Chapter Fourteen

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Seirixori falls to the ground on her back and starts laughing, "I can't believe that worked," then she bursts into tears.

"You saved us. Why are you crying?" Gunnloda asks.

"Well done! We would've been spider food if you hadn't gotten that silly wizard stick." Brimeia laughs. "I have to say though, you look like you had quite the adventure getting him." She teases.

"Yes... and there is still the matter of the rest of us in chains and near as naked as you." Eloise points out.

"I almost died again, there were spiders, I'm pretty sure Ravaphine saved my ass, even though she's been unconscious this entire time, I almost got her killed trying to save her, and I think I might actually just want to go home for once." She says quickly, barely breathing through it all. "Please shut up, Brimeia. And look all your stuff is here." She motions weakly towards where she left the chest.

Gunnloda frowns. "What's wrong with her?"

"Oh now, I'm just trying to thank you. And have a bit of fun. We could use some after all that, don't you think?"

Seirixori scratches at her neck, using her other hand to wipe her tears, "I don't think I can move, everything is shaking." Seirixori lifts her hand and it is indeed shaking. "Can we just not go anywhere to get ourselves killed for like two days."

"I wish I could help you, dear, but I used all my magic for the day." Gunnloda rummages around in the chest and finds some clothes for her.

Brimeia nods. "Taking a breather sounds alright to me."

Seirixori waves her hand at Gunnloda, "I'm ok, I think that was just too much adrenaline, that was way too nerve-wracking."

Gunnloda blinks a bit and blushes.

"You ok, buddy?" Seirixori asks Stool, but is looking at Gunnloda curiously.

"Um... where are we?"

"Not where we were, I think that's the important bit." Seir mumbles, she turns to her side, "Gunnloda, can you hand me my cloak? I think that's all I can manage right now."

Gunnloda hands Seirixori her fancy cloak.

"Thank you," Seirixori takes it and sits up, draping the cloak over herself. "Are you feeling ok?"

She nods, but she looks like she might be embarrassed and she’s sort of avoiding eye contact.

"Are you sure?" Seirixori mumbles, struggling to her feet.

"Yes... just some thoughts that weren't supposed to be mine while we were there. I'll be fine in time, dear."

"Ok..." She hesitantly pats Gunnloda's shoulder and stumbles a little as she stands. Once she gets her bearings she goes to the chest to get her things.

Ravaphine wakes up and she's wearing nothing but her underwear, an iron collar, iron belt, manacles, and a chain that connects them all. She lies on the floor, blinking at the ceiling, having no memory of anything after stepping through the portal.

"Ah Ravaphine, you're awake. Are you alright, fair one?" Brimeia asks her.

"You know, I've read about things like this happening behind closed doors, but I never thought I would ever actually participate" she says while looking at her self and others' lack of clothing.

"Ha! You do sound alright. Sadly it wasn't quite as fun as it looks."

“If I had the energy, I would hug you right now, you saved my ass." She says to Ravaphine, still not moving from the floor.

Brimeia pouts, "Hey now, what about me? We busted out and got rid of like half the guard squad."

“Thank you both for taking care of all of us," Ravaphine says to her. "I want to ask what happened, but I'm afraid of the answer. I am glad everyone looks almost unscathed."

Brimeia turns to Ravaphine. "Oh yanno, tried to save a beautiful elf lady from the dungeon. Got put in the dungeon. Busted out of the dungeon."

“Why does that not surprise me", Ravaphine says with a light chuckle, "Now, how do we get these chains off?"

Brimeia shrugs. "Well now that we have all our stuff back, we could just hack them off?"

Urrak, still bound in irons and mostly nude poofs into the town square with an Orc's toss of momentum behind her. She tumbles for a moment, stops and realizes where she is. As quick as she can, she scurries towards Poni's basement. Upon seeing her friends, she lets out a hearty laugh "YES! YA DID IT! GOOD SHOW!" She raises her manacled hands above her head in triumphant fists.

"Hey Urrak! Look, a fancy thing!" she says, pulling out a silver chain headdress. It's really intricate and very fancy... but it also kinda looks like it belongs in a sex dungeon.

"Aye now that'll fetch a pretty penny, Seir." Urrak inspects the headdress closely.

"Brimeia, may I ask you to do the honors and smash this off of me. Also Urrak! You have returned!" Ravaphine says to her friends.

"I can help with that." Brimeia scoops up her greataxe from the pile of things and hefts it. "If you'd just hold the chains, m'lady..."

Urrak turns and claps Ravaphine on the shoulder "Friend! It's been some time. You joined us on a very...interesting adventure."

"I remember coming back, entering the portal, seeing stars, and now I am here unclothed and chained. Not sure what happened in between but I'm sure a shower will fix...all of this."

"I know the feelin'" Urrak says, noticing a piece of her armor in the chest. She walks over and collects her gear. "Brimeia, care to snap these manacles offa me?"

"My apologies for not introducing myself. I'm Ravaphine," she turns to the two strangers in the room.

Eloise straightens her back and adopts as regal a pose as one can when near naked and in chains. "Eloise Moonstream, Baroness of Bellbury. Pleased to meet you."

Ravaphine stands up and straightens out her little clothing, "It is a pleasure to finally meet you Baroness Moonshine, I mean Moonstream."

"Yes, well... as lovely as this is... I'd like to hear about what kind of trouble my town is in, and to be free of these chains. And I'd rather not parade through my crowded streets in my underclothes."

Stool poofs some spores in Ravaphine’s face. "Are you a friend?"

“Yes, mushroom, I am a friend.”

"I like meeting new friends. When will we be going to the Neverlight Grove?"

"I'm not sure what neverlight grove is" Ravaphine says to Stool.

"It's my home. Where my family is."

"Oh, right," Seirixori says a little sadly, but turns to BaronessMoonstream, not wanting to answer Stool. "Ah, Eloise? Are your things in here too? I can let you borrow my stuff if it isn't."

Brimeia easily breaks the chains between the collars/belts/manacles, but the others realize that they don’t really want a tiefling barbarian swinging a giant blade at their necks or hands, and they’re going to need some sort of lock-picker to get the rest off.

Eloise finds her dress, wrinkled but whole and puts it on. The iron collar stands out above her deep cut neckline, and the belt makes the dress bunch funny, but it's better than nothing.

