(OOC: @ GreenRowan Hi GR, I'm part of the Midnight Dancers and was wondering.. to what extent are we allowed to modify our vehicles? We are assuming that we're only limited to resources we can find within the forest, but it'd be great if you could confirm/clarify this!)

(OCC:

You are allowed to remodel freely into anything that doesn't look Unseelie. The "death/coffin" vehicle was too much for the faerie Realms, and would have drawn more of the Unseelie elements with it.

Termina did know what she was doing. :D

Your resources aren't limited.)

(OOC: @ GreenRowan Ohh I see, I will let my group know! Thank you very much!)

(OOC: Please send them in now, as they will affect the results of the RP conclusion.)

Turf rolls some dice... a 7. How lucky! Althought he isn't entirely sure how much luck any number might bring his group.

The Morning After

Sunrise over the Seelie realm was something no poet in the universe could put into words.  

As the sun breached the windows of their rooms, the Fallen Angels and their companions slowly started to stir.  Stretching lazily Atrueheart was the first to wake, and tried to get the others moving, but no one was in any rush to leave such lush accommodations.  "Come on y'all, we need to get moving if we're going to meet our coach and get back to the Borderlands."  Webby, Jeice and Talli groaned in protest, Laurie yawned and Calie, who was now dressed and packing up the groups elaborate attire from the night before replied "I'll help with that True." and within minutes the room exploded in shrieks and squeals as her little lizard Geep ran from bed to bed.

"WHAT THE !??!"  "EEEEEK!"  "WHAT WAS THAT?!"  "CALIE!"  "Ok, ok, I'm up!" Laurie called out, joining the others in their protests. "Calie call off your slimy alarm clock!"

Geep returned to her shoulder as if nothing happened, Calie and Atrueheart's laughter brought the rest of the Fallen Angels to their feet. As usual, Laurie started looking around for her trusty No.2 and the scraps of paper she had smuggled in before she could hardly focus.  Tucking her pencil behind her ear she noticed there were a few sets of sturdy leather boots, leggings, vests, cloaks and gloves hanging in the closet, made of the most beautiful earthly shades of browns and greens.  "Um.. guys.. are these for us?  Oh I hope they're for us, Jeice, Talli, True, did you see these?" she called before looking back at their leader, mage and alchemist who were already dressed in stunning Fae style.

Jeice was digging in the closet before Laurie finished asking about them.  Without hesitation she joined her friend, but not Webby.  Webby stood where she was, watching her beautiful dress being put into their traveling trunk and sighed sadly.  "B-b-but we looked so pretty!" she cried.  "Elegant clothing is fine for arriving here, Webby, but it simply won't do for a return trip." Atrueheart states.  Jeice and Laurie both laughed, "Sorry Missy Prissy but let me be the first to say Thank the Gods for that!" Jeice quipped.  As Laurie pulled her thick hair up into her signature ponytail she joined in "OhEmGee I know right!?  If I never have to have that much crap on my face and in my hair again it'll be too soon!"  "That's because you two have no sense of style isn't that right True!" Webby retorted, a smile replacing that forlorn look she had a few moments ago.  "Whatever!" Laurie called back as Talli answered her question.  "The Seelie King has given us some of their finest wears as a gift, Laurie, aren't they fabulous?  Such soft yet strong leather is trademark for the Fae but most certainly a rare gift for outsiders, enjoy!"  

Entering the court yard, Webby looked wistfully over her shoulder with a heavy sigh.  "Get a move on Cinderelle" Laurie teased, using her best mouse imitation.  "Even you and Jeice have to admit it was fun." Webby replied, sighing again.  "No, no we don't." Jeice shot back. The others cracked up laughing and Calie chimed in "It was fun, wasn't it, dear.  I know I.. Woah. Um, True? Who is that?"  

Following Calie's gaze, Webby's jaw dropped. The light hearted ribbing immediately ceased and Atrueheart quickly stepped in front of her team, the rest of the Fallen Angels forming a semi-circle behind her. Jinx scampered up Atrueheart's side and perched on her shoulder, Laurie instinctively stepped in-front of Hope, Blue dropped lower into Webby's hair, Geep vanished into one of Calie's pockets, Talli's hand dropped to Moriel's head, and Jeice made a quick movement with her hand that brought Torchy instantly to her side.

