2023.12.29 The Fallen Knight Shines Bright

The Fallen Knight Shines Bright
Tempers flare the night after the truth was revealed, the fallen knight trying her hardest to hold onto her life with the help of the best healers the Baroness could call upon
IC Date	2023.12.29
IC Time	Evening to Night
Players	Eirlys, Zeller, Miranda, Alicia, Graham, Kieran, Alecto
Location	Barony of Divertimento Dithyramb Dance - Capricorn Glade - Gazebo
Spheres	Changeling, Shifter

It's been a day since everything went down with speaking to Fryse and the damage that Sealgaira took from the dark magic surrounding the deal between the Thallain and Fryse boiled over onto Sealgaira. Miranda has not left her side since then, and had the best the county can offer of healers. One special one she called in as well. Having sent another message to Alecto, asking her to come and check on Sealgaira today, see if there is anything more she can do.

Having been stabilized and kept near the balefire has done a lot for Sealgaira. She has been resting and best part - NOT DEAD. Mereid sent word to Kieran as well for her to come see the Knight as they all hope she will awaken soon.

Alecto has come back to check on Alicia. She's got her hair pinned back from her face and pulled into a long braid that is still about waist-length. Black and silky smooth. She has her little cross-body bag that she tends to carry with her most of the time and that's just about it. She shed her tennis shoes as she walked through to the other side and now, here she comes, as requested, to check on Alicia.

The one inhabiting Eirlys' body known as Fryse came along with them to the Gazebo... staying well out of the way until that armor of hers finally melted. Eirlys, exhausted after the switch back, spent the day sleeping--not too unlike what's become of the poor knight. But now, after waking, she quickly takes in her surroundings and notices her injured angel resting at the heart of the Freehold. Her hooves clakc as she practically sprints up to The Baroness, Knight, and the unknown healer next to them. `S-Sealgaira?! Baroness?! What the hell happened?!`

Kieran comes to the Glade straight away upon receiving the message. She looks... grim, or at least stern and serious, for once. Though her guitar, as usual, is strapped across her back, her left hand remains near her belt-buckle... and the hilt of her rapier. When the voice reveals just which passenger is currently driving the satyr's body, her expression grows just a touch darker. "I was wondering the same thing... wasn't that the sort of answer you kept claiming you could give?" She looks to the Baroness then, "What happened, and is everyone else alright?"

Miranda holds up a hand to keep Eirlys back as she asks, "Thank you for coming, Alecto. Please, Alicia has not woken just yet." She steps away to speak to Eirlys and Kieran to explain. "As you know, we talked with Fryse. While the conversation yielded valuable information, Sealgaira took my place to ask the question about the deal with the Thallain. And when it was told, she took the brunt of the dark magic connected with it. Dark Winter magic as best I can tell. She fought it, but it was too much. She begged the Dreaming for help and it all backfired. She was so close to death. I brought her here next to the balefire and called upon her friend. Alecto. We met her some time back. She is kinain and has her own abilities to help. She saved Sealgaira's life!"

Alecto reaches for Eirlys, but Miranda stops her instead. One smooth motion brings Alecto's hand back down. She flicks her braid back over her shoulder, out of the way and she stands tall and almost at parade rest. As she's kind of introduced, she dips her head politely. "She is stable and cleansed. I was just coming to consider whether or not I should do more." SHe lifts her head just a little bit and sniffs just once at the air.

Laying still, out of her armor, in bandages and bloody silks, Sealgaira doesn't do much than breathe. "You should see the other guy," she says barely at a whisper. Her body is bruised and broken. She looks like she went through hell, a thousand claws of black-ice having gone through her.

Eil gives Kieran a wide-eyed glance, holding up her hands. `Wh-you don't think I'm THEM do you?! No, no, it's -me- and I want to know what the hell happened to my GIRLFRIEND!` She spouts, emotions already flaring before Miranda starts to fill her in. `She... so Jester really was telling the truth... fuck! Why did she do it?!` Her eyes drift to Sealgaira, full of unhidden anger, though it fades to concern when she actually speaks. The Satyr kneels down and reaches for her hand. `I... the other guy? Did you stab me and bring me back to life or something?! It... it doesn't matter right now, nevermind. But uh... thank you, Alecto.` She says, nodding to the kinain.

Miranda will kneel down next to Eilrys onto her own knees and keep her back from Sealgaira. "NOT NOW. I know you want to be there for her, but you cannot touch her now. Let Alecto take care of her now." She gives it a moment before she will say, "There is more I can share, but you need to calm down now and scoot back." A look to Kieran for help here too, and a sigh. "No one else was hurt or touched. Listen to me, we have information to end this, but it is going to take all of us and a great plan."

