Bermuda Holiday Session 15

Princess Guard - The New Era 2017/23/03 	 Charm Titan Pulsar Harlequin Lia Wolf 38

The New Start Settlement
Dentom turns to Titan, who's been doing the talking for the group so far. "You said over 2000 on this here ship? I really hope you all can get us home because while New Start builds up a reserve for when new folks arrive, 2000 extra mouths to feed is going to make things real difficult."

Titan nods, "I was afraid that was going to be the case. We have a fair amount of food on the ship, at least for now. But that won't last indefinitely."

Dentom nods, "So you really figure we all got a chance of going home? Back a year or three someone got the idea that the volcano was the cause of things. They mounted an expedition to head there but between the jungle creatures and the Japs they had to turn back."

Harlequin listens quietly as Titan and the helicopter people speak. He takes a handkerchief out of a sleeve while listening and wipes up under his mask. To no one in particular, he murmurs quietly, "Rather humid, yes?"

Dentom nods, "Sure as heck is. But you ain't seen nothing yet. Just wait until summer."

Titan says, "We...think so. And I'd agree that the volcano seems to be a focal point. That's where we're going to head. I'm not terribly concerned about the obstacles between here and there, though. At least for my own safety."

Pulsar listens in over comms as he maintains a position floating, invisibly overhead. Playing lookout, just in case more trouble is in store.

For once, Pulsar is happy to have been completely freed of things like 'comfort' or 'humidity'. To him, its all pretty much the same.

Wolf nods to Sasha emphatically, wishing for all the world that he could sweat. Instead, he stands in the sun on the deck next to the rest of the crew, panting and slowly roasting in his fur coat.

The cruise liner is heading for shore and the settlement of New Start. The helo drivers seem content to catch a lift back rather than burning fuel. Then... Pulsar spots it first. A giant sea serpent being ridden by a person wearing pirates' garb.

Titan looks to Dentom, "One of yours?"

Harlequin looks over just as the pirate ridden sea serpent comes into view. He then punches the air. "Yes! I knew it!"

Charm endures the heat and humidity in uncomfortable silence. She finds the weather on Earth bad enough - having been brought up in a world where the weather is carefully managed.

There's a distinct heaviness. A feeling of intensifying magic, as little ripples form in reality. Then, those ripples form this giant black spot. And then, just like that, the magic stops, and Lia falls down onto the ship, landing with a soft thud. "Ow. Where am I...?" She rubs her head, looking quite confused.

Dentom looks out at the sea serpent riding pirate, "Oh, yeah. That's Capt Bluebeard and Polly."

Wolf is short enough that he can't easily see over the edge of the boat. But he's known Sasha to get enthusiastic about some pretty strange things. . . so he's not terribly shocked when it turns out that the pirates-riding-sea-monsters motif has, finally, been instantiated. ..

Titan doesn't seem to be bothered by the heat. He looks over to Harlequin, "Can you confirm if that is real, and not generated by us in some way? That's too much of a coincidence for my tastes."

Charm says, "Friend or foe?"

.oO(I think we have another kra... no. I don't think its a Kraken. This is different... it looks like...) Pulsar begins saying, before he disappears - moving at lightspeed straight for whatever it was he saw.

To the others, his update must seem instantaneous.

.oO(Some kind of giant sea snake. Which is weird on its own - but then... he's got a rider. In full Pirate Regalia.)

Wolf pads on over to see if Lia is "OK" or if she needs (more) healing or repairs to her magical essence or etc.

Titan nods to Dentom, "Thanks for confirming for us."

Harlequin's attention then turns to Lia as she appears and drops to the deck of the ship. After a moment, he goes over and kneels next to her. "Ah, hmm, well welcome to the landing point of an ancient Fae way-trap located on Earth in the Bremuda Triangle, my dear...Are you quite alright?"

"Capt Bluebeard? Yeah he's a friend. Well, except at the poker table. Then he's a fiend with the luck of a devil." Dentom says. "He's on the council. I guess when he saw the size of this here boat he couldn't wait to come greet you all."

Pulsar shifts from completely transparent to translucent as he becomes intangible, but visible. "Hi. You're not here to cause trouble are you?" He asks, mathcihg speed and angle of travel. Though his arms are crossed and he's flying backwards to keep an eye ont eh Good Captain and Polly.