Ravaphine tries to use her small knife to unlock the collar but she nearly breaks the knife and the lock in the process. Giving up, Ravaphine goes and collects her clothing and items from the box.

Snapping the rest of the chains off, Urrak tugs at her collar "Now t' figure out this deal..." Urrak tries to unlock them herself as well, but is unable to do so. “Blast.”

"Oh Urrak! Hope this makes ya feel a little better," Seirixori uses her healing word and sits herself next to Stool, after shoving the coin purses she found into her own.

"Maybe one of our... less lawful friends will be in the Cask and could help us." Gunnloda suggests at Urrak’s comment.

"Thank ye kindly, Seir. It's been a tough couple days for sure. Any weight offa my shoulders is a relief." Urrak dresses herself, and loads all her gear back where it should be. "Feel like m'self again! Well let's see if we can wrangle a more...dexterous friend to help us out with these." Urrak points to her collar and belt. "That and...well I think we could all use a drink or four."

Brimeia slips back into her clothes too, since everyone else seems to be and collects the rest of her belongings. "Put me down for four!"

"Baroness Moonstream, are you ready to head back home? We would love to hear more about this town." Ravaphine says to Eloise.

"I am. I would very much like to see my wife and daughter again."

"Ok," Seirixori shoves all her stuff in her bag, just keeping the cloak on for now. "Um, I'm going to go to the grove for a little bit, I'm... not comfortable being inside right now." She says, mumbling her words near the end.

"Are you ok, friend?" Stool asks her.

She bends down near Stool and pats them, "Yeah, I just need to be outside for a bit, with... um the trees? Um... you can come if you'd like."

"Trees?"

"Yeah, there's a whole bunch of them with citrus fruits, it's nice!"

"It's her quiet place." Urrak tells them.

Stool wiggles their cap, “I have a quiet place in my grove too! Will you show it to me?"

"What are your wife and daughter's names? Maybe we've seen them around." Ravaphine asks Eloise in between the others talking.

"My wife is Cae and my daughter is Misha. They'd be in the Moonstream Mansion, most likely. What do you mean 'around'?"

Urrak shrugs, "Well yer mansion was empty last we saw it."

Eloise frowns. "Empty? What do you mean?"

"Oooh... um, we're just gunna go now," Seirixori says and starts heading out with Stool, "C'mon, friend, let's go see some trees!" Stool kinda waddles up the stairs behind Seirixori, but when they get to the top, they stop suddenly. It's very bright out there.

"Not a soul t' be seen. Anywhere." Urrak tells Eloise.

Eloise starts heading for the stairs, apparently intent on figuring it out herself. Eloise pushes her way through and heads off towards the town square.

"Miss!" Urrak follows her out, concerned.

"What she means is that they may have been out running errands!" Ravaphine shouts to her but she's already out the door. We can't let her find out like this. She doesn't know anything that happened to her town. Who wants to go follow her back to the mansion?"

"You two comin' or what?!" Urrak yells back at Ravaphine and Brimeia.

Brimeia sighs. "Alright alright let's go." Brimeia and Ravaphine quickly follow them out.

Eloise is walking quickly, but she starts to falter. "Why is it so quiet? Where are the crowds?"

"Miss we need t'talk t ye. Can ye slow down just a tad? Somethin's happened t' Bellbury."

"Let's all go sit down and chat." Ravaphine adds to Urrak’s statement.

"What's happened to my town? Where's my family?"

"Y remember how I poofed outta sight back in the prison? That's happenin t everybody. All over town. Poni made a machine, it exploded, and it's magical energy is makin everything pop in n out."

"You mean my family's probably in some other slaver's den right now?"

"Well.... could be a nice glen with some fairies or something." Brimeia offers.

"We are working on a solution as we speak on how to bring everyone back." Remembering the letter she found at the mansion, Ravaphine asks, "Do you remember a Master Enchanter Qarius and a wizard named Poni?"

"Of course I remember them. I was writing a letter to Qarius to come collect his errant student before this very thing happened."

"What happened to you is also what happened to all of us, and everyone in your town. They are not necessarily held captive, but it is all very strange and overwhelming."

Urrak nods, "Aye, they could be totally fine. We could even find em for ye. We found you, eh?"

Eloise shakes her head. "That damnable gnome. How did you find me?"

"This ring" Urrak hands the small ring box back to Eloise, "It's needs t'be somethin real personal..."

She takes it. "So you went through my things?"

"A-aye...Saifka seemed real adamant about findin' ye so..." Urrak starts to sweat.

"We're sorry,” Ravaphine interjects, “we were just trying to find an answer. Others were trying to find you so we thought if we could get to you, we could start fixing this. We can help you find your wife and daughter. It needs something close and personal to them, and we can try to find out where they are."

Brimeia grunts, "If we hadn't gone through your things to find something that belonged to you, we wouldn't have been able to find you or get you out of the dungeon. That's how the stupid stick thing works."

Urrak nods, "Aye, it's worked out pretty well s'far"

Eloise sighs. "Am I the first?"

Ravaphine shakes her head, "We have brought home others."

"But ye are the first person we've tracked. Before we were just grabbin bits of Poni's machine."

Eloise starts chewing on a nail as she thinks. Her nails are all terribly worn down and mangled from chewing.

"I know yer worried, but if they're out there, we'll find 'em." Urrak cautiously places a hand on Eloise's shoulder.

"Let's get these chains off and you can tell me everything you know."

"We've set up a bit of a home base at the Cask. Follow us there?"

"I want to stop by my home first. I need to see it for myself. I will meet you there."

"Take yer time, Eloise." Eloise walks off towards the mansion. Urrak turns to address everyone else, "Alright lads, let's head to the Cask. Nothing more we can do 'ere."

"Such a shame." Gunnloda says.

Brimeia pipes up, "After we get all this nonsense off, we ought to go check on Seirixori and Stool too."

"Agreed. Our poor lil balls o’ anxiety..." Urrak says, as they all head to the cask.

Brimeia strolls into the Cask, looking for anyone who looks like they might be able to help with the manacles. By freak coincidence, Cyan happens to be there, playing her lute at the end of the bar, just like how they met her the first time.

When Urrak walks in and sees Cyan she immediately starts sweating.

Ravaphine suddenly feels very insecure about her manacles so she hides them behind her back after a small wave to Cyan.

