The Three Keys AKA Hurting Those You Love

With the Unseelie fleet destroyed and their Crown Prince dead, the stragglers still in the Borderlands have retreated. Inside the Gearloose Goose, happy chatter is in play as the Seelie forces begin to arrive for the Sealing Ceremony.

Some of the mages, led by Winton's childhood friend Melian, are working on ways to send the Wayward Squirrel back to its rightful space. As to the Goose, it is less returnable, since it was repaired with Borderland materials.

The Crystanians vow they don't mind at all, as long as they can be sent back. Hayao vows to rebuild the Gearwork Goose to all of its previous glory in Wolfenhague, and Ms. Miranda and Mauve agree to form a partnership with Tony and Jedro to make Bordertown a major tourist attraction.

Termina herself has gone to get Princess Eilwyn to confirm that the crystal Larianne retrieved from Lightning is the third key. The Princess herself will have to insert it.

Feeling a bit tired, Larianne goes in search of Lappy. Since he was so swift during the run off the ship, she would have expected him to be bouncing around near her, but he has been strangely absent. She climbs back up to the inn in hopes he may have gone out to the back garden, where he and she both like to sit and think.

Sure enough, he is there, in whispered conversation with Tanaka, who is engaged in planting several bulbs in a small plot.

"What are you two up to," she asks, not going too close, as she is still miffed at being knocked out on the Vixen.

"Planting Harmony Lilies for you, Mistress," Lappy says happily. "Since things turned out so well during the battle. This way, you can always remember us with affection!"

"Silly. You're my pet. I'll never forget you! Still, thank you both. I love flowers. What do they look like when they bloom?"

Tanaka stops and smiles at her. "They're shades of blue with touches of white on the edges. Reminds me of you, somehow, and I was hoping you wouldn't still be mad at me."

"He was only concerned for your safety, Mistress."

"All right, all right. You're forgiven, but I did end up saving your life."

"You did and I thank you."

She thinks about asking him about the girl in the crystal, but decides it's not the time.

"Come on, Lappy. Let's let Tanaka finish and we'll go join the others. He can come down when he's done. Food should be ready then."

"Okay, I'll be down in a bit. I only have two more," he answers, looking relieved.

Lappy pauses before following Larianne and turns back to Tanaka. "You will keep your promise to me tomorrow, yes?"

"Yes, Lappy, I will," Tanaka replies without raising his head.

The next morning, all have assembled in front of the twisted tree. The Adventurers quickly move the Pixies into their proper positions and the three roots straighten out to form long lengths with clearly visible keyholes.

On a small table next to the roots sit Delgar's locket, Caniel's ring, and the crystal taken from Lightning. All is in readiness, but Termina and the Princess have not arrived.

"You should be able to begin," Melian says sweetly. "Her Key of Loyalty and Love is the last. The sooner we do this, the less the Unseelies can resist us, and I am already feeling their spells hitting the root from behind.

Delgar nods and steps forward to pick up his locket. "In the name of Valor and Honor, I seal your evil from this world for a millennium."

He inserts his key, the first root shakes, then twists and turns into part of a tight knot. The locket is shot back to Delgar's feet in a heap of twisted metal.

In Larianne's arms, Lappy gives a little whimper and she holds him tight, kissing the top of his head and stroking his ears. "Don't be frightened, puppy. It's just the lock twisting."

Termina's coach pulls up as Kelian picks up his ring. A very white-faced Eilwyn alights, her eyes puffy as though she has been crying.

Kelian inserts his ring. "In the name of Trust and Integrity, I seal your evil from this world for a millennium."

The second root shakes and forms its part of the know as the ring lands back at his feet, another lump of twisted metal.

Eilwyn walks forward slowly.

"Now, friend Tanaka, you promised," whispers Lappy, giving Larianne's face a quick kiss and kicking free of her arms. "I love you, my Mistress," he says to her as he walks toward the Princess. Tanaka quickly wraps his arms around Larianne. She looks at him in surprise.

