The Dizzy Drake Tavern/Inn

[Decorera]

[AN: Happening right around dawn in response to FireSpark's last post.]

Jarad paused, concern dropping upon his face. Head tilted, he regarded the older man who seemed confused upon waking. Jarad was about to venture a comment when movement caught his eye. He looked up at the wall to the right of Lyran's bed. Nothing was there but some wall hangings and a decoration or two above the door. Jarad's sharp eyes focused on one in particular: a large shiny copper plate. He could just make out a hazy reflection of the window that lay to the left.

Jarad stopped himself from making the instinctual glance towards the window. Instead he pictured the room in his mind. It was a narrow room: the door at one end to their right and the window at the other end to their left. He stood in the middle of the room: the fireplace to his back with Katily and Lyran before him on the bed. Jarad waited tensely. Then suddenly, a rooster cried out. Jaran turned to the window and innocently glanced out. Some scattered trees were all he saw; that and the pinkening sky.

When Jarad looked back to the bed, Lryan seemed less confused. Jarad blew out a breath and dropped his shoulders. His brows smoothed as the concerned expression left his face. "Master Lyran, do not be alarmed. We are not here to report some fell deed. Lady Katily became concerned for you during the night and I chose to accompany her in safeguarding your sleep." Jarad smiles warmly at the other man. "Perhaps we were presumptuous in entering your room without permission. We are but newly acquainted. However, I admit my concern for your well-being was sincere."  

[Katilys Heartsong]

Solemnly Katily stood and studied Lyran's face as he collected his bearings, she cast a glance over her shoulder at Jarad considering if the content of her reply need to be solely for Lyran's ears. Her face softened slightly as she thought, His concern has been genuine from the start and I trust him. Besides an ally may prove to be a boon.

Turning back to Lyran, the solemnity held and although she spoke softly she was heard clearly by both gentlemen. "Lyran, I give you my apologies for intruding upon your rest and privacy, but, I am afraid you may have more information than I. I can share the reason for my intrusion but beyond that I do not know much for certain except this. There is much cause for caution. Does the name Tosse mean anything to you?"

She paused searching his face for a sign of recognition and then knelt again beside the bed.

"You had a visitor, this was the cause for your deep slumber, and his name was such. He was a member of the seelie court, as was my father, and as I should have been. Tosse carried a warning advising caution and to be ware the unseelie."

Katily nervously looked up at Jarad over her left shoulder to see how the revelation of the origins for her concern were settling upon him. She wasn't sure but she had a feeling that he somehow knew personally of the courts of which she spoke.  

[bandaidd]

The dogs stirred in response to the lightening sky and the sounds of morning that heralded the new day's approach. Thalia was insensate to either, and as the largest of the canines arose, her head fell from his haunch and lolled limply on the ground. Her chapped lips fell open as she sucked in a raspy breath.  

[Decorera]

Despite his skill and charm, Jarad was speechless. He looked down at the ground; his face unreadable. 'Pro…she IS seelie. Con… she's in with COURT fey. They are BOTH mixed in Court fey! Oh, this is not good. Getting caught up in the courts is a damn foolish thing to do!' He turned away from the others, staring quietly toward the window. He stood there, trying to decide how to tell Katily that he could not stay and get bound up in Court business.

Just as he was about to speak, Jarad froze in shock. Something had been bothering him since Lryan awoke, and now Jarad knew what it was. Kaitly had closed the shutters when they entered the room and they had been closed all night. Jarad dragged his eyes from the floor to the window. A cold morning breeze drifted in through the open window making the fire shutter. Jarad shivered with it. 'I didn't notice….

....It's already inside.'

Jarad reached out silently and gripped his coat by the collar. Then he whirled and swung the heavy coat towards bed. Katily and Lyran flinched back, their eyes wide with shock as the heavy coat whipped through the air above their heads … and connected with something.
------------------
A shrill cry cut the cold air as Jarad's coat was wrenched from his grasp and went flying backwards. Something struck the wall near the window heavily and fell with a thump. Jarad's coat fell as well, making an equally loud thump. Within a blink of an eye, a creature shimmered into sight. It was a man, sort of. Its clothes were torn and tattered and it's bare feet and hands had a kind of bluish tinge: as if he had spent too much time in the cold. Its muscles were misshapen and his bones crooked. But for all that, it stood with unnatural grace. The creature shook its long dirty blond hair and grinned up at the startled people. Its teeth were yellow and looked sharpish in the dying firelight, but its eyes were terrifying. They seemed flat and cold and far too cruel to be on a smiling face. The creature giggled once, than again before leaping across the room towards them.  