Lia gets up, and regains her barings. "Yeah, I'm alright. That teleport did not work the way I intended to." She mutters. "Wait, Sa-er, Harlequin, Spirit-Wolf, Titan? Er, fae-lady that I remember but who's name I forget. Such luck. Last time that happened to me, I ended up on earth." She rubs her head a little more, then brushes through her hair, and breaths a sigh of relief. "Ancient fae way-trap, huh? Damn. I guess that implies you guys don' wanna be here either, do you?" She giggles a nervous giggle, then goes over to scritch at Wolf. The good pirate captain jolts so much in shock at the abrupt appearance of Pulsar he loses his grip and tumbles off the back of Polly.

Titan says to Lia, "Yeah, Palanir ended up bringing the entire ship here. By accident. We're working on getting back."

Palanir bows slightly to Lia.

Pulsar darts to grab the Captain. He moves without thinking, becoming solid and crossing the few meters between them as fast as the laws of physics will allow - which should still be fast enough to snag the Captain before he impacts the water.

"Woah there!" He says, "Didn't mean to startle you."

The pirate captain's reply is in a language other than English. Maybe Dutch? The tone and cadence however suggests it's probably just as well that few will understand it.

Harlequin gets up slowly from his kneeling position then just holds still for a moment. "I wonder if time passes at the same rate here as on Earth. After all, it's almost a century later where we come from as our Air Force friends here."

Wolf is scritched. He wags happily, and then slurps his nose and twitches his whiskers and he tries his best to explain the situation, as best he understands it, to Lia .oO(sending --

We're stranded on a foreign world, betwixt the strands of Fate. A WayPath home we must now seek, and open up its Gate.

That hollow mountain, belching smoke, is where we think it lies. But 'tween us and that summit could wait many a surprise!

)Oo.

Charm says, "Who knows, with an uncharted world?"

Titan takes a deep breath. "It may not be merely a matter of how time moves here. It's possible that this location is in all times at once, if that makes sense? Especially if people have arrived 'out of order'. Meaning some from further in the future prior to those from the past."

"Which they have." confirms Dentom.

Titan grins, "Feels like 12 Monkeys, kind of. Well...not really. But same kind of thing. Maybe more like Primer."

Lia giggles happily, and nuzzles Wolf, before looking about. She then hmms towards Titan. "I think I once heard of such places. But, I only thought them to be theoretical. This is fairy curious." She smiles.

Harlequin looks over to Palanir and Charm. "I do not suppose there are any sayings about time magicks among the Fae. The only one my mentor ever told me is 'Don't. Just don't' " His tone holds a note of humor.

Charm says, "What have monkeys to do with this?"

Titan shrugs, "It's an old movie about time travel."

Running out of swear words, the pirate captain switches to accented English, "If ye be from yonder vessel cans't thou carry me there that I might speak with the captain of it?" he asks Pulsar.

Wolf hops up and puts his forepaws atop the rail so that he can see out of the ship. He looks off into the distance, scanning the jungle for monkeys.

"Alright... so not an English speaker..." Pulsar says, setting the Captain back on his Sea Serpent Perch.

.oO(We had a slight accident - but the Captain is still making his way towards the ship. We're all ok with that?) He asks uncertainly, which may be due to the fact that they just fought off a Kraken and a pack of pterosaurs.

"Time magic was the one sort that not even I was crazy enough to tinker with." Lia says. She hmms, and hops up onto the railing too. She's not gonna fly when the ship is probably moving faster than her wings can take her. She looks out, and hmms, trying to ponder this situation.

Wolf leaps off the decks and swims ashore the instant that's even remotely feasible. The cool waters of the Ocean break the oppression of the mid-day heat and the sensation of once again moving under his own power, NOT on a boat, combine to cheer him up immensely. By the time he reaches shore, he's his usual inquisitive and upbeat self.

Under the pilotage of Chuck Morris the cruise liner passes safely through the reefs and drops anchor in the bay, surrounded by dozens of other vessels of varying sizes and eras. The liner is easily three times the size of the next largest ship. Captain Bluebeard leads the group straight to the council hut to speak to the council who have assembled already.

"Welcome to New Start," the leader of the council, introduced as Willhelm DeFournt, tells you. "If the numbers on your craft match its size that's going to mean a difficult time for us. Bluebeard tells me you offer a hope we can return?"

Lia looks about the island, now fluttering along at about eye-level with most people. She keeps an eye out for candy shops. She hopes someone here has chocolate, she's not sure how long she'll be here.

The settlement is probably about two thousand people. It's surrounded by a very strong high wooden wall along the jungle border.

Titan nods. "That's correct. We have a few with us who are skilled with 'world walking'. They may be able to return us to Earth. However, there's no guarantee that even if it works that you'll return to your own time. It might just be to the year we came from. 2067."

