A black wolf lies in the midst of a room, its jaws stretched. The animal rolls onto its side and stretches nonchalantly, paying no mind to the reader.
After realizing that this is still being read, however, Ed rolls back over and flips onto her four paws. The wolf yawns again and pauses to stretch once more. Once done with that, she looks at the reader.
...What'chu looking at?
...Oh. A summary of the event? Who told you about that?
The topic name? I don't follow.
...Rei? Oh, he said he was too lazy to do it, and I offered to do it beforehand, so — hey, who told you I was doing the synopsis anyway?
Ed stops to scratch at her ear.
All right, all right. I do have eyes and ears, you know! Meaning I've seen a lot of this event. So don't fret, let's get this started. I'll outline the important stuff.
- - - - -
A Long and Dark December
It's only six posts long. Go read!
Ice Skating
This wasn't too terribly important, but I'll mention it for stray details anyway. Many FEFers gathered around a frozen lake to enjoy themselves. A snowball fight breaks out, Rei was replaced by Zelos...yeah, friendly stuff. Alihi returned from visiting her family. It's soon afterward that Finn makes his appearance with a baby Leaf. Older Soren had come around the lake, and he was wearing some pretty colorful robes spiffed up in feathers; Finn mistook him for a 'feathery demon' and took a shot, knocking Older Soren clean unconscious. Of course Finn felt bad. Older Soren was taken away for medical attention, and things seemed to go back to normal, "Zelos" sparred with Blossom, and Anna the helpful hint girl made her first event appearance.
The Pied Maestro: While this was going on, the fearsome Siegell was off on some task. He landed among an eerie company of entranced "children" under the control of a hunchback bard, the Pied Maesto, a piper. The piper attempted to charm Siegell with music, but the rider had earplugs in. Convenient, eh? Siegell fought his way through the charmed "children", confronting the piper directly. The Maestro attempted to negotiate with Siegell but instead spent half an hour having his throat cut up. Siegell left with the Maestro's peculiar flute, letting the children wake each other up by "punching each other in the heads".
A Frigid Nightmare
Huey was flying over FEF Town, Younger Soren studying the flags that had changed. People were wandering the streets and FEF Castle. Everyone was running to the priests because of flus and colds (in Older Soren's case a bleeding head).
Nils dashed onto the scene, alerting everyone of incoming danger. Nino burst out with allies as the undead and demons of Magvel surrounded the castle, cutting a path of blood in their wake. There were Mauthe Doogs led by a Cerberus, followed by the invisible Mysterious Shadowy Figure. The ice king Leander kept himself hidden at first, but upon seeing Nino swooped down and pulled her into a kiss! Then he raised a pillar of ice with himself and Nino on top, and with a powerful voice called his name across the field: "King Leander". No one could help Nino, but no one freaked out either; they kept fighting the demons. King Leander didn't do anything to either side, but he did proclaim his indignation toward everything below and he vanished with Nino into FEF Castle, letting the pillar crumble into an icy barrier at the castle's entrance.
The Mauthe Doogs and their leader were killed (Sue taking the pleasure of slaying the beast). But then Mogalls came in as reinforcements! People continued to fight, combatting the Mogalls, while King Leander took the pleasure of clearing out the FEF Castle with a cold, cold wind. Well, "his" castle now. So people were teleported out from the castle as ice covered the walls and floors, and the one to be frozen by its touch was an apparently nameless priest who teleported everyone else out.
King Leander followed this up with a terrible but magnificent blizzard. It swept the Mogalls away! ...But it was a danger to the health of the FEFers as well, who had fled to Fefga's hangout.
The Fefga House (Mansion of a benevolent spirit...)
Everyone was escaping from the storm. It was one hell of a blizzard, after all. Those who were worse off had to take blankets and tea. An enigmatic figure from the world of Elibe, one of the original eight heroes, introduced himself into the event: Bramimond. Everyone supported one another, refreshing weapons and their bodies. People late to the mansion trickled in, though there were still concerns about some missing people. Tibarn tried to keep everyone organized. Isadora and Sue discussed theories of what was going on behind the scenes, then a strategy conference was called together while Tiarb was not looking — it was determined among Alihi, Victoria, Sue, and the two Sorens to take inventory and find supplies rather than focus on speculations about King Leander and the Mysterious Shadowy Figure no one can seem to spot.
