Sequoyah is hit by a Pea

SweetPea FeatherFeet moves quickly and bumps into a huge tree, falling at its root

Sequoyah "what was that?"   looks down and sees a tiny fae.  he whispers "are you ok little one?" Peering closely, he sees that the fae is lying on the ground.  He sits to get closer to the fae and examine her.

Sequoyah sees that her wing is injured and she is unconscious. He becomes alarmed and know she needs his help.  He gingerly extends a woody finger and rolls her over so he can see her face, he leans closer and sees that she is breathing, that is good, but she is still unconscious and bruised.

Sequoyah calls upon the Earth for power to heal.  He sinks his roots deep into the earth to draw from it's essence and gain power.  He grabs a healing ruby he carries with him and says a silent prayer to Dagda the Earth god and uses his Earth given power to cast a healing spell to the fae.

Sequoyah listens carefully and hears her breathing more regularly now

SweetPea FeatherFeet stirs and sits up, rubbing her head, her natural healing abilities beginning to work

Sequoyah watches the fae stand and smiles

SweetPea FeatherFeet takes a step back as she can't believe a tree sitting on the ground

Sequoyah "Hello little one, how are you feeling?   Can you hear me?

SweetPea FeatherFeet gasps as the tree begins to speak and then she remembers. "Hello Sequoyah. It has been a long time. Was it you I flew into? I thought it was a tree"

Sequoyah "Ahh  you recognize me!  You are SweetPea, right?

SweetPea FeatherFeet puts her hands on her hops "of course I remember you." She stands and flutters her wings awkwardly "That ole dragon must have gotten me after all"

Sequoyah "You are bruised.  would you like some healing leaves and bandages?"

SweetPea FeatherFeet titls her head, once again releasing the sound of bells. "THe Fait Folk heal quickly so I do not need the bandages of the human folk."

Sequoyah "You were chased by a dragon?"
 
SweetPea FeatherFeet shakes her head and a sound of bells is heard "Uh huh. A big ole dragon was chasing me"  She sighs sadly "Unless you can mend broken wingtips, I am grounded until they regrow"
 
Sequoyah "How long will that take?"
 
SweetPea FeatherFeet puts a finger to her lips and says  "Shhhhh...that is a fae secret"
 
Sequoyah laughs   "OK, I will not ask for your secrets.  Would you like some salve and bandages, Or are your scratches minor?”

SweetPea FeatherFeet looks up at the sky and sees gray cloud "Do you think he is still there? If he is, I will have to find a place to hide"
 
Sequoyah whispers "I will hide you”  He hands SweetPea a group of Elder tree leaves “But first chew on these. Chew on those leaves and they will speed your healing”

SweetPea FeatherFeet takes the leaves "I don't chew on anything I don't know what it is"

Sequoyah "They are from the elder tree. It is the tree of fairies.  They will speed the healing of your skin and wings.   And if you can't fly then I shall carry you until you can."  He  stands up

SweetPea FeatherFeet hands the leaves back to the ent "I don't need them. I am better now. But I would like to go back to my homeland."

Sequoyah reaches down and gently picks up SweetPea, placing her on a branch.   SweetPea FeatherFeet trembles a bit at his touch, but it is gentle and she relaxes.  She grabs onto a long tendril that has the appearance of hair.  "I live in a realm called Zolio, Sequoyah."
 
Sequoyah nestles SweetPea onto one of his branches.  "You can stay there and relax until your wings grow back.  If you start to hurt I have other healing leaves and salves"

SweetPea FeatherFeet slides down to the end of one his branchlike arms "You want me to stay with you? " she giggles

Sequoyah "don't jump around now,  you need to save your energy!   You stay on me until you can fly" Sequoyah sees that it has started raining.

SweetPea FeatherFeet chuckles craftily "Then find me a cow. I am thirsty!"

Sequoyah “Look up and open your mouth. It is raining!”
 
SweetPea FeatherFeet pouts "I want milk, not water!"
 
Sequoyah sighs, wondering what he has gotten himself into “OK, I will find you a cow if you wish”
 He thinks to himself that he has rescued a troublesome fae.
 
