Log:Once Upon a Time, Scene 2

Once Upon a Time 2010/04/09 	 Flux Jennifer Jessica Lorelei Riot Titan Palanir Himhael Silidhor Merilwen Edhelnes 2

Lorelei says, "Superpowers don't seem to worry them. In many ways that's good, but it does make me wonder how common such things are here...."

Flux grins. "Sorry I'm late. This place is full of things I never seen before." After a second her mind catches up with her current course of action and she quickly forms woven ice over her body to act as clothing.

Lorelei says, "True. And don't worry Flux. We're here to look around, in a sense."

After having some time to roam free in the city's market square, the visiting heroes are rounded up by the guard. They are brought across the bridge and to the castle. The outer walls of the castle are five stories tall, with guards looking down people as they approach. The sole entrance is through a set of giant gates. There's a delay before the gates open, with the sound of giant gears churning and chains clanking. The party moves forward into the gatehouse, and the massive portal closes behind them. In front, a smaller set of heavy doors prevents moving forward to the next area. For the present, the heroes will be in here with their guards...

Lorelei for now goes where she's taken, keeping an eye out for everything of interest, not least the fortifications. Though she imagines Jenn has that side of thing well covered.

Flux seems to be oblivious to the situation's more tactical points, just doing her best to stay near the others so that she does not get lost again.

Jennifer isn't expecting trouble. But that isn't stopping her from checking out the defenses, and maintaining a constantly updated plan of just how to break out/break in/neutralize the surrounding guards/etc.

Titan follows along, idly curious about whether or not he could lift the gates. Then he promptly puts those doubts out of his mind. Of course he can. Clearly. He looks around at the various guards and fortifications, not terribly concerned about memorizing anything. After all, the group can handle anything thrown at them.

Jessica is looking around the enclosed area, "Seems they have some mighty bad borrowing neighbors."

Titan looks over to Jessica, "Hmm? What do you mean?"

The Captain of the Guard turns towards his men. There are eleven of them, including himself. "Alright. Search them for weapons -- we don't want any surprises when bring them before the royal court." His men begin to move to search the heroes.

Jennifer says, "It's a joke. This place is built to contain people entering the castle grounds. The kind of people who want to borrow things, like a cup of sugar, or a throne."

Flux steps away from the searchers. "I'm not carrying any weapons," she says firmly.

Titan chuckles at the thought of having to carry a weapon. He doesn't move away from the guard attempting to search him.

Two of the guards look at one another and seem to agree: there's not much chance of Flux concealing something in her costume.

Jennifer and Jessica hand over their swords, thruster rods, a number of grenades, pairs of nun-chucks. "Look after it. I'll want them back."

Lorelei readily hands over the Swiss army knife she has. "That's all I have that could be considered a weapon."

"Let me see those," the Captain says to the guard who's received Jennifer's and Jessica's katanas. He takes one and rotates the grip in his hand, judging the weight of it. He starts to examine the blade.

Jennifer and Jessica then put their energy whip controllers on the ground. "Don't touch those. If you don't how to handle them they'll cut you apart."

"Hmph," the Captain says. He tosses Jennifer a suspicious look. He hands the blades over to one of his men. "Run these down to the armory. Make sure that they don't leave." He takes a moment to size up Jennifer and Jessica.

The guards will collect the duffel bags of supplies as well, pretty much everything that isn't clothing.

Lorelei asks the captain diplomatically, "Is something the matter?"

Jennifer and Jessica smile at the Captain.

Flux emits a distinct cold, making the whole area a little less warm. "Why are they taking the supplies?" she asks quietly of Titan.

The Captain says, "Cold iron blades. If I were the thinking sort, I might wonder how many of us your two friends have killed with them." He pauses to look at the twins. "But I'm not -- I just follow orders."

Titan shrugs a little bit, and says quietly to Flux. "Overly cautious, I guess. Plus you never know if a particular person here might have a death allergy to a dinner roll."

A guard comments: "Can't have any surprised. Not at a time like this."

