Into the Mirrorrrealm
[GM]
The three of you enter the mirror, with Laurel leading the way, and Thalion taking the rear. Rosenkrantz waves on the other side, smiling. His words do not penetrate into the Reflection.
[Laurel]
After returning Rosenkrantz' wave, Laurel carefully looks around this reflection of her room.
[GM]
The room looks the same, except for the doll from Meredith's collection. For now, it may take some time to find the right curves that the Guisel(s) took, so you may chat amongst yourselves, or try trumping the Grove (although the connection will be very weak.)
[GM]
You are receiving a very weak trump call. DO you accept?
[Laurel]
Turning to Garat and Thalion, Laurel says "Uncle, Cousin. I'm being trumped. Please excuse me a moment while I take the call". Laurel opens her mind to the trump call.
[Deirdre]
"Laurel, are you okay?", asked Deirdre in sad and very gentle concern, attempting to strengthen the contact.
[Laurel]
Laurel grasps the contact, doing what she can to also strengthen it.
"Hello, Mom" she replies. "I'm okay, but it very much looks like Meredith has been captured ~~shudder~~ by a Guisel. I'm in Mirrorworld with Garat and Thalion. We're about to go after it, to rescue my daughter".
Laurel pauses for a moment, then continues "How are things at your end? Has something been resolved, if you're free to contact me? I didn't call you to let you know what was going on, because I thought that you shouldn't be distracted at the moment".
[Deirdre]
"Clarissa is dead, and I am only alive with the help of Golan." Deirdre's sad and ancient thought broke for a moment on both names, a strange catch of longing and despair, though there was a peculiar resonance to the thought of Golan. "We have rested, regrouped at the manor house of Teridias in Arden, and I am trumping people to gather them here... trumped you first. Here is a trump of me." She passed a trump of herself through the link. "Call me when you need to return, or if you need help. Whatever happens... don't ever forget I love you." She paused, as though to say more, and then moved to close the link.
[Laurel]
Laurel reaches out and takes the trump.
"I love you, too, Mom" murmurs Laurel, as the trump link closes.
Turning to Garat and Thalion, she passes on the news that Deirdre had given her.
[GM]
Into Laurel's room's reflection comes a magic black carpet, flying around a mirror curve. On board are Jacob, Darthene, Andelia and someone who looks just like Jacob and Thalion. Darthene looks a lot like Deirdre, and she stirs from her previous unconscious state.
The man who looks like Jacob/Thalion nods, and says, "Hi, I'm Nikolas. Who I am and what I'm doing here and now doesn't matter as much as the swarm of Guisels that are on our tail. I suggest we prepare ourselves for their arrival, or not be here when they arrive." He looks at Thalion and smiles. "Well, we'll figure out who's who in a bit."
[Laurel]
Laurel listens to Nikolas' remarks to Thalion with curiosity.
Then, responding to his comment about Guisels, she asks "How close behind you are these Guisels? Does anyone here have any experience with them? Or any suggestions on what preparations we might make, other than being prepared for a fight?"
"Or how we might find the one that has captured my daughter?".
[Andelia]
As Darthene stirs, Andelia's attention focuses on her almost exclusively, though her hold on the older woman loosens.
"Mother? You're free of the mirror...."
[GM]
Darthene flutters her eyes as she sits up. "Andelia le Fey du Lac, it's about damned time. You can't imagine how long I was trapped in that." Tears begin to stream down her face. "Did... did your father survive? Avalon?"
[Andelia]
Andelia shakes her head. "Avalon's gone, destroyed somehow. I've never found Lance, but if Avalon's gone.... I'm sorry I took so long, I didn't know about this place until Clarissa told me."
[Jacob]
Turning to Darthene.. "Lady Darthene.." he'll bow slightly. "If I may, your daughter not only was lead to believe you died for the longest time, but she also need someone to guide her to you first.
"I think, if history is to be trusted, I am a relative.. My name is Jacob."
