Arc 1: Dreams of Heroism

[Brian]

"Are we okay?" Brian asks rather dazedly.  "That was fast."  After a moment he remembers that the Fae don't speak English.

In Fae, he asks, "Are you okay?"  After that, Brian will heal anyone who needs it, though everyone looks to be okay, just alarmed.

[Rezantis]

Nathan drags his eyes away from the fire to fix them on the fae - trying not to make any hostile moves, ubt watching him very closely in case he tries something.

[Bjorn]

It doesn't take Tim long to put out the incipient fires, though he does manage to give himself a nasty blister in doing so.

The Fae doesn't reply, though he does shift around a little at Brian's remark.  After making sure that everyone else is in good shape, Brian carefully makes his way over to the Fae.  He hesitates for a second, and then somewhat self-conciously mutters the words to a healing spell.  Within seconds, the worst of the Fae's injuries seem to vanish.

The Fae has been quiet through all of this, watching Brian unblinkingly with lizard-like eyes.  When the healing is done, he does not immediately react, continuing to study Brian carefully.  Nathan's hulking form, hovering protectively over Brian, draws the Fae's gaze briefly, and then he rises so smoothly it does not seem to be abrupt.

Seemingly ignoring all of you, he makes his way over to the other Fae in the clearing, who you have not seen move since you arrived.  Without saying a word, he kneels over him.

[Brian]

"Can we offer any assistance?" Brian tries, reasoning that at least the Fae doesn't see them as apparent threats.

[Bjorn]

Still seemingly ignoring you, the Fae mutters a quick spell, and his fallen friend's eyes open.  His eyes dart around, and then, faster than your eyes can follow, he surges to his feet, knife at the ready.

Before he can lunge at Brian, however, the first Fae speaks (in Fae) for the first time: "Not Betrayers.  Others."  With that, the second Fae freezes, and begins to study the three of you carefully.

[Brian]

Fae studies the Fae for a moment, thinking about this.  Trying to make a positive impression, Brian tells Nathan and Tim, "I think we can talk things out."

Realizing how stupid that was to say a moment later, he raises a hand to indicate himself and his friends, saying in Fae, "We are harmless."  He realizes that sounds stupid, too, and it takes a moment for sense of the fact that Fae uses a different word structure to come to Brian.  "We desire peace," he says instead, hoping he can puzzle out any cultural issues before it gets to a point of him being stabbed.

[Bjorn]

The second Fae studies Brian for a long second, and then turns to face the first Fae, who nods.  At that signal, the second Fae takes off running, the long loping stride of a long-distance runner.  Within seconds, he's lost to the south.

The remaining Fae does not watch him go, but instead faces Brian.  "You are Others," he says simply, as if that explains everything.

[Brian]

Brian thinks about this, and while he's thinking about it, translates what he's discussed so far to Tim and Nathan.  Since Brian doesn't mention his initial stumbling, this boils down to, "So, they say we're 'others', and not 'betrayers'.  That sounds good."

"What are betrayers?" he asks in Fae.

[Halbarad]

"What are Others, for that matter? Have they caught on to the fact that we're, ah, not exactly from around here or something?"

[Brian]

"That's going to be the next question," Brian says to Tim with a smile.

[Bjorn]

"Betrayers," the Fae says patiently.  "The not-you Others bear their marks. They made the Lock and the Seal."

[Brian]

"So, all not-you are Others?" Brian asks.  "And what are Lock and Seal?"

[Bjorn]

"Only you are Others," says the Fae, pointing in turn at yourself, Nathan, and Tim.  "We are not Others.  The Betrayers were Others, but are no more.  The Lock and the Seal are the Lock and the Seal."

[Brian]

"I'm not clear on what 'others' are," Brian says to Tim in English.  "Apparently 'betrayers' are a subclass of 'others'.  He also mentioned that the betrayers aren't others anymore.  I'm not sure what that means, either.  Or if I got that right.  Um.  He also mentioned something about the Lock and the Seal.  Some non-us others created it, though he didn't elaborate on what it is.  And, betrayers are marked by...."  He trails off and blinks.

"What are the betrayer's marks?" he asks the Fae.

[Bjorn]

"The marks are the signs they have chosen for themselves," the Fae patiently explains.  He points at Nathan, "This not-you is clearest, as he has the iron."  He then points at Tim.  "This one does not have the touch of iron, but I have seen him move, and it is the movement of the Betrayers in the East."