An Overture

"Friends! I seek inspiration. I seek /inspiration!/ Ceinara's divine spark of inspiration! And you, my friends, you are going to help."

The most noticeable thing about the man hiring you, a young, early twenties gentlemen who you've met at the Guild of Explorers, the one hiring you, is his outrageously plumed hat. Outrageously filled with brightly colored feathers.

"I am Toyon Ramoseworth! Scion of House Razmoseworthy! We are very worthy, worthy of divine inspiration! My family has insisted my destination is too dangerous for me to go alone."

"Excuse me, sir, can you take this?" His assistant, a haggard with worry looking gnome in finery and a long beard, interrupts him to offer him a missive.

He takes it, reads it briefly, then crumples it up to toss into his pocket. "ANYWAY! My destination is too dangerous to go alone so it was insisted that I hire the best guards I could! That's where you come in! You are to guide me on my jury of inspiration. A mission blessed with the touch of Ceinara, for one and for all. Our FIRST destination shall be the Eidolon Court. Let's be off, hm?" He gestures at the door, apparently ready to depart right out.

GAME: Davienne rolls knowledge/geography: (1)+8: 9 (EPIC FAIL)

Klaus is literally carrying everything he owns, so simply nods and will be off whenever the party is ready. He has no idea what this Eidolon Court thing is, other than a couple vagues sentences overheard at the Guild shortly after he arrived a couple days ago. "I am Klaus," he will tell the others, "And this is my first task with the Guild, so please explain things as for a new person." His accent as well as his face mark him as Dranei.

Skribbles looks at the man and then sighs and looks down, rubbing the bridge of her nose. You yell and one flipping fop of a Theosian and get forced to guard this guy as he goes for his spark of whatnot. She takes a deep breath and heaves her warhammer over her shoulder and adjusts it for comfort. She's going to talk to someone about this. Oh...someone is going to get a shaken fist in their general direction.

She can not stop staring at his hat. Hats are of course, the height of fashion, but this one makes all other hats hide themselves away in shame of being a head garment. Auranar has a moment of personal silence for the personage forced to make said hat, whom must have gone blind at the garishness of it. She of course says nothing out /loud/ about the feathered abomination, but it's clear that something about the gentleman in question makes her uncomfortable. That much is clear by the fact that she never looks at him straight on. How /could/ one with such a gruesome accoutrement stinging the eye?

Auranar keeps her head down - figuratively not literally - and bites her tongue against the questions that immediately leap to mind. Lest she give anything she doesn't want known. Frankly... she doesn't look much like she's ready for a fight even though she recently went to Sandy's boutique in order to outfit herself in clothing that is more road-ready than what she's used to wearing. It's probably the fact that it's all so /new/ that it's obvious she's never done this before. There's not a single stain on her.

Davienne leans against the wall with her arms crossed. She is eyeing the Lord thoughtfully. Lips pursed and then she shakes her head, "Can't say I've heard of the Courts of Eidolon before. But if you have a map I can get you there no problem," She says. She glances at Klaus and smiles faintly. "We escort him, make sure he doesn't die or worse, we get paid," She says with a small twitch at the corner of her lips.

"Truly! They're local legends. And bigger legends. A place you can go where the Gods once walked themselves! Where the Hymn of Creation is audible to one and all! A holy pilgrimage to the holiest of places! For a time, they cut pilgrims off due to the threat of demons from the demon binder Asumit, but... they seem to be loosening the restrictions now. Well, at least for me. It /pays/ to be /rich/."

Toyon laughs all too loudly at his own joke, slaps his knee.

His gnomish assistant sighs long sufferingly.

Still, you're soon enough on your way, leaving the Guild of Explorers and passing through the city by carriage ride he's requested. A couple of carriages, actually, given the size of the group. Soon, you're deposited at the city gates where he's making arrangements to procure horses and a carriage for the overland travel to the Court.

Davienne has her own horse and is more than happy to -not- ride in the carriage as they set out. In fact the size of the enterouge makes her wrinkle her nose in distaste. But does she say anything? Nope. The coin is good. Instead she sits astride the Bay mare, leaning on the saddle in a bored manner. Idly smoking from a slim pipe.

