NationStates Jolt Archive

Marvel's recall spell finally reached Joshua and he seized the opportunity. "Jax, we're going." he grabbed her and they vanished in with another flash. Mali and Zena had collapsed against each other in fear and sadness when familiar runes appeared. The backed away and shielded their eyes as Joshua and Jax appeared. Joshua took one look around and nearly had a heart attack. "What happened? Where's Yelena and Marvel? And who's this guy?" he gestured to Pondora, now dead. Joshua had all the subtlety of a train wreck and Mali and Zena began to cry even harder than before.

Very few are addicted enough to play solitaire for hours, however, in a table built of entwined branches, Ivan continued to shuffle and set his cards, while thinking about the latest results of his arrival, or honestly, the complete lack of any results other than seeing an incident with an wolf and becoming exhausted. He barely visited the Tower, instead taking refuge from the rants of the propaganda lady of the Party, because it really bothered him to see such demonstration of foolishness.

"I have hoped for a chance to discover where truly is the border between manipulating life and divining through death. But ignorance and prejudice have so far blocked any chance. They would never understand, they seem to believe that the opus magnum of necromancy is to raise random corpses, rather than to predict the future by hearing the voice of the dead", he thought, reminding of the manner Yelena threw random accusations against him.

Yelena was the unfortunate thick-headed lady that refused to acknowledge that their silly idealisms were completely incompatible with the practice of magic. After all, they were right when saying that magic was a privilege, for Ivan has been benefited by it and made a personal fortune thanks to such very rare gift, although he wished to have been born completely healthy rather than with magic.

Setting an ace of hearts over a two, he finally finished another round, and the spell of addiction vanished, when he realized how futile his presence has been so far. He was very disposed to wait for the right time, but there were moments when doing rather than expecting something to happen was the best attitude. Such was one of these moments, and Ivan rose himself from the living branches seat and went through the opening of the exquisite tree house he constructed, expecting that maybe this time the Tower would be more welcoming to his presence.

While walking through the courtyard of the White Tower, Ivan perceptions were stormed by the unequaled smell of fresh death, a strange sensation beyond the realms of flesh, that was close to the smell of ashes smeared with blood, combined with an unique scent that could identify the victim. It was not the first time he smelled it, for once he has noticed the peculiar scent of a roasted bird, when a more than annoying crow had its existence terminated by an angry Yelena. However this time, the scent was best described as that of ashes and of a larse, with a few other pine trees scents. The different aspect from the sense was the taste of a salty water which seemed to be exactly like an human tear.

It was obvious for him who had died, and no matter how she disliked him, like tradition demanded, for the reason he was the only who shared her nationality, it was his duty to give her a burial, although his mind was also considering other possibilities, while he finally stepped into the main hall of the tower, heading towards its magical ascension chamber. He knew that the lady of the Tunguska has died very recently, and that her belief in the lack of afterlife was so strong that no soul came out from her body, for otherwise he would have listened to her spirit. Maybe it was not too late yet, but first, Ivan had the arguably difficult attempt of convincing all around to let him leave with her cadaver.

He was definitively not blind, neither deaf because of his age, while his otherwordly senses clearly spiked to one of the floors of the tower where a commotion was happening. Ivan could barely distinguish the moment he stepped in the ascension chamber from the moment he began to levitate, until stepping into one of the floors of the Tower, and walking towards the scent. When he arrived, he could notice a strange construct, a cube which swirled with unnatural forces in the middle of the walkway, and stirred into a corner, the lifeless body of Yelena. Looking at Zena, he reintroduced himself with a bow and spoke in an equally accented way like Yelena's:

"I know what happened, for all those born with the gift can sense when one of them become lifeless, and I recognize this is a difficult moment for everyone here. I know that she talked ill things about my person, that she defamed me in front of you as well, Zena, but nonetheless I am saddened by the death of a homelander, and I offer you my condolences. I am still the only one she could truly relate with, I know her culture, her beliefs, her land. I have listened to tales of her plight, tried to convince her to stop getting into unnecessary risk, but now all I can do to honor her is to give her a proper burial through the secular traditions of the Soviets."

Sighing, Ivan interrupted his words to grab another vial from his coat, drinking it with trembling hands, and putting the empty glass back to be later reused. Trying to portray his issue, he explained to Zena:

"I notice that her body was simply dumped in that corner, and I think this is very disrespectful to her. I wish I could bring her with me to a proper burial site, but I cannot. I was born with the gift of magic, but with the burden of physical frailty, like you might have noticed. I admit that even a children might have more strength and endurance than me, and thus, I would be very grateful if you helped me to carry her out of here. This is not a place adequate for her remains to stay at, I need your help here"

"Drai'llee, step away from the criminal mage."

"Not untill I beat the stuffin' out of her. She tricked me, trapped me, and hurt me" Drai'lee snarled, as she launched a blow, one small hand clenched tight into a fist. She used her weight to keep the mouse down, she didn't want the napper to get away.

The mouse tumbled down, obviously unprepared for the ferocious attack that had come at her. Though being a mouse it was fairly easy for her to get back on all 4's again and resist most attempts to drag her around. The pummelling still hurt but it would take a fair bit and even then she would only be unconcious.

She didn't really make much of an attempt to shake Drai'lee off, just enough for Drai'lee hopefully work out her anger. It was understandable enough but something indeed was wrong, this... this... thing (OOC: What better way to describe Marvel :p )

It was all going wrong, "No, this is all wrong, it wasn't meant to be like this!" June had expected her to try and cast spells. The shell should of prevented this creature coming in and being displayed like that. She thought she had covered everything, and for Drai'lee while the shell kept magic out, it didn't hinder within.

"Everything I've worked on for so long is useless!" She was really upset, not at Drai'lee or Marvel but at herself. She was torn half wanting Marvel to fire at her but half just wanting to get out, leave it all.

OOC: This would not normally happen but I'm letting Marvel penetrate the shell. If you have any spell or ability that you want to breach the shell, please let me know.

OOC: Um, SS, Marvel moved Yelena's body already, and in case you didn't notice, Zena is pretty much beyond words.

(OOC: Actually her body was knocked back by the portal, according to Marvel's post and to my canon interpretation, and Ivan is persistent. Also, please direct further comments in the OOC thread)

With the only reply being the traumatized weeping that Ivan witnessed, it seemed quite unlikely that he would be able to convince them. Zena was clearly shocked by the experience, and his words were not making any effect on her. He simply looked down, and said to those around:

"I understand your pain, I will have to deal with this unpleasant moment myself."

Nobody would ever expect such scene, when the frail old man took both arms of Yelena and began to pull her, at a great strain. He seemed to be putting all his strength on such endeavor, yet progress was painstakingly slow, and the man began to sweat and breath heavily after moving the body only a single foot across. It was no wonder that he suddenly stop and gave up, looking down in frustration and thinking again about how unfair such event was.

Jax walked from the portal a few moments after Joshua, as her steps were now slow and careful with pain. It took her a moment to realize what had happened. She dirst saw the two friend's tear stained faces. She then saw the shocked look on Joshua's face. Marvel was not in sight, and there was an old man. Dragging a body.

Yelena.

Jax felt numb, and had to lean against a wall to avoid falling down completely. Her heart felt heavy, the way one would feel when someone they cared for pass. And what was worse, she hadn't been there to say goodbye. In the portal, they hadn't even FELT her pass.

A single tear ran down her cheek. It was followed by many more. Her already labored breath became harsh as her throat choked up, with out the assistance of strong hands this time.

Once her body had been moved, she turned on her heels and ran to her room, deciding that enough was enough. If people were going to be hurt by her presence, she would go and face the evil Elf on her own, not letting any more die. She had no reason to, but she blamed herself for Yelena's passing.

She reached her room and began to rummage through the clothing, pulling out anything that would be practical to travel in and throwing it on a mussed bed.

Joshua looked to ivan. "I'll help you in a minute, right now Jax needs help. So wait here and don't mess with anything. I'll watch over her so you don't do anything tradition doesn't tell you to." he ran off after Jax and knocked on her door. "Let me in Jax. I don't want to have to break down this door."

Jax stopped long enough to wipe the tears from the tip of her nose, then went to the bed to search through the traveling dresses to find one to wear.

"Come in if you want, but be quick." Her voice was still weak.

"I can't. The door is locked. You need to let me in." Joshua said as if it were obvious.

Jax went to the door, unlocked it, and opened it, not looking at Joshua as she went to the bed and set out one dress and cloak, and packed the others inside a rucksack.

"I'm leaving this place."

She couldn't get all of the day's images out of her mind. Yelena. Marcoz' attack. It was all too much in one day.

Joshua walked in and put his hand a Jax. "It's alright. I know it's a lot of change for one day and a lot happening, but I swear, it won't happen every day. Please Jax, we need you here. You were so brave when you walked into the portal with me. Where's that Jax? The one that was so terrified of the amber light, but bravely walked into the unknown? I don't want you to leave, I want that Jax back."

Jax stopped, long enough to look Joshua in the eye. She wasn't sure if he saw her face, her broken smirk and hurt eyes. The bags under them. The raw fear.

"That Jax got smart. You know, those images were enough. Being beaten by my worst fear, even in jest, was enough to make me see that the longer I stay, the longer he has to find a way to me. Or when it comes time for me to leave, he will be there. I cannot justify endangering a whole building of people to hide from someone trying to kill me, when they could be easily hurt."

She took a breath, gathering her mind.

"Also, if you look at it from the obvious, most simplistic view, I'd rather be beaten down sooner than later. Nowhere is safe."

"If you were smart you'd realize that this building is safe from him attacking you and that you're surrounded by so much magic that we could stop a small army, let alone one person." Joshua sat down on the bed with Jax. "Look, what happened in there was an illusion and Yelena didn't know when to stop. She made a mistake and the results were tragic. I'm not trying to blame her death on her, but looking at the magic of where we were, if she had stopped, Marvel's recall spell would still have allowed me to get us back. All that was a tragic mistake and a fluke. If you leave now, Marcoz will have his victory. If you stay here, you'll learn so much more than otherwise and you will have a chance at defeating him once you leave here."

"I don't even know if I am magic. Besides, if the teaching methods are kidnappings and deaths, I want no part of it. Yelena knew something of me. I ..."

Confessions did not come easily to her, but she picked up the journal. More tears came. She was exhausted, overwhelmed.

"When you found me, I remember the attack. But that is all. Until you called me Jax, I had no recolection of anything to do with my past, let alone my very name. I found this diary of a girl. I have been called her name. But it should not even be possible. She lived so long ago ..."

She tossed the book into her sack.

"And what of the Fae? We have failed her."

"Jax, you're going to leave because of a few missteps along the way? And as for Drai'lle, we're not giving up, but we need your help to find her. For all we know we'll need your help or we'll never find Drai'lle. Besides, if you care about her, why are you abandoning the group trying to save her? As for that book, it's possible that it's something an ancestor had or that it is you, but you time traveled. And of course there are species that can live for many hundreds of years and retain a youthful appearance." Joshua said in the most comforting way possible. He knew it was hard, but it had to be said.

Jax did not respond just yet. Some things Joshua said made sense. Others did not.

"I feel like I could help the Fae. But traveling the way I do ... It is only a defense mechanism. Even if we could find her, I could not be of help unless I knew where she was. Then we could go to her. But as we don't, I am useless. Taking up space. Putting you in danger. Zena and Mali, too. I am not sure I can live with that. Can you?"

Joshua laughed. "He can't get in here, remember? Besides, you're a wiz at potions. You don't have to get us there, you just have to help us once we get there. I'm sure you know something that could, I don't know, stun opponents, cause explosions, create fires, cause paralysis, and the like. Besides, you've got an outstanding aura both within you and outside of you. You've got a lot of built up energy and it just seems so natural around you. As for putting us in danger, don't worry about it. We're usually neck deep in something anyway. This time we're just eyeball deep!" he gave her a quick hug. "Don't ever say you're useless, you're an outstanding source of confidence and humor, even if you don't realize it. Plus, I've never seen someone get so focused when crafting something. I saw you working on your potion. I'm sure you'll be able to do so much more if you put your mind to it."

The demon in Marvel compelled him to laugh. There's nothing that a demon likes more than to have a co-conspirator. Carnage was a dish best served raw, and this was getting more so by the second.

"Fine," he said, eyes still ablaze, "you take the rat and I'll take the rat hole. It's been a long time since I really raised some hell." He laughed again--more of a cackle this time--and then, without a second thought, fireballed every door in sight. He wasn't good with fireballs, but they were little doors. Without even waiting for the results, he sent a concussion wave into the walls, and another one straight up. If the place was where he thought it was, it would blow the top right off of it. If it wasn't, it would bring the roof down and solve everybody's problems.

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OOC: Whatever the shell is, if it protects the inside of the place that they're in, the fireballs won't get through it. Don't let Marvel get too mad, though. He's a demon. The madder he gets, the meaner he gets, and the harder it is to stop him.

"I will give this a few more hours. If progress hasn't been made, I am gone." She scooted from his grasp off the bed and placed her sack in the closet, still packed. "Now stand outside so I can change."

Once Joshua had been ushered from the door, she stripped the robes and put on the more familliar feel of canvas. The long off-white country chemise and forrest green Irish style overdress were much more comfortable to her. She pulled on the tan traveling cloak, then opened the door again. "What's next?" She asked Joshua, not feeling any better.

Joshua laughed. "It seems we have similar tastes in clothing." he said, tugging at his own black cloak. "Anyway, we should go back to the others and give Yelena her funeral. She'd want that. And from there, I guess we just start searching." A thought struck him. "Where's the ring?"

"Last I saw, Yelena's finger." Jax answered, moving close to Joshua and throwing her arms around him. "Take us there the fast way?" She asked, with a small hint of a suggestion. She hated the amber light. And right now, she wasn't sure if she could handle much.

"Sure." the reappeared by the rest of the group and Joshua quickly examined Yelena's finger. Sure enough, it was there. "Gotcha." He took the ring and pocketed it for later. "Alright Ivan, where to?" He picked up Yelena's body carefully and was ready to carry her to her final resting spot.

Ivan gulped his bother of how unpleasant was the fact that they apparently believed in what she told to them about his morals. He seemed to be somewhat disturbed by the events, and once Joshua returned again, he finally would have a chance to fulfill what he knew to be her last wish.

"Your name is Joshua, correct? Look, I need to embalm this body, like traditions say, and I have a properly set up funeral preparation in my tree house in the fields close to this tower. She has to be buried in the motherland, but first her body must be prepared and properly dressed up for the last honors she deserve, after I embalm her, I will need someone to teleport us back to Soviet Steam, I can provide the exact location for it once the time comes"

"So let's go." With a flash of light Ivan and Joshua vanished, appearing by Ivan's tree house. "I'm trusting that your traditions are stronger than the reputation we've heard about you. As for teleportation to Soviet Steam, it's no big deal. I came from an alternate dimension, to Sylvonia, then over here, all after fighting to get a proper Wizard's Council working. Of course, that flopped like nothing you'd ever seen before, but that's beside the point."

Looking at the tree house he has built through his mastery of white magic, Ivan seemed satisfied that he decided to put prejudices aside and trust him

"I admit I am not much of an altruist, but most people are not, which does not mean they are evil, just that they want to live in peace, and of course, I will never refuse to help someone in need with my abilities, do not blame me because I charge for my services when attending rich people in Perun."

"Like some say, you should never judge a book by its cover, Joshua, and rumors about people are rarely close to truth. Also, I know what she mostly accused me of, but why should I stand for a country that hunted me like a dog? Although that is a subject for another time. Now I will take some time. Atheists are a bit complicated to attend to postmortem, for they want to have their bodies preserved in the best way possible, predictable because they believe that it is everything they got."

A set of branches uncrossed into what was closer to the door of the strange living construct that has became his temporary home, showing a simple place built of all-natural and alive things. Should the accusations against him be true, it actually seemed nothing like the lair of a necromancer, and it shouted "Healer" everywhere. There were entwined branches making shelves filled with herbs, a simple bed of leaves, a desk and a large enough table to put an human being on, likely a sort of medical bed. More strange though was the existence of a bag with a red cross symbol among those more natural herbs. It was Ivan did not know only about the magical way of healing, for there were regions in his land where magic was never reliable enough for anything but minor scrapes.

"Could you leave her at this table? I hoped that I would only need it to heal someone, it is unfortunate that I will have to use it with a dead one, rather than for preventing someone's death. I am afraid this will take some hours, because it is not easy to keep an entire body from decaying, and maybe I might have to leave her into the always frozen peaks of the Yuri mountain range in her country later to prevent it"

Joshua laid the body down carefully. "If you can explain what you're doing, my magic will speed the process from a few hours to a few minutes. As for location, you know better than I where to burry her. I will however help where I can."

Ivan looked at Joshua, an attempted to explain him the matter. It was pointless to hide it any further, and maybe he would understand his plight about the situation, for he seemed very uneasy while speaking:

"I doubt you could help me, I am not sure if you know, but what causes the decay of the body are living organisms. I will have to prepare a difficult death field all over her body, and then shield myself to handle her. A death field will ensure that any maggot, both visible and invisible, dies before coming to her, so her body can remain untouched, while destroying anything alive that might be already inside her. I will not hide this Joshua, but I hope that you will not disdain me."

"I understand life and death equally through magical means, it is difficult to explain, but wheres some see the handling of death as inherently evil, I see it as an end that can complement the magical enhancement and maintenance of life. I will also need to use healing spells to keep her body in shape, believe it or not. Yes, I am also practice what some people know as necromancy. Necros mean dead ones, Mancy means divination. It is not like some people imagine it, not really. Its essence is that the spirits can see time in a different manner of the living ones, allowing them to see past, present and future as one. But they are difficult to reach by the living ones, and sometimes what they tell about the future is blurry and difficult to understand."

"I never raised a corpse from its grave like those false necromancers claim to. I believe that an equal measure of understanding of both life and death through magical means is essential for understand the whole. I am a necromancer because I can talk with the spirits of the dead ones, and have a blurry glimpse of the future through their unequaled capability of seeing past, present and future. Such is the true mastery of necromancy, which is nothing but a specific form of divination. The so called death magics are nothing but bastard spin-offs I almost never resort to. Only in occasions like this death field to protect her body from decay. Now this is more difficult for me to explain"

He knew that Joshua would began to make assumptions about his intentions due to his honesty about his skills, and now it was a chance to clear up things he could not lose:

"When I was a child, I could sometimes listen to strange whispers, it scared me first, but eventually I saw it as my fate. I am a channel between the dead and the living ones, a mean to lift the torments of walking spirits so they can finally rest in peace, and also a listener to their voices and views of the future. I could not negate it because of prejudices raised by some megalomaniac madmen who were self-entitled necromancers. And before you think anything, I promise to you that I have no intention to mimic what those involved in false necromancy perform with the corpses of others. The most I would do is to attempt to talk with Yelena, but this is really disturbing: I could not sense her spirit, and I am afraid that it is all truly over for her"

He sighed, as if he lifted a burden with his honesty. All he hoped is that he would not be treated like a stray dog because of it.

"Most of that information I knew, though thank you for informing me of your burial practices. I don't really know what to think and without much first hand knowledge of you, so I'm pretty much unbiased. Unless in need, I'm usually reserved as to new people, so anything Yelena said is just words. At any rate, do what you need to do, I'll just sit here and watch." He found a chair at the desk and sat down to watch what Ivan would be doing.

Ivan seemed a bit uneasy about his magic when close to people. It was perhaps because of being used to prejudice against his practices, for the Orthodox probably invented all the tales about raising corpses to discredit necromancy, and some lunatics came to believe at them a bit too literally. Not something that made any effect in his homeland, for all tales about those who attempted to do it were about failure after failure until calling too much attention and being killed by angry mobs or authorities. The possibility of using necromancy to unnaturally raise the dead and of such act working as it was intended was something relatively new for Ivan due to such legendary and infamous tales.

He was no fool, and he knew Joshua suspected that he had second intentions, or otherwise he would not stay there. A cold drop of sweat came from his eyebrows when he reached for the white bag with a red cross, and began to rummage through it, grabbing a sort of white pot with a Cyrillic label to it, and taking some white powder from the same. He looked at Joshua again, with a not very happy expression, and said:

"I will have to cover every inch of her body with this medicinal powder that will serve as the target of the spell. I doubt she would be glad to know you were watching it if she was alive. I will call you back after I finish, in two minutes. Please Joshua, can you not trust me?"

"I see magic and auras, but not her. So I'll see your powder and what it does, but not her. She has nothing to fear with me sitting here." Joshua assured Ivan. "Trust me, I won't see her."

