Session 89: The Importance of Being Enchanted

General Summary

Bolvaic and Aralmeni went together to visit the Archive of Endless Hours, the villa of the Court of Yestermorrow. On their arrival, they saw spectral forms of other visiting the villa and the clock towers and main clock on the main building seemed to be all set at different times.   Milo Quills went out to greet the pair, leading with a joke that did not go over well, though Milo went on to blame it on Minet Reed, who said that the joke had gone over well, but Milo believed now that he was just being an ass.   Milo stated that he speaks most often for True Thomas, who would not see them at this juncture. He said that since Thomas' words are always true and carry prophecy with them, he speaks sparingly. Milo told them that the Court of Yestermorrow was very much aligned with Emone, but Ctenmillar and Aine are also revered, as crafting and artwork are just history given physical form. He said that he sensed a strong history on Bolvaic's maul, and invited him to share its history. Bolvaic told the story of his grandfather and his anger, and how he had to place his anger into the maul so that he could live a life with his family, placing a grudge against a Frost Giant into the weapon. Bolvaic eventually came to possess the maul and he settled the grudge placed in the hammer by his grandfather, though now he's found that he has let go of his anger and doesn't know if he will ever need to place his own grudge into it.   Milo also stated that the small tarnished copper brooch that Aralmeni wore also seemed full of history and invited Aralmeni to tell the story of it. Aralmeni said she was born in Copperport, north of Caer Cenwynn. Her parents were miners in the copper mines. However, when she was still a baby, there was a tremor that brought down most of the mines and her parents were lost.   She was placed in the dwarfanage with other young dwarven orphans. When she was five, she was taken in by the McGowan family, and was the playmate of their daughter Meabh McGowan. She was taken in the be the whipping girl for Meabh--since tutors and nannies were not able to lay a hand on the young noblewoman, Meabh, corporal punishments were given to Aralmeni on her behalf, but she and Meabh were friends and playmates, so she did not want to see Aralmeni harmed, so it kept her in line.   So Aralmeni grew up in the household of human nobility, never really knowing much about her dwarven heritage. She matured similarly to Meabh at first. And when Aralmeni’s beard started to come in, she was embarrassed and would shave it. Some dwarven women shave if their beard is patchy, but Aralmeni’s beard was fine–but the human women didn’t have one and she didn't want to seem different.   As they matured, Aralmeni became Meabh's lady’s maid, though the two remained friends. But Meabh also began to delve into her family’s heritage and she started to train to be a witch. Meabh encouraged Aralmeni to delve into her own heritage and helped her. That was when she first really started to learn about dwarves and her heritage. Meabh helped her recover the brooch that her father had crafted the day she was born and inscribed with the the words "For the Forge of my Heart, who will make Greater Fires than I ever Did." She found that her parents were both worshippers of Ctenmillar, and as she read about him everything started to make sense to her–she was the one who always mended Meadh’s toys, fix the little issues in her room. She had crafted Meabh her hope chest as a present.   It was then that she realized who she was. She let her beard grow in and really understood what it was to be a dwarf, understanding the history and heritage behind it. She is still friends with Meabh, serving as her lady’s maid throughout. When her legs failed her, it was Aralmeni who crafted her wheelchair.   Now Meabh is an old woman in her sixties and Aralmeni is a young woman in her sixties. Meabh is a witch and a seer and a grandmother. Aralmeni is a dwarf, but without a clan, and a heritage that she understands, but never really experienced.   Milo then invited Bolvaic and Aralmeni to etch their clan runs on a stone in the Garden of Memory--which was simply a place that will last for eternity, and so their clan names would be remembered within it. Bolvaic and Aralmeni both inscribed their clan runes next to one another--both lost clans, but together with Bolvaic and Aralmeni, they are forming something new--and that connection will be in the Garden of Memory for eternity.   Meanwhile, the Swan Queen approached Myohn to prepare him about the upcoming dinner and toast, but also wanted to give him another purpose. Since Myohn has some connection to the mortal guests, she asked him to speak to Ilbryen to gain access to their Metatext--the access could be temporary, but having it longer term would be even better. She explained that anything written in the Metatext goes directly into Emone's libraries of history. She assumed that most of the priests of Emone's writings are likely very dry and dull, but access to it could mean that interactions that may have been painted in a light that is less than favorable to her--wrongly retold, of course--could be retold with a more favorable light. Any blemish, any stammer, any faux pas could be righted and be a part of the true history. Myohn agreed to try to gain access to the Metatext for the Swan Queen.   