Given that Klaus has seen kind enough to introduce himself Auranar does so as well, offering a gesture of elvish peace to her words of greeting. She follows the others, seemingly entirely satisfied to bring up the rear of the party for the moment, and fiddles with her bow. Another item which seems rather new and untried at the moment. Yet she does handle it with enough familiarity that one need not despair that she has no clue what to do out here. Then when offered she settles herself comfortably in the carriage, watching out the window with a distant sort of interest.

Skribbles is walking with the group, not wanting to say much at the moment less her Gobbo mouth get her in trouble before she gets paid. And mama needs to be paid, it's the only way she's gonna get that shop she wants. So in the meantime she follows the fop, laughing at his joke with that half-hearted laugh one gives to their bosses joke, or their brother-in-law's unwelcome advances.

Klaus nods to Davienne about guarding and getting paid. "Seems straightforward enough," he agrees. He nods a greeting to Auranar and Mashila as well, and listens attentively as Toyon explains about our destination. He'll ride in the carriage out to the Gate, and looks interested as the fellow procures horses for us. This was not expected, he's an infantryman by trade, but he -can- ride. He can't afford to buy or stable a horse of his own, so a borrowed one will be very nice.

Mashila has her war pony and she leads it along as they start to head out. Once they are deposited at the gates she looks to the leader and there's a dip of her head to them in gratitude. She then looks around the group to see what they were off to now.

GAME: Klaus rolls perception: (11)+1: 12
GAME: Skribbles rolls perception: (19)+10: 29
GAME: Davienne rolls perception: (3)+8: 11
GAME: Auranar rolls perception: (19)+5: 24
GAME: Mashila rolls Perception: (16)+6: 22

If we're honest, you got a bit of a late start. Sure, you've set off in the late morning to afternoon, but it's winter and the icy west-blowing wind takes every opportunity to remind you of that fact, alongside the occasional sprinkle of rain and snow. The cloud cover combined with the winter early sunset means yout travel time will be limited.

It's about three o'clock in the afternoon when you find your path on the road blocked by a rather conspicuously placed boulder. Sure, you can just go around it but.. you know, who rolls a boulder like that into the MIDDLE OF THE ROAD? It's pretty big.

And right there.

"Well, I don't have to be an adventurer to think this looks like an enormous trap."

GAME: Auranar rolls knowledge/arcana: (14)+6: 20

Klaus reins in as he sees the big boulder placed across the road. He'll look to either side of the path: does this look like a natural rockfall? Maybe not, if Toyon is suggesting a trap, and he'll look left and right for signs of ambush.

Auranar peers curiously out the window to see what has caused the slowdown and immediately notices the boulder. Toyon pipes up and she agrees with him, but how to say it? "It is a trap!" Her voice is light and musical, and not at all suited to warning of danger, but her words at least give the warning her tone doesn't exactly convey. "It is a mimic. I do wonder how it got there." She hums to herself and draws out of the carriage, looking around for bandits. "I have been told that this is a common tactic for robbers, to use a mimic to trap people. I would not touch it were I you. It will encapture you."

Davienne eyes the boulder as she pulls her horse to a stop. Nose wrinkling she pulls back and beside the others. "Yeah...that's no good. I'll check around for tracks?" She offers, eyes already scanning the nearby woods and the ground. After a moments pause she pulls out her bow and strings it. Better safe than sorry.

Skribbles tilts her head a bit as she looks at the boulder. She looks at Auranar and then nods her head a little bit, heaving her warhammer as she starts to look around the area, making sure there isn't a surprise attack coming.

"A mimic?" Nasrin asks. She's been quiet for the most part other than some humming, but now she rides up to place her own horse to Auranar's left. She's peering at the rock thoughtfully, her head tilted slightly to the left as she considers this new obstacle for a moment. "Someone hand me a vial of alchemical fire," she announces. "If it's not a Mimic it will burn through and turn this to ash so we can go by. After all, who cares about burning a PERFECTLY NORMAL ROCK?" Nasrin holds out a hand, continuing to stare at the rock as she does. "Then we can be on our way! After we set this on fire!" She waits. Blinking.