Ivan nodded, and pondered about it for a while, until finally replying to Joshua. Things could not become more inconvenient as they were now for him to perform his duties without being disturbed, and he seemed to be trembling, and a bit ashamed of himself. He finally openly acknowledged what his presence was about.

"I feel uneasy when people are watching or close to me in situations like this one, be it through sensing of auras or through physical eyes. I just prefer to work alone, and if you suspect me so much, you would be able to sense it anyway even if you were not exactly here inside. I just need some privacy to feel at ease, because I am not sure if you have noticed, but this is too morbid to deserve an audience."

There were no doors, just passage ways Marvel's fireballs flew in and struck. Causing some rubble to fall down. June looked at Marvel with abject fear though instead of running. She turned around and shielded Drai'lee from the concussion blast as much as she could, before collapsing to the ground, on the verge of unconciousness.

The stone work rumbled, the concussion wave might have been generated by a magical force but by the time it passed through the shell it was merely a natural phenomena, cracks appeared and there were rumblings. It was clear that the cave was no longer stable and was going to crash any moment.

"Go! Out there... Sunlight." she managed to point an exit, one that would hopefully lead out to the open world and then she collapsed, as she fell unconcious from the blast.

A piece of rock fell from the roof, it was the start. Everything was at imminent collapse.

Joshua sighed. "No, I don't sense auras. I see them. My eyes don't see like normal, they see energies and auras and the like. And having a wall between me and you would block that. I get that you prefer to work alone, but trust me, unless you do something other than your traditions, I'll just sit here calmly, reading my book. You won't even notice me." He pulled out a book from his cloak, found his bookmark, and put his hand at the top of the left page to start reading the braille.

Jax left Joshua's side when they arrived back at the hallway. She was somewhere between hiccups and retching the contents of her empty stomache.

A glance out of the tower window showed a dark night sky. She wondered why whomever was giving the tour had not come to help. She wondered how the group's energy would continue to hold, with no food or rest. She wondered if the Fae was being taken care of ...

She heard sniffling, and saw Mali and Zena a little further down. She heard Joshua and Ivan, the new person, agree to leave. Travel by ruins was silent to her, but she felt them go.

She fely very vulnerable. A Fae was kidnapped her, and a few short hours later, Yelena had given her life to let them try to find her. And all for nothing. They had found nothing in the portal. She moved closer to the girls, hoping that there would be safety in numbers.

She sat across the hall from them, not feeling like she had the right to be there. She slid her body down the wall, sitting against it, bringing her knees to her chest. She buried her head in her arms, letting the tears fall.

They say sadness feels like a rushing, rippleing continual wave of emotion. But this didn't feel like that. A trainwreck. A volcanic eruption. The land mass dividing. She grieved for Yelena, even though she had known her a short while. Crisis does that to people. It makes them bond in incomprehensible ways.

This was interesting. The demon had figured that a mage of that caliber would know that a concussion wave is a planar phenomenon. It's a very localized spell. If you can move, you can duck under it. He couldn't help but laugh again.

This didn't help his temper any, though. It was good that The Rat was getting some of the punishment that it deserved, but it deserved far worse than to merely be buried alive. Someone he knew had died because of this thing, and someone else had been kidnapped and probably tortured. "Ohhh," he said, "you're not getting away that easy." He walked forward and, showing his demonic strength, took Dra'gon La'dee in one hand and The Rat in the other, lifted both off the ground, and began dragging them for the door.

Hell's bells, he hoped that Fae Babe never read his mind enough to find out the names he was using--or figured out that, despite himself, despite all his rancor, he was actually enjoying the fact that she didn't have a stitch of clothing on her.

"Marvel" Drai'lee yelped as she stumbled along at Marvels side shaken by all that was, and had been, happening. She hadn't meant to hurt the mouse much, not really. She'd just been mad, and scared. Why she'd never tackled any one before. And she'd only once hit someone else once. Which was why her attempts to pummel June hadn't been very effective.

Then there were the fireballs, and the explosions, like some sort of real life James Bond movie, only far less fun. You were supposed to sit back and eat popcorn and drink coke, not be afraid your wings were going to catch fire...And the way Marvel was holding her hurt.

"Marvel, please" She cried again as they found themselves out of the cave and on a wide ledge. Drai'lee managed to get her feet under her and dig her heels in, hoping to twist him around to face her.

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OOC: Don't worry there are other ways of stopping him other than hitting him...

The man stood there, looking upwards. He could see a magical construct of somekind there, up in the trees. A house of some sort. Large enough for someone to live in, from the looks of it. He had observed the others do what they had done through magical means, so he was aware of what had taken place.

And now he had followed the distinct stench of death. It was something which drew him towards itself. One of the few things that did. It was not because he cared for those who died, no. Death itself was the force which he had followed.

And now he stood there, unmoving, quietly, watching the tree house, his purple robe slightly fluttering in the weak wind.

OOC: Your funeral. :) :P :)

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IC:

Her voice made him stop and look around. There must have been a magnifier on the door, because the demon found himself back to normal size.* So were Fae Babe--wings and all--and The Rat. That, he surmised, must have meant that his temper was back to normal size, too.

"Hi, babe," he spat, looking her up and down. "So glad you're in the mood." He opened his hand and let her fall onto her shapely little backside. Then, he turned his attention back to the unconscious form of The Rat.

"You know," he said, "dragons normally eat mice--but there are some who say that a dragon that was, oh, I don't know, the size of a large dog wouldn't eat something as big as this one." His form altered. Now, he was wearing a collar and tie, and a little white lab coat with a swastika on the lapel. "Vy don't ve chust ek-shpereement? Yah? Ve bring ze dragon ofer heir, und ve tell it zat it iss now chow time. Und ve record ze rezults für," he glanced down at Drai'lee, "posteriority..." Boy, was he in a mood. "Vat zay you, madam doktor?"

OOC:

* June put it there just before she originally left for the White Tower. See Miceland's previous posts.

Ivan seemed extremely annoyed at the persistence of Joshua, and sighing, he looked at the body of Yelena. She was wearing a simple shirt and a trouser skirt when her life ended, and Ivan began to strip her in a very professional manner. After he was done, with his hands the white powder began to cover slowly, in a very detailed manner, every inch of her corpse. It seemed to attach to the skin, creating an unnaturally snow white appearance for the same.

It took about two minutes, like Ivan explained. Afterwards, he clothed her again, and when finished, looked at Joshua:

"Satisfied? Now I will have to prepare the magic. It is a very difficult spell that requires a constant influx for hours."

He seemed to be very bothered, and extremely annoyed from the manner he would speak:

"I have a clear criminal record, except for magic because it was outlawed in my birthplace nation, if you do not know. Yes, it is not important to say that, but if you did not notice, I am getting tired of being treated like a worthless ruffian."

"Yelena asked all of you for banishing me from this tower once, but I am going to leave this place by myself, as I see clearly I am not welcome here anymore, and I would not stand to be here with everyone watching me like if I was the suspect of a murder"

Sighing again, the old man sat down and closed his eyes. An enchant began, although it was barely noticeable, and impossible to be noticed by physical senses.

OOC: Your funeral. :) :P :)

---------------------------
IC:

Her voice made him stop and look around. There must have been a magnifier on the door, because the demon found himself back to normal size.* So were Fae Babe--wings and all--and The Rat. That, he surmised, must have meant that his temper was back to normal size, too.

"Hi, babe," he spat, looking her up and down. "So glad you're in the mood." He opened his hand and let her fall onto her shapely little backside. Then, he turned his attention back to the unconscious form of The Rat.

"You know," he said, "dragons normally eat mice--but there are some who say that a dragon that was, oh, I don't know, the size of a large dog wouldn't eat something as big as this one." His form altered. Now, he was wearing a collar and tie, and a little white lab coat with a swastika on the lapel. "Vy don't ve chust ek-shpereement? Yah? Ve bring ze dragon ofer heir, und ve tell it zat it iss now chow time. Und ve record ze rezults fur," he glanced down at Drai'lee, "posteriority..." Boy, was he in a mood. "Vat zay you, madam doktor?"

OOC:

* June put it there just before she originally left for the White Tower. See Miceland's previous posts.

To find herself human sized, but still with wings had her eyes opening wide, but them again so did being dropped on her tush.

She scrabbled clumsily to her feet - she wasn't used to being human sized with wings - and having every bit of fae majick available to her.

"That wasn't nice at all, and you aren't acting nice at all now either." Drai'lee exclaimed. She knew about nazis the same as she did about James Bond, from the movies, and she had no idea how to stop one. Guns? bombs? tanks?

She'd never been close to a gun, much less held one. All that killing iron...the very thought made her shudder...and nearly trip as one wing flared wide...

Wait! She had wings and he didn't! And it hadn't been that hard to tackle the mouse lady...he'd turned back to poor unconscious thing and wasn't paying her any attention....

Drai'lee didn't think, she just did. Three steps just like before, smash, grab, and take them over the ledge...yes? wings spreading to grab air... yes? holding tight to...Yes?

"Ivan, Yelena gave her life trying to get Drai'lle back, I'm here to make sure nothing happens. We don't know who's lurking about and I'm of much more help here inside the house than outside where someone could enter from the opposite side. I'm not trying to make it seem like I'm out to get you, I just want to make sure all of the traditions of your people are carried out for Yelena. Please do not insult me like that again for I am not afraid to give Yelena a burial according to group agreement by those in the castle. Besides, if I were treating you as worthless, would I have entrusted Yelena's body's care to you?" Joshua hoped at least some of that would get through Ivan's horrible mood.

He could not lose his concentration, for he had to maintain a delicate balance of his own magic to prevent the complete depletion of his stamina before the process was finished. Ivan simply did not reply when Joshua attempted to explain him why he was there, being almost fully focused on the task at hand. It was very important to ensure that her body would never begin to decay, and he was doing his best to control the weaknesses of his own body and avoid a disastrous failure of his trial.

There was an extremely weak aura of death building up around Yelena. The point of such type of death field was that it should be strong enough to destroy maggots, but weak enough to not harm those who touched her body, although even then, handling a corpse under the veil of magical death was unsettling and tiresome.

Ivan managed to organize a moment for him to explain and reply back to Joshua, briefly, and he was quick to say. But at the same time, he sensed again the smell of death itself. There was someone, or something watching.

"She would not support this group agreement. I need to concentrate, we shall settle our differences in two hours, for it is a long process. Now you are correct, there are already onlookers nearby, but I must be silent now"

But he did have wings--large, bat-like wings with a thirty-foot wingspan and claws in nasty places. The lab coat was just an illusion. Of course, none of this helped him any as, to his complete and utter surprise, his co-conspirator turned against him.

The giant mouse he was still holding by one leg in his right hand went down with him, but it, too, somehow ended up on top of him--the two of them must have been heavier than Drai'lee had thought, for they didn't make it over the edge of the ridge (yet). Perhaps as compensation, if one believes in such things, under him, or, at least, under his head, anyway, was a nice, warm, comfortable rock.

"OH SH--!" BOOM!

Several things happened at once. When Marvel hit the rock, it knocked him out--and unraveled all the magic that was spun around him. The rescale spell, the spell from the bigulator and his Shaldon Shield--even the illusion of the lab coat--all collapsed at the same time, and the resulting magic energy was released in a harmless but spectacular burst of iridescent light. It could, no doubt, be seen for miles and felt who knows how far away.

But Marvel didn't know about any of that. The last thought that had gone through his poor, primitive little mind was, "Boy, it sure feels good when she rubs against me."

----------

OOC: That sound you hear in the distance is me doin' the LMAO boogie.