The council leader looks left and right along the row of seated council members and then back to Titan. "If that's what's on offer we'll take it. It can't be worse than staying here."

Harlequin listens quietly once again. He's taken the time to clean up from the unpleasantness of the way-trap. He lets his senses run free to better gauge what the new world they are in.

Titan says, "It does involve having to shut down what's going on with the volcano. Hopefully after that, we'll be able to open a way out of this world."

Charm thinks. o O (Always assuming we can undo an ancient magic designed not to be undone.)

Lia hmms. No chocolate, no candy. She takes a seat on Wolf, giggling, and petting his ears. He is well sized for this! Lia hmms towards Titan. She wagers that bad things (tm) will happen when they do that, but she doesn't speak aloud. She does want to get home.

The council members' faces fall. "Getting to the volcano is near enough impossible. We lost almost half the expedition that tried to get there three years back." he warns.

Pulsar stands next to Titan proudly, but on alert nevertheless. .o0(Oh Titan, you make it sound so easy.) But he's seen the volcano up close. It makes him nervous.

Harlequin murmurs, "Are there other fire breathing pterosaurs or other creatures similar to them in the jungle?" This is addressed to the Council.

Titan smiles slightly, "We're not ordinary people. We have a number amongst us with powers." He demonstrates by floating into the air, flying at just a couple of feet off the ground.

Pulsar joins in the demonstration by making himself and the poor schmuck standing next to him disappear.

Wolf walks the others to the council and then heads off for "babysitting duty" -- he races around the beach, his paws kicking up a rooster-tail of sand in his wake as he plays "tag" and "chase me!" and "fetch-the-stick" with the kids in order to both keep an eye on them and also keep them out of jungle-related, sea monster-related, and volcano-related trouble(s) while the grown-ups conduct the serious business of entering into negotiations with the council. In between bouts of frenzied activity, he scans the jungle, sea, and sky, trying to learn from and acclimate to the natural rhythms of this strange new world.

One council member murmurs to another, "Like Captain Star and his team from the war."

Lia giggles, and joins in the demonstration, she just holds out her hand, and a little fire ignites in it, before she closes her hand, extinguishing the flame. Lia then just seems to vanish!? Invisibility magic is fun!

Harlequin nods. "Yes, like the good Captain and his team. But there are many more metas in the world, for good and ill, than after World War II," in his vaguely European accent.

The leader waits until the other members of the council quieten down from their surprised comments. Then he simply asks, "How can we help?"

Titan takes a deep breath and lands. "Well, we'll need as much knowledge as you can give us about the volcano and the surrounding area. Aside from that, we need the people we arrived with to be protected. Of course, they can help you as well, but they dont' know the lay of hte land here or the situation. At least not in detail."

Pulsar tries to think back to all his fanboyisms for anyting about 'Captain Star'

"We can't help you with details about the volcano or the lands around it. We've never been there. The jungle is full of dangerous beasts though. You saw the wall around New Start." the leader says. "With so many people, we don't have housing for a fraction of them. I'd suggest keeping your people on your ship for now."

Titan nods, "Fair enough. When's the last you heard from the soldiers who went into the jungle?"

The leader looks at one of the council members wearing military uniform. Not an American uniform. That person gives the reply in a strongly accented English, "Two to three years. I can be more accurate by access to my records if you need precision."

"And since then you have also lost any contact with the Japanese soldiers as well?" inquire Harlequin.

Titan shakes his head, "No, that's good enough." He smiles slightly at Harlequin's question, since that was effectively what he was asking.

The military member shakes his head, "Arh, I misunderstood. English not my birth language. I mean that time since we have contact with Nippon soldiers in Jungle. Our expedition, that was three years ago. We lost half. Others come back. They only make mile, two, into jungle."

Pulsar reappears with the poor confused man standing next to him. "Captain Star... now that's a familiar name." He mutters to himself. He crosses his arms as he wrestles through years of obsessive research into superhero's and their villainous opposites.

"Woah... just a mile or two?" He turns towards the door, curious as to what lays beyond in the jungle. "Did they ever tell you guys what hit them?"

Lia listens, and nods. She seems a little concerned. And she wonders just how much they'll need to fight through to get to the volcano, let alone turn off the magic around it.

The militarey guy nods, "Predators. Not much larger than a man. But they hunt in packs and are very fast."

One of the other councilmen adds, "The jungle is thick. To move you have to chop open a path. It's hard work."