While taking inventory, Fefga's spirit followed Younger Soren around. He sensed the spirit and also heard her giggle. They made a quick exchange of words before Fefga noticed something else, and all of time suddenly froze. The Mysterious Shadowy Figure threatened Fefga not to help the FEFers. Then time's flow was restored.
While taking inventory, monsters swarmed the ward around Fefga's mansion, and the FEFers met them in battle out of defense. Older Soren noticed a strange door and recruited help from Younger Soren and Sue. They invaded the room, which was laced in enchantments. While raiding the room a wall disappeared, revealing a corridor into a chamber. There was soft singing. However, Sue had parchments with useful recipes and left to tell Tibarn. Younger Soren followed the singing into a chamber where he met Fefga once again. She chased him out after revealing the existence of an "Ice King".
Tibarn called a meeting to gather supplies.
Vaida and Tori Return!: What do you know? It's Vaida and Tori! They're coming back from who-knows-where having a delightful talk about snow and presents. Just as they see the mess that FEF is in, they are attacked! As they fight off the mauthe doogs, Abel is lying in the snow...
Into the Breach - Searching for Supplies
Tibarn calls people together to organize before going out to find food and supplies. After all, they'd be going beyond the protective ward into monster territory! Tibarn assembled the first crew (Renault, Nils, Fire Dragon, Amelia, Ashnard, and Bartre) for food. The second (Bramimond, Melethia, and Rei) were to find wood.
Meanwhile, Older Soren (who had drifted off from fatigue earlier) woke from his nap and opened a box he found sitting in the room he'd been raiding earlier. He discovered a Dragonstone, a potential weapon for Nils.
The Food Party: Renault, Nils, the Fire Dragon, Amelia, Ashnard, and Bartre set off for Merlinus's shop for their supplies. On the way, they were ambushed...by ZOMBIES REVENANTS! They were kinda expecting the floating eyeballs and hellhounds, you know. Oh yeah, and the giant spiders undersnow also. No one was happy to see them (especially not Renault, although Ashnard seemed glad to decapitate some things), the Fire Dragon went around incinerating, Amelia went around stabbing, Nils went around fluting, Bartre went off axing, and guess who came to help? Siegell and Shastah! BIG surprise, Ashnard and Amelia weren't too happy about that. But they finally beat the ambush party.
They were troubled by another horde of monsters, but those were easily routed. Older Soren had managed to give the dragonstone he found to Nils. The party shuffled through the tent, gathering everything they could find, letting a few stand watch as they did.
The Firewood Party: Rei/Zelos, Melethia, Bramimond, and the volunteer Aran set off for firewood. Sue and Victoria gallop along to lend their efforts. They wandered about picking up any form of wood (Melethia and Zelos not quite getting along). As they were making their rounds, a pack of six Mauthe Doogs let loose a fierce hunting cry and dashed toward the party, accompanied by axe-wielding Tarvos, and Gorgons beneath the snow.
It's only six posts long. Go read!
Ice Skating
This wasn't too terribly important, but I'll mention it for stray details anyway. Many FEFers gathered around a frozen lake to enjoy themselves. A snowball fight breaks out, Rei was replaced by Zelos...yeah, friendly stuff. Alihi returned from visiting her family. It's soon afterward that Finn makes his appearance with a baby Leaf. Older Soren had come around the lake, and he was wearing some pretty colorful robes spiffed up in feathers; Finn mistook him for a 'feathery demon' and took a shot, knocking Older Soren clean unconscious. Of course Finn felt bad. Older Soren was taken away for medical attention, and things seemed to go back to normal, "Zelos" sparred with Blossom, and Anna the helpful hint girl made her first event appearance.
The Pied Maestro: While this was going on, the fearsome Siegell was off on some task. He landed among an eerie company of entranced "children" under the control of a hunchback bard, the Pied Maesto, a piper. The piper attempted to charm Siegell with music, but the rider had earplugs in. Convenient, eh? Siegell fought his way through the charmed "children", confronting the piper directly. The Maestro attempted to negotiate with Siegell but instead spent half an hour having his throat cut up. Siegell left with the Maestro's peculiar flute, letting the children wake each other up by "punching each other in the heads".