[bandaidd]

Her fires winked out, one by one and she rose above the ravished body that had kept her prisoner. Gone were the haunting memories of seeing her mam and pa tortured and the town set alight. Gone were the memories of being hauled away, like so much grain, then used for weeks on end to slake men's thirst for violence. Gone was the pain, and that escape was the sweetest.

She cared not to look on the empty husk she once valued so much and turned to leave soaring upward into the night and into brightness and clarity she had never experienced before, as though all colors were pale shadows of the beauty that could be. She gazed around and saw someone beautiful coming toward her, not walking or flying but simply arriving. Without any words being exchanged, she was loved. She was loved beyond her capacity to hold it all and she fell on her face. Then she knew.  

[FireSpark]

Lyran scratched his head with a finger, and then stroked his beard in a slow, steady motion. Tosse. The name did seem familiar, but only in that did not conjure a cloud of foggy nothingness in his mind. Closing his eyes, Lyran's brow furrowed as he tried to concentrate on the name. The sound and syllable, trying to invoke whatever memory he could. There was nothing. Adding to this maelstrom of concentration, Lyran added his knowledge of the Seelie courts, and focused once more. This time something did come. As if a faint light a first, a feeling of recognition blossomed in Lyran's mind. He wanted to seize upon and recall it all, but feared it might retreat into the mists of his cluttered memories if he did. Instead he relaxed, his brow smoothing over, his breathing slow and steady, and let the memory come.

It was confusing at first. He saw many creatures, many things, but he associated all of them with Tosse. Then he felt them as being connected, and changing, from one moment to the next. Shapeshifter. A sense of persistence and dedication flowed next, along with loyalty and courage. A sea of colors rose then, and swept around in his mind's eye, until they began to coalesce into an image. Finally, in a span of time that seemed both infinite and infinitesimal, the colors became a crest that Lyran did recognize, a seal. The Royal seal of the High Court of the Seelie. Suddenly the memory of the seal rushed away, replaced once more with Tosse, and others as well. Tawnia, Fenny, Uster, Gloche. All Lyran knew to be names, but he did not know to whom they belonged. But Tosse was center-most of them all. And his eyes. Deep green eyes of a piercing gaze.

With a sharp inhale, Lyran opened his eyes. His chest felt tight, and his head felt tired again, but the feeling was beginning to pass already. His mind had managed to capture some of what he saw, and apparently, find more. Lyran's eyes suddenly lightened to yellowed-blue in color, and his gaze seemed far off.

"Yes. Yes, I know of Tosse. He is a house gnome, or at least, he was. The home to which he was bound had been allowed to fall into ruin, despite his efforts to save it. But it was a slow process, over much time, and many generations of man. And as the time went on, the bond between he and the home grew thinner, if not weaker. Finally, the home was lost in a storm, and the bond was broken, and Tosse the resolute met with Death and oblivion head on. His determination and steadfastness gained him notice, and just before the end, his bonds were..."

Lyran paused, and his eyes faded back to his natural shining blue. His mouth hung open, his jaw working, trying to find words to describe what he knew, what he saw. But there were none in the tongue in which he spoke, so he choose some that could at least allude to the meaning he wanted to convey. Turning his gaze upon Katily, Lyran continued.

"They were cauterized, and he was free of them. But he was now a house gnome without a house. And so he chose to become a Seeker. The Seekers are fae that can find anything. They scour the land for their targets, and never fail. But Tosse is not just any Seeker. He is the Seeker. Head of his order, and accountable to none but the King himself. I am afraid that I cannot recall the why or the how, but if Tosse is involved here, then the repercussions must run far and wide, very high indeed."