Cyan grins and finishes her song with a flourish before hopping off the bar to join everyone. Nobody objects to her stopping, hardly anyone in the cask is actually functioning. They're all either drunk or asleep.

"Gunnloda, everyone. How'd it go? You look a little... rough. And... did you all get matching jewelry?"

Urrak sighs, "It's a real...long story."

"You wouldn't happen to have the ability to pick locks would you?" Ravaphine asks her.

"As dashing as I'm sure we all look in these, they are starting to chafe a bit." Brimeia responds.

Cyan chuckles. "As a matter of fact, that is one of my lesser known skills. I'm quite good with my fingers."

Ravaphine almost does a spit take on the water she was attempting to drink, Urrak blushes slightly and Brimeia winks, "I'm sure you are."

Gunnloda goes to collect food and drink for everyone while Cyan pulls a set of tools from... somewhere. No one is really sure where she was hiding them since her outfit is anything but bulky or concealing. "Who's first?"

"I'll volunteer." Brimeia says and walks over to Cyan who sets to work on the locks.

~\*~\*~

"Ow, way too bright," Seirixori mumbles, covering her eyes, "You ok Stool?"

Stool kinda wiggles their cap, "It hurts. Why is it so bright? Where's the ceiling?"

"I guess we were in the dark for so long? Want me to carry you, I don't want you running into things, once we get to the grove we can hide in the shade."

"I don't like it out here. Can we go to the grove?"

"Yeah, of course, buddy," Seirixori lifts them and makes her way to the grove, going towards the spot she's been going the last few days. She flutters out her cape, so that it's under her when she sits, and sets her bag and Stool down next to her, "Kind of forgot this was all I was wearing," she mutters to herself. "Here we are, my quiet place.”

Stool turns in a circle. "This isn't the grove. Why are your mushrooms so strange?"

"Oh, uh no, this is... a Citrus Grove? I can't take you to yours just yet. I'm sorry," She fidgets with her bag.

They slump a little. "I miss my family."

"I... I'm sorry," she says again. "I'll help you find them, but I just didn't want you in that place anymore."

“How can we find them? It's so... big out here."

"Kind of the same way we got to you guys, we have some magic that can find things. Or maybe find someone who knows where your grove is. I don't really know this place well, I'm not from here either."

"Ok. I didn't like it there either, but at least here I have friends."

"Yeah, definitely." She grins and closes her eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath, "I could go without being trapped like that for a while. I think I got pretty lucky in there."

They tilt their little head cap. "Did you get hurt?"

"I was pretty hurt already, but I'm almost certain I was seconds away from being spider food." She shudders, "I have not had a good few days with staying on my feet."

"That would be sad." Stool plops down in the dirt next to Seir with their little feeties sticking out.

Seir tilts her head and watches them, not entirely sure they have knees. She nods, smiling, "Little feetsies," she stays silent a few minutes and then takes a deep breath, "Ok, we should maybe join the others. I did tell them I'd go back."

"Ok. Is there a ceiling there? I can't see the top."

"Yeah, there's definitely a ceiling there." She laughs and gathers her things and leads Stool to the Cask.

~\*~\*~

"Seirixori! Stool! Hello!" Ravaphine calls out when she sees Seirixori walk in with Stool.

Seirixori pauses, "Oh hello," She waves a little and joins them, "Oh hey you got the stuff off!"

"You alright there, Ravaphine?" Brimeia teases. "Oh! Seirixori, Stool, so glad you could join us."

"It's been sometime that I've seen pick work like that..." Urrak quietly manages as she watches Cyan work on Brimeia’s locks.

Cyan looks at Seirixori. "And here I thought my outfit would be the attention-grabber."

Gunnloda sets a tray down, full of ales and waters and lots of food. It's not of the quality they’ve gotten used to. Clearly someone else has been working the kitchens today.

Urrak grabs an ale to keep her from saying anything more she mumbles a thanks to Gunnloda mid drink.

Seirixori looks down, "Oh right," she shrugs, "Kinda forgot actually, couldn't really put the rest of it on before." She sits down and picks up Stool to set them next to her, "Hello, Cyan, right? Thanks for helping them." She takes a huge plateful of food and some water. "Oh, Stool! Uh...what do you eat?"

"Um... dead stuff? But... the others in the prison didn't like it."

"It's no problem. These aren't exactly a fashion statement. Prison, huh? Sounds fun."

"What have you been up to the past few days, Cyan?" Ravaphine asks.

"Not much. I was here at the Cask for much of it, though I did get to visit home for a little while. Nice to sleep in my own bed and get a change of clothes."

"Gunnloda! Thanks for always feeding us," Seirixori grins, and takes a bite, almost choking on her food, "your stuff is a lot better than this though," she mumbles through the food.

Gunnloda chuckles. "Thank you, dear, but Adellac will learn in time."

"Ye can't replace Gunnloda. Trainin or no." Urrak smiles a bit.

"Stool, there's a bit of compost out behind the building, if that would be good for you."

"Compost?"

"Scraps of food that have been sitting out, rotting. Sometimes you find the best little mushrooms there. It might be what you need."

"Is it... outside? It's very big and bright out there."

"It's ok, I can go get it," Seirixori says, putting her food down and tying her cloak so that she's covered more, "and maybe actually put clothes on. Sorry."

"I don't think anyone needs apologies for that." Cyan jokes.

Seirixori grins, blushing a little, gathers her things and slips on her gear before she grabs a lone tray and heads out to gather the scraps Gunnloda mentioned. She heads back in, scrunching her nose, "Yeah, I can definitely smell why no one else wanted it. All for you buddy." She sets it in front of Stool.

Stool wriggles a little. "Can you put it on the floor for me?"

"Sure!" Seirixori does as they ask.

Stool steps right onto the tray and kinda burrow/sits into the pile. "Thank you!"

Seirixori grimaces a little, "Any time." she turns back to her food and pushes it around a bit, "Ok maybe I won't do that next time when I want to eat."

"Y'know. Even though they're turnin old pig meat and cabbage inta jelly an eatin it, that Stool is the cutest dang thing I ever did see."

"I'm sorry. I can go somewhere else."

"Please stay, everyone is welcome at the dinner table." Ravaphine says.

Urrak nods, "Aye, we're all friends ere."

