Gewyn doesn't look up as Elthana gets in. "Just reminding myself of what I am and where I come from. Hey, mind if I draw something from that sack?"
He then looks up at Muir and considers the questions. "I found out about its powers just in the last few weeks, though I've had it as long as I can remember. I hung onto it because it's the only thing I have to know my mother by. I never met her, probably because a shape-changing baby was too risky to have around. She knew, as I know, that if her otherworldly nature got out, many people would be slow to ask questions, but quick to act. It's dangerous not to be from here."
"More worrisome?" Sam spurts out as Elthana talks about portals. "Maybe... Maybe... But I can't help but be at least a bit glad it's not all me and the trees fault, eh?"
Sam grunts when Muir mentions that Griff is coming along but doesn't otherwise indicate his opinion. Climbing atop the carriage some is more focused on his stomach than trying to overhear the conversation within so Sam is oblivious to that discussion.
Muir continues to sit in the carriage mulling over Gewyn's answer. So many questions run through his mind....slow down Muir he thinks to himself before asking.
"So this mirror was your mother's...interesting....and what does the mirror do exactly again? Where were you when its power "turned on"?"
Gewyn reaches into the bag and roots around. "I'll be fine. I always am," he says to Elthana. To Muir, he says, "I don't remember where I was at the time. Somewhere in Marblestead. I feel like I was preparing for a performance. Didn't feel like a place of importance. But I remember... Just wanting to be anywhere but there. And that's what the mirror did. "For a brief time, I found my consciousness moving about in the reflected world, though my body remained fixed in the real world. Everything was strange and ethereal, and no one could see me, though I could see them. Since the incident at the portal, I have been able to spend longer and longer over there between worlds- Hang on, what's this?"Gewyn closes his hand on something and starts to pull it from the bag.
As the group set off Iver ties the extra horse and Muir's old horse Snabb, to the back of the carriage and has them lead by it, he also chooses to ride the extra horse to give the members of the party some space,with Sam up on top in the driver's position the group make good time, trudging through the snow.
Griff flies over head resigned to following the group, though he keeps an eye out for anything odd, anyone looking up to see him would notice that he stays quite close, with a confused look in his face as he slowly realises everything around him is odd, so he simply keeps a watch out for anything hostile.
Gewyn reaches into the bag and he grasps something semi solid, grainy... as he pulls it out whatever it was loses its form completely and what is left in Gewyn's hand is a pile of sand which begins to slip through his fingers and make a mess on the carriage floor, before too long the sun illuminates the winter clouds over head as brightly as it is going to this day, and the group decide to stop for some food, and to give the horses a midday rest. Griff swoops down from above and points northwestward, "is this edge of your land?" As you follow his finger you all see him point toward the sea.
Muir sits down on a tree stump and eats some food he picked from around them before answering Griff "Yes this is one edge. That is an ocean. A great body of water. Do you also have oceans or bodies of water where you come from?
Muir would turn his attention to the group "I have a theory about these tears and portals for those who wish to hear it" Muir looks at them all assuming most of them would like to hear it he begins to speak "So we know that the seeds Sam has grow trees that turn to stone. So far the things that have come through are stone creatures...The ones from the cave were underground cave dwellers, lived in the earth. Then there were the 2 big beasts that tunneled into the ground...into the earth. Finally the dwarves and their creatures. Dwarves are known here to be mountainous folks. I suspect all of these beings were from the same realm. That realm is different then the Fae and Griff's realm, which brings me to Griff. Griff came through a separate tear, but what caused it? We know that Sam's seeds cause a tear into this, let's call it earth realm, and we know that Elthana's horse is from Griff's world....I believe that when Elthana uses the orb to call forth the horse it causes a rift or a tear in Griff's world. My guess is that the tear was seen the first time she used the horse and Griff was sent out to investigate which is when the second tear happened bringing him here. This brings me to Gewyn's mirror which allows him to see into a different realm. I am not sure which realm it is though. Perhaps he can shed some more light....Is it a dream world? The Fae realm? Does a tear occur when he uses it....It doesn't seem so. Then there is Vin...What trinket do you have...born of fire and iron....All these things seem to be connected. Perhaps you all can help me piece this together. I plan on visiting a library in Marbelstead. Maybe there is something there that talks about portals, rifts, or what the other realms are. It is lost history....."
Elthana moves to sit next to Gewyn and as he pulls out sand she chuckles, "Want to try again?"
She doesn't add anything when Muir goes into his conclusions as to what is going on, but also wonders what the others might hold that the rest of the group was unaware of.