A Frigid Nightmare
Huey was flying over FEF Town, Younger Soren studying the flags that had changed. People were wandering the streets and FEF Castle. Everyone was running to the priests because of flus and colds (in Older Soren's case a bleeding head).
Nils dashed onto the scene, alerting everyone of incoming danger. Nino burst out with allies as the undead and demons of Magvel surrounded the castle, cutting a path of blood in their wake. There were Mauthe Doogs led by a Cerberus, followed by the invisible Mysterious Shadowy Figure. The ice king Leander kept himself hidden at first, but upon seeing Nino swooped down and pulled her into a kiss! Then he raised a pillar of ice with himself and Nino on top, and with a powerful voice called his name across the field: "King Leander". No one could help Nino, but no one freaked out either; they kept fighting the demons. King Leander didn't do anything to either side, but he did proclaim his indignation toward everything below and he vanished with Nino into FEF Castle, letting the pillar crumble into an icy barrier at the castle's entrance.
The Mauthe Doogs and their leader were killed (Sue taking the pleasure of slaying the beast). But then Mogalls came in as reinforcements! People continued to fight, combatting the Mogalls, while King Leander took the pleasure of clearing out the FEF Castle with a cold, cold wind. Well, "his" castle now. So people were teleported out from the castle as ice covered the walls and floors, and the one to be frozen by its touch was an apparently nameless priest who teleported everyone else out.
King Leander followed this up with a terrible but magnificent blizzard. It swept the Mogalls away! ...But it was a danger to the health of the FEFers as well, who had fled to Fefga's hangout.
The Fefga House (Mansion of a benevolent spirit...)
Everyone was escaping from the storm. It was one hell of a blizzard, after all. Those who were worse off had to take blankets and tea. An enigmatic figure from the world of Elibe, one of the original eight heroes, introduced himself into the event: Bramimond. Everyone supported one another, refreshing weapons and their bodies. People late to the mansion trickled in, though there were still concerns about some missing people. Tibarn tried to keep everyone organized. Isadora and Sue discussed theories of what was going on behind the scenes, then a strategy conference was called together while Tiarb was not looking — it was determined among Alihi, Victoria, Sue, and the two Sorens to take inventory and find supplies rather than focus on speculations about King Leander and the Mysterious Shadowy Figure no one can seem to spot.
While taking inventory, Fefga's spirit followed Younger Soren around. He sensed the spirit and also heard her giggle. They made a quick exchange of words before Fefga noticed something else, and all of time suddenly froze. The Mysterious Shadowy Figure threatened Fefga not to help the FEFers. Then time's flow was restored.
While taking inventory, monsters swarmed the ward around Fefga's mansion, and the FEFers met them in battle out of defense. Older Soren noticed a strange door and recruited help from Younger Soren and Sue. They invaded the room, which was laced in enchantments. While raiding the room a wall disappeared, revealing a corridor into a chamber. There was soft singing. However, Sue had parchments with useful recipes and left to tell Tibarn. Younger Soren followed the singing into a chamber where he met Fefga once again. She chased him out after revealing the existence of an "Ice King".
Tibarn called a meeting to gather supplies.
Vaida and Tori Return!: What do you know? It's Vaida and Tori! They're coming back from who-knows-where having a delightful talk about snow and presents. Just as they see the mess that FEF is in, they are attacked! As they fight off the mauthe doogs, Abel is lying in the snow...
Into the Breach - Searching for Supplies
Tibarn calls people together to organize before going out to find food and supplies. After all, they'd be going beyond the protective ward into monster territory! Tibarn assembled the first crew (Renault, Nils, Fire Dragon, Amelia, Ashnard, and Bartre) for food. The second (Bramimond, Melethia, and Rei) were to find wood.
Meanwhile, Older Soren (who had drifted off from fatigue earlier) woke from his nap and opened a box he found sitting in the room he'd been raiding earlier. He discovered a Dragonstone, a potential weapon for Nils.