As the stranger hurriedly approached them, a wave of uncertainty passed over the team. They had expected to find the unicorn coach they had arrived in waiting to take them back to the Borderlands at the gate, not a group of well armed Seelie archers...

(OOC: the above image titled The Gate is property of Christophe Vacher hopefully that covers the copyright thing - lets get ready to rummmmble!)

The Battle from Bohemian

Chandie Teche gives a weak smile at the enthusiastic hug of the lilac winged.. someone they called Vibrassa... just knowing all the shiny decorations she worked so hard to trade for in the wig would fly away, yet with only a small discreet sigh, acknowledges Grumpus' smile with a nod. Very happy to stand near her team mates.. yes, now considered her friends, Chandie can't help but nervously glance at their surroundings, however remembering her manners she finally performs a perfect curtsy bowing low to the King and Princess with only minimal loss of glitter from her hair. The next day the team was ready to begin, they had their magic, music, weapons, companions all ready and were in their fighting clothes. Glancing at each in turn after nibbling on a breakfast...most too excited to eat, they suddenly all stood at once and with a grin left guarding the two with them.

Listening to Selwyn speak about the Unseelie growing bolder each day, Blood Frenzy began running several theories through her head as to what could be done to save the realms. It seemed an impossible task and extremely dangerous but something had to be done and quickly. But before she was able to run through any more strategies she was diverted by a patrol of Seelie archers. Niva, their leader, takes her to a side exit ,and says "The Unseelie know you are here. This exit will be the safest, but you must exercise great care."

The forest was so thick the sun could only be seen peeking through the canopy sparingly, which made viewing difficult at best. The team decided to keep Vibrissa and Grumpus in the middle and spread out in a circle around them until they were delivered to the secret place and safety, their companions diligently scouting looking for danger. Chandie kept an eye on the ginger fur of her dog, glancing at the other team members if she could see them. All seemed well versed in how to remain quiet as they moved through the forest floor. After deliver, making sure the secret place was perfectly safe, they quickly headed back. The forest suddenly was quiet. No birds, none of the usual animals of the forest. All was quiet and still. This definitely wasn't good. Her companion Ginger was looking in one direction only and head raised to sniff the air then suddenly turned in two other directions also sniffing the air....surely this can't be!

What we had feared could happen, had happened. We are suddenly flanked on three sides. To our left, we see at least two rows of skeletal warriors, brandishing swords, axes and even a few maces. The right isn't any better. Supporting the skeletal cavalry opposite are several Dark Wizards with green fireballs dancing around on their hands. From the front approach a half-dozen Death Gliders, with elven archers standing upright in the top surface as though glued in place, firing shatter arrows at your direction. These are the Possessed Selwyn described yesterday.

Trapped. Nowhere to hide and nowhere to run. The only thing to do is to stand our ground and attempt to fight our way out. (A few well placed prayers wouldn't hurt either).

We rapidly made a rough circle and stood back to back ready for the first attack.

"Galadeth, our mage, if you please go to where you can keep contact. Frenzy pointed where she meant for the mage to go, the rest stood their ground as Fenzy indicated. Chendie was at , frightened yet determined.

She had rarely used her music this way and was very glad of the scrolls she had spent a sleepless night studying. Suddenly there was a rustling in the leaves and the green fire was very apparent long before the Dark Wizards showed up. Immediately, Chandie knew what tune to play seeing that dreadful fire.. was it poison? With Ginger guarding her from physical harm as best she could, growling fiercely when anyone but their group came near, the tune began with her lyre making clear and demanding notes that permeated the air all around them designed to reduce that which looked like poison. Perhaps the fire will still be there, but not so deadly as previously.

Kronus and Dori faced the Death Gliders, Galadeth, our mage and Chendie faced the Dark Wizards, and Frenzy and Elne faced the Skeletal Warriors.

Frenzy leaned over and spoke to Elne. "See that pile of branches under those trees to our left. Do you think that you could go and get all the bent ones and bring them back here? It does not look like these Unseelies are ready to attack us just yet."

Elne looked towards where Frenzy was pointing, nodded once immediately understanding her intent, then with a grim look on her face, headed towards the mound. While Elne was gone Frenzy went over to Kronus and said, "I see quite a lot of rabbit droppings under that bush in front of us. Can you go and collect them please?" Kronus looked at Frenzy in a perplexed manner even managing a nervous chuckle, which seemed to say, "You have gone mad." But he left the circle and made his way over to the bush. Got down on his hands and knees and began stuffing rabbit poo into his pockets using a glove.