“Your theory accuses someone of some kind of devious plan or another,” Sam says as he eats. “Likeliest is the Council, and specifically those who nominated us or gifted us the items. For surely it couldn’t be a huge coincidence that everyone sent on this task was a portal bearer…”
“S’pose that could mean Ebb is the bringer of the very doom he’s envisioning. If we all had a portal time bomb when we set out it would imply he did too, yes? And he doesn’t even know it…”
Muir thinks on Sam's words "I hadn't thought about who gave them to you...interesting theory Sam....I also forgot about Ebb being a part of this group. I wonder if he has something that will cause the tear?"
“Anyone have a way to get a message to him?” Sam asks, looking around the group.
“With luck we will cross paths with the men sent from Marblestead and can press one of them into service delivering a message. But sooner would be better…”
Griff sits and thinks in response to Muir's question, "we have great body of air which is surrounding all our lands, we collecting water from streams as they are passing by, have peoples who work collecting waters, is job..."
As talk of portals and rifts begin, Iver listens intently but does not add anything, just sits silently in the knowledge that this discussion my be better off not repeated to his superiors.
Gewyn's face softens a bit, and he chuckles as Elthana offers a second shot at the bag. "I was looking for a distraction, and I think I found it."He flicks his hand, and the sand swirls and vanishes from his hand. "Besides, I think it's your turn."
He turns to look at Muir. "If there is a pattern, it's likely not perfectly straightforward. Don't always seem to be the way of things? Just in regards to me for example, I would clearly correspond to the fae realm. But my mirror, a fae relic, does not open up portals to that realm. Instead, it sends my mind to a different plane. One that simply seems to be a murky reflection of this one. I move that we refer to it as the ethereal plane for now, for clarity. Still, there is certainly merit to your idea that is worth following up on in Marblestead."
"I asked Ebb if there was a way we could connect with him before he left and he seemed a bit surprised by the question and didn't have a way but said he would look into it? Not sure if that was to brush me off but I took as he wanted to remain in communication if possible."
Elthana smiles as Gewyn chuckles, "Sure, why not?" and she reaches into the bag herself to see what she finds...
"Do you see anything in that mirror of yours now?" And after asking this, she takes a closer look at their surroundings, feeling a bit exposed riding in the carriage.
“I’m not sure it has anything to do with us, ourselves. I’m certainly no dwarf of underground dweller. I’ve worked with metal but I’ve just as often worked with beer kegs or hauling goods from here to there,” Sam considers aloud. “Nor do I see Elthana particularly connected to air…”
“Her horse made of air, straight connection there, sure. But trees pulling things up from the ground? I guess but I see them as connected to the sky as the earth since the needs the sun and the rain as well as the earth.”
“So perhaps the portal opened has little relevance to you or the object? If there is a dirt and an air realm, is there a mirror realm? A reflection reality? And who’s to say instead of opening a portal here that using your mirror isn’t opening one there? Could it be that instead of pulling stuff here you are pushing stuff there?” It’s all speculation and thinking on it hurts Sam’s brain but he feels this could be important… And not being to blame appeals to him.
“You’ve had your mirror forever though, you say? Did anyone know? Of its properties? ‘Cause going on the speculation we were grouped together because of the items then someone would have had to, eh? If nobody did then this is all coincidence. That’s not feeling right to me, coincidence. I’d prefer it be true or else it would look like Jimmy set me up.. Still…”
“And Elthana? The horse was a gift, did you say? How recently?” Sam asks.
“And you, Vin? Have any funky magic thingy besides Neferox?”
After Sam eats the "jerky" Vin just smiles and looks to Nef who looks to Sam and starts laughing. The black hound finding it funny as Sam tries to choke it down. Vin has to stop himself from laughing as he looks to Sam and says "Nef asks if you are looking for a new owner. She offers to train you well. Might even let you brush her fur. Says you'd look good with a spiked collar." The black hound has an unmistakable grin as she watches Sam. Vin is trying really hard not to laugh. The young man never really getting a chance to see others get teased by Neferox's crass humor.
In the morning before they go anywhere Vin pulls Muir aside to tell them something.
"Muir... I cast scrying on Ebb last night. Wanted to make sure he was okay because he seemed so nervous. They were talking with someone that seemed to have problems with Master Gore. Like they were in the way. Neferox said they will likely be... removed. I think whoever it was is shielded from scrying cause I couldn't see them and normally you can just look around freely when you cast that spell. Anyway, I talked to Nef and they said if we didn't warn them they might be caught off guard and killed... the clerics wouldn't do that, would they? Uh... I'm sure I'm just misunderstanding but I got a bad feeling so wanted to let you know since you know Gore."
