\ Haven:Mist and Shadow Plotlogs/The Golden City Sr Isaiah 241005
Plotlogs

The Golden City Sr Isaiah 241005

In the mystical boundary where summer and winter lands of the Fae meet, the group known as Forged Fortune gathers, drawn together by a mission that promises to blur the lines of reality, divinity, and the arcane. As they converge by the Mirror Lake, Ash Paths, Kah, Sienna, Juniper, and Elias find themselves wrapped in the serene beauty that only such a magical place could offer. However, this peace is short-lived as the meeting with Captain Anyano Erethelo at the lake's edge marks the beginning of a foreboding adventure.

The captain brings warnings and a gift, a gesture of aid wrapped in riddles of fate and choice. With his departure, the tranquility of the lake is shattered by the emergence of a monstrous fish, a creature of fae design intent on chaos and destruction. In a moment befitting tales of old, Dean crashes from the sky in a meteoric descent, tackling the fish back into the depths from whence it emerged. This battle of titans beneath the mirrored surface draws the gaze and horror of those assembled, a conflict that speaks volumes of the world they have stepped into.

As the nautical beast relents, giving way to mechanical transformation, a ghostly figure emerges, offering a box of forbidden knowledge with conditions that speak of sacrifice, responsibility, and loss. It is knowledge from the destroyed Tower of Babel, capable of granting the power to create or destroy gods. The figure, a tormented reflection of a past tied closely to Sienna, makes a heartfelt plea for protection and understanding, weaving personal pain with the weight of their mission.

The choice of what to do with this knowledge, encapsulated within the box now held by Elias, exposes the fractures within Forged Fortune. A debate ensues, underscored by a sense of urgency and distrust of Jayarr's intentions. The revelation strikes a chord, highlighting the enormity of their undertaking and the personal stakes involved for each member.

Ash's plea for the responsibility to bear the knowledge, coupled with the voiced fears and determinations, signifies a collective crossing of thresholds. The group is at a precipice, not just of the physical journey ahead but of the internal reckonings that await them beyond the bronze gateways and the silver waters of Mirror Lake. It's an agreement forged not in the enthusiasm of adventure but the somber acknowledgment of the burdens they must bear.

As the tale concludes, their path forward lies veiled in shadows and uncertainty, with the only certainty being the bonds they've chosen to rely upon, tested by the weight of knowledge forbidden and fearsome. The departure through the gate opened by Dean, serves not as an escape but as an entry into a deeper understanding of their quest and themselves, a venture into the unknown, where the cost of failure, and success, remains a shadow on their horizon.
(The Golden City?(SRIsaiah):SRIsaiah)

[Fri Oct 4 2024]

In A sunlight-mottled forest on the edge of the Mirror Lake
Sunlight and moonlight both beam through this grove on opposing sides, the land split right down the middle between summer and winter by strife. It is a cornerstone, a boundary, where the lands of the Seelie and Unseelie Fae meet- and yet it is not in turmoil. This area is peaceful, tranquil, as though respected and honored by both sides. Here a silvery-hued lake laps against a grassy shore, its surface rippling with the movement of life beneath, and so pure in its ways that were one to approach it, they would see little more than a reflection of themselves. Here is the Mirror Lake in all of its glory and splendor, with the soft hum of fireflies over its top casting fractals of many-colored rainbow light over the space.
the Silver City: Suffused in an aura of cloudy comfort, the very air of this space can be described no better than soft cotton made breathable. It has a cloudy quality to it, and yet it is not hard to gaze through- it is the reminiscent lingering of magic upon the air, something binding, but not fully; as though one were on the weaker outskirts of a spell compelling them to stay, or worse, to go deeper and indulge in the tug and pull of their deepest and most secretive whimsies and desires. Every building and block has a silvery sheen upon it, strange, and smearing with touch; and furthermore, strange puffs of fluff float idly through the air as though they were insects of some kind unique to this land. All manner of beasts from centaurs to pixies to satyrs roam this land, and even some humans have chosen to call this place home. It truly is a welcome mat to all.. And one feels dreary, bleary, weary, and perhaps teary at the very idea of leaving to return to whatever mundane life they had come from.

It is night, about 66F(18C) degrees, There is a waxing crescent moon.

Ash Paths in wearing colorful attire that only Juniper could have ever seen them wear. In another time, in another life, perhaps. They come barefoot, with a prismatic mask covering their face, holding a spear and with chin held high. Starlight and pastel, faint will o' wisps trail them, a display they would normally refuse to put on in Haven. But now, they seem different. Tense... excited? Perhaps even hungry... it's hard to tell with their face covered.

Arriving in the other, finds Kah looking even for him, mildly nervous. The man appears from a shadowy corner beneath a tree as he steps from behind it, it seems. Glancing around, the large werewolf already wears his silver-faced hoplite shield on his arm. In his left hand, the thick oaken haft of his too-large, unique spear. "Blessings" he speaks quietly to those who've already arrived if any, Ash at the very least before drawing into himself as he considers the foolishness of what they're about to attempt.

Out of the shadows and into the sun-and-moonlight dappled forest brings a slightly dazed Sienna onto the scene. Jade green eyes take in the landscape with a natural scientist's inquisitive study before she inserts herself to the left of Kah, features twisting into a mild grimace as she adjusts her canvas bag. "I came prepared with more toys that I hope we won't have to use," she utters low under her breath, palm flashed toward Juniper and Elias with a small smile. "Mama Spice, Cornbread," she affectionately nicknames them, leaning into Ash briefly with a gentle nudge of shoulder to upper arm.

The night is young and beautiful as the Forged Fortune gathers in a small village, the coordinates given as the closest known location to the Mirror Lake without stepping into either Court's territory during their time of war. It is a border town, half of it enjoying the downy white snow of winter upon its streets, the other half scantily clad and tossing beach balls about and trudging their streets with cocktails. Summer and winter intermingle here like lovers and friends, and as it were, Juniper and Elias are the first to arrive as the sun shifts high overhead in the sky. Beautiful Elven creatures, all of them: some with extra-long pointed ears and shimmering straight platinum blonde hair, and others with ears a bit more slanted, a touch shorter, with copper-toned skin and wild curly hair in blacks, browns, and oranges. Others still seem to have skin that is gray-purple in appearance, and these in particular only sport stark white hair cut at various lengths.

Peaceful.

Ash appears behind Juniper, only to realize that Sienna had already showed herself, as had Kah, and the only figures missing? Their favorite, broodiest, grumpiest mossy-eyed fellow.

And, naturally, that mischievous redhead who's always getting themselves into trouble on these sorts of things.

"Ash," Juniper greets warmly, turning to view them in their element as it were with turned up corners of her eyes and an appreciative nod. "The Forged will look to you for a lot of guidance today, do you feel that's fair?" she asks evenly before lifting her hand in return greeting to Sienna and offering a respectful nod to Kah.

While everyone else are dressed in their tactical gear, armors, the sort, Elias in classic fashion shows up in dress pants and a dress shirt. As he looks around the village, he slowly rolls up his sleeves as he assesses his surroundings, "Did anyone get a good briefing from Jayarr? I didn't get a chance to meet up with her to talk about it, but I am sure at least someone here has." He notes, following up Juniper's greeting with just nods and smiles to those gathered.

Ash doesn't show a blink, but they tilt their head to Juniper. "Mmm... I think faebaes both, maybe. I don't know much about the fae - whereas, Sienna is a Swann. I'm just more... magically, and otherworldly educated in general, not specifically. Though, I don't mind taking point and having her assistance - if that's fine with you, Sugar." They nod their head to Sienna after staring at her for a moment, forgetting that she can't see their smile.

To Elias, their fellow in not being dressed for combat, they drawl, "No... of course not, really. The important thing is getting in... and getting out. As for the details, I hope she shows up with information... well. Or a messenger. I imagine she may not want to be *here*, if she can help it."

