In addition to the flutterbys, some other adornments have been provided by the room's current occupants – drawings. Most of them would not qualify as "art" to anyone but a loving parent. They are done on whatever object the creator had at hand – slate, wax tablets, jagged-edged pieces of wood, scrap paper – and variously employing chalk, paint, ink, or charcoal. Depicted are various people Rory has known, detailed in a childish fashion. A big-eyed, big-eared bat clutching fistfuls of candy stands in for Skiree; an armored warrior with stick-figure arms represents Corwyn, while a black unicorn in a long dress serves as Sylvan. On dark slate, white chalk marks the edges of a jagged-edged blob of darkness with a white light shining from the center – a fairly apt representation of Koshiro, all things considered. A portrait of a fire mage shows him with sparks flying from his hands, but the face has been given more attention than on the others, and the proportions are about right – still amateurish, but showing more realism than the others.

One picture stands out from the rest, however, for its skill: done in black ink on paper, it shows a simple but elegant silhouette of a dancing unicorn girl, with shadow flowers in her mane.

Once alone, back at his room – a good deal more lavish than any of the quarters he's occupied in the past, and that, in itself, perhaps testifying to the under-population of the Guild Hall – Rory is greeted almost immediately by the shadow of a girl unicorn. "Welcome back, Rory!" Silhouette signs to him. "How did the meeting go? What did they say? What did you decide?"

The unicorn mage bounces on his cloven hooves excitedly. "I told them about the party Dinahzadze's going to throw, and you know what? Some of them might actually come! Or help out. Or both! Isn't that great? Dinahzadze's going to squeak and squeal and do somersaults and bounce off the walls without having to eat any candy, I'm sure of it! And – " But then he sobers. "Well, uhm, yeah, the decision. Well, it looks like we're not leaving right away, but everyone's pretty divided on it, and just because we're not leaving as a whole doesn't mean that some of us aren't just going to head off alone. It's … it's just going to be really tough, I guess. I really really hope things get better, because I think a lot of folks are pretty ready to leave the next time a riot breaks out. But we've got to help. There are people who really need us."

Silhouette smiles as the black-and-white unicorn describes Dinah's likely reaction to news about the party, but like Rory, she sobers when he gets to the business of the meeting. "There really are," she agrees. "I'm glad they didn't all vote to leave. I think the Guild does a lot of good here, whatever people may've said or think."

Rory nods firmly in agreement. "I really want to learn to be a better healer. Maybe I can pick up more from Mage Tanieta. I'm really glad Master Koshiro taught me a little about that – though I'm also glad at being able to hide. It's almost like … like I'm meant to be here, to help Mage Tanieta. And that'd be a shame if we all had to leave. But right now, we don't. And I'm going to try to do what I can to help." He sighs. "I mean, it's a little bit, but, every little bit counts, right? And Babel needs a whole lot of little bits."

"It is. Maybe we only ever left Babel so we could come back, now, when the city needs us. Well, needs you," Silhouette amends, wryly. "Which mages said they would come to the party? Is Nuri going to be there?" She uses the sign for the fire mage's name that she and Rory fell into – and which might embarrass the mage, if he saw and understood it: "Fire Savior."

"I think so. I hope so. Also, we might have a queen at the party – or else she may at least give us a Chaos blessing to make sure nothing really bad happens." Rory then falls into a recital of those who seemed willing to at least think about coming to the party, or participating in some way, and those who – alas – most assuredly will not be coming. "And, you know, Silhouette, Babel needs you, too. I mean, you're my best friend. I need your advice, and someone to talk to about things. And … oh yeah … maybe you could give me some ideas for the party!" He wanders around the room as he rambles, idly snatching up one of the candy offerings he left out for any monsters or ghosts who might wander into his room while he was away. (munch) "Anything interesting happen while I was gone?"

"The flutterby ghost came by and took some of the caramel crunchies. She asked for jiggly worms next time," Silhouette signs. Rory can never tell if the girl unicorn is being serious or humoring him when she says things like that. " … and … Rory … do you think it's wrong to spy on people?"

"Wrong?" Rory echoes, then shakes his head. "That's half of what a Shadow Mage does best! Unless it's someone spying on me, of course. Then I'd get sore, and I'd have to be more sneaky. Why do you ask? Has someone been spying on us?"