OOC: Oddly enough what I am listening to is the Masquerade sequence from Phantom of the Night, and segueing into ( all out of sequence) Point of No Return from later...

~~~~~~~

*ooooffffhhh* Her failure knocked the wind out of her completely, and all three of them went down hard. Drai'lee wasn't quite sure how long she lay there half on Marvel, half off, with the mouse occupying the other half of the red hued demon.

But eventually she realized she could breathe again...but more important, Marvel hadn't moved. The mouse was stirring, or at least she had slid off of Marvel...

Groaning and now aware of every ache and pain in her body, Drai'lee tumbled off of Marvel - though she had to admit a huge part of her hadn't wanted to move - he was warm and soft but muscled in all the right places...

'cause you know, relationships that start under intense circumstances, they never last.' Wryly she recited the one mantra that seemed to be true in every movie she'd ever seen. True most every movie she'd ever seen had been Khat's choices, but he was how she'd gotten in to see them in the first place. He'd fubar the locks on the exit doors and he'd sneak in with her in his messenger bag, next to the also smuggled in 20 oz coke and day old popcorn.

She had to admit to be a total failure at the whole dating thing, but then again being half Fae kinda limited one in the 'who'd associate with her' category.

Shoving that aside, it was an old familiar complaint, she groaned as she sat up and leaned over Marvel, shaking him gently "Marvel? I'm... Marvel?!" He didn't seem to respond and she began to panic. She'd not meant to hurt him at all.

"Ohhmmmmmmmfff." He tried closing his eyes even tighter. No luck. The headache wouldn't go away and the consciousness stayed. Bad combination.

The Rat was starting to move, too. Now that he'd had a chance to think about it, something wasn't right. It had moved to protect Drai'lee when he'd hit it where it lived. It didn't know what it was doing, but it put her above itself.

He tried to lift a hand to put it on his forehead, and found that the arm had gone stiff. He flexed his fingers, just to see what was going on, and it hurt. Wow, he was spent. Mojo was tapped out, too. Even though he hadn't gone over the ledge, he'd gone over the edge.

He'd done this to himself before, when he was in the Infantry. His unit had come up against a herd of angels, and things got ugly. Red Gargoyles are high-performance creatures. They deliver a tremendous burst of energy up front, but wear out. Angels, with better endurance, use this to their advantage. They ride the battle out, if they can, until the demon starts to tire. Then, it's clobberin' time. Well, Marvel never felt very much like getting clobbered. So...he pushed himself...and ended up like this...but alive. And his unit chief had him flogged for laziness. Go figure.

But still, she was safe...for now. That was a miracle unto itself. He could feel her aura, and he could feel her breathing. There was some kind of spell on her, but it wasn't hurting her.

So he did the tough thing. He opened his eyes. And there she was, in the middle of a big, red haze, right on top of him. He tried to reach up and put his hand on her shoulder, but the effort was beyond him.

"I'm sorry, babe," he finally said. "Yellena's dead. She died trying to save you. I guess I got a little...carried away."

-------------------

OOC: You're not going to try to tell me that none of the mages at the White Tower could see or feel that magical explosion...are you?

OOC: Yeah, well, mice don't duck very well... unless they have to squeeze though tight spaces....

IC:

Mice could do alot of things, the way that their biology was allowed them to squeeze through spaces that would of otherwise allowed them to get stuck, but there was one thing they couldn't do... duck.

The first thing to go down was the magic shell, then a few numerous pieces of equipment with unknown purposes and then bigulator. Anything that was affected by it's magic, started to shrink or grow... The equipment and everything inside, and June and Drai'lee themselves began to shrink to their normal... un-scaled size.

Obviously of-course the cave could not hold it and what was left in there filled every nook and crany up, providing enough force to stabilise the collapse, obviously now. It wasn't anywhere near as spectactular as it seemed to be but... there was alot of magic, matter that couldn't of been returned to it's normal volume was transfered into magic energy. Some returned to June as part of herself went into making all these magic machines, the rest, could perhaps be best described as a toothless magical nuke. The magic was spread across the entire mountain, a woosh of great wind, In their prone state it didn't affect them much at all.

In addition to the failure of Marvel's magical protectionsf, this magical meltdown caused a flare concussion blast (much like Marvel's) to surround White Tower, it's defenses flared into action and diverted the energies around it. If they didn't know before they knew now. As for the three of them, they were out of the main blast, there was just a whole lot of wind.

Jax lifted her head, something wasn't right. The air was heavy ... And then her heart had skipped a beat. It wasn't right. She lifted her head. Her arms had goosebumps. It was as if she could feel the electricity.

"Did you guys feel that?" she asked Zena and Mali.

Mali hiccuped. "Feel what?"

Joshua nodded in silence and went back to reading. It was odd really, at least in his mind, that although he could "see" perfectly well, he was still technically blind. He had to read with braille, he couldn't legally drive a motorized vehicle, and to top it all off, he was right handed, which made reading even more difficult. He'd just grown around the fact that his vision was different. Sure it meant making a few adjustments for those that shared his home, but it was workable for all of them.

Jax looked all around, attempting to find a suitable explination for her new feelings. To find why she felt a literal atmospheric change. It seemed even the atoms in the air were splitting and being reformed abnormally, telling her things. Giving warnings.

And then, she accepted her own craziness.

"It's like the air is alive. Something's happened. Something with a ton of energy. Something ... bad ..."

Mali and Zena raised eyebrows. "What are you talking about?" Mali said.
"I don't feel anything either." Zena concurred. "Care to try and explain what you mean a bit better?"

"Something-or someone-just used a massive ammount of energy." She said, standing with ease, earlier injuries forgotten. She felt the buzz of it. She went to the window, and jumped back. She saw waves in the air, the light and wind. "Something bad happened."

Mali and Zena looked out the window and sure enough, it was there. "Why didn't we feel it Z?" Mali asked.
"How should I know? I'm a psion, remember? I don't do physical energies."
"I suppose. But Jax, you seemed overly sensitive to it. Any ideas why?"

Jax shook her head. "I am clueless, but it felt like it was a part of me ... This is your arena. I am not sure what any of this means. Beyond a few minutes of safety, which isn't even sure, I am completely lost as to what is happening here."

"Maybe you've got hidden talents that we don't know about." Zena suggested. "I mean, you obviously are more in tune than we are. I wonder if Joshua can see this..." Hey Josh, look out a window, let me know if you see anything odd.
He bookmarked his page and looked outside. Freaky. I see waves of energy like I've never seen before. Real strong stuff too. If we're not careful, it could do some damage to magical structures holding up the school. Keep an eye out for anything that seems like it's breaking and do what you can to hold it in place until we can figure out how to really fix it.
Zena looked to the group still assembled. "Josh says that he can see what's going on. Watch for any magically held structures cause they might break."

The man had surely felt this magical "explosion", but it was to him nothing more than a magical equivalent of the breeze which made his clothing flutter ever-so-slightly. It gave him something to think of for a passing moment.

And so, he just continued to watch the tree house.

Jax suddenly felt anxious. Like her stomache wanted to lead her valiantly into battle, but had not passed the sickly feeling that energy gave off in droves. She felt warm, too. But she wasn't sure if it was emotion or if it was connected with all the rest of it.

"Hang on ..." she said, stepping inside one of the unused rooms, and shut the door. She shed her cloak, but was still warm. So she shed her green dress, leaving the cream chemise falling to just above her knees. She took he leather lacings and tied it around her waist a few times as a belt. She pushed her sleeves up as far as they would go. She ripped the hem off of her green dress, and used the strip to pull her hair back into a ponytail. She moved back into the hallway, feeling better.

"Can we try to find it? What caused this?" she asked.

"I'm not sure." Mali said. "I've never really tried nor had I had much experience with this. Nice look by the way."
"Mali's right. Neither of us are capable of tracking this or seeing where it's coming from. Joshua might have some chance, but you'd have to be extremely in tune... with..." Zena stopped and stared at Jax. "I think you might be able to. You so easily felt something was happening and were able to tell us about it before even visual confirmation."

Jax smiled at the look compliment, the only piece of vanity she allowed herself before it was back to business.

"How do I ... use powers?" she asked, her tone showing just how not sure she was. "Teach me quick."

"I don't know what powers you have, so I don't know how." Zena said.
"For example, my powers are channeled through music so changing the notes, dynamics, and style will drastically change the song. So say I play something to give strength, but change the style a bit, it could give anyone listening a splitting headache instead."
"And my powers are almost just will power. I want to send you a thought..." And it happens. "Telekinesis sometimes is aided by physical movements, but it's never necessary. It all depends on what you're trying to do and how you channel your abilities."

Jax nodded, and then her stare went blank as she was thinging about all of it, taking everything in. She felt she could at least try her best to figure it out. Then a memory came to her, a memory where she had used magic.

She remembered moving her energy down into her fingertips, remember that all wit took was the senses. She had to use all five senses to make it work. She closed her eyes and concentrated. Hard.

She saw in her mind a confident success, blue and gold, shaped with care. It didn't make sense, but she felt it was right. She heard the energy speaking to her, giving instruction and encouragement. She felt it flow through her, down to her hands. She smelt the zapping of energy. And finally, she added her thoughts and let them touch the energy.

When she opened her eyes, her hands were surrounded in whitish blue energy balls.

Ivan lost account of how much time passed since he began the enchant, but soon all the white dots vanished from her skin, and he felt that it was finished. A stronger aura of death covered the body, although it was still relatively weak, and the old man got up slowly, clearly tired, and directed to Joshua.

"It is finished. Now there is only one more step to take."

He walked through the vineyard door, curious on the strange presence nearby, and after opening it, Ivan spotted the purple robed figure watching attentiously the local. He did not waste time confronting it, and instead returned to Joshua. It was going to be tricky, but it was worth the try.

"Joshua, if I focused strongly my thoughts about the destination I have to reach now with her, would you be able to transport us to there? I am afraid that a skyship will not be coming back so soon, and this magic slowly fades. Time is of essence."

Drai'lee was frantic by the time Marvel twitched, seemingly trying to raise his hand. She took it in her own hoping that would comfort him.

Then his voice cam, little more than a whisper..

"Yellena's dead. She died trying to save you. I guess I got a little...carried away

That blanched the Fae's cheeks, though she had barely known Yellena...to learn that she had died, "trying to save me? Oh no!" Drai'lee cried out in a choked voice, shivvering in distress.

Suddenly she found herself shrinking to her normal Fae size, and it was just too much. She curled up in the palm of Marvel's hand and began to weep.

Upon hearing the news from Marvel and seeing how Drai'lee reacted, June bowed her head, and closed her eyes. As if she was praying but she spoke no words.

Joshua thought for a moment. "I don't really know. I've never tried to do it that way because either I know where I'm going and I use runes that say to go to such and such a place, but I don't know how to do that with someone else's mind. Do you have a map of the area by chance?"

Mali and Zena backed away. "I don't believe it." They both said. "She's an energy mage." Zena pronounced while Mali nodded.

Jax immediately noted that instead of exhausting her as using her will to make magic did, it was the opposite. She had more energy. She felt herself connected to the power of everyone around her, of the tower, of the universe. "Okay ... I am going to try to trace the magical force that made the explosion. Yeah, it was an explosion," she clarified, not sure if the other girls had felt it like that. "If I don't come back, watch out for yourselves. And tell Joshua ... tell him goodbye for me."

She closed her eyes, and concentrated on the source of the blast, tracking the energy waves. She did not take the others, in case of failure. But when she felt the masses on the overhanging of a mountain, she found a new ability. Without seeing it, she could use her space travel to get to a place she had never seen. She let herself travel as the energy had, as if she put herself in and rewound the situation.

She landed hard on the mountain in time to see the naked winged creature (the Fae? She wondered) shrink to a small size, and weap into Marvel's barely moving hand. She stood and brushed herself off, giving the Fae a little space before walking up quietly, and using her hands, she pushed one onto Marvel's arm, replacing the released energy back into his body. She didn't need to ask to know he had done it. Just then, she noticed the mouse ...

After Joshua explained him about his capabilities, Ivan was glad that he knew what was going to possibly be needed, and with no delay, replied, while already searching through a rucksack lying on the floor to the upper left corner of the room:

"Yes, in fact, I do have a map of the continent. Unfortunately I could not bring the maps of all the cities, but I am trustful this will suffice."

Amidst many of the epilepsy remedies, he found a rolled, clear white paper, not like anything most would likely have seen in that place. A reminiscent of the industrial nation of his birthplace. Pointing to a black star into the map of Pangaea (http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/8536/map5rp1.png), and moving his finger to the right, close to the border between two different countries, Ivan was quick to explain Joshua about what was necessary.

"I need to arrive at the border town of Olegradd, between Soviet Steam and Novaya Russia. From there I will be able to transport and bury her into the Yuri mountain range to the north without risking my own safety due to the Cheka vigilance. I have a house there, still untouched and safe, and its people have helped me, being more aware of the intolerance than most."

Mali and Zena stared in awe while Joshua looked over the map. "You know, I can get you right to the burial plot and then back here much quicker than you suggest. Now that I've seen a map, or rather, watched you trace one, I can get you right to where she will be buried and then return you here. Unless there was something you needed to get in the locations you mentioned."

Ivan looked at Joshua and was quick to explain why he could not simply get straight as he thought.

"I would need proper winter gear, a team, mountaineering equipment, and most important of all, proper medical facilities to drain all her blood before letting her body rest undisturbed into a grave of ice. I am afraid it will not be as easy. I need to get to Olegradd, and I have yet to think on the optimal location for her burial."

Somehow--he didn't quite know--the haze began to lift. He was still sore all over from the way he'd abused his body, but the headache had gone down to merely painful, and, now, when he fought to remain conscious, his body didn't fight back.

"I must've been in Hollywood," he quipped. "I could see all the stars. Drai'lee, do me a favor: next time you give me a hangover like this, could you please get me good 'n drunk first?"

It was then that he noticed that she was no longer full-sized, and no longer laying across his body. He looked around, and found her in the palm of his hand. She'd taken the news hard--Marvel had made a real jerk of himself again. He'd forgotten that not everyone had once been a part of a demon army, that not everyone shared his familiarity with death. Heck--he'd even kissed death, and she'd slipped him the tongue. He would mourn Yellena in his time, but, right now, he knew that his purposes were better served by concentrating on the living. He sat up and, spreading his wings to help keep him steady, gently cradled Drai'lee against his chest.

"You've got to be strong, Fae babe," he said. "You've got a dragon sitting back in your room that might as well be your child. The very concept that it might lose you has never even crossed its innocent little mind. Don't let it."

He turned to The Rat. "And you," he said, "have got some explaining to do. Don't make me come after you again. If you do, I won't be as gentle as I was the last time--and you won't have a Fae to pull your little tail out of the fire."

He turned to his latest savior. "Hi, Jax," he said. "I'd like to introduce you to the big, bad mage who kidnapped my friend." He indicated The Rat. "I'd like to," he continued, "but I think that all we have here is an intermediary. How are your binding spells? I was never any good at 'em myself, and this one here needs to answer a few little questions."

Jax removed her hand from Marvel when he began talking, and sat down. The energy that had flown through the air, through her, and into him left her feeling light headed, and the buzz was incredible.

"I just learned how to do this minutes ago, Marvel. I do not think I can do this binding spell." She pushed a stray lock of hair back in place behind her ear. "But what happened here has affected the tower. Can we do both solutions instead of picking one? Take the mouse back, and try to save the building from being crumbled?"

"Arrogant and full of yourself aren't you Demon... but you are right If I was to flee it would only make things worse, and things have spiralled out of control as they are. I'm here and will take responsibility for my actions... the only question is... Will you?"

She was there, and almost be staring him down, if it wasn't for the fact that she was so small compared to him. "So, is someone going to lead us down the mountain?" She waited to see who would respond and how they did, wondering when they were going to ask the question.

"There is nothing useful left in there, but I know that the tower is safe. One of the many abjurations I smelt would divert and funnel a wild magic flurry, as this one, around it causing no harm to anything under it's protection, the building and those inside."

As it was there was only one course of action for June, she could tell that the Demon could, and very well perhaps would follow up on his threat, there was nothing left behind for her and what could only be assumed to be a bleak future. No point in making it any worse for herself.

Hoyrel and Lerim sat upstairs in the cafeteria still.
"I think you messed up that increased hearing spell." Hoyrel said, completly deaf.
"WHAT?!" Lerim shouted at the top of his lungs, also deaf.
"I think we need gavenor or someone to help us out here." Hoyrel said.
"WHAT? I CAN'T HEAR WHAT YOU SAY, SPEAK UP." Lerim shouted again.

Of course, no one heard them because they were surrounded by a sphere of silence too. No sound came in, no sound came out.

So, one of them died, it seems.
No matter, she wasn't the one we were trying to surprise anyway.
So, how much longer are you going to hold my silence?
Long enough, these disguises as two motley inept fools are still useful.
THEY are also here, all ten of them.
Well, that puts a cramp in our plans.
The thoughts passed between the two, raising the question, who were they really?

"You've got a dragon sitting back in your room that might as well be your child. The very concept that it might lose you has never even crossed its innocent little mind. Don't let it."

Drai'llee's sobs slowed to sniffles and she nodded slowly. She needed to be strong. She was the one who'd run away from home, and she had to sit up and acknowledge that the world wasn't all as safe as her hundred acre faerie woods were.

"You're very right Mavel. I have responsibilieites, and I shouldn't let this all rattle me to the point wherer I forget them." Wings afluuter she rose from his palm and hovering beside his face she leaned in and gently kissed him on his cheek "Thank you for rescuing me Marvel. It was very brave of you, and all of those who searched for me."

A wave of her hands and she was dressed in much the outfit of a japanese school girl. Though it was definitely one from a anime rather than real life.

A small but sharp pop sound was heard and Rash appeared, whistling a cascade of musical notes as he writhed around Drai'lee - winding about her waist and shoulders before settleing down like a living belt about her. "Yes I'm here, and yes I know he must have given you lots of sctirchings. He's a hero, and he'd never leave you unloved." Drai'lle giggled, though it was still a little strained.

"He says thank you for the pettings"

"Arrogant and full of yourself, aren't you, Demon...but you are right. If I was to flee, it would only make things worse, and things have spiralled out of control as they are. I'm here and will take responsibility for my actions...the only question is...will you?"

The Rat was right between his eyeballs. He had a good mind to shoot his tongue out and digest the thing right in its skin, but he disciplined himself. Another step in the program.

"Just because you've met your match doesn't mean you have to whine about it," he said. "Why do you think I wore the mask of a nazi when I asked about experimenting on you without your permission? Who do you think I was imitating?" he asked. "I'll trust your judgement, rodent, because, if anyone knows what arrogance is, it's you. Just remember: if I really was the Lord High Arbiter of all things, if I really believed that crap, you wouldn't be allowed to stand there and yap at me. But go ahead. Tell me how wrong I am to persecute you. Tell me who's really behind all this. I want to know."

He turned his head to his newest companion.

"Jax, can you portal us all back to where you came from? I mean, why take the long way?"

And, as he looked at Dra'gon La'dee one more time, he still couldn't get it out of his mind. A tattoo named 'Rash.' HAH!

Jax smiled, a little uncertainly. She was far from exhausted. Instead, it was as if she was on a power trip.

"Sure, I could try." She closed her eyes and concentrated, imagining a ball of energy surrounding them all, much like the ones that appeared on her hands. After concentrating on her senses, she opened her eyes to see it had happened. "Would now be a good time to add that you are all the first people I'm trying this with? ..." before anyone could reply, she moved the energy.

Seconds later, the four of them landed in a heap at Zena and Mali's feet in the hallway where it had all began., Jax rolled over to sit upright, breathing hard. She was sweaty, but otherwise fine. "Everyone okay?" she asked rather anxiously.

"Looks like it," Marvel said--but a dark and evil thought had crossed his mind. He hoped that he was only being paranoid.

"Ladies and gents," he continued, "let me introduce our mad experimenter." He pointed to The Rat. "I give you the great and powerful Morpheus."

-------------

OOC: And why wouldn't he jump to that conclusion? :) :) :) OOC'ly, I am aware that June isn't necessarily Morpheus, but IC'ly, Marvel has every reason to believe that they're one and the same.

Rashamon the Black stuck his tongue out at Marvel but drew it back in before Drai'lee could see him. Though she did give him a sharp eye for his sudden fit of the giggles. He then slightered his way inside her clothes and draping himself comfortably about her went back to sleep, becoming a tattoo once again. For the moment...

"Everyone okay?"

"Yes, Thank you ...Jax?" It seemed an odd name for a girl, but who was she to mention odd names. She didn't remember seeing her before the abduction, she must have arrived after "And I'm Drai'lee, sorry to be such trouble" She said to all those standing about, no little uncomfortable at being the center of their activities, but truly thankfull for them trying to rescue her.

She wouldn't wish that on any one! It hadn't been at all like in the movies, that was certain.

I give you the great and powerful Morpheus."

"Morpheus? ah... Marvel, I don't understand" Drai'lee looked and was completely confused.

Zena chuckled. "I do. That rat was the one pretending to be Morpheus."

Joshua nodded. "Alright, but I have a little friend I'd like to accompany you. She will let me know what's going on." before he could introduce her, a black cat climbed onto his shoulders. "Ah, Lilly, there you are." the cat meowed in response. "Well, this is Ivan, watch him for me. Make sure he can carry out the traditions of his people and that Yelena is buried with respect. And Ivan, I don't recommend trying to harm Lilly, she's quite the fighter though she will protect you and Yelena from harm." He vanished and reappeared by the rest of the group. "Well good to see you back Marvel and Drai'lle. I trust you two are alright?"

"She should be tested for lycantrhopic glamours," Marvel said, looking at Drai'lee. "I'm sorry, babe, but we don't know what The Rat did to you." He looked at it. "I don't suppose you're going to elucidate the matter...? Then again, this should be done in the presence of Galvenor or Eldrad. They do run the place. Where are they, anyway?"

I trust you two are alright?"

"I'm kinda stiff and sore and exhausted " Drailee answered Joshua "But I think it could have been much worse."