Kah gives a silent shake of his head in the negative. "I have not. Only that we are to attempt something truly insane" he offers, his voice a complete mask of neutrality.

"Well that's more than I know," Juniper admits to Kah. "I've not heard more about it since the teaser was dropped at our one meeting." She shifts a little in place, her eyes unable to hold still with so much biodiversity to take in, but at the same time, her nostrils flare at a rather vivid assault on her senses. "And yes, of course Ash. You and Sienna both. It's only that you've run so many missions with us. You'll have a vague idea of how we usually take point. Sienna of course, I defer to both of yours' feelings on this."

Reluctantly, Elias notes to Kah in agreement, "I agree with, Kah. The Golden City... Well I think it is better off just not going armed because if a fight breaks out, we are screwed anyway." The dark haired man says with a sigh, "The Fae are like one step away from godhood in many ways. None of here would be a worth match to even a single Fae."

Sienna presses her hands into the deep pockets of her trench coat, content to say little in natural deference to Juniper when the older woman deigns to speak. She swings an edgewise glance toward Ash, then across toward Elias. She inhales a breath, shoulders rising and falling in a passive acceptance of the conversations flowing around her. "Jay is sending us somewhere we have don't belong at all; the Golden City," she recounts quietly to Kah. "But I'm pretty sure we're lacking intel on how to gain entry there, so first step is achieving that, right?"

"If there is any sources or connections of Jayarr's on this too, we have to be very wary of. Anyone that works with the Fae directly is unlikely trustworthy, since the Fae have agents to bring people like us to the City for entertainment purposes. The best you could hope for if this happens is a swift death, but that seems unlikely." Elias says as he runs his fingers through his hair, "The best method is not to be noticed at all."

Ash reacts to Elias' words about trust, though it might be easily missed by anyone without an acute sense of vision, just a slight turn of their head away from him. Then, a broader turn as they look around. This always starts with a bang, of some kind, does it not?

There's a slight nod from the larger man as Kah takes that information and the other's opinions and conversation into consideration in quiet. "Elias may have a point. Coming armed may very well insight the wrong idea or at the very least, the wrong kind of attention." With a soft sigh, Kah turns his head toward Sienna with a brief nod and he straightens himself up a little bit. At least he can do what's meant to, here. "Perhaps one of us as an honorific, but I agree comepletely with Elias. The best method for us if we're going to attempt this madness is to draw no attention to ourselves at all." With that, the Egyptian quiets down again, eyes scanning over Elias and Juniper as he waits, now.

The assembled wander through the village with no clues, no answers, no leads whatsoever for a time. It's... Almost like they're drawn to tour the place. On the winter side, freshly-brewed cups of coffee, mugs of warm butter beer, and cups of hot chocolate are always available, every meal hardy and home cooked. A nearby snowball fight invites the mercenaries to play, to let loose, to forget about their woes, while on the summer side it is volleyball instead that draws their attentions.

Cold drinks with bobbing cubes of ice are served at all times, scantily-clad Elves wandering the streets with towels, or riding bikes where they can enjoy the weather. It can be nothing other than Fae magic that separates this place right down the middle in such a way, save for the fountain at the very heart of the village, where fire and ice swirl and dance about each other in lustful embraces, kissing in pools of steam and water until they form a spire of contrasting elements that raises high into the sky above. The pinnacle is far out of view by normal eyes, though some of the more elite when it comes to perception might find, in fact, that it ends... Never.

by the time the group stops walking while they talk, this is where they are. Confusion may ensue; how did they get here? It's strange... They don't remember wanting to take a tour, or /wanting/ to fling snowballs at each other, and yet... They did. And once more that biting nag to enjoy the place starts to itch at their minds again. They should just relax and enjoy themselves. The mission can't be that important, and the Golden City is dangerous; surely Jayarr has lost their mind. If anything, staying here, playing a while, they could simply report back that they tried, but ultimately failed. She'd forgive them. She'd understand.

Just stay.

Slipping an arm around Juniper's waist, Elias gives her a smile as he asks her, "You know what, June. We have been working so hard and really, I have been talking about a vacation. Why not take one right now? This place is perfect and whatever Jayarr wanted, I mean, she can wait. Whatever it is will be around in a few weeks right?" The dark haired man asks and perhaps swept away in the moment of the environment, he presses his lips firmly against Juniper giving her a kiss.

Ash drawls to the others, as they reach down and grab a ball of snow, "Play only with each other... how long can you hold your breath, Kah?" The question is absolutely random, of course, as is their wont. However, they hold a finger up to Elias, despite having started with permission. They wait for the answer patiently.

"It's nice and all..." Juniper begins to respond to Elias hesitantly, looking longingly at the warm drinks and snow while Elias distracrs her with his closeness. "But it just... smells so strongly it's so hard to rel-" And then she is silenced by Elias's amorous kiss. Playing only with each other seems to be a suggestion these two at least can follow right now.

Sienna wanders down the road, beholding the exquisite duality of the village and the mesmerizing contrasts; the warmth of summer sun kissing her face, while the crisp winter chill brushes against her back. The purpose of the journey slips away from her mind like sand through fingers, leaving behind a quiet joy for what she bears witness to. A smile tugs at her lips, dimples forming on her cheeks as she twirls lightly to the right, stepping off into the wintry chill, reaching down to cup snow into her hands and shape into a ball to be hurled at Juniper as she and Elias share a moment of romance.

There's a blink, and then another from Kah. He's wandering around and it's not quite like anything he's ever experienced before. Playing with snow? Frolicking, and the pure idulgence to relax and forget about all of his worries? This is a life experience that does not exist for Kah, and so it doesn't seem to take a grasp quite as deeply into him as it might the others in this place. With a sharp intake of breath, his eyes widen. Then he's reaching out and trying to snag Sienna before she can step off of the path in full that they walk on. "Wait!" He hisses out, his soft-spoken voice almost booming with alarm as the man almost forgets his calm and composure. Glancing at the others around him, he'll try to move to them all - reaching out to SMACK them with but a fraction of his strength, trying to jar them out of their stupor. "I do not think we need to find the City. I think it had found us!" He breathes, his voice unsually urgent.

The powdery explosion of cold between Juniper's shoulder blades has her jump in surprise while in Elias's arms - a squeak of protest leaving her before she laughs, turning to whirl on Sienna with a playful glint to her eye when she receives, of all things, a SMACK from Kah. She blinks in surprise, sneezes, and shakes her head a moment. "HEY!" she hisses in not so much agression but insult. And yet, she's not moving to retaliate or resume playing as a fog shifts around her mind like a bad migraine.

"Look inside yourself! Feel it!" Kah hisses at Juniper before moving on to the next.

Ash tilts their head, dropping the snowball. "Mmm... why do you say that?" They ask calmly, as they watch the others, a bit of disappointment evident in their voice... and perhaps annoyance? They look at Kah for a long moment, crossing their arms as they do.

Something about Kah's words ring true to Elias, perhaps more the thoughts of others he is bombarded with. He breaks from the kiss with Juniper, but then goes in for a final kiss before letting himself break free from his lover. He does nod to Kah, "Yes, that does sound like it is accurate. It was just too easy to fall into that trap when it is a trap of honey anyway." He closes his eyes and focuses for a moment as the temperature begins to drop around himself for a moment before naturalizing back to what it was only moments before, collecting himself.

"For some time but not forever" Kah finally answers to Ash, the only one of them who doesn't seem entirely caught up by this trap of distraction and pleasure. "It's a good thing JR is not here ..." he mutters. He shoots an apologetic look at Ash, even while keeping that P hand strong at the expense of his allies.

Ash drawls slowly to Kah, "You're attracting attention. You can count - how long, Kah?" They do sound... displeased. Were they caught in the trap? Or was it something else? This is before they recall that he still had to answer their second question, and they relax a bit, allowing him space to speak.