"No," Silhouette says by shaking her head. "No one's been spying on us. I'd notice, I know. Or you would. It's just that … " She pauses, at a loss, then continues, "I think I spend a lot of time spying on people. It's not even that I want to spy on them. It's just that hardly anyone notices me even if I'm trying to be obvious. It's almost hard not to spy on someone, just by accident, just wandering around."

Rory frowns at this. "Well … uhm … " He fidgets. "Maybe we could do something about that. I mean, we're not in Caroban now. I don't think they're so jumpy about spirits here – especially not elementals. Maybe I could work on something. It wouldn't be as good as making you honest-to-goodness solid … but I could maybe work up an 'elemental' ritual … only it'd be you. Somehow. I'd have to work on the particulars. I mean, it'd take some time and work, and it wouldn't be something we could do all the time, and I don't think I've ever done a major elemental before … but I could make it so people could see you. Maybe. I haven't really tried before."

The unicorn privately tries to imagine how the average Babelite would respond to a shadow-unicorn prancing about. His imagination involves a lot of exaggerated screaming and panicking and running around like crazy. He feels guilty for being amused at the notion.

"You could," Silhouette signs. "I'm sure of it." She doesn't seem as enthusiastic about it as Rory hoped however. "But … you see … it's not as if I've been trying not to spy on people. I do it on purpose. I follow them around and watch what they do and see what they're up to, and none of them even know I'm there – except for the other mages. I don't follow mages around very often – it makes them nervous. They make me nervous, too. Maybe it is safer for me here than it was on Caroban, but I've heard the way they talk about the 'embodiments' of Rephath and Sunala."

Rory swallows and nods at that. "Okay. That might be a dumb idea, then," he concedes. "But I can't blame you for watching people. I mean … well … if I were you … I guess I'd be doing that a lot. I … I'm not sure what else I'd do." He frowns. "I hope you're not getting too bored here. I know I've been really busy. I don't mean to leave you out of things. I just have to be out a lot. And I certainly wouldn't mind you coming along if you'd like to. It's not like you would get in the way."

"I do come along," Silhouette admits, "sometimes." She looks guilty. "I just try to be inconspicuous because I don't want to distract you. Or for people to wonder who you're talking to. I'm not bored here. There's lots to see. I think I like it here as much as Lamu, even if I don't get to talk to you as much. It just that there's so many people here, and so much going on. Even if it's scary, I can't help but be interested. Do you remember that meeting that you provided cover for, a couple of days ago?"

Rory nods, and then his ears blush. "Oh no! You didn't spy on them, did you?"

"No! Um. Not exactly, anyway." Silhouette fidgets with her hands, and then adds, "Yes. But only after you were done. I couldn't get past your wards anyway. Besides, I wouldn't want you to get a bad reputation. But I thought that once your part was over, it wouldn't matter, because then you weren't protecting them so it would reflect on you if I followed one of them. Right?"

Rory winces. "Nnnnngh, technically, I suppose. But that's real technical." He mirrors Silhouette by fidgeting with his own hands.

"See what I mean? But … didn't you want to know what they were doing that they needed to be so secret about, too?" the shadow girl asks.

The unicorn puts his hands over his muzzle and begins anxiously and absently tracing some of the designs on his own nose with a finger. "Uhm … well, honestly, yes, I'd like to know … but I don't think it's right for you to tell me. If you know … well, that's one thing. You're free to do what you want. It's their problem that they didn't hire me to keep them from being followed by shadows. But if I go asking you … then it's the same as if I sent an elemental after them to spy on them, right?"

The unicorn looks pained as he comes to this conclusion, as his own curiosity gnaws mercilessly at the fringes of his imagination.

"O-K," Silhouette signs. She fidgets with her fingers again, looking uncertain about Rory's logic. "Maybe it'd be better if I didn't follow people. Or at least not follow your clients. I guess I won't tell you want I found out, then."

"Nnnnnnnngh!" Rory groans. "Wah! It's not fair!" He tugs at his ears. "But, no, you can't tell me. I can't know! I can't, I can't! Argh!" He makes several faces. "Angst!"

"I'm sorry! Maybe I should just tell you. Then it wouldn't be your fault, because you didn't tell me to follow him and you couldn't stop me from telling you!" Sil signs, trying to be helpful. "Except I suppose you could close your eyes if you really didn't want to know… "

"Oh, Silhouette!" Rory wails melodramatically. "Don't make me put my hands over my eyes. Then I won't know when it's safe to look again!" He gnaws at his lip. "This is all my fault. I should … I should have said something. Or … well … I really don't know, but I just figure it's my fault, anyway."

