Log:Once Upon a Time, Scene 1

Once Upon a Time 2010/04/03 	 Rebound|Alex Bard Jennifer Lorelei Maenor Aunt Silif 1

The living room of Lorelei's apartment is huge, taking up a pie-shaped eighth of the entire floor, not counting the central staircase and elevators. Despite the closet and several well-stuffed sofas and armchairs, the place looks almost bare: there's a lot of furnishing still to be done. There's no sign of a television or sound system. Light comes from the vast window, in fact a huge sliding door to the balcony, or from glowing walls. To the right a passageway curves its way a third of the way round the floor, with doors off to the lavatory and bathroom to the right and the dining room, kitchen, guest bedroom and master bedroom to the left, and ending in a closet. Large folding doors to the dining room also lead straight off the living room, allowing the two to be combined into an even larger space.

"Just... about... ready," Alex says, talking while he's got most of his attention on his PDA. He looks up and over to Jennifer. "Jen? I'll need you to move that third monitoring station over by the windows, so that it forms a triangle with the other two. Then I'll be set."

Lorelei fusses over getting the 'magic candle' set up in the middle of the room, checking the notes her mother left and she does so. Various gear she's packed for the expedition lies round about.

Jessica moves over, "I've got it, Alex. This," she says looking at Lorelei and then Alex, "is almost like old times. Good to be working with both of you again. No chance you can get the time free to come I suppose, Alex?"

Lorelei says, "Alex has to stay to make sure he can bring us back. If it comes to that...."

Jennifer is checking the two LARGE framed rucksacks the twins turned up with. Their matching katanas are propped up against a wall and both twins are wearing utility torso harnesses with many pouches all bulging with additional gear.

Lorelei checks the instructions again. "There's not really much to it, it seems. I hope this works - I'm going to look pretty silly if nothing happens...."

Alex smiles. "Yeah, it kind of is like old times." He nods to echo Lorelei's previous statement. "If anything happens, I want to be able to use the full resources of Transmat XD to bring you guys back."

Jennifer says, "Nothing happening isn't the worst outcome Lorelei. Getting turned into toads would be worse for example."

There's a knock at the door. "Hello?" Bard calls out hearing the voices inside. He looks at the paper he recieved with directions. "this is the correct place right?"

Lorelei says, "There you are, Marcus - come in!"

Bard opens the unlocked door. "Sorry I'm running late, couldn't find my flashlight." He says. Over one shoulder is a Mandolin case on a strap and over the other is a large duffel bag that seems to be completely filled, and have very old cave mud stains on it. "Been a while since I had to break out this puppy." He indicates the bag.

Lorelei says, "I had to buy new gear, myself!"

Jennifer laughs, "I had to call Hartford and get them to forward my old gear."

Lorelei grins. "YOu seem to have a better collection that the rest of us."

Alex starts to give Bard a casual nod while he focuses on his PDA, but he ends up doing a double-take, ending up looking at Bard. "Hey."

Jennifer adds, "Cold iron..." she points to the katanas, "... and loads of water and K-rations. A common theme in the tales say it's a bad idea to eat or drink stuff from the fae realm."

Lorelei says, "That's a good point. Maybe I should have packed more food...."

Bard nods to Alex. "Hey, how ya doing?" He smiles. "Yeah, leave it to Jenn to come more prepared than any boyscout will ever be." He smirks

Jennifer chuckles, "I figure it's not going to be possible to pop out to the local shop if we're missing something. So I brought everything I thought might be useful."

Bard nods. "Good planning."

"Alex Winter. Nice to meet you," Alex says to Bard. He points to the middle of the room. "You guys can get set up there." There are three large monitoring stations, each the size of an industrial refridgerator. Alex clicks a few buttons on his PDA and the stations power up with a bass hum that slide upwards into a high-pitched electric whine.

Lorelei says, "I hope I've remembered everything... usually I seem to forget to pack something though."

Lorelei looks at where Alex indicates and moves where she's set up by a few feet.

Bard hitches his bag over his shoulder. "Well it's a pleasure Alex." He smiles. "I brought food water a tent and a sleeping bag. The tent is large enough for one, but it's expandable so I can fit someone else, but your going have to -really- like me to do that."