Lyran lay a hand upon Katily's shoulder, but his gaze drifted to the cooling fireplace. Then, slowly, there came a tingling upon the back of his neck. The hairs stood on end, and there was ball of ice in his gut, but Lyran could see no reason for it, and dismissed it as just the morning chill. But then, Jarad lashed out with his coat, hard and wide, the lengths of it unfurling like a boat's sails. As it whipped past Lyran's head suddenly wrapped around something that Lyran had not seen. The jacket then continued off the towards the wall, and impacted with a much larger thud than it should have.

Coming to his feet, Lyran gazed at the fallen garment, as it writhed and squirmed before being obviously tossed aside. Shimmering into view, just beside the crumpled coat, appeared the form of a small, twisted man. His dressings tattered, his eyes malicious, and his face contorted into a cruel smile of sharp teeth. And for the first time, that he could currently remember, Lyran was afraid.

The creature swayed slightly on its feet, before loosing a devilish giggle from its throat. Suddenly it sprung from where it stood, its claw like fingers outstretched to Lyran.  

[Katilys Heartsong]

Katily tensed when she saw the way Jarad grasped his coat. She felt something in the pit of her stomach like an icy cold stone. She closed her eyes and saw a mirage like image of the changeling standing over Lyran. It glistened and wavered like a dream.

As she focused on it with her mind it turned and grinned with cruel twisted lips as if to goad her into a challenge at that moment Jarad swung his coat sending the misshapen creature crashing into the wall.

Caught it off guard once, thanks be to you Jarad! It will not be easy to do that again. Katily did not speak a word but her thoughts emanated from her like a ray of sun.

The wavering image in her mind cleared and she knew the creature had released his cloaking spell. Opening her eyes she cupped her hands in front of her as if she held a fragile ball, slowly her fingers straightened and her tiny hands moved in countering circles a small amount of blue-white light shone there it grew in strength and brightness until it nearly lit the entire room.

Lyran stood at the bedside between where she knelt at the wall and Jarad stood just behind her on the opposite side from Lyran. Just as her thoughts emanated out from her the feelings and emotions in the room rushed in with a staggering clarity. She was surprised at the calm that surrounded Jarad. At the same time she worried for Lyran, this was a startling event of it self but he seemed to be just regaining his memories. Attempting to calm him she thought. Find a peace Lyran, it feeds upon your fear.

Just as she thought this the changeling sprung for Lyran. Turning her palms outward a beam of icy light connected with the changeling and he hung there, suspended, less than a foot from Lyran with his claw like fingers outstretched towards him.

Katily knew she would be unable to hold him there long, her eyes closed in concentration staying him as long as she might. The malicious creature turned his focus upon her for the moment.  

[Decorera]

The creature sprung into the air, sailing across the far side of the room, clearly intending to land on the seated Lyran. Its lips were curled back in a vicious grin as the apex of its leap carried him over the end of the bed. Suddenly his expression turned to alarm as he stopped, hanging motionless in the air.

Jarad didn't waste time finding out what had stopped the creature. His hand flickered down and slipped a knife out of his boot top. As he stepped forward in front of Katily, he heard a shocked gasp from behind him, as Katily sensed the nearness of the deadly cold iron. With that gasp came a startling event.

The creature, who had hung helpless, suddenly began to move again; flying forward as if he had never been stopped. Jarad's eyes widened in alarm, but he reacted swiftly. Stepping forward, he grasped one of the creature's outstretched arms and its torso, and gracefully twisted his upper body around. Jarad let the creature's momentum carry it in a tight arch around Jarad's pivoting body.

When Jarad gracefully released his grip, the creature flew off to the left of the bed. It crashed into the small fireplace and screamed as the dying flames burn its skin and its head cracked resoundingly against the stone. Jarad picked up his knife from the floor and watched the creature thrash around in the fireplace. Jarad's eyes and face were serene even as his lips twisted into a grim smile.

[AN: Just a reminder to all fey. Cold iron is deady to fey. It wounds deeply and badly. When bound in cold iron, a fey is trapped and cannot do anything magical. Fey can usually sense the presence of cold iron when they see it.]  

[Katilys Heartsong]

Alarmed by the nearness of the deadly iron Katily lost her concentration on the creature and it continued in its course toward Lyran. Katily's wings spread and she fluttered back to put distance between her and that dreaded instrument.

