NIGHT DESTINATION

[thecanopycrew]

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.

Comments

[monster_san]

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.]

[finallyfallen]

[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....

[circleprodigy]

[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.

[thecanopycrew]

[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.]

[finallyfallen]

[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.]

[circleprodigy]

[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.]

[monster_san]

[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.]

[finallyfallen]

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.]

[circleprodigy]

[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.

[monster_san]

[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.)]

[finallyfallen]

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.

[circleprodigy]

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.]

[thecanopycrew]

[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.]

[finallyfallen]

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.]

[monster_san]

[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.

[circleprodigy]

[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....

[finallyfallen]

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.