Frenzy then approached the mage. "Galadeth, the outcome of this battle relies on our cunning and your magic. This is what I need you to do." She then proceeded to outline her idea to the mage who simply gave a serious nod making sure her magic and bow and arrow ready.

As Elne and Kronus returned safely back to the circle, Galadeth began to chant and sway over the pile of boughs Elne had gathered. "Alakazam, Alakazoo, From boughs to boomerangs so go you!" The pile began to take on a life of it's own, and then, it became a pile of and

Bending over the boomerangs Galadeth took some deep breathes and exhaled with a snort, mumbling magical words that only another mage could understand yet it apparently gave the thrower of the boomerang right of passage to it's return back.

Completing the task with the boomerangs Galadeth made her way to the rabbit droppings. She asked Kronus to place them all on the ground. With that done she began, once again to utter the magic words, "Alakazam, Alakzoo, from poo to bullets, I make you." And, yep, you got it, ammo for the guns instead of rabbit poo, but these were silver bullets guaranteed to damage everything they targeted. With those tasks all done Frenzy asked the 3 to go back to their positions then went to the weapons they had made sure that they had retained when having to leave the bikes and continue on foot. All here, 8 guns, 8 shears. Taking the ammunition she shared it out between 4 guns, giving 2 guns to each Dori and Elne and gave the 8 shears, 4 each to Kronus and Chendie who gave a quick nod and tried to tuck them near Ginger to guard, while still holding her lyre.. and still continuing to play.

Except for Chandie and her music, the rest of us awaited the first move from our opponents. We did not have to wait long. The first thrust of the battle began with the Skeleton Warriors headed towards Elne and Frenzy. We decided to use the boomerangs. Throwing with our right and catching with our left. It took us quite a while to perfect our moves and when we did so everything "fell" into place. (ie the heads of the Warriors). A toss with the right arm, a crunch, thud and thump and off with their heads (warriors need heads). We were gaining the advantage.

Next the Death Gliders with their vacant eyes advanced towards Kronus and Dori. Dori attempted to alchemise the arrows but ended up with a smoke screen that gave us an advantage. With the smoke screen in place Kronus took shards of the Shattered Mirrors and under the cover of the smoke crept as close as he could to the Gliders, He placed the shards up and around in as many trees, at eye level as possible. Then he snuck back into position. When the smoke began to clear the Gliders once again began their advance. However as they approached the trees where the shards from the mirrors shone, the elven archers glanced upwards towards the sheen and were overcome by their stares being directly diverted back to themselves. This immediately caused them to fall from the top surface onto the ground below where very quickly they were finished off with well placed volleys from the guns Dori and Elne held.

Dark Wizards with the green fireballs dancing around on their hands were left to defeat. Kronus and Chendie took hold of the shears (which had also been spellerized by the mage to return to sender) and flexing their arms back, then forward in a sweeping motion, let them fly straight towards the fireballs. Ping, pong was the sound as the shears hit their poisonous targets. Again they concentrated on their targets and threw the shears. Again nothing but the ping pong sounds as the shears rebounded off. Chandie Teche began to strum her lute again and now in a different melody...the fireballs began to grow dim along with the different color she had elicited earlier.

"Try now"

Kronus and Chendie once again threw the shears at their targets. This time with a hiss and a crunch the fireballs began to implode upon themselves. Again and again the two threw the shears until no fireballs remained. With no fireballs left to protect them the Dark Wizards quickly turned tail and left.

The forest was quiet, no clanking of skeleton bones, no hiss of fireballs, no swoosh of arrows, nothing.. not a sound but the quiet play of a bard playing the lyre with knees shaking too fearful to stop. Finally someone, was it Elne patted her gently on the shoulder and whispered softly...

"Chendie, you can stop playing now, we have defeated them and Vibrissa and Grumpus should be safe since we weren't attacked until quite a distance from them.'

With a weak, embarrassed smile, her freckles standing out prominently, the bard lowered her lyre as Ginger gave her a few licks. Looking around at the others, the biggest emotion shown was relief.. were they really alright now?

