thehometree | NIGHT DESTINATION

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NIGHT DESTINATION

It's early in the morning when the wagon finally stops, and the adventurers have finally crossed the large field. They now find themselves near an old, run-down house at the end of the field, parked near the fence. The rats refuse to move any further, lying down to rest as the adventurers get a moment to study the house from afar.

A familiar cat is resting on the porch outside the house, so it seems the house is inhabited, and quite possibly by the little girl and her family. Soft music is playing inside from what might be a creaky old record player, and the shadows of someone moving can be seen through the curtains.

What soon draws the attention is a small gleam somewhere in the house, as if a beam of sunlight had been reflected from a metal surface. The light resonates with the ambers, showing the picture of the crystal sword that had been seen on the mirror shard. Breaking apart again, two pieces fade away, showing only the handle of the sword.

Somewhere inside is a piece of this puzzle.

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[ This? This is what Rin would call a bad idea. Not only is there a cat (which hunts small things for sport as all predators are kin to do), but people as well. If it were her, she would blast apart any fairy folk that tried to step indoors so how could she believe the inhabitants of this home wouldn't do the same? ]

I thought you were intelligent creatures. [ She mutters under her breath towards the rats knowing that they no doubt could hear her with their enlarged ears. ]

[Upon stepping out of the wagon, Ivaera eyes the house with wary interest. The cat is definitely noted, and remembering Garahel's reaction to it before, the elf woman immediately places a steadying hand on her mabari. He's a wonderful creature, but stealth is not his forte. It's probably best not to bring him indoors.]

Garahel, stay here. Guard our friends.

[The mabari whines softly in response, but Ivaera's firm tone keeps him in line. She removes her staff from the strap at her back, preferring to have it in hand for whatever is ahead of them.]

[Hakuryuu is happy to get to their destination...even if the cat is concerning. People...well, he's slightly less concerned about them. It's possible they aren't aware of them.

The cat will be harder to deal with if it becomes a problem. If. It might well leave them alone.

Still if the slice is to believed this has a piece of what they need. That makes not going, not an option.]

It would be quite a stupid rat who wouldn't be wary of a cat, though... ah. If I'm not mistaken, that's our friend Mr. Mittens. Or Miss Mittens. [As though its sex makes the least difference. Fuu is still surprised that the cat was friendly to them, but it may be too much to expect the same for their rats, so she's glad that Ivaera sets Garahel to keep an eye on them.] Does this mean it's that young girl's home?

[She climbs up on the seat of the wagon and stands on tiptoe. It looks like there's a cat door. But she can hear music... that probably means there are people in there now.]

I suppose we are small enough to slip in unnoticed? But we'll have to be very careful not to be seen. Without our wings, we're at a distinct disadvantage for fleeing, and I don't want to be caught in a jar like a stick insect.

[SURE, FUU, PUT THAT IMAGE INTO EVERYONE'S HEAD.]

[He at least understands keeping a bug in a jar. Though his reasoning is more on the 'experimental' line then any sort of hobby.]

The cat's more concerning then the people. It will be more alert to small moving things.

[They might look like food. Unless it's remembered it's time at the tree, but he's not going to suggest it.]

I'll handle the cat. [ Rin's convinced that she can with a simple geas spell even if she doesn't want to. ] Unless there's someone who is already familiar with it? Might respond well to a scent they recognize more than a stranger.

I think it'll be easy for us not to be seen if we don't walk in as if we're guests who were invited.

I was going to suggest to avoid it...

[It seemed simpler but if she wants to deal with it, then that's fine too. Like he'd try and get in the way anyway, unless it gets in his way. That...might cause a few snags, but he doesn't think it will so he's not worrying over it.]

That and try to avoid grabbing unnecessary attentions.

Edited (idk..i really don't) 2015-07-03 10:56 (UTC)

[Though Ivaera loves being a mage, there's a moment of strong rogue-envy. Surely Zevran, Leliana or her other rogue companions would be able to sneak past without any problems. But she's not them and her magic is mostly not that subtle.

She shakes her head at Rin.]

I'm not familiar with the cat, but if you have an idea, I'm open to it. I'm not certain I trust simple avoidance to work, and we didn't come this far for nothing.

[From her travel pack, she withdraws a couple of vials of golden glitter dust. Yes, she went to the mirror and confessed something.]

We an alternative to wings. Should we need to flee quickly, I have these. I tested the glitter dust earlier, and it seems to last for about an hour. That will hopefully be plenty of time.

Edited 2015-07-03 12:58 (UTC)

I'd rather not pick a fight with it and we can't use the rats.

[Even if they weren't the ticket home, he's pretty sure Chime would never forgive them. As far as he knows having the sprite on their side is better then not.

Oh hey! he has a few of those.

He's not sure Belial will work on the cat, at all, or the people, because they're so much bigger then he is. Well the extreme magic probably would but...that would cause irreversible damage to it. So for last resorts only.]

Is that what they do?