When the group is getting ready Vin hops on their broom to zoom up and keep Griff company. Seems the young man has some questions for them as they all make their way in the early morning light. The first of which is "Do you have a trick for the cold up this high? I nearly froze myself to death yesterday. I didn't realize it got so much colder up higher. Kind of my first week flying with this." He gestures to the broom. "Definitely appreciate tips." After a polite conversation with Griff Vin then joins the others when he spots them talking. Seeing that it is about the portals and items Vin seems a bit pensive as he looks to Nef as if seeking an answer. Vin seems to get one and seems really uncomfortable when they reply to Muir's and Sam's question "I don't know about an item of iron and fire. I was given something... but warned it could be bad to use. It is only for emergencies... honestly it kind of scares me. I'm just going to try and get it back to Professor Wooswin when we return." They seem really uncomfortable talking about it.
Vin has to stop himself from laughing as he looks to Sam and says "Nef asks if you are looking for a new owner. She offers to train you well. Might even let you brush her fur. Says you'd look good with a spiked collar." The black hound has an unmistakable grin as she watches Sam.
Sam momentarily forgets how ill he is feeling and stares at the beast. his hands ball into fists. His eyes narrow and his nostrils flare… Sam starts to move toward the hound but it is then when he can no longer ignore his condition. Instead of going after Neferox Sam runs for the nearest tree…
"I don't know about an item of iron and fire. I was given something... but warned it could be bad to use. It is only for emergencies... honestly it kind of scares me. I'm just going to try and get it back to Professor Wooswin when we return." They seem really uncomfortable talking about it.
“And?” Sam presses, more gruff than he usually has been with Vin. “You going to share or just play the tease?”
Vin being pressured by Sam definitely looks like he will cave and tell them if pressured more but before doing so says "It's just... I promised to keep it a secret... I feel like this is the most I can share without betraying their trust in me. I don't want you to feel like I'm hiding anything from you so I am telling you this much. It was given to me by the heroes of the Calvacade though. If I can't trust them... or keep my promises... then what chance do I have of being someone heroic like them someday?" Vin looks almost pleadingly to Sam and Muir. He's hoping they won't push it more. They really are too honest.
"I am built to be flying in cold, where I from there is no too high, winds can be carrying somebody up forever. only advice I can be giving, grow feathers" Griff answers vin with somewhat of an amused grin.
As Elthana reaches into the bag she pulls out a small pocket book, it looks very old and dusty the pages yellowed with age.
Gewyn doesn't look up as Elthana gets in. "Just reminding myself of what I am and where I come from. Hey, mind if I draw something from that sack?"
He then looks up at Muir and considers the questions. "I found out about its powers just in the last few weeks, though I've had it as long as I can remember. I hung onto it because it's the only thing I have to know my mother by. I never met her, probably because a shape-changing baby was too risky to have around. She knew, as I know, that if her otherworldly nature got out, many people would be slow to ask questions, but quick to act. It's dangerous not to be from here."
Muir continues to sit in the carriage mulling over Gewyn's answer. So many questions run through his mind....slow down Muir he thinks to himself before asking.
"So this mirror was your mother's...interesting....and what does the mirror do exactly again? Where were you when its power "turned on"?"
Elthana frowns as Gewyn answers her, "Are you alright? And of course you can." She pulls the bag out of her pack and hands it over to him.
Gewyn reaches into the bag and roots around. "I'll be fine. I always am," he says to Elthana. To Muir, he says, "I don't remember where I was at the time. Somewhere in Marblestead. I feel like I was preparing for a performance. Didn't feel like a place of importance. But I remember... Just wanting to be anywhere but there. And that's what the mirror did. "For a brief time, I found my consciousness moving about in the reflected world, though my body remained fixed in the real world. Everything was strange and ethereal, and no one could see me, though I could see them. Since the incident at the portal, I have been able to spend longer and longer over there between worlds- Hang on, what's this?" Gewyn closes his hand on something and starts to pull it from the bag.
As the group set off Iver ties the extra horse and Muir's old horse Snabb, to the back of the carriage and has them lead by it, he also chooses to ride the extra horse to give the members of the party some space,with Sam up on top in the driver's position the group make good time, trudging through the snow.
Griff flies over head resigned to following the group, though he keeps an eye out for anything odd, anyone looking up to see him would notice that he stays quite close, with a confused look in his face as he slowly realises everything around him is odd, so he simply keeps a watch out for anything hostile.