The Food Party: Renault, Nils, the Fire Dragon, Amelia, Ashnard, and Bartre set off for Merlinus's shop for their supplies. On the way, they were ambushed...by ZOMBIES REVENANTS! They were kinda expecting the floating eyeballs and hellhounds, you know. Oh yeah, and the giant spiders undersnow also. No one was happy to see them (especially not Renault, although Ashnard seemed glad to decapitate some things), the Fire Dragon went around incinerating, Amelia went around stabbing, Nils went around fluting, Bartre went off axing, and guess who came to help? Siegell and Shastah! BIG surprise, Ashnard and Amelia weren't too happy about that. But they finally beat the ambush party.
They were troubled by another horde of monsters, but those were easily routed. Older Soren had managed to give the dragonstone he found to Nils. The party shuffled through the tent, gathering everything they could find, letting a few stand watch as they did.
The Firewood Party: Rei/Zelos, Melethia, Bramimond, and the volunteer Aran set off for firewood. Sue and Victoria gallop along to lend their efforts. They wandered about picking up any form of wood (Melethia and Zelos not quite getting along). As they were making their rounds, a pack of six Mauthe Doogs let loose a fierce hunting cry and dashed toward the party, accompanied by axe-wielding Tarvos, and Gorgons beneath the snow.
Meanwhile...: *shudder* Long story short, King Leander thought Nino was his beloved from his old time and believed not that much time had even passed since his disappearance. Nino insisted she was not who he thought she was, but King Leander believed she was merely confused or deluded or something of the sort.
Eventually it came to the point that Nino fell through a hole in the floor — to the catacombs! Leander thought she was trying to escape and attempted again to reason with her. Instead, he found the casket of his beloved and finally realized Nino was not his beloved. Accepting this, he decided to teleport himself and Nino away to wherever she wished.
In a Dream: While younger Soren was still taking inventory in Fefga's house, a few friends (Valter, Fiora, Older Eliwood, Alihi, Nometal) popped by. Valter had a wild Christmas-y nightmare, to which Soren replied with reports of a galdr-like song in his sleep. Soon after he recited a few lines from this song, a few of the others fell unconscious. Fiora recited a galdr in her unconscious state.
DONG...DONG...DONG...: From within town in Vaida's, Tori's, and Abel's general area, a mass of decay and rotting flesh clustered itself into a great living beast! It crushed a house on its way to Merlinus's tent, making a grand entrance as the Food Party gazed up in horror and awe. The creature Molina (composed of a cluster of revenants, bits and pieces of blades and claws sticking out, a stony armor-like coat, and a bell tower as its core) boomed its way through town.
Amelia was the first to sight the creature and alerted the others. Nils took this opportunity to utilize the Dragonstone, transforming into an ice dragon not even half the bulk of the Molina creature. Renault initiated the first attack on the creature, striking the eye. Though Siegell was staring, his wyvern was already busy attacking the other eye. Bartre put his handaxe to use. Almost the entire party fell upon the Molina creature (Siegell and Shastah had gone to deliver supplies to Fefga's House, Older Soren in no condition to fight), but somehow Nils's icy attacks had shattering effects on the creature, as did Renault's light magic. His light attacks slaughtered Molina, allowing its form to melt off the tower it had engulfed, and Molina fell to the side leaving behind "the remains of a ruined tower and the soft ringing of a bell that had turned golden, hanging in the ruined remains of the tower's pinnacle."
After Molina's defeat, the party retreated to Fefga's House.
The Food Party Recovers: Back at Fefga's House, everyone makes exchanges of what's been going on with different sides. Ranging from Molina's attack to the little things at Fefga's House, the food party takes their time to recuperate (although Tibarn and Ayra had one vicious argument). Off in some secluded part of the house, those who fell unconscious from hearing the earlier galdr were stirred and resumed a small discussion with the younger Soren about it. Then they rejoined the main group, where discussion of another Host Club Party was being made.
The following day, Isadora presented Tibarn with her plan to confront the ice king. Tibarn disagreed but Isadora pushed her point to negotiate with Leander. It was determined that she should wait until the Firewood Party returned. Rhys brought up a little fact about the ice king — that Leander may as well have been from nine hundred years ago. But it remained as speculation.