Lia hmms, "Any problems with just flying over it? I believe all of us here but Mr Wolf can fly."

Charm says, "I cannot."

Harlequin raises his hand. "I fear I cannot, mam'selle Lia. Nor can Mistress Charm nor War master Palanir." He looks at those two. "Correct?"

The leader nods, "The prets swarm anything that flies. Although they've learned not to bother the helos. Just as well. We're running low on ammo for them."

Harlequin murmurs. "But, I suppose I could scout ahead for us via scrying. And then open Gates to, hmm, hopscotch us along."

"Oh." Lia says, frowning. She then blinks at Harlequin. "Wait, really. A skilled mage like you can't /fly/?" She seems legitimately surprised. Lia then smiles towards the leader, "As long as you have fuel, we have all of the ammo you need." She smiles.

Palanir nods, "That is correct, Lord Harlequin."

Harlequin murmurs gently. "It might be best not to use the helicopter given we do not know if there is a safe landing zone for it near the volcano." He looks at Titam. "While I belive it may border on overconfidence, I believe we can get through the jungle and to the volcano under our own power."

Titan catches Harlequin's comment. "That would work, or just having me take point so I get swarmed rather than you folks."

Lia hmms, then nods. She thought that more people here were capable of flying. She's been at... whatever she's been doing for too long, she supposes. Lia idly rubs at one of her ears, as the others go over how to do this.

Titan rubs his chin, "The waytrap gave a backlash to the magic users on board. Is that likely to happen again if we get too close to the volcano?"

Titan says, "Or was that a one-time thing, in theory?"

Harlequin shrugs. "I fear there is only one way to find out. I used Gates on the ship with no problems." He then adds after a beat. "But, should I die in the attempt, I wish a Viking funeral and much wailing and gnashing of teeth. And much rending of garments by the ladies."

Lia hmms, "I did not receive any sort of backlash upon arriving, beyond the usual I receive from miscasting spells. Presumably we should be fine. Though, perhaps we should attempt this outside of the village proper. Just in case something does go wrong."

The council leader nods having heard the conversation, "That seems a very good idea." he comments.

"More seriously, way-traps are designed to kill dragons via backlash. So long as I do not trigger the way-trap, say by trying to move extra-dimensionally, I should be safe," adds Harelquin. "And yes. outside the wall seems a very good idea."

Titan nods. "Well, perhaps we should give it a go. Harlequin, can we do the series-of-gates? Just make sure that Pulsar or myself are the first ones through each time."

Harlequin nods. "That is not a problem. As per usual, two can pass through the Gate at once. And I shall, as usual go through last." He looks over at the Council. "Would any of your people care to come along? To see what they can see?"

The councilman in the military uniform nods, "Jah. I lost men on the expedition. I go. See what is there. It.. uh.. payback?"

He adds, "Ich bin Hans Dieter."

Harlequin responds in German, "A pleasure to meet you, Hans Dieter. I am Harlequin."

Hans smiles as Harlequin speaks to him in German.

Titan has no real idea what was just said, so he just waits as the two speak to each other.

Lia remains quiet, and fiddles with her hair.

Harlequin looks over at Titan. "Well, daylight is burning. I suppose we should get on our way, yes?"

"Hey, uh, random thought: Did you guys bring any chocolate with you on that fancy ship?" Lia asks, looking between those present.

Titan shrugs, and nods to Lia, "Probably on the ship." He turns his attention to Harlequin, "Yeah, let's get moving."

Harlequin smiles slightly. "I have some in my bag, Lia. Never travel without candy. It makes wonderful bribes."

Lia smiles, and looks happy. She hugs Harl a little, then nods to the rest. "Yeah, we should probably try this then. But first, we need to go find where the spirit wolf wandered off."

Wolf is babysitting the kids we're in charge of keeping safe on this mission.

The gate through the stockcade wall to the jungle is as small as they could make it and still allow someone to pass. Most of you, excepting Lia and Wolf, will have to crouch to get through it. There's a band of cleared ground about thirty yards wide and then the jungle starts. It's a triple-canopy mess of trees, vines, creepers, and thick undergrowth.

Once Wolf is retrived and the Markham kids plus Leonid sent back to the ship, Harlequin sets about opening the first Gate. First, he scries out into the forest about 3200m to try to find a good spot place the other end of the Gate. As well as to see what there is to see.

To those without magical senses, he just seems to stare off at the junlge for a number of seconds, nodding to himself once and a while.

Wolf's nose shifts into overdrive as the myriad scents of the lush tropical jungle unfold into his consciousness. *sniff*sniff*sniff* (!!!) SO MUCH life!