Jennifer says, "They don't know who we are, Flux. This is not a peaceful land. This castle is built for defense. At considerable cost. That's not doneunless it needs toi be. They're just taking precautions before letting us in to see the King. All very reasonable." Jessica laughs, "Actually, Captain, none. I can't remember ever using the swords in combat."

Lorelei says, "I can assure you, our intent isn't hostile. Quite the reverse."

"I'm not the one you'll need to convince," the Captain says. "Alright, let's move forward."...

As there is no longer the likelyhood of being groped by strange men looking for "weapons", Flux relaxes and with her relaxation comes normalization of temperature.

Lorelei says, "I daresay, but still, I see no reason for misunderstandings."

Lorelei moves along.

Jennifer follows Lorelei, spreading out a little between herselves.

Titan shrugs a bit, and follows. He didn't seem to notice the drop in temperature, despite standing near Flux. "I predict we'll have a quest of some sort asked of us."

After confiscating all of the gear, the group of guards escort the heroes into the castle. On the inside of the wall, there's a courtyard garden. It's lush, vibrant, and colorful. The guards stick to the cobblestone path that leads from the walls to the tower in the middle of the courtyard. It's in the middle of the day and the landscaping crew seems to be at work, tending he ground with, well, magic.

Lorelei watches less the castle and more the people as we move inwards, trying to judge the culture, the protocol and generally how to behave around here.

Flux meanwhile does not even try to not stand out among the strangers, staying near Titan more than others.

In the yard, a gardener coaxes flowers to bloom on a bush with a tune he plays on a flute. Another one wrestles over a rake literally with some animated ivy. From the guards reaction, all of this seems commonplace. They escort everyone into the tower.

Jennifer says, "Have I mentioned before," confiding quietly to Titan and Flux, "how much I really don't like magic."

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Titan chuckles. "No, you hadn't. It's just a power like any other, though."

Eventually, the group is brought through a number of chambers to the throne room, which is on the ground floor.

The throne room of castle Undermoon is elegant area constructed of marble with gold ornamentation. The center of the room is the throne itself which is set upon a raised stage, with three steps leading up to it. The wall behind the throne is covered with a tapestry of a lovely deep purple. This color extends to the rug that covers the rest of the raised area. The rest of the floor is bare marble.

To the left and the right of the throne, a handful of exquisitely attired people wait, some standing and some sitting. A balcony runs along the sides and rear of the room this is where the people of lesser standing sit. The ceiling is high in here. It's arched -- two stories tall at the sides and three stories at the peak in the middle of the room.

Lorelei says, "What troubles you about it in particular? Well, other than having no clue how it works..."

Jennifer says, "Having no clue how it works. Makes it unpredictable to me. How can I plan a viable tactical response to something I don't understand?"

Open conversation breaks out amongst the people on either side of the throne, and the gallery of people looking down from the balcony area. They stare and they point.

Flux in turn presents a wave, wide smile.

Lorelei does her best to make a good first impression, making use of what she's observed of manners here.

Titan grins, looking to Jennifer. "You'll be able to do it. Trust your instincts." He raises a brow, and looks around as the group walks into the throne room.

There's a man seated in the throne. "Come to order," he says in a strong voice, and the gallery quiets. He rises from his seat and addresses Lorelei, Flu, Titan, and the twins. "I am Himhael, the Regent of Undermoon. Your arrival here has led to a lot of questions and speculation. We'll get to the bottom of it."

Jennifer and Jessica and looking around, keeping full coverage of the throne room.

Himhael says, "Who are you and what are you doing in this Kingdom."

Titan raises a brow at the mention of the word 'regent'. So, Himhael isn't the King. Curious.

Lorelei performs a curtsey, hoping the etiquette is correct. She answers (wishing she knew the correct for on address for a regent), "My name is Stephanie Dallimore. My mother, I believe, came from here, but she died before she told me anything about it. I came to see where she came from, and perhaps find family."

Almost instantly, the crowd begins talking again, in response to Lorelei's statement. "Impossible!" one man says -- he's standing to the left of the Regent. "This must be some kind of trick."

Titan considers the two men, watching closely. . o 0 ( Hmm. Kind of like the plot of that movie. Wish I could remember the name of it. )

Jennifer chuckles softly, "Wormtongue speaks." she mutters tp the group.