Sienna feels the warmth of Kah's hand on her arm just as her foot hovers above the edge of the path, his urgent voice slicing through the haze that had begun to settle over her mind. She blinks, brows knit in confusion like waking from a dream. "What--" Her voice trails off as her eyes follow is, taking in Elias, Ash, and Juniper as her thoughts struggle to realign themselves properly once again.

There's another blink before Kah seems to understand somewhat about what Ash means. He does calm himself though, before he glances around. He himself is conspicuous enough, but he has to relax, now. "Thirty minutes. Perhaps an hour if I can remain calm" Kah says to Ash then, as he tries to put a very distinct kind of number to the question being asked. Then he points deeper into the forest. "It gets worse from here. I can .. " he shakes his head. "We must remain very rooted in ourselves. In our task. To relent at all .. it could be disaster." His expression turns even more worried. "And yet you may be right. We may only find ourselves where we must go .. if we allow ourselves to be led to the path." He doesn't like the sound of that. Not one bit, as he turns his attention to assessing Juniper, Elias, and Sienna.

All of the multitude of people that Kah harasses would feel, at first, is confusion, then frustration at the large man's actions, the way he seems to be babbling like a lunatic in public, ruining their fun. However, there seems to be a sudden shift as the man continues to administer reason to his newfound family. A shake. A fine, barely-visible brown-ish powder dusting their skin so faintly that it is easily confused for makeup, or a sun tan. Overhead, too small to make out, a flock of something flies towards the south and east, and in their wake... More red-brown dust falls, sprinkling faintly, melting into the snow, or dissolving into the drinks and treats. Coating the skin of all around.

Another wave of eager pleasure would wash over the group then, a need to dismiss Kah's worries and return to their merry-making. They almost might, if it weren't for the guard walking towards them.

He smiles faintly, tall and lean and Elven, curly black hair pulled into a high ponytail that still cascades down his back. Golden piercings are scattered along every ear, and within his almond-shaped eyes are deep, chocolaty brown irises of dark cacao that scan over the group assembled in a friendly fashion. "Greetings upon you, travelers," she says, the circlet upon his head glittering in the light of both sun and moon in equal parts. "Welcome... To the Bronze City. I am Captain Anyano Erethelo... I have brought you gifts to help sustain your minds here, and partially in your continued journey," he explains, though Kah's spoken wisdom has his head turning, his smile growing. "Welcome, friend- you are right. Following this path through the forest, to the lake, and beyond, leads both to your destination and your doom. But, I am merely a ferrier, not a reaper. I can only do what I am able and allowed to assist you; that being warning you not to go deeper than The Bronze."

Using Elias's stability as her anchor, Juniper takes her cues from him, giving a slow nod as he abandons plans for vacation and other pursuits of desire. She rubs the back of her hand against the tip of her nose as if it itches, glowering a little at no one in particular. "Just... count kooky redheads instead of sheep in your head or something," she mutters in some offering of 'wisdom'.

To clarify, the Captain is a /very/ brown, dark-skinned man.

Not actively accepting the Captain Anyano's words at face value, Elias shifts his gray-blue eyes upon Kah, "Did Jayarr give you any instructions at all where we are supposed to be looking or what even? Beyond some abstract lore somewhere?" Once more, Elias slips his arm around Juniper's waist, but more within in his normal public nature.

Sienna's eyes narrow as the fine dust begins to settle over her skin, her body instinctively shivering as the strange sensation crawls across her. She glances at the others, Elias, Ash, and Juniper, noticing the same fleeting confusion in their expressions before the wave of pleasure tempts them to dismiss Kah's warnings once again. But her gaze quickly snaps to the approaching elf, Captain Anyano Erethelo. His regal, poised presence demands attention, and as he speaks, a chill runs through her at the cryptic nature of his words. She steps closer to Kah, her hand resting on his arm. "The Bronze...?" she echoes, hesitating. "What exactly happens beyond it?"

There's a shudder from the large Egyptian. "The Silver city .." he whispers. "And beyond that .." there is a certain sense of knowing. Not from first-hand experience perhaps but from masters of ancient past. He shakes his head, "what trinkets do you offer?" He asks, suspicious still but not as hostile as you might expect from one of his bloodline here. "If you know of me, then you know I abide the honor of Gaia." He grunts at this, but there's not much he can do about it; surely this Elf-kin will be able to smell it upon him like cologne. "I .. I am not ready to turn back" he says at last, sounding resigned. He nods at this Captain. "Give us what protection you may, but at what Bargain?" Kah asks, before agreeing in full as it were - he draws that back, requesting terms. Because well ... Fae.

Ash seems satisfied with the big man giving them a sign of submission. They finally answer, "Half an hour is too long." Their response to the dust is less easily seen, with their face hidden, but there's a roiling in their body, as if blown back by a wind. If there was reason for them to say more, they've lost it as they look over the fae with their mirrored mask. "Ashen Starling, Flighty Darling," they respond politely, drawling coyly before asking next, "Why help us?" They tilt their head, the mask shimmering as they do, gray dreads clacking together as beads bounce off one another from the pull of gravity and inertia.

Their energy may seem... off to the others. The people pleasure, obsessive overthinker and professional warrior seems to be absent, replaced by someone imperious, confident, and more than a little more intense.

Ash waves to Kah, drawling, "Don't decide that for us all, Kah." That's my job, they seem to say. "You act too quickly," is their next, less affected response.

While anchored by Elias's arm physically around her waist, Juniper seems to watch Kah with a keen interest, interacting with the Captain and opting to remain silent herself. Though, there is acknowledgement when Kah says he is not ready to turn back. The group did know when they started afterall, that their destination lay fairly intertwined with said 'doom'. Her gaze slides to Ash next, stepping in to cut through the large Egyptian's request of the regal ambassador to their group. There's a small sound of her tongue clicking against the roof of her mouth, but that is it while she puts a hand overtop of Elias's at her waist in a soft squeeze and an audible exhaled release of tension continually needing its way out.

Kah seems to see the wisdom in giving Ash the headway, choosing to stiffen his back and stimply stand - stoic and silent. His eyes watch Ash carefully, though.

Ash is normally a people pleaser, obsessive thinker, and professional worrier, actually.


Ash is normally an obsessive overthinker.

"Because it is my duty here," says the Captrain, who turns to face Ash then, his dark Elven ears lifting curiously. His nostrils flare, scenting at the air before them, and then he looks to Sienna and does the same. "You are kin to me," he says rather abruptly, his dark brown eyes blinking slowly only once before a smile spreads even further across his face. "Welcome, doubly so, young ones! Cousins! Or grandchildren, or great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandchildren. My family, if only by a single drop of blood." He seems genuinely pleased to have them here, more eager as from within a satchel at his side he pulls several bronze circlets that seem to mirror his own, offering the first to Ash with a hopeful expression. "I guide the visitors here, and they decide for themselves whether to stay or go once their mind is their own; though break the law, and your circlet will be removed forcefully," he warns, his tone not growing the least bit grim or grave as the offer for the jewelry is wordlessly extended to the others as well. Notably, Sienna and Ash are offered them first, and Juniper, Elias, and Kah must wait until they have accepted before they, too, receive and offer.

"The bargain has already been paid," says Anyano, who leans back once each person has decided whether they would like a circlet or not. "A sacrifice of humility and humiliation to entertain the Kings and Queens for the night until exhaustion takes over and death comes to caress tawny flesh. Courtesy of the Masters of the Game, and only through stalwart willpower will they be able to return to their home; once it is all over. They will enjoy the treats of the labyrinth until you all have met your goal."

Ash tenses as they hear of the price being paid, growing still - but at this point, they've already accepted the circlet, giving the nod for others to do so - less because of a need for control, given by their more relaxed body language, and more due to their physical responses as Anyano explained why. It makes enough sense. The price though, circling back, seems to fill them with something, as they hold still for a long moment before placing the circlet on their head, hooking the front behind their mask, onto their forehead.