"No you're fine, just not used to it." Seirixori leans down and pats them on their mushroom top, "Friend's stay."

"I wish Eldith came with us too, but I like you all much better than the people before. And there's someone like Eldith here too!" Stool exclaims.

"Yeah, she's my favorite," Seirixori whispers to Stool.

"Who's Eldith?" Brimeia asks.

"Who is Eldith, Stool? Your friend back home?" Ravaphine asks nearly at the same time as Brimeia.

Stool nods their cap at Gunnloda. "She looked like your friend. Back in the prison."

"Eldith was the other dwarf in the prison... though besides the red hair she wasn't much like me. We talked a little while we were working."

Ravaphine nods, “Speaking of friends, I wonder how our new friend Lady Moonfire is doing."

Stool stops his wiggling, "Who is Lady Moonfire?"

"Eloise.”

"And it's Moonstream." Urrak corrects in between bites of meat.

Ravaphine shrugs. “I can never get her name right."

Stool perks up. "I liked Eloise too. She was nice."

Cyan pops Brimeia's last chain free. "Who's next?"

"Thank you, lovely." Brimeia digs in heartily to the food now that the manacles and things are off.

Ravaphine holds her hand up, "I would love these off if you could help me please!"

Cyan smirks and beckons to her with a finger.

Ravaphine takes a deep breath and heads over to Cyan.

"Don't be nervous. I'll be gentle." She starts with the ones onRavaphine’s wrists.

Through a mouth-full of food, Brimeia says, "So Stool, tell us about your place. You wanted us to visit, didn't you?"

Seirixori rubs at her neck as she watches Cyan take the chains off the others. "I'm so glad I do not have those on anymore."

"I think the lil mushroom wants t' go home. Understandable after all this."

"I do. I miss my family. And everything's so... bright here. And open. The Neverlight Grove is so pretty. It's all blue and green and glowy and..."

"Sounds wonderful, little one. I don't suppose you have any belongings?" Brimeia asks them.

They shake their cap. "How can I? I haven't gotten my stalks yet."

"Too wee t'even have arms...." Urrak comments.

Ravaphine manages to speak up, "We'll get you back home little one. What were you doing before you were taken?"

"I was playing in the tunnels. I like to kick rocks and try to hit other rocks with them."

Brimeia chuckles. "Sounds like a swell time."

Seirixori stands and starts to head out,  "I'll be right back... " She says leaving, but not explaining. She starts heading to the Grove but slows and heads to Eloise's house instead. She peaks her head in the door, "Hello?"

"If I wasn't mistaken, she's more professional at this disappearing thing than Poni is." Ravaphine says as she watches Seirixori leave.

Cyan smirks. "He's not one for warnings or goodbyes, is he?" She says, regarding Poni.

"She's been outta sorts for a little while." Urrak sighs and sips at a tankard of ale. "Slippin in an out. But somethin tells me we should probably follow 'er."

"Maybe she wants to have some time to herself. It's not uncommon for her." Gunnloda says.

“Yer probably right..."

"This is true. We should go check on Lady Eloise though to make sure she's okay. She was distraught when we came back to Bellbury." Ravaphine suggests.

"Poor dear."

"She said she'd come back on 'er own. I wouldn't t' smother the woman either. We're probably the one lead she's got t' find her wife and kid. Can't imagine she'd never come back. And we've been at this for a while. The best thing fer us t' do now is rest and recover. Been a tough day."

Cyan hums, "I suppose I should have asked sooner, but do you need healing? My hands don't just open locks."

Urrak blushes a bit, and with a shy, sweaty, smile nods her head "A-aye that'd be amazin'. That prison encounter went real south real quick."

"Urrak here is one of our strongest fighters," Ravaphine says as she pats Urrak's giant bicep, "I bet she could use a little healing after that last encounter"

Cyan stands and heads over to Urrak and puts her hands on both her shoulders, pulling back while pushing in with her thumbs in a short shoulder rub that also heals her somewhat.

Urrak is filled with the rush of the healing magic, closing her eyes a moment before breathing a deep sigh of relief. "I will admit, that kind magic I enjoy greatly." Urrak smiles a bit "You have my gratitude, Cyan."

Cyan grins. "You're welcome. Maybe now you'll stop being so worried about being in the same room as me."

Urrak's green skin somehow turns quite pink.

She takes her seat again and Gunnloda hides a grin behind her drink.

Ravaphine wheeze laughs at their exchange "You can add that to your resume. Turning my giant green friend into a red tomato!"

"Aye aye save it y'pointy eared..." Urrak grumbles behind a sheepish grin. She turns to Cyan "And forgive me if ye get the impression I'd avoid being around ye'. It just… well it's a tad complicated but uh ye can be sure I don't hate ye."

"Complicated? I love a good story."

"You know, I feel like I've known you for ages but I don't know much about you either, Urrak. What was life like before Bellbury?" Ravaphine asks.

"Modest I suppose. Workin odd job across the country. Any way t'get gold I've likely done. 'Fore that I traded goods with me Pa." Urrak looks down, focusing on a discarded scrap of food as she continues "He died a handful o' years back." She takes a swig of ale. "But that's in the past now. As was the person my brain keeps tellin' me ye resemble, Cyan. It's a long, painful story I'm afraid. And I ain't nearly drunk enough t' tell it."

"Ah... so that's what it is. Remind you of a dead love? I... uh... sorry about that."

"Don't be. For all I know, she ain't dead at all. Disappeared one day, an’ never came back."

"We can probably blame Poni for that." Ravaphine says.

"If only," Urrak stands and wipes nonexistent dirt off her armor, "That was years ago too. Easier times." She walks to the end of the bar for a moment.

"You know, we have the tools to try to find her, if you want."

"N-no. Thank you. It's probably for the best we don't find each other again." Urrak paces a bit, slightly embarrassed from telling folks she's only known for a few days such personal things, and attempts to change the subject "H-Have ye any idea where Seirixiori might've run off to this time, Gunnloda?"

Gunnloda shakes her head. "I don't exactly keep a divination spell on her. Maybe she's in the grove again."

"Ah, of course not." Urrak rubs the back of her neck "Did ye say 'grove'?"

"The orchard behind the building. She tends to go there when she's not here or home."

"I suppose it's a good a place to sulk as any." Urrak turns to Ravaphine, "We should find her, right? No tellin’ what she might get 'erself into."