Oh! [Fuu had brought along her dust vial, but she's been too cautious to test it yet. Knowing that it enables flight is a nice surprise.] Well, that's good news. As for Mr. Mittens, he seemed to be friendly through the mist. I think being human outweighs being mouse-sized.

Still, Rin-san, I think you're right... we should probably look for a different way in than the cat-flap. [Going through there might attract human attention too.] If we can't avoid Mr. Mittens, I think I can use my wind magic to create a diversion.

[There are leaves on the porch, and cats chase errant leaves.]

[Ivaera nods, placing the vials back.]

However, the entire vial has to be used or nothing happens. So, it's not as though I can stretch out the supply. I wish I could.

[Still, as an emergency exit, it will do.]

Let's see what alternate means of entrance can be found, then. Hopefully, there will be one a bit less conspicuous.

I might be able to help get us in a window.

[It depends on how limited Zagan is out here. He hasn't tested it out.]

Of course it would probably be seen.

[Yup random plants growing that fast? Probably be seen.. He could also possible grow a mold monsters-thing. Too bad the rats won't go closer, they may find a mouse hole.]

Maybe there's a crack or break in the walls?

[ All of the suggestions presented seem to be pretty solid, but which one should they rely on? Using the dust when it might not be needed would be a waste of valuable resources and she's not sure if she wants to ask that of strangers. ]

We don't know what the daily habits of those inside are like. [ So in short it's difficult to tell if they would ignore the cat flap moving idly or if they would notice a window. ]

Having more than one way to get in provides us with more than one way to get out.

If we knew when the wagon would return it would make surveillance that much easier.

Unless I missed something we don't.

[Which makes it that much harder.]

[As the adventurers are discussing what to do, the back door of the little cottage opens and the small girl skips outside with a doll in her hands. It has glued-on fairy wings made out of papers, and she's making it fly.

The cat is up at once, playfully chasing after the girl as she starts to have fun in the garden, bare feet in summer grass and wearing a cute little dress.

A man stops by the door, shaking his head a bit as he watches her. Correcting his glasses, he then opens the outer door fully and instead closes the screen door to keep bugs out.]

Don't get grass stains on your dress, Abigail!

[He calls out after the girl before he disappears into the house.

The little girl just laughs and then tosses her doll in the air.]

I'm the fairy queen, grass stains are good things... right, Mittens?

[Smiling at the cat, 'Mittens' paw at her leg before rubbing against it.]

[Ivaera, listening to the others, straightens and observes the small girl exiting the house. That the cat is instantly drawn to her is a good sign, or so she believes. The elven woman waits until the man by the door disappears back into the house before turning to the others, her voice low.]

The cat is now distracted, at least. [Hopefully, the girl will be too busy playing with it to catch sight of them, as well.] If we're to act, now seems as good a time as any.

[So the girl's name is Abigail. They're in America or Europe... or somewhere inordinately similar. And the girl is playing with a fairy doll...

Despite her earlier speculations about the fate of captured fairies, Fuu wonders if they can take a more direct route into the house. Abigail obviously believes in fairies; what would she do if she actually met one? Would she help, or would she immediately bring them to her father to prove her beliefs? Fuu taps her fingers on her lips, thinking hard.

...No, it's probably safest not to. And they need to make a decision quickly. She nods at Ivaera's suggestion.]

Let's go in through the cat-flap. I can use one of my spells to put us on the porch.

[She's used Binding Wind for a similar purpose before.]

[Well.

That's as good a plan as any.]

Maybe her parents will think it's the girl playing around.

[Who'd he would still rather not come into contact with. With the gems not working they don't look so much like fairies as they do little people.]

[Avoidance on all levels seems the most sensible course to Ivaera, who would rather not entrust her fate to a young child or her parents. She nods to Fuu, not possessing such magic and curious to see it in action.]

That sounds most useful. Please do?

All right. Don't be alarmed, everyone.

[She's never used a spell on so many people at once before, but given how her magic works, she can't afford to get nervous and doubt that it will--especially since it's new, though based on an existing one. Taking a deep breath, she raises her hands.]

Gliding Wind!

[The green breezes wrap around each adventurer, and Fuu manages to lift them up to the porch with a look of fierce concentration.]

[When she said get them to the porch he was thinking it would be something like a transfer circle so this does catch him off guard.

Not the first time something like this has happened though. Zagan's dungeon had a habit of grabbing people.]

....Interesting....

[Ivaera watches Fuu's magic take effect with pure wonder, not struggling or doing anything but noting everything that she can about it. When they reach the porch, she smiles warmly at Fuu.]

Interesting, indeed. I know some elemental spells, but nothing relating to wind. Thank you for that experience.

[After they go in through the cat flap, the adventurers find themselves in an older, rustic kitchen. A tea kettle is set on the gas stove and the father of the house is seated at the kitchen table with his back to the door, going through a huge stack of books.

The time period of the house is rather hard to figure out. There are no really modern appliances, and the overall style is fairly timeless. Even the clothes the father is wearing are timeless, a simple cotton shirt and pants. His facial hair and hair style says late 1800, but he could just be very hipster.

Correcting his glasses, the man looks tired and overworked but thankfully too busy to notice anything.]

