Identities and Fates (16 Jan 2003) Thomas and "Lady Jill" meet with the Queen and her court.

Nashita al-Zephyr declines the Queens offers of a warm bed and a good nights rest, choosing to take her leave the Palace instead. For it was the Lady Knight Redmane who freed me, and I owe to her the three wishes. She may be in peril without these walls, and I cannot consider my obligation discharged until I know she has arrived in safety at the Palace. Before she departs, she corners Sir Lefallon for a private farewell that leaves him beet-red and tongue-tied afterwards.

No one else is much inclined to sleep, either, but Queen Seraph succeeds in at least ushering the party out of the snow and wind of the courtyard. By imperial command, she disperses the guards to their watch posts and the hangers-on to their beds. The Lady Sorceress Nymuae withdraws, to unlock the image captured by the Optikon. "I am confident this is not the disguised Destroyer we see before us," Nymuae says before leaving. "Two days ago I completed a spell that would cause alarums to resound through this Palace and city, if either the Destroyer or any of his monsters or wraiths set foot within these walls.Yet, it is also true that fey and mortal both may serve the Destroyer, unwittingly or otherwise. And I know there are some who will accept no proof save the Optikon." Her eyes linger, ever so briefly, on the visage of Lord October as she adds the final words. Then she departs.

Queen Seraph leads the remainder of the gathering to her private rooms, to await the results, and to discuss what needs to be done.

The Queen's Private Sitting Room
Less showy and dramatic than her audience chamber, this room has an ocean theme, with a carpet of deep blue. Fabric-covered chaise lounges have sculptured blue bases that blend with the carpet, topped by fluffy white cushioning like the foam on the crest of a wave. White throw pillows in the shape of hippocampae are scattered about, their manes detailed in gold thread. Dolphin statues support glass-topped tables; mermaids hold oysters, whose pearls glow softly to light the room. On the walls, tapestries depict fanciful scenes of sea and seashore, featuring "catfish" and "sea lions" that, unlike their real-world analogues, look far more feline than fish.

Scrollcases full of blueprints, on yellowed and curling paper, have been brought for Toms perusal. A refresher course for you, my Lord Explorer, on all my Palaces secrets, Queen Seraph told him as she produced them, offering an impish smile. If half the tales told are true, you knew them all once before. Tom has several of them stacked on the floor next to one of the glass-topped dolphin tables, while one, showing one of the cellars and dungeon levels, is spread out on top of it. The Lord Explorer bends over the table, studying the blueprint with a thoughtful intensity.

Not far away, Queen Seraph, and Lord April sit on adjacent chaises, with Alice curled in her mother's lap. Lord April has explained a little of his ordeal, including the time he was taken hostage -- mid-October. Shortly afterward, the Destroyer staged the events which caused "Lord April's" falling-out with the queen. For her part, the Queen has been catching April up on current events.

Lord October stands, leaning against the back of one of the seats, and speaking pleasantly with Hannah. He directs the occasional wary glance to Lord April -- and some merely curious glances at the blueprints Tom is examining. Rachel and Sir Lefallon are in another corner of the chamber, sitting side-by-side and holding a private conversation.

"Well, spending fourteen Years in forced exile is plenty of time to forget. It's also plenty of time for things to have been changed, rooms rebuilt, and so on. I wonder if I'll recognize any differences -- differences that could conceal danger," Thomas replies absently at he looks over the plans spread out before him. "Have you ever fundedany reconstruction on the lower levels during your time on the throne?"

The queen looks back to the Lord Explorer, frowning a little. "There have been minor repairs and maintenance, of course. But no extensive renovations. The cellars have been kept up well, Lord Explorer. The dungeons -- not so well. But they have been little used."

During the various conversations Alice has kept as much to herself as she is inclined to do. That is to say she talks frequently but not exactly non-stop, or at especial length. The long hours of being awake and busy seem to have taken their toll on her and she blinks sleepily from time to time and her mention to her mother that this is the latest she's ever got to stay up only reinforces the fact. Still she's awake to try and offer some thoughts on the current problems and she does so now, saying, "Wasn't Lord Eoin in the Palace for a long time mo- Your Majesty? Couldn't his Lordship have changed anything around or maybe left something behind? He used a magic amulet once."