Jennifer and Jessica move to the spot indicated. "Alex. While I'm away can you do me a favour? Try to smooth over my relationship with Jon Masters. I was kind of uptight when I saw him last time and I guess the threatening leaning on him didn't help. See if you can convince him I'm really an okay person, hey."

Alex nods. "Sure thing, Jen."

Lorelei looks about. "Is everyone ready?"

Bard nods, grinning.

Jennifer nods.

Jessica and Jennifer are holding the rucksacks, so they can be dropped to gain full mobility if needed, and have katanas to hand.

Lorelei says, "Ok then. This is *supposed* to be pretty simple, once it's set up. I light the candle and concentrate on where I want to go and it should work. But everyone - hold hands, and keep tight hold of your stuff. I *think* it should go with us, but mum's notes are briefer than might be hoped."

Jennifer nods and the twins link hands and reach out for others.

Bard steps forward and takes the hands of the twins. "Alright. Just to be safe maybe would should secure ourselves a little better? Perhaps a rope or a tighter grasp?"

Lorelei makes sure she's holding one hand as she lights the candle with the other - just in case it's really quick! - and lights it with the other. Her hand then seeks the person to her right, though she trusts the chain should be adequate anyway. Then she concentrates on where her mother is from.

The candle lights and suddenly everyone is pulled by an invisible force up into the air, seeming to pass right through the upper floors and roof of the Helix Tower. The heroes are buffeted by rushing air as the streets and buildings Colonial Bay shrink away beneath their feet. The heroes woosh out over the water of the Atlantic Ocean leaving the East Coast of the US behind. The sun arcs through the sky visibly. Then it's up into the clouds...

A handful of seconds pass and the heroes descend from the clouds to find the British Isles approaching. The group begins a meteoric descent from the skies and Great Britain grows quickly before them. They rocket down towards a forested part of the island. As abruptly as the journey started, it ends...

Jennifer thinks. o O (I brough anti-grav belts. Maybe I should have brought a spacesuit or three?)

Lorelei keeps her mind on the intended destination, though the mode of the travel surprises her.

Bard is visible shaken. He feels his hair. "I... I..." His expression changes and he looks around. "I appear to have lost my hat."

Foosht! The candle flares and is consumed completely.

Lorelei looks about, trying to reorient herself. "Well. Looks like the candle is one-use-only...."

Jennifer says, "Not what I expected."

Jessica pulls out her PDA and sees if there is any coverage.

Lorelei says, "Same here. I wonder where we are...."

There are many people about the market place. None of them really react to the heroes sudden appearance. It's a busy place and folks seem content to go about their shopping and selling.

This is an open-air bazaar in the middle a city that looks like a setting from a fantasy novel. Buildings bound the square on three sides, and the fourth side faces a river. A bridge leads across the river to the majestic gates of a castle.

The market itself is a cramped maze formed of stalls, tents, and even some covered wagons, spread over the same area as a football field. It's a colorful and noisy place, as vendors compete to get the attention of passerbys.

Everything here has an otherworldly feel to it. The buildings are ornately detailed with a masterful level of craftsmanship. The people are mostly a bit taller than average, slender, and attractive, with pointy ears. Generally, they seem to be of European ancestry, though a sprinkling appear to be from other ethnic groups. The air itself feels charged with energy almost beyond perception, an unmistakable air of magic.

Bard loosk around, picking up a very charred hat off the ground. "Well looks like i won't be using this anymore..." He tosses it aside. "Hmm... Wanna see what's on sale? maybe get some local currency to see where we are?"

Not suprisingly, the PDA is out of cell coverage range.

Jennifer nods. Jessica holds out the PDA so the others can see the empty list of available networks. "We;; we're not in Kansas any longer. Nor in our United Kingdom."

Lorelei says, "Of course it would be a town... Where else? The camping gear seems a bit silly now...."

Jennifer looks at Lorelei, "The outline seems familiar. I'd say we're in somewhere matching Scotland geographically."

"English!" Bard's words seem to have caught the ear of a young man dressed in blue. "Well hello, traveler. Where are you from?" He starts to look over Bard and Jennifer, until Lorelei draws his attention.

Lorelei thinks. o O (Well, we've been noticed....)