The jungle is so thick that to pass through one of Harlequin's gates you'll have to chop open a space. Hans has a machette in hand ready to do that. And a SMG on a sling around his neck.

Lia giggles towards Wolf, and looks towards Harl as he goes and does his thing. She's alert, ready, with little motes of ember dancing around hand. "Maybe I should help clear the way...?" She suggests. All of the solutions to Lia's problems tend to start with using her magic to blow things up.

Harlequin murmurs, "Well, we can either do this in steps, clearing a space each time or I can make one Gate right to the volcano, Titan. What is your preference?"

He relates what he sees as well.

Titan takes a deep breath, thinking about it. "Try jumping as far as we can, I think. Let's cut out a bunch of this stuff in the middle if we can manage it."

Charm thinks. o O (The faster we get there the faster we can get out of this heat and humidity....)

Harlequin nods. "I will get us as close as I can. The Gate should open into a 'safe' area, but be ready. Safe does not mean danger free, just not inside something solid."

He raises his hands and makes a few magickal gestures and chants something softly under his breath. To those with skilled in magick, neither are necessary for him. It's just showmanship.

If one looks, there's a faint red corona around Lia. She's using her magic to make the temperature immediately around her body cooler, as to make this more bearable. The gate opens high on the slope of the volcano's main cone. It's well above the jungle line and opens to rough grass growing in patches on a rocky surface. Before anyone passes through though, Harlequin spots a insect like a large hornet. It's suspended in mid air and the wings are still and unmoving.

Harlequin shouts out. "Stop! I have opened the Gate right next to the stasis field or in it! Do not go through the Gate!"

Lia hmms, and grabs a nearby rock, and tries tossing it through the barrier.

The rock passes just through the gate and then halts in mid air hanging motionless.

Wolf hears "Stop" and freezes, left forepaw and right hindpaw suspended in midair, holding perfectly still until it what exactly the situation is has been adequately sorted out.

Titan raises a brow, but heeds Harlequin's warning, just as he was about to step through. "Hmm. Well...perhaps further away than that."

Lia nods towards Harl. "I see. That would be bad then." It is good that the rock didn't like, wedge open the portal or something. "That's one hell of a hornet." She muses. "I wonder what else is trapped in that stasis field."

Harlequin makes a dismissive gesture gestures as he grounds the magick and closes the Gate. "Well, Lia, according to Pulsar, at least one dragon. As well as dozens or hundreds of birds, insects, and flying reptiles."

He then takes a deep breath, lets it out, and just tries to open the Gate without the theatrics this time.

Lia blinks, then frowns. "Oh. Um. Shoot. If it's anything like the last dragon... Um, how many of us use magic to attack?" She looks quite nervous at the mention of there being a dragon. Dragons aren't known to be easy to deal with

Titan says, "So, I'm guessing when we bring that stasis field down, they'll be freed, right?"

This time the gate opens on the lower slopes of the volcano's cone. Still above the jungle line but beneath the reach of the stasis field. And by luck it's also in a position such that the mouth of a cave leading deeper into the cone of the volcano is visible.

Charm says, "That might be a good reason to leave the world, quickly."

Titan peers through the gate, but waits for Harlequin to declare it's okay to go through.

Harlequin murmurs as he peers through the Gate. "Well, yes, but hopefully the child-goddess' miracle will affect this dragon when it is freed. Gives the chance of communication." The mage then shrugs. "It looks safe enough to me. Outside the stasis field in any case. Be wary of bandersnaqtches and jabberwocks."

Charm says, "And especially boojums."

"So that's what that was..." Lia muses. She never did quite get that memo. Until now. She hmms. "After we get rid of this stasis field, what happens? Is this what's causing the dimensional trapping thing to go off?"

Titan nods and steps through the gate, leading the way.

Wolf *clomps* onto a dead fallen creeper-vine from the jungle floor, and picks it up and carries it along as he hops through the gate to the tunnel leading into the base of the caldera. ..

Lia follows Wolf's lead, still with little motes of magic around her hand.

"Its a veritable menagerie of mythical creatures. Basically if its mythic and its got wings... and scales come to think of it. It's down there." Pulsar says in a tone full of warning. "But we know light isn't effected at all since we can see through the field. So I can get a better look if you guys think it will help. Whatever you guys need, I'm your guy." He says trying to be helpful. His beacon shines brightly with light from deep within.

He floats over to join Lia in scratching Wolf. It's one of the most human activities in his daily life, so he's happy to have Wolf along here in another dimension.