[GM]
"If you are a relative, then you err in trusting anything, especially history. So... Avalon is gone. Corwin will pay." Darthene wipes away a tear.
[Andelia]
Andelia nods, quiet. "Mother, Lady Clarissa needs your help...."
[Jacob]
Jacob studies Thalion and Nikolas, as if comparing the two, and against himself. He shakes his head, his expression unreadable..
The moment passing he turns to Laurel. "They're a ways.. but they can move quickly when they get their bearings. All movement in the Mirrorealm is faster than shadow walking. A Guisel is a real being, a monstrosity, and their number one attribute is that they're durable SOB's.. damn near unstoppable. Maybe three of us could take one. If there is a swarm, and
there will be.. then we are in for a hell of a fight. Strangely enough, they have to my knowledge, never ventured outside of the Mirrorealm before. Normal space is not their native environment.
"One thing we could do, is either break the mirrors of the Castle.. And I'll see if I can get Madoc to teach me the equations to lock the mirrors. The mirrors, you see, are where they'll emerge- that and any clear reflective surface.
"I'm not sure, but they may be blind to normal vision.. I am not positive how they perceive things.. also, their mouths secrete a powerful acid. I had some luck in slowing one down, if you can believe it- by conjuring a box of baking soda, and tossing it in it's mouth.. Didn't harm it, but it stunned the damn thing..
[Laurel]
Laurel listens attentively to Jacob's commentary on guise's. She winces at the thought of destroying all of the castle's beautiful mirrors, and the realisation that this action would most likely mean abandoning Meredith to her fate.
Her ears prick up at the mention of baking soda, considering possibilities. Perhaps some kind of oversized fly-spray loaded with a concentrated solution?
[Jacob]
"You say it *captured* your daughter?" He pauses..
"That's new.. I never realised that they were something beyond animal instincts.. That's good news maybe for your daughter, bad news in the big picture.. that's an indication of sentience..."
[Laurel]
"That seems to be the case" says Laurel. She picks up the Mad Hatter doll. "This" she says "belongs to my daughter. We found it in the mirror room, but not the real one. The furniture in here has been disturbed. And the mirror is covered with Guisel spittle and webs. This leads us to believe that Meredith has been taken by Guisels".
"The absence of blood gives us reason to hope that she has been captured, not killed. Thalion has suggested that she has probably been cocooned. We were planning to search for Meredith, and free her. Hopefully culling a Guisel or two in the process. We hadn't counted on having to deal with a herd of the damned things, though. I wish I had a trump for Rent-o-Kill".
[Jacob]
Is the Queen Guisel intelligent? If anything is behind this change, it would be through her. No matter what happens, we will probably have to hunt her down if we are ever going to have a chance of cutting down their numbers now. "He sighs and runs his hand through his hair." This isn't going to be pretty. I'm going to get messy again.
[Garat]
"If there is a herd of the damned things arriving here soon, as you say," says Garat, "Then our best bet would be flight, possibly we could stay here in the Mirror Realm and try and lead them away from the castle. I think they have enough problems here of their own without our problems on top of theirs."
"Also, by staying here in the Mirror Realm we have a better chance of finding your daughter, Laurel. What say you all?"
[GM]
Darthene says, "Daughters are important, Laurel. How old is Meredith? I've heard little about Guisels, but they appear to be formidable opponents. Leading them away from the castle won't do any good; they might just invade the Shadows if they haven't already. We need to lure them to a place they can be destroyed."
[Laurel]
Laurel smiles, sadly, and says "Yes, Meredith is important. She's 23 ...or rather, she was 23 ten centuries ago, when last I saw her. I was 38 then. Now, I'm still 38. But I do not know for certain how old Meredith is. I don't know whether she was thrown into stasis at the same time as I, or later. Nor do I know when she awoke. She could even be older than I am, now". As she realises that she is babbling, Laurel blushes, a look of embarrassment on her face.