Kieran frowns at Eirlys for a moment before shaking her head and sighing. "Honestly, it can be hard to tell, sometimes... sorry." She looks over the injured sidhe for a few moments, shaking her head. "The other guy, huh? Let's worry about /you/ right now. That is," Sealgaira gets a pointed look, "if I can be relied on." She looks toward Alecto, then, noticing the stance, and nods a bit. "You're a kinain healer? Have you any skill with the Art of Spring?"

Alecto steps between Eirlys and Sealgaira. It's a rather graceful shift of her body and not very far at all, but the intention is super clear. Have to go through Alecto first. Her hands come out from behind her back, but she doesn't look like she's going to attack or anything quite so dramatic. When Sealgaira speaks, Alecto says, without turning around, "Welcome back. You are safe." To Kieran, she shakes her head. "It is similar, but still quite different." She doesn't explain futher.

Eil pulls back at Miranda's shouting, letting out a breath. She seems to be about to drop it, but Alecto getting inbetween her and the Baroness brings her expression into a sneer. `Oh... I guess you're gonna try to heal her by getting rid of me now, huh? That'd make things easier, wouldn't it? Oh yeah, yeah it would...` she turns sharply away, beginning to walk to the bar, but stops when Sealgaira speaks again. `...yeah, I'm safe. But you aren't.`

"It's great to be here," Sealgaira says. "I'd like to thank the Academy . . . " The knight tries to smile, but even smiling hurts! She moans in pain.

Miranda shakes her head, "Eirlys, considering Sealgaira nearly died and I volunteered myself first to face near death to find out what is going on with you that your fae soul did in your past - NO, I'm not trying to get rid of you. Sealgaira, as you can hear, is not totally with it or healed yet and considering all it takes is one phrase to bring out Fryse? And Fryse is controlled by a Thallain? Yeah, you need to keep back from her right now."

Kieran nods in response to Alecto, "Well, if you need or want a hand..." She glances back toward the Knight, "If not, I think I'm gonna start working up a long-term token to prevent this in the future... and maybe start looking to expand my repertoire for greater effect, too..." Her attention shifts to the Baroness, and while the 'all it takes is one phrase' gets a curious lift of one eyebrow, she nods again, "I'll help, of course. And maybe come up with the great plan."

Alecto loses one Willpower <---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======---> Alecto rolls Perception + Occult vs 6 for 4 successes. 1 2 3 4 5 +6 +7 +8 +10 10 <-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

Alecto cocks her head a little to the side and she blinks slowly, completely without emotion. It's sort of a dead stare blink. "Get rid of you? My dear, if I was going to do that, it would have been done already." Believe it or not, there is no patronizing tone. There is no return sneer. There is not even a shred of anything but fact in her tone. "And I don't see what you being here has to do with her healing. I merely invested a lot into making sure that she was stable enough to not die --- because she was QUITE near death when I got here. Another few minutes and I'm completely certain that her death would have been on your hands, child. She is now under my protection and you are the biggest threat in the room to her person. " To note, Alecto looks MAYBE 25 or so. Hardly old enough to be calling anyone in here a child. "So please do not assume anything in regards to what I do or do not plan to do." To Kieran, she nods. "I was going to change her bandages." She unslings her bag from across her shoulder and holds it out to Kieran, lifting her head to inhale deeply.

`That wasn't directed at you, Baroness, it... wait, what? What do you mean "one phrase"?! Oh, so it's not even magic now, someone's just gonna speak something and I'm gonna wake up in a fine mess again?! Great! G-R-E-A-T!` The Stayr brings her hands up to her face, rubbing back and forth. `Controlled by a Thallain... controlled... god fucking dammit. Okay, okay... too much at once, just breathe... you said there's plans?` Meanwhile, to that strange Kinain's strange nose, she catches a definite -wiff- of that acrid evil. It must be particularly sharp today, or perhaps this place is just so "pure" that it's easy to pick up on the not, but two things are clear--both the struck-down Knight and the black-furred, dark-eyed Satyr have that scent Alecto knows all too well. The residue of black fluid around Alicia's wounds, eyes, mouth, and other awful places are but one more bit of evidence showing that the Fae seem to be up against a great and terrible force. And Eirlys, well... she seems to be connected, even if the scent from her direction is weaker than that of the fresh wounds.

Meanwhile, to that strange Kinain's strange nose, she catches a definite -wiff- of that acrid evil. It must be particularly sharp today, or perhaps this place is just so "pure" that it's easy to pick up on the not, but two things are clear--both the place the struck-down Knight lays and the black-furred, dark-eyed Satyr have that scent Alecto knows all too well. The residue of black fluid around Alicia's wounds, eyes, mouth, and other awful places from last night are but one more bit of evidence showing that the Fae seem to be up against a great and terrible force... the Rite of Cleansing before may have fixed Alicia herself, but the stains around her remain. And Eirlys, well... she seems to be connected, judging by her similar scent.