"I'm so sorry," Eilwyn sobs as Lappy walks toward her, "I was so little, and flighty. I didn't really know how to treat a puppy, or that this might harm you."

"If a dog is not these virtues, who is? You chose well." Lappy tells her. "I must protect my loved ones as well, and I am the third key as you made me."

"NO!" screams Larianne. "Not Lappy! NO!" She struggles to go to him, but Tanaka, his eyes full of tears, holds her tightly.

Eilwyn puts Lappy's paw into the third keyhole and chokes out: "In the name of Love and Loyalty, I seal your evil from this world for a millennium."

The third root shakes, then twists and seals. Sounds of screams come from the base of the roots as the Unseelies are thrown back into their own twisted domain.

The Seelie creatures and nearly everyone else sighs in relief while Eilwyn picks up a small dog statue and brings it to Larianne.

"This is more truly yours than it was ever mine," she tells her, placing the inert figure into Larianne's arms.

"We will try all we can with our magic to restore him," Termina says, "but I will not give you false hope. It is unlikely we can reverse this."

"Still," vows Melian, "we will try!"

"There is a journey I can make," Tanaka tells Larianne as she drips tears onto Lappy's little head. "It is long, but, if you give him to me, I'll try..."

"No!" she snaps, finally shaking herself free and walking away from him to lean into Ertrude's embrace. "I never want to see or speak to you again!"

So the tale told in the Borderlands ends, with fiery battle, evil sealed, victories won...

...And a few hearts broken.

(OOC: There will be chat thread for this as well. Please react here only in character and asks all questions or leave comments there. There will also be an epilogue here after you have had a chance for your characters to react.)

(( OOC Oh.... ))

Frieda stands with her team, the Rogues, arm in arm with her cousin Dace and leans against her for support. She watches the ceremony in a fog, so much has happened and she is completely overwhelmed by it all. She is sad for Larianne, and for the loss of the Free Creature Lappy. Other then that, she doesn't completely comprehend the rest of the goings-on. This world and it's realities are so far removed from her world and her experiences that she is simply dulled by it all. The lingering effects of her acute hypoxic episode when her cabin decompressed in space greatly contributed to her stupor...and the 750 ml of Irish Whiskey that she consumed after the battle...

Jenna walks over to Kwixis, throws her arms around his big neck and hugs him close. Tears run down her face as she feels for Larianne. To lose such a close companion is like losing a child. Kwixis nuzzles her back, trying to comfort her.

Verrek watched the ceremony at the root in silence. At first he wondered if he and Krios could assist in turning the statue back into a dog, but seeing Tanaka's face Verrek knew it wasn't their place in the annals of time to perform this feat. Still Verrek felt the man's pain, to be scorned when you do what is right and honorable is a deep wound. Verrek could still feel the pain of his, even though it happened in another life.

The shade sighed deeply and turns his gaze up and away from those gathered at the keyholes. Maybe it was time for him to return to his homeland, perhaps he had played his part in this story?

Verrek looked back at the other Chimeriad gathered nearby. He knew they wouldn't want him to go, two of their teammates had already left them along the way since his arrival a short time ago. Besides, they were his friends.

The shade smiled and crossed his arms retuning his eyes to the root, positively writhing with magical essence.

SilentOne fluttered down and alighted on his shoulder.

"Think ye we should leave?" The crow asked though their bond.

"It crossed my mind, yes." Verrek replied in kind. He looked over at Feng, the lantern's sinister glow calling, calling. "It probably would be the safer choice."

The stone beast turned its hunter's gaze upon the shade and Verrek paled, he snapped his eyes back forward and stopped his body from shuddering.

"Quell your cowardice and retain your honor." The crow berated him, giving the shade a sharp peck to the head. "Your mind is set for the comfort of home and the pleasures therein, rather spare concern for those before you and mayhaps this path will lead to the answers you seek."

