He was a real boy all along

[Ebiris]

[18:13] <@Kotono> The next morning is snowy and chill. But as the group gathers in front of Myann's house, Hylath approaches. He wades through the snow and calls, "H-h-hold there!" He shivers visibly, rubbing his arms and curling deeper into his cloak. "Y-you're needed at the farmhouse. Something's h-happened to El."
[18:14] <@John> "Aww no, he hasn't tried to unison one of the kids, has he?" John asks in exasparation.
[18:14] * Gildas frowns and begins trudging towards the farmhouse.
[18:15] <@Kotono> "N-no," Shivering again as snow falls around you, "Something happened. Like the stories of old, light surrounded him. But then he started crying like...well, like a child."
[18:15] <@John> "Didn't think anything could phase the little blighter," John says, starting to follow after Gildas.
[18:16] <Gildas> "You probably ought to wear more if you're going to deliver any more messages, Hylath." He says as they go.
[18:18] <Feather> Trailing along to provide silent support and hope to hell he won't need to be the one to calm down any crying kids, Feather nods his agreement.
[18:18] <@Kotono> Myann follows along as Hylath shivers, "I'm getting a c-cold, I think," he says, "I'm going to the spring after this, see if that helps." He then makes a long sniffle, "I know one of the kids was complaining about it before the Missus fed them some spring-water stewed berries."
[18:19] <Gildas> "Does the spring freeze?" He wonders outloud. "Be careful if you go there, if it freezes, you might fall in."
[18:21] <@John> "Better fill a tub of spring water and heat it up for a footbath," John suggests. "Or put some herbs in a basin of it and heat it up, then sit over it with a towel over your head. That'll fix you right up."
[18:22] <@Kotono> "I'll just punch a hole inACHOO!" Hylath sneezes and sniffles, "Damn and blast. IT does, I'll just knock a hole into the ice." From there the party makes their way to the farmhouse. The snow makes it slower going, but soon enough you're within, stomping the snow and mud out of your boots, and heading upstairs. The Missus and Robert are conversing as you approach El's room, the former turning to
[18:22] <@Kotono> you. "It was the oddest thing," she begins right away, "He was glowing. His cries woke me up, then all the light exploded up and out," she says, "He's been confused and inconsolable since."
[18:22] <@Kotono> "Like he's heartbroken," Robert adds, "Doesn't feel like a temper tantrum."
[18:23] * Feather looks mildly incredulous that he could be of any help consoling kids.
[18:23] <Gildas> "Hm..." He nods to them. "I have a feeling I may know what it is, but i'd like to confirm it first."
[18:24] <@John> "Maybe it was a bad dream? I was telling Hylath though, and the boy didn't blink at nothing on our trip to Malaines and back. And we saw some stuff, let me tell you," John tells them with gusto.
[18:24] <@Kotono> Myann nudges Feather in the side, "I'll handle it," she murmurs, and starting to smile a little bit, "You can be a big, scary toy to hug onto if he needs it. With swords."
[18:25] * Feather gives her a very grateful smile, whispering in turn, "I've got your back."
[18:29] <Gildas> He nods to Myann and Feather. "We always seem to end up with frightened children in our midsts."
[18:30] <@Kotono> "Just our luck," Myann smiles a little more, "Shall we?"
[18:32] <@Kotono> OOC: Going in, y'all?
[18:32] <Gildas> OOC: Yar
[18:32] <Feather> OOC: Yes
[18:33] <@John> OOC: might be a bit crowded but sure
[18:34] <@Kotono> The party heads in. El lays on his bed, staring up at the ceiling. He turns his head slooowly as you come in, staring at all of you. He ends with John, peering at him with teary eyes. "Do you still have it?" His voice is sad and listless, "Do you?"
[18:35] <Gildas> He nods to himself, more than anyone, but stays quiet.
[18:36] <@John> "Have what?" John asks dumbly.
[18:39] <@Kotono> A brief corona of sky-blue ectoplasm appears around El's head. "This," he says, "It's gone. What I had...I can't even remember the name of it. Someone...something took it back. Took it away. It's so quiet now."
[18:40] <@John> "Uh, everyone calls it psionics, but I don't know anything about it really. I can do a bit of magic, though."
[18:42] <@Kotono> El slumps at that, "The other thing. It was...it was...I can't remember!" he blurts out, "I had to do something and I had something and..."