Lorelei looks calmly at her accuser, but says nothing. She's rather more curious why he thinks it's impossible.

Palanir rubs his chin. "But Silidhor, you must admit the resemblance is striking..."

Himhael's voice cuts in over the cross conversation. "Tell me Stephie... what was your mother's name?"

Silidhor responds to Palanir, "Palanir, look at her round ears and tell me that she's related to someone from here."

Lorelei says, with growing nervousness, "Her name was Leanne." That anyone at this level might know her mother is a rather unnerving concept.

Chaos erupts at the sound of Lorelei's statement. People begin talking freely amongst themselves. Palanir and Silidhor get into a heated argument amongst themselves for a bit.

Titan chuckles quietly, "Clearly someone of import."

Jennifer move up a little closer to Lorelei, flanking her on both sides, just in case.

Lorelei just stands and watches. Trying to work out precisely what the argument is about. And who, if anyone, is worried. And especially who might be inimical to her.

Nelnir rises to this feet: "Did she say Lian --" Quickly Hallnis cuts him off with a tug on his sleeve. "Quiet, you fool! She could be watching us now!"

Silidhor says, "This is probably some sort of goblin trick - some sort of plot they're hatching." Palanir says, "If the goblins are capable of this kind of deception, then we're all in trouble."

Himhael shouts over the top of the noise and chatter, "To order! To order!" He sighs and waits for the crowd to come back to paying him some attention. Then he addresses Lorelei. "What proof do you have?"

Lorelei says, "I had a picture of her, but that was detroyed at Aunt Silif's - ah! I still have a copy on my PDA. I have some things in her handwriting. I have nothing else, not with me. She left very little for me - though she did leave the enchanted candle by which I came to this place."

Lorelei says, "The guards will have that. Otherwise - hm. I remember a song she used to sing me to sleep with. It's been coming back to me lately. It's a strange song where I'm from, so I imagine it comes from here. I suppose that doesn't prove much, though."

Flux folds her arms, not liking the situation. It seems pretty stupid to her, all this fuss over something so simple.

Lorelei says to Silidhor, "As for my ears, sir, the explanation is simple: my father is human."

Himhael signals to the Captain. "Let's see this portrait. And the notes... Let her show us these documents."

Lorelei says, "THe documents are in my bag."

Silidhor scoffs. "Humans."

Lorelei holds off on the explanation of the PDA. It's possible they're familiar with them.

The guard brings Lorelei's bag over to her so she can present whatever information she needs.

The throne room of castle Undermoon is elegant area constructed of marble with gold ornamentation. The center of the room is the throne itself which is set upon a raised stage, with three steps leading up to it. The wall behind the throne is covered with a tapestry of a lovely deep purple. This color extends to the rug that covers the rest of the raised area. The rest of the floor is bare marble.

To the left and the right of the throne, a handful of exquisitely attired people wait, some standing and some sitting. A balcony runs along the sides and rear of the room this is where the people of lesser standing sit. The ceiling is high in here. It's arched -- two stories tall at the sides and three stories at the peak in the middle of the room.

Lorelei brings her mother's letter (the one that explained the candle) and a few oterh things from her bag. And she brings up the picture on the PDA.

The PDA's battery is dead. Really, it ought to hold a charge much longer than this.

Lorelei frowns. "THe battery's dead. DOes anyone have one that's working?"

Titan shrugs, "Could check my bag, I guess. Perhaps the battery's working on mind."

Titan says, "Mine, rather."

Himhael beckons to Lorelei. "Bring those papers forward. Let's have a look."

Lorelei takes the papers forward to Himhael.

Jennifer nods, "Probably." She looks at the Captain, "I'll need one of the crystals that were left in the courtyard between the gates."

After a quick check, none of the PDAs have a charge left. One of them has moss growing out of its battery compartment.

The Captain says to Jennifer, "One of the ones too dangerous to handle? Do I look like I was born last year?"

Riot is here! Really! He's just been unusually quiet. The bonehead remains with his hands shoved in his pockets, bare feet taping the ground with his foot.