Bard smiles at the man in Yellow. "I'll answer your question if you can answer a few of mine. That sound fair? One for one ratio."

Lorelei's attention turns to the man, trying to guess what he might be - hard when you don't know the local culture, of course.

The man in blue says, "Sounds fair. But for my trouble, you'll have to come to my booth afterwards, yeah? Time is money, after all!"

Bard chuckles. "Perhaps, but do you not find information is more valuable?"

Jennifer is, true to her nature, quickly assessing the potential threat level, checking for carried weapons, examining the castle for its effectiveness as a defensive position, etc.

Lorelei blinks a few times as she looks about the scene.

Man in Blue says, "Sometimes, especially when it leads to a sale. That's a question. Now it's my turn." He smiles and says Lorelei, "And what may I call you? Words fail to describe what my eyes are gazing upon..."

Lorelei smiles. "My name is Stephie. But I'm not the one who owed an answer."

Bard smiles. "There is your answer." He replies. "Now, my turn. where may we find a highly accurate map."

The Man in Blue says to Bard. "You come and see me. Maenor, merchant in wares for travelers, at your service." He bows slightly.

Bard bows in reply. "An honour and a great turn of fortune for us."

Jennifer and Jessica fit their rucksacks on their back to free both hands for sword use. Much as the twins want to have a closer look at the castle guards, she holds back on pulling out a pair of binoculars.

"Indeed," Maenor says. He makes a show of scanning around before leaning towards Bard. "Some of the merchants are... less that reputable."

Bard thinks. "Perhaps I should have a word with them then..." He looks back to the others for a brief second. . o O (General experience when they start slandering people they got something to hide.)

Even in the crowded hubbub of the bazaar, a few people have stopped to take a look at Bard and Lorelei.

Lorelei hesitates: if this man is trading question for question it makes asking more questions difficult.

[To Jennifer] Lorelei says, "I didn't really expect us to be somewhere so busy - not sure quite where to start!"

"Sounds like an excellent idea," Maenor says to Bard. "But difficult, if English is the only tongue that you speak. Of course, there's magic for that..." He turns back towards Lorelei. "What fortune has brought you to our city."

Bard smiles, as they are now entitled to another question. "I assume this is the fae realm."

Lorelei is relieved to find he's asked another question, and answers. "My mother, if we're in the right place, was from here. I'm trying to find - well, family, or friends, or... someone who could tell me more about her."

[To Lorelei] Jennifer says, "I know what you mean. Just don't let the seemingly peaceful setting deceive you. That castle is a well designed stronghold. So there's conflict here."

Lorelei nods to Jennifer.

"I know just to person to see," Maenor says to Lorelei. "And I'll take you to her, for a small fee."

Lorelei says, "Oh, um - what serves for money, here?"

To Bard, Maenor says: "That assumption is correct."

Bard replies. "Good because i didn't ask a question."

Lorelei thinks. o O (Smooth. First trick him and then rub his face in it.)

"All I ask for is the chance to accompany you when you see the Diviner," Maenor says. "A good salesman knows when he sees something of worth, and good company is rare."

Bard nods. "Good company is rare..."

Lorelei smiles, though knowing this sounds like something she could regret later. Still, beggars can't be choosers. and such. "True indeed."

Maenor says, "..but in general, barter is fine. If I'm counting correctly, I'm due a question. What's in her pack?" Maenor points to Jennifer. "I imagine that there are some goodies in there, from wherever it is that you're from."

Bard replies "In her pack is her gear."

Jennifer says, "Food, water, clothes, all sorts of useful bits and bobs for living in the wilderness." She opens a pouch on Jessica's pack and pulls out a K-ration and tosses it to the merchant.

Jessica looks straight at a crow perched on a post and lazily waves a salute towards it.

"Caw!" The crow flaps its wings and starts to fly off.

Lorelei glances at the crow, since Jennifer drew attention to it.

Maenor catches the pack and looks at it curiously, trying to figure first which side is up, which is apparently difficult for him. He says to the Jen, Jess, and Lorelei: "Follow me. The Diviner is this way." He begins to walk through the crowded streets of the market. He sniffs experimentally at the package.

The crow flies off.

Lorelei follows Maenor, trying not to fall behind while at the same time taking in the sights of the town.

