Bermuda Holiday Session 11

Princess Guard - The New Era 2017/09/03 	 Charm Titan Pulsar Wolf Harlequin Aaliyah 34

The Baron's Visit
There's the chance for a last night enjoying the delights of Bernuda. The cruise liner is scheduled to depart at 9am the next morning. Some of the tourists have a final heck of a good party. Others are already exhausted and spend the last night on board resting.

The kids troop off to their favourite breakfast lounge at their usual eight o'clock time. There's already a fair number of people at tables in the eating place. One of them is reading a newspaper, the newspaper held so his face is hidden. As the kids pass close by he lowers the paper and speaks in german, "Good morning. Childern of the wolf, would you care to join me?"

Pulsar unfortunately is checking in with his boss at the moment. He figured that he'd have a few minutes to spare before anything exciting happened, so he decided to turn in some paperwork and get a fresh batch of jobs. That said - he is not at breakfast with the others, at least not yet.

Charm is having breakfast, watching at a discreet distance. Unfortunately she doesn't speak German, and even if she did the newspaper would thwart lipreading.

Wolf is not often to be found missing breakfast (or any other meal for that matter) and so he is in line for the buffet, tail wagging, Ceci in tow via the "Seeing Eye Dog" harness, nose pointed to the food.

The ex-Steel twins break away from the rest of the kids and go over to the table. They look pleased and excited. The man at the table stands to greet them, speaks to them in german indicating the other chairs at the table... and still standing he looks around the breakfast lounge. A frown comes to his face as it seems he does not see what he is looking for. Changing to English he asks the twins where their guardians are.

Charm keeps more of an eye on the twins now it's clear they know this person.

Mark and Partica sit at the table and the man busies himself in getting their breakfast orders decided and gestures to a waiter to place the orders. He gets another cup of coffee for himself. Then, with that dealt with he asks the twins, "How are you doing? Is your adoption working out okay?"

The twins tell the man they are very happy. Although Mark says, "I wish Dad was home. Living with Suzume and Kotone is fine but I miss Dad."

Charm is relieved to see the encounter seems to be friendly. Though she knows enough about Wolfguard to know there might be some complications.

The man reaches across the table to pat Mark on the shoulder consolingly, "I miss him too. He wouldn't be who he is if he didn't push the boundries though. And speaking selfishly I'm glad he didn't take you on his deep space trip." He pats Mark again, "And how are you doing at school?" Ronin and Ursine arrive at the breakfast lounge. They are focused at first on a man eating alone. Moving over to flank the man, Ronin drops a warrant on the table in front of the man, "You can come in easy or hard. I'd advise easy." Ronin says.

Having left when the kids and Charm left for the morning, Pulsar has run out of things to do rather quickly. He's picked up a half dozen new projects (twice as many as any of his peers), dropped off plans, blueprints & physical items requested by a client with the doorman to round out his duties as 'Model Employee'. The boss assumes he'll be in the field for the next week on the projects since he always takes the ones furthest afield from civilization. He always has due to his love of astronomy- but now its to let him work at accelerated speeds to complete his work and get to his real passion, Heroing.

Last on his Secret ID checklist is Ben Ray - Human Being.

He flies towards the outskirts of town- East of his house and over the train tracks where he picks up his truck from a steep unused revene.

He puts it down on the nearest road and drives it home. When he arrives, he closes the garage door.

With any luck no neighbors have seen him yet. He completes his version of wetwork by of course feeding his dog and watering his plants. He doesn't check the mail because his neighbors also expect him to be far afield.

The man talking to the twins looks over at the disturbance... and his face shows surprise and concern. He stands hurriedly and moves to stand between Ronin and the twins. As he does so, others in the breakfast lounge also react. Two pairs of identical adult twins hasten to get between Ronin and the table where the man and twins are. Force armors appear around the new additions to the ongoing incident.

Charm gets up and moves quietly in the same general direction - trying not to be too obvious about it though. She's hardly the only "civilian" who has started moving.

It's true Charm is not the only civiian who is moving. All the others are heading away from the disturbance however.