Jennifer tells the Captain, "No. I'm guessing you were born a good few hundred years ago. But from warrior to warrior, that device is no more dangerous than I am without it. And it may be the other way to show the picture on Lorelei's PDA to the Regent."

Himhael looks at the document for a moment. "What kind of scrawl is this? Palanir, you've been to human lands before... take a look at this." He hands off the papers to Palanir. "Yes, Lord Regent," he says. He begins to study the writing.

Lorelei thinks. o O (That photo was the only good proof I had! Why did you have to leave me so little, mum?)

The Captain says to Jennifer, "We're not going to take any chances. Not after what happened to the King. You lot still could be spies."

Titan looks to Lorelei, "Try the song."

Titan shrugs, "If they know it, great. If they don't, clearly you're not who they're worried about. So, then we can be on our way and look for your mother."

"Ah, English..." Palanir says. "It could be her, but the writing is so different from our script. It's hard to tell."

Titan smirks a little bit at Riot's comments...after all, that's what James Bond did in his 125 movies so far. Go in the front door, usually.

Jennifer says, "Captain, would you return with me to the courtyard? I'll take Lorelei's PDA, and if I can make it operate you'll be able to tell the Regent what you saw. There's no risk if it's done back in the courtyard is there?"

Flux looks mildly amused at what Riot says. "Some spies might," she says with a shrug.

The Captain growls at Riot. "Remember where you are and watch your tongue, man."

Jessica says, "He'll go cross-eyed if he tries to do that, Captain."

Lorelei sighs. "Then I have no proof with me, if the PDA can't be made to work again, except what little I remember...." And she starts to sing the song. It's a lullaby, she imagines, and she's probably messing up the words somewhat, since they were nonsense to her when she learned it, but the tune is clear in her memory.

A second voice joins in, filling the spaces where Lorelei falters. It's Merilwen, who seems to know the melody and the words by heart.

Titan smiles as he hears the second voice, and watches Merilwen.

Lorelei stops after a few verses. "That's all I can remember... I probably messed the words up a lot... I never knew what they meant."

Once the song is over, Merilwen stands and explains: "It's a lullaby, passed down through the family over the ages. Father sang it to us when we were young and I sang it to Canador when he was a child..." She looks to Lorelei. "It's possible, that she is related to my sister somehow."

Lorelei smiles gratefully to her presumed relative for her support - though 'possible' is not as much as she would have liked.

"Sweet mama jamma, ain't dat what we been sayin'?"

Grunts Riot, crossing his thick arms again. And grumbling.

Himhael looks to Merilwen, listening intently. He sighs. "Really there is only one way to be certain if she is related -- the Trial of Blood. At noon tomorrow, we will put all these questions to rest."

Titan raises a brow. "What's involved in this Trial?"

Lorelei thinks. o O (If they mean DNA testing, this is good. If they mean trial by combat, not so much.)

Jennifer thinks. o O (Maybe it's trial by combat. That would be good if champions are allowed. I really want to smack a few faces here.)

Riot doesn't think his conjunctions. He speaks them. Loudly. "AY YO. Dis one o' dem thangs where I gitta beat down some o' ya'll ***es fo' de, uh, Lei's honor?"

Titan shakes his head, and looks to Riot, saying quietly "It'll probably be a magical test of heredity of some sort. Something that can't be learned. Only inherited. But I want to hear it from them."

"It's a ritual that will bear out the truth," Himhael says. "If she speaks truthfully, then she has nothing to fear."

Titan nods to Himhael, "Who is this person that you're so concerned that Lorelei may be related to? Another noble, clearly...but based on everyone's reaction, probably much more, yes?"

Himhael looks to his right for someone. "Edhelnes," he speaks, addressing a gray-haired older woman. "See to it that our guests are housed in the southern wing." He then says to the Captain, "Lothven. Make sure they are not allowed to roam without an escort."

Lorelei says, "Thank you, sir."

Himhael rises and prepares to leave. Everyone else in the room stands as well.

Lorelei keeps an eye out the reaction of the major players to all this. If she has enemies she'd like to know.