"She should be tested for lycantrhopic glamours,"

That had Drai'lee taken utterly aback..."Lycanthropy? But ...I've, I've never head of a were Fae..but.." She looked at the mouse

"What exactly did you do to me! I'm not a normal Fae either" She shrunk behind Khat who was glaring at the mouse, looking as if he were very hungry

"Yeah! What did you do to her?!" Khat made his voice a snarl. He wasn't necessarily willing to wait for the missing Instructor.

Sighing, Ivan was even more offended by the way he was being kept an eye one, and wondered if it was worth the effort to accomplish her last wish. They seemed to be completely oblivious to many obvious facts, or likely unaware of the fact it was the end of the line for Yelena, should she be buried, it would be all over. The Russian simply stared hostilely at the cat and said to Joshua, before he could depart:

"I am allergic to cats, but I am still glad I am leaving. I am even more sick of this aura of distrust and suspicions that was casted over my person. I am doing my best here, and the more I act, more suspicions come over me. Goodbye!"

Ivan wished Yelena had a still active soul, for then everything would be much simpler, but it seems that certain people are more difficult to understand than others, and deeply ironic that it was her fault for all their suspicions over him. Something that would be a major obstacle . For it seemed that they also had their veil of ignorance and prejudice.

He pondered about Olegradd, and on a manner to get rid of the damn cat once he arrived. Until he finally remembered of something that could settle everything. Soviet Steam was completely different from that place, and there, he would have an inherent right to ensure that nobody would meddle against the fulfillment of Yelena's will.

Lilly seemed to laugh. "I'm no normal cat. I doubt you'll have allergies to me. However, I'm not here because he doesn't trust you, I'm here because he does trust you. He wants to make sure that you and you alone take care of Yelena and I'm simply here to protect you and keep Yelena's body safe. Just let me know when you're ready to leave."

´"What sort of sordid pleasure did they have to lie about the fact they never trusted me?"´, Ivan thought as the strange talking cat replied him. His nerves were coming out of his skin, and he was clearly annoyed by the creature ahead. Regardless of his emotions, he gulped them and took a vial with a transparent liquid from a shelf, drinking it. It was better to prevent another seizure.

Ivan began to collect several items from the strange living house. The bag with the red cross symbol, some herbs, and also used an empty vial to grab some of the dirt of the ground, before corking it.

Putting everything into a rucksack, he announced to the cat:

"I have everything I need from here, and also someone I will not need. I do not need any help, I have managed to survive worser journeys than that I am about to do before with my wit alone. So I suggest politely that you either stay here, or admit that you are only going with me to for surveillance because nobody trusts me here!", with an increase in his tone of voice as he spoke the last words, with an elevated level of frustration.

´"I am arguing with a talking cat! I need to leave this place before I become insane"´, Ivan also pondered, due to all the strange and unusual things. Indeed, the Tower has became an exercise in frustration, despite the initial friendly address of Eldrad to him. Maybe once they forgot all, but for now, he was not willing to return.

Jax was about to correct them, telling everyone to call her 'Emberlea' as Yelena had, the girl from the book, but things soon got out of hand as they discussed possible things the talking rodent could have done to the Fae.

Joshua also appeared, back with the group. This got a sigh of relief from her. Jax ... er, Emberlea ... Always felt a little better when he was there. The first person who had been kind to her. Who had healed her, and carried her inside.

Her mind became rather distracted. It seemed she was being called to the grounds ... By what, she didn't know. She smiled to the Fae, and whispered, "Nice to finally meet you, as well ...", before turning and walking towards the Amber light.

*****

As she approached the elevator system, a new thought struck. She did not need to worry about exhaustion anymore. With a spin, she moved herself to the grounds and down by the gate.

It was there that she saw the Hawk. The Hawk was a beautiful specimine, sleek and dangerous-looking, sitting on one of the rungs of the fence. She watched Emberlea approach, and the girl felt quite self-consience and silly. When she was near, she stopped, and watched the bird carefully.

Finally, the bird let out a squeal, or shriek. Emberlea took a step back, and the bird silenced herself.

You do not remember, I see ... Emberlea was stunned. The thought appeared into her mind, as had Zena. "Are you talking to me?" She asked the bird. The bird seemed to nod, and Emberlea sighed, a bit relieved. She tilted her head, noticing a leather strip hanging from the bird's leg, a tattered glove attached.

"Was that glove mine?" She asked, reaching out to touch it. The bird nodded again, silently, and held up one leg. The girl remembered that the sign the bird was giving her was a sign of contentment, so she reached out and touched the leather. It felt comfortable to her. Maybe Joshua could fix it up for her ...

"Will you come with me, ..."

Chula. Your Familliar.

"Chula." Emberlea said, finishing up her sentence. The bird nodded, and flew a little behind the girl as she moved back inside, this time opting to take the Amber light.

Lilly sighed. "Josh does want me to watch you, but only because he wants to make sure nothing happens to you. You're trying to get me to admit to something that is a lie and I don't appreciate that." the cat sat down in such a manner that suggested that she was going to hold her ground until she convinced Ivan of the truth.

June looked at the cat... She despised them, natural predator's of her kind, but she didn't run after a moment she knew what it was a familiar. A kind of extension of the mage themself.

She glared at the cat, and looked at it intensely. It was hard not to for a mouse to do so even, as it was a familiar.

"I did not pretend to be anything... though if you say you saw Morpheus. There are people that believe that when you sleep you enter his realm. It would be fascinating to meet him..." She seemed to get lost in thought as Drai'lee and Khat asked.

"Nothing apart from the physical discomfort, which I'm afraid was necessary. I never wanted to do anything to her. What in fact I wanted was her to do something to me."

Chaz lay himself across Zena's shoulders. "What did you want her to do? And why could you not have simply come here and asked her rather than kidnapping her?"

Emberlea Jax wald back into the area by now, not so much careing about the conversation as she would have if a life was in danger, but to her, the kidnapper deserved whatever the group would do. But the questions caught her attention. A ploy for help?

I don't buy it, but it is none of our affair. Chula said. Emberlea put on the torn glove, and Chula landed on her arm.

I tend to agree ... Although, it is interesting ... She thought to herself. The bird seemed to nod. Can you read my thoughts, too? she tried.

Obviously.

"It's much more complicated than that, life usually is, but for you spell casters you just cast a spell and the world bends to it. I couldn't do it in the tower, the defenses probably would of reacted to a spell being cast, and I doubt she nor anyone would of come with me to my Den, I was barely even spoken too the time I was here before, so the only option I was left with to trick someone and take them up there. I had worked for months perhaps even years on my equipment to study and analyse the various aspects of casting magic and I was not going to give up on this great opportunity I was presented. I am sorry about Yelena, but there was no way I could of predicted what happened. I am, I truly am, but it's something I had to do and I stand by that."

It was more of a rant than anything she was annoyed partly at herself, allowing the cube through as an amatuers mistake, Drai'lee had been asleep anyway but mostly at "spell-casters" in general.

"So you based your actions on the way you were treated in the past, without even giving us the courtesy of being asked nicely? I doubt anyone here ..." she shot a look at Marvel, with a grin on her face, "Okay, I doubt most of us would not have turned down help to someone who asked. How very inconsiderate of you. And now, you have had the misfortune to cause the death of someone we knew. You expect us to have sympathy when you have assulted one person's sanctity, taken another life, and scared the hell out of the rest of us? Give us a damn good reason."

That sounds like the old you, Ember ...

Jax/Emberlea blinked, being acknowledged by the name again, but simply replied, Thanks. I think.

"I did not take it, she gave it... I... I..." June faulted she started crying "I'm sorry, I am, I can't bring her back, I wish I could but I can't. It was either politely asking and being turned down, which from my previous experience seemed a real possibility or not give her the option. I needed to do this, I needed to be certain..." She seemed to recover herself abit and now that the door to emotions had been opened another rant came pouring out.

"You see what you spell-caster's can't understand it's easy for you, you cast a spell and it just happens, well not for us. We have to build these complex contraptions to do the simplest of spells, a single bolt of fire? Takes you at least 2 weeks to build a contraption that can do that, and not only that to do so, you have to give imbue it with apart of yourself, you can only have so many contraptions, until you become apart of them, not the other way around. You just don't understand, just by examining a spell being cast in excruciating detail I am that one step closer in being able to make mice everywhere cast spells as you do. Don't we deserve that chance?"

Zena nodded. "Jax is entirely right. It's because of your actions that we lost a friend, even if you weren't directly responsible. If you had simply attempted to ask kindly or at least try and get help without kidnapping our friend, we'd be a lot more likely to forgive you. And to add to that, I would have helped you. You are the cause of our panic, our distress, our fury, our grief, our sorrow, and our annoyance. There are so many other options you could have taken, but you chose one that would have gotten your hand, er, paw chopped off in Sylvonia." She was furious now that the kidnapper was in their midst and showing remorse only under pressure.

"So we, as 'spellcasters,' should accept that our lives are forfit to those too scared to ask for help, and turn the other cheek when one of us goes missing? Sorry. That doesn't work for me. I may be new to the craft, but my personal philosophy has always been to help those I can, and try for those I can not."

"I never put any single one of you in danger, what happened was entirely the result of your own actions, I expected you to try and find me which was why I had hid myself so there would be enough time to do what I needed to do, but I never expected to put yourself in harms way to the extent to cause death, that was not of my doing.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing we can look back and see how to do things better and with the Benefit of this knowledge I would of asked, but then I didn't have that knowledge and I had to make a decision. I can't go back and un-make that decision and I won't shrink back from the decision I made despite it's unfortunate results, for all of us.

I'm taking responsibility for my actions, and you must take responsibility for yours, I don't know what happened with Yelena, I don't know what lead up to it, but it is perhaps the one thing that is not entirely the result of my actions."

"So kidnapping Drai'lee was not one of your actions?" Emberlea began, and she started to continue when Chula dug a talon through the glove, and she yelped and went silent.

Ember, there is logic there.

A flawed logic. that's like drinking water, and saying using the piss pot is the water's fault, and not your own. When you set actions into motion, they are very much your own fault.

I agree with you as well, but this creature's brain is not made to think with compassion for others, as is a normal human's brain. Go ahead ... Ask it what you are thinking. It will stop the petty arguing, for now.

"Okay rodent, what was so importaint that you needed to kidnap a Fae and indirectly cause death?"

"What happened is that Yelena reopened your portal to try and get someone there to rescue Drai'lle. Because you took her, we were trying to find her. And honestly, you can't expect people that can do something to just sit around and not do it." Mali said. "You did one thing, that triggered a domino effect that cost us a life. How were we supposed to know she would be alright? How were we supposed to know what was going on? How in the world did you expect us to just sit there and not notice that she was gone and then not do anything about it?" She was yelling at the end, furious that someone could be so inconsiderate.

She was going enter into another rant but she stopped and paused. She needed to be clear and concise if she was ever going to hope of at least make them understand. She spoke slowly and clearly attempting to allow her 'audience' perhaps more accurately a Jury, to at least understand why she had done what she did.

"My people, us mice, have only been been able to construct, artifice if you will, magic items. For whatever reason back when we became what we are we were not able to cast spells but instead infused our creations with magic requiring to give up apart of ourselves to our creations. My research in which I admit the pursuit of which was unhealthily driven, I can see that now, was to find a way to open up the opportunity for spell-casting amung my people, you probably won't understand but it would make a tremendous difference and the lives of every one of them would be made immeasurably better with that ability.

I am here asking for your forgiveness but not your pardon... there are consequences and it's only right for me atone for what I've done."

Of course, it was not very concise but she hoped that it was clear enough, and indeed contrite enough to be accepted as what it was, an explanation of her actions.

She didn't even try to directly address Mali, "The idea that someone would die due to my actions didn't even cross my mind, my actions lead to creating the situation in which Yelena died, my paws are not clean but neither do they bear the full responsibility for her death. I'm sorry for your loss, I am, and I hope you believe me, but if you don't then I can't blame anyone but myself."

Emberlea just glared at the mouse. But instead of saying anything, she turned to watch Marvel. He seemed to be very close to the Fae, and he had been quiet for far too long. As much as she hated this mouse, though, a part of her the size of a speck of dust on a hilltop felt bad for the poor creature. She could sympathize with it, being steered away from magic herself and having all attempts (save one, but she didn't remember) hindered.

She waited for Marvel to either give the creature a good tounge lashing (not the kind leaving one in pleasure, mind), or for him to bash the bloody brains out of the traitor.

Ivan seemed to dislike even further the reply, and stared at Lilly, frowning. There was no way that they intended to simply babysit him with a talking cat. What an insult, it was too much for him to be treated such way. It was getting over the limits. He expected some respect, specially for someone with more than thirty-five years of experience in magic, and seemed quite annoyed at how they wanted to disguise the obvious. Pondering, her finally reached a conclusion. It was clear that he could not rely on Joshua, and thus, he would be quick to reply to the cat:

"Look at my face, I have survived for twenty years in an hostile land despite my health limitations, and you claim you are going to follow me like a babysitter? I am old, but I am still not old enough to need a caretaker. I do not appreciate being treated this way, and I can take measures to ensure you will get out of my back like a watchdog. Alas, I am wasting time, I can find a way back through my own devices, if that is what takes to earn some respect. I have nothing against you, as I assume you are a familiar, but I am sick of this, so sick that I would rather vanish with her to somewhere without people meddling into my privacy and into my life like policemen investigating a criminal."

Ivan began to concentrate, focusing his mind on the idea of shelter and safety. He had one last tool at his disposal, should all others not work, but hopefully it would not be necessary. It did not take too long for him and for the corpse of Yelena to simply vanish from that place, with no noise of footsteps, no smell of them, or no sign that could give a lead to what happened, asides from a strong surge of magic suddenly vanishing.

-------------------

It was a place full of light and nothingness, where the body of Yelena floated ahead, as Ivan's eyes noticed. Yet he could feel himself stepping on a floor despite no visible floor, something which stunned his senses for a while, before he became used to the strange vision. It worked. He never attempted it before, but his sanctuary became functional, sheltering him from meddlers and spies that could disrupt all. He looked attentiously at Yelena, and finally broke the silence with a question, directed to the dead, at his native language:

"I know you are still inside, trapped and condemned to total oblivion once it rots, like your "friends" of that Tower would hope to. But I know which would be your last will. If you can hear me, please reply. I am not completely sure about it.

It was something completely unexpected, but perhaps, such strange realm would allow for the channel to became clear and open, and thus, the voice came, an almost silent female voice, which seemed to be of despair:

"Ivan! Why are you doing this? I see only nothingness, I know it's all over for me! I never wanted to die. But those... those self-righteous bastards bullied me to help them, and this is what I won from conforming"

Ivan looked at the still lifeless and immobile body, and this time, he did not speak, but directly communicated with the tormented soul of Yelena, entrapped and fated to rot with her body:

"I am doing this because this is personal, we took different paths, but share many similar plights. And so... do you mean you did not care about that? That you only did it to gain acceptance? You should be more mature than that, miss Praskovya"

The spirit replied in a fast, anxious tone of frustration:

"If not for magic, this damn thing would never have happened. I suffered because of the smogs of Blanquigradd, because of the mutated spiders and their deadly poison, but nothing compares to what I had to endure because of magic!"

To which Ivan attempted to settle the mood of the conversation with a answer which sought to be wise and cynical:

"No, it was your lack of control over it that led you to this situation, and your insistence on pretending to be a hero for the sake of glory and acceptance. I am sick of those tight moralists as well, because they have taken too seriously your accusations against me. And they are sufficiently hypocrites to say that looking at me like a warden looks at a prisoner is for "my own good". I cannot stand this Tower of Self-Righteousness anymore."

Yelena found it strange, but pleasant on how the complete deprivation of any senses or feelings vanished, for at least now he was the last thing she could listen to. However, she feared what exactly was his agenda with her. Nonetheless, she shared some of the feelings of him.

"Well, and to think I died because of a Rusalka variation of mythical being of flesh and bones, what a waste I had with my life. At least when I was an engineer, no matter how I disliked it, I was actually useful for a greater goal. Now what are you going to do with my body? Not that I care, I am going to cease to exist sooner or later"

Ivan tried to smile, but he could not. Instead he answered her fears with some assurance about his goals:

"Do not worry, I am not going to use your body for any wicked experiment, like it seems that those we left behind suspected so much about. I am a necromancer because I can speak with you, even at your current state, not because I am a lunatic necrophile on the verge of insanity. I will not contribute with the bigoted stereotype that Christian churches created of my practices and somehow managed to spread to even other worlds."

"Then what are you going to do?" Yelena questioned, while thinking suspiciously about him.

"If it was possible, would you want to return? And I mean return alive, and not as one of those undead." Ivan answered, while letting himself float as well into the nothingness of that strange hideout.

"Do I need to reply? I have not had a miserable enough life to want to have my consciousness annihilated. But how do you expect to do that? Did you not know that it is completely impossible to enchant inanimate or dead things on Pangaea?" Yelena asked, although her soul began to lead a glint of hope that blinded her thoughts on what was the real reason for Ivan to do it.

"I have to admit that there are certain things where science possess more potential than magic, and this is one of them. Have you heard about comrade Vyankostanov?" Ivan was saying while he was promptly interrupted.

"He is a lunatic delving into pseudo-science, I would not have much hope."

"Prejudice is a two-way road it seems. I am pretty sure the first psychologists were laughed at as well. Now, between taking your chances or accepting your fate. I am sure you would rather the first, would not you Yelena?" Ivan counter-argued.

"Yes, if you think he could do it, you could bring me to him. I really want to return, and preferably, without the curse. I am finding this strange Ivan, and I will be honest, I am suspecting of your true intentions, but again, it's pointless for I have no way to change anything in this state," she replied, pausing for a while before continuing.

"and I have much yet to do, I cannot die now. Before you addressed, my last memory was a nightmare. It has been almost thirty years since I last saw my father and my mother, I miss them more than anything else, but... it's useless Ivan, there is no way to bring someone back. I have already came into oblivion, and I am not sure how you pulled me out of it. But you should just let my consciousness die, I have suffered enough already".

"Yelena, this is going to work, no matter what, this is going to work, and if it does not, I will conserve your body for as long as necessary to bring you back. Your death has been unnatural. Your vital organs are still completely intact, you only need something to turn everything on again.", Ivan replied.

"It was not natural, it was a later consequence of the shock that damn crow I got rid of used against me, and I almost died by then, as you remember. That reanimation you did only served to delay the inevitable."

"I have checked you. Your body is like a machine that shut down by itself, all we must do is to turn it on again, for everything is still intact, only inactive. But as you wish to try, I guess you agree."

"Yes, I agree into trying this, but how are we going to return Ivan?"

"First, we are going to stay where we are for now. Yelena, you can channel your soul deepest wills through me. Think about a name, Oleg Toronov. Tell him that Ivan needs his return trip, but also a trip to the coast of Novaya Russia at the border with Soviet Steam, and also tell him to bring some gunpowder, and if anything tries to board the ship once it arrives here, warn first, and if it does not respect the warning, shoot it"

Yelena found it strange, but agreed to and thought on the message, channeling it as instructed. Ivan, on the other hand had a strange sensation of something coming through his mind and leaving through the unknown. Perhaps it would work, but he would have to wait, and remain hidden until the right time.

He focused himself again, allowing for the outside of the sanctuary to appear. If he broke off the magic, he would again come to the living tree, a too obvious place for them to find him. Fortunately his rucksack also was with him in that strange personal realm of refuge, and he began to shift its return point by simply walking. He intended to get to the depths of the forest, where finding him, and Yelena, would be almost impossible.

´"If she could tell them"´, he thought again, sighing, as he "walked" the return point to the outside.

"I guess I can accept that." Mali said grudgingly. Josh and Zena were silent when Lilly simply walked through the floor, her paws on the wall.
"Well this can't be good." Joshua remarked.
"It's not. Ivan left me and I don't know where he went to or how he moved." the cat replied, shifting from the wall to the floor like someone switched gravity's direction.

The talking cat did her in. It was all Emberlea could do not to turn back, go to her room, close her eyes, and wait for the dream to end. It was all so ... surreal.

Watch it, missy. I'm one of those talking creatures you're putting too much worry into. Chula warned.

"Who are you, now?" she asked the cat.

"I'm Lilly." The black cat said, bowing slightly. "Josh asked me to watch Ivan, but he left and I can't find him." Chaz appeared by her. "I'm also Chaz's sister." she said as the two sniffed each other as cats always do.

To the outside of the tower, a long road was there, from the top of the mountain to the large forests ahead. Ivan began to cross the road with the return point, which spiraled all the way down. He knew that time was against him, for he could feel that his magic was slowly running out, and would not last long. Yet, running would be foolish, for it would drain stamina extremely fast, and also put him to the risk of collapsing. Instead, he walked the strange magic towards his intended destination at a normal pace, always through the corners of the dirt road.

He looked at the distancing tower to the horizon, with its imposing figure overshadowing all aspects of what surrounded it. Perhaps the next time, it could be more fruitful for him to explore the unknown, using a secure method, than to stay near to or at the tower. However his thoughts were interrupted as his necromantic channel received again the words of Yelena:

"Ivan, will they stop us? And even if we leave, won't they try to come after us? I do not want for this chance to be spoiled, and I am sure that you understand why. I can almost feel the cold touch of nothingness reaching me. And it does not please me in any form to be trapped into a dead body waiting for that"

Ivan continued to push the return point forward with his walk through the sanctuary realm, and pondered about the question of the dead one, being aware of his foolishness. Of course, the city of Olegradd could be dismissed, for there was another way to reach at his destination, and searching for him in Pangaea would not work. Smiling to himself, he replied:

"Yelena, do not worry. I have given them a destination to teleport to, but I will not use it. They will never manage to find me, and if they take too long, they won't be able to survive and get past the Cheka. I have learned since a long time ago how to disguise myself as a normal person who thinks magic is a myth, but they are likely not discrete enough for it. Plus we will arrive at Novaya Russia, where magic is... tolerated, while they will arrive at Soviet Steam, where anyone they ask help to could be a witch hunter."

The dead one seemed to be soothed, he did not explicitly mention they were safe, but it was obvious they were, and as Ivan witnessed the evergreen, he strode through the shrubs and grasses, getting into the depths of the forest. He had a good sense of navigation despite all, and managed to take many steps in a straight line towards the woods, watching some of its critters which were completely oblivious to his existence thanks to the sanctuary. After he spotted a clearing, he took a turn to the overall left, and continued through the more dense areas.

After ten minutes passed, he finally felt the sanctuary vanishing, and again he was visible, with an additional inconvenient, for Yelena's body now was a heavy burden for his arms to carry, and could also serve to attract all sorts of predators. Thinking about his remaining magical forces, he quickly thought about all the life around him, as a large tree had a part of its trunk skin simply vanished, leaving on its place a large enough hole for a man to come through without crouching. He came to its hollow inside, and with much effort, dragged Yelena to it as well, mentally thinking about its trunk closure, which happened, leaving no clues behind of what has happened, and no other obvious way to get inside the large plant.

Despite his success, the effort, both physical and magical, has drained much of him. There was no other choice again, and with his last ditches of magic, he began to seep tiny bits of the lifeforce of all plants around him to have enough strength to at least defend himself. The only problem would be sleep, something that even draining the entire life of a forest would not stop. It was a necessary risk, and still, much less worse than what the woman next to her had to face before. It would be only a few weeks before the transport would arrive, he hoped. And that nobody and nothing would find them there, in one of likely millions of unconspicous trees.

With a final mental effort, he also suppressed his own magic by negating his own will, something which required a significant amount of training, experience and self-discipline for a gifted one to achieve, neither of which the one next to him ever had while alive. He knew it would likely put Yelena back into Oblivion as he would no longer be able to communicate with her, yet there was no other way to ensure undetectability.

The man grinned slightly as he could feel that the tree house was emptied of all sentient life. He felt some kind of warding around the soul of the dead one. Whether it was intentional or not, he couldn't force it to appear before him. He couldn't make it go into the Underworld.

A pity.

But it was only one soul. And as such, it did not matter in the grand scheme of things. Not now, anyway. He wouldn't bother going much further than he already had for just one. They would get it later. It was... Inevitable.

After throwing a kind of marker at the tree house's exterior, he disappeared, only to reappear back at the tower, to await the continuation of the tour.

The mouse's glare did not discomfit Khat in the least. Khat was not a familiar, he was Drai'lee's best friend and self appointed bodyguard, though he'd certainly failed in that respect.

He didn't know where he had come from, his memories only extended to waking up in an alley far more than half starved, more dead than alive some one hundred and twenty years ago.

"Look you can wash your paws all you want but your actions, were the direct cause of their actions and Yelena's death. They would not have done what they did if you had not done what you did. Don't try and talk snake oil logic about me. I may not be able to read but I've heard every con and criminal excuse out there. You are responisble in the end and I for one don't have an ounce of sympathy or compassion for you."

"Saying you did what you did because you had been turned down in the past or ignored in the past is just trying to wiggle out from your own responsibility. You didn't bother to ask any of those here, you didn't even try!"

"Saying it's for the good of your people is just another cop out. You chose to trick and trap some one - you chose to lie to them by your action, you chose to kidnap them, hold them without their consent. You never bothered to ask, you never cared enough to ask. No you just thought yourself high and mighty enough to take, Take, TAKE!" Now that ended in a thunderous roar.

That - total surprize at himserlf - had Khats ears flattening and him attempting to duck behind Drai'lee. Drai'lee was wide eyed herself. She'd never heard the shy creature raise his voice.

"Erm, ...sorry" Khat half whipsered.

Marvel made it all the way off of the floor and to his feet. He shook his head to clear out the cobwebs. Khad sure could have a loud mouth when he wanted to. None of them had ever been a Diplomat from Hell, though. It was time for Marvel to use his training. For a moment, he almost even forgot about that headache that was sitting on his brow like a (slightly molten) crown.

"Let me put it this way, rodent," he said, "where I come from, there is a law against murder and a law against what's called negligent killing. When someone dies because you did something that could put them in danger--even if you had no idea that you were putting them in danger--you're responsible for the negligent killing. Now...you were the one who claims they were going to take responsibility for their actions. The general consensus seems to be that it's time for you to put your money where your mouth is."

For a moment, he thought of Yelena, and how, despite himself, he had failed his friend in the worst possible way. His only consolation was that, futile as his efforts were, he had been the first to recognize how badly things were going.

Hell's bells, what a strange world it was. How often does one find a demon from the underworld being looked to as the voice of reason? And how often does the demon take the job seriously?

"And, everybody, I think we need to do something about her people's plight. That's a separate issue, regardless of what The Rat may have to say about it--and that means that they, who aren't responsible for its crimes, deserve our help."

"On the bright side, it looks like Drai'lee doesn't have to worry about sprouting fangs and whiskers." He smiled. And you're welcome to use the jacuzzi in my room any time you need a little help with your recovery, he thought.

He looked at Khad. "Khat, satchel, please." If memory served, the satchel still had the six-pack in it, and he was going to need that later on this evening. It would make the perfect accessory to keep next to the jacuzzi.

Zena rolled her eyes. I heard that you pervert. She joked with Marvel.
Mali remained silent while Joshua spoke. "Khat's right on every point. We should help her people, but she is still in the wrong. Let me think, we have kidnapping, manslaughter, and assault to start. Then we add unjust confinement of a sentient being and things add up pretty quick. Besides that, you didn't know how we would react to you asking us for your favor, but you assumed we would deny you of it."

OOC: Not here too!! It's sylvonia, I've gotta log out of this nation...

"Let me think, we have kidnapping, manslaughter, and assault to start. Then we add unjust confinement of a sentient being and things add up pretty quick. Besides that, you didn't know how we would react to you asking us for your favor, but you assumed we would deny you of it."


"Negligent sentiocide," Marvel corrected. "And I thought that presumption was a form of arrogance, not a crime."

He was sure starting to wish for that six pack.

"I agree. Help the others. Punnish the criminal for ..."

Emberlea stopped, thinking. Marcoz' whole ambition had been to remove her from the school to a location. Granted, the pretences were different. Her internment would have lead to slavery and eventually murder. But the school had protected her. Using all of his magic, he could not get to her here.

So how had a mouse that could not cast spells? The objects alone would either not be powerful enough from the little mouse, or it was option B.

"You did not act alone, did you, mousie?"

Hey Chula, are you a vegetarian?

That would be a complete and definate NO.

Do you eat mice?

Do not even tempt me.

The comment from Khat had been weird... "Well, I was using a metaphor..." June with a some what confused expression on her face, that is if anyone had good enough sight to see it.

"And the time will come, in the near future, where I will pay and hopefully atone for those crimes. There is nothing more that I can say..." And as Khat ended at the end of her crescendo. June squeaked in pain, there was no words, there was nothing to say.

It took a moment for her to recover... she listened to Marvel but stayed quiet until he mentioned helping her people.

"I... can't tell you how much I appreciate that, being able to look past what I've done... Thank you, Just, Thank you."

"There was no one else, I and I alone took Drai'lee, there was no one else."

Drai'lee had stayed silent, and had been more than a little stunned at Khats outburst, but she landed on his shoulder, hugging his ear and whispering that "I'm safe, you don't have to worry"

"Khat, satchel, please."

Khat had it off his shoulder and into Marvels hand in not time flat. He didn't know what they should do with the mouse. Part of him wanted to feed her to one of the several cats about. Another part of him wanted to kick her out and just have her go away, vanish and not bother any one again. And part of him felt bad that it had been some one other than him to rescue Drai'lee- but that was far over ridden by the sheer releif that she had been rescued - by who didn't matter. And he felt bad about Yelena dieing.

He wished Galvenor and Eldrad were about, he was sure they'd know what to do - but marvel seemed to have a very good view of the whole situation. He'd trust him.

Marvel put his hands on his hips, and, folding his wings in good and tight, faced The Rat. It was time for another step in the program.

"OK...first, Rat, what's your name--or do you prefer that I just keep on referring to you by your Marvel Name?

"Second, I vote for putting her into stasis and letting Galvenor and Eldrad adjudicate the whole thing. I don't recall anyone having died and made us Lord High Judge, Jury and Executioner. Those two are the closest thing that we have to The Law, and I, personally, think that the things I went through getting to this point would, to put it politely, interfere with my ability to give her a fair trial. But I'd really, really like to know how you pulled it off! How, exactly, did you do it?"

Mostly, the demon was interested in how she had managed to power that $&@*ing cube. It took so much power that it had killed Yelena and driven him to the brink of exhaustion just to keep it going for a few minutes. Marvel doubted that he could cast another without an echo to start from. It was the work of a powerful mage, not something whose whole residence collapsed under the pressure of a couple of badly-cast concussion waves.

"My name is June RoverMouse," She said "I tend to move around in solitary existance honing my craft, making, un-making and making again until it's perfect, of course this can lead to problems with where I live and generally don't stay too long in the partly because of mishaps to the building themselves. If you wanted to know how... Well, being mouse-sized with the mouse anatomy allows you to enter almost anywhere there that's not 100% perfectly sealed. I left a plain ring, not magical in any form. With instructions for whoever found it to deposit into the hollow of a tree, should it ever be lost.

The cube was my piece d'resistance, triggered on whoever attempted to put the ring in the hollow, it surrounded her and tried to cut her off from all attempts to magically pry, though it wasn't as strong as it could of been, I had constructing this almost took the last reserves of what I had left. The cube was able to pass through my magical barrier being a physical object.

The magical barrier was there to prevent my work from getting any un-wanted attention by preventing any magical effect from passing through. Though I had to get her out of the cube and get all my equipment ready to read whatever spells she was going to cast. So I had to put her to sleep, an ability that I worked into the cube. So with her asleep, I had everything organised, and so had her awaken. I wanted her to cast a spell so it could of been examined, but instead she went for me physically something I didn't expect, and ironicly it was Marvel that cast a spell, 2 infact which perhaps was enough but caused the destruction of my crevace in the rock as the spell he cast created what was in effect a natural phenomena and past the magical barrier causing the resultant damage."

Chula
Chula was bored. While eating the mouse would add a touch of excitement, she decided to cause mischief. So she decided to watch Emberlea. She noticed immediately that her attention was split on two issues: the rodent, and the man. Not a human. That was fine with Chula. The bird knew that Ember herself was also half-human, even if the girl didn't know it herself.

Unteather me, Emberlea. For a very short time.

The girl did as asked, too distracted to care. She unsnapped the metal clasps, and the bird flew to the psychic, Zena. She blocked out Ember from her mind, knowing that if she caught wind of trouble, it would be stopped. She landed on the floor, in front of the psychic's feet.

Zena, may I introduce myself properly? Chula the Hawk. I have a proposition for you, and request permission to land on your shoulder to discuss it. Needless to say, I think you will be very interested.

Zena bent down to look at the bird. This isn't as odd as odd as you would think for me. I talk to Chaz all the time. The cat mentioned moved to Joshua's shoulder for a better look at the rat. It looks like my shoulder is free. Hop on up.

Joshua raised an eyebrow. "You sound almost like you're proud of you 'achievement' June. Thanks for explaining it though. It does clarify a lot."

Chula jumped onto Zena's shoulder, keeping her claws away from the girl's skin by using the birth defect she had: double jointed toes. She gripped and steadied herself as Zena stood straight.

I am going to be perfectly honest, I find this dull. While people watching, I noticed an obvious attraction My Lady has for a person here. I am looking for a co-conspiritor who would not mind assisting in the cause of a little ... mischief, if you catch my drift. Interested?

Oh yes. But who do you refer to that she has an interest in? Zena was curious now, quite interested. ANd how do you plan on causing this mischief?

Chula gave the name.

I think it would be safe to begin with the wardrobe. He seems to like to see ... more of his women.

Ya, I know what you mean. Did you want to leave now though? Zena looked sideways at the hawk. Besides, I don't think I could get into her room without Jax letting me in.

Chula thought this over.

You are right to wait. We should have a good plan. She will not be pleased. And may need ... coaxing.

"Well," Marvel said, "that explains everything...almost. What did you have to do with the collapsed portal I found in the hallway that led straight through the building defenses into Drai'lee's room?"

"I can't properly explain the way I view my creations, perhaps as a sort of mother but even that can't fully explain. The cube itself was a wonderful construction perfectly fitting it's role and purpose, of THAT I am proud. Not of what I did with it."

The Hawk and the Cat, both natural predators of mice, June couldn't help it she tracked their movements and was ready to sprint for all it was worth should either one of them attack. She almost ran when Chaz jumped down from the shoulder. 'Damnit, this wouldn't be happening if I was big." but Chaz didn't make a move towards her, there was something going on with the Hawk, it was odd. She couldn't place it but was sure that there was something happening that the Hawk and Zena wanted to keep quiet.

She had no idea what it was and either way she was in a very vulnerable position. With their new positions, especially with the hawk now untethered she knew she didn't have a chance if they went for her, but she also knew that running away would also only act to excite them about the chase.

"That was a test, I attempted to probe the Towers defenses, I'm surprised there was any remnant there to detect but I decided it was better just to go in myself. Using magic in an attempt to kidnap someone from inside the Tower was just too risky. It had no direct role in what happened to Drai'lee. On a different subject... Perhaps, you could do that force-field now or something?" June suggested to Marvel, she didn't trust the cat, the hawk or their owners at all.

OOC: Balrogga was clear to me that any attempt at magically or forcefully kidnapping her within the walls of the Tower would fail, which is why there had to be bait to lure her away from the tower, and yet I still have to explain the prescence of the portal. So I had to make it so the portal played no part in he actual kidnapping of her. Or perhaps if DS has a better reason, perhaps it was not even of her doing?

The demon laughed a demonic laugh. "You're afraid of the cats and the birds," he said. "That's funny." He spread his wings a little to make himself look a little bigger. "If there's anyone here you should be afraid of, it's me."

Then, he reached out and took a little page out of Yendor's handbook. He increased the density of the space around The Rat just enough so that it formed a little cube of solid air. He left a few holes in it so she could breathe. It was basically impenetrable.

"Does that suit you? Maybe I should close off the air holes, or just shrink it down a little tighter."

Then, he realized that his demonic tendencies were getting the better of him again and pulled his wings back in. He wanted revenge for the loss of his freind--but this was not the way to get it. He should not take the law into his own hands. It was not his place to pass judgement in things like this. "It should keep you safe," he said, "for now."

"So," he continued, "do we turn this over to Eldrad and Galvenor, or do we take the law into our own hands? I've already cast my vote."

Rather than getting your hands dirty you could let me have lunch. Chaz suggested to all present.
"I half agree with him, half want to summon Galvenor's ass right now." Joshua said in annoyance with his own indecision.
"I vote for Galvenor and Eldrad." Mali.
"Just get it over with here and now, tell them later. Though we should at least take this whole thing out of the castle if we do go that route." Zena.

Khatt nodded at Marvels words- while he was completely fine with the rought justice of the streets, Drai'lee had had a civilizing influence on him - or he on her he wasn't too sure in some areas...

"Well..while I think that Drai'lee has a big say in this, and so should Yelena, I agree we must lay this before Galvenor's feet." He looked about at the others

"What?! Dor sure we have to ask Yelena's spirit. She ws harmed more even than Drai'lee and her wishes should carry weight.

Drai'lee looked at Marvel and then at June and biting her lower lip nodded slowly "Yelena was killed, I was just scared. I don't like you, I don't trust you and I hope they send you away after making sure you can never do it again to some one. I can't even help you. Fae majic isn't casting spells, we just" She shrugged helplessly "wish it. I came here to try and learn human majik myself."

"I agree with Marvel." I wonder if he likes movies? Maybe we could go see one together She'd have been opting for the jacuzzi if she had read his mind, but that was not something she'd ever tried on a nonFae, and wasn't even sure it could be done. Though she knew the Sidhe could do it, but she wasn't of their stature.

Ember smiled. She agreed with the more swift justice. That is how things were handled at home. But outwardly, she knew things were different here.

Still, knowing that the animal had breached the sanctity of the school, she felt that he should be given the same courtesy. And yet, it wasn't right to stoop to that level.

"I know I am a recent addition to this place, but it would feel wrong to cause murder, even to something without heart and soul. If I get a vote, I say wait."

Chula
I will find you later.

The bird flew back to Ember, giving the mouse a torturous stare as she flew over the invisible cage. She reestablished the link with Ember as she landed on the glove and allowed herself to be teathered.

As if I could eat THAT. It would make my stomache sour.

What were you doing to Zena?

Making friends.

Chula chuckled, glancing quickly at Marvel, then at Joshua. She hoped that things would go smoothly.

The man had chosen to walk to the location where the others were out of some kind of morbid curiosity, to observe the situation once more in silence. He didn't care a whole lot as to what they were up to, but still...

It didn't really matter where he spent his time in the place anyway.

"That's four and a half for Eldrad and Galvenor, two and a half for the Final Solution and one vote not counted," Marvel said. "That one vote can't swing the election. We wait."

He removed the protective barrier and cast a time-stopping spell. His hand was so tired that it hurt him to do it, but it worked anyway.

"I'll be taking our friend with me," he said. "She'll be in my room. I'm going to retire for the night--this little adventure has taken an awful lot out of me--but I'm going to leave my door open. I've got a jacuzzi, and if anybody wants to avail themselves of it, this party is BYOB."

He turned to Drai'lee. "I'd appreciate your attendance," he said, "though I probably won't be much fun."

He turned next to Jax. It was the one thing he had left to say.

"After I woke up, Drai'lee said I was her hero. Well, the world is full of dead heroes, and, if it wasn't for you, I might be one of 'em. Today, you're my hero--and I will remember the good that you did."

With that, he picked up the little mouse and carried it off into his chambers.

-----------------

OOC: The time-stop spell doesn't have to work. If Miceland wishes, it can fail and set June free. Marvel is, after all, just this side of exhausted, and a mid-level mage even at his best.

Both Hoyrel and Lerim, tired of simply sitting in the cafeteria, went back to their rooms, completly oblivious to what had happened, due to Lerim's miscast of a hearing enhancing spell. Someone would have to inform them later, should anyone choose to do so.

Both were in Hoyrel's room, the door, open only a crack.
Hoyrel was playing another melody. Soft and slow, strange and mysterious, it's effect on those that heard it varied from listener to listener.

Niether had a clue to the adventure.

It was some time later that the demon found himself back in his room, June safely tucked away in a drawer--with a wad of instructions to keep her busy if the spell wore off (they'd lead her to the middle of the room), and he ready to make his crafty scheme a reality.

Actually, it wasn't all that crafty. All he did was take out a set of swimming trunks that magically appeared in the dresser (did they HAVE to be RED?--it almost made him look like he wasn't wearing anything at all) and put them on. Then, he set his satchel down by the jacuzzi, pulled out the six-pack and settled in.

It wasn't long before he had lied back, let the soothing bubbles caress and massage his aching limbs, popped his head back and started to snore. Loudly.

Of course, he had left the door open...just as he said he would.

"Yes Thank you Jax.. all of you" Drai'lee siad again - she was half astonished that these virtual strangers did so much to try and rescue her, with apparently no thought of the possible danger to themselves. She'd have to think of something very nice to do to repay them their kindness and efforts...

And not not that much later...

Drai'lee had spent what seemed hours chosing the proper jacuzzi attire...and had settled on a simple, rather modest two piece - her wings made most one pieces impractical. Though actually where she had spent her time was in trying to get herself back to human size...and that just wasn't happening.

Disappointed and no little angry at her wayward ability she fluttered to Marvels door and peaked in, She had to give a wry smile when she saw him asleep in the swirling waters of the tub. Silently she flew in and, light as a feather, settled on his shoulder. At just under a foot tall she didn't weigh much more that a few feathers, and it didn't seem to bother him.

"Poor Marvel. You exhausted yourself." She murmured as the hot water swirling about her legs made her drousy - and Marvel's solid presence made her feel safe - and shortly her eyes too drooped closed and she fell asleep, leaning against Marvel.

The man sighed. Whether it was a sigh of boredom, relief or something else, it was difficult to say. Due to the fact that his mind seemed to be clouded by something not even the more telepathic members of the group could really tell.

But yet, he still stood there, ever watching as the group dispersed. Not that it really mattered to him one way or another - but it was slightly more interesting than just watching the walls or waiting for the tour to continue.

He hadn't yet decided whether he'd stay or not, but he was getting there.

Zena grinned behind her book when she spotted the time on her alarm clock. Chula, are you awake? she asked of the hawk.
Of course I am. I've been waiting. Ember is asleep. the hawk replied quickly.