Ronin reacts to the sudden movement, as does Ursine. Ursine grows as much as the ceiling allows, his head brushing the ceiling as he becomes twelve feet tall. Ronin has a surprised expression and he exclaims in a loud voice, "Baron!?"

Charm stands ready. She may not have her harp to hand, but in truth she can cast her spells with song alone. But she doesn't intend to act unless the situation goes beyond talk.

The four now enclosed in force armors are a middle aged pair of males and a pair of younger adult females. Two pairs of identical twins. One of the middle aged males speaks to Ronin. "I heard what happened. You have my deepest sympathy, Edlyin. I have to ask though, what is your intention?"

Ronin answers the questioner, "I'm not here for the Baron, or for any of you. I'm taking a bank robber back to the States."

Ben Ray steps into his living room and teleports right into the sky - some 50 miles overhead before flying as quickly as relativity will allow (also preventing damage to clothing and atmosphere.)

He lowers himself into a nearby alley and strolls the rest of the way there - casually. So very casually.

The last thing he expects when he walks into the restaurant to meet Charm and the kids in a rumble in the making.

"Oh - of course." He says as he turns on his heel and runs out the door.

He gets out of sight and then teleports (as Pulsar) right back into the restaurant. "Does trouble just follow you guys around specifically or what?" He asks Charm as he flies nearby to back her and the kids up.

Wolf reacts instinctively, watching for body language cues and other "tells" that would betray incipient violence at the fundamental level of intent. He watches and alerts the rest of the team:

.oO(The Ronin and The Bear appeared, to break their fast with us. Might do to have more folks on-hand, in case they cause a fuss? )Oo.

Stefan wanders into the breakfast buffet, stops to take in the various metahuman sights for a moment then continues on over towards the table where the Steel twins are. He stops just beyond the force wall and inquires of them, "Are the two of you alright?"

Mark and Patrica seem worried about the potential threat to the man they were talking to, the Baron. But they nod to Harlequin. "Yes, Sir."

Ronin shrugs, "But if you try to force those kids back into Wolfguard you'll have a fight on your hands." he tells the Baron.

The handsome but severe looking Stefan bows slightly to the man. "Baron, an unexpected pleasure," he murmurs as his gaze then turns to observe Ronin and Ursine.

He cocks his head to one side. "Taking your bounty in custody, are you?" The man seems calmly interested in what is going on but not alarmed.

Ronin nods to Stefan, "That's what we were doing. Until I saw the Baron and his henchmen. I know what those kids are. I'm not going to let the Baron force them back into Wolfguard."

Harlequin looks over at the Baron and the Twins for a moment then back to Ronin. "I assure you, as one of their chaperones, I've no intention of allowing that to happen. Nor, at this time, do I think he has an intention of doing so." He looks over at the Baron again, "Correct, Baron?"

The Baron looks at Ronin as he says, "That is correct. It would be extremely silly of me to force these youngsters into Wolfguard... considering my very considerable efforts over the last decade which have been dedicated to destroying that organisation."

One of the older male henchmen nods, "It's true, Edlyin. The Baron has been working to eliminate Wolfguard."

Pulsar has no idea what they're talking about - so he just stands atteh ready, looking strong and tough. He's ready for a fight.

Wolf busies himself with cleaning up the "floor treasure" left behind by humans startled into dropping their eggs and toast by the sudden appearances of twelve foot tall bears as he listens to the conversations, now that violence does not seem to be in the making. Breakfast is served after all! *nom nom nom*

Titan finally comes down to breakfast, looking a little sleepy. It's odd for him. He doesn't tend to need much sleep. He finishes tying his hair back as he walks into the room.

Charm is relieved that it doesn't look like a fight is imminent after all.

Ronin relaxes visibly. "We don't lie to each other. So I have to believe you, Henrick. But I don't understand." he says to one of the identical older male bodyguards.

Stefan looks back and forth between Ronin and the Wolfguard contingent before murmuring quietly to the Steel twins, "Well, enjoy your breakfast with the Baron. When you are done, meet back up with the rest of the group, yes?"