"There is none I have met with more willpower and ambition to keep going. She's already paid, you said?"

Sienna's pretty brows knit as she listens to the captain's words, her gaze shifting from him to Ash, then back to the circlet offered in his hand. There's a moment of hesitation, weighing his words briefly before she reaches out to collect the circlet. Her fingers brush over the cool metal, and the talk of sacrifice, of games and death; none of it is new to her. Her fingers pull lightly at the trinket, tucking it into a pocket of her sweater as she remains silent, listening intently to the flow of conversation between Kah, Juniper, Elias and Anyano.

A small sound of extreme annoyance mixed with distress is all that Juniper reveals when she shifts in obvious discomfort after hearing of the 'bargain' from the Captain. That missing explanation for their purpose here and now their undeniable purpose is pushing forward. The circlet is spun round and round in her hands after having accepted it in waiting her turn. More like Sienna, she does not move to place it on her head at the given moment.

While Kah takes a circlet, he seems hesitant at first to place such a thing on his head. It's almost a winced expression that will come if or when he eventually lays it upon his brow. He settles it down precariously until it rests snugly around his forehead. He takes a moment, before slowly taking a breath in and out. Now, he waits for the others taking his cue from them. Tundral blue eyes watch Ash, Elias, Juniper and Sienna as they make their choices.

"Oh, what is a first born child anyway?" Elias murmurs lowly as he accepts one of the circlets as they are being handed out. However he doesn't make any immediate effort to wear it, but instead he starts inspecting any of the markets on it to examine the enhancements.

After being satisfied with the craftmanship, Elias gives a nod to Juniper, "It should be safe.... I mean, from as far as I can tell." And was a sign of the faith in his ability of the art, he dons the circlet upon his own head.

Juniper glances to Elias, letting him be the sacrificial lamb of the pair before she places the circlet on her own brow as well. "It does look good, if anything," she replies quietly in a small attempt of humor against the situation.

Ash relaxes near immediately after wearing it - though, notably, not to a drugged extent. They nod to Anyano in acknowledgement, drawling another question - "Guiding us to the Silver City? What of the Gold? How does one enter. And are you the contact that said redhead, Jayarr, promised to guide us?" It seems so, but if seeming made things truth, then this wasn't the Other. They speak less imperiously, more with curiosity and caution, giving their normal 500 questions before making a move.

Similarly to Ash, Juniper doesn't appear adversely affected by the circlet, only physically slightly uncomfortable with it all. Clarity comes to her hazel eyes, looking to Kah once more in a nod of commiseration with her own kin while Ash and Sienna speak to one of theirs.

Eyes closing, Kah seems much more himself soon after that bronzed piece of adornment presses against his brow. He takes another breath before returning Juniper's nod with a more steady sense of self. Their eyes turn to Ash, and to Sienna. They'll be their best divining rods now, in Kah's eyes and still he remains quiet and content to remain so. He lets his eyes wander to their surroundings once more, but his ears remain focused on the conversation.

"Little one? You should wear that," says the Captain to Sienna with soft tones, smiling, then turning to walk back down the path that he had approached from, likely expecting the group to follow considering he talks while he walks. "I am only to guide you so far as the Mirror Lake," he explains in kind to Ash, nodding his head in approval when Elias, Kah, and Juniper also don their circlets and, as a result, seem to visibly calm. "It is, one might say, a holy place, so you must show respect at all times or you will be punished by the very spirits themselves," says the Elvish man who leads them onwards with long, elegant steps. "Once at the Lake's edge you need only flip a coin, and Fate will decide if you will find your destination easily, or with much difficulty. Luckily, or Unluckily, you have two of my kin with you. We shall see what Luck has in store for the Fortune that has been Forged in fire."

He pauses on the border of the realms then, watching Sienna, and saying to her, "These circlets will aid you in the Silver, but the Gold is a different beast. Nothing will help you there, not even yourselves. I must warn you that you will trap yourselves for all eternity if you pass its borders, and willfully so you will never leave. You will become what they call on Ee-Arth, another cog in the machine."

Rather than don the circlet, Sienna is nothing if not a trendy little fae, winding the bronze around her wrist thrice until the central piece rests flat against the back of her hand, jade eyes flitting up toward Ash as they pose the most important questions. The warning that awaits her when her eyes lift to the Captain once more. "Thank you for the kernels of wisdom you've bestowed upon us. We'll be sure to heed your warnings." A deep breath, and his words reflect what the faeling has known all the while about Gold City, turning her head to look amongst the others. "What JayArr is asking us to do is ... not something to be considered lightly. No one has ever stepped foot into that city and escaped it. We need to talk about this."

"Are we stepping foot in it or just discerning the entrance," Juniper clarifies first, looking to Ash and Kah who seem like they might have more knowledge of Jayarr's intentions than herself or Elias do.

Sienna certainly knows nothing.

Juniper was asking Sienna and THEN including Ash and Kah, just to be clear. ;)

"Well, we should keep moving. The longer we linger here, the more likely we will draw attention we don't want, guide or not." Elias says as he hooks his thumb into his pocket, keeping his graze slowly drifting around them to keep up his vigilance.

Kah gives a mild grunt. "I recall something of a .. contact being mentioned. I do not know. I will not step foot inside the borders of that City." The giant of a man makes this clear, and the fiery redheaded woman is not here to command him to do so, but he does continue to keep his pace up with the rest of the group. He follows their current guide, this Captain Ayano (sp?) and he keeps an ever-watchful eye on their surroundings. His back is up, and it shows.

"For JayArr's hope, I hope that there's a contact meeting us outside the city," Sienna murmurs over toward Sienna, her hands spreading outward in a gesture of cluelessness before looking toward Kah and Ash to spread insight.

"Well, we press as far as we can and are willing," Juniper states what might be the obvious but in some small rally as she nods to Kah's personal boundary being drawn. "Silver City first. Let's not put the cart before the horse, ya? Or maybe... that's how things work here, who knows."

"For JayArr's hope, I hope that there's a contact meeting us outside the city," Sienna murmurs over toward Juniper, her hands spreading outward in a gesture of cluelessness before looking toward Kah and Ash to spread insight.

Ash does follow her, with a confident walk - not a swagger, but as if pleased. They listen to her speak, nodding intensely to the Captain before asking, "How do we show these spirits respect? Different beings understand respect differently, no?" They seem pensive at the suggestion that fate will decide, curious. "Fate will decide, hmm?" They settle their thoughts on that, before responding, "I remember why we're there," they assure the rest. "We're going *to* the city to meet our contact. What remains after is unknown, but they know the way out."

They don't respond to Elias's urging, waiting for their questions to be answered as they think on something.

"Surely," the Captain agrees, but with who? Thye seem to be talking to themselves now as they stride along, leading the party into a dark and dangerous forest where snow coats the ground and softens the sound of every footstep. It is easy to move, and yet difficult- even with the mental protection provided by the circlets, that space, that town, it just seems a shame to go. Once gone, however, so is the pull- and something greater draws the party deeper within these woods. It drives them, pushes them, a goal, a want, a need, a craving. Desire to discover just what this is might override reason were it not for the protections that they don.

Now the treeline breaks into a surreal scene: An open field of soft green grass on one side, and freshly-fallen snow on the other. Connecting them: a single silver-hued lake that ripples in the light of the full moon overhead. Time moves differently here- or perhaps it is simply frozen. Impossible as it may be to find the Full Moon and the sun in the sky at the same time, here it is: side by side. "This is as far as I take you," says Captain Anyano, who exhales a long, slow breath of remorse as he stands near the edge of the forest. "I must get home... It calls to me, as do my duties. From here, you are on your own until the end. Be safe," he well-wishes them all, though he pauses and gathers Ash's hands in his own, placing something between their fingertips and clutching it there for a time as he watches them. "... Use this to return only once. And, just as well, one day when you are stronger, perhaps you will use it to guide you back to me. Yes?"