Verrek blinked, the answers? He had given up on that long ago, millennia before he had even met SilentOne. How did he-

"Your dreams." The crow answered simply. "They betray you. In your sleep you replay your long past life and I fly there, sometimes, to learn what I can. There are things you missed, there is still hope, you can still break the curse of the necromancer. You can still-"

"I ca- I [I]can't [/I]!" The shade withdrew into himself and wrapped himself into a ball. Outside his body suddenly shut its eyes and fell backward, flat on its back, as if he had died. Luckily he hadnt brought his bow and quiver to the ceremony or they would have been damaged.

SilentOne flapped in the air where Verrek had been standing a moment before and while others looked over in alarm and started to approach the crow landed besides the head of the shade's comatose body.

"You cannot hide" the bird mentally called to Verrek's distant consciousness. "You have done enough of that already. You hide by performing great kindnesses and you hide by banishing your guilt through thrills."

SilentOne tilted his ebony head in concentration as he worked to keep ahold of their telepathic connection.

"Ask your companions for help, the mage was once a necromancer, they can help."

There was no answer.

"Stop hiding!" The crow pecked the head of the sleeping body.

"I do not hide." Came the distant reply.

"Coward!"

"Do [I]not[/I] call me coward, bird!" The shade came rushing back, like a creature rising from the murky depths up to the surface.

His body opened its eyes.

Verrek looked to see the concern on the faces gathered above him. He spotted a few of the Chimeriad amongst those around him, and with SilentOne goading him, Verrek spoke to his friends.

"I- I need your help."

Rested after the long space battle, the Fallen Angels attend the key ceremony with relief. Imagine our shock when Lappy stepped forward to act as the third key! Laurie snorts "I knew it all a long. Something was hinky with that dog and I was pretty sure he had something to do with the key. If I had only voiced my suspicions sooner!"
Atrueheart hugs Laurie tightly and says "Aw hon, don't beat yourself up over it. You have done us all proud with your new warrior skills and all of your research has proved invaluable."

Webby stands with a confused look on her face. "He's a dog, he's a key, he's a statue? I don't get it and now I have a headache from trying to figure this all out."

Calie and Talli just shrug. "Webby hon you're always confused but that's what we love about you so much!" Calie says. Talli smiles at them all sadly. "Such is the way of the world. Sadness will always go hand in hand with gladness. It's been that way since time began."

Jeice kicks the ground in embarrassment. "All this emotional stuff is making me wanna puke! That Larianne has got to be ten kinds of stupid to treat Tanaka like that. Can't we just skip the lovey dovey stuff? Seriously!" she grouses and tries to hide her face as a tear rolls down her cheek. Wiping it away she glares at the other Fallen Angels, daring them to say anything. Her hand grips her bow tightly.

"Well Angels, it's been a grand adventure and you have all performed brilliantly and rose up to every task." Atrueheart says as she looks around at her team. "I couldn't ask for a better team! I'm gonna hate missing y'all when we all go back home!" Atrueheart gathers her Fallen Angels together and hugs are passed around much to Jeice' chagrin.

Phineas glances around, a frown marring his otherwise always perfect form and visage, because he is so very perfect, everyone says so. At any rate, he feels, deeply, that while sacrifice is all very well and good, it doth leave one with a bitter taste upon the tongue. "There's a good ballad in there, somewhere," he muses to himself, glancing to his feet where the scrappy kitty ought to be. With a shake of his head, the bard turns on his heel and wanders back to the Inn.

Valera watched in silence as the scene unfolded before her. The keys were used and the ceremony ended in what seemed like a great sadness.The viera removed her hat and gave Lappy a moment of silence out of respect for the creature. It was a long and hard fought battle up to this point, Val was tired and worn out by this point.

Putting her hat back on and adjusting it between her long rabbit ears, the pirate scanned the area around her in search for her colleagues. To her surprise everyone seemed to be there from the Chimeriad, all mixed in with the rest of the protectors.