Mark and Patrica nod to Stefan, "Yes, Sir. We will."

Harlequin wanders back to the buffet line to grab some breakfast. --Ah, an omelette making station, wonderful.--

Titan stops in his tracks and trying to figure out what's going on.

Henrick tells Ronin, "It's a long story. Come to the Castle and I'll explain what the Baron doesn't. I guarantee your safety."

Ronin makes a hand gesture to Ursine... who shrinks back to normal - for him - size. Then Ronin looks at the kids, "Don't let yourself be pressured. If you ever need assistance get a message to me. I'll have your back." he says, and gives the Baron a hard stare. Then he pulls the guy he's been holding the shoulder of all this time up out of a chair. "Come on. Sooner I hand you over the sooner I get paid."

The Baron's four bodyguards deactivate their force armors and move back to positions from which they can keep the room under observation.

Charm relaxes and goes back to her position.

Harlequin murmurs in a carrying voice from the omelette line, "You are turning him over to the authorities, yes, Ronin, Ursine? He may be a thief but he still deserves the protection of law." He then adds, "Oh, is that truffle oil?" as he points at something in omelette station.

Ronin nods to Stefan, "That's the contact I have with the bank this jerk robbed. I hand him and the money over to the FBI."

The Baron looks over at Titan, "I know Kotone and Suzume would be happier if one of the guardians were to sit with us. Will you join me at my table?"

Harlequin nods apparently absently as he looks over the selections offered by the omelette station. "Ah, that is good to know. Well, safe journey."

Titan nods to the Baron, "Umm...sure. I hope there's no issue here?" He looks around the room, just making sure that things are calming down. He then takes a seat.

If Pulsar breathed, he'd let out a sigh of relief. Instead he looks quizzically at the others. "So as the new guy - I gotta ask, do you guys ever get through a group meal - or is this something I should expect at all our shindigs?" He looks to Charm and Titan since Sasha is off at the omelette line.

Deciding he wasn't going to eat anyways - Pulsar vanishes - becoming almost completely translucent. He decides to communicate over the comms instead - keep watch on those who are eating. At least it helps him feel useful, and could prevent another whatever this was from happening inthe future, near or otherwise.

.oO(Switching to comms just in case there's more funny business.) Pulsar says over their private channel.

The Baron tells Johnathan, "It seems not I'm vwey pleased to say. Edlyin.. Ronin.. has issues with my past. Justifiably so. But I believe there will be no trouble. Henrick's assurance calmed the situation down."

Titan nods to the Baron, "Glad to hear it." Over the link he says, .oO(It happens once in a while. But any time the kids are involved, the chances of a problem seems to jump.)

Over the comms, Stefan/Harlequin says, .oO(Personally, I think things are giong quite smoothly. I expected by this point, given the proximity of the Bermuda Triangle, we'd have been attacked by ghost pirates riding sea serpents while lazer equipped dirigibles from another world were attacking.)

The Baron sips at his coffee and talks to Mark and Patrica, including Johnathan in the conversation. He speaks to the kids like an old friend who hasn't seen them for a while, asking about their schooling, their life with their adoptive parents. He seems genuinely interested in them and in a reserved manner, almost affectionate toward them. Ronin and Ursine depart taking their bank robber with them.

Titan is a little reserved during the conversation, since he's clearly not the focus.

Wolf busies himself with his floor-breakfast cleanup activities, "tidying up" the abandoned leftovers with relish. Especially if there's any floor-bacon. Ooh, floor-bacon is the best! He monitors The Baron's conversation for both content and tone, curious about this seemingly well-mannered stranger. Over time, he tries to get an idea of what The Baron's future motivation(s) might be. . . especially w.r.t. Patrica and Mark? Certainly an eventful breakfast!

Time passes and after a while an announcement over the public address system warms guests that they should leave because the liner will be casting off and setting sail in fifteen minutes. The Baron tells Mark and Patrica they should return to the other kids so Johnathan and he can speak in private.

Harlequin enjoys his truffle oil and cheese omelette along with the other items he selected from the buffet. He obstensibly reads a paper while keeping an eye on the kids.