Kah watches almost in awe as the sights unveil themselves before the group as they travel. As the Captain bids them farewell, Kah takes a cautious breath of the air as he brings up the vanguard position. Standing towering tall, he holds that rear position behind Juniper, Elias, Ash and Sienna as he trails the back of the train of people. Now that they've stopped at their next destination ... there's another sense of respect for the strange sense of nature here. It's foreign to him .. but it's also something he finds peace in.

Walking through the snow and back into the warmth unbothered by the changes in temperature, Elias stops when everyone else does, but he watches Ash carefully as they are handed the object from the Captain with a faint frown touching his expression, but he doesn't say anyhting.

Ash refuses to look back over the city as they leave - perhaps the Vicar is rubbing off on them, as the gay fae leaves Sodom behind. The resistance, at least, is evident in their body language: tense muscles, slowed, reluctant steps... until they seem to break free, surging forward as if breaking from a tether. Once they arrive, they look back up at the day and night, the light of both playing off of their mask.

When Anyano speaks, they look back, focusing, and giving a nod. "I understand the call of home... no matter the world...." And then, he's holding their hands with a gift. Ash looks to the Captain, their face unseen. But, perhaps, their emotions are transferred in the touch, holding what he gives them. They seem unsure, and as usual, they are unwilling to answer a question without thought, but they agree more quickly than normal with a nod. "Yes," they confirm firmly.

They hold it to their heart, holding it carefully, as they ponder the best place to hold it. They dig around in their bag, making a nest, to place it carefully. Throughout their time here, it seems that they will occasionally glance down, making sure that it's still there, and safe. They don't showcase the item, but the rest will see a small, round glass object, at least - they are also not trying to hide it from sight.

They give Captain Anyano Erethelo a final nod, their voice soft as they drawl, "Rest safe in your home, Kin."

Sienna walks quietly alongside Juniper and Elias, her steps light but purposeful as her boots crunch softly in the snow. Her eyes scan the surroundings, taking in the surreal, dreamlike contrast of the green grass and snow, the rippling silver lake that defies reality beneath the dual lights of the full moon and sun.

When Captain Anyano takes Ash's hands, she watches with subtle amusement, the corner of her lips curling upward. "Mmmhmmm," comes her teasing little hum, brows bouncing playfully at the other faeborn before she ditches the couple for Kah.

Kah doesn't help but to lean his frame closer to Sienna when she draws his direction - the other person here he knows the best at this time, after all. "What do you think?" He murmurs toward Sienna and Ash.

Juniper is as quiet as she has been since receiving her 'come to Jesus' slap from Kah. Her eyes are on the full moon in the sky rather than anything else. Her role here is not to liase with the Fae when there are bloodlines at play here. She is simply here, contemplating the juxtaposition of the of solar and lunar energies above. "Here's where we flip the coin isn't it?" she responds distractedly to Kah after giving a respectful and apreciative nod in farewell to the Captain who, afterall, provided their circlets and passage to the lake's edge.

A smile, a hand placed over his own heart with a bow towards Ash, and then the lake's surface begins to bubble. "... I have overstayed, and now caused you troubles... Apologies, I cannot remain to resolve them," says Captain Anyano, his footsteps carrying him back into the trees with a departure from the group, leaving them to whatever troubles he spoke of. Judging by the way the surface tension of the lake begins to bubble and break, a coin flip /may/ not be necessary here.

Dark inky tendrils of black lash suddenly out of the waters as a bulge forms right in the silvery water's center, growing and growing until it is many times the size of even Kah in all of his height and musculature. Even ten of him could not fill the space, and yet it keeps rising high into the sky. Finally the water bursts out from this gigantic form, a massive maw full of rows upon rows of jagged teeth opens wide, hungrily, roaring an ancient fury as wild golden eyes search over those gathered. They focus on Elias above all else, pupils narrowing to thin slits, shifting, an eerie yellow light pulsating at the end of a long angler fish's rod. It twitches. Spasms. Elias's feet start to move closer mindlessly, drawn, eager, and high overhead a black meteor forms, a sonic boom of force heard overhead as it begins to barrel towards the assembled mercenaries. A bad situation potentially becoming worse and worse by the second.

Not offering any farewells or well wishes to their departing guide, Elias lets his arms hang at his side as his thumb and index finger rub of his dominate hand together as he keeps his guard up, seemingly to only get worse as they have prolonged exposure to this place. Where his fingers slide along across each other, instead of friction created, a cold icy mist falls faintly from them.

And the man's vigilance and likely wisps of magic has drawn the attention of the monstrous angler creature. Elias makes rigid, slow movements as he becomes mystified by its hypnotic affects which the circlet seems to have no ability to shield against.

Ash speaks up to their other kin - their family, forged by fire and fortune, after the Captain leaves. Though, not without a turned head to watch. A head that turns back to see those troubles... and then threatens to eat their more divine friend. They step forward, starting to shout his name, but stalling partway due to superstition, still moving to see if they can help. All the while, not able to really focus on that booming sound as their wordless voice shakes with fear.

Instinct takes over when the water bursts, spraying every which way to reveal this enormous sea-beast! His shield comes up to protect his face from the splash of heavy water falling down, and his spear raises defensively in shock at the sight of this thing. Not since ancient times has he seen something so enormous and monstrous. "Gods help us" he breathes, eyes cutting toward the sky now as something black catchesh is attention and starts careening down from the sky. Lips part as his lip curls upward in a snarl, looking more and more as though he's being backed into a corner the animal inside Kah doesn't like it one bit. There's a low rumble starting to build within the man's chest as he surveys the rest of the group. Seeing Elias beginning to take those initial steps forward, Kah blinks once, not quite sure if he's seeing.

The 'comet' it remains just a pinprick. Even its approach doesn't increase its size - which suggest that it might just be something small. Relatively, at least. It is still over six-foot of man, arm and armor that's diving like a speedding bullet. Headfirst. Because of course. It's Dean. In complete disregard for safety, and with animosity that's heavy if any can manage to catch sight of his eyes, his trajectory is exactly that bubbling mass growing out of the water. Ancient fury rearing its ugly head, and its spasming, hungry roar -- it's snuffed out near immediately.

Dean slams his shoulder straight into its face with all that built up momentum and savagery, drags it back down unerwater like its some kind of petulant child getting too ahead of itself. No doubt hands claim any leathery skin for support in the endeavor to see the bottom of the lake and slam it there. Bubbles on the surface intensified, black and red hues drifting - no doubt blood; but of whose? There is only one objective for Dean - he doesn't know where he is, he doesn't know why he's here, all he knows is he must kill.

Sienna's eyes widen as the lake begins to bubble and the monstrous form emerges, towering above them with its jagged teeth and eerie golden eyes. When Captain Anyano slips away, leaving them to face this terror alone, she mutters under her breath, "That son of a bitch," her voice laced with frustration. Without a second thought, she turns and takes off running in the opposite direction, her boots kicking up snow as she sprints for cover.

Skidding to a halt behind a nearby rock, she drops to one knee, unshoulders her crossbody bag, and immediately starts digging through the contents. Her fingers fly over the items she packed, heart pounding in her chest as she frantically searches for something useful to help the group in the escalating chaos. Of course, she misses the chance It's A Bird, It's A Plan-- Nah, that's just Dean entering.

"Oh no you fucking don't!" Juniper seethes to the giant bottom dweller of a fish as it puts its lure upon Elias. Unlike Ash, she's not lulled into any hesitant silence when it comes to that dark-haired demigod and she is putting herself bodily between them with a strength that suggests she /will/ fight her man to keep him here. The meteor in the sky? It doesn't get a second look from the blonde she-wolf, almost as if, she's seen something of its kind before.

