of Everlight, there the Lady of Madness, Kali, lives. She is not as touched by magic because there the Song is but a faint echo." "What of the void dragon?" I asked. "The void dragon is from that on both sides. We do not know where he hails from." "Where is Oberon?" I asked. "We did not see him here, and he is in all the tales." She frowned sadly, "He was lost past the wall. Perhaps as you seek Kali, you will find him and bring him back. My time has come," she turns to the assembled lords and ladies of fae, "Gather your forces. We go to war." Feral grins flit across faces and hands grasp their rapiers. My eye catches Calimon's, "You promised me another dance," I remind him. "Of course my lady, we will dance again to celebrate our victories. Lady Evalyn stepped back, she and the Man in the Moon are called away. As the light from their exiting fades, I see the other lords and ladies of fae have left as well.

Strategic planning

We head back to the dining hall to plan and gather food for our upcoming trip to the Outer Night. "Addie," Cap said, "Perhaps Papa Legba can summon us some loa to help us." I shake my head, thinking it doesn't work that way, but why not ask, "Papa Legba," I said as I pulled his lantern open. "What can you tell me about the loa?" Papa Legba's eye lights shone and he looked around, "'Ey boss! Look at all that rum! What you be needing mon?" I filled a glass with rum and he drank it down, "The loa, what do you do?" "We all be having minor jobs, like mine be to scour the lands to bring little lost lambs and push them where they should go, can you say baaa?" I blink at him as I think about, "Can you help me to guide some other lost lambs back to where they belong?" "Sure boss," he said, "I just be needing a bit more to drink, my throat is awful dry after all." Of course it is, I give him another drink, and fill up my small cask with fairy rum.
We raid the armory and Cap takes a Warhammer, while Athea takes a dagger to arm herself with another weapon. All of their weapons are made of silver. We fill up our packs with food for while we travel, and prepare to head to the Outer Night.

Report Date

02 Mar 2023