"OI NO SETTING ME ON FIRE!"

The boulder's surface splits into a jagged smile and Toyon screams, throwing his hands up in front of him when it does.

"I am here to deliver a MESSAGE to TOYON and his guards! Your family is disappointed in your choice to become a... bard and they want you to give up this silly nonsense and come home Wait, you ARE Toyon, right?"

"...yes," says Toyon.

"Oh good! I was worried for a moment there."

"That's not terrifying at all." Mashila says from where she's now standing by her warpony. Don't judge. She loved that thing. She gives a look to the talking boulder and there's an ah, "That's what it is." she nods to that. "Hey...what's wrong with being a Bard?" she puffs up a little over the slight.

Davienne keeps her horse under control when the damned boulder decides to start having a chat with her employer. The half-elf holds the reins and then turns to look at said employer. One brow raises and she lets out a sigh. "Your family has a really weird way of dissuading you from things," She comments dryly.

Klaus has some alchemist's fire, and will fish it out of his pack. "If it's a boulder, I don't think this will do much of anything," he says, and then the boulder talks. He eyes the other explorers, because he's got no idea what to do here. "Uh, guys," he says quietly. "Can we just like ride by it?"

Auranar is as surprised as anyone when the boulder-mimic up and speaks. For some reason she simply hadn't expected it to. Still, she moves a little closer to the mimic and eyes it curiously. "Would you pardon then, and allow us to pass now that you have given your message?" She asks the question, but has subtly slipped closer to Toyon, just in case. This all seems quite odd to her, but then... this /is/ her first mission.

Skribbles groans a bit and shakes her head, "This is gonna be one of /those/ missions, isn't it." She looks at the others and asks, "So he's not a monster, right? No hitting him with a hammer, right? I mean, I can...I think I'd be totally justified...right?" She looks at the others as though really expecting an answer.

"Now, you realize I can change my shape at any time, right? Grow arms?"

Disgustingly, blood-covered arms /split/ from its sides and force their way out with very large claws on either side. "But as you can see, I am all the way over here and YOU are all the way over there. I am here to take Toyon back to his manor, where he is to 'prepare to take over the family business like a good scion of his house' and 'give up his foolish dreams of divine inspiration from Ceinara' and 'stop pursuing a job he has no talent for'."

"I do too have talent!"

"Well, then, why don't you sing for your comrades? Hm? Or devise a pantomime? Or play your lute?"

"...I am not prepared to do those things right now! But I /am/ a musician and I am just waiting for the right time and besides we're on a HOLY pilgrimage so you'll need to get out of our way, GOOD SIR, or we'll... go around you. Yes! Right?" He looks at the lot of you expectantly.

"No hitting him unless he gets feisty. Or has valuables on him," Nasrin decides, shaking her head once for Skribbles' benefit. tossing the Alchemist's fire idly as if it were a ball and not a vial of potent combustibles she continues to eye the boulder and takes a deep breath. "If he wants to be a Bard he'll be one, I expect. Parents are really bad at actually getting what they want in these situations. Can we ride by now, though? We have a young Bard to introduce and all of that."

With a nod, as if to confirm what Toyon has had to say Nasrin wheels her horse and attempts to ride around, as directed.

"Ugh. Nothing worse than parents who think they know what's best," Davienne says and actually seems briefly sympathetic to the noble. "Lord Toyon declines. Now please move along or we'll be forced to use...force," It isn't the most threatening thing. But this is why she shouldn't do the talking. She glances at Nasrin and the others, but keeps her horse near to the noble. The thing charges that 'scion' is getting saddle grabbed and taken to a safe distance.

The elvish woman unlimbers her bow, and takes up a steady station at Toyon's side. "Talented or no, we were commissioned to take him where he pleases to go." Auranar motions for Toyon to move around the mimic. "Please cause us no further delay." Her words are polite, but there's stone beneath them, real stone where the mimic is quite fake. She stays just behind the bard in question as she moves, her black eyes steely on the creature that had threatened to abscond with Toyon.