Good, I'll be there in a few minutes, open the door if you can. Zena bookmarked her spot and set the book aside before crawling out of bed, still fully dressed.

Mali meanwhile opened her wardrobe. "I know I packed one somewhere..." she muttered to herself. Finally in the bottom drawer she found a bright yellow swimsuit, a one piece. It seemed to defy gravity when she wore the strapless article and would definitely get Marvel's attention if he looked anywhere above her navel. She has just gotten it on and fitting right when she heard a knock at the door.
"Mali, you in there?" It was Zena. Mali opened the door a crack, not yet ready to reveal what she was wearing.
"I'm trying to give Marvel a surprise.. Want to come with?" She inquired, ushering Zena in.
She quickly obliged and closed the door. "No, I was going to help Chula and wanted you to come along. Jax has a crush on someone we know." She passed on the name and giggled.
"I'd love to help, but Marvel needs some fun." Mali replied, trying to decide between two robes.
"The one on the right. And are you sure? It's for Jax, and it'll be fun!"
"The green terry cloth? I was going to go the blue satin but alright." Mali hung up the blue robe and put on the green. She tied it loosely and made sure it hid the swimsuit entirely. "And I think you can handle it. Besides, you'll get his attention, and I'll get Marvel's."
"So go with the blue satin if you want. And come with to Jax's room. We'll get her to come along too." Zena said.
"Nah, I'll stick with the green. And that I can agree with." Mali stood up, put the robe on and grabbed the other from the wardrobe. "To Jax then."
"To Jax." Mali and Zena left the room and found that Chula had indeed managed to open the door a bit. Zena closed the door while Mali shook Jax to wake her up.

Ember's heavy breathing turned to a scared moan as the hands shaking her woke the dreams. She sat up very quickly, sweating and near screaming. She calmed down when she saw Zena and Mali, but only slightly. Last time they had worked together, ir was to save a kidnapped victim.

"Is something the matter?" she asked, still breathing hard.

As the man walked through the corridors of the Tower during the night, he noted a few of the more child-like members of the group run around from room to room. As he continued to walk, he heard noises of distress, muffled by the door, which ended shortly after they had begun.

For a moment, he stopped.

Children...

Then he continued his walk.

Mali grinned as Zena lit a light. "Yes actually." Mali said.
"Chula asked for our help, she should tell you the whole idea." Zena said. It was a cop out and she knew it, but if the hawk wanted it done so badly she could explain it.

Hoyrel's music drifted throughout the hallway, and into each open room. Soft and slow, strange and mysterious, it's base underlying melody changed ever so subtley, and began to have a magic calming effect on the listeners, unknowingly providing fitting relief from the day's stresses.

Lerim was walking down the hall to his room, and chanced upon Marvel's open door.

"Nice hottub." he said.
Seeing nearly everyone in it, he ventured in a step further.

"What's goin on, pool party? you look like you've been on the recieving end of a horrible day." Lerim asked, still unaware of the days events.

OOC: the others are still in Jax' room. Only Marvel and Drailee are in the hottub.

IC:
Groggily, she turned to see Chula on a shelf, looking smug if such a thing was possible. "Well?"

I think it would be fun to join the party. But you do not have the appropriate clothing. So Zena agreed to help.

"Why so secritive about it, then?"

We aren't. This was recent.

"Alright, I guess we can go. What am I suppossed to wear?" she made a mental note to grab the case she had seen under her bed. She had never drank the mixture herself, but her trainer had taught her well. Making the green cloudy mixture of the old world drink came easily to her.

"What's goin on, pool party? you look like you've been on the recieving end of a horrible day."

"Eh? Wha?" the demon asked with a snort. "Oh, yeah...we...were..."

::SNERRRRKLE!!::

::GLOOOOOOMP!!::

::KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKCH!::

Zena grinned and pulled out a box seemingly from mid air. "It's been annoying making that thing float around and have you people not see it. Anyway, take a look." Zena let the box float to Jax while Mali handed her the robe.
"You'll want to wear that robe." She said. "Trust me on that."

"Thank you, Zena." She took the box and opened it. Then stopped, her eyes scrunched together. There were two small pieces of fabric, white and ... small. She looked up, confused. "I think this is suppossed to be scrap material. Did you grab the wrong clothing?"

She had never seen anything like it before. Even her bloomers (underwear) went from waist to knees. The small swim suit was nothing she could wear, and plain indecent.

Mali and Zena burst out laughing. "No, that's not scrap. That's the modern swimsuit. We may be behind in technology, but we keep up with fashion quite readily."
"She's right." Mali said. "Trust me, if you want to get noticed, that's how you do it." She undid her robe to show Jax her swimsuit. "It's not as revealing as yours is, but it's still something."
"Just put it on, we'll give you some privacy." Zena stated and they turned around.

Ember looked at the fabric again.

"Um ... What goes where?"

Mali and Zena looked at each other and did a quick round of rock-paper-scissors. Mali lost and so went to show Jax how to put it on, struggling to not giggle. "If you need help, just ask." She walked back to Zena, who had fallen on the floor struggling not to burst out in laughter that would wake the whole floor.

Emberlea stripped and put it on as she had been shown. It only took three tries, before the practicly bare except for the few scraps girl laughed an unsure laugh.

"There is no way I will wear this. I'd be less indescent if I were completely bare from toes to top. I can't we're this."

She stood, her pale skin looking slightly tan with the creamy white fabric, shone a little. With her dark hair hanging just below her waist in messy waves. Her thin frame actually had curves, because nothing was spared from view.

"At least I look less like a little child ..." she mumbled.

"What?! Oh I'm sorry Marvel...I must have fallen asleep" Drai'lee fluttered up from his shoulder to hover where he and Lerim could both see her.

"Hellow. You...Lerris? Oh thats kinda it isn't it but not quite" Drai'lee blushed as she mangled his name, but not certain exactly how she had.

"And yes, Marvel nearly died rescueing me" She gave the red demon an adoring look, that went sad as she remembered Yelena's death "And Yelena did." Her wings drooped and she drifted down to sit on the edge of the tub, her happy mood broken.

::hoooooooonnnnnnnkkkk!!::

::schhhhhhooooohhhhhhnkkk!!::

::snore::snore::snore::

Hoyrel bowed his head in a moment of silence.

"Dear me, and term hasn't even quite properly got underway." Lerim said.
"Tomorrow, if you and the others are up to it, I would love to hear the whole story." Lerim said. He backed off to go to his room and paused.
"And you right, Lerris is not quite right. Lerim is, but considering circumstances I think we can let it slide for tonight. Pleasant dreams." Lerim said, and shuffled down the hallway.

Hoyrel's song ended, as his door closed.

And you right, Lerris is not quite right. Lerim is, but considering circumstances I think we can let it slide for tonight. Pleasant dreams."

Drai'll nodded, noting as Lerim left, that Marvel had fallen back asleep. Smiling softly she fluttered over to stil on the tub edge by his shoulder, kicking her feet gently in the water. After a moment she slid into the water standing on the seat - she was simply too small just to sit down in the jacuzzi. But the hot bubbly water felt wonderful.

June suddenly found herself in Marvel's draw, she smelled around the disappating aura of the time freeze spell was obvious to her as she head the snap of Marvel's trunks as he finished putting them on and his footsteps as he started towards the jacuzzi. The instructions were fairly obvious and found quite easily, however how did she know that she could trust Marvel, he didn't seem that he would do her in, but he was a demon, it could very well be a set up.

In either case well, she was awake and she was curious enough to at least follow the directions, at least until it came to the last stage where she would have to leave the relative safety of the woodwork and enter into the middle of the room. She paused and looked around, concerned that was something waiting for her that wasn't very nice.

The bars of the cage formed around June, much as the cube that had held Drai'llee must have formed around her. It wasn't so much a prison, though. It was fairly expansive, and included a dish of food, little tube of water and even a little wheel for June to run around on (a sick joke if ever there was one).

And there, right in the middle of it, was the illusion of Marvel's smiling face, leaving a little message, spoken every bit like a Diplomat from Hell.

"Now you ALMOST know how she felt," he said. "One difference: you were doing things she thought would hurt her; I'm giving you my protection. That cat and that bird might be able to talk, but I don't trust anything without a prefrontal cortex to be able to discipline itself. I will. In fact, not only will I not harm you, I'll try to keep you from harm. In other words, I'm sure you could get out of this thing if you wanted to...but...do you really want to?"

And then, the leering face just disappeared.

And Marvel just kept snoring away in the jacuzzi.

---------------

OOC: What? You think it takes a whole hour just to put on a pair of swimming trunks?

:) :) :)

Ember clung the robe tight over her body with one hand, her other holding the case she was suprised came to the school at all. Zena and Mali had been pleased when she had given in and finally agreed to go. Making them happy had been good. So as long as she kept the robe on, it would be alright.

She reached the door first, slipping in and moving to the side. Marvel was asleep, Drailee was standing in the water, and more were moving about the room. She set her case down and moved to the side of the water, sitting and slipping her feet in.

Then she noticed the problem. The tiny Fae couldn't sit in the water and relax ... Ember took two pencils from the side of the case, and one of the rags. She tied the rag in between the pencils to fashion a sort of floating chair, perfect sized for Drailee. Just in case, she added two more pencils so it wouldn't sink.

"Here. Try this." She said quietly as to not wake Marvel, pushing it to the Fae.

It was at yet another typical night of the location that a large floating vessel would arrive, heading towards the depths of the forest. It was very difficult to spot, and impossible were it not for the searchlights that came from it and enlightened the surface, like if they were looking for someone.

Elsewhere, a tree opened again its empty husk, and Ivan looked around, exhausted, for a way to signal their location. Making a fire came into his mind, yet he knew his stamina would not last enough for him to make it. It was better to have brought some matchboxes to that place, but he had another idea.

Taking his amulet, he began to spin it around with all his force, until finally throwing it through a clearing among the foliages where the sky loomed in its darkness, as suddenly a storm struck the tree he was hiding into before, setting it ablaze. It was not something he was expecting, not to happen right that way. They would better arrive fast or they would likely die. It seems like Perun was not happy, and a forest fire was the direct consequence.

Ivan dragged the body of Yelena out of the flames, while he continued to observe the skies. Time was against them, and he would rather get out of there soon, before the flames engulfed everything. He was retreating, while the fire advanced, until finally as strong bright dazzled him. They finally found Ivan, and now he only had to wait for a minute as the floating ship prepared to close in at a point he would be able to board it.

As its frame came over the clearing, darkening much of the light of the moon, Ivan gestured franticly for them to get down. A rope ladder came and a group of five sailors went down with ropes sustained by a pole. They tied Yelena's body and shouted for the others to pull her up. Ivan felt a bit worried about the ladder, but he nonetheless took a crawling ascent through it, finally getting onboard.

Their journey through the White Tower has for now ended. With all left behind being an old steel amulet, and a massive fire that threatened the entire forest around. Ivan should now head to the coast town of Ganov, from where he could make his way to the last hope. Whether it would be useful or not was yet to be seen.

"Here. Try this."

"Oh what a neat idea!" Drai'lee whispered back and with a flick of her wings lofted up and landed in the impromptu float chair. She used her hands to scull herself over to the side and relaxed back "Oh this is comfortable. Thank you ever so much Jax"

"The jacuzzi is really nice, so come on in" She urged, still keeping her voice to a whisper "Porr marvel is just exhausted" She shook her ehwad as she looked up at the sleeping demon.

Drai'lee pointed over to where June Rover mouse sat in her invisible cage in the middle of Marvels room "She tried to leave but Marvel must have done a delayed spell. She can't leave but she has food and water, though I don't know what the wheel like thing is for."

June started to pace around, she was safe, she knew it, but it didn't feel like she was. With nothing physical her mousey instincts kept her alert and nervous, she started pacing, had a drink and a nibble, and returned to pacing again. She looked at the Wheel with scorn, and returned to pacing it was almost driving her mad.

"This must be why those dumb mice run in wheels all day." before she herself got into the wheel and started running. As a contraption it was quite simple, and in fact it was perhaps an equivalent to a human treadmill, Mice were naturally active but June had thrusted herself into her work, and that was at least a decent replacement, now that there was nothing else for her to do. So she entered the wheel and just started running.

Yesterday's musings coated Marvel's mouth like a film. Wait a minute. That film was real. He'd been sleeping too long. Probably snoring, too--which meant that, for the next minute or so, his breath would be like something out of a graveyard.

He closed his mouth. Still groggy, he lay there and continued to let the soothing bubbles caress his lower body. Then, he heard talking.

"Oh what a neat idea!" Drai'lee whispered. There was a soft whirring and a slightly louder but still hushed splash. "Oh this is comfortable," she continued, still whispering. "Thank you ever so much, Jax.

"The jacuzzi is really nice, so come on in," she said. "Poor Marvel is just exhausted." She had no idea.

"She tried to leave, but Marvel must have done a delayed spell." Nope. Didn't try to leave. Just followed instructions. You aughtta know that one! "She can't leave but she has food and water, though I don't know what the wheel like thing is for."

She had to say that. Marvel had a perfectly good eavesdropping going on and she had to come out and say that. Of course, he immediately broke into a huge, rotten grin--and blew away any semblance of cover that he might have had. Oh, drat. Now, I'm going to have to move.

Slowly, he opened one eye and rolled his head over so that he could see...Hmmmmm...what have we here? Ninth floor: lingerie and ladies! I wonder how much they charge...

And then, his eye rolled down to Drai'lee. It wasn't the clothes that she was almost wearing, it was the way that she looked back at him. It reminded him of someone he'd known long ago.

And the tears welled up in him. Even after all these years, he couldn't hold it back. It wasn't just the horrible thing that he'd done--it was how he had been so helpless to prevent it, how it had all been so mechanical, so predictable...so completely futile.

He closed his eyes for a second and recomposed himself. No mood swings today. It won't be that time again for another week (snicker). Now...seriously...I think it's time to give these wonderful women a little lesson called 'Red Gargoyle 101.'

"This is important, folks," he said, bringing his head out of the water. "Please pay attention. I am a Modified Red Gargoyle Demon. This," he raised his tail out of the water, "is my tail--completely prehensile and," he extended the barb, "quite venomous. The venom is a hypnotic narcotic. It doesn't kill you, it just makes you very suggestible. Why am I pointing this out? Because some day you might run into the UNmodified kind--the kind that has kids by laying eggs in your stomach...OR...", he flicked his foot-and-a-half long tongue out and pulled it back into his mouth, "...shoots you up with stomach juices and digests you alive.

"Now, I hope you understand why I think that a nice, little party is one thing, but let's keep it friendly. If you get too close to me, what's going to happen if you run into the real thing?"

He reached over, pulled a can of beer out of the plastic webbing that held the six pack together, popped the top and took a nice, long swig.

Jax, wasn't there something you wanted to bring from your room? Zena asked of her. She had changed into a two piece too, though with a bit more material than Jax's. She created an illusory robe around herself and she and Mali headed for Marvel's room. They got there just in time to hear Marvel's speech and decided it was worth the risk to continue. They shed their robes just inside the room and proceeded to their target. Mali draped her arm around Marvel's shoulder and grinned in a teasing sort of way. "Well hello there. Nice party you've got started here." She let go and followed Zena into the hot tub.

The sadness Dari'lee saw for just an instant in Marvel's eyes took her breath away, and it pierced her heart, though he hid it so fast she almost wondered if she had imagined it - and she wished ever so much she ws big enough to give him a real hug.

She found herself blinking at his out-of-no- where lesson on Demons, but replied with complete surety "I know you wouldn't ever hurt me Marvel. And other demons ...? If it's not you, I'd fly fast, really fast, screaming for you at the top of my lungs! I know you'd protect me.." She looked over at Jax and nodded, knowing that he'd protect her too " protect us."

The she sighed and looked at Jax. "Could you take your feet out of the water for a moment?" Then she called over to June as she climbed out to stand on the edge of the tub. "You might want to watch too"

"Marvel, I'm a Fae...well half Fae, and about the least powerful one there is because of that - But!"

The second Jax had removed her legs Marvel found himself encased in ice - not just slushy water but rock hard, frozen solid ice. Dragon wings a flutter Drai'lee lofted herself up and flew over to kiss the entrapped Marvel on the cheek.

She alit on the ice and began skating over it in a complex pattern - with no ice skates on - then skated past Marvel's tail half in and half out of the ice - and used it as a makeshift spinning pole. Her eyes were devilish as she looked up at him with an all too innocent face. "And besides I'm an awefull small target."

With that the water retured to it's priorly hot and bubbly state and Drai'lee toppled into it with a spluttering whoop of outrage.

Mali caught Drai'lle before she could fall into the water. "Careful there. Don't want you drowning after all that now do we?" She set the Fae down on the raft Jax made. "Great work though, very interesting to watch."

Only after a couple of minutes of running around on that wheel she stopped. The wheel stopped with her as she hopped off. Running around in the wheel ... it was justr so undignified, so... dumb animal like. Then she laughed, she had seen many things including humans on a treadmill and there was an irony. All right there was the excercise benefits and she wasn't in the best of condition, which was also part of the reason why she stopped.

It was so humiliating, she was being kept in a cage as a pet, and the worst bit was that they didn't think that she was one of those normal mice, they knew she was special and yet kept her in such a manner.

If only she had something that could rip through the walls of the spell she would re-enter the drawer and never look back. That was what she would do, the spell was relatively weak, she knew that she had the abilitiy within herself to create something it was just a matter of being restricted to the food and water bowls and the wheel frame.

Then she had an idea, she started to take the mouse wheel appart. She didn't care if they saw her, she was determined to get out, and anyway it didn't look like she had any option.

OOC: Syl, re-read my post. She has the case.

Ember watched with mild amusement as the water froze and melted. She clutched the robe tighter against herself. Showing the ammount of skin shown by the robe was enough, but the rest of her was hardly covered.

"Would anyone care for something a mite stronger than beer?" She asked, a wicked grin growing on her face.

Still shivering, the demon looked at the little Dra'gon La'dee. "Remind me," he said as the shivers faded, "not to get on your bad side."

It was about then that his feral hearing picked up The Rat smashing the pieces of the little present he had offered her. He smiled his evil grin when he thought how embarrassing it must have been. Still, jokes get old. "If you want out," he said, "you can always ask. I TOLD you it wasn't meant to imprison you."

"Oh, and Drai'lee, sweetie...if you think of it, while you're cooling things down...there's a certain six-pack over here that's gotten a little warm over the last few hours..."

Zena looked at Mali as she grinned slyly. "What? I'm not going to do anything bad!" She told Zena before she let loose a quick burst of her vibrant soprano voice. The spell was strong, probably too strong. But nobody heard a can break so it should be fine.
"That was latin, right?" Zena asked.
"Spanish actually. But the words I chose were pretty interchangeable." she looked to Marvel. "Is the beer cold enough now?" She knew it would be frozen, or nearly so.

Ember shrugged and moved closer to her case. She took out a glass, and a big clear bottle. She carefully poured a small ammount into the bottom, then set a silver spoon with holes on it on top of the glass. She pulled a sugar cube out, put it on the spoon, and pulled out a second bottle. She poured the second over the sugar, dissolving it.

The liquid in the glass turned a hazy green, cloudy and pretty. She had never been puch of a drinker, but the ration was low, and Ember began to sip. Her limbs felt nice and warm, and it was a bit of home.

Zena recognized what Jax made. "That had better be what I think it is." She said, examining it closer. "It is! Care to mix me up one? And please don't skimp on the wormwood. She lifted a glass from the case and grinned almost evilly.

Ember smiled. Sweetly. Too sweetly. "I am suprised you know absinth when you see it. You see, where I am from, only those who are into illegal activities and those who know herbs can identify it."

She poured in the liquid absinth at a slightly higher ratio (1/5), moved her now empty spoon to the new glass, placed a sugar cube on it. Before she poured the water, she took a small vial of brown liquid and squeezed a few drops on the cube, then poured the water. The drink turned a faint blue, then a dark green.

"How's this?"

She stopped what she was doing and paused looking towards the Jacuzzi where the sound came.

"So you won't mind If I return to the Drawer then." she spoke and returned to her work, she had seperated the wheel from it's supports and reached into her fur and pulled out some tools.

Her entire world had essentially collapsed her work that she had been so devoted to her research that she had even kidnapped someone, which had collapsed around her, she had been caught, and to top it all off, this indignity. She was not going to play anymore of his games. She was going to get out of this farce of a magical prison and return to the drawer on her terms, not his.

Zena grinned. The last time she had this stuff was before her power of illusions and ability to send things to minds developed. For all anyone knew she could start projecting hallucinations to everybody. None of this crossed her mind though when she grabbed the glass and swallowed hard. "Good stuff." She said as things started so spin. "Woah, fresh wormwood." She commented before passing out.
"Great, drunk psychic. This will be a blast!" Mali said trying to wake her up.

Drai'lee looked about at the human girls getting drunk and knew she didn't stand a chance. And right now she wsn't any too up for getting tipsy, that ws what let to her getting Fae -napped earlier in the day. Marvel would have more fun with people his own size, and they'd all have more fun without having to watch out for someone little bigger than a barbie doll.

"Marvel, I think I'd better go find Khatt, see if he's alright. Thank you for inviting me to your jucuzzi, it was wonderful" She said softly as she hovered near his ear so she could speak privately to him.

Marvel raised his arm, and June's cage vanished. Then, he turned to Drai'lee.

"He can take care of himself," he said. "And I've got a little of that Plum wine left over from lunch time!" Truth was, though he wasn't going to say it in public, Marvel was starting to like the Fae Babe...even when she was wearing things. "You're welcome to stay!"

He'd finally made his tail disappear below the water, sat up and pulled his wings in. He'd made room for the little creature to sit and to fly around.

And then, something else about her caught his eye.

"Drai'lee...why do you have dragon wings?" This could be interesting. He reached over to his can of brewski and brought it to his mouth. Perfectly chilled. He was starting to like this crowd.

Drai'lee landed near Marvel, sitting on the edge of the jacuzzi, though she kept a wary eye out for the larger girls. "Plum wine would be wonderful" She smiled at Marvel.

"Drai'lee...why do you have dragon wings?"

The little Fae blushed. "Well, like I said I'm only half fae, and when I was born I didn't have wings at all and they though I might never. But eventually they formed, and when they burst free." She looked down at her toes for a long second. "and Rahsamon showed up..."