SweetPea FeatherFeet bounces up and down on his arm and the sound of bells is heard as the ent lumbers through the woods
 
Sequoyah "There is a horse here. How about horse milk?"
 
SweetPea FeatherFeet squeezes her brows together "You are silly. I do not want mares milk, I want cows milk."
 
Sequoyah sighs to himself "It's going to be a long few days I think..."

Sequoyah comes to a long bridge  “I hope this bridge will hold me!"
 
SweetPea FeatherFeet  lies back on his arm, enjoying the ride. She is still above the ground and she is sure if the dragon returns that the ent will be able to keep her safe.

Sequoyah looks around for cows

SweetPea FeatherFeet  twists her head to look up at the ent "Do you not know of a farm around here?"
 
Sequoyah “ I know there is one close by”
 
SweetPea FeatherFeet sighs in ecstasy as he carries her through the lighted trees by an open pavilion with columns.  “This is so very pretty"
 
Sequoyah comes upon a small farm.  “Well look at what we found!  It's a farm with a cow and chickens!”
 
SweetPea FeatherFeet claps her hands as a farmyard holding chickens and a cow appears. She jumps off the ent, quickly enters the yard and milks the cow, squirting the milk directly into her mouth.


Sequoyah watches the little fae get under the cow and drink from it.

SweetPea FeatherFeet swallows and wipes the back of her hand over her lips, "That was warm and creamy, just the way I like it"  Then she runs to the chickens and starts to chase them
 
Sequoyah watches the silly fae do a chicken dance.  "I can kill them if you need to eat them"
 
SweetPea FeatherFeet looks up at him "Kill the chickens? what ever for? I just want to play with them not eat them!"
 
Sequoyah "I think you are the only one playing. They are looking at you rather oddly"
 
SweetPea FeatherFeet stops running around and eyes the ent "Now, bring me someplace safe til my wings grow back"  She climbs up the ent and settles on his shoulder again
 
Sequoyah "I could take you to a friend’s house to watch after you. It might be dangerous to stay on me as I walk through the forests. Dragons sometimes attack me too.  They can’t hurt me much but they might hurt you more"
 
SweetPea FeatherFeet nods "And you are made of wood, which burns more easily than a fae. I will go to your friend's house then and see if I like it."
 
Sequoyah "OK, hold on tight!". My friend's name is Linwe
 
SweetPea FeatherFeet giggles "I have a friend named Linwe too"
 
Sequoyah Maybe we have the same friend then
 
SweetPea FeatherFeet scowls "is she a wood elf? always a bit...grumpy?"
 
Sequoyah 'Yes sometimes grumpy but deep down very nice"

After a long walk through the woods,  Sequoyah sees Linwe’s cottage  and whispers "Here is her cottage

SweetPea FeatherFeet looks at the thatched hut below them as Sequoyah stops "yes, this is where my Linwe lives"

Sequoyah "What a surprise that we have the same friend!"

SweetPea FeatherFeet jumps down. "thank you my friend. I know Linwe will keep me safe til my wing tips heal"
   
Sequoyah shouts "Linwe, are you here?"
 
SweetPea FeatherFeet notices a shed to the side of the cottage and says softly "ooooo"  She giggles "Linwe is rasing sheep again."
 
Sequoyah 'More milk for you..."
 
SweetPea FeatherFeet tiptoes to the sheep pen

Sequoyah 'I shall return to my forest duties. Be safe and get lots of rest'

SweetPea FeatherFeet waves in a preoccupied manner "bye sequoyah
 
Sequoyah 'Bye SweetPea. Next time stay away from dragons!" Sequoyah turns and walks into the forests
 
SweetPea FeatherFeet giggles as she reaches out toward the sheep.

Belenus Calls Sirena

We return to The Place of The Torgan Empire for a tale from Sirena
*******************************************************************

The fire is warm and The Place is empty. Sirena is staring into the fire and drifting off to sleep when she hears a voice call her name.