Klaus will ride up alongside Toyon and guide is horse with his knees as best he can, holding out his polearm, a complicated thing with a spearpoint and a hook, though the important thing is that those are at the end of a long pole, and he will use them if anyone tries to get close to the boss.

Skribbles looks a little crestfallen as she is not given permission to deliver a hammer to the head. She takes a big heave and leans on her hammer, waiting for the troop to get moving. She isn't paid to get in the middle of the family squabble, she's paid to deliver the fop to his destination and get the whatnot or whatnot or...where are they going again? Hey, look, there's a squirrel. It's so cu...no...it just got eaten by a falcon. Aww....

"Y...yeah! That's right! I don't have anything to prove to you!"

Toyon glares at the mimic, who forms a pair of eyes in his front just to make a show of rolling them, followed by a protest, "W-wait! Are you seriously just going to go around me?"

The carriage is being, in fact, guided around him by Klaus as the rest of you start to go by.

"..you can't ignore me! I'm a fierce monster, you know! I knew I should've been a treasure chest." 

And you're on your way.

"..he's right, though, you know. No matter how hard I try, things just... don't... come together. I get this idea and I start in on it and it just...falls to pieces..." Toyon sounds crestfallen. "I was hoping if we made it to the court, if we went on an adventure, we could... I could find what I'm missing. That's how it always works in the stories."

The gnome beside him in the open carriage sighs heavily. "It's all right, young master. This is your choice, your destiny... I'm sure these adventurers will know The Right Things To Say."

He turns to look at you all, that gnome, hopefully.

VERY HOPEFULLY.

Meanwhile, back behind you a ways, you can hear the mimic shout, "A DOOR! I SHOULD HAVE BEEN A DOOR!"

Mashila follows quietly after the group. The audacity of them saying a bard was not a good thing to be. HUFF! She makes sure she doesn't get too close to said Mimic.

Klaus looks a bit confused and says helpfully to Toyon, "If this is how your family solves problems, sir, I heartily recommend ignoring the rest of their advice. Even if you don't know what to do, I think their answers won't help you much and almost certainly won't actually help you much. Or at all." And he's riding past, and the mimic's comments are disregarded."

Skribbles rides by the bard and shakes her head, "Nah, you'd have made an ugly door." She nods once and, a she's riding past, she turns around and says, "Consider getting into being a mime. It's perfect for someone with your particular voice." She turns back around and gives a wave.

"Why don't we go to their villa or wherever they live. Secret super villain mountain lair, whatever, grab our instruments, and play so loudly the house falls down! That will teach them the value of good music, right?" For whatever reason, the Korite is getting pretty pumped about this idea. She's gesticulating wildly as she speaks, her eyes more on Toyon than their surroundings. The horse, fortunately, is smart enough to avoid any dangerous obstacles in the mean time. "I bet if we pound the drums and blow the horns loud enough they might even go deaf. That sounds fun. Right?" She looks around for confirmation.

All in all, it is not that difficult to make one's way past the mimic and into the forest beyond. They stay well aside the creature and are soon into the woods. Auranar ignores it now that it seems to be no threat, nor however does she have anything helpful to add to the gnome's sage advice. Having lacked parents or family to try and interfere in her upbringing... What could she add? Auranar therefore remain's silent, returning her bow to where it had been before and her attention to the path around them.

Davienne smirks at the mimic as they move pass. There's a rude hand gesture flung it's way. She keeps an eye on the monster in case it decides to follow after. So it is a few minutes before she chimes in, "Just because what you want doesn't come together at first doesn't mean you shouldn't keep falling. You know how many squirrels fall out of the nest before they learn to grip a tree properly?" Yes, she did just compare the lord to a rodent. A cute one at least.

He seems thankful, if a bit bashful, at the encouragement. Nasrin's idea gets him to look at her in such a way that one might imagine his eyes just transformed into tiny little hearts as he stares at her.

"That is ingenious, but I'd... need some time to prepare for that. But, yes. A performance to prove my worth and the rightness of my chosen path is perhaps JUST what is in order."

Oh no.

"But let us finish our journey to the Court first. Inspiration, yes. I still need /that/."