[quote=Vixen] Struggling with aiming the mirror through the window Vixen decided to join the others rooftop. There she was able to reflect their magic weapons with much more ease and accuracy. The vehicle, which she had named the Mad Hatter, was rocking back and forth making it difficult to stand. She worried someone would slide off in the chaos.

She stretched to reach a green fireball and losing her balance she fell face down onto the porcelain surface of the teapot. Her tophat went tumbling into the nothingness that was below her. Pain shot through her mouth and she wondered for a second if she broke a tooth. Not having long to ponder this she felt herself beginning to slide downwards.

Panic began to set in and she thought to herself that this was one odd way to go out. She wondered if she could land on one of those skeleton dudes, knock him off and take over his bone bike. Of course thi

[quote=Aria]Aria looked around at her crew mates and realized that they were all taking down a lot of their enemies through the sum of their efforts. Upon noticing this, she realized that nobody had taken to protecting their carriage. After seeing that Mal was able to kill off many of the possessed archers and death gliders, Aria set out to defend the carriage a bit more.

Taking a more defensible position she scanned for incoming arrows or other weapons and began to strike them out of the air before they could hit the carriage. Dax started warning Aria of incoming arrows and their flight path through mental images. Aria was careful to avoid being hit by any of the green glowing orbs as she couldn’t do anything to deflect them.

After continually shooting arrows to deflect incoming attacks, Aria reached down to her quill and realized that she was out of arrows. ‘I could throw daggers but I would run out of them after only a handful of hits,’ Aria mind spoke to Dax.

‘What about we use our telepathy together to create a sort of false image in the minds of our enemies,” Dax suggested.

Aria looked towards Dax and thought for a moment before replying, ‘It is very dangerous, we've never practiced that before, but it’s the only thing we can do right now, we might as well try.’ Dax and Aria took a position on one of the blue couches in the corner of the carriage and began to hone in on their natural mind frequencies.

Dax was much more adept at using his telepathy than Aria was, so she allowed Dax to use her power and lead the

[spoiler=Bones to the left you'll see, Wizards to the right..]

As the Fallen Angels leap into battle a rain of shatter arrows are launched by the possessed archers on their flying crafts.  Torchy quickly flies down and flames as many arrows as he can to keep the Angels from being struck. Grumpus as a disguised miniature dragon hovers above Vibrissa, turning all arrows that head her way to ash with his flame, protecting his Queen.

Ducking behind some trees for shelter Jeice and Atrueheart return fire with their crossbow and bow observing that where a possessed arrow hits a tree or other target it shatters on impact and in return shatters the object at the point of impact.  Jeice calls out to Atrueheart "That's gonna hurt if we get hit!"  Atrueheart calls back "We are gonna be lucky to get out of this with just a few shattered bones for sure."  Atrueheart shoots and misses as a possessed craft swerves at the last second but Jeice next arrow shoots true and one of the flying possessed archers falls dead to the ground. There is something to be said for mythril coated arrows... a true shot results in instant death and not injury. Torchy swoops to the unmanned flying vehicle and nudges it with his body directing it away from the Fallen Angels, crashing it harmlessly to the ground.  

Laurie's mind raced, instantly ticking off details she'd learned about skeletons, primitive weapons, mounted soldiers advantage over foot soldiers as well as the location of the rest of the Fallen Angels.  Mounts have no defense, furthest reach holds greatest threat, protect the head, behead the dead, movement provides greater target.  One hand behind her back she signaled Webby and keeping an expression of fear frozen on her face, let go one of her best "frightened schoolgirl shrieks" she and Webby bolted to the left, as if to flee into the forest.  With lightning speed they moved in unison until they had a clear shot at the end of the advancing line of skeletal creatures.

With a sharp SNAP! Laurie's whip unfurled, encircling both legs just above the ankle area of the mount closest to her who's rider just happened to wield a nasty looking mace.  Giving the entangled whip a sharp jerk she dropped both mount and rider to the ground in a heap.  "Talk about enchanted!" Laurie called out, surprised at the whip's speed and accuracy.  SNAP!  SNAP!  SNAP!  The echo of the crackling whip filled the air as she took down one mount after another, aided much in part by the domino effect, moving as little as possible.  As if by magic, one or two leg bones seemed to move quickly across the ground and vanish, an act their riders seem unable to comprehend as they struggle to get to their feet.