"Sirena Lauria I have watched you; you please me. You bring great passion to your dance." Sirena smiles at the voice, believing she is dreaming.

"I claim you; you are mine. From this moment you will give your passion to me and only to me."

At this, Sirena opens her eyes and sees a face in the fire.


She blinks and rubs her eyes, but the face does not go away. She whispers, frightened now, "Who are you? And what do you mean? I have never lain with a man."

The voice answers "I am Belenus and I have chosen you for my priestess. I will be with you to protect you from harm and I will guard your beauty and your skill in the dance. In return you will dedicate and give all the passion you find and enjoy in the dance to me, Belenus, and to no other. " His voice rises as he says "As my priestess you are to remain a maiden and If you do not, I will slay you and anyone who takes that from you."

Sirena's eyes widen and she sits up. "No, I am dreaming; you aren't real." In response a tongue of flame dances out of the fire. Sirena watches, mesmerized, as it lights on the back of her left hand. She screams in pain and it extinguishes immediately. There is no mark, just a lingering sting.

"That is only a token of what to expect if you do not obey," Belenus says severely. "But I will tell you what to do. Take the path to the Cleric's Hall and learn what they can teach you. Tell them I forbid you to fight. Nothing must damage your beauty. You are pledged to me and when I take you for my own at last, you must be perfect."

Sirena looks at her hand and marvels that it could hurt so fiercely and be unmarked. She says, faltering, "I will do as you say M'Lord."

"I will come to you again when I have need of you." the voice says. Sirena watches as the face fades and disappears and the fire resumes a normal appearance. Then she stands up, dons her outdoors garb and goes in search of the Cleric's Hall.

Sirena's Dilemma

Sirena takes the path to the dock hoping to find Scarlet, her friend as well as Commander of the Dark Rangers and Captain of the Torgan Pirates.  She sighs in resignation as she finds her dancing and shaking a stick.   "Commander? Are you all right?"
Scarlet Kaptane peeks up... gasping from a rum burp.."eh?"
Sirena  whispers: "I was hoping to find you a bit...sober. I am concerned about Beltane and wondered if you could advise me."
Scarlet Kaptane whispers: tries to clear her eyes..."i believe i'm sober enough.. " twirls and kicks
Sirena glances at K, sitting at the bar. "Perhaps a less public place."
Scarlet Kaptane grins and skips to her ship.. motioning for her to follow

Sirena arrives on the ship and tries to balance on the moving deck of the boat.  She finally moves close to the mast and places her right hand lightly upon it.
Scarlet Kaptane grins.."now tell me what is your trouble sweetest healer?"
Sirena  sighs "It is Beltane."
Scarlet Kaptane: "isn't that some god fellow?"  She rubs her chin
Sirena laughs "Beltane is one of the nature festivals, a festival that blesses the spring planting and the herds. You must be thinking of my God, Belenus"
Scarlet Kaptane: "ohh right" hiccupped and tried to hide it.  She wiggled the stick.

Sirena tries to explain "Last year at Beltane, I was just studying to be a priestess and my lack of participation in the fertility rites was not of importance.  She sighs deeply "But this year I am High Priestess and I am the one who must bless the fields by lying in them with a man."  She looks to see if Scarlet can understand her dilemma.
Scarlet Kaptane: "ohhhh" looked at her.  She whispers: "do you have a man in mind?"
Sirena is horrified "Scarlet, Belenus has forbidden me to be with a man in that way. It would mean death for both of us."
Scarlet Kaptane: "hmmmm seems you in a pickle"  She shakes swithys stick and smiles..."how can i help ye?"
Sirena sighs "The blessing of the fields is my sacred duty...yet how can I ask a man to join with me and die?  I would willingly give my life for this land...I am pledged to sustain it and die for it if needed. But do you know one who is also willing to die for this land?"