Titan watches as his last question is summarily ignored.

Titan says loud enough for the exiting nobles to hear, in a stage whisper, "The silence is deafening. They're worried that you'll inherit the throne, Lorelei. Or at least some of them are worried."

Edhelnes is one of the older people here. She smiles to the Lorelei and nods to the others. "It's been a while since we've had guests! Right this way, please..." She waits to lead the them all out. Accompanied by some guards, of course.

Silidhor says, "A human on the throne? Laughable."

Lorelei replies. "Surely not - you're reading far too mch into this!" rather wishing Titan hadn't spoken so loud. Comments like that will make enemies, true or not. And she sees no evidence of it.

Palanir says, "This does complicate matters."

Lorelei moves over to go with Edhelnes, but without hurry: she wants to hear what she can of the discussion.

Jennifer nods to Silidhor, "I agree. Laughable. Lorelei has far better things to do that sit on the throne of a small unimportant Kingdom in a realm far from her own. The idea is nonsensical."

Lorelei thinks. o O (Are they *trying* to get me killed?!)

Silidhor says aside to Palanir. "Wouldn't that make her your step-daughter? You know, we wouldn't be in any of this trouble, if your affairs at home were properly sorted."

Flux frowns. "Uh. Why are we trying to piss them off?"

Riot. o O (What would happen if I *TRIED* to get her killed?)

Titan shakes his head, and looks to Lorelei, "They've been too quiet about who they're afraid you're related to. Think about it. If my guess is wrong, then there's nothing to fear. They'll just think I'm crazy. Which I may be. But, if I'm right, then all I'm doing is pointing out...that their concerns have been noticed. Well, and that I don't like being ignored."

Jennifer tells Flux, "Reciprocation. What Titan said basically."

Palanir responds sharply to Silidhor, "These are the moments that I'll remember, Silidhor. Later, when you need a favor."

[To Titan] Lorelei says, "If you;re wrong, you just gave people a reason to hate me they didn't have before, though. We don't know anything about how things work here. DOn't make any assumptions."

Titan shakes his head. "I fail to see why people would hate you for my making an assumption. If I'm wrong, they're just going to think me an idiot."

Edhelnes shakes her head and sighs. "I'm sorry that you've had to see all this," she explains. She'll walk the heroes out of the room and to their quarters, chatting along the way.

Lorelei says to Edhelnes, "Can you explain to me what they're arguing about exactly? We really have no idea what's going on here - we've only been here a couple of hours!"

Flux glances at Riot, "Yeah, but we're not from here. We're sort of guests here."

Jennifer thinks. o O (I'm sorry, Lorelei. But honestly, you can see why your mother left this place.)

"Things have been very different," Edhelnes explains, "Since the King was poisoned."

Lorelei says, "Poisoned? When? By whom?"

Riot pauses for a moment. "... Dayumn." And then he's talking to Ed. "SO, dat why dem guards got stick up dey ***es?"

Titan keeps quiet at this point, following, but keeping toward the back of the group. . o 0 ( I probably should have kept my mouth shut. I probably only really accomplished showing the court that I'm uncouth.) He sighs a bit, listening to the conversation, but focusing on the walls and the construction as the group continues to walk through hallways.

"It was almost a month ago," Edhelnes explains. "The assassin was never caught I'm afraid. We think it was the goblins -- they inhabit the woods to the west of the kingdom."

Lorelei nods. "And the king had no heir?"

Lorelei thinks. o O (How dies the translation spell work on that? I can't work out what Riot's saying half the time....)

"Back when I was a child," she says, "We were at war. We would fight and take some ground, and then they would fight and take it back. Those were hard days, painful days. Under the King, the fighting stopped. There wasn't a truce or anything, but the fighting died down aside from the occasional border skirmish."

Lorelei nods, wondering how long ago that was. She didn't even know the fae got old at all.

Edhelnes says to Lorelei, "Well, Himhael was elected to be Regent in the meantime. There was a clear heir -- the King has two daughters, Merilwen and -- the other one... Merilwen and Delanu were named to inherit the throne, because their were the only of the King's children to give him a grandchild..."

