Stormraider Keep (A M.E.T.A.L. Campaign)

Aurelius makes a survey of the area around the hideout.  You do not see anything out of place or moving around outside. 

Presxina shivers as you describe the battle with the dragon. "It sounds amazing and scary all at the same time! I don't know how you do it Aurelius. I'd have been crippled with fear. The villagers must have been so grateful to have you there to protect them." 

From far below you hear the faintest bit of fiddle music being played, a happy, vibrant sound. 

"Fear is the mind-killer, cher.  We all have fear.  We can choose to surrender to it, or we can choose to face it and push through it.  The fact that you are here at all, away from family and friends, shows that you have courage, Presxina.  You are stronger than you know.

"I have caught my breath, let us descend again and enjoy some more revelry.  Soon, I suspect, there will be no more time for such things."

"Oh! Are you asking me for another dance?" Presxina asks, smiling brightly.  She happily heads back down with you where you hear Yoë fiddling away to a brisk tune.  She pauses as you enter.  "Ooo! You're back! I'd figured I'd lost you both to the night. Well," she looks closely at the two of you "something slow?"

Beginning to play again, the piece is a bit more moderate tempo, resembling a waltz.

The paladin extends his hand to the herbalist, and sweeps her into a waltz that carries them around the room, weaving in and out amidst furniture and other obstacles.

"Tell me of your village," he asks. "What sorts of things do you celebrate?  Do you have a harvest dance?  A midwinter feast?  What was your favorite time of the year growing up?"

Presxina is all smiles as they dance about the room, deftly avoiding any and all obstacles. "What can I really say about my village? You have seen it. It's quite comfortable really. But celebrations?  Oh, of course, we have most all of those. The biggest is probably the harvest festival really.  And then the ones for each season.  Oh, and early in the spring in our village we have our Founders' Celebration." 

As the two talk, Yoë seems to finish one song, but transitions right into another.  This one has a slightly lower tempo but has a bright cheery tune. The harengon continues, "My favorite is the spring celebration. Everything is growing, and there are flowers and the warming sun, and everyone always seems so happy.  And of course, as an herbalist, there's all kind of things for me to do."

"Yoë, come join us," calls Aurelius.  Using minor illusion he continues the fiddle music, as they join hands in a triangle and spin first one direction, then the other, coming together in the middle and then stretching out again.

Yoë looks a little surprised at the sudden magical music. But she quickly comes over to join the dance. "How nice!" Presxina says as you dance in your triangle. Yoë nods. "Yea, I've never heard of this dance before!"

"Well normally there are more than three dancers, up to a dozen, all in a circle.  We are improvising," smiles Aurelius.

He will continue to sing, dance and converse with the two for a while, but does want to get in some rest before the morning, to avoid exhaustion.  So he will retire to a bed at some point during the night before it's too late.

Yoë seems excited about the idea of having a larger group join the dance. "That sounds like fun! Maybe I should go see if some of the others want to join in too!" She looks like she's about to do that too until Presxina stops her. "I think they are probably all resting by now. Let's leave them alone."

Yoë pouts a little bit, rolling her eyes, "Those spoil sports!" 

The two dance a couple more songs before Presxina suggests politely that they should cease for the night. Yoë doesn't seem totally on board, but goes along with the plan. "Should be rooms for each of us upstairs." 

Everyone gets a full night of rest. (Long rest for all.)  Only Presxina is up early, quietly walking around the lower floor while starting a kettle of water boiling.  

A bit later Elyria comes down the stairs, seemingly in a cheerful mood, ready to take on another day, another powerful hag. "Good morning Presxina, hope you slept well and that Yoë and Aurelius showed you a good time last night." She says with a warm smile, helping the harengon out with preparing breakfast. "So much happened yesterday I don't remember if I asked you, do you have any knowledge of how to remove a curse or do you know anyone who can?" She says turning serious again, briefly showing the herbalist the amulet she has tucked away in her pocket.

When Elyria looks to her pocket the amulet is not there.  But as you mention it, Presxina walks over to where it is sitting on a table. "You... lost this last night before you stormed out. Aurelius retrieved it for you."  She glances at it as she holds it, bringing it over to you. "I'm afraid I'm not really familiar with curses or much of any magic."