"Eirlys," Sealgaira whispers, barely able to form the words. "My safeword is: owwwwww." Then she groans again, as she makes the attempt to laugh at her own joke. The fact that her internal organs are barely patched together makes even breathing painful.

Miranda nods to Eirlys, "Yes, exactly. One phrase. And the only way to end this contract that you have, that Fryse made, with the this Thallain? Is if you. EIRLYS. Strike the death blow. I've asked Alecto if she could help us. Because when this Thallain comes for you - and he will, with his minions? We need to shut him up so he cannot utter that phrase. Thus, we need a good plan. Just cutting out his tongue will not work. We need to bring to bear all the assets we have - and not just the passion to kill it that I'm sure most of us would have."

Graham steps through the entrance from outside. Graham has arrived.

Taking the offered bag, Kieran glances up to Alecto for a moment to check to give them something of a short boost... kind of... jump start things so she isn't so vulnerable." Assuming there's no objection, she turns toward Miranda. "Baroness? Is there any Comfrey, Bilberry, or Nettle here in the Glade?"

Taking the offered bag, Kieran glances up to Alecto for a moment to check in a 'it's ok if I do this' manner. As she does, she says, "If you want to get the current batch off and see what needs cleaning, I can try something to give them something of a short boost... kind of... jump start things so she isn't so vulnerable." Assuming there's no objection, she turns toward Miranda. "Baroness? Is there any Comfrey, Bilberry, or Nettle here in the Glade?"

Fortunately, Alecto is perfectly aware of what's going on, of what WAS and what now IS. She was also here to see the mess. "There is willow bark in the bag," Alecto tells Kieran. Alicia is laying on a bed of pillows, conscious but not mmoving much. Alecto is standing mostly directly in front of the downed fae, holding out a bag to Kieran (Who took it in her pose). She doesn't take her eyes of Eirlys. Her nostrils flare as she studies Eirlys and her shoulders do a sort of shrug, roll thing, like she's pushing away some tension. Oh boy IS she. "You stink of its corruption," Alecto informs the other Satyr. "The thing will be destroyed."

Eil turns her head, though her posture stays directed away from the group, arms crossed. She smiles a bit at Alicia's silliness. `No, silly... the safeword was cold iron. Bet you wish we were back at your place, huh?` She sighs, then tilts her head and raises a brow at Alecto. `Okay... so blocking me ain't enough, you gotta tell me I'm -stinky-. But... really, I think that much is obvious by now, but... hey! -I- have to kill him? Finally some good damn news, I thought for sure you'd leave me to go end this PRICK yourselves! But... one phrase... dammit. Maybe I can just stick my head in the ground like a mandrake root....`

"Oh. Alecto. It's . . . you. You're here. That's . . . nice," Sealgaira murmurs. "Good . . . to see you."

Miranda nods to Kieran, "Yes, near the greenhouse, and then some near the waterfall. You should be able to find all you need here." Miranda has been keeping Eirlys back from Alicia who is laying next to the balefire still recovering. She is exhausted from just the whole last 24 hours, "Sticking your head into the ground is not going to work. Not with this magic. No, there are other ways - other magics he cannot fight like he can fight ours, or physical attacks. If we can silence him, then we can all work together so YOU, Eirlys, can end this once and for all, and end him. Veturotta. That is his name. Although he has many names. But what we know is that the deal that your past self made was a trap, and is what has split you.. your soul, your personality. Why Fryse knows all, and you do not. Hopefully when this is over, we will have more answers too for how you go forward."

In Alecto's world, in the Nation, she's VERY fucking important. Like.. top billing. No one sasses back to her. So Eirlys gets a quick LOOK like she might actually just eat the girl and end it all right now. BUT!!! She doesn't. "You make jokes. Perhaps it is funny to YOU that this woman almost died trying to save you from yourself. It is much less funny to those of us who are not possessed by an evil entity." Somehow, she STILL doesn't sound judgy. That doesn't make her less of a bitch, of course. "I have the ability to silence him, as I told you, Miranda. I can, if the need arises, immobilize, or kill or both, anything that poses a risk to the denizens here. To the Dreaming itself. I do not participate MUCH in this world, but I would die to protect it." SHe doesn't look away, but says to Alicia, "Good to see you conscious."

"Hrm. Willow bark..." the redheaded Clurichaun begins rummaging as she mumbles, "Not my normal thing, but I can work with it." She gets out the bandages and bark, and nods to Miranda's words as well, moving over toward the greenhouse first as she begins collecting a few leaves here and there. "Hey..." She calls back toward Alecto, "Are you gonna want to ritually cleanse and purify this stuff if I use it on the bandages, or will the fact that it grew in a magical nexus of growth and healing in an alternate dimension be sufficient?" After all, if someone's talking about stinking of corruption? They do shit up right. Best make sure, even if you *are* an incarnate dynamo of chaos and madness. Then Alecto's talking about killing anything that poses a risk to the Dreaming or the denizens of the glade and she mutters to herself, "Yeah... I like her. Girl's got moxie."

