Caelesti's notes

Date

5/25/2006

Log

Once at the House of Kilran, Murdocki told the party to get some rest and he would tell of the quest in the morning. He then left.

After the party got ready for bed, Carric wanted to hear about the celebration. Siobhan told about the song and the embarrassment to House Fardic. When the dance was mentioned, Caelesti said she would give Carric a show. She stood up in her sleepwear, or lack thereof, and started dancing. Siobhan and Talon provided music.

After the dance, Talon teased Carric about the ritualistic rubbing of oils on one preparing to go on a quest. Carric said he wasn't familiar with that tradition, but didn't want to risk not doing it. Siobhan said she'd get the oil to a good boil.

After some more playing around, the party went to sleep. They weren't interrupted until morning when Murdocki returned.

Murdocki told the party about the quest. Carric was to retrieve the 5 parts of an orb. The orb was a family heirloom that was taken away. Murdocki said the parts were in various parts of the Plane of Fairy. He said he would provide mundane provisions to aid with the quest. Caelesti suggested a map. Murdocki said he had a map and produced it.

The map was star shaped, showing a schematic to get to each area using Crossroad Portals. There were directions and distances to get from one Portal to the next. The areas between Portals included forest, swamp, desert, and mountain regions.

Murdocki also produced a Magic Arrow. He said the arrow could always detect north, and would pulse when within a half mile of a piece of the orb. Once queried, he added that touching the arrow to a shard would stop it from pulsing for that piece.

Murdocki said he would give the party an hour to come up with a list of other mundane items that they might need. The party produced a list including several items that Murdocki crossed off. The final list included: provisions (including desserts and wines), boots, desert clothes, winter clothes, silk rope, anti-toxin, climbing equipment, antacids, caltrops, block & tackle, flint & steel, mirror, sunrods, tanglefoot bags, scented oil, & alchemists fire.

Talon's notes

Date

5/25/2006

Log

Once at the House of Kilran, Murdocki told the party to get some rest and he would explain the quest to us in the morning. He then left.

Talon admired Caelesti's outfit. Carric wanted to go right to sleep, but we girls stayed up singing and dancing and telling tales. Caelesti threw off her costume and danced naked. At which point, Carric seemed to perk up and eventually joined in the festivities. Siobhan told Carric about the song we did at the Unseilie Court and the embarrassment to House Fardic. We reinacted the whole scene for him.

After our performance, Talon suggested to Carric the ritualistic rubbing of oils on one preparing to go on a quest. Carric said he wasn't familiar with that tradition, but didn't want to risk not doing it. Siobhan said she'd get the oil to a good boil. Talon explained it has to happen right before the hero leaves on his quest, not the night before. Carric grumbled about that, but went to sleep.

In the morning, we heard a knock on our door and it opened - revealing Murdocki. None of us was surprised by this - as we all fully expected him to return and to open the door to our room.

Murdocki led us to the dining room and invited us to sit around the table and have glasses of wine. There we found a little Pixie guy sitting and waiting for us, his wings all a quiver. Murdocki introduced the cute, little guy as "Grimble."

Then Murdocki took a survey of our skills.

Talon, "The three of us women are performers, as you know."

Caelesti, "Yeah, and I can do spells."

Murdocki, "What are your talents, Carric?"

Talon, "Siobhan says he's good in bed."

Siobhan, "He's good for his age."

Talon, "Perhaps he can satisfy important fey ladies, so they will do favors for us?"

Carric, "I'm also good with animals."

Murdocki, "You have an eagle flying around you. What's that all about?"

Carric, "She scouts for me."

Sioghan, "He's a druid."

Murdocki, "A druid? Can you fight?"

Carric puffed out his chest, "I'm not bad."

Talon, "He's the best fighter among us."

Murdocki, "hmmmm, two bards, a druid, and one who can dance and cast a few spells. I wouldn't pick fights around here if I were you. But perhaps you have the smarts...?"

Carric, "We are up to the task. Tell us."

Murdocki, "There is an object, the Orb of Fantagal, that belongs to my family, but was stolen from us, oh, about 300 years ago..."

Caelesti, "That's a long time!"

Murdocki, "Ahhh, you mortals... No, 300 years is nothing to our family. It is as the offense against us happened only yesterday! Now the object has been broken down into five segments. And it has taken us a while to discover what has happened to those segments. But we have our ways... We have discrened that each segment is hidden in a different location. Think of these locations as the five points of a star. This map will help. You can get to each point on the star from portals to save time. Grimble will help you. Take a look at the areas carefully - here is the site of the Unseillie Court, call that one. Then two is the home of the Forest Folk. Three the Swamp People. Four the Desert People. Five the Storm Riders. Six the Hor Frosters. All of these are fey people and each have a special ability that relates to the elements."

Carric, "Oh, like fire, air, water, earth."

Murdocki, "More than that."

Siobhan, "Sonic?"

Talon, "Cold?"

Caelesti, "Acid?"

Carric, "And electricity, I bet."