[18:43] <@John> "Eliminate and unison?" John helpfully supplies the two dominant drives in El's life.
[18:44] <@Kotono> Myann frowns and comes over, kneeling next to the bed. "It's alright. John's right, it's Eliminate and Unison, isn't it?"
[18:46] <Gildas> He says quietly to himself. "I wonder if it was the Stratum... hm..."
[18:50] <@Kotono> El slowly nods. "I...I think so. I can't remember so many things. I know they're not there. It left only a few things, this way of talking with all of you," he remarks, "I remember....something before. Before them, what I can't remember."
[18:53] <Gildas> "Your name, perhaps?" He offers.
[18:54] <@Kotono> He shakes his head, "I remember faces more. A man's bearded face. He was writing and had the servants pay attention to me instead," he murmurs, "A woman's face. She seemed pre-occupied with things. She always smiled sadly at me. She saw farther than her eyes, is what they said."
[18:58] <@John> "They must be your parents, right? Any idea where they live?" John asks.
[19:01] <@Kotono> This causes El to slowly shake his head. "I don't. I remember...I don't remember, I mean, what happened. I had to have left there, right? But I don't know how."
[19:01] <@Kotono> Myann frowns even more, "Just like the Sidhe of legends, taking children for their own amusements," she mutters.
[19:02] <Gildas> "I think it's logical to suspect that you were taken against your will." He says with a nod to Myann. "Your own memories were probably... altered, maybe the best word."
[19:14] <@Kotono> Myann matches that nod. "That's likely it."
[19:15] <@Kotono> El merely sniffles and sighs, "I feel like I've lost so much. I having trouble remembering talking to all of you at first. I talked about things I can't remember, things they took away. Things he wrote about, I think."
[19:15] <Gildas> "'He'? ...This bearded man?" He blinks.
[19:21] <@Kotono> A very slow nod, "Yes, I think so. He wrote a lot. He wrote about things of all stripes. I remember...I talk like him now, a little bit. Not how I used to talk."
[19:22] <Gildas> "...Can you remember anything about him at all? I think... there's a lot more to this than what we originally thought..."
[19:23] <@Kotono> "He wrote. His writing was important," El says slowly, half closing his reddened eyes. "He wrote about many things, I know that much. Strange things. I remember the servants saying he wrote about...fairy tales? Magic? Fantastic things?"
[19:24] <@Kotono> "A wizard, perhaps?" Myann asks, glancing over to the others. "Or a sage of some sort. Possibly a nobleman who fits one or both of those, or someone with the money and leisure to."
[19:26] <Gildas> He nods to Myann. "It's something to keep in mind for the future, but... without any sort of name to go on, I'm not sure we could do much more."
[19:27] <@Kotono> "It may be something to look into," she agrees, running a hand through her hair. "Too many questions and not enough answers."
[19:28] <@Kotono> "He liked to ask questions," El speaks up, "I mean...he liked finding the answer to questions. I remember now - the more obscure the answer, the better the question. He said that."
[19:30] <Gildas> "I wonder if..." He frowns. "If someone was that inquisitive, I don't think a venture to the realm of the Sidhe would be out of the question."
[19:32] <@Kotono> "That's implying connections to them," Myann remarks, frowning. In the meanwhile the Missus stucks her head in, "Could I borrow a few of you for a moment?"
[19:32] <Feather> "Sure thing!" Feather volunteers all too happily.
[19:34] <@John> "Wait for me!" John says, hurrying after Feather.
[19:35] <@Kotono> OOC: #evil you two.
[19:35] <@Kotono> "Hm." Myann murmurs under her breath, "Some men just can't handle children."
[19:36] <Gildas> With a glance and a shake of his head to Myann, he returns to El. "I think your memory is going to return to you over time. Will you let us know if you can think of anything?"
[19:37] <@Kotono> El nods, "I will. I promise. I want to remember." With a ragged sigh he shakes his head, "I feel sad when I realize I can't see them again." A sniffle as he wipes at his eyes, "I remember the streams outside. I remember playing by them...it seems like it's been such a long time since I did anything like that."
[19:38] <@Kotono> Myann hms a moment, "El, do you know how old you are, by any chance?"
[19:41] <Gildas> "Or... if you were alone? Were the other homes...? Or do you think it was just the house by the stream?" He chimes in.
[19:44] <@Kotono> "Just the one, but it was big," El responds, "I...I don't know," he finally says, "But I feel like I lost so much time," he finally says. "What I'm remembering feels like it was very long ago."