Scarlet Kaptane whispers: "a man? there must be a way out of this Sirena."
Sirena shakes her head "I have thought long and hard and can see no other way"
Scarlet Kaptane: eyes her closely.."you must have someone in mind""
Sirena places her other hand on the mast as the deck pitches and rolls under her feet  She shakes her head "I know no one willing to do this thing.  I was hoping perhaps you would know of someone willing to lay down his life for the Kingdom."
Scarlet Kaptane: "i will put out the word.. mmmm might be tough"
Sirena sighs "Please be discreet. I wish only to know if there is a man willing to give his life's essence in exchange for the prosperity of Taure Ru and its peoples"
Scarlet Kaptane: "of course Sirena... i will be discreet"

Sirena watches the captain fall yet again to the deck of her ship "Scarlet, may I give you a salve for the bruises you are sure to raise?"
Scarlet Kaptane: smiles at her.  "aye!"
Sirena takes her right hand off the mast and hastily rummages in her pouch, bringing out a salve which she offers to Scarlet. "Rub this onto the bruises at morn and in the evening. It will ease some of the pain"
Scarlet Kaptane: 'ooo thank you... " takes it from her fingertips
Sirena feels an odd sense of nausea as her head begins to swim and her belly lurches "I must go Scarlet. I am feeling most unwell. May the Shadows hide you from the light" she turns and runs off the ship making for the securely anchored dock which will not move underfoot

Severing the Link

*Sirena*  calls “Zargabaath, Blacksmith and Warrior of Taure Ru stand forth.” 

*Sirena*   addresses Zargabaath.  “I must remind you that you gave freely of your blood that this ghoul may live and thrive. Your essence fed him and nurtured him at his birth. Know that you are as a parent to this creature from which you seek liberty.  Is it now your will that you be separated from your son no matter the consequences?”

*Zarg*  nods "I never wanted any of this, I was Unaware of the consequences of offering my blood, All I wanted was mithril..

*Sirena*   says “So be it then. Have you the blade I bade you make from the mithril you took in exchange for your blood?”

*Zarg*  "Yes Lady Sirena, I have the dagger" pulls the Dagger from his belt laying it across his two open palms.

*Sirena*  asks “has it been blooded?”

*Zarg*   nods "Yes Sirena i have cooled it in my own blood and the blood seems to have bonded well with the Mithril." Hands Lady Sirena the dagger, reaching his open palms outward towards her, the blade resting in his hands.
 
*Sirena*  takes the mithril blade in her right hand and quickly makes a slice across the palm of her hand.

*Sirena*  balances the knife across her hands and lifts it high above her head, paying no attention to the blood streaming down her left arm.

Soa Draconia: always loved watching blood rituals..


*Sirena*  cries out, “Belenus hear me!  I offer the sacrifice of blood and ask that You infuse this blade with your grace.  Grant me the power to sever this man’s bond whether it be one of love or hate.”

*Sirena‘s face shines with an unearthly light as the blade in her hands begins to glow from the reflection of the candle flames and is remade as a sacred kris.

*Sirena*   feels the warmth of her God flow from the kris and down her arms as He joins with her.

*Sirena*   walks counter clockwise around the warrior as he stands in the center of her circle and she chants “Let each strap be unbroken, each twine unwound.  Let Zarg’s true soul walk its path, unswayed, unbound.”

*Zarg* feels his chest tightened. the beating of his heart is rapid and loud within him. His muscles contract feeling the dense energy bound around him. He feels as tho his chest is about explode, he gives out a deep roar from the bottom of his lungs.

*Sirena*   begins to dance around the man, weaving the blade in a pattern, tracing the symbol for infinity.  “May all that confines Zarg’s spirit be destroyed.”

*Zarg's eyes close, feeling burning within his chest moving down to his appendages, then to his head. He briefly stops his breathe, the burning feeling engulfing his whole body now. He remains silent, yet you can see how his face is in grimacing pain.

*Sirena*  “Let Zarg’s passions be alight, a burning flame, pure and white and let his spirit be aright.”

*Zarg* feels the burning within him explode, a sharp pain emitting from his chest, then subsiding down to his arms and legs, rolling thru his veins with his pulsating heart. He calls out her name "Sirena! Free me from this abomination!" screaming as his head lowers, beads of sweat pouring down his face.
 