`Possessed. Funny...` Eil takes a breath, trying her best to keep herself calm. `You want a joker, I can pull Jester out. But really... it's just to take the edge off, force of habit. Maybe I should just shut myself up with a big glass of ale instead. I'd say you needed one too if you weren't the medic.`

Graham slowly makes his way into the Gazebo, standing tall as if to show himself, a large walking stick in one had and a slight and formal smile on his face, he stops as he gets about midway to them and looks at them in a slow pan before his face falls somewhat sullen at the sight of the wounded kight and the bubbling argument stiring beteewn them, he tilts his head slightly as he speaks in a soft, repsectful tone "....Perhaps now was not the best time to ingratiate myself to the local hold, I can return later if I am.." he vaguely gestures to them all with a sweeping hand "...interrupting something." Zeller steps through the entrance from outside. Zeller has arrived.

"I hate . . . to ask a stupid question . . . did anyone try unleashing . . . spring? . . . . Other than me." Sealgaira says with a caught and a whine

Miranda quickly turns to see Graham coming in. She's standing between Eirlys and Alecto and Alicia, Alicia still laid out but mumbling like a drunk sailor on the beach washed up - although in this case she is recovering from grave wounds. "You know, no time like the present. Welcome to the Capricorn Glade."

It isn't that Alecto has no sense of humor. She totally does. Like 'what kind of chocolate do Black Furies hate? --- Ones with nuts in them.' THAT IS FUCKING HILARIOUS. This situation however, isn't funny. She just stares at Eirlys, blinking slowly. Not once has her gaze wavered. "Alcohol affects me poorly," she tells Eirlys. She doesn't ignore Alicia on purpose, but she still kind of ignores her. Cause drunken sailor and all that. "What do we need to do to end this as quickly as possible and with the least loss of life?"

"Ok," Kieran nods as her question goes unanswered, "Taking that as a 'no'..." As some comes back with her not-so-ill-gotten gains, she rolls her eyes at Sealgaira. "No, because none of us are doofuses who invite Nightmare when we can use Spring in a much more controlled manner, ya doink. Now hush, and let the imitation-professionals act like we're working." She pauses, then glances toward Alecto, then back to Alicia, "Or, you know, the actual professional and the 'I'm not a doctor but I *play* Doctor when I get drunk'... Or even when I'm sober." She waves one hand (complete with ziplock baggie in it) at Graham. "Hey, you! Good to see you again! Welcome to ... " She looks around, "I'd say madness, but honestly, on a scale of 1 to Kieran, this isn't even really ticking over much past 3 yet..."

Zeller slips in quietly to check in and see how Dame Sealgaira is doing. He watches as those he deems having more experience than himself in such matters work and discuss the best course of action.

Sealgaira is laying down, bruised and broken in body, wrapped in bloody bandages and silks. She's not dead. But on a scale of 1 to 10, she's pretty fucked up.

`Right... no alcohol. But yeah, I guess we can both agree there... as fun as hunting is, this ain't fun no more. At least not until I can thrust my spear through Vetur's goddamn heart.` She does, though, finally go to get a drink, plopping down to sit around the balefire a comfortable distance from the Knight and her entourage. There's a little wave when the Troll walks in as she sips her beverage. `Welcome, Graham! On a scale of 1 to people you should take the word of at face value, Kieran's about a 0.5 Just warning ya.` Zeller, too, gets a wave and a slight smile. `Hey Z... come on, they don't want people getting near her right now so you might as well have a drink with me.`

Not much past a 3? For Alecto, this is just another Friday. She nods once to Eirlys and looks to Miranda. The newcomers, alas, are not greeted. She pauses to see what Miranda has to say

Graham raises an eyebrow to Eirlys "How do you know my name?" after a moment he moves closer in to look among them, although still keeping a healthy distance from the wounded kight, coming closer to the side of the more familir Zeller and Kieran as he does, still side eyeing Eirlys with confusion before nodding to look back to the kight "Should I even ask what happened here? She looks like she has seen better days to say the least."

Miranda looks surprised Eirlys knows the Troll, and she takes that moment as the noble here to say to him, "I am Baroness Mererid Gwenent ni Dougal, and the Capricorn Glade is part of my Barony, of Divertimento Dithyramb Dance. We've been dealing with a potential threat from a Thallain, and in the course of it, Lady Knight Sealgaira was wounded gravely. She'll be alright soon." A look to Alecto, and then Kieran, "Anything more that can be done for her, is appreciated." Then back to Zeller, "I'm glad you are here as well. As you can see, Sealgaira is still with us, and hopefully for a long time after it."

