An Overture (Part 2)

Understandably the thought of being rejected due to something that one can not help - such as being a sorceress - left a bad taste in Auranar's mouth, but that is now long forgotten. Both because of being accepted as she is, and also because of the awe-inspiring song which is now audible to her ears. A soft smile tugs on her lips, and she walks with a lighter step than before. Stunned to silence and reverence, all she can do is follow in the wake of the one that hired her.

Klaus is quietly awed by what's going on. It's pretty amazing. If Ramoseworth can't get inspired here, he might as well cut off his head and bury it. He'll follow along mutely as well for the moment, basking in the aural radiance.

Skribbles walks with the others, looking up at the sight before her and wondering just how gaudy creation truly can be. I mean, come on, white and gold? Where are we? Where are the explosions? Where is the fire? Where are the smokestacks? Elhim has a lot to be desired for this little Gobbo. I mean...not even one visible fire yet!

Mashila was catching up, honest! The little clippity clops of her war pony heralded her arrival as she was regrouping. She keeps quiet towards the end of the group. Making sure there isn't anything weird going on.

So far, so good. No weirdness.

Well, aside from the hymn that elevates in volume as your approach the court. It isn't so much coming from the court itself as it seems to be in the air all around you. As you take your first steps onto the marble floor, you can see these columns that spire into the sky is each meant to signify one of the Gods.

'Awesome' is a word that goes thrown out a lot but it truly feels appropriate here. This is a place where, legendarily, the Gods were once said you've walked when they could still enter the world clan in flesh rather than touch it merely in spirit. A place where the fates that still resonate to this day were set in motion. It is ancient, awesome and terrible all at once.

Tonyon has lost his characteristic bravado here for the moment. He's looking around with huge, huge eyes. So is his gnomish body-man.

Auranar does her best to keep her focus on Tonyon, but it's difficult here. Still, it seems unlikely that anything will attack him in such a well-guarded holy place. Several times her focus slips, but she stubbornly realigins herself and sets her eyes on the man that she's supposed to be guarding. Perhaps this too is a test.

Klaus is riding along beside Tonyon when he can keep his wits about him. It's tough to do with this overwhelming divine experience. But it also looks like it's having a good affect on the lad, so hopefully this doesn't all blow up in our face somehow. That's just an idle thought though, a passing musing, and it's hard to keep his guard up in this sort of presence.

Skribbles continues to look around, spying the column for her god and noticing it is the same height as the others. She silently humphs at this and continues to walk with the rest of the group.

Mashila is keeping herself alert and looking over things as they go. The Tsuran isn't very talkative, but, she does keep the rest of the group in her sights.

There is, indeed, a column for Reos amongst the other Twilight Gods.

Tonyon, on the other hand, seems awe-struck.

"...m-m-maybe this was a bad idea. It's.. it's perfect," he murmurs, uncomfortable with that. Clearly, he has no idea how to 'measure up' in that regard.

The gnome sighs wearily.

The music seems to fold around you, embracing you.

Finally, Auranar moves a little closer to her employer. "Perhaps... we should go. No mortal could measure to such beauty, but you should try to let it inspire you to create something that comes close to its splendor. I know that I find myself inspired." She smiles softly and nods her head toward the column that has the most meaning to her personally. "Say a word to your god, and let us be on our way."

Klaus is good with remaining here for as long as it takes Tonyon to get his act together. On the other hand, this is not our final destination. So he'll gently prod, "It's amazing, isn't it? But you have to find your own melody in all this." He grunts agreement with Auranar. "I feel inspired, too. But now to use that inspiration."

Skribbles looks at Auranar and then nods her head a bit. She walks over to the column of Reos and says, "Hey big guy, it's Skribbles." She clicks her tongue and points upwards, "Looking good, big guy. Love ya." She nods once and looks to move on. Or she might get a nice lightning bolt smite...who knows.

Mashila gives a soft nod to them, "I agree, we should go." she whispers to them.

"I.. I don't know what to do. I thought maybe Ceinara... maybe Tarien.. maybe I'd hear something that tells me I'm on the right path but..."

Tonyon is escorted off the grounds with the rest of you. The Guardians of the Court keep a polite distance this time, having perhaps sensed they'd intruded enough. Or maybe they just don't like being glared at by the lot of you so intensely.

Either way, you're able to see yourself off quickly. There are other pilgrims coming and going, of course, that they must see to.

"I need a drink. There's an inn some miles from here. We'll go there," he manages to croak.

Auranar nods her assent to Tonyon. "Merely give us the direction and we will take you there." She's ready to go, and will go once the directions are given. It will be good to stop for a while, they've been traveling quite extensively at this point and its getting late by her measure of the day.

Klaus nods slowly once we're away, and he will ride close by Tonyon as we head to this inn he knows about. He keeps his guisarme set in his stirrup and carries it a bit like a lance, or a flagpole as we ride along.