*Sirena*  “Let this body release its flame, let it burn through ghoul’s domain that all Zarg’s passions, not ghoul’s, shall remain.”

*Zarg* feels the tightness suffocating and constricting him once more then lessoning the grip, the energy within him pushing the bound upon him away from his being. He feels the energy break and crack around him, hearing crackling in his own mind and he lets out a deep breathe, his body sore, his muscles less tensed and relaxed.
 
*Sirena*   intones “Let all binds break; remove all ties save fate and return Zarg to his natural state.”

*Zarg*  feels his body and mind relaxed, his ties with the Ghoul no more, His mind shrouded in white fog. He has visions of the Ghoul, glimpses of his mind in a dreamed state as if it was long ago. The visions subside and he gets more glimpses... of the beach, of the flowers and plants, all beauty that he has seen. He sees a white opaque figure.. dancing upon the sands. He focuses his vision in his mind, and he sees her. "Jaki" he whispers. Zarg opens his eyes, tears falling from them.

Soa Draconia: senses a strong energy in the room but is uncomfortable by it.

*Sirena*  lowers the kris and says “It is done.  All ties are sundered and all bonds must be forged anew.  Go forth Zarg, unfettered and free.”

*Zarg*  blinks, his eyes clouded and wet, he looks to Lady Sirena "Thank you for all you have done, I am no longer cursed by the Ghoul... I can feel in within my chest and mind" He lowers his body to bow before her and stumbles almost falling over.

*Sirena*   calls "Jakire, Fae of Vana and Beloved of Zarg.  Come hither and bring with you the vessel."

"Jaki"  walks closer to them, gripping the vessel tightly and looking between Zarg and Sirena

*Sirena*  turns to address the others gathered around. "it is known to me that these two shared a great bond of love before these ties were broken.  To that end I directed that they create a vessel to hold that love and that will be used to reforge their precious bond." 

Zargabaath: Looks at her Beauty in the Little Fae and Looks to the Priestess

*Sirena*  nods to Jaki.and steps back.

Jaki Stardancer steps in front of Zarg with the Urn in hand. She looks to Lady Sirena and cries, glancing back to Zarg

Zargabaath: Looks at Jaki overhearing Sirena words,"You are most Lovely but love did we love"Looks at her

Soa Draconia: A vessel of love. Soa think to herself, How interesting. Could a vessel hold an emotion?

Jaki Stardancer nods and speaks softly "Aye.. we did.. and it is all in here Zarg.. a portion of the loved we shared is deep inside this vessel. I must pour it on you for us to bond again.."

Zargabaath Looks at her and vaguely remembers some love between them,"Yes if this is how we were then yes lets proceed Jaki"

Jaki Stardancer looks down into the deep urn and blinks, her tears falling down her cheeks. She desperately attempts to tip the urn above his head, the red, blooded honey falling down his hair.  She places the empty Urn next to her on the ground, waiting for any sign of emotion from Zarg.

Zargabaath Feels the liquid fall and flow through his hair onto his scalp and shoulders

Sirena watches as the viscous liquid drips down the Commander and she holds her breath. She was sure it would work, but this had never been tried before.

Zargabaath: Looks at Jaki and starts feeling warm and full of love and Passion to the lovely Fae,"I adore you most in this world and i believe you are the one"

Sirena sighs in relief as she hears the words from Zargabaath.

Soa Draconia watches with interest. It has been centuries since she has loved someone. She find it hard to remember what the feeling was like.

Sirena clasps her hands together and her eyes fill with tears.

Jaki Stardancer: her chest tightens, feeling the love they share swirl around them. She smiles widely as he speaks, her heart feeling complete and whole. She turns to lady Sirena "Thank you Sirena!" she exclaims, turning back to Zargh and lowering her body on her knees to hug him.

Sirena steps forward "I am pleased that the vessel worked Jaki. But I think it has more to do with the enduring love you hold for each other...a bond even the gods cannot break"

Zargabaath: Stares Jaki straight in the eyes and wraps his arms tightly around her, holding her close.