"Hm. If you've not had need to use the dungeons, other -- things, could have taken up residence," Thomas replies darkly and without looking up. "Or is a patrol sent down now and them to insure they're clear?"

"They do not stand wholly unattended, no, m'lord. But I daresay they have not been as closely examined as we might like," the Queen replies. She strokes Alice's hair back from her face. "He may have, I fear. The Lady Sorceress has defused a few 'gifts' he left behind, already."

Alice smiles as her mother strokes her hair. It makes her look warm and safe even in these darkest of time. "Tommy thinks Simon wants to try and open up the old tunnels from down below. I think so too. Simon should meet my un- um, n-captured Lord April because he really doesn't understand Lord Eoin tricked him," she says.

"Hm? 'Gifts' you say? I'd like to see those," Thomas replies and finally looks up, then adds, "Which reminds me..." He digs in a side pocket and withdraws the pen he stole from the Destroyer's keep and flips it between a couple fingers. "We can probably add this to a pile of his trinkets, eh?"

The sounds of Hannah 's conversation with Lord October interweave with the gentle sounds of the other conversations going on in the room: "... am glad to know that such a precaution has been taken," November's daughter is saying. "I trust that this has deterred any further disturbances?"

Lord October shakes his antlered head. "Not exactly, and that is another reason for our continued caution. As the Lady Sorceress noted, her alarm will only alert us to the fouler minions, and the Destroyer himself. But he has ordinary folk in his employ. Just last evening, some spy stole into the crows' rookery. Misdirection spells were placed on a few, but that damage was detected and soon undone, thankfully -- elsewise our message to you might not have gotten through. The crows are still cawing in distress and rearranging their nests and 'shinies' after the disturbance." He smiles briefly.

Queen Seraph frowns at the pen, while Lord April's eyes widen. "Where -- surely you did not get that -- ?" the blond lord starts to ask.

From Queen Seraph's lap the young princess covers her mouth as the 'shiny disaster' causes her to giggle. She has tokeep at it as recurring images of the scene strike her in to new giggles even as she tries to look very seriously at the pen Lord Thomas has brought,

"... not like a girl from Mirari," goes Sir Lefallon's distant conversation with Rachel, if mostly inaudibly. "What am I supposed to..."

Hannah offers the antlered Lord a lop-sided grin in response. "I can imagine, considering how seriously crows tend to their, uh, collections."

"Off a wraith's desk. I convinced it I was some arrogant noble looking to barter with the Destroyer. Rather entertaining, really. It fell for it and sent me to wait in the guest wing. As you can see, I didn't," Thomas says with a shrug and a rakish grin.

October nods again, looking quite sober and serious again. At the turn of the conversation between Tom and the queen, he glances to them, frowning in interest.

Lord April shakes his head. "Then it wouldn't be -- Lord Eoin's pen? Surely not?" At that, the Queen blinks several times, her own eyes widening as she looks at the silver pen in Tom's hands.

"Tommy likes his shinies too," comments the princess, "-when they're in hard-to-get places." She leans forward to peer at the pen. "What does it do, Tommy? Write in scary letters?"

"I would assume it is. The wraith was using it to sign folk into the Destroyer's service. 'Tis a pity I couldn't swipe all the contracts too. I'd like to see all he ensnared," Thomas replies. "I actually owe a lizard for dropping it in my boot while I kept the wraith distracted. Durn thing was cold too, oddly so."

The cold lizard in the boot comment invokes further giggling from the princess. If these were not such serious times and given the hour one might think Lord Thomas could tell an excellent bed time story.

"You have already collected Bram's flute and Angelique's mirror -- and now Lord Eoin's pen, as well," Queen Seraph marvels. "Is there no end to the wonders of these days?"

April reaches out his hand. "May I see it, my Lord?" he asks. October gives him another look that the blond lord does not appear to note.

"Well, I wonder what we should do with it? Destroy it, perhaps?" Thomas asks, then holds it out so Lord April can see it, but without handing it over. "I'd like to retain it if no one has any suggestions for it. It might prove a useful bargaining tool."