Narahm spoke to Zadock before the dinner, telling him that Coraline Tidebloom would be attending dinner as well. In fact, she begged him to come to the festival. Narahm explains that she is an Undine, a water nymph that, if they marry a mortal, gain a soul. However, if their spouse is ever untrue to them, the undine dies. Since Zadock is mortal, he believes that Zadock would have more success in ensuring that she does not make a poor choice. Zadock pointed out that since he has not had a long-term love, that Narahm would know more about it because of his love of Acacia. Narahm said that his love is still very different than mortal love, but he understands Zadock's point and that they will try to guide her to success together. Narahm also made it known that Acacia would not be attending the feast--it celebrates the bounty of domesticated plants, which she despises.   The party met up before heading to the Harvest Feast. Illevaere said that since the Barbed Countess seemed to like Aisling, that it would probably be best if they acted like they did not like one another to help ingratiate Aisling to the Countess. Levi shared with the party that the Goblin King was planning on stealing the Golden Apple at the feast and Aisling told the party about the toasts and how it could be a means of gaining favor in a Court. Porter approached Aisling and told her that he feels awkward not carrying around all of her gear, so he offered to carry her handbag for her at the event, so she has access to her makeup or anything else she might need.   The party then arrived at the Harvest Feast, which was hosted by Grainmother Sheafheart of the Court of Golden Fields--a Court that celebrates the harvest of both summer and autumn, so it is a Court that has allegiance to both the Summer Court and the Autumn Court, to the Seelie Court and Unseelie Court both. It was set up in a vast circular glade surrounded by tall autumn trees. Five tables were set for guests with no assigned seating. Another large table was set up with bountiful foods with a cornucopia as the centerpiece and within it, a large golden apple. As Eldrasveil arrived, a low mist began to linger throughout the clearing, though never rising more than knee high.   As people were entering, many of their attendants arrived with them, finding their way away from the main tables. One person dressed as a servant approached, though he was handsome and had tan lines that seemed to show where he wore a mask around his eyes. He introduced himself as Curst Intolerance, a simple servant who the rakish Scarlet Centurion had approached and gave him contracts to pass around to see who would sign them. Ilbryen immediately realized that Curst Intolerance was an anagram of Scarlet Centurion and he was obviously him. The contracts seemed to be contracts of consent for the Centurion to come in through their window in the middle of the night for consensual ravishing in a rakish manner.   No one signed the contract, save for Illevaere who specified that they wanted the visit tonight, since Hyrsam was also visiting their bed tonight and they were very curious what would happen.   As people began to take their seats, the party noticed that they seemed to stick with their own Courts. The party split up to sit and join the different tables.   Ilbryen moved to the table that seemed to seat the seers, scholars, and subtle powers, where Eldrasveil, Mossgrasp, True Thomas, Arsa, Milo Quills, Miney Reed, the Emissary of the Stag King, Shadow Regent Umbra, Wraithshade Orla, and Dan the goblin were seated. Ilbryen witnessed a very heavy innuendo laden flirt between Orla and Elen of the Ways, which was ultimately ceased by Umbra clearing his throat.   Arsa, now a middle-aged man, apologized to Ilbryen for his interactions with them when he was a younger satyr in the morning. He said that while he found Ilbryen physically attractive, his interest was sparked by their dedication to Emone. He has a great respect for those who understand Emone, but as a younger man, he wasn't able to express himself well... plus, when he was younger he admittedly was also drawn to other features as well. Arsa told Ilbryen that he was embarrassed, as he often is, by his younger self. He tells them that he is always headstrong in his youth and he may approach them again, and if that happens, he would be there to apologize again once he's older.   Dan the Goblin then realized that he was seated at the "smartsy table" and excitedly tried to impress everyone with his own intellect with riddle, though they were rather simply deduced. However, Eldrasveil was not amused and did not respond to Dan's riddle about rain, and Dan took the silence as his stumping the ArchFey.   