Valera patted Feng's head and was going to go have a talk with Lilith when she noticed the stone beast's hard stare in Verrek's direction. "Feng... What's up with ye?" There was no answer in her mind, no steely voice to call out that he was hungry. Something seemed incredibly off and made Val uncomfortable.

Suddenly the pirate noticed Verrek collapse, she glanced at Feng who hadn't turned his gaze them back over at Verrek. 'Was he ok? Did Feng cause this?' she asked herself with a worried look growing on her face.

"Twas not I." The steely voice answered in her mind.

Relieved slightly it wasn't Feng's immediate doing, Valera smacked the creature out of its gaze. "Hurry, let's see if he's alright!"

The pair ran over to where the shade had slowly started to come to. There was now a crowd around him but Val and Feng gently pushed their way through.

"If there was a problem to begin with mate WHY DIDN'T YOU SAY SO!" Valera called out to him as she offered him a hand to get back on his feet. "Ye don't need to hide things from us... Ye know we're her fer ya."

Val also kept a close eye on Feng, she didn't entirely understand what was going on between him and Verrek. She didn't want anyone else to have to pay for him being around, he was Val's problem. A problem she was willing to die for.

Where was Myra? Valera scanned the crowd looking for her, she might be the best to help if he needed some healing.

((OOC: All the friendly pings ))

Dana sees Lappy walk over to Eilwyn, understands what he is doing and feels a hole open in her stomach. She grabs Reyna's hand and squeezes it tightly, and the ranger squeezes back and pulls her closer. The world is saved, but the price is cruel, and both of them know there is nothing they can do to make it better for poor Larianne. Bitter, Dana slings her arms around her girlfriend and silently says a last goodbye for Lappy.

Chandie happily watches the ceremony knowing this is the effort to send back the Unseelie for good. Occasionally stroking Ginger's furry head as the dog faithfully stands next to her, she can't hear their words being so far away amidst all the teams surrounding the area and watching intently but nods each time it is obvious a key works.

Suddenly she gasps seeing Lappy held and a whispered..

"No!"...

...involuntarily is heard as eyes widen in shock, but before she can say it again, the last key was done and what was left was a statue of a once lively and sweet dog. Chandie wraps her arms around the equally shocked companion as she sobs into her ginger colored fur.

After a long time of grief, she finally leaves the area then hunting a private spot for just her and Ginger, she begins to play her lyre slowly, it is a sad song of sacrifice and sorrow. Once the music dies...

Perhaps one day she'll write of the brave dog that saved everyone but for now, Chandie goes to find her team mates needing their comfort.

Nightshade snapped at the few adventurers that started sobbing at the sight of such a great sacrifice. "That's enough!"

murmurs floated to him from the crowd brute , heartless, and some more.... colourful terms he was well accustomed to hearing. It wasn't that he didn't appreciate the little puppy's actions but rather it was the adventures that were annoying him. "Don't you dare cheapen his actions with tears, it was a choice he made out loyalty and love and will be treated with the respect and dignity it earned him."

Besides, he thought to himself, if there was a way to bring the furball back then he was sure it would earn him a decent reward, when people got sentimental they also become very, very, very generous. he would have to approach the court about the matter later when they were less ears around.

Dori, whose species is incapable of being alone, stares in horror and shock as Larianne loses her friend in a ceremony too bizarre for Dori to comprehend. Dori sees Larianne leaving the company of Tanaka as she walks away... alone! The "no" Larianne shouted still reverberating and echoing within thoughts identifying with Larianne's solitude. "No... I am no longer as I once was." Dori moves towards Chandie to join her in her search for the other team-mates.

Lilith watched the ceremony closely as Delgar and Caniel used their keys to seal the unseelie. The truth about the third key sending a wave of shock through her body, Jasper wrapped his arms around her leg as the deed was done. A tear slid down her cheek for the loyal dog who gave his life to save everyone. Turning away she could hear the pain from Larianne her words sharp like knives thrown carelessly in anger. Scanning the crowd she noticed Val and Feng heading towards a seemingly lifeless Verrek. With quickness she joined Val just as Verrek awoke. Fear washed over Lilith as Verrek asked for helped, she stood stunned by his words wondering what exactly he would need help for.