[To Lorelei] Jennifer says, "I'm assuming we're being scryed on. The crow was watching us."

Lorelei says, "Interesting - didn't take long for someone to take an interest...."

As Lorelei passes a booth, the vendor calls out to her in some unknown language. She beckons, trying to call Lorelei's attention to a set of snow globes that she has on sale.

Lorelei says, "I can see the language thing is going to be a problem..."

Lorelei gives the vendor a slight shake of her head and moves on.

Jennifer nods. "Yes. Kind of a reverse Kihzra situation." She laughs, "Hey, I even have a sword now too."

Maenor says, "I can offer you an enchantment that will allow you to understand and speak the language of the realm."

Lorelei laughs. "I wonder if anywhere serves 'Coffee, brack' - oh... actually those snow globes are rather interesting... "

Lorelei says to Maenor, "And what would that cost us?"

As they move through the bazaar, Lorelei and the twins have begun to develop a bit of a following of curious bystanders, maybe a handful of people.

[To Jennifer] Lorelei says, "Hm, it's not odd for me to be followed - I have to wonder if it's for the usual reasons though..."

"I'll tell you what," Maenor says, "Since I want to see you smile and not fret, I'll give you and your friends a discounted price." He tosses the K-ration pack back to Jennifer. "Do you have anything else interesting?"

Jennifer says, "Interesting that there's been no emergence from the castle checking on the arrival."

Lorelei says, "Well, we don't really know what's interesting round here... but I'm sure we have something..."

Jennifer figures is the first merchant they encounter can offer an enchantment magic must be common, and her gadgets can be passed off as magical. So she gets out a simple box of matches. And strikes one alight.

Lorelei thinks. o O (The PDA would likely impress, but I don't really want to part with that unless I have to...)

Maenor, smiles. "How many of those in the box?"

Jennifer says, "Forty. Thirty-nine now."

Maenor folds his arms and strokes his chin at the same time. "Hm. Much easier than a flint and tinder. And that's the simplest gesture I'm ever seen. How about an even trade, the box for the enchantment?"

Jennifer looks to Lorelei, "What do you think?"

Lorelei thinks. o O (Ok, I guess starting fire isn't easy here - I guess I can sell my lighter later!)

Lorelei says, "That's the enchantment for all of us?"

Maenor nods.

Lorelei nods. "Ok then, you have a deal."

Jennifer hands over the box of matches.

Maenor accepts the box, and he nods. He begins to speak in another language. The words aren't incomprehensible, but here's a rhythm, an musical pattern to them. As he speaks, he makes a series of graceful motions with his hands and fingers, each one flowing into the next. It takes maybe ten seconds, and he's done...

Lorelei listens in on the nearest conversation, as a test.

Slowly the din from all the surrounding barkers and seller shifts from noise, into words.

Maenor asks, in Fae, "So, what are these things called?" He shakes the box of matches.

Lorelei says, "Matches."

Jennifer says, "Kitchen matches. Nice spell."

"Matches? What a silly name," Maenor says. "What do they match with?"

Lorelei says, "I'm not sure why they're called that at all... Say, where did you learn English, anyway?"

"Fire wands, fire sticks, flame-ettes?" Maenor says, testing out the sounds of the names. "Come on," he says, as he starts moving again. "We've had a few travelers like you over the years. Some of them come through and have nothing but the shirts on their backs. I struck a deal with one of them - he'd taught me his language, I helped him out in return."

Lorelei says, "So we'd still have our matches if we'd been a bit earlier? Oh well..."

Lorelei keeps and eye out for anything else of interest as she follows.

Jennifer smiles, "I'll bet after passing through this market some of the travelers didn't even have a shirt on their backs any longer."

Lorelei says, "The market's certainly bustling...."

Maenor nods. "Sometimes timing is everything..." To Jennifer, he says. "It's good to keep a mindful eye -- there are pickpockets about. And your party simply screams 'visitors'..."

Lorelei nods. "Well, we couldn't really help that."

Maenor leads the way to a wooden covered wagon thats been parked here as part of the bazaar for a long time -- the corners and sides of it are used to support the neighboring tents. Three steps lead up to a door in the back of the wagon. Almost as soon as the heroes look upon the door, the knob turns and it creaks open a few inches.