And then you're off again. At least this time you aren't interrupted by mimics, though you /are/ interrupted towards dusk by heavily armed riders bearing a banner with the crest of the God Daeus upon it. Temple-Knights, it would appear, no doubt guardians of the holy site you're on your way to.

"Hold," they call to you.

Auranar comes to a stop as they approach the knights who call out for them to do so. Their bearing says that they are followers of Daeus, and she has no reason to think them otherwise. However suspicious it is that they are stopping them so soon after the mimic. "Greetings." She offers, even giving something of a smile. It's faint, but there.

Klaus will hold as the Daeusites call for us to halt, and see what they have to say. He'll look for Toyon to do the talking, he's just a hired man at this point, though he tries to look respectful.

Davienne slows her horse as the armer riders appear. She eyes the banner and then their armor. She glances back at the carriage holding the lord and back. She doesn't say anything from horseback, just leans forward and eyes the new obstacle in their path.

Nasrin squints at the Temple Knights for a moment. She adjusts herself on her horse, and then adjusts the axe that serves as her holy symbol as well. The crimson armour is difficult to miss on a good day. The Korite does not, however, deign to confront the warriors of Daeus. Yet, at least.

Skribbles stops her smaller horse as she looks at the Temple-Knights, raising a brow a bit and wondering what this is all about now. She sniffs the air once again, curious to know what the issue is this time. A whole lot of people seem eager to keep this guy from getting to his destination, and she's not sure if getting into it with Temple Knights is a good idea.

"Ho ther! State your business at the court, travellers."

"Greetings, friends! I am Tonyon and these are my escorts! We are on our way to the Eidolon court on a divine QUEST of INSPIRATION! Isn't that right, friends?"

He looks to you, putting on a smile that's still not quite reaching his eyes. The words of the mimic are still hurting him, it would appear. This man wears his emotions on his sleeve. There's no filter for them, really.

For her part, Auranar doesn't add anything to the conversation. Though she is thinking rather quickly that she was fairly certain that their benefactor had said something along the lines that he'd already smoothed things out so that they could be here. The fact that these men then didn't seem to be expecting them did not bode particularly well for that. She merely nods then, an agreement that she is indeed here as an escort.

Klaus nods at what Toyon says, and adds, "We are bona fide Guild adventurers hired to escort him to the Court." In case their own status is in question. "He has been given special dispensation to travel there," he goes on, but then looks to Toyon and hopes he was telling the truth on that. It was implied he had, wasn't it?

Nasrin continues to stare at one of the guards. In fact, she attempts to meet his gaze and lock eyes with them in a manner quite reminiscent of the sort of staring contests played by drunks in pubs when they can't decide who is paying for the next round of shots.

Davienne glances from Tyron to the knights and nods her head once. "Aye. We're on the way to the Courts. The Lord Toyon has hired us to escort him safely to the place," She says it simply, gruffly, leaning on her saddle in a seemingly lazy or bored manner.

Skribbles looks at the Knights, watching them warily as she gently moves her hammer around and brings it onto her lap. She doesn't say anything either, merely watches the Knights, wondering whether they're going to let the party through.

"Mhm. State your names, please," says the lead knight, eyeing each of you critically, "And whether or not you've ever been to the Court before, if you would. please."

The other knights are squinting at you intently. One of them has produced a wand, "We'd like to inspect your things and yourselves for magic. You'll be asked to account for magical effects and items you might have on your persons. We can't afford certain things reaching the Court, you understand."

Klaus has no problem with the requests, and says, "I am Klaus Ignat, just arrived in the city, previously of Dran. My magic is small, an everburning torch, some alchemical items, and ... I'm not sure if the Goblin Army knife is magical or not. It's certainly clever."

Davienne blinks in surprise and sits up. Now the boredom has faded and she looks displeased. "What? Really? Isn't that a bit invasive? WHy not just tell us what's not allowed?" She asks as she crosses her arms. "I mean, not above stating my name and that's I've never been to this place. Davienne Sunrose," She adds. A sideways glance at Klaus at his comment about a knife. Seems she wants to say something, but now is probably not the time.