Alecto asks her question, again, a little louder this time, word for word: "What do we need to do to end this as quickly as possible and with the least loss of life, Baroness?"

Alecto did not specific the Baroness last time. She makes it a point to do so now.

Weakly, Sealgaira raises a hand and points a finger to Eirlys. "My love . . . come here." The hand falls back down limp. Moving is hard.

"I mean, which of us /hasn't/ seen better days?" Kieran smiles brightly as she moves past, on her way to the outside of the Gazebo. There, she starts skipping a circle around the structure, hands held wide with the herb-dusted bandages in them, eyes closed, and singing quietly. Well, maybe more *chanting*. "A Bhríde na lasair a lasann gach tinn, Brighid na bhfocal a thugann sólás agus neart, Bríd an inneoin is an cheárta lasrach, adeirim chugad do leigheas Sealgaira go maolófar a pian, go mbeadh a spiorad láidir, go bhfásfadh sí leath agus slán agus ar gach slí slán. Bríd mhaith mhín, na bandéithe is cineálta, deonaigh do bheannacht a Shealgaira, adeirim; deonaigh di do bhronntanas athnuachana." When she completes her circle... she starts a second, repeating the chant. And then a third, to which she adds turning herself as she goes, widdershins within widdershins. Herbs gathered, Brigid the Merciful invoked, circles danced... she's trying to do this proper-like.

Zeller frowns, but then nods to join Eirlys' table. As Alicia beckons for Eirlys to come to her, he seats himself mutely.

Eil blinks at the troll's question. `Guess I uh... overheard someone talking of you.` She mumbles, immediately going back to her drink before Alicia calls for her. She throws a glance towards Miranda and Alecto, then back to the Knight. `I... can't, my love, they forced me back each time I tried. Said I should keep my distance.`

Graham looks to Miranda and nods deeply "I am Graham, hailing from the Dutchy of Appalachia, at your service.." he gives a glace between Eil and Alicia, but says nothing about it, looking back to Miranda "I wanted to give a proper greeting to the court, but it seems you have your hands full as of now.."

Miranda shrugs to Graham, "It's never dull around here." Alecto asking her directly, she says, "What will end this is finding Veturotta and his minions, and ensuring that Eirlys, as Eirlys - not Fryse - kills him. That is what we need to do. Then his minions can be dispatched, assuming that they do not just turn tail and run as well. We must ensure he suffers chimerical death. What we need to work out is our terms for this, and not deal with him surprising us."

"Let her through, please," Sealgaira says to Mereid and Alecto. She wants to talk to Eirlys.

`Thank you Baroness...` Eil says plainly, setting down her mug next to Zeller before walking up to the two Sidhe. `I'm here... I'm here.`

Graham takes a seat next to Zeller, looking at him for a moment before getting one of the servants to bring him a small mug of mead, althought it looks comicly small with him, he watches the others.

Zeller watches the proceedings thoughtfully for a while before he mutters to the troll, "Well, looks like we'll be called into action sooner than later. Put that sparring practice to work..." he tries as an attempt at levity, but the weight of the situation is heavy. He gives a choked half chuckle as he finished the words.

Kieran loses one Magical Essence Kieran loses one Willpower <---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======---> Kieran rolls Spring + Prop vs 3 for 5 successes. +4 +4 +6 +6 +8 <-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

Kieran finally finishes her casting on the bandages, and brings them back to Alecto. "Here... these should uhm.. yeah. They'll get things started, make sure nothing gets infected... other than hygiene, they'll be ok for a few days, I think."

Alecto slides aside and she looks around briefly and she squints off into the distance. "It's hiding. Perhaps making plans. But it's hiding. We should work quickly. Come up with our plan, and then restrain THAT ONE until the moment comes to take out the corrupted one, " She motions toward Eirlys as she allows her past. ".. and then end this." She nods to Kieran, taking back her reusable ziploc bag. "I will check on her. If she isn't progressing, I'll heal her further."

You lose one Willpower Sealgaira pulls herself to a seated position, and takes Eirlys's hand with a grunt of effort. "My love. This isn't your fault . . . but I hope the next time I ask you not to do something . . . like cast Winter . . . you'll understand why, and maybe even listen to me." She summoned no significant amount of will to sit up, but the knight only has so much. She falls down on her back, the grip on Eirlys's hand going limp.

Miranda nods in agreement to what Alecto has said, while keeping an eye on Sealgaira and how she is doing along with Kieran's help on the bandages. "I agree. We need to have a plan in place. Not just a reaction - but not dawdle and overthink it. This is not my forte, I am not a martial person - but several of you are."

Alecto nods her agreement. "I am willing and able to facilitate as much as you wish, Baroness."

