The North is CRAZY! (Pairings)

[Kender Bard]

(Set in Year 1016, Summer)

"This is Flux, according to the map," Aelwine replied as he stood before the gates. He tried to peer inside, but the thick fog didn't offer much of a glimpse inside. It was incredibly eerie; especially since right outside the gates it was a sunny, beautiful day. "That's really something!"

[Skittlebug]

"Doesn't look very welcoming, does it." Suri edges up to the gate to peer in, then flies up to look over the wall, wondering if the fog looks as thick from above as it does from the side. She's heard stories about this place, and seeing it in person is giving her some doubts about whether or not they should just keep going.

[Kender Bard]

"Careful," Aelwine warned. He looked around and located a length of rope. "The map says not to enter. But surely, people must visit." He reached over and tugged on the rope. "You know, my kin would be wildly jealous of me right now. Getting to visit a great holy site of the Mad Lord." He smiled as he said it, but his voice was slightly strained.

[Skittlebug]

Suri drifts back to the ground, catching his tone, but not really knowing what to do about it. Well, doing something is a start. "Well, let's see what happens then." She reaches for the bell pull, on tiptoe, and gives it a good hard tug.

[Kender Bard]

Aelwine waited a bit, looking to see what would happen, and was disappointed when several minutes passed uneventfully. "Perhaps we should go-"

"WELCOME!" Dreamwarp cackled, a trifle out of breath as she walked up to the gates and swung them open. Forces, she was starting to get too old to make the trek down here. Wait, no. Don't think that. "Welcome to anarchy!"

[Skittlebug]

Suri smirks and eyes Dreamwarp, tempted to make a comment about it having taken so long. Might not be the wisest decision to tick off someone about to lead you into crazy fog though. Instead she peers where Dreamwarp had come from, trying to see if there might be a trail through the fog. "I'm hoping it gets better farther in?"

[Kender Bard]

"Actually it gets worse," Dreamwarp replied cheerfully. "Say goodbye to the sun for a while."

Aelwine didn't like the sound of that. "Maybe we shouldn't..."

Dreamwarp smirked nastily. "What? Are you a coward? That's okay, they have a whole wing to themselves. Besides, you won't miss the sun once you're in the temple, at the heart of sin."

[Skittlebug]

Suri scowls. "Neither of us are cowards!" She starts toward the gate and Dreamwarp, looking back to Aelwine to see if he's following.

[Kender Bard]

Aelwine did follow after a moment's hesitation. As the fog rushed in to envelope them, Dreamwarp glanced back at Suri and said, "Don't fly. You'll get confused and crash. Any questions before we arrive?"

[Skittlebug]

Suri casts an eye skyward, curious, but not tempted. She glances at Aelwine and shrugs. "Not really, not until we're there at least."

[Kender Bard]

"Fair enough," Dreamwarp remarked carelessly. They passed through Flux relatively unmolested. At one point, Dreamwarp did uncoil the whip she carried and cracked it at a citizen who was drawing too close.

At the temple, she yanked open the great doors enough to slip in and let them in as well before closing it firmly shut behind them.

"And here we are," she announced. Immediately, a hoard of Curious fell upon the pair, asking for names, interests, homeland, favorite color, and more.

[Skittlebug]

Suri has to resist the urge to lash out at some of sudden crowd, taken aback by the sudden and all but desperate attention. She flares out her wings and holds them around herself in a protective gesture. "Is it always like this?" she shouts to Dreamwarp.

[Kender Bard]

"Usually," Dreamwarp replied. She put her hand on one of the Curious and shoved, bowling over a couple. She was being much more gentle to the Curious these days since her son joined the path. The Curious took the hint and started to disperse. One stubbornly remained. "What's your name?" he asked Suri. "And can you really fly?"

[Skittlebug]

Well that's a bit better, at least she can breathe now, and she quite approves of how Dreamwarp had taken care of the crowd. She narrows her eyes at the last Curious. "Suri, and yes." She crosses her arms, "And that's all you're getting."

[Kender Bard]

"No!" the Curious cried anxiously. "I have more questions!"

"Now you've done it," Dreamwarp sighed.

"Suri, what's wrong with answering a few questions?" Aelwine protested.