"That sounds like a good plan." Ravaphine says as she gets up.

"Just... don't go portal jumping without me next time? I'll be here if you need me." Gunnloda says to them.

Urrak nods,  "After that last encounter, we promise we won't leave ye behind. You keep us all livin'."

"Thank you Gunnloda, we promise."

Urrak walks out of the bar and towards the citrus grove. As they head out, Ravaphine notices the open door or the mansion. "I don't see her from here, but do you want to check on the Lady first?"

"Aye, don't see why not. She seemed mighty upset when we spoke."

~\*~\*~

Seirixori heads into the Moonstream Mansion and the doors to the large, open room where her desk presides over some long tables and chairs are open. Deep inside, she can see Eloise sitting there at her desk. She's resting her head in her hand with her eyes covered.

"Um..." Seirixori shuffles into the room, "... Do you... do you want some company?"

She startles a little bit and her head jerks up. "I'm sorry, I'm not sure I caught your name."

"Oh! Uh, Seirixori, kind of the one who started all the trouble back in that place..." She moves a little closer.

"Can I help you with something?"

Seirixori stops moving and looks back towards the door, wondering if she should just turn back, "No I, I just wanted to make sure you were ok...well, as ok as you can be, I guess."

She sighs. "My apologies. It's so easy to drift back into work. Especially when I return to this." She gestures at a stack of papers spread over her desk.

"Mm looks fun." Seirixori starts to reach for something to keep her hands busy, but thinks better of it and fidgets in place instead, "How do people do this?" she whispers to herself, "I don't know a lot about it, but did you have any… questions about what's happening or did the others tell you?"

Eloise looks at Seirixori curiously. "Of course I have questions. Nothing but questions, and every question brings more. Your... friend. The big one. She mentioned going through my things to find my ring. Have you all been through more than that? Are you to thank for my papers being out? Or my potions being missing? At least the money is still here."

"Uhhhh..." Seirixori starts picking at her cloak, "We didn't really search much, I stopped them from taking the money. I mean, I think the only other place we went was the temple? Just... we didn't know where we were and this place was a ghost town when we poofed here... and just, I don't know." Seirixori shrugs, helplessly.

Eloise reaches over and lights the lantern on her desk with a match before glancing around the room. "It just seems odd to me that the valuables would be mostly left behind, but that there was an interest in paperwork. What were you hoping to learn from these?"

~\*~\*~

Once they turn in the direction of the mansion, they can actually see straight into the building, into the big doors that lead to the governance hall, and eventually to Seirixori standing in front of the big desk at the other end of the room.

"Well I'd know those horns anywhere." Urrak turns to Ravaphine. "Two birds, one stone."

Ravaphine knocks on the closest door, "Hello, we noticed the door open. May we come in? We were looking for you both"

"Yes, yes, enter." Eloise says.

"Thank you. Was everything okay here?" Ravaphine asks Seirixori, "We hope we didn't barge into a conversation."

"We were trying to figure out where we were." Seirixori answers Eloise first, breathing a sigh of relief now that someone else is here. "I'm forever glad you did, I should never try talking to people," Seirixori says quickly, moving back a little.

"I was just saying that my valuables, other than the potions, were not disturbed, but that my paperwork was. I was wondering what reason you'd have to pull these files out. Though I would eventually like to circle back to the return of my potions as well."

"I simply dug through the closet, is all. Couldn't tell ye anythin' about no documents." Urrak tells her.

"Oh! um..." Seirixori struggles with her bag, nearly dropping it and pulls out the potion she had taken. "Here...just... yeah." She sets it on the desk carefully, making sure she doesn't knock anything over.

"When did ye? Ya sticky fingered gits!" Urrak chuckles a bit and shakes her head.

"Yes! Sorry, when we first arrived here and didn't know where we were, we came to look for anybody with any information, but found none. This was the closest room we saw that had any semblance of answers," Ravaphine says to the Baroness as she ruffles through her bag. "But I do apologize for taking these. We did not know their owner and didn't know what kind of creatures we needed to defend ourselves from," she hands the potions back to the Baroness.

Eloise raises her eyebrow as she looks at the both of them. "Well... I would certainly have trouble taking either of you seriously as bandits at this point. But that still doesn't explain these. Why did you need a list of orchard laborers?" She picks the potions up one by one and sets them back in their padded box.

"To be honest, we didn't really know what we were looking for."

Seirixori looks confused, "A list of what? I didn't actually go through anything. I'm kind of...well, I didn't go through any papers."

"You two didn't take any papers did ye?" Urrak asks them.

"On the topic of transparency and honesty, I did come across a list of townspeople names, but that's all. Didn't recognize a single one."

Eloise points at each paper/set of papers in turn. "Lists of the migrant workers who have come for harvest season the last two years, lists of permanent laborers, supervisors, and administrators, and the addresses of all the citizens of Bellbury."

"Well that's... creepy. We aren't the only ones that have been in town though? That Safika lady was here, maybe she came here first?" Seirixori says.

"Aye, she really was desperate t' find ye earlier… strange she hasn't come to check on us."

Ravaphine says, "You also had an ore delivery person looking for you and...another person, I forgot her name."

Eloise frowns. "That or just desperate to know how long I'd be out of the way."

"She had a message for ye. Straight from the Queen she said."

Seirixori giggles, "The Queen."

“Odd. I'm not surprised to hear there were people looking for me, though. Seems I can't find a moment to sit by myself in this room." Eloise stands suddenly and moves the lantern to one of the long tables that flank the room. "Please, sit with me. Tell me what you know of what's happened."

"A' course" Urrak sits down at the table and rests her interlocked fingers on the top.

Eloise sits as well. The move from desk to table shifts the dynamic as she asks them to sit like equals rather than standing before her in judgment.

Ravaphine sits on the ground and crosses her legs while Seirixori sits down at the farthest seat from everyone else, some twenty or so feet away, at this very large table.

"Seirixori, come join us a little closer." Ravaphine tells her.

Seirixori groans to herself and moves closer, but still keeps some of her space. "If you insist..."

"Right, so" Urrak clears her throat a bit, "All this mess starts with Poni's machine."

"If you can recall being in one place and magically in another, it is due to one wizard's insistence of defying all laws of magic."