Eil brings a hand behind Sealgaira, the other running a thumb gently over the Knight's held hand. The Stayr's face contorts in melancholy. `It... feels like my fault, but I know that's not very productive to dwell on right now. But yeah... sometimes listening is the right thing to do, so I'll try.` She helps the weakened Knight back down to a laying position, then leans back to sit herself next to her. `Restrain me... are you sure that would work? This isn't exactly something binds will help against... it's too deep. Too complex. But yeah, we need a plan, and we need it fast. I know how to sort information real well, but I don't have the details... have any of you compiled what we know? If not, I can help do that--put these human skills to use!`

Graham pats Zeller reassuringly on the back, and smiles grimly to himself as he takes a swig of mead, watching the the proceedings in silence.

Alecto brushes a lock of hair that has dared to escape her braid back out of her face and turns toward Eirlys. "Yes, restrain you. And, whether intentional or not, young lady, this IS, with no question, YOUR fault. Almost entirely. Perhaps not in this turn of the wheel, but make no mistake about it, whatever has happened, whatever WILL happen, is entirely on your head. If my professional opinion..." She glances pointedly at Miranda. ".. is asked for, Eirlys should be secluded until she is needed to finish this." Then she speaks directly to Eirlys. "I can silence you. I can put a geas on you. You can be physically restrained, or isolated as necessary, yes." Remember that whole bitchy thing? It's back. But for her tone, she could be discussing the weather.

Miranda steps out of the way for now, but she does not go more than a slight bit. Alicia is not all healed just yet. "Eirlys, while you yourself do not wish harm on Sealgaira, the Thallain would. And as Fryse is coming out more often lately, and anything you know - she knows? Add in that the Thallain can control Fryse? It is best that you are secluded, protected, but only know just enough lest somehow he finds out." That gives her a good idea too, but that will be shared later. "Alecto, I appreciate your professional opinion, and do agree. I hope we do not need to go so far, as from what I gather from you, Eirlys, you do not wish any harm on any of us. You are young, even if your Fae Soul is not. The whole situation is.. complicated, but you need to trust us. Sealgaira nearly spent her life for you, everyone here want to see you safe. Trust us."

"Can I have something to drink? Wine? Water?" Sealgaira whispers.

Kieran frowns. "Just remember that attempts to geas Eirlys haven't *appeared* to effect Fryse, and her mastery of Winter allows her to actually freeze *magic* so it cannot effect her." She looks over to Alecto, "I had to use the pure essence of the heat of summer to break through her protections, and even then, it was only enough to force her dormant and release Eirlys." She sighs, "If we had a chronomancer who could scatter her sense of linear time, make her experience things as disconnected, it might keep her from being able to focus enough, but... I don't know. I'm still more of a dabbler who knows a few tricks than a real Incantrix..." When the injured sidhe asks for a drink, she shakes her head, and moves to nip outside to fetch one.

Zeller sighs, deciding this is no longer his place. "Eirlys... we'll talk later. You seem to be in capable hands." he says, "Thank you all for your help with Dame Sealgaira. We were all worried about her. I hope we all have better days ahead of us." He bows to the injured knight and to Baroness Mererid and takes his leave. Zeller goes home. Zeller has left.

Alecto nods to Kieran. "Very good to know. My abilities do not work the same, but yes.. that is something to be cautious of. There are other ways. Immobilization combined with the inability to sign or gesture or communicate. There are ways." She looks over at Eirlys and then down at Alicia as she asks for drink, then back to Eirlys. "I could also interrogate you, find out what you know, perhaps even what you don't know you know." Or there's torture, but that's kind of a last resort.

Eil drops her head into her hands, nails digging into the flesh of her face as she lets out groan-grunt of overwhelmed emotion. `I... I know, I know... I get it. I do. I'll stay where you want me to, just... we don't need to cause any more pain than we've already suffered. I trust you.` She looks back up, eyes half watery as they fixate on the Knight. `I... am a magic prodigy. It seems to be because of her. The fact she set things up to give me a failsafe phrase makes me think it's pretty likely there's already more set up. Adding more magic to me seems quite risky... we already know all kinds of things fuck me up and bring her out. It's tempting fate. The "less is more" approach might be the best here. It's not like I know the teleport-y magic or anything, I can just stay somewhere.`

"Don't hurt her," Sealgaira whispers.

Kieran returns and moves to give Sealgaira her drink. "Here, you need help sitting up? Shhhh.... just relax." She looks over to Eirlys appraisingly. "How do you feel about tax returns? Best way to contain you might just be dump you off at the IRS for a few days, let nature take its course. We just don't wake you back up until we're ready to move."