"Look out!" Talli knocked Calie down as the three Dark Wizards opened fire with their green fireballs.  She threw up a quick wind shield, but not before they both had more than a few hairs singed.  "Moriel!  Guard!" Talli called her companion back from patrolling the woods and pointed toward Vibrissa.  She didn't want her wolf getting caught up in the crossfire; it was too dangerous.  Calie scrambled to her knees and reached into her pockets with both hands, pulling out various items by the handfuls.  "Give me your staff!" she yelled at Talli.  Talli looked at her like she was crazy but held it out to her as Calie started frantically rubbing white sand all over it, talking as she worked.  "White sand is a thickener for all spells and potions dealing with..."  Another blast from the wizards hit their shield and it broke apart into wisps of smoke.  Calie gasped as she realized the next hit would be head-on.

"We're not in a classroom Calie!" Talli yelled as she grabbed her staff back and, with a quick muttered spell, she threw her magic at the wizards.  A huge blast of icy wind blew the wizards back!  Two of them were blown into some bushes but the third crashed into a large tree trunk and slumped unconscious into the underbrush.  Talli looked at the wizards, her staff, then Calie.  They both grinned.

As the possessed archers home in on Atrueheart and Jeice's position, bark begins to shatter and fly off the trees they are hiding behind.  Jeice signals to Atrueheart to change positions as the next arrow that hits her tree she is using for cover explodes into slivers.  Dodging arrows Atrueheart swiftly runs toward a fallen tree and dives behind it, returning fire.  A flying craft crashes down to the ground where she had been only seconds before ducking behind the tree.  Looking back she sees Jeice giving her the thumbs up as she shouts "Good thing I was covering you True!  That one was sneaking up on you."  Jinx, clinging to Atruehearts leg, chitters his approval and Atrueheart sends him out to gather fallen arrows with the instructions to return with them to Jeice and to return any fallen arrows of hers to her. "Two can play at this game of shatter arrows!" she thinks. Catching Atruehearts strategy change, Jeice grabs one of the shatter arrows from Jinx and lets it fly hitting the possessed' flyer ruining the possessed archer's aim, followed quickly by one of her mythril covered arrows shot straight into the flailing archer's chest.  "Scratch three!" she yells out exuberantly to Atrueheart.  "You better start catching up there True!"  Atrueheart smirks at Jeice and let's fly another arrow and brings down a possessed archer.  Though not as good an archer as her team's Ranger, she did not take all those archery lessons at the Companions school for nothing!  "Scratch four!"  she calls out as she and Jeice hone in on the remaining two possessed archers.  

The first rider manages to stand, Laurie lowers her shield to protect herself from the strike of its mace as stones fly from Webby's slingshot and connect with the rider, dropping it back into the pile of bones littering the ground.  Ignoring the pain from being grazed by shatter arrows, the two of them continue to methodically cripple the mounts, pausing only when its rider manages to regain its footing until all mounts had been rendered useless.  Neither noticing that the pain lasted only a few minutes.  With the skeleton riders at ground level evening out the battle field Webby rushed forward.  The two of them stood fast, the rider's mindless advance slowed by the mounting piles of struggling debris in their paths.   Laurie tossed the make-shift whip behind her toward Vibrissa.  "In case you need it!" she yelled, reaching for her pen.  CLICK!  The razor sharp edge of its mythril blade glowing as it locked in place she glanced quickly at Webby and snarled "Let's do this."

Ignoring the occasional tree sliver to their bodies, Jeice and Atrueheart continue to change positions as needed and letting their arrows fly.  Atrueheart continuously checking on her other team members monitoring their progress on the other two fronts.  Jeice grumbles to herself "Those are slippery little suckers!  Hold still like a good little enemy."  Letting fly a shatter arrow brought to her by Jinx throwing another flyer off its path, Jeice gives out a loud whoop as Atrueheart nails the Archer riding on top with one of her arrows.  "Scratch five!" she yells out.

[color=blue]The two wizards looked murderous as they climbed out of the bushes and started to glow a sickening green.  Huge flames burst from their palms as they again started to create the green fireballs.  