Sure enough, her own efforts to keep Elias from becoming fish food are unneeded because the concentration of that sea monster is most certainly elsewhere when that 'comet' slams into its face and drags it down to the depths it came from. There's a breath-held silence from the woman next as she hugs her arms around Elias tight in the aftermath of the roling waters.

All of the sudden, Kah is laughing. It's a rich sound and perhaps it echoes out amongst this glade but he can't help it. His eyes are sharp enough to catch sight of Dean just before they make impact with this creature, a scent on the wind. It was only a day ago he had met this same fury on the field of battle himself. His shield just raises, and he rattles the haft of his spear against the outer face of it. Then as he quiets down, he just waits.

Ash didn't hesitate in moving to protect Elias - only in saying his name out loud in the Other. Not that the small, noodle-armed illusionist could have done anything to physically save the man - still, they tried, beat by Juniper's speed and strength, only to stand between the two and the watery battle as if it could possibly mean anything.

Juniper is only pointed out to be /louder/ than Ash as they both move to help Elias.

Sienna gives up on coming up with anything useful. Her bag is quickly slung back across her body, dusting the snow off her feet as she watches the lake with knitted brows.

The thrashing and waves are the only sign above water that the battle is still ongoing beneath the surface, silvery water more like mercury than anything else splashes onto the shore, onto the onlookers. Dean is a force to be reckoned with, but this golden-eyed beast seems to have a taste for Gods. So much so that its own eyes are now as golden as their kin, suffusing their power into its own veins; not to mention, it is a behemoth. More thrashing, more smashing, more crashing, and eventually the water stills. Neither of them resurface, and a single massive bubble bursts on the surface before the entirety of the Mirror lake falls still and silent.

A rumbling occurs underfoot, and again the surface of the lake begins to tremble mightily, that same massive mountain of a fish bursting forth from the Lake. Its eyes roll in its head uncertainly as its body sways to and fro, dizzied, its head crushed, but somehow still alive. The last thing it does before it starts to slither back into the depths slowly is swallow something flailing and thrashing in its throat. Hard.

Not thrashing around or otherwise fighting beyond just a desire to move forward towards the creature. Elias is easily held back by those that attempt to restrain him, but he just provides an urge to move forward, but there seems to be no will or desire in it, just mindless purpose to advance.

Watching the behemoth come back up out of the water, it seems like there might be an easy end but then ... something is being swallowed by this great monster? With a frown, Kah gives himself a pace or two backward before be begins running forward! Then at the right time, he looses his spear with a massive, powerful heave of his arm as he tries to send the projectile directly at that light bulb hanging off of the beast's upper head area? He skids to a stop after throwing the weapon like a javelin, digging sandaled feet into the ground to stop his momentum.


Surely, Dean(wolf) might be swallowed as a human - he's caught in the throat of that behemoth, because he himself is one in the next breath. If it dines on Gods, Dean(wolf) devours demons - and that decrepit look of his wolf is prime example of it. He trashes wildly, as if he's experienced something like it before. That creature is given no ground to go back to the depths again, not while Dean(wolf), with his open maw, split wide, tears through any flesh within reach - claws with kept animosity to quite literally dig his way out the top of the god-slaying fish's skull and surface out. Muffled as it is, there is a ferocious howl coming from within it and from under the water - It is hunger made manifest, eating it from the inside out.

"Good call, Kah!" Juniper is entirely willing to shout out again over the sound of thrashing waters. Unable or unwilling to do much more other than keep her stupified partner from getting any closer to the mess that is fish and wolf and lure. The sound of someone' howl does however, set off a twitch in the blonde like a tic that responds to like - tension and alertness coiling itself through her body and muscles through adrenaline.

"Good call, Kah!" Juniper is entirely willing to shout out again over the sound of thrashing waters. Unable or unwilling to do much more other than keep her stupified partner from getting any closer to the mess that is fish and wolf and lure. The sound of Dean(wolf)'s howl does however, set off a twitch in the blonde like a tic that responds to like - tension and alertness coiling itself through her body and muscles through adrenaline.

Ash stomps on the ground and screams. "What am I supposed to DO about this? How to I affect this? Not *AGAIN*, Dean! Please!" They kneel on the ground, before - perhaps out of desperation - they pull a coin out of their pocket. They press it to their forehead, as it the third eye is the means to draw out the good luck they've wreathed themself with, before flipping it.

That lump in the murder fish's throat grows, and grows, and grows- and then starts moving in the wrong direction for something that has been swallowed. The fish coughs, hacks, gags, retches, and then Dean(wolf) bursts out of the top of its already-crumpled cranium, gnawing fishbones and brain meat. It's a disgusting and disturbing sight both, gory and unsettling, and before the creature can try to sustain itself on Elias's god flesh, Kah has pierced that glowing light with a spear, snuffing its fire out forever. Time seems to stretch on, and on, and on as the fish slowly collapses forward- right towards Juniper, Ash, Elias, Sienna, and Kah like a falling redwood tree, ready to crush anything in its path into a smear of ketchup.

Timber.

Dean(wolf) gets the best part of this ferris wheel ride, poised on top of the ruined cranium as it rockets down towards the earth at immense speed.

Kah drops to a knee as that beast comes forward, raising his shield as a spew of gore and blood and meat-flesh comes soaring through the air. When he stands, the Egyptian is covered in it. He stands dripping from the resulting gore, and he just gives another low-throated laugh before trotting forward, intent on re-claiming his spear.

And when he snaps out if it, Elias takes a moment to piece together what happened and grumbles, "Fucking fae. I should have remembered." And he sighs, looking down at his shirt, "This is one of those days that is just going to keep getting worse." And he reaches into his pocket, retrieving what he had forgotten, a pair of sunglasses.

Ash gives the rope to Juniper to perhaps restrain Elias - before the opposite is suddenly requires as they dip, dive, and duck out of the way. "KAH!" They call out, knowing that he is faster and stronger than them - Juniper likely can Path away, to Sienna, but Ash cannot do that. They can only run, and scream for Papa to save them with his big, strong jackal arms.

Perched atop a forward-moving, already-dead fish, Dean(wolf) gives himself a full-bodied shake while the creature slides and drags forward. It only aids the torrent of meat-rain, throwing bits and pieces of it towards the others; maybe even Captain Cornbread's particularly expensive italian silk. Kah's spear, having landed only a little ways off of his current position, is torn free of the fish's head with his teeth, but only when it stops, and Dean(wolf) chucks the weapon ahead at the approaching man's hands -- then he dives back in. Tail up and head down, digging through the gore in search of something, before Dean(wolf) makes off with a pile of clothes. His own, and with them, he jumps into the water.

What walks out is just the man he was crashing from the sky. In torn attire, wet, reddish in a mixture of viscera and clinging mercury-hue of whatever this water is. He's bristling forward onto the shallows, then out of it to take point between Kah and Juniper, while his jaw shifts side to sided, grinding in frustration. His words make it clear why exactly; "JR gave me the wrong fucking directions."

Reacting without thought, the scream of his name brings forth his protective instincts in an instant. He's shifting from his position and belting forward at massive speed. Ash won't even denote Kah's incoming frame until that strong arm is scooping them up and booking it to a more safe distance before the weight of the thing will crush them!

Dean says, reiterates, as more man than wolf, "JR gave me the wrong fucking directions."
Ash is terrified for a moment too long before they realize that they're safe - that the world has shifted around them, and the Egyptian man has brought them to safety... while Dean swaggers out of the sacred spirit's corpse with a casual one-line. Because... of course he does.

Ash gives Kah a squeeze of gratitude as their head turns. "Elias, June?" They call this out immediately, noting that Sienna was a sensible direction away, but in the gore and mess, they don't immediately notice the rest of their family.