"And being an asshole." Seirixori pipes in.

Eloise frowns. "I am aware of Mr. Ningel's propensity for... breaking magic."

"That machine he had, exploded which caused all this ungodly teleportin'. Seems to have affected at least everyone living in Bellbury." Urrak motions to the three of them, "And somehow a select few of those beyond it.”

“That too. We are not from Bellbury, or near it in the slightest. We all got transported into Bellbury, and everyone from Bellbury got transported out of it."

"I think I'd have remembered a trio such as yourselves in my town."

"Maybe some kind of...equivalent exchange?" Urrak offers.

"So now we are here to try to fix his mistakes, and bring your people back so we can get back home as well."

Urrak explains further, "Usually that comes in the form of findin' parts of this machine  of his so we can put it all back together, and be transported back permanently."

"That doesn't make sense though. Are you telling me 339 people have teleported into Bellbury? Where are they all?"

Seirixori shrugs, "We've found a few, and with it some townspeople. Like um... a Lin? and some guy she likes? Oh and.. a second Lin."

"We think as folks teleport in, Bellbury citizens teleport out."

“We haven't found much, but we are confident at cracking it and solving the teleportation algorithm." Ravaphine supplies.

"Bellbury is empty. Where is Mr. Ningel?" Eloise asks.

"In the ground." Seirixori deadpans.

Urrak clears her throat, "Poni is...pretty much dead."

Eloise looks surprised. "Oh... but--"

"His...physical presence is no longer with us." Ravaphine adds.

"Aye, his spirit seems t' be trapped inside a piece of his machine.”

"He plays puppet master now with us all, but he is the only one with the answers on how to fix his contraption."

"So he's... not dead?"

"He's...half dead?"

Seirixori sits up from her slumped position, "I can go get him if you want?"

"I think that would be a good idea."

"Would you like to follow us into his home? so you can see what happened?" Ravaphine asks Eloise.

She sighs. "I'd rather not." She holds up her wrists and points at the collar still attached to her. "It wouldn't be proper of a lady of my station to be walking through the streets in chains. Though I see now that the rest of you have shed your own."

"Our friend back at the tavern! She can take that off for you."

"Aye, Cyan's very skilled with 'er hands."

"Urrak, would you like to go grab Cyan for us?"

"Right, I'm just gunna… go get him." Seirixori says as she practically runs out of the house towards Poni's.

"I-surrre can..." Urrak follows Seirixori out.

~\*~\*~

Urrak walks into the Cask and looks for Cyan, spotting her chatting with Gunnloda.

"Cyan, Gunnloda, we're chattin' with Baroness Moonstream. I'm thinking she'll be wantin us to find her family soon." Urrak looks down, "An she'll be wantin her chains off as well, if that's alright, Cyan."

"Of course. I'm happy to help."

"I don't think any of you should be going off fighting again until you've rested, and I don't think I care what some baroness says about it." Gunnloda states.

"I couldn't agree with ye more, Gunnloda...perhaps ye should stay here, give us a reason t' come back and rest first."

She nods, "I'll do that."

~\*~\*~

Eloise looks after them, confused. "Are your friends always so skittish?"

Ravaphine's eyes open wide and nervously chuckles, "They are the masters at that. Baroness Moonshine, again, we do express our deepest regrets from ruffling through your belongings. My mother raised me better than that. I hope you do understand that we only did so to find out why we were here" she says, apologetically.

"Moonstream." Eloise corrects, “You did rescue me from a slave's fate, and for that I am grateful."

"Yes, apologies on that too, Moonstream.” Ravaphine tilts her head, listening for something, “I can hear them coming now. Those shackles will be off of you in no time!"

Urrak and Cyan walk into the mansion, "Hello again, this is Cyan, the master of unlocking."

"Ah, you got the latest fashion trend too, did you? I'll have you free in just a moment." She sits in the chair next to Eloise and starts on her wrists.

"Anyway,” Urrak sits and continues the story, “the same way we track components, we can track people. We just need something very personal. Your ring lead us right to you."

"You mean to find Cae and Misha?"

"Aye, anyone."

There's a faint click and Cyan sets the first manacle on the table.

"After we rest up a bit, we can try to find them next. Do you happen to have any prior experience with hand to hand combat or magic, Baroness Moonstream?” Ravaphine asks her, “We could use all the help we can get."

She shakes her head. "I'm a businesswoman and a baroness, not a warrior."

"Sounds like a warrior to me, but in a different way. Not everyone can run a town." Ravaphine tells her.

"Has anyone gone east to tell the Duchess about the problem?" Eloise asks.

"We haven't gone much further than the docks of Bellbury and wherever Poni has taken us to find components."

"And everywhere is the same? Deserted?"

"Not a soul in sight."

"The Cracked Cask is serving as the biggest meetin' point for all those displaced.” Urrak says. "But that's about the extent of what we know. Though I'm sure you'll get another earful about it once Seirixori brings Poni 'ere."

Another click, another manacle off. Cyan stands and moves behind Eloise. "I just have to move your hair out of the way, milady." She does so and gets to work.

"He's...a character. What do you know about him, Baroness Moonstream?"

"He was expelled from Master Qarius's school to the south after one too many of his ‘experiments’. I was going to ask for some help controlling him before something catastrophic happened, but it appears I was too late."

"Most definitely." Urrak taps a hand on the countertop. "Did his experiment teleport you to that jail?"

"Seems to be as good a reason as any, though I was actually captured in a tunnel not far from it. Probably lucky I wasn't found by some terrible monster first."

"Just some Drow slavers… with a mistress that worships spiders..."

"Lolth, the Spider Queen, to be specific." Eloise clarifies. "She is to the Drow what Gruumsh is to your people, I believe." She says to Urrak.

"I see..." Urrak cups her chin in her hand, "...still gross."

~\*~\*~

Seirixori walks into Poni’s basement, relieved to be out of the conversation for now "Poni? Did I throw you under something again?"

"I seem to have been dropped in all the excitement. I suppose that's what happens when children are overstimulated."

"Ugh," Seirixori rolls her eyes, "So I was wondering if you could do me a favor..." she takes out her bow and searches for him, “This probably won't even work..." she mutters to herself.

"I don't know why I keep coming here to find you all the time..."  She soon finds him from the sound of his lovely insults, "I want to see if this bow leads to anywhere other than here." Seirixori says, but it takes her a minute before she puts it to the sensor.