"Hand me those dried batwings Calie!" Talli called out.  When they were handed over she quickly muttered a spel

[spoiler=a fierce fight] The Seelie Court was as much and more glamourous than Venom had expected. Stuffed inside all this fancy dress he at least felt like he looked the part. Still, he found shoes to be terribly uncomfortable and couldn’t keep his mind from wondering when he would be allowed to take them off without offending anyone. Their introductions to the Royal family went about as well as could be expected. Venom couldn’t help but feel slightly sorry for the runaway prince. He knew how it felt to live a life according to others rules, but that wasn’t to say the prince's situation was equal to his own. Venom blessedly hadn’t ever been in line for any throne. Hopefully the team would be successful with their mission, that is to say hopefully the Fellowship would manage to find the kid in time.

Wolf felt simply at home in the courts of magic and mystic. She was happy and thrilled with being surrounded with such ethereal beauty...until she felt a pair of furry arms around her waist. She looked down, surprised as to what could be hugging her and there was a cat hugging her. "...a...CAT?!?" she thought with a look on her face of complete bewilderment and just a hint of disgust. "The indignity of it all! I'm being hugged by a...a..." She looked down again and noticed the fur colour and wings. Her bewilderment turned into a mixture of both a very sheepish look and happy smile, "Oh, greetings, Vibrissa. It's lovely to see you again, too." Giving the kitty a return hug, being careful not to crush her delicate regalness, and touching her nose lightly to the top of the Queen's head, she smiled warmly as the fabled, fantastical feline released her paws from her furry middle and worked her way over to Wolf's next comrade.

After the lovely, warm greeting from the Queen, she heard the story about the empty heir to the throne and was distressed about the fact that the only one that would keep these realms from being under siege from the nightmarish Unseelies was busy doing his own, foolish thing. "We need to do our best to help him see what's best for him and his people," she thought. "He needs to learn responsibility and maturity. The daughter of Selwyn is sweet, but she's no ruler."
While thinking about the problem, Wolf took some time to look around the courts. The magic of the place gave her a special energy. It was warming her to her very soul. The smile didn't leave her face as she tasted the the delicious fae treats and specialties.

Flame would be bounding all over the place, but this time Mommy was a step ahead of her rambunctious little furball. She had conjured an invisible harness and leash for her so that she stayed under control and not to cause chaos. She smiled at how happy Flame was as she sniffed and pounced and played and frolicked. Sierra was doing what she did best - riding along on Wolf's shoulder, jaw dropped in utter amazement as she tried to take all of everything in.

They entered the gardens just outside the party room for a bit of fresh air and to re-energize with the magic of nature as well.

Quercus felt intense relief while in the Seelie court. The woods were a welcome reminder of home as well as what she was fighting for. Tipper was just as thrilled, and raced through the trees, enjoying the feeling of fresh air and fewer machines. Quercus felt the same pull and as soon as it was polite she turned to Spring. "How about we do that restocking we need to do? I'm sure we can find a few new items here too."

In the Seelie Court, everything seemed to glow like golden memories remembered warmly. The forest seemed to beckon and it was hard to not just let herself wander out and soak in some of the sights and smells of the forest Spring had always loved. While she was daydreaming of all the happy times she'd spent out in the fields and forest, when it was peaceful and safe, she felt Quercus nudge her back to reality.

"Oh! Yes. Good idea, Quercus. Plus, a little time out wandering won't hurt before things get intense again. And Selawick has been pestering me to let him scurry for a while anyway. Shall we slip out now?"

Out in the forest, Spring and Quercus gathered up what supplies for healing that they could. Comfry for healing bones. Clay and plantain leaf to help draw out poisons. A few berries and other healing substances for creating poultices and syrups.

Spring was filling a pouch she kept as she walked with smooth, round stones for her sling. While she was most comfortable with bow and arrows, it never hurt to have a few extra skills and supplies to face the foes ahead. And she wasn't half bad at hitting the mark with her sling, thanks to another Ranger she had wandered with who had shared his skill with her.

"It's been a long time since I've done this, Quercus. But I think we need to consider all possibilities and gather some ingredients we can use to defend ourselves. When I lived with a tribe for a while, they taught me to use Crowfoot and Golden Poppy to make a poison for arrows. Shall we make some up just in case we meet with more trouble on our way out and need the upper hand? Is there anything else we could use to our advantage?" Spring trusted Quercus' knowledge of both the territory and the foes to know the best poison to pick.

Selawick squeaked and scurried around through the leaves and sticks. He ran back a few times with treasures of his own: a few glittering rocks of his own and some of his favorite seeds and berries. He and Tipper seemed to be letting any stress that they may have felt from the journey out with a good romp. Quercus and Spring laughed at their antics and couldn't help but feel a lot better themselves.