Charm stays toward the back, not being particularly invulnerable.

Titan shrugs, "I don't remember any stories from mythology where the creatures were drawn to radio waves. But Perseus didn't carry a radio. So there's that, too."

The attitude makes for a refreshing drop in temperature and humidity. Once through the gate the extent of the stasis field above you is clearly outlined by the many many flying creatures trapped in it. The cave mouth is about fifty yards ahead of you. It's big, twenty feet high and the same wide. The entrance is unusually square, as if not entirely natural.

Titan waits until everyone is through the gate before he starts heading toward the cave proper.

Harlequin comes through the Gate last then grounds the magickal energies of the Gate letting it close.

Wolf watches to see what happens when the half of the vine he's not holding is closed in the Gate, because, he doesn't know what would happen and has always wondered. He then offers the vine to Sasha in case he needs something to probe the trap with. ..

Titan continues up toward the cave. He shrugs his shoulders a little and looks around, just making sure no dinosaurs jump him.

Pulsar takes a position a few meters overhead, letting Titan lead. That way their two toughest are covering as much of the group as possible. He flies, always mindful of their rear. Since he doesn't need make a path, he flies through the thick follage as if it weren't there at all.

Warning bells sound off in Lia's head. "Wait! There's a trap (or something like it)." She calls out. As though to prove her point, she flies, grabs a stone, and tries tossing it into the point where the magic is focused.

Harlequin shouts out, "Stop Titan! Magical trap inside the cave mouth!"

Palanir is only a heartbeat behind Lia and Harlequin in calling out a warning.

Titan stops and looks back to Harlequin, "Huh. Can you tell waht kind of trap it is?"

Titan smiles. "I mean...if it's going to like...set me on fire or whatever, I'm not exactly worried. If it'll turn me into a dinosaur, I hope I at least turn into a big one. T-rex?"

The stone passes the point of the trap and clatters along the rocky floor further into the cave.

Lia huhs a little, and closes her eyes to better focus on the magic. She tries to scope out exactly what sort of magic she's dealing with here.

Lia looks towards the others. "It's some sort of teleport trap. But, I can't tell what it'll do, or where it'll send us. And clearly it wasn't activated with something as simple as a rock passing through it. So it's likely looking for living beings, intelligent beings, or magic beings. Though, I can't tell. I'm no expert in magic traps."

Titan looks at the tunnel. "If we can't get rid of the trap, perhaps we can just gate past it?"

Titan says, "Like...down the tunnel a little?"

Palanir has been looking at the trap. "If I was setting up a trap here," he muses, "with a convenient volcano at hand, I'd have it teleport the trappee into the lava."

Harlequin looks over at Palanir. "War Master, I am disturbed that we think alike at times," he muses. "Shall we try sending through a, hmm, insect? See what happens?"

Charm says, "Or into the stasis field, if it's meant to be non-lethal. But in the Dragon Wars, I doubt non-lethal is likely."

"That is dark." Pulsar says from overhead. "I mean... like. Geez."

Palanir continues to look. Then chuckles, "Ablewoman Charm. Go in and disable the trap. You'll find a physical focus attached to the cave wall hidden behind an illusion about ten paces past the trap." he says.

Lia nods towards Palanir and Harl. "Hmm, I wonder if I can dispel-oh, that works too." Lia says, looking towards Palanir. Lia shrugs, and looks towards Charm.

Harlequin looks over at Charm then to Palanir. "Let me guess, it is not triggered by Fae?"

Titan shakes his head, "There's more to it than that. Otherwise, Palanir could do it himself, right?"

Palanir smiles, "Correct, Lord Harlequin." he says. Palanir has been quite respectful towards Harlequin after earlier revelations.

Charm tries to spot what Palanir is talking about before even considering going in.

Palanir laughs, "Yes, I could. But you need me. While I am certain enough to do it myself if you wish, in the remote chance I'm wrong better the Ablewoman goes." he says.

"How about I try dispelling it first? If this works, then none of us need to worry about it." Lia suggests, venturing slightly ahead of the group, and focusing the fire magic in her hand. "Though, I don't really know if I have the strength to do that."

Harlequin taps the chin of his mask as he murmurs softly, "Yes, it does disturb me how much we think alike." He then looks over to Charm. "If you feel it is safe enough to risk, Ablewoman?"

Titan nods to Lia, "Try dispelling it first. I don't really want to endanger Charm if possible." He turns to Charm, "No disrespect intended, of course."

Charm says, "Safer than dispelling!"