Lorelei says, "Hm, no matches but they seem familiar with horror movies."

Jennifer nods, "Impress the gullible."

Lorelei heads up the steps.

"Here we are," Maenor says, "Aunt Silif, the Diviner." He follows Lorelei inside.

Lorelei looks about the place as she enters. Not least because we're obvious strangers and this could be a trap.

Jennifer follows Lorelei inside. Jessica remains outside to keep watch for anyone approaching the wagon.

Outside, Jessica can see a group of bystanders chatting with a member of the guard. They are pointing and looking in the direction of Jessica and the wagon.

Jennifer thinks. o O (About time. I wonder why it took so long?)

"Come," says Aunty Silif. The inside of the wagon is dark. The are small windows on the sides, masked with dark blue curtains, and a window in a ceiling that lets light shine down on her ans where she sits in the middle of the cabin...

Lorelei enters, rather nervously, "Hello."

She looks ancient by comparison to the other people in the market, with wrinkles, and sagging skin. Wisps of white hair poke out from beneath a scarf she wears tied over her head. She's seated on pillows on the floor of the cabin. She gestures with old fingers the seat of pillows intended for visitors. "Sit." she says.

Lorelei takes off her backpack and lowers herself onto the pillows, wondering why she should look so much older.

Jennifer kneels on a pillow.

Maenor stands back by the door to the wagon.

Silif asks Lorelei: "Why have you come to see me?"

Lorelei says, "My mother was from around here. I'm hoping to find some family or friends - to find out about her, and where she's from."

"Do you have something of hers?"

Lorelei says, "I have some things she wrote...."

Lorelei says, "And a picture of her."

Lorelei digs them out of her bag.

Aunt Silif holds out her gnarled fingers. "Give me the picture." Silif adds: "And tell me, how do you intend to pay?"

Lorelei passes the photograph over. "Um, I'm not sure... hm, would this do?" She gets out her lighter and demonstrates."

Lorelei thinks. o O (Trade goods. How did I forget trade goods?)

Maenor quietly kicks himself. o O ( I knew I shoulda bargained harder. )

"This is nothing to me," Silif says.

Lorelei puts it away. "Well, perhaps something else.... I'm not sure what would interest you..." She starts hunting though her bag.

Lorelei says, "Hm - do you have chocolate here?"

Lorelei thinks. o O (Nah, stupid idea. I don't have enough.)

"I will accept a favor," Silif says.

Jennifer thinks. o O (A quest... I knew it was going to be a quest.)

Lorelei nods. "What sort of favour?"

"I will not know until later. It will be something of value comparable to the information I am able to provide. After I look into the crystal, it will before more clear.

Lorelei nods. "OK." She hopes the information isn't all that valuable. :)

Aunty's set up is on a low table between her pillows and the guest pillow. It consists of a crystal ball and several candles. With a snap of her fingers, the candles light. She takes the photo of Lorelei's mom and shows it to her. "This picture, it has captured a small piece of her soul..." She lights it, and begins to burn the photo to ash.

Lorelei only just manages to stifle a cry, unhappy with the loss of a rare photo. At least she has an electronic copy.

Meanwhile, outside the wagon, more guards show up. There's ten of them now. Their leader his a man with reddish hair and a beard. He's not grossly overweight, but he's the most rotund person Jessica has seen since arriving her.

The photograph is just smokes and ash now, and Silif sucks in some of the smoke through her nose. She breathes it out, and somehow it passes into the crystal ball, where it swirls about inside. She places her hands upon the crystal ball.

Lorelei watches the ball intently.

Jessica waves casually to the watching guards, trying to portray a relaxed attitude that is not offering a threat to anyone. Just a bored personal guard waiting for her patroness to finish business.

Aunty Silif says, "The image is becoming clearer..." She runs her fingers along the outside of the sphere, coaxing movement from the smoke inside. She stirs and stirs the mist and it starts to become more and more transparent.

Outside, the Captain forms up the guardsmen. The look at Jessica, and the wagon. They seem to be waiting now, as well.

"I am beginning to see your mother...Wait. Something is not right," Silif says. Inside the misty image of the crystal ball a black dot appears, and like ink dropped into water it begins to swirl and pollute the inside of the crystal ball.