Gewyn reaches into the bag and he grasps something semi solid, grainy... as he pulls it out whatever it was loses its form completely and what is left in Gewyn's hand is a pile of sand which begins to slip through his fingers and make a mess on the carriage floor, before too long the sun illuminates the winter clouds over head as brightly as it is going to this day, and the group decide to stop for some food, and to give the horses a midday rest. Griff swoops down from above and points northwestward, "is this edge of your land?" As you follow his finger you all see him point toward the sea.
Muir sits down on a tree stump and eats some food he picked from around them before answering Griff "Yes this is one edge. That is an ocean. A great body of water. Do you also have oceans or bodies of water where you come from?
Muir would turn his attention to the group "I have a theory about these tears and portals for those who wish to hear it" Muir looks at them all assuming most of them would like to hear it he begins to speak "So we know that the seeds Sam has grow trees that turn to stone. So far the things that have come through are stone creatures...The ones from the cave were underground cave dwellers, lived in the earth. Then there were the 2 big beasts that tunneled into the ground...into the earth. Finally the dwarves and their creatures. Dwarves are known here to be mountainous folks. I suspect all of these beings were from the same realm. That realm is different then the Fae and Griff's realm, which brings me to Griff. Griff came through a separate tear, but what caused it? We know that Sam's seeds cause a tear into this, let's call it earth realm, and we know that Elthana's horse is from Griff's world....I believe that when Elthana uses the orb to call forth the horse it causes a rift or a tear in Griff's world. My guess is that the tear was seen the first time she used the horse and Griff was sent out to investigate which is when the second tear happened bringing him here. This brings me to Gewyn's mirror which allows him to see into a different realm. I am not sure which realm it is though. Perhaps he can shed some more light....Is it a dream world? The Fae realm? Does a tear occur when he uses it....It doesn't seem so. Then there is Vin...What trinket do you have...born of fire and iron....All these things seem to be connected. Perhaps you all can help me piece this together. I plan on visiting a library in Marbelstead. Maybe there is something there that talks about portals, rifts, or what the other realms are. It is lost history....."
Elthana moves to sit next to Gewyn and as he pulls out sand she chuckles, "Want to try again?"
She doesn't add anything when Muir goes into his conclusions as to what is going on, but also wonders what the others might hold that the rest of the group was unaware of.
“Your theory accuses someone of some kind of devious plan or another,” Sam says as he eats. “Likeliest is the Council, and specifically those who nominated us or gifted us the items. For surely it couldn’t be a huge coincidence that everyone sent on this task was a portal bearer…”
“S’pose that could mean Ebb is the bringer of the very doom he’s envisioning. If we all had a portal time bomb when we set out it would imply he did too, yes? And he doesn’t even know it…”
Muir thinks on Sam's words "I hadn't thought about who gave them to you...interesting theory Sam....I also forgot about Ebb being a part of this group. I wonder if he has something that will cause the tear?"
“Anyone have a way to get a message to him?” Sam asks, looking around the group.
“With luck we will cross paths with the men sent from Marblestead and can press one of them into service delivering a message. But sooner would be better…”
Griff sits and thinks in response to Muir's question, "we have great body of air which is surrounding all our lands, we collecting water from streams as they are passing by, have peoples who work collecting waters, is job..."
As talk of portals and rifts begin, Iver listens intently but does not add anything, just sits silently in the knowledge that this discussion my be better off not repeated to his superiors.
Gewyn's face softens a bit, and he chuckles as Elthana offers a second shot at the bag. "I was looking for a distraction, and I think I found it." He flicks his hand, and the sand swirls and vanishes from his hand. "Besides, I think it's your turn."
He turns to look at Muir. "If there is a pattern, it's likely not perfectly straightforward. Don't always seem to be the way of things? Just in regards to me for example, I would clearly correspond to the fae realm. But my mirror, a fae relic, does not open up portals to that realm. Instead, it sends my mind to a different plane. One that simply seems to be a murky reflection of this one. I move that we refer to it as the ethereal plane for now, for clarity. Still, there is certainly merit to your idea that is worth following up on in Marblestead."
"I asked Ebb if there was a way we could connect with him before he left and he seemed a bit surprised by the question and didn't have a way but said he would look into it? Not sure if that was to brush me off but I took as he wanted to remain in communication if possible."
Elthana smiles as Gewyn chuckles, "Sure, why not?" and she reaches into the bag herself to see what she finds...
"Do you see anything in that mirror of yours now?" And after asking this, she takes a closer look at their surroundings, feeling a bit exposed riding in the carriage.