Palanir shakes his head. "There's certain to be measures against that. If you wish to try I strongly suggest the rest of us withdraw to a safe distance."

Charm says, "Do you truly think measures against dragons would not be proof against dispelling?"

Titan shrugs, "No idea. Though as has already been mentioned...twice in the last couple of hours, dragons coming through the trap should have died."

Lia frowns, and backs away. "Alright." She looks a little sour, but doesn't seem she wants to argue.

Titan throws up his hands, "Fine. I'm out of my element. I'll defer to you, Charm. Up to you."

Charm decides. "I will go in." It's a point of honour. Her people were forced to these terrible measures. It is her duty to see her companions safely past them.

Charm enters the cave, walking lightly but gracefully. She seemingly reaches into the rock face deep in the cave and removes a small carved object. "It is done," she says, then studies the ancient object with no little curiosity.

Harlequin just listens and waits after saying his piece. He watches Charm carefully when she proceeds ready to do something if anything goes awry. He nods after she speaks. "Well, that was wonderfully anti-climatic. I wonder if there are airships from another world inside?"

Charm says, "It is a hopeful sign. If they wanted to let fae pass here then perhaps they meant for it to be possible to unmake the way trap."

Titan raises a brow, "Or perhaps there are some here now, as a caretaker or warden for the prison."

Titan points to the tunnel, "Any signs that someone's been through here recently?"

"It's as good a guess as any." Pulsar says to Titan as he drifts closer to get a better look inside.

Charm says, "Perhaps. I hope that all the defences here are fae. It is possible, in the Great Alliance, that several races would have been involved. A dwarven trap I would not like to face...." She examines the ground. "I see nothing, but I am no tracker."

Harlequin follows after the rest of the PG, making certain Palanir is ahead of him and in sight. "Are any of us skilled trackers? Or even Girl Guide level?"

Now the entrance trap is dealt with the group can make its way into the cave for another half mile or so. The cave shows signs of being 'improved' at various points. And the cave is far from straight. Eventually, however, the cave reaches a large cavern. At the opening to the cavern is a square carving of elven runes, a grid twelve wide and twelve deep. 144 runes in total. At the far end of the cavern, tarnished by great age, are a pair of Dwarven Centurions. Battle automata fifteen feet high, each one considered by dwarves to be a match for a full grown great dragon.

Lia walks along, and her eyes grow wide when she spots the huge Centurions. That's... troubling. Those things don't look friendly. Lia frowns, and looks between the others, to see what they think.

Charm examines the rune grid, checking it's not too archaic to understand. She also looks for any clue what one is supposed to do with it inscribed nearby.

Harlequin looks at the runes on the grid, commiting them to his mask's memory. Then he looks up at the centurions then up some more. "Hmm, well, those look menacing," he murmurs thoughtfully.

"So," he says as he rubs his gloved hands together. "Fae runes. Any chance that you, War Master, or you, Ablewoman Charn, know how to unlock what I assume it a puzzle? Any such thing as a master key?"

Titan looks at the keypad. "12 by 12, huh? Interesting choice."

Palanir rubs his chin with a hand, "Mmm... Tricky. Do you see anything, Ablewoman?"

Wolf *sniffs* around, here and there, now and again, to determine how long ago the last human(oid)s were here, and for clues as to who they might possibly be.

"If this were a human keypad, I would blow some dusting powder on it in the hope that it would reveal fingerprints on the keys used." Harlequinsighs softly. "Alas, I fear it is not that easy with this. Maybe if we used pixie dust?"

Charm says, "There is a glamour here." She indicates the wall next to the rune grid. "But I cannot see through it."

Pulsar chuckles quietly at Harlequin's joke.

Lia ignores Harl's joke, then has a thought. The magic around her shifts, as she closes her eyes. Bits of earth magic surround her, and enhance her ability to feel things. And then, she just taps her bare foot against the floor of the cave, and feels. Maybe the glamour doesn't work against this sense?

Harlequin glances over at Palanir. "War Master? Can you pierce the glamour? And if not, can either of you tell if it would trigger anything to dispel the glamour?"

Wolf .oO(sends

The sands of time have eaten all the scents that lingered here. Some time has passed since aught walked through -- much longer than a year.

)Oo.

Charm says, "The glamour is of great skill, though weakened by time. It is hard to guess what reaps may have been laid."