Skribbles continues to follow the group, basking in the knowledge that Reos favors her because she wasn't blown to bits when she finger gunned his column at the temple. She is always up for a beer, but doesn't quite understand why Tonyon couldn't find inspiration in a place like that, or if he's over-inspired like an inspiration junkie and now he needs an intervention. Well, beer is always a good intervention...unless you're an alcoholic..then it's just a Tuesday.

Clip-clop, that's the soft sound at the back of the group as Mashila is dragging up the back. She gives a smile to something that is said and her hands move in a brush of starting to talk, but, she shakes her head and settles her hands back onto the reins and keeps her horse on a straight path.

Within a couple hours off the court, there is an inn.

It's a roadside inn, of course. What else would it be? It's called Pilgrim's Rest. Because of /course/ it is. It's a large, three story building that looks fairly active, given the number of pilgrims to the court. Given the late hour, most people are inside its common room already, eating their meal.

Passing inside immediately brings that initial shiver of the warmth rushing over you from its central hearth, roast pork's odour filing the room. Seems like they're making good use of said fire.

There's quiet conversation going, a few instrumentalists playing background music for the evening's meal.

You really are just in time. A great many people of various backgrounds are here, having only one similarity: the desire to see the Court. Some definitely look as if they've come from far away, such as the /frigging ogre/ in the corner who's plainly from Bludgun if his military uniform and insignia are to be believed.

Auranar peels off here from the main group, heading for the hearth to warm herself. She's shivering from the cold in spite of her new gear, which she is immensely glad for because otherwise she might have been a solidly frozen elfsicle. Once there though, she keeps a weather eye out on her employer.

Klaus doesn't mind anyone who's here as long as they're not fighting, but it's a dangerous world and he's got to be twice as wary with so many strangers around. He will stay with Tonyon still, the cold is chilly, but he's Dranei, it's not the coldest he's ever been by a long shot.

Skribbles immediately heads to the bar, slamming down some coppers and ordering a couple of beers. They're for her.

Mashila makes sure that her horse is tied up before heading inside of the inn. She pulls her cloak a little closer about her form as they move inside and there's a moment taken to give the place a look over. She then starts to head for the bar.

Beer is delivered. They have plenty of it. They also have stiffer alcohols, of course. Tonyon has his gnomish companion deliver them for him as she settles into an unoccupied table, encouraging you all to join him thereafter.

"So what did you all think of the Court?" he asks, his voice still a little quivery from the experience as he dwells on it, but distant enough now that he can ask for first impressions.

"I would rather hear your impression sir." Offers Auranar, acceeding to the request from her employer to join him though she refrains from drinking anything. Instead she asks for tea, and seems satisfied with the answer that she receives to the request.

Klaus will join everyone at the table, though he's trying to keep watch all around in the busy room. There's just too much going on that he can't track it all. Or even most of it. He'll drink beer. In moderation, it's not a problem, and he's on duty, so he certainly won't be drinking too much. But beer is what you drink when the water's suspect and you can't boil it. As to what he thought of the court, he admits, "It was magnificent. Very inspiring!"

Skribbles walks over to the table, looking pretty happy as she double-fists her beers. She sits down, legs dangling over the man-sized chair. She takes a deep drink of her first beer and lets out an audible "Ahhh..." She wipes her mouth and says, "Well, it was pretty white and bright. So it's got that going for it."

Mashila sips her ale slowly when it arrives and she hops up onto a stool to get comfortable while they have their stop. She was listening to things that were going on around them.

"Well, I --,"

He's about to go on, to give his ideas and thoughts on the court, when the bartender, and inn operator clearly, belts out, "All right folks! For the evening's entertainment, we have our musical accompaniment. Anyone got a particular song they want to sing? Religious hymns are always welcome here. We all have our reasons for being here, our stories to tell, it's time for some of you to share them, if they have any meaning for you."

Auranar presses her lips together but uses her hand to gesture to her employer that he should stand up and take the stage as it were. This is the perfect opportunity for him. She even subtly nudges him with an elbow to try and 'encourage' him further.

Skribbles swallows more beer and blinks, raising her hand in the air. "I'll sing!" She laughs..perhaps a bit evilly...or perhaps that's just how Gobbo's laugh. She stands up on the table and holds up her beer. She starts stomping her foot in time and starts, "A group of us traveled to the place that you all know. And we brought a big ol horse with us to help us on the go. And so we traveled, both day and night until that magical city was in sight!" How someone can be both flat and off-pitch is beyond anyone.

...oh no.

Everyone is looking at Skribbles as she just bursts into the song, going on with it like a champ.

The ogre is the only person impressed.

"Heard Gobbo's do worse," he explains, when asked.

-TBC