[19:45] <Gildas> He looks over at Myann with a frown. "I'm beginning to think there may be more connections than we realize."
[19:47] <@Kotono> "Stories say that children taken by the Sidhe may never grow up," she says with a long sigh, "I know for a fact that Sidhe don't age and grow old like we do. If the Watch and unison are related, then this is another sign, yes."
[19:51] <@Kotono> Going on after a few moments, "But what does this tell us? If the Sidhe adapted unison from the Watch - a kingdom above ours, as they said? Does that mean that the Sidhe aren't meant to be like this or are an artificial creation?" She sits back, "Or that it could bethe other way and unison was stolen from the Sidhe, or the Watch is wrong or lying, or El wasn't told the truth."
[19:53] <Gildas> "We have a lot more questions than answers... but I bet you there's someone who might know more." He says with another frown. "Someone who I'm sure Feather won't really be keen on seeing again."
[19:53] <@Kotono> "Valisha or the scholar?" Myann asks as El stays quiet. "I can say I'm not eager to see either of them."
[19:54] <Gildas> "I would imagine Valisha would know the truth, whereas the scholar would only know stories." He responds. "But can you think of anyone else? Vasili might, but... Well, there's always Clearbrook, I suppose... but that's a long walk."
[19:56] <@Kotono> After a moment, "You know, we also forgot to bother Vasili about this," she remarks, "Hm." Sitting back, "I'm tempted to go alone and visit Valisha. It's dangerous for the rest of you, but as a Sidhe I'll blend right in," A note of disdain enters her voice, "I'm sure they'll love mushrooms growing out of every orifice and claim it the height of entertainment." After that she sighs, "But I know
[19:56] <@Kotono> I can take care of myself there, but I worry about bringing the rest of you to them again."
[19:59] <Gildas> "Perhaps we could split up, then? We could go to Vasili and you could go to Valisha? I could always accompany you, I don't... think she'd bother me, since I am a Druid." He says with a small smile. "I 'passed her tests' and all that."
[20:02] <@Kotono> "It's an idea." Myann murmurs, reaching out to pat El's head. "If Feather insists I won't fight him about it, though."
[20:02] <Gildas> He nods. "I suppose we should go see what the others are up to."
[20:09] <@Kotono> OOC: I'll move you into #evil in a bit then.

~

[19:36] <@Kotono> Outside you find the Missus awaiting. "There's kobolds wanting to talk to you," he says, "They're waiting down below. They said something about setting up something."
[19:36] <@John> "Okay, lets go see what they're up to?" John says, relieved to have something easier to deal with.
[19:37] <Feather> "Know plenty about something, we do!" Feather boasts, all too ready to head over and deal with the kobolds for the Missus.
[19:40] <@Kotono> From there the two head down. Going down you find Brutes down there - amid several dozen tents set up int he area. Kobolds everywhere! They've set up but nice, chattering amid themselves. Shama Ten'ten'tal awaits you, slamming the butt of his staff down on the ground, "Greetings!"
[19:41] <Feather> "Greetings!" Feather returns. So war was averted, it looks like?
[19:41] <@John> "Hullo," John says, looking around the tent-strewn tunnel. "Bit cramped isn't it?"
[19:45] <@Kotono> "We'll manage," Going on right from that, "Here," A snap of claws has kobolds bring over a sack of coins. "Your latest share. Business is good, and kobolds go where the shinies appear. So we're setting up a bigger trading post here."
[19:47] <Feather> "Glad to hear it," Feather says. "Making other plans, while you're at it? Plans we could work together on, you reckon?"
[19:49] <@Kotono> "Oh yes, yes. Current dealings in one section nearby are bad, and that entire thing with the Blackroot tribe is a mess," he remarks, "So new ventures are essential. So tell me, do you have anything you want to buy or sell? Bring some of your own merchants and goods down too."
[19:50] <Feather> "Got a dragon bow. Made by a real dragon! It's very cold. Interested in it?"
[19:52] <@John> "Don't really have anything myself, but we gathered a bunch of jewels and stuff if that's any good to you?"
[19:52] <@Kotono> "Oh yes! While dragon goods are somewhat low right now - oh yes, I heard you had a hand in the Blackroot thing," Stopping to clear his throat and slam his staff down, "The Blackroot tribe has fallen into a civil war with outside forces fighting. The use of holy explosives are breath-taking, or so I hear. There's tamed wyverns fighting in it as well, as well as an insane druid."