[Andelia]
Andelia smiles at the comment about `Daughters are important', then says, "I agree, but we need to get to the Grove in time to prevent the time-crash from wiping out A LOT of daughters. And sons too, come to that. I don't know, would the Grove serve as a killing ground? There's only the one mirror there, so any pursuit would only have one way out to get to us..."
[Laurel]
"Yes, that might work" says Laurel, "provided that it doesn't disrupt whatever else is happening at the grove. That will have to be considered in deciding on that plan".
[Andelia]
Andelia nods, then thinks for a moment. "I'm hoping we can get the crash fixed before any wave of Guisels arrives. If we can, then we won't be disrupting anything. But the crash HAS to be fixed, or who knows what happens. History rewinds to where Clarissa first appeared, maybe, in which case some of us here go poof." Her smile's a bit grim.
[Laurel]
"For myself, I will continue my search for Meredith, unless anyone believes that my presence at the grove will be essential". Blinking back a tear, Laurel sighs, looking at those around her.
[Andelia]
Andelia shakes her head, "Laurel, I don't recommend it. Can't stop you, of course, but there were a LOT of young Guisels behind us. I fear you might just end up lunch for them, by yourself."
[Laurel]
A look of uncertainty appears on Laurel's face as Andelia says this.
[GM]
Darthene says, "Laurel, there may be ways of finding your daughter without hunting her through all Reflection, especially with Guisels everywhere. I recommend that we take advantage of the night to go to Tir-na Nog'th, and consult the prophecies and dreams there.
[Jacob]
To everyone, Jacob says "Her suggestion is a good one.. We've tried through this whole mess to trump scry, mirror scry.. the Tir may offer fresh insight. And since I'm not really sure what she was supposed to for Clarissa.. maybe some more information would be best before we jump into anything.."
He murmurs, "I think Fiona or Raven should do.."
[Laurel]
A look of hope comes to Laurel, as Andelia and Darthene suggest ways to help locate Meredith. Then as Darthene continues ...
[Andelia]
"I don't know.... I might be able to help you find your daughter, I seem to have some connection with the Guisels, don't know much about it yet, it's kind of new."
[GM]
"That does make sense. If we DO get your daughter back and time collapses, you will lose her anyway. I promise I will help you, but we need to assure that your daughter will not simply cease to exist."
[Garat]
"Quite right again, m'Lady.. the Reflections are no place for the uninitiated. As I tried to say gently, the margin for error is much slimmer."
[Laurel]
Laurel sighs. "Yes, you're right. The future comes first, I suppose. I'll trump Mom, she can bring us through to the manor house".
[Jacob]
"Quite correct Lady Darthene. Hopefully, you will not find me as foolish as I must seem."
He'll turn to Laurel, "I think we've been hastily introduced, but never actually spoken. I'm Thalion's brother, Jacob. There are a lot of factions floating about, I count myself a member of none of them.. a G.D.I., so to speak. I didn't mean to imply that all is lost with Meredith, or for this place for that matter. Just some thought is required."
[Laurel]
"Hello, cousin Jacob" says Laurel. "Yes, there was little time for talk when first we met".
[Jacob]
He pauses to glance at Andelia, "I know we're on a schedule.. just take a second..."
Returning to Laurel, he continues, "Guisels are the natural enemies of Shroudlings.. the second race of Rebma. We both exist on the Mirror Realm, and consequently, that's their weakness as much as it is their strength. They've never before ventured to Shadow or Reality before, but they still require mirrors to use as portals. The mirrors have to be physically large to move through.. and with the proper skills, they can be locked.
"A new mirror can always be made, creating a another means of entrance.. So just because one is destroyed, another can be made.. later.
"Listen, you can't go parading around the Mirror Realm if you don't know how.. You'll get lost, or end up so far away from where you want to be, you might as well be lost. You can go a LOT farther, and faster than shadow walking, but it will be 'hit and miss' random trial and error.