“I’m not sure it has anything to do with us, ourselves. I’m certainly no dwarf of underground dweller. I’ve worked with metal but I’ve just as often worked with beer kegs or hauling goods from here to there,” Sam considers aloud. “Nor do I see Elthana particularly connected to air…”
“Her horse made of air, straight connection there, sure. But trees pulling things up from the ground? I guess but I see them as connected to the sky as the earth since the needs the sun and the rain as well as the earth.”
“So perhaps the portal opened has little relevance to you or the object? If there is a dirt and an air realm, is there a mirror realm? A reflection reality? And who’s to say instead of opening a portal here that using your mirror isn’t opening one there? Could it be that instead of pulling stuff here you are pushing stuff there?” It’s all speculation and thinking on it hurts Sam’s brain but he feels this could be important… And not being to blame appeals to him.
“You’ve had your mirror forever though, you say? Did anyone know? Of its properties? ‘Cause going on the speculation we were grouped together because of the items then someone would have had to, eh? If nobody did then this is all coincidence. That’s not feeling right to me, coincidence. I’d prefer it be true or else it would look like Jimmy set me up.. Still…”
“And Elthana? The horse was a gift, did you say? How recently?” Sam asks.
“And you, Vin? Have any funky magic thingy besides Neferox?”
After Sam eats the "jerky" Vin just smiles and looks to Nef who looks to Sam and starts laughing. The black hound finding it funny as Sam tries to choke it down. Vin has to stop himself from laughing as he looks to Sam and says "Nef asks if you are looking for a new owner. She offers to train you well. Might even let you brush her fur. Says you'd look good with a spiked collar." The black hound has an unmistakable grin as she watches Sam. Vin is trying really hard not to laugh. The young man never really getting a chance to see others get teased by Neferox's crass humor.
In the morning before they go anywhere Vin pulls Muir aside to tell them something.
"Muir... I cast scrying on Ebb last night. Wanted to make sure he was okay because he seemed so nervous. They were talking with someone that seemed to have problems with Master Gore. Like they were in the way. Neferox said they will likely be... removed. I think whoever it was is shielded from scrying cause I couldn't see them and normally you can just look around freely when you cast that spell. Anyway, I talked to Nef and they said if we didn't warn them they might be caught off guard and killed... the clerics wouldn't do that, would they? Uh... I'm sure I'm just misunderstanding but I got a bad feeling so wanted to let you know since you know Gore."
When the group is getting ready Vin hops on their broom to zoom up and keep Griff company. Seems the young man has some questions for them as they all make their way in the early morning light. The first of which is "Do you have a trick for the cold up this high? I nearly froze myself to death yesterday. I didn't realize it got so much colder up higher. Kind of my first week flying with this." He gestures to the broom. "Definitely appreciate tips." After a polite conversation with Griff Vin then joins the others when he spots them talking. Seeing that it is about the portals and items Vin seems a bit pensive as he looks to Nef as if seeking an answer. Vin seems to get one and seems really uncomfortable when they reply to Muir's and Sam's question "I don't know about an item of iron and fire. I was given something... but warned it could be bad to use. It is only for emergencies... honestly it kind of scares me. I'm just going to try and get it back to Professor Wooswin when we return." They seem really uncomfortable talking about it.
Muir's eyes open wide at Vin's words and immediately runs to a tree and inserts the knob disappearing inside
Sam momentarily forgets how ill he is feeling and stares at the beast. his hands ball into fists. His eyes narrow and his nostrils flare… Sam starts to move toward the hound but it is then when he can no longer ignore his condition. Instead of going after Neferox Sam runs for the nearest tree…
“And?” Sam presses, more gruff than he usually has been with Vin. “You going to share or just play the tease?”
Vin being pressured by Sam definitely looks like he will cave and tell them if pressured more but before doing so says "It's just... I promised to keep it a secret... I feel like this is the most I can share without betraying their trust in me. I don't want you to feel like I'm hiding anything from you so I am telling you this much. It was given to me by the heroes of the Calvacade though. If I can't trust them... or keep my promises... then what chance do I have of being someone heroic like them someday?" Vin looks almost pleadingly to Sam and Muir. He's hoping they won't push it more. They really are too honest.
"I am built to be flying in cold, where I from there is no too high, winds can be carrying somebody up forever. only advice I can be giving, grow feathers" Griff answers vin with somewhat of an amused grin.
As Elthana reaches into the bag she pulls out a small pocket book, it looks very old and dusty the pages yellowed with age.