Poni sighs heavily. "You have to push the button. I can explain it a hundred times, but can't make you understand it."

"Shut up." she spits out, but does as he says.

The portal fizzles to life. Seir stares at the image, having really no idea what she’s looking at. Weird wooden beams of some sort? Is it facing a wall? Why is she looking at a wall?

Suddenly the "camera" moves and refocuses on a man, probably someone rich or important by his clothes... and then a slit opening across his neck.

"What...?" Next thing she knows, she’s looking at an elven man slowly lowering the dead man to the ground.

The elf gives the body a quick pat-down. He finds a key in a pocket. He slides a painting aside and uses the key to open a safe where he retrieves some item Seirixori can't quite see. He shoves it in a bag before she can get a good look at it, then flees through the open window.

"This...I don't understand..." she's tempted to go in but she's too confused by what she's seeing and not seeing that she just stares at it for a while. "Ok, well, I guess I'll come back to that because you're going to get yelled at now." Seirixori turns quickly and heads back to the others with Poni.

~\*~\*~

Seirixori walks into the room with the others, sets Poni down in front of Baroness Moonstream and then sits two seats over, setting her bow on the table and staring at it, like she's never seen it before.

"Oh for fucks sake... you should've left me down there, Candy Cane." Poni grumbles.

Eloise looks shocked at first, then peers at the rod. "Mr. Ningel?"

"Poni, meet our friend, Baroness Moonstream. I think you've got some 'splainin to do." Ravaphine says to him.

“Oh I've met her. Dense as a rock that one."

"Oh boy..." Urrak sighs.

Eloise frowns. "So now that I can no longer lock you in a cell for a few days, you think you're free to insult me?"

"I'm not insulting you. I'm describing you. By the way, I love how you just don't care what you look like."

"She's not the one that made a mistake she can't fix, or the selfish one who put hundreds of lives in danger, Poni."

Eloise reins herself in. "Indeed. And if I look a mess, I understand it's your fault for allowing me to be captured by slavers in the first place."

"We're all here to fix your mistakes so I don't think you're one to talk about questioning someone's intelligence."

There's another faint click and Cyan eases the collar off Eloise's neck. She leans in and whispers something in Eloise's ear which causes the baroness to blush slightly, but she nods. "If you'll excuse me for a moment, I need to step away."

"Oh sure, drag me over here then leave me waiting. Just like you noble types to keep us waiting."

Eloise huffs, but stands and walks out of the room, Cyan following close behind.

"Well then. Guess we'll just wait..." Urrak mutters.

"I will still bury you," Seirixori says to Poni, but doesn't look away from her bow.

"Don't get huffy with me because you don't like what you saw."

"It doesn't make any sense!"

"What are the two of ye goin on about?" Urrak asks.

"Does anything make sense to you, you biscuit?"

Ravaphine sighs, "Poni, who hurt you?"

Seirixori slams her hand on the table, her eyes flashing brighter, "Shut up, Poni." she snarls.

"Alright the lot ye! Calm yerselves!"

Ravaphine takes Poni away, and shoves him into her bag, "I think he's caused enough trouble today." She says over muffled mumbling.

"We'll have t' pretend to get along with him a little longer if we want t' get home. Relax." Seirixori just snorts in response to Urrak’s words.

After a few minutes, Baroness Moonstream returns with Cyan. She's wearing a different, clean and unwrinkled dress, she's clean, and her hair is up and styled. "My apologies for making you all wait."

"That's...quite alright, miss." Urrak tells her.

"Aren't you a sight for sore eyes! You look, lovely." Ravaphine says.

Eloise takes her place again while Cyan takes the empty seat next to Ravaphine. "Thank you. Where did Mr. Ningel disappear to? Does he teleport as well?"

"He is on a time out until he improves his behavior. He didn't have anything to say that wasn't an insult." Ravaphine pats her bag.

Unfortunately, that is simply his manner. I've not known him to speak more than three sentences that weren't offensive to someone. I fear I'm a favored target."

"He doesn't take well to authority, and powerful women so it seems."

**[[[Ravaphine, roll a charisma save for me. Jaymes - Ravaphine: ((18)) DM: You don't notice anything.]]]**

"If he's the only one who can answer the questions, we'd better get this over with."

Seirixori stands up quickly, the chair she was sitting on falling over in the process, "Hold on, you stupid asshole... Pull him out."

Ravaphine pulls Poni out of her bag.

"If I had a nose, I'm sure it would smell like dirty socks in there." Poni snarks.

"Was that the bow? Or were you just being a dick and showing me some other component?" Seirixori snarls at him.

"What?" Poni asks.

"The bow?" Ravaphine questions.

"Wha?" Urrak is also just as confused.

Annoyed and angry Seirixori lets out a frustrated yell, much louder than it should be, "The portal you— don't be as stupid as you think I am, you piece of rat shit." Cyan and Eloise both start to look uncomfortable.

"I don't know what makes you so stupid, but it really works. If I was showing you a component, I'd have shown you the component. The image centers on the thing- or person- I tell it to find. The elf was attached to the bow."

Ravaphine puts her hand on Seirixori's shoulder, "Pay him no mind, Seir, he's just trying to egg you on like he does with all of us. I'm sure whatever you saw in the portal, we will get to the bottom of it soon."

"No! It, it doesn't make sense! That's not possible... you know what, forget it." She starts to leave, leaving the bow on the table. "I'll see you guys in the morning, or whatever." she grumbles, storming out.

"An there she goes runnin' off AGAIN!" Urrak lightly smacks the table with her fist, "Ye daft stick, can't ye just be civil?"

Ravaphine sighs, "Poni, can't you be civil for more than two seconds?"

"Sorry, I don't have a heart anymore."

"What was she talking about a portal?” Ravaphine turns to the other two, "Apologies, Baroness Moonstream, Lady Cyan, this is our band of world travelers."

Cyan laughs, "Pft. I'm no Lady."

"Is she... dangerous?" Eloise asks.

"It is best to let her clear her mind. It won't help that he's still here, but she has a heart of gold and wouldn't hurt anybody on purpose unless it's Poni but we need him." Ravaphine starts to put Poni back in her bag, but stops, "Did you have any questions for him still?"