Murdocki, "Good... good."

Carric and our group consult the map, "Forest Folk might have Sonic ability, Swamp People - Acid, Desert People - Fire, Storm Riders - Electricity, Hor Frosters - Cold."

Murdocki, "Excellent! Perhaps you do have the smarts to accomplish this task! Make a list of items you need for your quest and I will buy them and give them to you."

Talon, "'Give?'" "'Give!'" "Not loan?"

Murdocki, "Yes, you can keep them after the task."

Talon, "Oh, goody-goody gumdrops! That's so generous of you. We'll make a really good list."

Murdocki, "I am also giving you Grimble to help you out."

Talon, "'Give?' Oh, good we get to keep Grimble too. Hey, Carric, we own a Pixie now. Isn't that neat?"

Carric, "He's a person."

Talon, "Yeah and he's got little wings. Neat."

Grimble, "Can you dance?"

Caelesti, "I can dance!"

Siobhan, "She's a very good dancer. You should see her--"

Grimble cut Siobhan short, "I meant that one." He pointed to Talon. "Can SHE dance?"

Talon, "Playing music is my speciality. And singing. I can't dance nearly as well as Caelesti."

Grimble, "I can make you dance. You would like it!"

Murdocki, "Don't make her dance, Grimble. Unless she really, really annoys you, leave her alone."

Grimble, "Ahh, shucks."

Talon, "We own you Grimble, lighten up."

Grimble to Murdocki, "Did you hear that? Did you? Did you? She's asking for it!"

Carric, "Now, now, Grimble Talon's just ignorant. You have to make allowances for her. She doesn't understand that one doesn't own people."

Talon, "Why? What's wrong with that?"

Grimble, "Grrrrrr...."

Talon, "Cheer up, Grimble. Party with us. Here, I'll pour you more wine."

Grimble accepted a refill from Talon, but continued to glower at her during the subsequent conversation about the list.

Carric, "Before we do this list, can you tell us more about the Orb, Murdocki?"

Caelesti, "Yeah, like these are big areas to cover. How are we supposed to know where a segment is?"

Murdocki, "Ahh, I'm glad you asked. I have here a magic arrow - you can use. Hang it from a string attached to a branch. It will always point north to help you orient yourselves. And it will quiver when you are within a half mile of a segment of the Orb."

Caelesti, "But it will be quivering all the time after we find the first segment."

Murdocki, "When you find a segment, touch it to the arrow and that will desensitize it to that segment."

Carric, "That's good to know. And good thinking, Caelesti!"

Caelesti, in her birthday suit, flushes pink with pride.

Murdocki, "I'll leave you to make that list now." He exited.

Caelesti, "Looks like a long walk."

Talon, "I don't like long walks, especially through swamps. Ruins my silver sandals. We need a mule train."

Carric, "Too bad you left Tintin behind with Yoshi."

Siobhan, "Yeah, he's probably drunk all your spiced wine and ale by now!"

Talon, "Oh, of course, we need wine and ale for our journey. Put that down, Carric. Spiced wine and lots of it!"

Carric, "I'll put down the wine, but, thinking about it, mules are not really practical in the swamp."

Talon, "Gosh, you're right! Flying creatures - that's we need. Flying Pegasuses - one for each of us. Put that down, Carric."

Carric, "I think that might be pushing it with our host."

Talon, "Nonsense! He said 'anything we need' just 'make a list' and 'he'll buy it for us.' Put down the Pegususes. Four of them. Five if Grimble wants one."

Grimble keeps silent and sips his wine.

Caelesti, "We'll need food."

Talon, "Dried nuts and berries."

Carric, "Okay."

Caelesti, "And cakes."

Talon, "Frosted cakes!"

Caelesti, "Preferably with pink icing."

Carric, "Well...okay... Shouldn't we talk about clothes. We'll need some boots for the swamp."

Caelesti, "SOFT boots for me."

Siobhan, "And me."

Talon, "And me. But only if they resist acid as well as hard boots."

Carric, "I believe they do."

Talon, "Soft boots then."

Carric, "I like hard boots best. Three pair soft boots. One pair hard."

Siobhan, "And winter clothes."

Talon, "Hats - matching hats. So we look like troup of wandering minstrels."

Caelesti, "Tents."

Talon, "Colorful Tents."

Grimble, "Who's going to carry all this?"

Siobhan, "Carric. He's the strongest."

Carric, "Could we stick to ONE tent, then?"

Talon, "One big pavilion then."

Caelesti, "With stripes."

Talon, "And a festive flag on top."

Grumbly Grimble, "Yeah, if we really want to stick out like a sore thumb!"

Talon, "We are wandering minstrels. We need to advertise. Perhaps we should all carry tambourines?"

Carric, "Too loud. We should be more discrete."

Talon, "Well, if you want to be discrete, then we won't wear bells on our shoes and we'll do a camouflage-colored pavilion."

Carric, "Enough with the Pavilion! Too heavy."