Black Hate: The Firewood Party were presented with a new problem: the Mysterious Shadowy Figure whom people were unable to sight flew amidst the crew and took the remains of the surviving Tarvos, Gorgons, and Mauthe Doogs to create a terrible monstrosity dubbed the Chimera. The Mysterious Shadowy Figure's presence hindered Victoria so much with migraines that she fled. Valter had come along to help the firewood crew stay alive. Melethia almost got eaten, but the Chimera couldn't completely swallow her! It was then that Leander and Nino teleported in. The Mysterious Shadowy Figure was angry with Leander the Ice King's presence and immediately left, allowing Leander to slay the Chimera with a terrible winter wind.
The Firewood Party Recovers: Everyone returned to Fefga's Mansion, Leander and Nino included, and were trying to recollect their thoughts. Isadora was a bit baffled at how easily the situation with Leander was resolved. Younger Soren seemed to up and vanish without anyone's notice. Tibarn was horribly confused at Leander's entrance, although the fire that sprung up in the fireplace reassured everyone that Leander meant no harm. Me? I was chillin', man.
The Door
Leander explained his tale to the FEFers. Nine hundred years ago, he wished for peace among the world, and how a god came to him with the offer to have such power to make it happen. He used this power but it was not as he imagined — this power wiped out the other lands, leaving his own to be the only one alive. In shame he'd left and froze himself. He apologized for what he put FEF through, and also explained what Nino had told him — that she went through a door in her world and came out in this one. He asked if anyone had similar stories...
...and they did. They were all so sad about it. Rhys had a heartbreaking one. Amelia, Blossom, Valter, Alihi — they sounded like they regretted being here. Even Tibarn suffered the same. Melethia didn't share her tale (out loud), and neither did Sue, but she did wonder if her father had found a way back home... Victoria didn't think she had a home any more... Even Vaida had a story! And Isadora didn't seem all too happy... Everyone tried to support each other through all their misery. Man... I never thought I'd see the Host Club King so...down...
...Sorry... It's just, I don't have that kind of story. I'm from here, I didn't go through a door and wind up here, leaving family and friends behind. And I thought they were all unhappy to be here!
But, well, anyway... Um... Leander went to sleep "for the first time in centuries". Nils was enjoying himself with food, Ninian helping him out... The Fire Dragon came around as well... Amelia helped Rhys to pull himself together. Aran had been asleep, so at least he didn't have to feel miserable. Fiora had also missed it. Renault didn't care for winding up here — he preferred it.
Finally everyone pulled themselves together. Leander awoke...
There Was a Click: This wasn't even on purpose, but Leander opened the door when his staff hit it! He was saying that if anyone went back through The Door, they may never return to FEF, and they also couldn't take with them someone who originated from another world. And suddenly The Door was open! No one went through... Nino tried at first, but Rei managed to stop her with a flying tackle. Then Nino apologized, remembering that FEF was also her family.
Before anyone else could go through, Leander said that someone called him. He went through The Door and it shut behind him...
Beyond the Door: Heh, it's only six posts long...
Loki's Shadow: While everyone was celebrating Nino's stay, Leander was flung back out The Door — rapidly aging! He managed to squeak out the return of a God of Chaos seeking a goddess from their lands. The Door shut and Leander disintegrated to dust. Nino mourned his passing while many began to speculate of who this goddess may be. Some started connecting the galdrar they'd been hearing to this goddess.
Then it was confirmed that Ashera was this goddess. Her voice whispered through the mansion, shattered and weak, pleading for us to find safety.
Everyone started to establish resolutions. Fefga made one last appearance near Leander's resting place, promising that she'd tell his beloved Nadalia that he was on his way. Ashera, despite her condition, sang galdrar for the FEFers. Rhys and Amelia were attempting to wake Tibarn and Ayra to catch them up to date with this God of Chaos. Even Heath made an appearance, and it was mostly for a sleepover.
Tibarn did wake, but merely shooed Rhys and Amelia off before going back to sleep. The God of Chaos threatened Rhys and Amelia that he would return for FEF, and when they came to Amelia tried again to speak to Tibarn, who hardly cared two figs for this threat.
They had yet to throw a party, so preparations were made for one.
Um...Merry Christmas Rhysmas, everybody?
- - - - -
The wolf then sits down and wags her tail at the reader.
Give me some food, I'm hungry.