Titan shakes his head, and watches Riot, having finally caught one of his slips in dialect. "Huh." He raises a brow at Edhelnes's comment, though...since it turns out his guess was probably actually right by some freak occurrence. Otherwise, he keeps quiet, still in the back of the pack of people, with only a couple of guards behind him.

Edhelnes says, "But he was lost when he tried to venture into the Great Swamp to find a cure for the King."

Riot holds up a hand. "Yo, question. Dis King still' kickin', baby, o' he six feet down?"

Flux looks suspicious. "Oh, that's convenient. Anyone else smell fish on that last part?"

Lorelei looks rather shocked that Titan might be right too. "And - the other one -" she respects the lack of naming. "What became of her?"

Jennifer says, "Yes. A big smelly one, Flux."

Edhelnes says, "Everyone knows the Swamp is dangerous. The Regent forbid him from going. But still, he went." She turns to Lorelei, "I -- it might be best if you heard about her from Merilwen, or from her husband, Palanir."

Titan says quietly...almost idly, "Perhaps we can find the heir in the swamp. It may restore some order. Or perhaps the cure can still be found for the king, if the king still lives."

Lorelei thinks. o O (Then I did hear it right.)

Lorelei says, "Husband?"

Edhelnes says, "The king could pass any day now. And after that happens, the nobles will have to vote on the successor."

Jennifer looks at Titan and Riot. "A quest. I just knew it would end up with us on a quest. Great Swamp, here we come, huh."

Flux nods. "So let us look for that cure. I can fly. Um." She looks around. "Oh wow. I'm the only flier here. They're all pretty awesome at doing stuff."

Titan smiles slightly, looking to Jen. "It's part of the idiom."

Edhelnes shakes her head at Jennifer, "You don't understand... People don't come back from the Swamp. It corrupts you. It twists them into awful creatures."

She adds, "It's where the Lost Princess makes her home."

Lorelei says, "No healers with us, though... saving the king is what we really want to do..."

Lorelei goes pale on hearing that, remembering what happened with Aunt Silif.

Lorelei says, "But... she can't be if she's..."

Titan tilts his head, "Think that's where your mom is, Lorelei? We can see if we can recover her. Perhaps this swamp doesn't actually change humans."

Lorelei says, "It can't be - Mum's dead - but..."

Lorelei says, "I don't understand this..."

Jennifer says, "Well now we know who put the hex on the Diviner, Lorelei."

Lorelei says, "It fits... if somehow she's been corrupted - but how can she be alive?"

Titan shrugs a bit, "Stranger things have happened."

Jennifer turns to Edhelnes, "Okay, time for the straight talk. Who is Lorelei's mother? What's her relationship with folks here?"

Lorelei says, "We have to rescue her! If it is her. I have to know, even if it isn't!"

Edhelnes says to Lorelei, "You look a lot like her, you know... just.. more radiant." She frowns at Jennifer, reluctant to say anything more.

Lorelei says to Edhelnes, "Please! I need to know!"

Jessica says, "Lorelei, I don't think the Lost Princess can be your mother. If these folks thought there was even a chance of that, we'd have every guard in the castle ringing us. But... Edhelnes, give us a map for the territory. Who's who?"

Titan shakes his head. "Jen...they won't say anything, much like the nobles wouldn't. In stories, names have power. Perhaps here too. If Lorelei's mom was a princess, and the person in the swamp has been dubbed the 'Lost Princess'...AND they won't talk about Lorelei's mom - well, it seems pretty clear. And on top of that, that's where the cure for the king is...and where the heir went. Either way, we need to check out the swamp to try to confirm it."

Lorelei thinks. o O (Only if the Regent wants me to live, Jessica...)

Edhelnes says haltingly, "The Lost Princess... the Other Daughter... we have a few different names for her. All to avoid speaking her true name, because to do so is the invite trouble. She'll hear it, you know."

Lorelei thinks. o O (That confirms it... what was said when I said Mum's name....)

Lorelei says, "But.. I don't understand! How can she be in the swamp? What happened to her?!"

Jennifer says, "Yes or no. That's not asking you to speak a name. Is Lorelei's mother and this Lost Princess the same person?"