Talon, "Well, if I can't sleep under a tent, then I need a hammock."

Carric, "You'll have to carry it yourself."

Talon, "No fair!"

Grumbly Grimble, "Maybe if you didn't want to bring so many cakes?"

Talon and Caelesti, "WE MUST HAVE CAKES!"

Talon, "Yeah, and wine."

Siobhan, "Can't skip the wine."

Carric, "Then carry your own hammock, Talon."

Talon, "If I'm going to carry my own hammock, it has to be made of strong, but light-weight silk. And it has to be silver or blue. And it has to be compact - fold up into the size of a small handbag. Put that down, Carric. 'fold into size of small handbag'. "

Carric rolls his eyes, "I'll put it down."

Caelesti, "And matching hats and scarves."

Carric, "Got that."

Talon, "What about weapons?"

Caelesti, "My cold iron dagger worked really well."

Talon, "Do we have much cold iron with us?"

Carric, "I think our host might be, er, sensitive to that subject..."

Talon, "Not even cold iron tipped arrows?"

Carric, "I don't think we should mention it."

Caelesti, "I've been keeping my cold iron dagger well hidden."

Talon looked at the buck naked Caelesti and wondered where the hiding place could be.

Siobhan, "Okay. How about anti-toxins?"

Carric, "Right. One for each of us?"

Siobhan, "At least."

Caelesti, "Yeah, yeah and other stuff like...like...."

Talon, "What are those spikey things that trip up cows' feet?"

Caelesti, "Pitons?"

Carric, "Those are for climbing."

Caelesti, "We might have to climb. Add those and some rope."

Talon, "Yeah, and a grappling hook. And those spikey cow things."

Carric, "Caltrops?"

Talon, "Yeah, those."

Siobhan, "Let's throw in some sunrods too."

Talon, "Good idea! I left mine with Tintin."

Caelesti, "We could use some Cures."

Talon, "A wand or a rod of something with LOTS of Cures. Put that down Carric."

Carric, "But...but..."

Caelesti, "Put that down. And anti-acid potions."

Carric, "What's an anti-acid potion?"

Talon, "Milk?"

Siobhan, "No, that would curdle."

Carric, "Something chalky?"

Talon, "I don't know, just put, 'Powered Anti-Acid Stuff.' Murdocki will figure it out."

Carric, "Good idea...'powered anti-acid stuff...' What else? How about some tanglefoot bags?"

Caelesti, "Yeah, put those down."

Talon, "And rain gear - for the swamp. Winter clothes, swamp clothes, desert clothes. Put all that down."

Carric, "Got it."

Caelesti, "And the kitchen sink."

Carric, "What?"

Talon, "She's just joking. We need scented oil, though."

Caelesti, "When do we have the ceremony?"

Carric, "I like to be rubbed down right before I go to bed at night."

Talon, "It has to be done right before you leave on your quest - that morning. Rub you down - then out the door you go."

Carric, "Night is better for me. In bed."

Talon, "Now, Carric, don't have any false sexual expectations about this. It's a ritual prayer to the gods."

Carric, "The way to avoid FALSE sexual expectations is to meet them."

Siobhan, "One bottle of boiling oil."

Carric, "Hey!"

Talon, "Multiple bottles in different scents."

Carric, "At least one bottle of scented oil. Got it."

Talon, "Flint and steel. And a mirror."

Caelesti, "A full length mirror or a small one?"

Talon, "Small. But not too small."

Carric, "Got it."

Caelesti, "Spy glass."

Carric, "My eagle can spy."

Talon, "But she can't talk to us."

Carric, "I can communicate with animals."

Talon, "Yeah, but you have to do a bunny-hop dance or flap your arms like wings. It's weird. Better if one of us can observe and report."

Caelesti, "From a distance."

Carric, " 'Spy Glass.' "

Siobhan, "Can't think of anything else. Well, trail rations, of course."

Talon, "Backpacks. And do we need Holy Water?"

Carric, "Doesn't do a lot of damage."

Siobhan, "Might come in handy, though."

Carric, "Okay, Holy Water. And I'll add Alchemist's Fire. Is that it?"

Caelesti, "We could think of more?"

Talon, "Yeah, but could Carric carry it?"

Carric, "Probably not."

Caelesti, "I wonder what time it is on our Plane. I wonder what DAY it is?"

Siobhan, "Time might not pass at the same rate."

Talon "You mean, it could be hours later or a hundred years?"

Carric, "Yup. We just don't know."

Murdocki entered. "I'm back. Let's see that list." He crossed out the spy glass and all the magic items and [we assume] the Pegasuses Then he said, "Looks good" and left to make the purchases.

New Songs by Talon

In tales of old, of heros great and battles bold -
the hero is the annointed one -
whose quest is sung -
when conquests won.
But before his boots hit soil -
beautiful maidens three do toil -
to rub him down in scented oil
To the great good gods they pray -
that he won't fall, but find his way.
And so I said "let this be done"
to aid our brave and worthy one
(and, I confess, to have some fun!)