"Oh it was just horrid, the court having fits and accusing everyone. You see my dad left when he found out my mother was pregnant. Everyone had thought he was just a human, but it turns out he must have been half dragon, or a dragon master - that's a really rare race of people who can command dragons, but supposedly they've been gone for thousands of years." She shrugged "No one knows but it's been a real pain. They're trying to decide wether or not to exile me. Thats why I came here."

She was in a bit of a huff about it all, he had the gall to do it, but indeed had learned her leason and scampered off back to the woodwork but not before giving him a right nasty glare.

There she settled down and went to sleep, the last few hours ever since everyone had turned up had her totally physically exhausted and while she did a good job of hiding it, the situation wasn't suitable.

Having found somewhere remotely comfortable (amung Marvel's unworn underwear). She went to sleep fairly quickly, mice do everything very quickly.

OOC: Thought I'd have someone fairly competent to offset Hoyrel and Lerim. Not that Hoyrel's incompetent, but being unable to see and only weilding sound, he's somewhat limiting at the moment.

IC:
She was late, she knew she was late getting in. She wasn't even fashionably late, she was horribly late.

Towards the tower ran a young woman, with a beautiful full figure. In the darkness, she seemed to be wearing a shawl, or something similar. She had long hair, and appeared to be wearing something on her hands. She stopped, and put on a full length robe with a hood.

Making it to the gates, a couple of imps, the night watchmen, stopped her.
"Whoah whoah, what's your business here missy?" One imp asked.
"I know it's late and I'm sorry. I tried to be here earlier, really I did, but circumstances kept getting in my way. I want to be a student, to hone my powers, most of them. Physical and magical." the young woman said.
The imps, to whom the power to discern truth from lies had been given, looked her over carefully.
"Alright, we'll let you in, but Master Galvenor's got final say." they said.
"Oh thank you thank you thank you!" She said.
"Yeah, we'll teleport you to the rooms, on the second floor." they said.
Clapping their hands exactly once, they teleported the strange young woman upstairs to the rooms. She appeared right outside the hallway, infront of marvel's open door.

The young woman looked about thisway and that. Though no detail of her features could be seen, anyone trying to sense what she was would recieve very confused readings, as though she was everything.

"Um, hello?" she asked. Her voice was soft and velvety, what sort of face matched the voice?

"Party's in here!" came a voice from down the hallway. "Bring your own!"

Marvel had flipped over, and his wings had spread out a little, seeming in some strange sort of way to partly block off the rest of the people in the jacuzzi from Drai'lee's field of vision.

"You," he said, beconing, "c'mere."

"So..." he continued without waiting, "you're a misfit, are you? I think we just might have something in common after all." By now, his mischievous grin had turned into a bright smile. "I'd go for the 'part dragon' option if I had to bet on it," he said. "Masters don't usually get DNA from the things they command."

As he spoke, he raised his hand, and a lyre appeared over the dresser and started playing gentle but festive music, along with a pair of maracas. "The cold stuff is still cold...and the party's just starting!"

----------------

OOC @ WH: It would be AWFULLY NICE if Oldb--er--Eldrad or Melvi--er--Galvenor would show up sometime soon. And if I sound a little obnoxious, it's because I'm getting bored waiting. :) :) :) I doubt that Miceland is amused with all this waiting, either, and the crumbs that I'm throwing his way weren't intended to keep him busy this long.

Drai'lle noticed that Marvel had moved his wings to act as a shield, Oh that is so thoughtful of him. Noone's likely to step on me now! and unhesitatingly she moved close to him, likeing his smile immensely.

"You're probably right." She looked down at Rosh's sleeping form with a gentle smile that transfered to Marvel but went just a touch wicked. "Oh you shoud have been there. He showed up, maybe a foot long and clumsy as a drunken cat. Every one was panicking, wondering when 'big momma' was going to show up and crispy every one. Then he knocked me over and turned into a picture on me."

She frowned then "They tried everything they could think of to get him off, but all they did was hurt him and me...." She hung her head, her voice just the tiniest thread of a whisper "I hurt Ellimune, mother's court mage... I nearly killed him... he was hurting Rosh so badly." She hadn't meant to, and her majick had gotten totally out of control.

Marvel laughed. "Happens to the best of us," he said, "...and to folk like me, too. In fact, I think that's how I got here." In fact, he was pretty sure that he'd gotten there because he'd gotten angry and overly protective. "You live, but you don't always learn." He took a short drag from his can of beer. This was a good brand. Some beers were like making love in a canoe--that is to say, $&#*ING CLOSE TO WATER--but this one wasn't like that. It had some body to it.

If he was lucky, in the morning, the hangover he was working his way up to would drown out the tiredness in his limbs that he'd already worked his way up to.

OOC: Um, Bal's got Galvenor and unfortunately he's totally flat out at work. Someone's away and he's the only one that can fill that roll and he's also got his own work to do. Apparently he's doing close to 80 hours a week, well probably closer to 70 but it's still a whole lot.

Oh, well, time to introduce some of my student characters. I Suppose.

oh, DS - Yay for Monty Python.

IC:
There was a bit of a grumble from inside the drawer as the music started but otherwise there was no other peep, but just because there was nothing happening there doesn't mean there wasn't something else happening elsewhere.

Magical energy crackled on the ground as two mice suddenly appeared on the path towards the tower, they squeeked to themselves and looked towards the looming structure, squeaking again to each other they suddenly became understandable to those that might be near-by, the squeaking was there as truly that was the sound being made but like a sort of backwards babel fish anyone hearing it would hear it in their own native tongue, the language or languages they think in.

They were both a dull greyie-brown in their coats and for all intensive purposes would of looked like any other normal mouse, except that they were equivalent in size to an average 'human'.

"Is it working?"

"How would I know, we'd have to find someone and try to talk to them."

"So it sounds Micelandic to you?"

"Does it sound Micelandic to you?"

"Well, yes. I can't hear anything different."

"We both turned them on at the same time. Anyway let's go and see if this works.

"Wonder if they've met mice like us before?"

"Who knows."

They both started off towards the building their 4 paws moving quickly along the ground it wasn't long until they were at the gates, similiar things happened to the young lady who had recently went past except there was a little additional exchange.

"So you can understand us?" - Mouse 1

"Of course I can understand you." - Random Guard Imp

"It's not just coming out as squeaks?" - Mouse 2

"Don't be daft." - Random Guard Imp

"Thanks." - Mouse 1 & 2

They found themselves just outside Marvel's room and the sounds of the party met their ears.

"Looks like a Uni dorm" they commented allowed before pushing the door fully open and entering. "Uh, Hello?"

(OOC: Just a reminder and a justification for the forest burning not calling enough attention, and also, like Bal, I'll soon be busy with a job by August. At least I'll have enough money to buy a new computer, The Witcher and Mask of the Betrayer)

Somehow, the flames simply faded, despite leaving their touch of scorch in a crispy clearing with the charred remains of trees, clovers and grass. There, in its exact center, a single artifact lied, the responsible for the happening. A simple steel amulet, partly charred, stood as the only remain of those two Slavs that were there before, unlit and forgotten. Perhaps, perhaps they were both too strange, too uncourageous and too ahead of their time to be remembered. Yelena and Ivan were now only memories among few that reminded and cared about their existence, be it for their actions, or for the morbid interest into her death.

They were into a different place, almost completely devoid of magic, and yet a place where magic was no phantom to be feared and hunted. Whatever Ivan intended to do with her body, only a fool would assume it was a mere burial. It was difficult to judge facial expressions, but one attentious enough would have seen it, a glint of sadness and guilty in the face of that old Russian, like if he felt responsible for the death of Yelena, despite never admitting it to anybody, not even to the damned soul, awaiting for a seemingly inevitable fate of nonexistence. Perhaps such moment he involuntarily expressed it would be forever forgot, and the shroud of prejudice and distrust over him never broken. Yet, he would persevere, and after months of travel both in this magical realm and in his own, his atonement would come.

The amulet of Perun was the last reminder of their presence in that land, still touched by nothing but flames and nature. Perun, god of storms and flame, and creator of the world according to the Slavic pagans. A mostly distant entity, who rarely, if ever, gave any signs of power, should it even exist, for perhaps it could have been a mere coincidence the storm, despite the contrary belief of Ivan, who had no doubt it was the boon of Perun given to him, or perhaps a reprieve, considering how dangerous it became. Such myths were as ambiguous as the justifications for the storm and burning.

The woman went towards the sound of the voice. Entering the room she simply stood there, at 5'10" tall. It was an eerie, somewhat unsettling moment.

"Ohh, a community hot tub!" came her voice. She pursed her left thumb and index finger together, as though holding an imaginary zipper, and ran it down her body as far as her arms would normally reach.

She was, she was a very unusual sight. She had multi-colored hair, every color of the rainbow, and her eyes were in the middle of changing from Green to blue. Her skin itself was blue-ish white, and her hands, while indeed being hands, were also unmistakeably claws. They were sharp, and deadly. She had a very voluptuous form, and had a long tail, oddly similar to marvels, yet at the same time not similar. She also had wings. They were fairy wings, but not fairy wings. They were Demon wings, but not demon wings. They were dragon wings, but not dragon wings. It was difficult to tell what she was, having features in her body from every known species ever to exist. Even the scales in her skin seemed aquatic.

She shimmered, and disappeared, appearing in the hot tub, as a female red Gargoyle demon, wearing a bikini that didn't reveal much, but it didn't have to.
Her body changed again, into that of a mermaid, and then resumed it's normal form.

"Oh, water always makes me change species, but that's only because it's so delectable." she said in a somewhat dragonish manner.

What in the white tower was she?

"Oh, sorry, guess Introductions are in order, My name is Irene Enykra Sogoth Thiilrilbrael Tenaeldrifter Panonpronon Dragonstein Saaustu, but most just call me Irene. I'm a wide mix of species, but I have determined some of my ancestory, which is part Human, Elven, Dwarf, Gnome, Halfling, Dragon, demon, Fae, Mermaid, and Orc. There could be more, but I'm not quite sure what it is. I'm a summoner. The summoning I've got down to an exact science, it's the rest of my magic I need to work on." she said.

"You live, but you don't always learn."


Drai'lee's head came up at Marvels laugh and nonjudgemental attitude. She hadn't intended harm, it was just no one had even taken two seconds to listen to her. And she'd gotten so terribly angry.

However Drai'lee's comfortableness disappeared in a flash as the new girl stepped into the room, and every hackle she had rose up. And Rosh as well, slithering over her body to twine around her shoulders.

The look on both their faces was entirely unwelcoming.

Marvel looked at the newcomer, and rolled his eyes. It could certainly be fun bringing this one down a notch or two--when he got done snoring from the long-winded intro.

"Fine," he replied, his mischievous grin getting all the more mischievous, "can I just call you 'potpourri,' then?"

He winked at Dra'gon La'dee.

--------------------

OOC: Is it 'Rosh' or is it 'Rash?' You've used both...though the irony is obviously not lost on me.

OOC: DS, did you ever notice Mali's little magic trick with the beer?

IC: Zena hiccuped a bit and suddenly she was seeing a rainbow of colors. Someone had appeared in the doorway and then revealed themselves to have technicolor hair and then they got into the hot tub and suddenly changed species. "Wow Jax, this stuff is good."
Mali looked at Zena and raised an eyebrow. "Dare I ask what you're seeing?"
"Probably not. But I'll tell you anyway." Zena was wasted and the drink wasn't half finished. "There's some chick that keeps changing colors and appearances, I think Marvel's wings just turned into a bunch of butterflies, and Drai'lle, at least I think it was her, turned into a rose a while back."
It was then that Mali should have shut up. Unfortunately for them, she didn't. "Um, that girl you mentioned is real. She's right here." Mali stated, pointing at her.
"OK, but what about her friends?" Irene seemed to triple and two of them were other species than the real Irene. But that wasn't limited to Zena's sight, her powers were affected by the drink. Before anyone could say anything though, marvel's wings started breaking into pieces and flew off in hundreds of butterflies while Drai'lle thinned out into a rose about to bloom.
"People, I think Zena shouldn't be drinking anymore." Mali said with a tone that stated she didn't have a clue on how to reverse this.

OOC2: remember, her specialty is ILLUSIONS. Feel free to defy what I just said.

OOC: Yes, Syl, I caught it. Marvel likes his beer cold, though, so it made things better.

Mali's an illusionist, too? Kewl.

IC:

The demon watched his wings break apart and fly away, but he wasn't worried. He could feel magic, and could tell that it was just an illusion. The one that caught Dra'gon La'dee was another matter, though. Fienda was starting to live up to her Marvel Name.

"Stay still, Drai'lee," Marvel said. "Zena's put an illusion over you, and I'm not sure what'll happen if you move out of it." Some of those illusions could be like little spider webs. If you tried to move out of it, it would pull you back in--or worse.

"Stay still, Drai'lee,"

"Okay Marvel." Drai'lee said trustingly. But she noted that it was a lovely illusion. Roses had alwasy been one of her favorite flowers, but then again she loved all flowers from the utterly exotic to the most common. And while her thumb wasn't as nearly emerald as most Fae's it wasn't purple either.

"But your wings make lovely butterflies" she whispered to him, enjoying the illusions but knowing what they were.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

LOL my bad, it is Rashamon, not Rosh...

OOC: Mali's the bardess. Zena's an illusionist.

IC: Mali was stunned at how utterly calm everybody was. "I honestly haven't seen this before. But I'm going to be sending the local liquor stores a memo in the morning with Zena's picture attached." Her hair turned into flames as her mouth vanished. "I rest my case." Mali muttered.
Zena meanwhile laughed and bubbles released themselves from her ears. "This is kinda fun." She said, looking around a bit.

Joshua meanwhile put down his pen. Damn that was a lot of papers. he thought. Ah well, Marvel's got that party going. I think I'll show up. He stood up from the desk and stretched.
Just as long as you don't drag me along, I'm alright. Chaz said. He leapt down from the desk and curled up on Josh's bed. You should have gone for silk.
"Keep complaining and you'll wish it wasn't." Joshua said, stepping into a pair of swim trunks. They were blue with a hawaiian pattern on them.
I could never wish something weren't silk. Chaz laughed.
"True, but you like it too much. See you later." He left the room and walked across the hall.

The man suddenly appeared in the burnt down forest outside. His eyes were set upon an amulet of some kind. He seemed unaffected by the heat and what remained of the flames.

He smirked as he kneeled down and took it in his right hand, after which he stood up again.

For a few moments, he looked at the amulet. It wasn't much unlike the ones he had seen before. Although, he noted, it was heavier than what he had used before. Not so much that it would slow down its user or anything, but still noticiably heavier.

It was made of steel. Not that it mattered, but he still made a note of that.

With a sudden flash of darkness, the amulet was broken to pieces. As he scattered the pieces around the location he had found it at, his smirk took a malevolent tone.

And with that, the man disappeared once more, back into the tower, back to his walk on its corridors, as though nothing had happened. Although, truth to be told, from his point of view nothing much had happened. What he had done was not even worth a second thought.

"Ouch!" Marvel said. "Something just flared up the building shields.

"Then again, it could always be that oversized dinner I never got around to eating."

He took another swig of beer. Ice cold--just the way he liked it. Mental Note: thank the babe for doing this, when the other babe isn't watching.

Zena finished off the drink and kept looking around, unwittingly melting the bed, freezing the water in the hot tub, and then passing out. Mali laughed then said "Well, I suppose as long as she doesn't dream we're alright. Zena's illusions don't work so well when she's out cold." As Mali spoke the butterflies circling light in the room began to vanish one by one as Marvel's wings rebuilt themselves.

The two snuck a look in at the hot tub, a sort of mousey grin came over their faces as they saw everyone there.

They started bolting for the jacuzzi... "CANNONBALL!" they yelled jumping into the water forming a sort. Like before the physical sound of the shrek was interpreted magically when they heard it.

Having landed in the jacuzzi with a largish splash they looked around at the other inhabitants of the Jacuzzi. "Hi, We're Bill and Ben!" The smile still on their faces.

Marvel smiled. "Hi, guys," he said. "Fellow pranksters--awesome!" His smile was as big as theirs.

Of course, they had splashed into the jacuzzi after Fienda had "frozen" it, appearing to break the ice at the surface. Still, it gave Marvel an idea.

"Welcome to the party! Let's have another cold one!"

The water around Will and When suddenly appeared to completely freeze--but ONLY the two giant mice felt the cold. Then, a moment later, it was back to normal--if there was such a thing in this room. Marvel was still smiling, though.

"Could somebody please take Zena out of the jacuzzi?" Marvel asked. "I don't want her falling completely in!"

Mali meanwhile was screaming bloody murder at the two rodents. Although she'd faced June with no problems, seeing two random rats suddenly appear and jump into the hot tub was too much for her. Couple that with the bubbles still streaming from Zena's ears and butterflies turning back into Marvel's wings and it was nearing too much for her.

Joshua meanwhiel was just closing his door with Chaz falling asleep on his bed when he heard the screaming. "Damn, what now?" he muttered as he ran into Marvel's room to see Mali swatting at the rats in the jacuzzi. "Someone want to tell me what's going on?"

"You mean... Beer?" queried Ben as if he couldn't quite believe what he was hearing... and then well the water froze just a second, their eyes seemingly popping out of their heads.

"Oh, haha, good one." said Bill the smile still on his face, as he ducked his head out of a blow that could of been quite nasty should of the circumstances been different.

They seemed to be enjoying Mali freaking out at them, and laughed amung themselves, until they were interrupted by Joshua.

"Hey, Mister we didn't do anything to her at all, she's just gone all loco."

Joshua went for the direct route to eliminate the pain in his ears. He walked up and pulled the rats out of the tub by their tails. "Next time, announce your presence before jumping in, it'll save me a lot of pain." Mali was still whimpering, but at least she'd stopped screaming. "Not to mention I won't have to disassemble my arm to dry it off before it rusts." He placed the rats on the side of the tub as far from Mali as possible as moved his arm to drain some of the water back into the jacuzzi. He next moved to Zena. While pulling her from the water, the water on her skin seemed to vanish and Joshua left the room to bring Zena to hers. This was far from how he wanted to spend his night, though he called for Lilly to keep an eye on Zena.

"Don't worry," Marvel said. "Things are under control."

He turned to Fali and gently took her by the hand. "Don't worry," he said gently, leading her away from the giant mice, "there's nothing wrong with these two that the filter on the jacuzzi can't handle. Besides, they need the bath." He wasn't looking at Will and When (they Will, it's just a matter of When), but his face had a sort of evil glee on it. After all these years, he still loved dropping barbs. You live, but you don't always learn.

Mali chuckled a bit at Marvel's comments, though she still eyed the mice wearily. She began to hum a bit, a simple spell to calm nerves. Although it worked great on her emotions, it occasionally had an exaggerated effect on others, sometimes to the point of perfect bliss for weeks on end.

Joshua was able to get into Zena's room where Lilly was already waiting for them. He tucked her into bed and opened the window, figuring the cool night air might make her more comfortable in the morning before turning out the lights. He nodded to Lilly as she snuggled up against Zena and closed her eyes too. Joshua left the room and entered his where Chaz had already dragged out a towel and his arm's toolkit. Joshua sat down and started to take his hand and lower arm apart.

"Ow, hey leave our tails alone." They both protested as found themselves being draged out of the tub, their fur wet and dripping on the ground. Turning around slipping back into the tub they watched Joseph leave.

They looked at each other then once again burst into laughter at a personal joke they shared.

"We'd rather be mice than a parody of the underworld. I mean look at you, with red speedo's and all. And despite what you think, no red doesn't make you go faster."

They taunted in reply, "Look at it Bill, it seems we can't go anywhere without being the centre of attention."

"And that's the way we like it, ain't it Ben." There seemed to be a bit more to that, but they didn't speak it, both of them knowing it, just once again looked at each other.

This was the most fun they'd have for ages, "and mum reckonned this was going to be a punishment." Ben replied

"Hah" Bill added his own enhacement to his brother's statement.

Drai'lee had fled for the ciling as the Mice appeared and started to jump into the tub.
Putting two fingers between her lips as she hovered there she gave a stunningly loud whistle. Seconds later Khatt appeared. "Khatt dear, it seemse we have an invasion of vermin."

She was not pleased to have her time with Marvel so continuously interupted.

"Why so we do, And I haven't had my evening snack" The four foot bipedal felinid gave the mice a wicked grin and licked his chops.

"Parody of the underworld is still way cooler than parody of a rodent," Marvel retorted. "And there's some silverware in the top drawer of the desk, Khat," he finished. He knew that Will and When were WAY too big for Khat to really eat--heck, they probably weighed as much as he did--so what the heck. It was all just harmless fun. He'd quit if it started getting too serious.

Still, standing outside the jacuzzi gave him an opportunity. He turned the can up and chugged the last swallow.

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhh! Love those cold ones!"

Khatt's grin just grew eviler. He'd taken down more RUS's than they showed in The Princess Bride.

He stretched his empty right hand up and brought it down filled with a gun nearly as big as himself. To any who knew weapons, it was easily recogniseable as an AA12, a drum fed automatic assault shotgun "Naw, thanks for the offer Marvel. One has to tenderise them a bit first. Don't worry it's filled with slugs...and I don't miss...often"

Irene smiled when the mice jumped in the jacuzzi.
"Oh how cute!" she exclaimed.
She watched the exchange, wondering how the mice were going to get out of this.

There was something they'd going to say to Marvel, even Drai'lee, and even
Khat. Until the big ugly shotgun came out. and they just freaked out, they half-squeaked half squealed the noise was incomprehensible, but it was certainly in alarm.

There was a voice that out from the Drawer "Hey who's that, and what's happening out there?" for anyone who knew it was June in Marvel's drawer in a nearby room. Her voice carried through remarkably well for a creature of her size.

They seemed to be confused now, "No you tell us, who are you." they responded. "Now don't be idiots, come over to this set of Drawers and open the top one..... NOW!"

They seemed to have an attention span as short as a gold fish as they started their way over to the drawer murmuring quietly amung themselves. Totally forgetting that there was a gun pointed at them.

Things were starting to get out of hand. It was time to reel the situation back in. This would have to start with the over sized damp mops.

"Yo! Guys! The towels are against the wall! Just because you sopped up half the water in my jacuzzi with that fur of yours doesn't mean you can plop it all down again on the floor!

"And, like, dude, when it comes to party favors, I sorta draw the line at guns--even the kind with big flags that say 'bang' on them. Bullets have a bad habit of going through their targets and messing up things behind them. Let's not get started down that road."

Ember decided she fancied a swim, but looking down as she undid the robe, she saw a large bruise on her side. A reminder of her encounter with Marcoz in the portal thing earlier. Her skin, already appearing translucent, looked eerie with the dim lights and the water reflecting. With so much exposed, there was no way she'd be able to feel comfortable swimming, knowing that everyone would see. She tied the robe back on.