"Did the flute help you, Tommy?" asks Angel curiously. Shegives the Explorer an inquisitive eye, then adds, "And her Ladyship of the white steed?"

"It opened a hidden passage along the way, yes. It was sometime after we got by the goblin army in the caves. I convinced them I was some great dark power. Glad we got out of the feast they were preparing though. Yuck," Thomas answers.

Alice ponders the nature of goblin feasts for a moment. Then she wrinkles her nose. "Ew," she says.

Lord April stands and moves closer to examine it, but he rests his hands on his thighs as he does so, as if he had no intention of touching it. "If it is truly the pen, I do not even know how one would destroy it. Perhaps destroying it would be the wisest course. It is said to be an artifact of great power. If it is this with which the Destroyer's contracts were signed, than destroying it may void those contracts."

"Well, in any event, he's been deprived of it," Thomas answers, then returns the pen to his pocket. "I'm sure he's none too pleased about it either -- nor with my invasion of his home. I'd have loved to have seen his face when he found out." He grins.

Lord April grins, too, and straightens. He stretches, brushing loose blond hair back from his face.

"He'd probably look like this." The little girl does her best impression of Lord Eoin when was particularly mad. It's not terribly convincing.

Queen Seraph giggles at her child, tousling her hair. "Yes, that's it exactly."

Thomas laughs and goes back to looking over the maps a bit. "So, tell me, what do all of you want to do from here out? I intend to find Simon, but I'm curious as to what each of you intend to do."

Lord April gazes evenly for a moment at Lord October, then lets his indigo eyes drop. "I would see my identity proven, first," he says simply. "The rest can wait until I stop seeing doubt on every face."

From another corner of the chamber, where Rachel and Lefallon sit, Rachel's voice floats into one of the pauses, saying, " ... but you do like her, is that ... "

"Come you two, speak up!" Thomas says loudly a moment later, grinning. "This is the palace, after all. Courtly romance gossip should be rampant here!"

The blonde girl squirms at the tousling and yet she smiles proudly none-the-less. When the Queen leaves her poor hair alone she begins brushing it back in to place with a hand. "I don't know," she offers in response to Lord Thomas's question with genuine uncertainty. "I want to go and see Simon too. He might be hurt, or glamourized, or enchanted, and he might not come with us without a lot of talking-to."

"Er, ye-- my pardon, milord," Sir Lefallon says with an even hotter blush as he looks up at Thomas. "Perhaps I'd better see the commander in charge of our fortifications, he might be interested in the details of the army we saw as we overflew them." The young knight stands to excuse himself from the gathering, and throws an embarrassed look to Rachel.

"Bye, Sir Lefallon!" calls the princess to the departing knight. She gives him a big wave. "Good luck!"

Thomas glances up for a moment and grins, "Sorry, Sir Lefallon. Please, stay. Nothing to be ashamed about; I'm just amused."

Rachel pats Sir Lefallon's arm, rising as well. "I believe I may have some use to them, too, Sir Lefallon. Mayhaps I can overhear the conversations of the enemy and translate it to good effect." As she speaks, she directs a hard glare at Thomas.

"No, no, you're right, Lord Explorer, it's only fancy; there are more important things to do at the moment," the young boy knight says, entirely missing Rachel's look. He walks toward the exit, with a quick smile in Princess Angel's direction.

"As you like, then," Thomas replies and goes back to looking at the maps. He shuffles through a few of them and mutters, "Now, where would you be...?"

As the knight is about to depart the princess looks up at her mother and asks, "Your Majesty, what's 'courtly romance gossip'?"

Rachel follows closely behind Lefallon, red spots highlighting her cheekbones in an angry flush.

At that moment, the door to outer hall sweeps open, and the Lady Sorceress steps inside. She stands almost face-to-face with Rachel and Sir Lefallon, and the likeness between her and Rachel is made stark by their nearness: both raven-haired, and clear skinned, with high cheekbones and aquiline noses. The Lady Sorceress is the taller by some inches, and her face is composed, not heated. But otherwise, they might be kin. Rachel blinks, several times, recovering from the near collision. Nymuae offers a nod of acknowledgement to both of them, then sweeps past and toward the others.