Juniper slings the rope onto her shoulder, giving a sort of 'what can you do?' look at Ash before chaos breaks out again and there's a tower of fish meat slinging at them. A frustrated sigh at her vain demigod and she's dragging him with her to get out of the major splatter zone with no shield to offer them shelter like Kah's. "I don't know, looks like you found us just fine," she decides to quip at Dean, unbothered sounding, somehow by what just nearly happened. The coiled readiness in her body language suggests something far from non chalance however as she says in addition. "Jayarr is being held as a sacrifice of humility and humiliation for the Kings and Queens until we meet our goal. As bargain for our ferry person here in relative 'safety'." Obviously worth relaying, in the blonde's mind, to the latecomer.

"Here. We're here, Ash," she lifts her voice from where she stands by Dean looking rather serious.

"Yeah, I am fine. I hate this place, but don't worry. It is going to only get worse as we head towards the Golden City." Elias says with a grumble, shaking his head. He reaches up to touch the corner of his sunglasses frame, "That shit won't happen again. At least, not like that anyway."

Silence befalls the grove now as the waters fall still once more, the gathering of Forged Fortune mercenaries all whole, or, at least, mostly as whole as they'd come in. Dean is a mess of golden ichor that clings to what flesh received the least amount of time in that watery bath, but eventually this, too fades. The body of the fish shifts, but not with life: with an odd mechanical whirring that signifies a rebirth, a reincarnation into something else entirely. The bone structure shifts and becomes brassy as the remainder of the flesh and meat melts away, sloughing to the ground in a fish-stinking heap. Several lights buzz to life along the ridges of the spine, and towards the end of this mechanical change, a singular gateway is revealed, teeth becoming bars that block the way, and at their center, a keyhole. Past them? stairs encased in odd glass that lead down, down, down towards the bottom of the lake. It seems water-tight, but even still, can the tinkerings of the Fae be trusted? Oddly enough, this gateway of a mouth has come to settle only a yard away from Sienna, pointed in her direction.

Wise in her choice to choose a vantage point where she was not in unnecessary harm's way, Sienna cups her hands to her mouth to amplify her shout toward the rest of the Forged Fortune. "Glad you all m--" The hair on the back of her neck stands up, then she immediately turns around to face the gate that opens up. She stares within its depths, her brows knitting with confusion, then surprise, before she turns, slowly stepping toward it.

Ash moves to meet the others, stepping carefully around the gore. Breath slowing, adrenaline fading, Juniper's words reminds them - the sooner they do what they set out to, the better. Drawling loudly to the gathered family, they finally explain.

"We're here for Old Knowledge from the Tower of Babylon that can tell us how to create a god... and also, how to destroy it, or any other with a similar goal. Much like Daddy Transphobe and Grandpa Stinkface, what a coincidence."

Despite the silly names, there's no amusement in their voice, now. "So, the contact *may* be able to give us that information... or they may only be able to share how we get in and out...." They watch the turn of the corpse, and the way their sister heads to it.

"Yeah.. Found you just fine." Dean glances aside at that whiel he flicks away the last remnants of golden blood. His armor has nicks in it, more than usual - tears ands torns that aren't from the most recent battle. It's probably a story on its own entirely what he was up to and how he got here- especially airborne at that speed. Yet, he makes no mention of it. Only snaps to attention when the monster's carcass shifts to reveal their next exit. Dean glares, frown barely withheld from showing teeth in the distasteful scent of magic in the air. But then, Sienna is stepping inside, Ash is giving an explanation that he'll forget in a few minutes. Dean only gives Kah a nudge from the side, towards the 'pearly gates' leading below, before he himself begins to march ahead to follow after Sienna.

"Assuming we can glean the key" Kah says quietly, pointing the tip of his spear toward the keyhole thats sits in the center of those bars that bar their path forward, now. He grunts, lifting his weapon in Dean's direction before re-claiming a protection Guardian position nearby Sienna and Ash.

Sienna's eyes narrow as she approaches the gate, her gaze drawn toward the strange circuit board within the keyhole. "Figures it wouldn't be simple," she mutters under her breath. Crouching down, she inspects the jumbled mess of wires, her mind already working through the puzzle. Just as shes about to reach in, the relic bracelet on her wrist begins to burn, searing into her skin with a sudden, unbearable heat. A sharp gasp escapes her lips, and the acrid scent of singed flesh rises to her nose. She winces, but she doesnt pull away. Instead, gritting her teeth, she forces her hand into the mechanism, fingers trembling slightly as the pain spreads through her arm. With her free hand, she begins configuring the wires, her lower lip made bloodied by chew of her teeth in it to keep her mind focused.

Ash moves forward, starting to speak... until the realize. Surely not.... "Magnets? Sienna...." And, again, trailing off. Far from the arrogance from when they arrive, they seem to realize that undisturbed is the best way for her to succeed. So, they stand by supportively, and wait.

Before Sienna's eyes is a masterwork of circuitry; a motherboard, but... Unfinished? Or perhaps intentionally left in chaos. A faint blue glow thrums behind it like the pulse of a heartbeat, something simply not sitting right here... It's a puzzle, and it needs to be solved. Luckily the wires are color coded...

Dean and Kah have little else to do- little space to go, at this juncture. The gate is locked, but it seems to hum excitedly when Sienna approaches, like it /knows/ what she can do. What she is capable of. Meanwhile, from below, there is an odd sound that echoes deep down the stairs, like footsteps? The clatter of heels against metal, slow, confident, precise, and for now, non-aggressive... Though it does seem to be getting closer. Closer. Closer.

Meanwhile Sienna works wonder with the machine, each adjustment or reassignment of a wire, a cord, a chip causing the slab of metal that the keyhole is attached into to thrum with growing energy. Just one more. Patience... Patience...

Click.

Except... The gate doesn't open as power whirs through the machine, causing it to vibrate faintly. Instead, that square-shaped entryway that had once been a giant keyhole with a motherboard inside slides out of the way, leaving a foot-and-a-half by foot-and-a-half opening just big enough to pass things through. In the distance? A cowled woman with powders of both silver and gold clinging to her form steps slowly up the stairs, a tarnished wooden container in her hands.

Truly, more brawns than brains, Dean and Kah - maybe just Dean - stand there at Sienna's flank. Spear and sword hoisted up in defense. Dean's glare burrows past the machination distrustfully. At least his words are kept in the face of the woman coming up the stairs, an the odd way that the thing does the thing. Meant to do that thing, naturally.

Juniper isn't the brawns or the brains here really - hovering somewhere inbetween in an unfamiliar territory with only stubbornness as her 'hail mary' right now. She hangs back, curious about the entranceway of course and its inhabitants. But not daring to interfere with Sienna's work or potential liason.

Hanging back with Juniper, Elias stands there with his arms crossed, letting the problem solvers do their problem solving.

Sienna's breath catches as the puzzle clicks into place, her fingers lingering over the now-glowing motherboard. As that faint, rhythmic hum of energy grows louder, filling the air with an electric charge, her eyes narrow, expecting the gate to spwing open - but instead, a small opening appears, barely large enough to pass a hand through. She looks up just in time to see the cowled figure emerging into view, silver and gold powders clinging to her form like the dust of some forgotten relic, head turning to study her quietly before she inhales a slow breath. "What is the price you ask?" she queries softly of the interloper, the oppressive weight of the relic on her wrist growing heavier, its burn now just a dull throb against her skin as the damage begins to heal, slowly but surely.

Ash moves towards the gateway then, not as if they know exactly what to do, but more as if they have a strong guess. With a turn of their head, they seem to be looking at Juniper or Elias thoughtfully before beckoning with a tilt of head, shoulder, arm and torso.

Juniper moves in tighter to Ash at their beckoning, seeing no reason not to do so, given she asked for their guidance at the start of all this. She slips a hand into Elias's, coaxing him along with her.

