Yggdrasil (Afina, Moore, Jaela)

[Ebiris]

They all seem in agreement, so Afina starts going down the stairs.

I guess me and Jaela can swap positions in the formation now?

[Anastasia]

So noted.

Down the stairs all of you go. They wind a ways until you come to a door on the side, with the stairs going down further past it. The door's ajar, and you're able to see a balcony, albeit one surrounded by a pale, shimmering field of force. Almost reminds you of Aurora's, actually.

[Nephrite]

"Well, it seems like we're going in the right direction, I think." Moore says with a glance out the door.

[Anastasia]

You glance out. You can see you're a few stories up. Outside is a vast, moonlit field, the moon high and full in the sky.

[Ebiris]

They can't go out via the balcony but at least they can take a look around, so Afina intends to go that way to see the view.

And after having seen the view she keeps on downstairs!

[Anastasia]

Coming out further, Afina gets a good look. The sky's starless but the moon's far bigger than you've ever seen it. It's clear and bright, with craters all visible on its surface. The fields of moonlight soaked grass go on in every direction from the manor, no end seemingly in sight. The air is crisp and cool, reminiscent of a morning in mid spring or a fall evening.

Crystal follows you in and looks out. Quietly, "The full moon. I miss dancing under the moon all night, tomorrow's troubles far away."

[Corwin]

"Whenever I hit a barrier like that I can't just disrupt, I usually end up going around it," Jaela comments to Moore, as they follow Afina's lead. "Haven't come across a wall that was strong enough to hold me back, yet. How about you? How do you deal with such obstacles?"

[Anastasia]

Queen Ilsenine comes forth, "Is not the luxury of command having others to do, when you yourself cannot do alone, Jaela?"

[Ebiris]

"You should join the werewolves, they had regular revels under the moon when we were on Ysgard," Afina mentions, looking around in every direction but seeing no great trees. "Anyway, the view is nice but it's not what we've come for," so she heads back onto the stairwell and resumes the descent.

[Nephrite]

Moore smiles at Jaela. "I'm surprised, I'd think you the type to go through just anything." He considers for a moment as he looks down the stairs. "I think in this instance, we let this place guide us. If I were to take a guess, we're supposed to learn something from just being here... probably has something to do with our meeting with the King and Queen, if you ask me." Ah, then he follows after the others!

[Anastasia]

"Hardly," Crystal smiles a little bit, "I must confess, no matter how rude it is, that they always smell of wet dogs to me."

[Ebiris]

"I thought you liked dogs," Afina says, giving Crystal a sidelong look.

[Corwin]

"I meant in general," Jaela starts to say as Moore heads off, before she shrugs. She draws closer to the queen, confiding in her, "I'll admit to enjoying doing it. Plus, the look on a devil's face when I just ignore his impenetrable barrier to blast my way into his secret lab is pretty memorable!"

[Anastasia]

Crystal returns it, "I do like dogs. It does not mean I like werewolves, nor do I care for how they smell. That's all." Wrinkling her nose, "They're all so big and smell so strongly because there is so much of them. A smaller dog is much more tolerable."

Ilsenine smiles at that, ever so softly, "A memory worth its weight in gold. In retrospect," she murmurs, "I wish my talents laid there, rather than the arts of beguilement. Fortunately, I have Afina and Crystal."

Meanwhile you go down the stairs. It leads into a room. It looks like an old lab, with a bunch of empty beakers and faded diagram. A table in the back is full of jars filled with various substances.

[Ebiris]

"A test of crafting now?" Afina wonders, going to examine the diagram. She hopes it's not alchemy, she never much bothered with potions.