Asling and Myohn both sat at the table that seemed to seat the courts of grace and starlight, where the Swan Queen, the Iron Swan, Anwyn Brookmist, the Starborn Lady, Echoharp Lyra, Whisperwind Tressa, Blue, the Queen of Elphame, Aurielle Sunweaver, Veluthe Al Shee, and Borkle the Goblin were seated. Aisling noted that Blue was seated at the table, though her position as a servant should mean that she was with the other servants. Instead she was sat next to the Starborn Lady, but even as the serving staff would come to pour a pitcher for the Starborn Lady, Blue immediately stepped in to do the menial task instead.   During the dinner Aurielle brought up the topic of art to the table, though it was subtlely directed to the Queen of Elphame. She said that she had an interesting conversation with Aisling about art and a consideration that art could be ephemeral and fleeting. The Queen of Elphame stated that she disagreed, saying that art should be for the ages and that is what their Court offers. Aisling stated that ephemeral art that could spark vision and memory and dreams was still worthwhile, and Aurielle added that Aisling is saying that with memory, she is using the most beautiful canvas of all--the Queen's mind. The Queen of Elphame gave a slight nod, indicating that she accepted the point, but did not want to openly state that she changed her mind. Instead, it will simply be that the Queen of Elphame always like ephemeral art, so she was not influenced at all.   To change the subject from her acknowledging the point, the Queen brought up her Court's current muse, Veluthe, stating that her mother had the audacity to name her "Fairer-than-a-Fairy", and believed that her daughter could be so beautiful without it being a gift from the Fey. So she stole her away, dressed her in rags and raised her to be a scullery maid and promptly forgot about her. Then, she was in the kitchen and saw one of her servants was beautiful, and even rags appeared as a gown on her, so she snatched her from her fate and brought her into her court, finding it amusing that she had forgotten that it was her who had condemned her to her fate to begin with.   The Swan Queen then preened about her Court's muse, Myohn, who she barely began to praise when the Queen of Elphame laughed and asked if he was kissed, if he would finally turn into a prince. Myohn retorted back, winning over much of the table, though due to the disparity in rank, the chuckling was light. The Swan Queen then went on to praise Myohn further, stating that he writes ballads and songs about her beauty, to which the Queen of Elphame said "Oh, so you want him to be little more than just a mirror", to which the Swan Queen responded that she would understand why she would not appreciate a mirror and would instead prefer to look at on whose name even stated that they were prettier than her.   The table chuckled and the Queen of Elphame quietly fumed. Anwyn then took a moment to try to impress her knight, the Iron Swan, that she delivered all ten of the missives she was meant to, so she would be free and could join the dance--it was an obvious boast trying to impress the Iron Swan, however, Aurielle, in an effort to recover some of the pride of her court, mused that she remembered when such messages were once delivered with poetry and perfume, and not haste, causing Anwyn to sink a little in her chair.   Bolvaic and Aralmeni sat at the table that seemed to be of fire, storm and passion, seated with General-Headquarters-Hindquarters-Gives-Orders-Front-and-Rear-Sergeant-Billygoat-Legs, Restor de Tristram, Admiral Aphrodite, Sir Hearts Aflame, the Emissary of the Stag King, Caelum Thunderstrike, Eldring Thunderstrike, the Ashen Lady, Smolder, Ashwyn Mariglow, Dhó, and Nipmonger the goblin. Bolvaic noticed that the Emissary seemed to be very happy with this table, feeling that it would be the most volatile and easy to stir things up with.   He began baiting the table by asking everyone who they think is actually the most desired person at the Festival. Bolvaic was the only one to take the bait, and while he mentioned Aralmeni being the only one with a beard to draw his attention, Sir Hearts Aflame said that Bolvaic had not yet seen him with a beard and he grow his out to impress him by the end of the festival to have Bolvaic change his mind. He admitted that his beard would not be long, but it would be thick.   The Emissary then mused with Eldring that lightning seemed to be a recurring theme to her entrances and that she should consider diversifying her asthetic. Eldring responded that she doesn't do aesthetic. She does annihilation, to which the Ashen Lady responded that she did noise, but that was not the same.   Caelum then slammed his fists on the table shouting toward the Emissary and the Ashen Lady that if they wanted to insult his daughter, they would have to fight him first. Eldring then glared at her father and said that she was more than capable of defending her own honor, two which Caelum told her to do it then and not to sit there like a coward, to call them to a fight to prove herself. Eldring glared and said, "Do not be so sure they would be the one I challenge" and then stormed away.   The Emissary seemed very pleased with himself and stated that storming off was still the same aesthetic.   