[Laurel]
"But I do know my way around the Mirror Realm" she says. "I count myself part Shroudling, through my father, Kireyas. And I do know the basics of getting from the Mirror Realm to the other world and back".
[Jacob]
"I'll help, if you like, and if I can.. but first, there are a whole lot more people counting on someone helping Clarissa right now.. and Deirdre too. For example, I should be able to scry Meredith, and find out where they have her, or maybe why they want her..
[Laurel]
Laurel perks up at Jacob's offer of help.
[Jacob]
"But first, we.. or at least I.. need to get Darthene to Clarissa.."
[GM]
Darthene says "If there were people with Clarissa, it may be prudent to trump one or two, to find out how they stand. Who was there, anyways?"
[Laurel]
Laurel pales, a look of sorrow on her face. "Oh my. You've not heard the latest news from the grove, have you? Mom trumped me a few moments before you arrived. I'm so sorry to bring you this news. It's too late to help Clarissa. And I'm not sure that there's anyone still at the Grove. Mom said something about regrouping, at Teridias' manor house".
[Andelia]
Andelia looks like she's been hit in the stomach with a bat at this. "No.... not again..." Then her face closes, the green eyes setting into a chilly mask. There's just the hint of a tear at the corners of her eyes, but none fall, and then she blinks a couple times and that's gone.
[Laurel]
"I am sorry to be the bearer of this ill news... or rather, I'm sorry that there are such tidings for any to bring" Laurel murmurs to Andelia.
[Andelia]
Andelia asks, quietly, in one of those voices that sound calm but may well be masking something other than that,
"Did Fiona manage to catch her soul, or did this Dworkin's plan succeed totally?"
[Laurel]
"I'm sorry, I do not know the answer to that" replies Laurel. "Mom was hurrying to gather as many as possible as quickly as she could. She only gave the barest of details".
[GM]
He withdraws his trumps, preparing to make some calls...
[Thalion]
I need someone to help me find something. I've really never seen it, but I still know what it looks like. It's called the Vorpal Sword and we really need to find it if we are going to be hunting Guisels. I'm not sure if it's in shadow or in a mirror realm. Can someone help me? Besides, we really need to talk before we go hunting any Guisel. There are things everyone should know about their weaknesses and such.
[Andelia]
Andelia nods, but doesn't say anything.
[Laurel]
Looking to the trump in her hand, Laurel begins to concentrate.
[Andelia]
Andelia shakes her head,
"Sorry, I didn't answer your question about who was there. When Jacob and I left to find you, Clarissa was alive though badly hurt. Aunt Deirdre was there, as well as Aunt Fiona and her daughter Raven. Thalion, Laurel, and ....." she looks at Garat a little helplessly, then shrugs, "he were there. Kireyas was there, trying to hold the crash in, and I think Teridias had just arrived. Celia had left already, as had Madoc and Uncle Brand."
Then she looks at Garat, and says, "Sorry, I don't think we've been introduced. I saw you arrive with the outer circle, but...."
[GM]
Whoever was trumping Raven couldn't get through.
[GM]
The trump connection to Deirdre is open, but still tenuous.
[Laurel]
"Hi Mom" says Laurel.
"We've got Andelia and Jacob with us now, they've got Darthene and Nikolas with them too. And a swarm of Guisels after them. We were wondering if we would disrupt things too much if we came to join you guys, with the possible risk of the Guisels following? If not, we'd like to come through".
[GM]
A steady beat begins to echo throughout the Reflection. It matches Andelia's heartbeat, but the sound emanates from throughout the mirrorrealm. The surface of the mirror appears to ripple with every beat, but more like a pool of water than the threat of shattering.
[Andelia]
Andelia looks at Jacob and shakes her head, "Seems a little familiar, if you know what I mean. But bigger in scale than last time."
[Laurel]
"What the heck's that. Mom, are you hearing that? I don't know what that is, but I think we should probably get out of here".