Giving Juniper's hand a squeeze, Elias indeed does follow along with her.

The cowled woman pauses before Sienna, holding that box in both hands before silently passing it through that square-shaped opening, murmuring in hushed tones, "Choose one arcanist to study this knowledge. They can share it with no one. Use it for what it is for, and then destroy it, and erase their memory of it," are her instructions, clear, concise, to the point, her Boston-etched accent trembling with the faint quiver of her lower lip. "This knowledge is forbidden to all, assumed destroyed, and it cannot exist outside of this place. It is vile, and an evil beyond comprehension.... They were right to destroy the Tower of Babel to be rid of it entirely...."

She steps back once the box is taken, not turning away, but walking a few stairs downwards and away from the gate. Sienna would see familiar pretty blue eyes of glacial hues peeking out from under that cowled hood, the face of a curvaceous blonde cougar contorted in agony and despair through the gate that holds her captive, separates them. "... My price...?" she asks, her chest filling with breath as she considers it, the gift already given without contempt or trade or request. Only: "... Protect my only child... And don't let them bare the weight of killing their father all on their own. If it must be done... Please... Don't let Baby Izzy be the one to do it..."

Ash steps forward, holding their hand up to the other arcanist - Kah ignored in that regard. "It's an honor to meet you... and we won't. We love them, too." They hold out their hands for the box, dipping their head solemnly. They even consider removing their mask... but lets that hand drop, in the end.

This doesn't seem to bother Kah one bit, who feigns ignorance outwardly of all talk of arcanism and magicka.

"We do," Juniper echoes gently, Ash's words with a catch of emotion in her own while watching that retreating form. "With my life," she adds, as if it needed to be said.

Not seeming bothered by Ash's insistence to be the one to read the book, Elias just remains at Juniper's side, watching from behind mirrored lenses.

Amen, Kah. Dean is there too, just staring - though there is a slight huff when the mysterious figure just says 'Baby Izzy'. It cleary hasn't clicked for him, and it won't. Hee's too busy watching the machination the dead fish has turne into.

Sienna's breath hitches as she recognizes the woman beneath the cowl; those glacial blue eyes, the familiar contours of a face once filled with warmth now twisted in torment. It feels like a ghost from her past, something buried and half-forgotten. Her fingers wrap tighter around the box, heavy with the burden of the forbidden knowledge it holds. A flicker of recognition flashes in her eyes, but she suppresses the deeply unsettled feeling, pushing it down. She turns her head to look back at Elias, quick to pass the box into his hands for safekeeping. "All on you now," she murmurs toward him. "I trust you to do what needs to be done." And with that, the blonde is moving toward Kah and Dean.

Sienna also exchanges looks with Ash, so many emotions laid bare on her pale features, but she says nothing for now.

Once the box is passed to him, Elias frowns a little over to Sienna, noting, "Wonderful. The Fae book. That never goes bad." The dark haired man says, accepting the box none the less, holding it under his left arm, "Most of all, a book that is considered Forbidden Knowledge by the Fae themselves..." He looks over to Juniper, "I hope Jayarr knows what she is doing with this book."

Ash turns sharply to Elias, and reminds him sharply, "No. She is *not* going to read it."

"She better." Kah growls at this thought, but now that they have the thing that they've come for this gigantic man is in no way interested in sticking around a singular moment longer than they have to. "Let us leave this place" he says to the others, his voice as neutral as it can be, but there's almost a pleading note to it. "Now, before anything else can go astray."

Ash explains, after their quick reaction, "It's you or me, Elias... and I feel more willing to lose part of myself for it. But, she is *not* reading it. She can't. It will destroy her if she's the only one who knows." Not to mention the woman's parting words.

"Easy there, Ash. You seem to be the briefed one. I just tossed my hat in to help. I didn't get the brief. I don't know what Jayarr wants this book for, I can only guess." Elias clarifies to Ash with a faint shrug.

Sienna ticks her gaze briefly toward Ash, studying their expression before heaving out a quiet sigh. "I can take it for the time being," she offers toward Elias. "I already have one forbidden grimoire. Why not make it two until we can reach a decision?"

"Do not read what is inside until no more than a week before you intend to use it. Keep it secret.. The Old Science should not be known by mortal minds. Please remember that there is a reason why it was cast out, destroyed, and hidden," says the woman, smiling faintly at Sienna in shared recognition. "You've grown, Sienna..." says the woman, but beyond that she does not remain. She turns, and like Cinderella when the clock strikes twelve, she rushes back down the stairs- just in time for that mechanical staircase to start to regrow flesh, brass becoming flesh and bone once more as the beast begins to slowly recede back into the Lake; bars becoming jagged rows of teeth once more as a golden eye rebuilds itself, gives Dean one final glaring look of farewell, and then disappears beneath the silvery surface of the water.

From the way conversation goes, Dean doesn't seem to have an opinion either way on whether who should get to use the book. It's likely that if it was left to him at all, he'd eat it for the fun of it. While things are slowly coming to a close, Dean, still beside Kah and now Sienna - turns around to start willing mist to gather. It sprouts like a dark flame, a semi-circle that erupts out of the ground like a wall taking the shape and form of a gate that'll lead them all out to, hopefully, Haven. Might just be underwater or something similar, but who knows. Dean is trying to avoid looking at the fish he caught while it recedes- keeping busy.

As Dean opens the path, Kah turns toward it and he waves the group toward it with his shield. Beyond that, he's not sticking around. Once the other guy has the 'door' open, he's following Dean right through.

Ash sighs, nodding. "Sorry... but I needed to make this clear. Very clear. Jayarr does *not* get that book or gets to read it, though she will want to. It's forbidden, or else she is lost. Like... like this... lady has said, Jayarr shouldn't kill her father alone. If she read that book, she would be the only one who *can* kill him. If it should fall on someone else, then she *has* to rely on someone else. As she should - she is taking too much on herself... part of why she's not so great at communicating. And her life might shatter if she did it herself, alone." They glance at Juniper when they mention communication, but they're ready to leave through the gate, after they've made their point for Elias's understanding.

There's a small frown from Kah, his head turning to glance over his shoulder toward Ash. "If nobody else has the strength to manage what is inside .. then for her sake, I will suffer. But only if there is noone else." Then he's stepping through the shadows.

"Well, it will be safe in my lab until it is needed, but I got it. Keep it from Jayarr. That much I can understand as part of the plan. I have no intention on reading a Fae book of forbidden magic. I am not even convinced it is the solution or that it will do what it is promised to do. But how about this, Ash. I will hold on to it where it is nice and secure. When it needs to be used, I will only release it to you. Does that sound agreeable?" Elias asks Ash, his gray-blue eyes drifting to the box held under his arm, "Since it seems you understand what Jayarr's plan is."

"Ash is right," Juniper adds for good measure, as if it matters. "We have time to discuss... at home in... relative safety " Still grasping Elias's hand, she steps forward to the gate opened to them. "Keep a good hold, Elias," she reminds also probably unnecessarily but just so assuage her nerves.

Juniper gives Elias a small, impish smile.

Ash nods to Elias, drawling, "I'll be ready. In a week." They fall backwards into hell- that is, the Path, where they have to get up, turn around, and start walking in a very uncool fashion. That's what they get for trying to be dramatic.

A hushed whisper befalls the glade, the various minds here somehow receiving knowledge... A confirmation. Their end of the bargain was fulfilled, and thusly the Stolen One will be returned to their home.

FIN

SRIsaiah thanks you all for attending. They know this ran super long unexpectedly, but just STALK where you'd like to be deposited and I will summon you there after dolling out plot awards!

While all that conversation takes place, Dean doesn't contribute in the slightest. He was here to fish, and he fished - and so, with a sideway glance at Sienna, Dean hooks an arm around her waist to pull her in ahead of others - then hoist the woman up on over his shoulder like a sack to start charging in through the path.