Wolf's keen observation and empathy detects that although the Baron is trying to hide it under a veneer of genial friendliness... in truth he loves the two kids as much as if they were his own children.

Titan raises a brow when the Baron requests speaking to him personally. But he doesn't object, either.

Pulsar floats silently near the ceiling - invisible to all but the most keen eye'd observer.

.oO(I always thought the Bermuda Triangle was some hokey thing they made up to sell - well I guess I never really thought about it.) He admits, wondering how one would even verify something like that. Mark and Patrica obediently return to the main group of kids. The Baron leans forward and speaking in a lowered voice to Johnathan he says, "I must apologize. I did not know Edlyin would be here and that certain matters would be spoken of in public. This may have increased the risk to Mark and Patrica. I urge you to be doubly cautious from now on."

Harlequin replies over the comm link to Pulsar. .oO(My assumption is always assume the worst about any legends being true. That way, if they turn out not to be, well, it's good news. A win as it were.)

Titan sighs quietly, "They have also drawn attention to themselves similarly. But I'll try to be...quadruply cautious."

Charm says, .oO(I have no idea if the Bermuda Triangle is real or not... but I could keep an eye open for interworld paths.)

The Baron offers his hand to Johnathan, "Thank you." he says.

Titan shakes the Baron's hand. "You're welcome."

.oO(That would probably be a good idea, mam'selle Charm. Hopefully the legends about the Triangle are simply that, but better safe as they say than sorry. Thank you.) replies Harlequin over the link.

There's a final warning for guests to leave, and the Baron and his bodyguards depart. Shortly after that the liner sets sail again on the way to Haiti. A magical place as the cruise guide describes it.

Titan says over the link, as people are departing, .oO(Has that fae noble showed up again? Every other shoe seems to have fallen.)

Charm says, .oO(I keep expecting Palanir to show up again - he must have been here for something - but have seen no sign. Incidentally, he is no nobleman, having been stripped of his lands and title.)

The liner's entertainments are open for business. But turnout is low. A lot of the tourists are recovering from frolics on Bermuda. The kids however are active and seem determined to take in every available option again in one day. So it's probably with some relief that the night comes without any incidents having reared their heads. Sadly, not a state of affairs that is going to last. Just after midnight those characters with magical awareness detect a major manipulation of mana. And those with an awareness of dimensional travel feel the reality of Earth Prime wavering.

Where the Heck Are We?
Having just sat down with a good tome, Stefan sits back up and curses then touches the PG comm. .oO(Major magick being used, probably dimensional. Mam'selle Charm, are you feeling this? Is it Fae magick?)

Charm has both. She hurries to the best vantage point to get a look at the phenomenon with second sight, if possible.

Charm replies, .oO(Yes - after a fashion. I am minded of the magic of the grey elves.)

Pulsar of course has none of these senses - so he's flying invisibly just to the port side of the front of the ship.

Wolf perks up from a dog-nap, his nose and whiskers working overtime:

.oO(A Changing Scent is all around, And all throughout the air! We sail a shifting sea, it seems . . . Can aught tell us: to _where_? )Oo.

Charm adds .oO(Perhaps there is something to the Bermuda Triangle after all. But this does not seem entirely natural.)

Titan doesn't have any kind of mystic senses. But he just...heads up on deck to look around. The weather was clear with blue skies and warm sunshine until a glorious tropical sunset. Now the liner is enveloped in a mist verging on fog. So Charm has to move forward on the deck following her sense of where the effect is strongest before she sees the cause. At the bow of the liner, with no trace of glamor concealing them, is a group of gray elves and Palanir. There are twelve gray elves. Three are maintaining a protective ward around the group. The remaining nine, and Palanir, are opening a way path. A way path large enough for the entire liner to pass through.

Charm reports this on comms immediately. .oO(Get here ASAP! I'm going to trying to disrupt the spell!)

Considering the fog, Pulsar moves on to the ship proper so as not to lose it. Incidently this puts him near Plainir and Company.