Bolvaic tried to calm Caelum by telling him to drink, but he said that alcohol does not put out a fire and told him that perhaps they will get their wrestle in sooner than expected.   Levi, Tertius, and Zadock sat at the table of tooth, claw, and tide, seated with Mac Tíre, Bjørn, Sionnach, Broc, Easóg, Narahm, Coraline Tidebloom, the Frost Prince, Sneachda, and Meeg the goblin. It was obvious to some that Sneachda was immediately trying to make up for her Prince's impassion by being overly friendly and instigating conversation. She teased Bjørn about glaciers breaking even the sharpest fangs, though Bjørn scoffed, taking it seriously saying that he had shattered glaciers with claw and roar and to pick a better metaphor, and Coraline ended the conversation saying that fangs and frost both fail when faced with the tide as salt erodes all.   Mac Tíre growled out, openly stating that he sees that the only Courts who have not sent their monarchs are Courts whose monarchs are stationary and cannot move, but even the Frost Prince found his way here and Psilofyr was growing as they spoke. But he lamented that his monarch was busy playing huntsman. Narahm answered that he understood Cerunnos's plight--he has a role in his Court, but also one among the mortals of the isles. Mac Tíre growled back that one cannot run with two packs.   Broc, then approached Levi to ask him what he thought, being both bear and mortal, where he believed Cerunnos's loyalty should lie and how he thinks that he should bridge the two aspects. Levi said that most mortals were ignorant to the fey and greater world--and Broc related this to the prey animals. He said that the Court of Predators is of only predators because the prey do not think beyond themselves. They worry about their individual survival. However, the Predators are more intelligent, they eat prey, of course, but they also know to nurture the prey. If Easóg, for example, devoured all of the mice, then where would she be next season? The Predators nurture the health of the Prey because they see the larger picture.   Levi then drew the Frost Prince's attentions, though he seemed rather impassive and uninterested. In smelling the prince, however, he smelt the cold upon him, but also the scent of an orchid--a flower that does not bloom in the cold. However, the cold caused Levi to sneeze on the Frost Prince and Sneachda quickly stood to defend her prince eliciting an apology from Levi.   Levi also borrowed Bolvaic's maul, Grudgetaker, and lightly tapped people with the maul, thus being true to the Goblin King's request that he "maul people" as a distraction.   Illevaere sat at the table of shadows, madness, and thorns, seated with Gossamer, Squamulose, Celaeno, the Barbed Countess, the Fractured Princess, the Goblin King, Mother's Favorite, The Other One, Queen Aibell, Dökkálfar, Kaela the Emberfrost, Prince Hyrsam, Vasilisa the Beautiful, and Ephudol. Illevaere immediately noted that there was an ease and comfort between Queen Aibell, the Barbed Countess, and the Goblin King.   Hyrsam asked Illevaere about their invitation for later in the night, asking if they were looking for a good "hate shag". Illevaere stated that they did not hate him, at least not yet. Hyrsam pointed out that they were a part of the establishment and that he quite distinctly was not. Illevaere stated that they have many non-establishment friends and implied that they were really mostly interested in the court to bang some of its members, which Hyrsam had a bit of understanding for.   Vasilisa openly mused in front of Illevaere to the others if anyone else believed that the mortals were here as bait for some elaborate trap? The Barbed Countess responded that if they were bait, they were meant for her. Aibell then said that it was curious that so many protections were given to them, and when their kind changed their ways to appease mortals.   The Goblin King then said he brought loads of mortals--they die left and right so you need a generous supply. The Fractured Princess then said, "Perhaps it is just the newest fashion. Álfheimr brought one. Cinder and Ashes brought two–which is probably in case they accidentally burn one to death–they do die easily. Maybe by the end of the festival, we’ll all be wearing mortals."   Hyrsam saw an opportunity and brought up to the table that there are lots of competitions scheduled for the festival and maybe the mortals were a trap to make them all look bad. If an archfey were to go up against a mortal and win, it wouldn't be glorious, but rather it would look like they are picking on the little guy. But, if a mortal would beat an archfey in a competition, then it would be a difficult humiliation to swallow, especially in front of all of the Courts. It was a trap that they were caught in to look bad.   Illevaere then noted that Aibell and some of the others seemed to recognize his words as true, and Aibell began to size up the mortals at the festival, though they couldn't tell if it was to see which would be worth recruiting to stand for their Court, or sizing them up to see what type of competition they would need to bring in to oppose them.