"No, don't be silly. It's not your fault." Silhouette sits on the grate by the fireplace, her edges flickering against the wall in the light. "This must mean that it is wrong to spy, after all." She pauses. "But then what else will I do?"

Rory gets up and clip-clops over to Silhouette. "No, no, no, I don't mean it like that. You can still watch and do things … but … just let's say that I don't need to know things that my clients wouldn't want me to know, okay? I owe it to them. I mean, it may not say in the contract that I've got to not listen to any shadows that are going to tell me what they did after their silly meeting and all, but … I'm pretty sure they'd object if they found out. Or worse. Especially with the way things are now. So … I'll just not know, okay?" He looks at Silhouette hopefully, as if begging for approval of his spin on things.

"O-K," Sil signs, looking apologetic herself. "Hey! Maybe I can track down people for your party, or something like that, instead! Like … I can find out who really thinks it's a good idea, and who's just being polite. Maybe."

The unicorn grins mischievously, hoping it will be contagious. "That sounds fair!" And then he gives Silhouette a "hug." "Now then, I've got to tell you the plans so far for the party… "

A couple of days after the big meeting and the ensuing talk with Silhouette, Rory makes the time to take Mage Kris out to the "snow ship" and meet with Dinahzadze, so they can discuss how to put the illusionist's talents to work in her spectacle.

After the two land their rakhtors, Rory leads the Jupani towards the structure. As on his previous visit, the ship has a small swarm of mostly young Eeee working on it. This time, a Fnerf with graying fur is there, too, currently showing some Eeee how to pack snow around the cable that serves as the basis for the ship's railing. Lost in thought as he gazes at the ship, Kris says little while Rory calls out to Dinahzadze. The girl batling waves enthusiastically and flits away from her current project to join them. "Hi there! Oh I'm so glad you could come we're making great progress on the ship can you tell Emeril showed us how to get the rail right I think it looks great what do you think I bet your mage friend can make it look way way better, though, and hey is this him?" She stares at Kris with big bat eyes, giving Rory a conversational opening.

The unicorn mage feels a bit taken about, having been momentarily out of practice of being around those with longer breath and faster words than himself. "Him who? I mean, yes! He's him! I mean, he's Mage Kris! Mage Kris, this is Dinahzadze. Dinahzadze, this is Mage Kris! And the ship looks great! And do you think it's all right if a shadow unicorn were to spy on things here? I mean, would you have a problem with that? Just a hypothetical question, of course."

"Shadow unicorns spying? Oh, dark! can your shadow spy on things? is it spying on us now? wait, that doesn't make any sense, wouldn't it only see, you know, what we see, or can you detach it and then it goes off on its own to look at things and find out secrets wow just like a Yodhbarada that is so dark what would be wrong with that it's very nice to meet you Mage Kris I'm so glad you could come!" Dinah bounces up to the Jupani without missing a syllable, and offers her hand to shake.

The Jupani mage, the fur along the top of his head and on his neck bristling and glowing with a held spell, looks between her and Rory. "I didn't know you had a sister, Rory," he says, then takes Dinah's hand and bows over it.

The unicorn mage's ears blush. "Well, I'm not entirely certain if – " he starts to say, then belatedly catches onto the joke. "Oh! Uhm, no, we're not related, I'm pretty sure. Not that she wouldn't make a great sister, of course! And, really, my shadows sometimes spy, because, well, I'm a Shadow mage, and Shadow mages can … well … oh, never mind. Uhm, so what's new?"

Dinahzadze giggles at the wolf and at Rory. "What do you think of our stage can you make it look really real and not just like a big ship-shaped snow fort which is all I had in mind at the start but I'm sure you can do better not that this is bad but it's not a really real airship like in the dream and I want everything to be just perfect it's my first New Year's party ever you know!"

Kris gives Rory an odd look, then turns to regard the snow ship at Dinah's request. As the Eeee watches with uncharacteristic silence, waiting for his words, the illusionist shakes his head. "Not gonna waste my time," he says, a note of awe in his voice that strikes Rory as out of place with those words.