Thomas looks up and quirks an eyebrow. "Well, this should prove interesting," he thinks.

Queen Seraph hushes Angel, glancing anxiously to the sorceress. Nymuae brandishes a single sheet of sturdy paper, holding it out for all to see. It shows Queen Seraph, her fingers cupping the cheek of Lord April. In the image, they are, if anything, more beautiful than the reality. The pain and love captured by the Optikon are heartbreaking to view. After giving everyone a good look, Nymuae holds out to Lord October, waiting until the antlered Lord is forced to accept it. "This puts to rest any lingering doubts any might harbor about whom the Lord Explorer and his companions have rescued," the Lady Sorceress says. It is not a question.

Despite having been hushed for the display Alice smiles at the emotional picture, and lets out an "Awww!"

"Thank you, Lady Sorceress," Queen Seraph says, her voice catching in her throat. Her eyes glitter. Lord April presses his fingers to his forehead, and says nothing at all.

October holds the image awkwardly for a moment, at a loss for what to do with it. He finally sets it on the table, atop the Palace blueprints, then clears his throat. "Indeed. Thank you, Lady Sorceress. It seems our rightful Heir is in fact returned to us."

Thomas looks over to the picture for a bit, then up towards Lord April. "Well, I'm glad that's settled. If you are okay, Lord April, I think I'll head on to look for Simon now. I've got a few ideas I want to follow up on," Thomas says, then collects up a couple of the blueprints.

When the touch of the picture has mostly passed the princess looks up to the one who delivered it and gives a not-so-secret wave to the Lady Sorceress. She also whispers, "Hi, Lady Nymuae!"

Nymuae takes a moment to smile back at Angel, then says to the Lord and the Queen. "It is not me you have to thank for this." She glances to the departing Thomas, then the doorway through which Rachel and Simon have already disappeared, and quirks an eyebrow. "And it seems those to whom you owe thanks have little taste for praise." She smiles at Tom. "As it be, then. Now, the question." She lifts her chin. "This is obvious to you all, I am sure, but let me state it plainly. The Kingdom has its rightful Heir. All that is required for the succession is the King."

"The King won't be coming back until we deal with the Destroyer," Thomas says, pausing at the doorway.

Seraph drops her gaze to the top of Angel's head. Quietly, she hugs her daughter.

The princess watches Thomas prepare to leave and seems about to ask a question when the lady sorceress begins her explanation. She appears again about to ask her question when Lord Thomas makes his comment at the door, and then is once again forestalled by being hugged. At this point she appears to give up on whatever she was going to ask and twists to hug her mother back.

"Will he not?" Nymuae turns to the doorway. "The King left because he feared --rightly -- that his heir was an imposter. If the succession continues now, the Destroyer is defeated. The Year's End cannot make his attempt again, not for another Year, at the least."

Thomas turns and sets his eyes on the Sorceress. "Is that all you want? Have you learned nothing in all these Years? We stand on a chance to eliminate the cycle forever. And yet, it begins again, a chance to return things to the status quo gets suggested. This place hasn't changed," Thomas says with a sigh.

The clip-clop of hooves on the hallway without heralds the arrival of Lord Melchizedek, who drops his head and tosses his mane. "The sorceress speaks truth," he says. After a pause, he glances around the room, then looks to Thomas. "But so do you."

Nymuae smiles again. "No, Lord Explorer," she says, her voice warm, "It's not what I want at all. What of you, Lord October?" She looks to the antlered man, then to the blond lord. "Lord April? Queen Seraph? Princess Angel? Would any of you bring King Marc of Umbrecht home to die, and stave off the Destroyer for just one more Year?"

Angel turns her head enough to watch the exchange between Lady Nymuae, Lord Thomas, and Lord Melchizedek. With a pain that is as the frown that forms on her face ash says, "I think Tommy is right."

Lord October almost glowers. "Of course not," he answers the sorceress.

Queen Seraph shakes her head. "No," she whispers. "I don't want my husband to die." She says the last as an embarrassed admission, of a shameful truth long concealed.