"Yes, right. Mr. Ningel... I'd like to know how this happened, how to fix it, and how long it will take before order is restored to my town."

Poni starts blabbering on in words none of them understand.

"Poni, for the last time, please be civil to my friends," Ravaphine says to him in gnome.

He grumbles.

"Privacy is a privilege."

"Fine. I was revolutionizing teleportation to make it available to the masses instead of only stuffy wizards, but the Quantum Riftshift Slipstream Teletransmitter exploded and destabilized the envirochronic resonance architecture. We have to find the components of the arch that stabilize the magic to fix it. And we'd fix it faster if we weren't wasting time saving useless eye-candy when we could be finding the components."

"We're findin’ her wife and kid, Poni. Those people are important."

"To who, exactly? More important than the other 300 souls of this town? More important than all the ones getting brought here to waste away? More important than you who are going out finding them?" He asks.

"Need we remember, this was your doing Poni. But you do have a point about getting all the components squared away as soon as possible." Ravaphine says to him.

"Of course I have a point! I'm the smartest damn person in this room and I've been telling you all along that we need to find the components."

Ravaphine shoves Poni back into her bag, "Anyway, that's where we are now, Baroness Moonstream."

"And we'll get to 'em. But right now, this takes precedent. Lady Moonstream is there anything you have of your wife and child's that could help us?"

Eloise is quiet for a moment. "Every day is another day who knows how many people are sold into slavery or killed by monsters. How can I weigh my family against my entire town? What kind of person does that make me?"

“If you're willing to take that risk, saving over 300 lives instead of two, we will support you in any decision." Ravaphine tells her.

Urrak grumbles a bit.

Eloise sighs. "Let me speak to him, please." Ravaphine pulls Poni out of her bag again. "How many more of these components are there and how long will it take to fix this problem?"

"Don't you stuff me in that bag again, you cabbage." He blusters for a moment, then says, "The pieces are different sizes. Could be four, could be forty. I can't tell. We've gotten six so far, over the last four days."

"Some are easier to grab than others," Urrak offers.

Eloise sighs and stands, then walks to her desk. She grabs the box of potions and sets them on the table, and picks up the lantern to set it closer to them as well. "If I can help you in any way to finish this, I will. Help yourselves to anything you need from the smithy or the general store and I will see them reimbursed. I'll send word to Riverrun for assistance immediately. Just... please let me see them once so I know I'm making the right decision."

"If we are already opening up the portal to see them, what's the harm in finding just two more people before finding the component? We sure went through a lot of trouble bringing back Lin's boyfriend." Ravaphine tells her.

"My wife is strong and my daughter... she's smart, and an adult. There are actual children in this town. Unless they are in immediate danger, I can't... I couldn't look Walther and Gilles in the eye and tell them Alysan died so I could save Misha... or little Luce or Bailey. I couldn't live with myself." She sighs, "The lantern... it reveals invisible creatures within its light. And the potions are yours as well. Please, equip yourselves as necessary. Your actions will not go unrewarded."

"That's what makes you such a strong leader, and I'm sure your people will be grateful for this selfless act.” Ravaphine says.

"We appreciate the aid, Eloise." Urrak adds though Urrak understands Baroness Moonstream’s intentions, she seems uncomfortable.

"We will fix this, we promise" Ravaphine says to Baroness Moonstream, "Let's go ahead and take a night to collect our thoughts and create a plan for the morning." She leaves the mansion to go meditate.

"Suppose we should… a good rest of the evenin' to ye," Urrak follows Ravaphine, thinking of a good night's sleep and food back at the Cask.

~\*~\*~

Seirixori storms off to the Citrus Grove, very annoyed that she wore herself out too much in the slaver's place that she can't wild shape and enjoy not being herself for a while. She paces for a time, trying to calm herself and try and wrap her head around what she saw. "That stupid Poni, goddess who even was that. An Elf? How is this possible?" She takes her staff and swings it at a couple of the fruits on the trees, "I hate that stupid gnome!"

"Mielikki sure picked an interesting project... you'd think she'd want someone who wasn't so eager to harm plants." A somewhat familiar voice calls out.

"Shit!" Seirixori yells and trips over her own feet, "What how, how do you even know that?!"

The halfling's leaning against a tree, smirking. "You'd think you'd have figured it out by now."

"According to  a stupid gnome, who is a stupid stick, no, apparently I would not have figured anything out by now!" She growls, her eyes flashing again. Seirixori drops her staff and plops to the ground. "Ugh, I am being tortured by very small people."

"Would you prefer a very large person?"

Seirixori laughs, "No, sorry. I'm just... angry right now."

"You should be careful asking questions. You may not like the answers you find."

"Yes, thanks. That I definitely figured out today. Do you always find strangers and give them advice, or am I just a special case?"

She chuckles. "I'd say you're definitely special."

Seirixori flushes and covers her face with her hands, "I have no idea how to respond to that," she mumbles.

"Don't worry. I'm not coming on to you. You're... like family."

"What?" Seirixori sits up and stares at the halfling, "But I don't... have... one, anymore?"

She walks towards Seirixori, and as she does, her form shifts to a taller, almost human, figure with deep brown skin and long dark hair. She almost floats down to a sitting position with her legs folded under her.

"Oh. Uh... hi."

"Hello. Welcome to my home." She smiles. "I'd appreciate it if you could stop breaking the decor."

"Sorry, that's um... thanks for letting me come here all the time even when I… kind of break your things?"

"You're young. Impulsive. You don't seem to have any particular love of nature. Why has she chosen you, devil-kin?"

Seirixori glares, "She didn't say. And I didn't ask to be thrown in with a bunch of people who don't want me around either."

The woman smiles softly with a dip of her head. "My apologies. I did not mean to offend."

Seirixori nods and looks down at her hands, "Do I get to know your name now?" she smiles a little.

"Takara. It's my temple across the way there."

"Oh. Probably shoulda known that." Seirixori mumbles. "Maybe you can ask her why, it's been years and she hasn't even asked for anything."

"Hasn't she?"

"... No?"

She smiles again, then drifts back to her feet. "You should rest. If you need me, just... attack one of my trees again," she winks. She walks away, further into the grove, and dissipates until there's nothing left of her.

"What?" Seirixori stares after her, confused as ever, but eventually gets up and heads back to the Cast to rest.

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