Alecto's brow arches slightly as she looks over at Eil. "I think you would be best served by staying out of the Dreaming for a bit, yes. Where those you seem to care about are less likely to be harmed. But I can promise you that crying and carrying on and tearing at your face isn't going to fix anything. If there are failsafes in place and you KNOW that you are potentially a danger, but then you continue to interact, continue to put other people at risk, then you are part of the problem. Not the solution. Either this previous soul of yours is ignorant, or quite malicious. Either way, straighten up, stop playing the pity card, and help everyone else to end this. Whatever you know will not work, speak up, ensure that that base is covered, then let the paranoid kinain fill in the blanks and overkill the situation with her own failsafes." Alecto. That'd be Alecto.

Miranda blinks at Kieran, "We want to protect her, not subject her to harsh banality!" She is teasing here, although taxes are banal as fuck. She does have some other thoughts on this. "I have this feeling that part of what happened here was that Fryse, the fae side, is only present with some of the worst qualities, which is probably because of this Thallain magic. She should have been merged with Eirlys from the Dream Dance, and that did not happen. Fryse, I have a feeling, is more manipulative and certainly stronger because she has access to all her memories. Something most of us lose to the Mists. When this is broken, then we will have to see how we can heal this tear between the two within her."

As Kieran helps Sealgaira sip the wine, the Sidhe looks to Alecto. "You know, you're my kind of girl. Just don't . . . hurt Eirlys. We only want to kill Fryse and the Thallain." The Knight's eyes turn to Kee. "You know, you're pretty awesome. Got me wine."

Eil snaps her attention bck to Alecto, face coiled in renewed fury. `PITY CARD?! I'm not playing the god damn PITY CARD, I'm being SAD over the state of my LOVER! Joking to alleviate stress gets me demeaned, being sad gets me demeaned, what in the hell do you want me to do?!` Her hands clench at her sides. `With all due respect, you JUST got here... you don't know the full picture and yet you act like you know goddamn everything! I JUST said I'd go along with staying somewhere secluded, and before that said I'd use my journalism skills to compile everything we know! If you want to bind me in silver chains and drop me into the lake, just fucking say it!`

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======---> Alecto rolls Rage vs 9 for 0 successes. 2 2 4 4 6 8 <-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

Kieran snorts, "Don't forge-.." She stops at Eirlys' outburst, her expression darkening. "And /this/, Sealgaira, is why you *don't fuck the fledges*." She looks to Miranda then, "No, we don't want to *abandon* her to Banality, but shutting her down for a few weeks is the only way to ensure no Other can use her..." She looks around, "And where's the girl's Sponsor? Can we maybe /not/ have the children running around without a babysitter?"

Alecto nods to Sealgaira and starts to speak, but then Eil lashes back out at her. "Tearing at your own face is unneccessarily dramatic. I realize that you are a Satyr and drama is within your wheelhouse. I am not demeaning you. I am being far more impartial than anyone else here is able to be." She blinks slowly, seeming unaffected by the outburst in any way. "What I want is for you to stop being dramatic. Take a deep breath in, let it out. And tell me what the precise solution is. Tell me how to end this." She's way too calm. WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY too calm. Perfectly calm.

Alecto loses one Willpower <---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======---> Alecto rolls Enigmas + Perception vs 7 for 3 successes. 1 2 2 2 3 3 +7 +9 +9 9 <-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

"I'd have to sleep with her re— . . . I mean save her . . . regardless, Kee," Sealgaira whispers. "Eirlys . . . . . do not . . . piss off . . . the werewolf. . . . I swear to all the gods . . . even the ones that aren't real . . . just shut up."

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======---> Eirlys rolls Perception + Kenning vs 7 for 0 successes. 1 2 2 5 5 6 6 6 9 <-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

Miranda looks around, and then looks to one of the Cupid Chimera, "We need Sapphiris. Please, take another with you and go find her. Ask her to get here right away."

Kieran nods at Sealgaira's whisper, "Also a good piece of advi-... wait, what?" The blinks a couple of times, and looks around at the various people here. Duck... duck... duck... WABBIT SEASON! And she just get /the/ stupidest grin on her face. "Oh, /cooooool/.... Sealgaira, I take back like... 5% of the terrible things I've thought about you. Maybe even 6%."

Eil is about to continue her tirade when Alicia speaks, stopping her. `What? What do you mean the "werewolf"?` Her head slowly turns back to Alecto, eyes widening for a moment as the rage seems to fade and be replaced by something else. `Well... I guess werewolves are really good at inspiring rage. Noted. Why did it have to be now I met a...` She sighs. `If it was any other time I'd be on you like moss to a nice damp rock, but... to answer your question, -I- do not KNOW how to end this other than what the Baroness told me about me having to kill the Thallain myself. All the information I get is secondhand--I. Do not. Remember. What she knows. Or does.` Meanwhile, at Miranda's call for Sapphiris, it does not take long for her to come into the chamber, phone stuffed down into her bag as she hurries in. Her eyes quickly scan over the scene, resting particularly on Eirlys, but then back to Miranda. "Baroness Mererid, has there been a breakthrough? Is everyone... is Eirlys alright?"