Teislyn felt the little Lure shaking in her arms. "I know Lini, this hurts my heart too." She looked around for her teammates and found the group of them off to the left. Walking over, she put an arm around Frieda, giving the weasel a tight squeeze. "I think Lini and I are going to leave soon, this is a lot to take in and we need to recoup and process all of it. Come visit us in Veta sometime." With that said, she nodded at the rest of the Rogues and went back inside.

Turf was excited to see the ceremony set before the twisted tree. The Pixies that guarded it were beautiful beings and he felt akin to them. Frink, Turf's companion sprite, gave them his bedroom eyes and blew them kisses. Turf was not amused and grabbed Frink, holding onto him tightly. He had been afraid he wouldn't see his companion again and held him close to his heart in a loving embrace.

The ceremony took a turn that he had not expected, Lappy being the key was a huge shock to him. He held on to Frink even tighter and Frink looked like he might explode from too much love. Giving Turf a raspberry but then nuzzling his chest with his head.

"I only wish there could have been another way, if only we knew we might have been able to find a way to keep Lappy from becoming a statue..." he trailed off and a tear ran down his cheek. Turf knew that tales would be told of this great adventure he and his friends had but none of these tales would ever compare to the tale of sacrifice of Lappy the loyal dog.

Turf hoped that the tales of his journey with the Foggiest Notions would impress Eurus and show Eurus that he was worthy of becoming his apprentice. But for now he would enjoy the victory over the Unseelie with his friends. He looked around at all his friends and smiled; Armina was a brave warrior that he was proud to call his friend, Ravensong was a talented bard with a voice like an angel, Max who had recovered from the Border Fever was a playful vagabond with a mysterious past, and lastly his eyes stopped on the ranger Fern who was such a beautiful soul. With all his courage he could muster, he walked over to her and kissed her on the cheek.

"I'd been wanting to do that for a long time now," Turf said in a quivering voice as he blushed and smiled at her his biggest smile.

With tears rolling down her cheeks Blood Frenzy watched as the dog who was warmth and fur is returned to Larianne as an inert statue. Maybe magic can restore him, but that remains to be seen. So much has occurred that she does not understand and she is not sure that she needs or wants to. The Borderlands battle has been won and the Unseelies thrown back to where they belong. Giving one long sigh, Frenzy turns around looking for her teams mates. A few strong drinks were in order.

Foggy

Though she didn't know Larianne personally Fern felt her heart breaking for the poor girl and her companion. She couldn't bring herself to watch Lappy's noble sacrifice, looking away and squeezing her sister's hand with a murmured "Why..?"

Even the sprightly owlet Tito was silent out of respect... that was until Turf approached Fern and he immediately began ruffling his feathers with a haughty squawk. With a knowing smile Ravensong released her sisters hand and quietly left to give the two a moment of privacy.

"Turf..." Fern began. She had much to say, but before she could muster another word the Satyr had kissed her cheek. She found Turf's bright smile to be contagious and it helped to ease her sadness, her cheeks rosy in color as she caught herself giggling.

"You missed." She informed him, faking a pout before leaning up to press a shy kiss to his lips.

Tito watched in dismay as the scene played out before him. Something was clearly wrong with Fern. Twitterpated, he thought, as a wise owl once said.

Managing a small smile through her tears as she watched her sister and Turf, Ravensong knelt down to scoop Kabe into her arms. For once Kabe didn't protest being held, instead purring softly and nuzzling Ravensong's face before lapping the tears from her cheeks. "Come my friend." she murmured softly, "Lappy deserves a song to send him off." Stepping away from the others, she set the large cat back onto the ground and got her violin, humming quietly to herself as she began playing a soft song in honor of the brave spirit of the dog.