[19:53] <Feather> "That ain't our fault!" Feather protests. "We were downright peaceful-like! Didn't hurt a soul!"
[19:55] <@John> "'Cept for that Emperor git," John adds darkly.
[19:56] <Feather> "Was no kobold. Not sure he got a soul, either."
[19:58] <@Kotono> "Yes, yes. You got shinies so it's alright," Waving a hand, "The Blackroot were pricks anyway. So let's talk about shinies. Bring everything you want to sell or trade and you'll get value. As for that bow..." he hms, "I have something that might be a fair trade.
[20:00] <Feather> "Sure thing. We also got pieces of a weird torn up suit of armor with strange magic. We'll bring all that right over!"
[20:00] <@Kotono> He gives John's staff a look, "As a matter of fact, I think you'd like it," he remarks, "Do yo8u like hitting things in the head?"
[20:01] <@John> "And the kidneys and the neck," John nods agreeably.
[20:01] <Feather> "Who hates it?"
[20:01] <@Kotono> "You'll love it. Go get it and bring it all down. We'll be ready." OOC: Going to go gather goods and shit? Most of the buying/selling can be done in topic, but the bow should be done IC.
[20:02] <Feather> OOC: Do they care about El's old armor or know how to fix it?
[20:03] <@Kotono> OOC: How much of it was left?
[20:03] <Feather> OOC: The pieces that didn't explode! Up to you?
[20:03] <@Kotono> OOC: No. You'll get an answer that boils down to a stare and a 'the fuck is that shit? The fuck are those? The fuck is this?!'. In other words it's completely out of what they know.
[20:04] <@John> "Oh, I've got these bracers of armour," John says, taking said bracers off. "They're not that great and I can cast mage armour now so I don't really need them, but I dunno maybe someone would want them?"
[20:11] <@Kotono> "Oh, throw those in and..." Shaman Ten'ten'tal runs off, coming back with an heavy metal quarterstaff. Several kobolds carry it, grunting and groaning under its weight. "This staff is made of the heaviest iron I've ever seen. Pick it up and give it a swing." In the meantime Myann and Gildas come down to join the other two.
[20:13] * Joins: Gildas (~rscuderi@rrcs-24-227-47-10.se.biz.rr.com)
[20:13] * @John lifts it up and stands well clear of everyone else to swing it a few times...
[20:15] <@Kotono> The staff is respectably hefty. It feels good in John's hand, swinging as naturally as can be. Despite the weight it's no problem at all to swing.
[20:15] <@Kotono> Myann comes over to Feather, "What's going on?" she asks quietly, "By the way, El may be decades or centuries old."
[20:16] <Feather> "Creepy kid," Feather mutters. "Anyways, I'm trading the dragon bow for an awesome magical staff, then we're gonna grab adamantium and some gems to fix up the armor. Not much past that."
[20:16] <@John> "Hey, I like this!" John says, "Could do some damage, I think. Here, you go," he hands over his old staff and his bracers. "This one isn't as nice but it's still magic."
[20:17] <@Kotono> "Don't be too hateful. He's akin to a child kidnapped by the Sidhe," Myann remarks, "I wonder if the Watch would hate being stabbed in the eye with a cold iron pin as much as a Sidhe would?"
[20:17] <Feather> "Don't know. Got a cold iron scimitar, though."
[20:20] <@Kotono> "Done," The gear is exchanged and taken! OOC: Loot post. More coming.
[20:20] <@Kotono> OOC: Post that you gave up your staff+bracers.
[20:21] <@Kotono> Once that's taken care of, "Now, you said something about a dragon bow?"
[20:22] <Feather> It's Feather's cue to produce the bow!
[20:24] <@Kotono> The bow is looked over and hummed over, "I have a special tome that might work for this," he announces at last. "It'll help your magic out and teach you a new trick."
[20:25] <Feather> "You're just full of surprises!" Feather says appreciatively. "If you could toss in a normal bow as well, nothing fancy to it...?"
[20:30] <@Kotono> "That's easy enough," he says, "Done!" OOC: Loot post.
[20:30] <@Kotono> OOC: Post what you gave up.
[20:32] <Feather> OOC: done
[20:32] <Gildas> Gildas nods to the trade going on. "I'm glad to see you back on your feet, by the way." He nods to the Shaman.