"I'd hardly call myself a wolverine," Alecto says, covering pretty fucking fluidly, really. "Then tell me what she remembers." She waves Sealgaira off a little bit, like she's talking nonsense. "Work with me, Eirlys." She drops her voice much quieter. "Help me help you."

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======---> Kieran rolls Wits + Etiquette vs 6 for 3 successes. 2 4 +7 +8 +10 <-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

Miranda looks between them all. Each and every one and then sighs, looking apologetically to Alecto. She at least said nothing. Sapphiris arriving, and she looks relieved, "Yes, Sapphiris. We need you to take Eirlys to the Autumn. Stay with her. Sealgaira needs to heal and then heads to London. We need to figure out the best plan to deal with the Thallain coming for Eirlys.. well, Fryse. We will need her to finish this beast off, but we need her safe until then."

"I'm glad . . . Kee," Sealgaira whispers. "Baroness . . . " She waits until she's sure she has Mereid's attention. "I'm glad it's . . . not you laying . . . here . . . my lady. . . . It really . . . sucks. . . . . . Like a party . . . without booze."

Eil stares at Alecto. `I don't think you understand... she knows things. I do not. We are separate. She seems to be able to access my memories, but I can't hers. When she comes out, I "wake up" like I just blinked forwards in time. If she's out for long enough, it exhausts me to the point I tend to fall asleep immediately.` She shakes her head, but does look up to Sapphiris when she comes. She almost looks relieved. `Right... stay with her for some time, I can do that. I could use the break anyways. Just... take care of my Knight for me, okay? Not like you aren't already, but... yeah.` She stands, going over next to Sapphiris. "Just keep me updated, you know how to contact me. No Fledge should have to go through this... so getting it taken care of as soon as possible is the best we can do for her. For all of us. I thank you immensely for how much you have done thus far... for all I know, I could not have handled this myself."

Kieran sighs, "I think it's a thing from a movie she was in, Eirlys..." She rolls her eyes a little, then gestures toward Alecto, "I mean, doe she look like C. Thomas Howell? Or Chris Hemsworth? Or Adrianne Pada... well, I mean, maybe a little like her... but we're not being invaded by Cubans or North Koreans, so, you know, clearly, your girlfriend's delirious." Sure, Kieran might've said it was cool, but you know, she's networking. Music scene, movies, gotta make all the connections you can to break it big in the entertainment biz, right?

Clearly, the answer is to just kill Eirlys. Wait. No. Alecto promised Miranda she wouldn't do that. "I'll check on you," she says as Eirlys stands up and then she comes up to her feet as well. She grins at Kieran and even makes a little claw hand and says 'rar' at her. SEE?! SHE HAS A SENSE OF HUMOR. What she's REALLY smiling about is the C Thomas Howell. See Thomas Howl. (Alecto can't spell good and has NO idea who the hell that is anyway.) She pushes her hair back behind her shoulder.. that misbehaving bit that fell out of her braid. And she nods toward Iris. "I will check on her."

Miranda mmms, "If possible, we could bring out Fryse again so Alecto can speak to her directly. We may not be able to send her back exactly, but that is the only way to get all the answers we need. We talked to her before, and with the right contract, then things can be civil. We just need to be careful as the Thallain could have access." Miranda looks over to Alicia, "You are the most excellent Knight, taking this in my stead. You are in my debt and have more than upholded your oath."

The knight slowly makes a thumbs up gesture before she passes out again.

Iris' worry of doing another session with Fryse is apparent, but she nods regardless. "If you really think it's a good idea to bring this Fryse out again... call me, I will bring Eirlys out. As long as I know that civility will continue to be upheld. Anything else before we go?"

Kieran says, “Snacks! Make sure Eirly's got snacks! Like... Peeps or something... wait, no, we're not allowed to Banality her... uhm... Twinki-no... Oreo? Maybe check out that chocolatier who came to town, see if she's still around? But snacks! Snacks matter!”

"I'll bring her some smoked jerky from my smoke house," Alecto offers.

Miranda mms, "We can call the Boggans, and there will be plenty to eat. And we'll need much later one. Because after this is over, you can be assured that Countess will hold Court to hear about it in detail."

Iris actually starts to smile. "Spoil her with food... got it. Boggans are always welcome! I will have to prepare myself for such a Court later, once all this worry has passed. We should get going before it's too late--thank you again for everything." Eil manages a little grin too. `Okay, smoked jerky does sound pretty good... along with the other stuff. Maybe snacks were the key all along. And... when Sealgaira wakes up, tell her she better get back fast or I'll eat all the hot and spicy chicken in the city.`