Now Auranar's eyes narrow slightly, drawing herself up to her full height - though that isn't much. She manages still, in spite of her lack of height to look down a little at the knight that draws close to her with that wand. Looking at the thing as though one might have something that was covered in mud and other foul things. "I am Auranar." She says her name simply, and holds herself very still. "And I myself am magic. It is an intrinsic part of my being and I can not be separated from it as you could not be separated from your own will."

Skribbles raises a brow and looks at each of the Knights. "I'm Skribbles Onpaper, Forge of Reos. My hammer is my holy symbol. You touch it, it might go off. So no touchy without protection...which is the love of Reos." Pervs.

Nasrin, meanwhile, is presenting herself, axe in hand, and turning for inspection. "The axe is a holy symbol. My armour is also a holy symbol." Skribbles gets a nod of appreciation. Nasrin straightens and takes a deep breath. "The knives are holy symbols. So is that long shiny needle. It's not poisoned, but I would avoid handling it just to be safe." A beat. "...The cloak isn't a holy symbol.It's just cold out. I have more weapons if you need to take these?"

"You'll be asked to bond your weapons when you get closer to the court but you won't need to surrender anything," replies the temple-knight, giving you a firm look. "We're making sure you have nothing that could be a threat to the court. There are enemies of the Faith in this world that would see it damaged, its power usurped, its workings disrupted. There are those who've sought the keys to Godhood there. Understand that we are its protector from the demons who would defile it."

The knight holding the wand activates it, his eyes flaring an azure color as he looks over each of you in turn, nodding towards the lead knight. Some words are exchanged quietly, no doubt indicating what magic has been sensed or not sensed.

Klaus has no problem bonding his dagger, but he's not sure what they're going to do about the battle axe or the guisarme. They can bond it if they can work out how. As far as his items, he'll turn out his mostly empty pack and show off his everburning torch and alchemists fire and blade guard and even his goblin army knife.

It is very clear that Auranar is no longer comfortable here. She doesn't /say/ anything, but she's not carrying anything magical beyond her own self. Which it is hard to say whether /she/ counts or not. It seems like either way she'd be less than pleased to know. The dusky elf remains silent throughout, grimly staring at the other temple knights and occasionally glancing toward Toyon. It is his mission that has brought them here after all. To be poked and prodded like animals. There's an air of judgement in her stance. Yes, she's not very pleased.

Nasrin helpfully shows off a parade of small weapons, as promised. She purses her lips at the mention of weapon bonding but doesn't' actually comment. The axe will present a problem when it comes to pacifying her, as it does for Klaus. Mostly, however, the redhead is cooperative. If displeased by the notion.

Davienne glances at the others, eyes lingering on Auranar for a moment longer, before returning to the knight. Her face remains the same frown and she reaches down to tie her scimitar to its scabbard. The bow on her back requires being strung so she leaves it in its sling. Instead she just sits back and crosses her arms. Grumpy ranger? Every party needs one right?

Skribbles quietly, under her breath, mimics the Temple-Knight, "Men have sought the keys to Godhood here, and I'm a stuffy asshat with delusions of grandeur." She rolls her eyes and takes a deep breath, "Reos give me strength from smiting men with lightning bolts." She looks at the others and asks, "So what's up? We going to go or is everyone freaked out as much as I am."

With the magical items accounted for and verified and weapons bound, the knights are content with letting you go on your way. Seems you've passed inspection. They do indicate you'll be greeted by a Cleric upon your approach will serve as a guide an and answer any questions that you, as a pilgrim, might have.

It isn't long before you begin to approach the Court, now, a set of gleaming, pristine white marble pillars that rise high into the sky. It's beautiful.

But it's not so much the architecture that makes you feel that beauty, it's the *song*. You can hear it, the Hymn of Creation. You can hear it out loud, but /feel/ it as well. A song that tells the story of Elhim, the Source of All Creation's, birth of the world, of the rise of his Children in the Gods, the birth of the mortal races, the war of the Gods and the downfall of Maugrim.

It's all there, proof of the divine if any were ever needed.

-TBC