Thomas looks at Lord April, long and hard. "And what about you?" he asks.

Raising his hand from his forehead to brush back his long golden hair, April gives a brief, hesitant smile. "I find that months in captivity have left me with little appetite for kingship. I will do my duty -- whatever that duty might be. But if there is way that will bring my brother back alive, I would do that. Is there a way, Lady Sorceress? Lord Explorer? Lord Protector? Can a better cycle be forged?" He looks wistful, hopeful.

"Anything is possible, if you're willing to brave the unknown and attempt it. I would see the cycle changed, as I would see the Destroyer stopped. I left seeking the answer, and I continue to do so. It's not a can question, Lord April; it is a how question," Thomas says firmly.

Thomas walks over and whispers in the Lord Protector's ear a moment.

"King Marc believed one could be," Lord Melchizedek says, in his strong, stern voice. "Long ago, I advised that the Princess be returned to inherit the throne. Had my advice been heeded then, Spring would be in full bloom today, and the land would not be faced with this peril of the Year's End. Months of suffering in this unending winter would have been averted." He pauses.

"And King Marc would be dead. And Lord April still a prisoner. And the Year's End would still be masked, and awaiting the next opportunity, his position secure," the black unicorn finishes. "I was right. And, perhaps, I was also wrong." He shakes his head. "We must be aware of what we risk. We gamble with all of Mirari if we choose an untried course."

"Just because a path is unknown, does not mean we should fear to tread it, Lord Protector," Thomas says. "Does anyone here want this cycle to continue? Do you not dream of a day where Kings can live to the natural ends of their years? Where the Destroyer doesn't lie in wait and slowly corrupt the hearts in this world? Is that not worth the risk?"

"I think we can change the rules by gathering up everyone who can do it in a small way. Then we get together like everyone did when Mirari was created. I think maybe everything didn't go so well the first time because someone doubted it would. Someone wanted to make it terrible and that was John Harcourt. But maybe if no one does this time we can make a Rule that's perfectly wonderful. Without sadness or anger," suggests the princess in a lengthy but quickly spoken description of her plan.

After listening to the Princess, in sober contemplation, the Lord Protector speaks. "I have been cautious, and ruthless, in the defense of Mirari, for Fifty Years." He tosses his flaming mane. "And for Fifty Years, it has been preserved. But little has changed for the better in that time. But once, fifty Years ago, I gambled all that I had -- and won a great deal more than I had dreamed possible. I have a great deal more to lose today. We all do. I hesitate ... to make this choice for so many. But for myself ... " He lifts his dark eyes, and exhales. "For myself, I am willing to essay it again."

"How ruthless?" Thomas asks softly and turns his eyes on the Unicorn.

A frown flickers, briefly, over Nymuae's face. Then she says, "That, perhaps, will make a good start, Princess Angel. My lords and ladies, you need not feel quite this much trepidation. This is no last chance, after which no other course will be possible. It may be that there will be time hereafter, to essay other tasks."

"I have taken fifty Kings and Queens into the pages of Historie, Lord Explorer. That is the Rule of Mirari. But it is neither kind, nor merciful," the unicorn answers.

"Then it is time for you to answer to that, and make amends," Thomas says emotionlessly. "And I have a question. What is the significance of the items of Power we have reclaimed that belonged to those who helped forge the rules here?" he asks and produces the pen again. "Are the powers of the Rules in any way linked to these?"

"Did you ever recover the mirror, Lady Nymuae?" the princess asks her friend. "Would it still be safe in your Spire?

The sorceress nods quietly to Alice's query. "Yes, I've retrieved it. I have a sense that we may need it, though how, I cannot say." Her eyes are on Lord Melchizedek.

The princess smiles again at that, explaining, "Did you know it can stop dragon breath? It can! Maybe other things too, but we never tried that because we didn't know and, um, the court might be mad if it got broken. It's very old."