Rory giggles. "It'll be the best New Year's party you've ever had, guaranteed!" He then looks curiously to Kris, and back to the airship. "Uhm, what do you mean?" he asks, feeling especially dense today, as if he's not quite picking up on the obvious today. "I think the ship looks great, really! I mean, it almost looks real just like it is!"

The little Eeee turns to regard the ship with a horror-struck expression. "You mean it's hopeless?" she laments, pitifully.

Rory's jaw works, as he tries to think of how to counter Dinahzadze's reaction. "No, of course not! That's not what he meant. I mean … not really, right? Huh?"

Kris shakes his head. "No. I mean it's perfect." He puts a hand on the little Eeee's shoulder, and she stares up at him with her characteristically wide-eyed intensity. "Yeah, sure, I could make it look more like a 'real' ship. But I couldn't make it look better than what you're doing with it. Anything I did … it'd only diminish the effect, y'know?" He waves his hands around. "The way it is now – it's got style. Substance. It's perfect. You don't want me messing with it. Trust me on this, I'm a professional."

The young bat blinks a few times at the Jupani's speech, mute for once. She glances at Rory as if for confirmation.

The unicorn looks at the snowy airship, blinking a few times, trying to see it with Kris's eyes. "I … I think I know what he means. If he turned it into an illusion … well … it'd be an airship. There are lots of airships. But how often do you see … a snow-ship?"

"Exactly! And it captures that surreal quality, that dream feeling. It's not exactly the real thing – it's more than that. It's perfect," the Jupani reiterates, grinning at Dinah, who smiles tentatively back at him, then starts beaming from ear to ear as the praise sinks in. "Now, that doesn't mean I can't do anything to help yer production out," Kris continues, rubbing his hands together, then tucking them inside his robes to protect them against the cold air. "Rory told me ya need some help with your principals – that is, the fellows that'll be playing the parts. 'Specially – who was it – the Avenger 'n Rockmore, eh? With Rockmore bein' hard because he's a big Rhian and all you've got is Eeee to play 'im, and the Avenger needing glowing eyes and that whole 'I'm one scary guy don't mess with me' thing going for him, eh? Am I right?"

Rory nods vigorously. "I was going to try to do a shadow for the Avenger, but … well … that only goes so far. Besides, I could be useful somewhere else doing Shadow-plays – I could do a crowd of Shades … or I might be able to bring a guest to the party, sort of."

"Right." The young Eeee recovers her balance from the earlier exchange, and charges forward with, "I wanted to have Rory be the Avenger because he's the Messenger and I thought it fit but he said he would be too busy doing spells and things to play one of the main characters and he would make a better Rockmore but he doesn't want to be Rockmore and I can't blame him no one wants to be Rockmore especially if we throw snowballs and waterbursters at him I mean would you? so anyway Doren said he would do the Avenger he's the right color almost but he's kinda small anyway DOREN COME OUT HERE SO MAGE KRIS CAN SEE YOU!"

The Jupani mage concludes that the easiest way to deal with Dinah is not to pay too much attention to what she's saying. "A sort of guest?" Kris asks Rory, instead.

The unicorn sways on his hooves in the onslaught of Dinahspeak. "Guest! Yes, right. My imaginary friend, Silhouette. I mean, I'd be bringing an elemental. It's sort of an experiment, really, and I'm not sure if it'd work. But if I've got to be busy doing other things, I may have to try that some other time. And, yeah, I forgot about that whole Rockmore business. Ugh. I really hope I don't get drafted."

"Imaginary friend? Ah, I'd heard that Shadow mages some times keep 'em outside of apprenticeship; never met – " Kris is interrupted by the arrival of a tall young Eeee male who flies down from the snow ship. Like most Eeee, he has a slender build, and his fur is a dark brown, not quite black. His eyes are gray, and bright with a smile that lights his face.

"This is Doren he's going to play the Avenger but you can see he doesn't have the eyes for it we've been looking for some glowy balls to use but the Messenger said you could do better than green glowy balls and they wouldn't look exactly like eyes and you're right about us not being to sure about them you know I like the way the ship looks better than some of the actors not that there's anything wrong with your looks Doren you understand?" Dinah gushes out.

"I understand," Doren says. Next to the batling, he looks like a rock of calm and stability.

"Besides," Rory adds, "you don't have to worry about an illusion rolling off of your head like glowy-balls might."

Doren grins at Rory's remark, while Dinah confines herself to a giggle. "Exactly!"