Titan smiles slightly to himself, falling silent again as they continue to walk.

Lorelei thinks. o O (Didn't she die in the crash? Or did Dad just tell me that? And if he made it up, why didn't he tell me the truth when I found out the rest?)

Flux speaks up, "I got another stupid question."

Riot asides. "I gotta stupid answer." And he grins.

Edhelnes nods to Jennifer. "I know it in my bones."

Flux asks, "How do you know what the cure is if it only grows in the swamp and no one ever comes out of there?"

Jessica smiles at Flux, "Another? You think my question was stupid? You may be right of course."

Flux shrugs. "I got lots of them. I have no idea how stupid other questions are."

Jennifer says, "Lorelei, I have a couple of things to say. First... Dopples. The Lost Princess in the swamp might be a version of your mother, but not your actual mother. Second, she may have been twisted by whatever is in the swamp and need rescuing herself. Third, even if she is your mouther and evil, that says nothing about you. Just remember who *my* family are."

Edhelnes says to Flux, "It wasn't always swamp there. Before it was meadows and back then, the plant grew in one particular field. We don't even know for certain that it's still there, but some where willing to hope for it."

Flux nods. "So um. You guys probably brought binoculars or something. I can fly over it and see if it's in that area."

Lorelei says, "When did it become the swamp - and how?"

Lorelei thinks. o O (It sounds like it being a swamp is part of the corruption, whatever it is...)

Titan points to Jen, "Think about all the stories you know. It's probably the second option. Tainted by something in the swamp. And there's something that caused the swamp to grow. Like the Dark Side of the Force tainting it. 'We'll only find there what we bring with us'"

Edhelnes says to Flux, "The Swamp is a magical place... from the skies it's shielded by a fog. You won't be able to see anything from very high up."

[To Jessica] Lorelei says, "You know, you're right. About magic, I mean."

Jennifer nods.

Jennifer says, "Edhelnes, what happens tomorrow when this trial of blood reveals Lorelei is the daughter of the Lost Princess? What's the reaction going to be?"

Lorelei says, "We need to find someone who knows about this stuff. What could cause this corruption, how to undo it...."

Edhelnes shrugs and nods her head slightly to Riot, indicating that his answer is mostly correct.

Edhelnes answers Lorelei: "She crafted the Swamp herself..."

Lorelei says, "Oh."

Lorelei thinks. o O (So it happened to *her* first? But what happened to her?!)

Titan raises a brow at that. "Hmm"

Edhelnes says, "... There was a period of time during which the Other Daughter was lost in the realms of man. Something horrible must have happened to her there -- it's as though when she returned, a part of her was missing..."

Jennifer says, "We get a night's sleep, then go to the swamp in the morning before this trial thing. Bring back the Lost Princess and the antidote. Cure the King. Straighten out the Lost Princess. Simple enough. Ought to be back by tea time."

Riot glances at Jenn, and flips a thumb at Lorelei's back silently. 'Something missing'?

Jessica nods at Riot.

Lorelei says, "A part? What sort of part?"

Titan nods in quiet agreement with Riot's assessment.

Lorelei thinks. o O (SOmething that the Black King did? Or... what if she really is dead, and is some sort of undead now or - damn, I don't know anything about anything when it comes to magic!)

Lorelei nods. "We've got to try and save her from... whatever has happened to her. And save the king."

"Her heart," Edhelnes says, responding to Lorelei's question.

Lorelei says, "So it really doesn't matter what the trial tomorrow finds. I've no interest in the thro -"

Riot rolls his shoulders. "Ain't here fo' de King. Be here fo' my friends, Lei Lei. But, uh, since dey connected, hell, why not?" He then grins, and claps a hand. "SO. Who we bunkin' wit?"

Lorelei stops short in the middle of the sentence at the reply.

Titan says quietly, "So...they're not really concerned about your ascension, Lorelei. I was mistaken." He pauses, "And as I think we've already guessed, you're going to be the key to your mother's recovery." He says it out loud, since Lorelei wasn't really privvy to the motion Riot made.