Elyria looks up with some suprise as she doesn't find the amulet, but as Presxina hands it to her she gives the Harengon an embarrased smile. "I'm sorry, I forgot I just left it here last night, I...I was emotional, so much has happened lately and I was feeling guilty over poor choices I've made lately. I need to set that straight by dealing with the insidious Lady Sylmare at first opportunity." The blonde elf says with determination in her voice. "I'm sorry you can't help me with the curse, I will just have to suffer it for now as punishment for the decisions I've made."

Flynt gathers his gear and meets the rest in the main room below.

Aurelius joins the party after a long rest.

"Good morning." Elyria says with a warm smile to Flynt and Aurelius as they join her and Presxina at the breakfast table. "Presxina made tea for us." She says cheerfully, taking a sip from her cup. "Hope everyone had a good sleep. I have a feeling today might be as eventful as yesterday. We should prepare to move out as soon as we get a message from Sabynn which could be at any time." She says, but she seems calm and collected, determination and conviction in her voice. "As soon as we know where we will be able to strike at Lady Sylmare we can make a plan but if it is on the road I think simply take out any scouts and then Aurelius can soften up their defenses with his doomsday weapon before we all move in for the kill."

"Tea? Très bien! Merci beaucoup, Presxina!" The paladin pours a cup and sits with the others.  He listens as Elyria explains her plan, and nods.  "Well, it worked last time.  But I somehow have a feeling it won't be that easy twice.  Sylmare is surely aware of her sister's fate, and if she has communicated with the white-haired sister, she knows I was involved."

Presxina visibly brightens at Aurelius' comments. "Oh, it was my pleasure to get it prepared. Yoë has this place very well stocked. Does everyone want some breakfast?"  She glances over at Elyria who is helping her. "Just a few simple things." 

Rahkeshi comes down the stairs as the conversation is already joined. She listens for a few moments, then looks to Aurelius. "What white-haired sister do refer to? Lady Sylmare's white-haired sister would be Lady Lailatha. I thought you had defeated her though."

There is still no sign of Yoë, but the smell of bacon is starting to fill the small space.  

"Ah.  I suppose since our assault on Leilatha's fortress (She was no Lady) we have hardly had time to share the story of our encounter with the hag herself.  After she was defeated we found a silver circlet that she always wore on her head.   Being my naturally fearless self, I put the circlet on my own pate, which with hindsight, might have been a bit rash.  At any rate, once it was atop my handsome head, I had a vision, or more an awareness of several other women, most likely other sister-hags, among them an old, wrinkled, and unhappy woman. Then an Eladrin, finely dressed and with a happy smile.  And then another Eladrin, and a face I recognized as Sylmare.  Lastly, there was another, a beautiful young woman with fine pale skin and long luxurious white hair.  She spoke to me, and I to her, and she commanded me to come to her.  It is a geas I must fulfill at some point, though it may be a deadly encounter for one of us.

"We should summon Yoë before we tell the tale further, she may have some details to contribute that the rest of us did not observe.  I will fetch her and return forthwith."

The paladin will then ascend the stairs, knocking on any closed doors until he finds the satyr.  If there is no answer, he will knock again and then enter until she is found.

"He is not kidding, he was completely ensorcelled by this other eladrin lady, someone powerful in the Winter Court I believe, someone we might have to deal with eventually as she will likely not take kindly to us killing Lady Leilatha and Lady Sylmare." Elyria says to Rahkeshi, shaking her head when thinking about all the powerful enemies they had made since they came to the Feywild.

"Hmm, Lady Leilatha had three sisters - Sylamre, who you know, then Alanis and Meribeth," Rahkeshi says. "My understanding is Alanis lived somewhere not too far away. Meribeth I never did hear much about."  She thinks about it a bit as Aurelius heads upstairs. Looking at Elyria she asks, "Are you sure this one he mentioned is actually a part of the Winter Court? If so, then perhaps it was not a sister, but the mother!"

Upstairs Aurelius quickly identifies the room Yoë was occupying.  After he knocks there is a muffled, sleepy response. "Huh? What...  Is something happening?"