.oO(Someone's definitely doing something at the front of the ship. I have no diea what - yes!) Pulsar agrees as Charm adds her own urgency to the line. Titan hurries toward the bow of the ship, where Charm indicated the elves were.

Harlequin slips into his fighting togs with a muttered word then opens his own personal pathway to Charm's area. The portal is opening in front of the liner. Even if the bridge crew are aware of it you can't turn a massive cruise liner in less than miles. Or bring it to a stop in less than that distance.

Charm doesn't want to engage so large a group by herself, but nor does she want the liner taken to another world. She closes immediately and sings a songs intended to make elves' attention wonder from their spell!

Some of the gray elves are affected by Charm's spell but not enoght to force the failure of the ward or prevent the opening of the way portal.

Seated atop the roof of the cruise liner's bridge, Aaliyah had her eyes shut. That is until the spirits started going a wee bit crazy. Her eyes open and she spies a portal up ahead. Inclining her head, she simply remarks in her understated fashion, "What in the name of Amen-Ra?"

And then she glances down to see the elves arriving. "Of course." she states, eyes turning back to try to figure out how much time there is until the portal and the ship connect. The song has an effect but the ward attenuates the spell sufficiently that the ward and way are still in effect.

Harlequin states, "I haven't the power to stop the spell. But maybe I can distract Planir enough so it fails." He says something under his breath as dark magicks gather about him. He then gestures at Palanir, or rather the deck plating beneath Palanir's feet. Even after the ward absorps some of the effect Sasha's spell hurts Palanir sufficiently that his contribution to the way is disrupted. The way portal shinks a little and becomes just a bit unstable... but it's still large enough.

Harlequin curses in some unknown language; easy to tell it's cursing. Has the right cadence.

Pulsar arcs towards the Elves. .oO(What's the play here?) He asks as he becomes opaque to external light once more. Seeing the others attack, he decides that's the plan and joins in.

He produces his own image - as such, he comes into being in all his brilliance before reaching back and attempting to backhand the nearest 'Worldwalker'. Someone is really going to have to get pulsar caught up in some kind of orientation.

"You can't just go stealing cruise liners!" He says as he swings down towards the Elf.

Vanishing from where she is, and appearing with a glow of Horus's Eye near to Harlequin, Aaliyah suggests, "Perhaps the spirits can break his focus."

And then she adds, "I have not heard that tongue in centuries." softly as she works her hands and then speaks some ancient Egyptian phrases... summoning spirits to send and to hopefully cleave the target's soul.

The ward proves a barrier that stops Pulsar in his tracks before he reaches the gray elf.

The bow of the liner starts to enter the way portal. And as it does there's a wrenching twisting sensation hugely unlike any that walking between worlds normally produces. It turns out that Palanir's forced removal from the way opening effort is beneficial to him. Because the worldwalkers that are linked all scream as one and drop to the deck. They are dead before they hit it. Palanir and the three holding the ward in place are less effected but still horribly and mortally injurted. And those of magic nature outside the ward fortunately get the benefit of the ward in reducing the damage they take.

The ward collapses as the gray elves and Palanir are brutally hammered by whatever happened.

The mist becomes a think clinging fog. The temperature has increased to a sweltering fierce heat and the humidity is suddenly close to 100%.

Harlequin gasps loudly in pain and buckles to his knees. Not so much from the pain, but from the massive internal damage he has just taken. He wrenches his mask side as he vomits up blood.

As she tries to send her spirit out to attack the enemy, Aaliyah finsd the spirit turning on her and distracting her forcefully. She narrows her eyes and dismisses the thing harshly. "By Anubis.." she mutters. "You will obey me." she adds. But then she feels the attack against her wraps of Osiris and scowls further. "Where have we gone?" she asks as she looks to Harlequin.. and then she drops to her knees beside him. "Wizard. Will you survive?"

Charm also screams and drops to the deck - though she's not dead.

Harlequin gasps. "Oh, that...tore...something...backlash?" He pants again and spits up some more blood.

Pulsar turns toward the others, horrified at what is happening to his compatriots. He feels powerless to do anything to help them, but he waits for an opportunity to do anything he can.