"Hmm." Kris eyes the male bat critically. "Let's start off with a sample, eh? You can tell me what ya think and I'll refine it from there. Hold still, will ya, Doren?" The bat nods and stands in place. Several others of the workers on the ship leave off their tasks to watch the mages, attracted by Dinah's chatter and the glow from the Jupani's held spell.

The illusionist lifts one hand, and utters a syllable. The air around Doren ripples – and then he is replaced by a perfect copy of Cyprian, looking as he does when he's holding a spell – with green glowing eyes, and gray-black smoke twining around him.

"Darrrrrrrk!" Rory says, and then his ears blanch at a sudden realization. "Uhm … Mage Kris? He looks an awful lot like … uhm… How about if you made him look a little … different? I mean … you know, uhm… " He ponders just how much of a "secret" this little detail is at all anymore.

Dinahzadze gasps, and a sudden hush descends over the site in the moments that follow. Those who were still working at their tasks stop to gape at the results of the spell. The batling bites her lip, looking at the illusion. "Wow," she says, quietly. "That's awfully good. The eyes are just perfect … but … um … if you don't mind me saying so he really isn't nearly big enough even Doren is taller than this and shouldn't he be more muscular you know the Avenger he was huge and I think his wingspan needs to be broader oh can you do Rephath's axe and there's something wrong with the line of his muzzle could you make it more like Doren's Doren has a really nice muzzle I think that's his best feature don't you?"

The Jupani blinks a couple of times, then grins broadly. "Yeah … I think I can manage that. Here, gimme a minute, I'll put some tweaks in." Before he starts chanting, he pauses to give Rory a conspiratorial wink.

The unicorn sighs in great relief as Dinahzadze so perfectly goes along with his request. "I think that's a great idea. And you make a great Avenger, Doren! I mean … Dark! I sure don't want you coming to do any avenging on me!"

"Thanks," Cyprian's mouth says, with Doren's voice, and grins. "Can I move now?"

"Yeah, sure, you can move your arms and stuff, just don't go walking or flying around; the spell's not properly synced with you," Kris explains, then begins his chant to tune the spell in accordance with Dinahzadze's wishes.

The young girl Eeee watches Kris cast for a few moments, awestruck, then she launches back into conversation, directed at Rory. "How many mages said they'd come I've decided that we ought to ask everyone to bring something well actually two somethings I want people to bring some food or drink for the party so there'll be enough to drink and also something to donate to the temples you know as an offering 'cause this is a holy occasion well sort of it'd be something for the Wound you know? anyway I've invited all my friends and told them to invite their friends and I went down to invite the Yodhrephath from the monument to come and I think Yodh Tzivia will be coming at least so now I figure I'd better invite the Yodh from the other temples too do you think many will want to come how many mages said they'd come?"

The unicorn blinks a few times, partly at trying to catch up with all that the Eeee is saying, and partly at trying to figure out what is going to happen if any of the Yodh actually do come, with mages present. "Uhm … well, not too many said that they absolutely positively would come, but… " He launches into a reprise of the same rambling tally of who might and might not and will and will not show up that he gave to Silhouette, though with a few more words of explanation (since Dinahzadze isn't as personally familiar with those mages as Silhouette). "And I think it's fair to ask people to bring things, since, well, it's not like you're some wealthy noble putting this on. I mean, I think it's pretty awesome that you arranged this much all on your own! Uhm … if you do get any of the Yodh to agree to come, be sure and let me know, as I figure that the mages might be interested in knowing that sort of thing."

Rory quietly imagines horror scenarios. ("Hi! We thought we'd bring along the Seven Sisters, since they're invited, too, right?" Cue mages passing out, lots of screaming and running.)

Mage Kris's eyes roll to look at Rory as he chants, and the unicorn does, indeed, get the impression that this mage is interested in knowing this particular thing.

"There might be some nobles coming too, bar Gadiel's son is going to be there and maybe his mom too my mom will be there, she promised along with my aunt and my cousins well not that any of us are nobility but the nobles aren't all quite as you know stuffy as they used to be not so many appearances to keep up I guess anyway you were asking about the Yodh and Yodh Tzivia said she would come but she's nice especially for a Yodh," Dinah rattles on.