[All this looks a big odd to Hakuryuu, much more used to the styles of Kou, Balbadd and Sindria. Which even at they're simplest...is vastly different.

The point remains the same, though, none of this is a simple home. Probably belonging to a family well enough off but not nobility.

Question is what do they do now? and where is the crystal piece they saw from outside? He's preoccupied, at least.

Hakuryuu is otherwise silent looking around the room for anything that might be useful.]

[Ivaera pauses for a lengthy moment to inspect the father, and perhaps the titles of the books if she can make them out. It's been a while since she's had access to a library, and the sight of the book-pile is making her nostalgic. If only she were the proper size...but then, sneaking around would be significantly more difficult.

With a sigh, she turns her attention away from the books to the rest of the house. Her mind similarly on the crystal piece, she tries to approximate where it might be from their position. And while she's at it, the elven woman listens intently for the sound of any other animal -pet or vermin- that might interrupt them.]

[Fuu looks around with great interest. This could be an old house from the present day (that is, her present day), or it could be from as far back as the 70's... not earlier, because of the mood ring, unless there's timey magic going on there too. The man's style certainly doesn't help her there. What year is this?

Of course, their primary concern is finding the sword hilt. She remembers that beam of light... perhaps it reflected off of a mirror or a window. Should they check the bathroom first? How big is the sword?]

Perhaps we should seek out a mirror--in the bathroom, perhaps. The image seemed to be reflected from something.

[She whispers only loud enough for her comrades to hear, not wanting to draw anyone's attention.]

Possibly.

It may have been off something metal...

[He has no idea where that might come from just that it's a possibility. He's also hoping the cat doesn't choose now to appear suddenly.]

[Ivaera glances over and nods, keeping her voice similarly muted. She's also wondering if she should have stuck to wearing her armor instead of something lighter and quieter. At least their larger company seems too absorbed in his current actions, so that can't hurt this endeavor.]

A mirror seems a good place to begin. We ought to seek one out, along with any other reflective surface. One of them will lead us to what we seek.

[She'll take a good look around their current room for any sign of that, but if nothing stands out, then it's time to leave the kitchen in search of it elsewhere. Carefully, of course.

[Fuu is happily dressed in rather quiet clothing. She looks around avidly at their surroundings--around and up. She would make a remark that this must be how mice view the world, but stealth is more important.

She considers a number of questions as she creeps along the hallway: what are the other travelers doing? Is there a town, perhaps, with one piece of the sword in each house? Is the sword fairy-sized, and what will they use it for--to shatter the crystal formation? If it's not, how will they move it, much less wield it?

Why might it be in a bathroom, if her guess is right? (No prizes for guessing which of these questions she might say out loud.)]

Either way, we don't know how much time we have.

[Either before he gets up or the rats go back. Going back to the tree isn't exactly the most appealing but he knows there's a way home, and that makes it much much more so.

If the sword is a step toward getting them home...]

We should start searching.

Agreed. Let's not waste time.

[Ivaera does her best to maintain a good pace and yet some semblance of stealth, not wanting to be the one who messes up the mission for them. Fuu's question makes her wonder, and though she doesn't know where a bathroom might be in this house, it doesn't hurt to keep watchful just in case there's one nearby.]

I wonder how much ground we'll have to cover....

[It's not easy to judge a house's size when their own is so radically different.]

[A small gleam of light it reflected from a half-open door at the other side of the kitchen, and from the look of the flowery carpet seen from their angle, it's the little girl's room.

Her voice can be heard now and then from the gardens, laughing and giggling in joy. The father seems a bit frustrated at this, rubbing the bridge of his nose as he tries to concentrate on the books.

There are no signs of a mother in the house or any other children.]

Looks like it's in the girl's room. We should try to get it before the girl comes back inside.

[Well. That says where they should go. Hakuryuu moves toward it carefully, trying to make as little noise as possible.

He's trying to ignore the dad unless he gets up, parents are a pretty sore topic for him.]

[Fuu nods in agreement at the new revelation. The sword itself shining out? Well, a shiny hilt would be the kind of thing a little girl might pick up, but wouldn't her father notice at some point... though retrieving the artifact is their first priority.

She also notes that the father seems to be the only person in the house as she moves cautiously into the girl's room, looking around for the source of the light.]

I do hope she doesn't miss it. It seems ungracious to take something of hers after her kindness to us.

[Ivaera follows them into the room, grateful for the sound of the girl's laughter, as it means she's effectively distracted for now. That there are no other residents present is also a good sign. She shrugs at Fuu's comment, not unsympathetic to the little girl, but definitely focusing on the side of pragmatism.]

I think she would understand, knowing that it would aid us. Not that I suggest conversing with her on the subject....

She's probably already forgotten she has it....or will soon enough.

[He's still whispering. He doesn't want to get any extra attention.

They're going to need it one way or another. Though he can't say children get over things easily, that she seems helping is nice.]

Or she will understand, since she likes the 'fairies' so much.

Edited 2015-07-17 02:25 (UTC)

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NIGHT DESTINATION

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