After Jarad hand sent the changeling into the fire she regained her senses and a far away look filled her eyes and they shown a glowing aqua color. She spoke commandingly her voice took on a deep ancient quality in addition to it usual resemblance to tinkling bells.

"SOLIERE GAIBRIN AELES DIALADOR FRIESE!"

Immediately the fire doubled in size, the creature cried out in pain and stumbled off of the hearth as his clothing went up in flames.  

[Fallicious Flavor]

[OOC: Is this action taking place in and around the Tavern? I would like a reply before making my intro post 3nodding ]  

[FireSpark]

-Lucid Realities-

[OOC: Is this action taking place in and around the Tavern? I would like a reply before making my intro post 3nodding ]

((OOC: If you are referring to the scuffle with the evil fey that we are having, it is ocurring in an upstairs room of th tavern/inn. The time frame is about 6:00-ish in the morning.))  

[Decorera]

[[AN:Hello all! Greetings again Firespark and Katie...someone. (name-changes, bah!) For a long time this forum would not let me post. So here goes. POST!]]
Jared cold smile widened with respect, as the tiny gentle fey woman set the large dangerous Changeling on fire. The doomed thing thrashed and screamed as the fire ate at its frost covered skin. It tried to get out of the fireplace but Jared callously kicked it back within. It whimpered as it fell, growing smaller and smaller until, in one last rush of flame, nothing was left but ash and melted ice.

Jared stood and breathed slowly and carefully. He calmly walked to the window and checked outside for any disturbance. Finding nothing, he began to close the window but decided to leave it open to let the fresh morning breeze cleanse the room. He kept his face averted from Katily and Lyran and went to pick up his long and (apparently) very heavy coat. He picked it up with ease, holding it in one hand as he carefully slid his cold iron knife back to its hiding place. Only then did he lift his eyes to his companions. They were calm and compassionate; the friendly eyes of the tinker, but everyone there could sense Jared anticipating some kind of judgment. This quiet unassuming man had shown some rather unusual abilities for a simple tinker.  

[Katilys Heartsong]

((ooc: Woot! and the games are resumed! yay now we just have to coerse firespark to rejoin!))

Katily instinctively stepped to Lyran, as much to make sure he was alright as to put more distance between herself and the long iron blade that Jarad was sheathing.

With her wings still spread wide in anticipation and her hand on the older mans fore arm she watched Jarad with a new-found sense of wonder.

Jarad, why do you suddenly fear reproach when you offered help in a time of need. Again her thoughts were unspoken but she knew she was heard.

When at last he turned his gaze towards them, the affection beaming in her eyes had lessened and she hoped it was masked with a comforting appearance.

Guiding Lyran to find a seat upon the edge of the bed she folded her wings and perched beside him with her feet suspended above the ground, tipping her head to the side imploringly she brushed a tendril of hair out of her eyes. "come, sit and tell us your story good tinker" With a laugh like tinkling bells she made a short gesture with one hand and the large chair that Jarad had just retrieved his coat from, Sailed across the room catching Jarad behind the knees and seating him with a thump onto its cushion. it then turned near a full turn and slid to a stop infront of the open window, facing Lyran and Katily on the bed.  

[Decorera]

The whites of Jarad's eyes appeared when the chair flew around the room, deftly scooping him up. He yelped in shock and gripped the armrest tightly until the chair settled down. He leaned back slightly before he regained his composure. Thanking the fact that no mage of any kind could ever read his mind, Jarad quickly formulated an acceptable half-truth.
"I am glad, my dear, of your acceptance. I admit it is strange for a tinker to be so knowledgeable of the martial arts. I feared you might be frightened of me. But I assure you, my skills are used only to defend myself and others. The road can be a dangerous place."
Jarad's eyes were calm and honesty was apparent in his face. Either he was a marvelous liar or there was truth in what he spoke. There was no trace of the speedy analysis taking place in his mind.  

[Katilys Heartsong]

"Indeed travels can lead you into unforeseen perils, but how does and accomplished tinker come to have time for the extensive studies needed in learning such complicated arts?" She was curious about this humble man, he lacked the false bravado of others who were half as learned as he was proving to be.