Palanir nods to Charm, "I am unable to even see the glamour. That is not one of my strengths." he sighs, "I dislike admitting defeat but in this case it may be easier to battle the automata than attempt to solve this riddle." Palanir turns to Lia, "I suspect attempting to dispel the glamour will activate them. But if it does not we may be able to bypass their challenge." Turning to Titan, "Your decision of course. You have my word to work with you as if I was one of your group, and that is the best advice I can give."

Charm frowns. "That dwarves and perhaps yet others were involved makes it yet harder to guess these riddles."

Lia sighs. She opens her eyes, and releases the spell. It takes a few seconds for her sight to come back into focus. She waits for Titan to speak before doing anything else.

Titan shrugs, "Go ahead and try to dispel it, I guess." He moves to make sure he's the first person contacted by hte defenders if they do indeed awake.

Charm says, "In those darkest of days the Great Alliance was formed - never have so many peoples worked together before or since. But who knows the secrets of those days?"

Palanir nods, "Indeed, Ablewoman. You are skilled and perceptive. Before I depart, perchance we might discuss a transfer of alliance? I can promise the opportunity to become of high rank in my kingdom on my success. Even as high as queen is not impossible." he says to Charm.

Harlequin looks over at Charm and Palanir. "I have a question: does glamour affect the dead?"

Pulsar floats up to stand side by side with Titan. He's learned in his short time with the Princess Guard that wherevever Titan goes damage follows. He looks to the leader of his team and nods.

Lia nods towards Titan. She stands next to him as well, aiming her arm at the source of the glamour. But she waits for this thing about the undead to resolve before trying to dispell anything.

Charm is rather shocked by Palanir's suggestion. That he even suggests such a high rank implies he at least guesses she is noble, despite pretences, which is worrying. So she's rather glad Harlequin's question gives her a reason not to respond, at least immediately. "In truth, I do not know. The fae deal seldom with the spirits of the dead."

Harlequin murmurs softly, "Well, might as well give it a go." He goes still for a long moment. Then a soft breeze carrying on the scent of old dry decay moves through the chamber. Harlequin lets out a breath that mists as if with cold then seems to just stop. After a moment, he moves somewhat stiffly and turns to face the area Charm indicated.

The mage moves towards the area, his gait stiff. After a moment, he takes off one of his gloves with difficulty to reveal a hand now pale and almost grey. His hand traces a line down in front of the area. Then in a voice robbed of life, he mutters, "I see a line of 12 runes. But Fae only should touch them."

Lia blinks a little at Harl. She had no idea he could do this. And she watches in a mixture of fascination and disgust.

Charm finds such magic more distasteful than disgusting. "Upon the grid? Which runes are they?"

"Ok that's pretty amazing." Pulsar says after he realizes his mouth has been hanging open this whole time. Considering the breeze that blew in- it's not a pleasant sensation.

Harlequin turns his head and points with his hand. "From top to bottom, they are in this order." He points to each of the runes in turn. His voice is only barely human any longer.

Charm presses the runes as indicated by the un-alive Harlequin.

When the final rune is pressed by Charm... even as far into the cave as you all are; the noise and commotion from outside is audible. Squawking and hooting and screeching. The noise grows louder. Then flying into sight in the cave behind you is a dragon. A dragon fleeing for its life in front of a pursuing pack of Prets. Now you realise what was odd about the dragon. It's no more than five feet in length. Just out of the egg.

When the little dragon catches sight of Charm and Palanir it frantically tries to back-wing, losing its stability and face-planting into the ground, sliding several feet on its abdomen. Making terrified meeping sounds the little dragon flaps its wings wildly as it scabbles with claws against the cold rock floor to get away from the fae, even though it is backing up towards the pursuing prets.

Wolf trots forward to calm and reassure the diminutive little monster, shimmering into his resplendent Ookami fur - coat along the way.

Charm says, "Peace, noble dragon. I mean you no harm!" in fae, though she fears so young a dragon will know no language but its own.

Lia blinks. She was... expecting things to happen. Like, maybe something that led deeper into the cave. But, not this. "So um, what does it mean now that the stasis field is down?" Lia asks, realizing she had not had the foresight to ask this prior.

Titan flies forward, trying to interpose himself between the dragon and anything following it.

Pulsar remains where he is, just in case something was activated and might come from deeper inside the cave.

"A baby dragon? That is stellar." He says appreciatively.

Harlequin turns to look at the commotion. He raises his greyish hand towards the baby dragon...then raises it so his finger points past the dragonet.

A shimmering wall of perfectly interlocking translucent blue octagons comes into existence behind the dragon. Perhaps a bit too far behind as it traps several of the prets on the heroes' side of the wall as well.