The great unicorn shakes his head. "Are they bound to the Rules? I cannot say. The mirror, the flute, and the pen -- these were the most prized possessions of the most potent founders for the Houses. They have ties to the mortalrealm, and great powers in the fey. Once, I would have told you that I thought the Silver Pen might be able to write new Rules. But the Year's End tried that once before, many Years ago -- and failed."

"Ah, but perhaps it takes the combined powers to do it. After all, it took the founders together to create the rules in the first place," Thomas points out.

Nymuae smiles. "That it is," she answers Angel. "It is a means of transport, too. I discovered how to tap its power to bring myself through it -- that is how I was able to return to the Spire so quickly for it."

Melchizedek whuffles. "That may be," he says to Thomas. "If I knew how to alter the Rules to improve them, I would already have done so."

"Well, how did you write them in the first place? We know how you used the mortal world folk to help solidify the place, but what set down the rules?" Thomas asks, eyebrow raised.

The princess gives Lady Nymuae an appreciative smile and then purses her lips, then asks, "Are all the powerful old things safe? Lord Eoin said he was going to change the rules. That's what he told me before he left the Palace. So maybe he wants to get them, if they can change rules. His lordship cannot go through the mirror too can he?" She wrinkles her nose at the idea of Lord Eoin popping out while she's combing her hair.

Turning then to her mother Angel inquires, "Your Majesty, isn't the original copy of the Rules here in the Palace?'Tis the anchor of the Siege of Angels isn't it?"

"I did not write them," the unicorn answers stiffly. "They were given to Mirari by the angel." His eyes focus, then unfocus. "In ... the mortal realm, the Harcourts wrote in a leather-bound book," he adds, quietly.

Queen Seraph and Lord October have been looking increasingly puzzled. Finally, Lord October says, "What do these mortal children have to do with the Rules?"

Seraph shakes her head. "No, the angel statue is the anchor of the Royal Siege. But 'tis said the original Rules are secured within it," she answers Angel.

"Then we need to find the book, in the mortal world, I suspect," Thomas replies with a nod. "But first, I think we need to lift the siege here. Hm." He then turns and looks to Lord October, the Queen Seraph, "Long ago, a few strong spirits envied the stability of the Mortal world, and contacted some children there, who helped forge the basis of this world. It's the great secret of Mirari. The Lord Protector was one of those spirits," Thomas explains. "It's a somewhat simplified explanation, but it covers the basics."

The little blonde girl looks to her explorer friend and tilts her head. "Do you think seeing the first Rules would help any, Tommy? There are copies of it also. And I don't know if you can take a Siege anchor out. The Siege might float away," she asks. "Aren't Sieges like bridges to the mortal world that use something from there to hold the bridge down?" She glances at Lord Melchizedek for confirmation.

Lord Melchizedek's eyes darken at Seraph's answer to her daughter. He seems about to say something, but he keeps his silence, instead. Neither October nor the queen appear to follow Thomas's explanation, and they exchange glances. Lord April squeezes his sister's shoulder. "It is complex. It is one of the things we mean to fix. We must fix." Nymuae has a dark look about her, as well.

Thomas smiles ruefully. "I did say I always seem to return in bad times -- and apparently bring unpleasant news. The truth is sometimes painful, but it is still the truth," he says and glances at the others.

At Angel's next question, Nymuae explains, "Not quite. On the mortal side, they are anchored by mortal artifacts. But on Mirari's side, they are anchored by things of Mirari. The Rules do not anchor the Royal Siege -- the statue does, as your mother says. The original Rules have been kept there by tradition." She watches the unicorn.

From her almost-forgotten position near Lord October, Hannah glances towards the antlered lord and gestures for him to follow her to the Queen's side. When the three are gathered together, she begins to explain the link between the world of the fey and the world of the mortals - in undertones, so that the conversation between the others in the room is not interrupted. "Your Majesty, Lord October, there is more to our connection with the mortal world than is widely known...."

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This site serves as a chronicle of sessions in an online roleplaying campaign moderated by Conrad "Lynx" Wong and May "Rowan" Wasserman. The contents of this site are (c) 2001, 2002 by Conrad Wong and May Wasserman except where stated otherwise. Despite the "children's fantasy" theme of this campaign, this site is not intended for young readership, due to mild language and violence.