Jennifer tells Riot, "You're with me." She grins, "Before you get all excited, we'll be pulling sentry duty tonight."

Flux asks, "We're doing what?"

Riot t'chs. "Damn, Jen. Get my hopes all up.." And he laughs, before going back to listening to Lorelei lay her life out. . o O (Maybe I outta take this more seriously. I mean, what if I found out -my- mother was an evil bitch? .. Wait, too late.)

Lorelei says, "I won't be sleeping, myself. I couldn't if I wanted to."

Lorelei thinks. o O (If it's her heart.... maybe we need dad.)

Jennifer says, "Edhelnes, we'll be wanting to leave for the swamp early tomorrow morning. With whatever of our equipment is still working. Is that likely to be a problem? And can you be here to clear us through the hassles and busybodies?"

Riot adds to Jenn's thought. "Or do we just make a door and let ourselves out?"

Jennifer says, "I'd rather not have to smack down the Captain. He strikes me as a guy who takes his duties seriously. One enemy at a time is usually enough."

Riot grunts, and mutters. "Hell, I wouldn't mind. Sometime, folk need dey *** handed to 'em."

Edhelnes says, "The Regent will be disappointed..." She pauses and looks at Lorelei before continuing. "But I'll do my best. Your equipment... I don't think I'll be able to fetch that without alerting Lothven and the guards."

Lorelei frowns. "Not good. How much of that do we actually need?"

Titan says, "The test could be taken when we get back, anyway. Or the recovery of her mom would be enough proof, I think."

Jennifer looks at the other heroes, "I could go talk to Lothven. If he's loyal to the King, and I'll bet good hard cash he is, he might play along."

Flux looks at Lorelei. "Um. I think we're looking at this backwards."

[To Flux] Lorelei says, "What do you mean?"

The twins stop and wait to hear what Flux has to say.

Flux replies, "Well... she seemed like she was missing something and then she went out and all the bad stuff started happening? I'm a little confused here but I think that's the gist of it?"

Lorelei says, "Yes..."

Flux nods. "So um. Maybe we should bring to her whatever is missing..."

Lorelei says, "And how do we do that?"

Jennifer glances at Riot with a nod, and then points at Lorelei, "Five gets you twenty you're looking at what's needed."

Flux shrugs slowly. "That's all I got. I'm pretty confused by all this but that's how it works in the stories. The missing piece is brought to the dark one, and the dark one changes back to light."

Titan nods. "Yup. That's the thought."

Lorelei frowns. "I was thinking Dad," she says to Jennifer. "BUt getting him isn't practical at the moment."

Titan smiles. "Don't underestimate the love of a mother for her children."

[To Flux] Jennifer says, "I think you're right. Only the single item we have that might count is Lorelei. Going home isn't an option, we don't have any way back. So all we have is what's with us now."

Lorelei says, "What I don't understand is - if it broke her heart so much, why did she leave?!"

Flux nods. "Okay. so..." she looks to the hostess lady, "Does that sound reasonable?"

Jennifer says, "Probably not by choice, Lorelei. Suppose, just for a possibility, part of her died on our world and part was returned here involuntarily."

Edhelnes says to Flux, "Going to the Swamp sounds unreasonable. But I wish you the best to luck."

Titan nods in agreement with Jennifer, but keeps quiet, not really feeling the urge to annoy Lorelei further than he already has.

Flux looks at Lorelei, "Did she leave you anything at all? A locket or something you wear close to your heart?"

Jennifer says, "Jess will stay here. If Edhelness agrees I'll go talk to the Captain about getting our gear released."

Lorelei says, "No - nothing but the letter and the candle...."

Flux asks Edhelnes, "I kinda get the idea that no one from here goes into our world for long. Aside from getting funny looks is there a reason for that?"

Lorelei nods to Jennifer. "Equipment is good. See what you can do."

Riot grunts for a moment, considering the equipment problem. Personally, he never carried anything; Most of it broke when he held onto it. But the others ain't so lucky. He pats Jen on the shoulder, and says: "Jen, got a min' fo a word er two?"

Jennifer nods to Riot, "Sure. Jess will be here."

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