Titan gets to the front of the ship, where the others are, "What the heck happened?"

Wolf gently *noses* Charm back from the brink, since evidently Aaliyah is caring for Harlequin. ..

Seeing that Harlequin is.. in essence, fading from this realm to the one controlled by Anubis, Aaliyah looks up. She spots Wolf healing Charm and says, "My friend. If you can help him as well, then perhaps he will not be meeting Anubis this day." to Wolf.

There's starting to be a hubbub as the rest of the passengers and crew of the liner, woken from sleep by the wrenching twisting sensation, are coming out of their cabins and asking loudly what is going on.

Wolf bounds up and races to Harlequin, *nosing* his side, healing him

Now that Sasha and Charm are no longer bleeding out, Wolf will also try to heal Palanir et al.

Palanir is alive. Just. And Wolf can heal him. The gray elves are all dead. They don't have the resilence of normal Fae.

Nodding at Wolf's ministrations, Aaliyah moves to cradle Harlequin in her lap. After all, he was greviously wounded. "Feeling better?" she asks as she looks up and around at everyone else, "Please. Does anyone know where we might be? I believe I can get out, but.. I would not wish to leave any behind."

The mage puts a hand out to pat Wolf. "Thank you, Wolf...I'll get better myself now." He takes a deep breath, winces, then murmurs as he puts his mask back on. "Oh, yes, what happened? Well, those idiots, somehow, triggered an ancient Fae Way-Trap spell. It's meant to kill dragons as they try to cross dimensions."

He takes a a breath and adds, "I doubt we are anywhere near where those grey elves and Palanir were planning on taking us."

Charm looks about, trying to figure that out, now she's feeling *somewhat* better.

Pulsar merely shrugs at Aaliyah, though his face has a look of relief on it now that Wolf is healing the injured.

The mana level here is less than the Twilit worlds. Greater than Earth Prime.

With a few simple gestures and a phrase in her ancient language, Aaliyah cradles Harlequin's shoulders and back with a couple small spirits which help him to his feet. Then she gets up to her own feet. "We should devise a way for all to leave this place." she states simply. "I've a feeling that those who expire here are beyond even Anubis's call."

Palanir opens his eyes to find a Wolf nuzzling at him. He casts his eyes around and then says in a neutral voice. "You seem to have me at somewhat of a disadvantage. Might I ask what happened?"

Harlequin says in a testy tone, "You and the grey elves triggered a Way-Trap, Palanir. Congratulations, we are now lost."

Charm eyes Palanir coldly and almost says something, But then recalls that hopefully he has no idea who she is.

Titan is still trying to figure out what happened. "Lost? What do you mean exactly?"

Palanir nods. You can almost see the wheels turning in his mind. "Ah. Then my disadvantage may not be as great as I first thought. I assume none of the gray worldwalkers survived. I would not have done myself if you had not distracted me. So unless you number a worldwalker of my knowledge among you, I suspect you'll need my co-operation."

Wolf sends an explanation, if Palanir is Open to it:

.oO(Thy Gate was set with dragons'-snare, And to twelve deaths elves fell. We drift in tropic-fogs unknown, on what Seas none can tell. . . )Oo. Charm says, "Way-traps were set to guard the ways to realms abandoned to the dragons. If that was a way-trap, then this is a world that was long isolated, and unknown to the the fae - save perhaps in old records."

Palanir nods to Wolf. Then looks at Charm, "Do I know you?" he asks. "Anyway, I may not be the most proficient worldwalker alive, but I am very probably the most knowledgable and widely travelled. You can use my help. You probably /need/ my help. We should discuss my position among you."

Harlequin looks over at Titan. "We are in some other dimension. What one is unknown at this time. With luck, we are in one near the Fae realms." He pauses as Charm explains then adds, "With ill luck, who knows where we are."

He then looks over at Palanir. "Yes, your former Grace, you do have the Devil's own luck. If I hadn't knocked you out of the spell, you'd have died as well. And, of course, we'll need your co-operation. And you'll undoubtedly go free again. I would /love/ to know which god of luck you have in your pocket."