She waited for the rest of everyone to be a distraction, then she slipped out of the room, leaving her absinth behind, and walked down the hallway. She went to her room, pausing at the door, before she decided to go outside for a walk.

As she walked outside the doors, the first thing she saw was black smoke. "Um ... is this a joke?" she said out loud, a mild buzz from her un-woomwood-spiked drink.

"By the way," Marvel continued, "anybody else smell smoke?"

Irene paused and sniffed the air. Her eyes widened and she leaped out of the tub, and ran over to the dresser where she created a Brass Platter. Her hands twisted a complicated series of symbols in the air, causing a spark of fire to leap down onto the platter. It spread and spread until a mini-fire elemental was standing there.
"Your wet." It said accusingly.
"Yes yes I'm not having you dry me off this time. Listen, your of fire, you know all the latest from the fire plane, is there a large dangerous fire nearby?" Irene asked.
"Yes, there is, or at least there was. Rumor on the grapevine is a forest near here was converted to a breeding ground. You things call them forest fires, anyways, I'm not sure if it's still goin on or not but that's the latest. Listen, I gotta go. All that water's making me uncomfortable." the little fire elemental said. It shrank and disappeared, taking the platter with it.

"Forest fire? Should we help, or is there a local fire brigade? Does it matter? I can summon an elder Water Elemental. It's quite a chore, but I can do it." She asked the others.

Let's not get started down that road."

"You're no fun" Khatt groused with one last longing look at the pair of soggy wet RUSs. "They're probably too bit to make really good eating." He sighed and returned the Aa to where it had been stored.

"No I don't smell any smoke" Drai'lee commented. Then her nose twiched as a swirl of outside air gusted in "Oh yeuuck! Some ones burning old leather and straw?"

She whizzed over to Marvel's window "Hey some one set a scarecrow on fire in the courtyard!"

Indeed several oversized figures composed of sticks and straw were smoulderingly ablaze on the coblestones while more tried to climb over the walls only to ignite was they did so.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

OOC: The forest fire is on Perun, Yelena's and Ivan's home world. So to give us some more fun while the boss is off hauling loads of overtime...

Attack of the Killer Klowns ( yeah so these are made of straw )

OOC: But to a fire elemental unused to distances in the normal plane, near here could be as distant as a galaxy away. Really they do better giving out such information when your more specific, but she has only a few summons, none of which exactly excel at giving out information. Anyways, back to the witty IC banter.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

IC:
Irene went out the window, looking out it she glared at the scarecrow for not being an entire forest.

"YOU OWE ME A BRASS PLATTER!" She shouted at the fire.
"Damn fire elemental was wrong again." Irene said stomping her foot.
She created a bucket of water, and traced a design on it's surface. It glowed bright blue momentarily, and then a little water snake poked it's head up, and looked at her inquringly.
"Put that out." Irene snapped pointing at a scarecrow.
The water snake hissed at the scarecrow and it was suddenly deluged as though under a small waterfall, putting it out. Then it dived into the pail and disappeared.
"Stupid fire elemental." Irene said.

Seemingly unaware of all the hoo haa with the fire, Bill and Ben grabbed the towels as pointed out by Marvel and started to dry themselves off, it seemed a part dance as they required to stand on their hind legs. They threw the towels purposely towards Mali hoping for them to land on her head.

A small giggle was heard as the two dashed off to the next room where they heard June. "Hey, Who's in there?" They asked the drawer staying back abit, expecting some sort of prank.

"Hey, I asked you first now open the Drawer or will I have to open it myself?" she was annoyed, mostly at these two.

"Alright..." Ben cautiously grabbed the handle and pulled the Drawer open. Expecting something to happen, nothing did. "Phew" exclaimed Ben, now they couldn't quite see properly.. but was that a mouse inside?

Well, obviously, it was getting a closer look and getting up on all fours made it obvious...

"Oh, Bill and Ben I should of known, only you two could make such and laugh the whole time through it."

"... Mrs... Mrs.. Mrs. RoverMouse?" they stammered half in shock, half in terror.

"You still haven't grown up yet being well passed childhood."

OOC: Irene went out the window, looking out it she glared at the scarecrow for not being an entire forest.


OOC:

Marvel's room doesn't have a window.

IC:

"Yeah," Marvel said. "My kinda guys!"

OOC: It's Tanara's magical looking window. She's the one who placed it there originally.

IC:

"So, who runs this place, or is it just us on our own?" Irene asked.

OOC: Well you never said wether or not there was a window, most rooms have windows. And I could have sworn that the fire started where Ivan got out, not where he went in...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Darilee blinked when the figures vanished - some in a hiss, doused with water, others just in the blink of an eye.

"Does it seem to any one that majic seems to be going a bit haywire around here?" Drai'lee asked as the window she had been looking out of disappeared as well.

Ohhh, Marvel thought, hearing Irene's questions, a chance to have some fun.

He looked at the sleeping form of Fienda, drunk and passed out on the side of the jacuzzi, an occasional bubble still coming out as she snored.

"Well," he said, "if you're looking for the one in charge, that's her over there. I just like to get her drunk and take advantage of her." Ohhh, this is gonna be good.

"Really? I heard a rumor some old ghost ran it. His name was Melvinbore, or something like that. you know how names change from person to person. Like Lord Cthulhu's name. Did you know his original name was Bob? Yeah, go figure. But Cthulhu sounded much more terrifying so he kept it and dropped Bob." Irene said.

OOC: Josh dragged Zena to her room already.

IC: Mali was still shaken after the rats. "It should wear off soon though. Zena's magic doesn't last long after she falls asleep." indeed most of the bubbles on the ceiling had popped and Marvel and Drai'lle were back to normal. Only a few remaining traces of her magic were left and they'd soon be gone.

Melvin-bore? Hell's bells! That's even better than my name for him! REVISION TIME!

Marvel sighed. "OK," he said, "ya got me." The illusion of Fienda that he had rather hastily thrown out there disappeared. "You're right--his name is Melvin-bore and he's an avatar from another plane. He likes to be addressed by name, though, so remember to use it with respect when he's around."

Drai'lee fluttered down to hover next to Marvel "Marvel, you are going to have to excuse me, but the nap I got on your shoulder was just not enough. I think I'm seeing things...or maybe it's just too much excitement and strain earlier. Thank you for everything you've done for me." She was more than just tired, she was exhausted - the glittery sparkle of Fae dust shifting down from her wings made that apparent. She was shedding enought of the wild majick to leave an opalescent gold coating on the swirling waters of the jacuzzi.

However before she left she drifted down to land on Marvels shoulder, giving him a hug around his neck and a whispered "Sleep sound and sweet dreams"

"Ok, I will. I heard other rumors, but they were far more exotic and obviously untrue." Irene said.

She cracked her knuckles and her neck.

"JEEVES!" she screeched loud enough to shatter glass. Yet for as loud as she screeched, no one further than a foot away from her heard her. Yet seconds later a nine foot human looking man with a depressed, decrepid looking face and dressed in a classic butler suit carrying a silver platter suddenly appeared.
"Prepare my room, I'm going to retire for the evening here shortly." she said dissmissivly.
"Yes, Madam." The man said in a ghostly moan.
"It's the first empty and unreserved one you find." she said waving her hand at him shooing him away. Jeeves turned and slowly shuffled out of the room.
"My servant summons, a rare summons at that. I earned him in a high stakes strip poker game. I was down to nothing but my knickers, and by fate or by chance, was dealt a royal flush, and bet it all, forcing my opponet to do the same. She was also down to nothing but her knickers. The wager was Jeeves versus my servitude. I'm glad I won, it wasn't the normal sort of servitude." Irene said in a normal voice.

Marvel had spent five years in a bottle in Yendor's lab. It had taken him that long to trick the old wizard into giving him back his freedom--one of those Diplomat from Hell things. Still, it didn't sit well with him that there would be people--even undead or arrantly sinful people--held to utter servitude and passed around like trinkets at a bazaar. Obscene was starting to grate on his nerves.

But it was going to have to wait for later. Marvel's eyes were heavy once again, and his feet and wings were getting together and plotting ways to torture him to death. He thought he'd never live to say this, even to himself, but today had simply been the wrong day to party. Dra'gon La'dee had done the right thing, and he needed to follow the example.

"I don't mean to be a pain," he said, "but I'm just too tired out for this. I'm going to have to kick you folks out. I'm sorry."

----------------------------

When the guests had sorted themselves out and sauntered off, Marvel made his way back to the jacuzzi and slowly waded back in. Sitting on the side of the pool, he stretched his wings out, lied down, closed his eyes and relaxed. As he closed his eyes, the golden sheen on the water took on a sublime glow and coalesced around his body, soaking into the pores of his skin. Not knowing this, he merely basked in the warmth that he felt and relaxed even further. He had no idea why, but, for the first time in many a decade, he felt as though he wasn't sleeping alone.

And yet Marvel didn't know the whole story behind Jeeves, not knowing that serving others was his wish, was his own self-imposed very reason for existing, nor did he know it was Jeeves's own idea to be put up in the game. If he knew that, then possibly he wouldn't be so uselessly irritated.

In her own room, set up to match those of a high priestess of Omni, Irene fell asleep by hanging upside down like a bat from the ceiling, her wings folded around her thinly covering her almost like a blanket. Jeeves had enchanted the door to automatically summon him whenever someone came to it. Curiously, there was a bed in there, and a large aquarium, as well as several other items in which to sleep, yet she slept hanging upside down from a bar attached to the ceiling.

Down the hall....
Hoyrel's door opened the smallest of cracks due entirely to random chance and not being completly open. The soundproofing was still in play, yet not completly effective. Dimly heard in the hallway, a droning buzz could be heard, like millions of flies swarming around, and even more besides. It didn't enter anyone's bedroom, but anyone walking past his room would hear it. A couple of imps on the nightwatch heard it as they patrolled the hallway, shrugged their shoulders and chalked it up to one of Hoyrel's preferences.

Drai'lee fell asleep the moment her body tumbles on to the pillow. She really was exhausted, but her dreams weren't the nightmare's they could have been. For now she had some one to stand guardian at the edge of dreams, though he didn't know it.

Khat too a moment to drape her handkerchief sized comforter over her before snubbling down in his own bowl bed - but he'd be sleeping even more lightly than usual this nigbht what with the troubles of the day.

Mali had left the room without argument. Disappointment maybe, but not conflict. She walked to Josh's room where a crack of light spilled out into the hallway. He, like Zena, prefered oil burning lamps to electricity. They didn't know why, but there was something about oil that you just couldn't beat, and so his was lit as he worked to take his arm apart and dry it off. "For all my talent, I can't dry this thing off without a towel." he was muttering as Mali entered.
"Need some help?" she asked, earning a yelp of shock from her friend.
"I need help staying awake." he chuckled in response. "My arm is a disaster." In truth, he was right. There were rust spots from before that were probably amplified by the new adding of water. Mali took half of the arm and a screw driver before sitting on the side of his bed and starting to take it apart. It would be a long night.

"Go, on, you heard him. Go find your own room." June's voice could be heard as the twins looked down upon their old teacher.

They were shocked as they scampered out of the room without a word, charging out of the room, the two of them bowling down anyone in their way as they did so, finding an apparently vacant bedroom and claiming starting a bit of ruckus amung themselves about who gets which bed.

The big disadvantage to not having a window is that, when one awakens, one has no idea what time it is or how long one has slept.

After tending to his morning bath and what have you, Marvel returned to his dresser and reached out to open the top drawer, where the underwear was. Then, he thought better of it.

"Mrs. Rovermouse," he said, "I'd like to open the drawer if you don't mind--if you're still in there."

Actually, he just hoped that she hadn't gone and started making a nest in there.

-------------

OOC: :p :p :p

While he was waiting for a reply, he sang a little tune he knew.


Building up a castle
Upon sandy grains
May give you a hastle
Pouring when it rains

But a firm foundation
Under starry skies
Makes for less frustration
Peeking through your eyes.



------

OOC: As always, I can whistle the tune if you want me to. :) :) :)
(This one ain't so good, though. The acrostic gets in the way. Tune's
pretty catchy, anyway.)

He only heard a grumble before he opened the drawer. Her fur was just as ruffled and bedragled.

She looked up to him for a moment, and there was a moment as if her eyes made a connection with him for a moment. "Just get what you need." She spoke continueing to glare at him.

While the “students” were having breakfast the next morning, part of the floor began to glow, lighting the area with an amber illumination much the same as the levitation chamber in the center of the Tower. The light seemed to solidify and grow upwards as if it was made out of honey until a column filled the space between the floor and ceiling. With a burst of energy and a very quick flash, the amber pillar vanished leaving Galvenor standing there talking to a large mouse. This mouse was easily as tall if not taller by an inch or two as the Chancellor. A long white bear matching it’s fur ran down the mouse’s front and trailed upon the floor.

“…you will see there is a talented bunch of students that has already arrived. I will begin auditions for the Instructor positions after I complete the tour. You can then audition with the others. I am sure your talents…”

Galvenor stopped talking and looked around puzzled. A look of bewilderment crossed his face momentarily before it disappeared.

“What the hell happened here? I only stepped away for a couple minutes and…”

One of the Imps flew over from the kitchen and spoke to Galvenor using it’s language of squeaks and other sounds. Unfortunately nobody would get the chance to figure out what it said.

“What? That is impossible. I took all the precautions and adjusted for temporal interference. ..”

The tiny fluttering being began to squeak again but was interrupted by the Ta’Nar.

“No, I did not stop over anyplace for a pit stop. There has to be some sort of explanation.”

The Imp made a couple more squeaks and then flittered off back to the kitchen. Galvenor looked around the cafeteria at the faces of those seated there.

“What has happened here?” He caught a glimpse outside the window at the burnt forest, “And how did that happen?

Joshua lead Mali and Zena into the cafeteria just as Galvenor was demanding an explanation. "Well good morning to you too." Mali commented, almost sarcastically. Anybody could tell she was just joking around, but there was a definite edge to her voice.
"What has happened," Joshua started. "Is that two people have died and one was kidnapped. Yelena gave her life trying to keep a portal open while we attempted to rescue Drai'lle. Finally Marvel went after her his own way and Emberella Jax followed. Together they apprehended June Rovermouse, the person behind the kidnapping, and returned here. We were waiting for you to return before passing judgement though. Oh, and the second life lost. Some man showed up and was helping Yelena keep the portal open with her, but he just kinda keeled over from what I heard. Jax and I were in the portal at the time and that spell went nuts creating our worst fears for us." He finally paused for a breath. "Afterwards, Marvel held a bit of a party in his room where someone unnamed snuck in alcohol and gave Zena the hangover of a lifetime." Zena moaned at the mentioning of that as if on cue. "As for the forest, I don't really know. I was planning on heading out there after breakfast to see if I could find something or possibly work to restore it. Now if I may as you a question, where have you been?" This last part wasn't accusing, just pure curiosity.

Drai'lee had taken a seat on the table,holding open a spot for Marvel to sit next to her when he arrived. Both she and Khatt had slept very soundly, exhausted from their previous days happening.

She looked up as Galvenor appreared, but was uncertain as to where to begin, as she had missed out on most of the day so to speak. Drai'lee was willing to let others speak first.

"June Rovermouse was the one who kidnapped me. She wanted to experiment on me" Her voice did sound accusing. and it was toward both Galvenor and June. If Galvenor had been here she felt strongly that the kidnapping - and the deaths - would never have happened.

With a slight flash of light another mouse appeared. This one had a long flowing white beard easily laying on the floor in his position on all fours. Though he started of being Normal mouse size he soon started to grow in approximate scale to be a human. his fur was quite well tended and despite his beard it was a dull-grey-brown, mottled as normal.

Next to him were two large leather suitcases, He squeaked they way he talked was much the same as June though his squeaks were more easily heard.

"Hello, Galvenor... and Joshua." he looked around for anyone else he might recognize but nothing immediately hit him.

"First things first, I heard that there's been a naughty mouse."

"Naughty is an understatement." Joshua scoffed.
"Be nice." Mali cautioned. "And your name is escaping me."
Josh replied. "It's eluding me too. Care to fill us in?"

"Oh, sorry. Jackson VoleMouse... I met you in that council, only briefly..."

He opened the zipper to one of his bags slightly and reached in. He pulled out what looked like a miniature courthouse, white marble pillars supporting a white marble building, in the middle was a mouse standing on it's hind legs blind folded with a set of scales in hand.

He set it down on the floor

"What's the name and where is the mouse?"

He asked, it was when Bill and Ben arrived... They were quiet as they'd been listening to what had been said and for now didn't want to draw attention to themselves, especially that the courthouse was here.

Joshua snapped his fingers. "Ah, that explains it! I knew you were familiar, but not from where. The whole counsel turned out to be a disaster anyway." he laughed. "And it's June RoverMouse that kidnapped Drai'lle and attempted to experiment on her to create a different form of magic. She claimed it was for her people, but not many of us agree. I'm not sure if any of us agree."

"Yes, sometimes the the old proverb, 'The Path to hell is paved with good intensions' is more appropriate than ever. There was one story that you might find appropriate in that..." he was interrupted in his rambling story by Bill or Ben, who knows with those two. A crumpled bit of paper flew through the air and hit him threw the air.

"Wha?"

He looked around for a moment then zoomed in on Bill and Ben, "Oh, that's what I was going ask, Where is she?"

Before the twin terrors could answer, Mali replied. "She's in Marvel's bedroom. I'd be happy to show you the way quick if you wanted though he's probably sleeping or getting dressed knowing my luck."

Upon hearing about the deaths of two people, a look of greif passed across his face. He quickly banished the emotion and tried to find an excuse to change the topic.

Galvenor looked around the room.

"Anyone know where Eldrad went? I can't feel him anywhere in the Tower at the moment."

Galvenor closed his eyes and felt the connection he forged when he attuned himself to the Tower after transplanting it here. He activated several of the defenses so there would be no more unauthorized teleportation. He would set the permissions when the instructors have been chosen.

Mali caught on instantly to the change in emotion and Josh's vision went for a loop when it occured so both were happy to change the subject. "We thought he went with you." he commented.
"We haven't seen him in a while, about the same time we last saw you really." Mali continued. "We were waiting for either of you to get back before passing judgement on June. Speaking of you getting back, do you mind me asking where you went to?"

Galvenor looked over to the human-sized mouse with the white beard trailing onto the floor.

"I had to bring him."

Joshua shrugged. "Works for me. I'm kinda wondering what happened to that castle we were in anyway." Mali meanwhile tapped a passing imp on the shoulder and requested eggs, orange juice, and fruit for the trio.

More than a little tired, and hungry as could be after the past day's activity, Marvel sauntered into the cafeteria. Though Galvenor was in the middle of the room, he figured that no one would mind if he helped himself to a little breakfast--that was, after all, what cafeterias were for.

The room went silent as he found himself two eggs, a quarter pound of hamburger (all raw) and a small pot of soup. It remained silent as he sat down in the seat that Dra'gon La'dee was holding open for him and greedily eyed one of the eggs. He had just opened his mouth to puncture its shell with his tongue and suck out the insides when he noticed that all eyes seemed to be on him.

"What?" he asked. "Haven't you ever seen someone eating before?"

CRACK! SLURPgulpSLURPgulpSLURPgulp...Ahhhhhhhh.

"First things first, I heard that there's been a naughty mouse."

Looking at the newcome mouseman "Naughty mouse?" Drai'lee stood on the table, hands on hips while Rash' slithered off of her to coil protectively about her. "I was kidnapped, slated for x files action, and two people are dead!" She looked fierce "Naughty mouse indeed!"

"And Eldrad was missing just as you were, leaving us, the students to try and deal with it all ourselves." Drai'lee answered Galvenors question. She was miffed that Galvenor did not seem more upset.

Marvels arrival brought a smile to her face and a lessing of tension in her. She knew he could lay the whole situation out in a calm, and complete manner. Though his breakfast distracted her. Drai'leee woundered if she could steal some of his ground round.

"Oh, that," Marvel said. "I'd say that it was only one and a half people dead. The second one resurrected almost immediately. By the way, I'm supposed to tell you that Warcraft sends his regards. Maybe you know more about him than I do. I just thought he was an arrogant, overbearing jerk."

Besides, he foiled a perfectly good joke about killing himself. I mean, I never thought that he was actually going to DO it! What a show-off.

Not all eyes were on Marvel, infact Hoyrel didn't have eyes to be on anyone. For that matter, Lerim wasn't paying attention either. Both were enjoying eggs benedict and a side of tea.

Irene meanwhile had her back to Marvel, such was the way she was seated. Her breakfast was already long gone, as was her first through fifth cups of coffee.

While all three acknowledged the presence of Galvenore and his guest with the mini courthouse, none had any information Marvel or seomebody else couldn't or hadn't relayed already in a better manner, not that marvel had spoken much of anything yet.

Thus the trio sat at their respective tables minding their own business, keeping silent, and watching what would happen next. If any of the students needed to serve as Jury members then while Galvenor or the giant mouseman served as the judge, should such a course be taken, they would perhaps, be very ideal canidates.

"Well, then my dear lady. I must apologise on her behalf though now that I understand the situation excuse me, I must start the legal proceedings.

He picked up the miniature courthouse and left his bags behind and started walking away, seemingly oblivious to the egg-slurping demon.

"Hey Marvel, I bet you can't stand on one hand while doing that!" one of the twins spoke up...

"Oy, that's not fair!"

"Hey, you didn't say anything about NOT doing this."

"Alright..." he sighed as they both turned their attention to Marvel to see what he would do.

Moments later Jackson VoleMouse returned, "ah, which way to your room Marvel?"

"Hope you're about done Marvel." Joshua commented after sitting down. "You're the only one that can enter your room after all and it would appear that Jackson wants to hurry."
Zena and Mali sat to either side of him as the eggs, fruit, and juice were brought to them. Zena sat quietly, barely eating where Mali was the opposite, saying a hurried prayer then digging in with great vigor.

The purple robed man was, as was to be expected, present at the cafeteria. He wasn't eating or anything - all he did was that he stood beside a wall and waited for the tour to continue, while observing the others in silence.

CRACK! SLURPgulpSLURPgulpSLURPgulp...ahhh.

"Just a minute. Gotta get the soup..."

SLURP...SLURP...SLUPP

"...and the meat...actually, better put it in the vase first..."

Kasquish...tamp tamp...splat splat slpat...SLURRRRRRP...SLURRRRRPP...SLURRRRPP.

"OK. Finished. Room's this way." He got up out of the chair.

Galvenor followed the others when the procession left for Marvel's room. He wanted to find out what happened while he was caught in a time dilation rift. That was the only thing he could think of to explain the effects that kept him away from the school when he was needed so badly. Also, what happened to Eldrad? That is another mystery that needs to be answered.