"This is what I've missed!" Spring sighed as they plopped down under a weeping willow. Quercus nodded.

"What do you think we will be meeting out there?" Spring waved a hand in the general direction of the path that would take them out of the Seelie Courts. "Do you think we are ready?"

Quercus considered Spring's idea as she looked at the woods beyond and felt a chill. Something was wrong, she could feel it. But her senses couldn't tell if it was the threat getting worse because the balance remained off... or if something more was happening in the woods. "I think we need to be prepared for anything. We'll make poisons to tip our arrows." She smiled suddenly. "But that is not the only way to use plants. I know some mixes for healing which will create a burning sensation when they touch dark magic. It won't kill the user but it will certainly give them trouble focusing." She gathered together all the items she had. "How about we return to the court and get to work? I'd rather get this lot ready now in case we need something else than find out too late we are missing something when we must leave. Besides, we can come up with some other surprises I'm sure with these." She held out an arm full of harvested herbs and flowers.

The next day came far too quickly for Quercus. She dressed quickly and bound her longer hair up. "Darn all this magic!" she hissed. "It's making my hair and vines grow out of control and there's no time to cut it!" She sighed as she finished tying it back. She could brush it to a point where you struggled to tell the difference between hair and plant but cutting her vines would leave her with a raging headache and there was no time for her to recover right now. She was just glad that her outfit had left her arms free. She tapped her necklace. It crackled in reply. She'd found this bundle of clothes in her pack, a gift from her friends back home. "You know me too well," she sighed. The necklace would offer some protection from spells and blows but nothing serious. Gathering her supplies she rejoined the Fellowship for the journey back.

The fact they had to take a hidden route back didn't surprise her. They were dealing with serious trouble and every precaution was worth it. Still, she felt the oppression of the forest. Unseelie magic, the woods were thick with it. Occasionally she thought she sensed something from the trees. A warning but she couldn't pinpoint it. Nonetheless she kept her bow in her hand and her arrows ready. The seconds she heard the clank of bones and the chill from the woods of the threat, an arrow was knocked to her bow and she took aim. They were surrounded. Not the smartest move guys. An animal is at its most dangerous and unpredictable when cornered, she reflected. The question now was what to do? The magic users would probably view her arrows as annoying but used with Wolf's spells they would cause chaos. The skeletons were out until they got closer. They would need blows to stop. She felt a glow of thanks to Venom for the close combat training he'd given her and hoped her advice on archers would help him fight without hurt from the archers. She thought of her supplies. Maybe a surprise or two carefully harvested from the forest and attached to an arrow would make them pause. Right now though the possessed archers were the biggest issue. There were more of them but possessed they might not be as fast or alert as they normally were. I have to shoot as fast as I can and as accurately as I can. I can give the magic users and archers something to think about. That will give Wolf and Venom time to do some damage. She scanned again, running through her choices. Whatever we do, we're going to take a beating. Tipper growled at her side as Quercus let out a sigh and felt the mix of calm and irritation burry her fear. She'd faced worst than this but that didn't mean they were going to get away without a few broken bones. Still, with so many archers I'm unlikely to run out of arrows. "I've got some powders and potions that might work on our magic users but I'm going to focus on the long ranged and mages to start with if I can. Anyone got a plan before a put a bolt into this lot?" she growled, drawing the arrow back as she spoke.

The journey on the hidden route was tense. Each member of the fellowship was on edge for any sign or any hint of ambush. The air was thick with the feel of danger, and each twig break seemed like a clap of thunder.

Like Quercus, Spring kept her bow in one hand. The other hand she kept up near the quiver with her arrows. They had a

plan. Jean and Venom had gone over combat tactics with the group. Wolf had been preparing her strongest magic and spells to fight with. Quercus was a good shot with her bow--the best shot out there! Spring knew she could count on her. And the poison for the arrows? Spring knew that it was powerful. It would do its work.

Then it happened. Everyone tensed as the Unseelies poured from the forest to surround them on three sides. This was it. Spring took a step back to get into position to help cover Jean and Venom's attacks and keep Wolf from being disturbed as she worked her magic.