Lorelei says, "What's wrong?!"

Jessica stands, ostentatiously leaving her sword propped up against the steps to the wagon door. She strolls slowly over to the Captain and guards. "Good day to you. It's the same everywhere I see. Hurry up they tell us, and then we kick our heels waiting for orders."

The Captain of the Guard says, "You and your friends, once they are finished seeing the Diviner, are to accompany us to the castle, by the orders of the King."

Inside: "No!" Silif says. The inky blackness swirls and begins to fill the crystal ball until it's completely pitch black. "No!" Silif shouts. She springs to her feet with suprising speed, lifts the crystal ball over her head in both hands. She hurls it against the wall, dashing the glass to bits. The blackness that was inside seems to evaporate once the ball is shattered.

Jessica nods, "Understandable. I'm sure the leader of our group will be pleased to do so."

Lorelei jumps to her feet, fearful of actual danger.

Jennifer rises without undue haste. Although just in case she's got her energy whip in hand.

Aunty Silif levels an accusing finger at Lorelei. "Get out of my sight! Get out now, and never return! Never! The deal is off! Get out!" She's screaming at the top of her lungs and her eyes are filled with terror.

Lorelei stares a bit, wide-eyed, for a few moments. Then she picks up her pack.

Lorelei thinks. o O (She's terrified! This is not good. This is very not-good.)

Aunty Silif starts throwing whatever's in arms reach at Lorelei. At first it's pillows, until she makes it over one of the shelves along the wall of the cabin. She starts throwing jars and vials of odd things preserved in foul-smelling liquids. She's not terribly accurate, but she does come close once or twice.

Lorelei hurries from the wagon, dodging the various thrown items.

[To Jennifer] Lorelei says, "What's that all about?!"

Jennifer looks to Lorelei as she steps into the line of fire to shield Lorelei, then glances briefly at the screaming Aunty Silif, "It seems, Lorelei, that someone or something doesn't want you to find out anything about your mother. And the Diviner knows enough of what that someone or something is to be terrified of it."

Jennifer sighs, "We need Timmy."

Maenor runs out of the wagon too, missing a step and nearly tripping in his haste.

Lorelei says, "WHy Timmy?"

Jennifer follows Lorelei out shielding her from the rare accurately thrown item.

Jennifer says, "Because this is starting to feel like the plotline of one of the videogames he spends hours playing."

Lorelei says, "That isn't comforting...."

Everyone within earshot of the Diviners wagon has stopped everything to listen in on what's going on. The Captain of Guard even seems a little unnerved by the overhead screaming. "All of you!" he says to Lorelei and Jennifer. "You're all to accompany me to the castle."

Jennifer says, "Hey, the good girls always win. That's the way they're written."

The door to Silif's wagon slams shut behind Jen and Lorelei.

Lorelei says, "I suppose that's something."

Jessica looks at the Captain, "Okay, so who's the local nasty bad guy that everyone's too scared to talk about?"

Lorelei says, in a quieter voice, "So, do we walk into the obvious trap? It seems the best way of learning something."

"We'll be asking the questions," the Captain of the Guard says. His gaurdsmen are ready to act, but some of them seem a little distracted, look at Lorelei, and talking amongst themselves.

Jennifer smiles, "Probably not a trap. Look around you, Lorelei. This is what you taught me. I guess you're too focused on finding out about your mother to notice. This place isn't fearful or driven into poverty. The market people and villagers are frightened of the guards. The King wants to talk to us, and in his place I'd want the same."

Lorelei nods. "Good point. Sorry, than business with the crystal ball has made me rather jumpy...."

Jennifer nods. "Lead on, Captain."

Jessica returns to the wagon to pick up her sword and rejions the group.

Lorelei nods and goes along. Though she's more attentive than ever to the people about her.

The Captain looks at his men and commands them: "A little bit a shouting and you start trembling? You're soldiers -- act like it!" And with that the guards men move to positions around the heroes, preparing to escort them through the marketplace and to the castle, with the Captain near the front.

Lorelei thinks. o O (So they're nervous of whatever-it-was too. Interesting.)

The soldiers escort the heroes to the castle. This time as the move through the bazaar Lorelei and the twins are the center of attention. In the distance, a bird caws.