"Yodh Tzivia?" Rory asks. "Which temple is she with?" His mind starts wandering off on tracks of wondering whether any of the Kindly Ones are likely to be appeased by offerings of candied bugs, and – if so – which ones would be their favorite flavors. He imagines that for Barada, it'd be the most expensive kind, and Blakat would just be happy with something that makes a satisfying noise when she smashes it into little crunchy bits – or, of course, whatever anyone else is having. Sunala wouldn't go for candy at all. Rephath would insist on making sure it wasn't stolen candy. Gorphat would sneeze on it. Zakaro would eat it anyway.

"She's a Yodhrephath. She's the one who made sure I didn't get my hand cut off that's how I know she's nice and she's never been mean to me when I go to visit the monument not like some of the others who aren't quite so well you know. Plus my mom says the Yodhrephath are the only people other than the mages 'n Thath that want to have order back in this town and I think order would be better than what we have now don't you?" Dinah pauses for breath at about the same time that Kris finishes his adjustment to the spell.

In response to the completed spell, "Doren" grows half-again as tall, towering over all three of them, and his wings are limned in a fey green glow that matches his eyes. The black-furred Eeee frame ripples with improbably large muscles for the species, though he's by no means as burly as, say, a Titanian. In one hand he holds a double-bladed battle axe, ornately carved like the one carried by the statue of Rephath on her mountain. Kris has also restored much of Doren's facial shape, though proportionately larger to suit the oversized frame.

"That's perfect!" Dinah enthuses, squealing with delight. "That's exactly like he ought to look!"

The unicorn mage turns around to regard the Uber-Avenger. "Yai-ai-ai-ai-ai!" he squeals, stumbling back, and then he blinks a few times, rubbing his eyes, and looking again. "Darrrrrrrrrk!"

Doren swings the axe experimentally. It jerks as it moves through the air, as if instead of moving in one smooth arc, it was jumping from one spot to the next. "This is … strange," Doren says.

"It's not synchronized with you," Kris explains. "That'd take a lot longer. I'll get it properly set up for the final event and that should eliminate the jerkiness on the image. It'll look spectacular. Trust me."

"Oooo!" Rory says, watching the jerky illusion. "You know, in a way, that's even spookier than looking realistic! It's … kind of … dream-like! Maybe?" He can't honestly remember any dreams of his own that were quite like that, but he figures he'll probably have some tonight, after all of this. "That is just so weird!"

"That is so dark!" Dinah squeaks. "Can you set up Rockmore like that too? It won't matter that we're using an Eeee for him, if you can do that for Doren. Though … uh … can you fix his echo? It makes me sort of queasy, seeing him look so big when he still echoes as being normal-sized." She blinks a few times, lowering her ears to her head. "It is sort of what did you call it – surreal, though."

"Right," Kris says. "Don't worry. I'll fix the echo. Hmmm … " He looks thoughtfully at the image, then at Rory. "I'll keep that in mind. I don't think this is quite the effect we'd want, but maybe some tweaking on it to preserve that whole larger-than-life feel." He grins at the unicorn, as if to say, In case making the star eight feet tall wasn't enough to do that.

Rory grins back. "This is going to be great! If it weren't that there was so much stuff to be done yet, I'd say I can hardly wait for the party! Well, I can still hardly wait anyway, but you know what I mean, right? Oh! Uhm … So, Dinahzadze, what else do we need to do to get ready?"

"Oh, lots!" the little bat says, bouncing. "Emeril said that we ought to get some thing for people to sit on – blankets, maybe? and clear the snow away – though I think something to sit on is just something we should put on people's lists of what they ought to bring. But we could set up a big tent to put food under and we could put up some wind breaks in case the wind is bad that night it'll be cold no matter what but that's okay because the ship would melt if it wasn't and of course we can always think of more people to invite! And where will we get enough water bursters from?"

"Oh, don't worry about that," Rory says, as he suddenly gets an impish grin on his face. "I've come up with a much more practical solution to the problem than water bursters!" He turns about, as if to prepare a surprise for Dinahzadze … then stoops down and grabs a handful of snow. "SNOWBALLS!" he cheers, and spins about, ammunition in hand.

However, the idea of a snowball atop Mount Dronnel isn't entirely original. Rory's packing motions are not so speedy as to gain him the element of surprise, as he learns a fraction of a second later – as he goes down in a hail of snowballs. "Yeep!"

From beneath a small mound of snow, as the laughter of the Eeee helpers rings through the air, Rory's voice emerges: "I guess you already thought of that, too."