With the knowledge of Unseelies in the area, the forest was no joy to Wolf. It seemed darker, the smell danker and more musty. Flame was much different that Wolf had ever seen her. She sensed that there was something wasn't right. Instead of cowering, however, she became alert, ears pricked forward, serious and quite still. Wolf never imagined a change could come to her baby so quickly. Then she saw and heard something that chilled her to her soul. The sounds of bones knocking together and the clank of weapons. The sound of air wooshing above their heads and the sight of dark wizards with evil, poison-green balls of energy in their hands. Sliding over to Ven, she snuggled against him, taking courage and comfort from the warrior's strength. She looked at her friends. What now?

Hand never far from his sword Venom’s grip tightened around the glossy hilt as a chill ran up his spine. Something out there was beginning to stink and it didn’t take long to discover the origin of the foul stench. Maybe it was their dark energy, maybe not all the meat had fallen from the emerging skeleton’s bones, but something was ripe on the forest air. Venom had a good mind to dispatch the unpleasant aroma as quickly as possible. The Fellowship assumed defensive positions with their backs to one another while out of the woods crept the rest of the Unseelie goons.

Surrounded was never a good foot to start out on, but the more time spent lamenting was time wasted. Venom had faith in his team, and this time around they even had another archer to help balance the ranged units. With a smirk and practiced flick of his thumb Venom unsheathed his sword. Black as the night and razor sharp the blade glinted dangerously in the dapple light of the forest. Tightening his grip around the hilt Venom crouched and turning his blade just so, scoffed at the skeletons and their armament of choice. “Weapons don’t make the warriors boys.” His long pointed ears pressed back and his smirk widened into a terrifyingly toothy grin. “Make your peace, your second chance is soon to expire.”

It was unclear if the skeleton warriors could hear his taunts, but the dark wizards surely didn’t seem very fond of what Venom had to say. Squinting toward the green flames Venom’s skin began to crawl. An army of the dead was one thing, but when confronted with new poisons he hadn’t yet encountered, well the notion was both exhilarating and terrifying. How could he study a poisonous flame if its conjurer was slain? More importantly, could he obtain any without putting his team at risk? Perhaps he would find something on the mage’s person afterwards that would satisfy his curiosity.

His gaze darting between the enemies on the ground and the airborne elven archers above, Ven’s right arm tingled slightly but he barely had time to acknowledge the twinge. Last season Quercus had had the time to teach him a bit about combating ranged units, but he was still not as confident about it as he would let on. Thankfully he felt confident in relying on his team to make up for his shortcomings. In return he would do his part to make up for theirs.

Jean tensed at the ambush, a scowl creasing her forehead. "Right, guys, make sure you're keeping each other covered," she advised, drawing her long knife in one hand and looking at the enemies arrayed against them. "Those skeletons will be easier to take on if they're on foot. I've encountered some in my adventures -- solid blows are best, to shatter their bones. If you take out the legs, they have trouble moving. Take out the arms, and it's harder for them to attack. Crush the skull, and that's it, but it's harder to break successfully than the appendages. Those gliders won't be half so effective with torn wings, so we need to take them out of the sky. As for general tactics, well...what we really need is a way to break them up into manageable groups. I have some flashbangs, which might buy us a little time, but some sort of binding or slowing would be best, to hold most of them up until we can get to them." Jean fingered the round balls in her pouch, ready to hurl one down to blind the archers. After all, you needed to see your target to hit it properly.

"Those wizards seem quite deadly. I'll take them on, but I'm not sure I can take them all out," Wolf said, thinking about her leg. "My leg works some, but more as a support than actual working use. I can probably do enough damage to take them out of the fight temporarily, however. Here!" Quickly muttering a spell, she cast it upon her friends. "This will help your defense."

"Close your eyes!" Jean warned, hurling the small explosive down at the ground hard. A blinding flash and a loud BANG! followed. She hoped most of the archers had been looking in their direction, and indeed, the first volley of arrows seemed poorly aimed. That wouldn't last long but it would give her friends a small edge for now.

Drawing in a deep breath as he shut his eyes for Jean's flashbang, on the exhale Venom sprang toward the closest of the skeletal mounts. Swords were generally not made for cutting bones, but Venom had a few things in mind. Twisting in midair he sunk his full weight into a smashing jab with the butt of his sword hilt. The blow connected with one of the skeletal mounts necks ringing with a satisfying bone shattering crunch. Bone fragments flew into the air while Venom flew