14. The Masquerade of Cernunnos

We start the game with everyone sleeping peacefully. During the night Cre is awoken in the Crows Nest with no one there, all alone then all the book cases come to life and once again surrounded by wood blocking out all light and from the shadows steps forward a hooded creature "Good to see you are learning."   You know that voice as friend and you can see his chin and smile and sure it is him. "However there is always more you can learn. The grand library has many good books on all types of things and … Magic. I think you should go and see what they have." Then he pulls his hood back and there stands a faceless person with no mouth yet an eerie ethereal voice sounds out "A tome of sapphire awaits beneath the eyes of stone. Connect by bone or find yourself trapped beneath a dome."   Then all goes to black and he woke up. Also during the night Talon was woken by a hooded figure with red hair. "There's someone new in town who has a message. You need to meet her in the library during the ball. She will give you the information and you need to get it out of the ball and to me. Rose will be in attendance as a representative of Mir Buldahr so I can't receive information there so find a way to get it to me after the ball." She then blows dust in his face and he falls back asleep.   Elsewhere during the night Lark finds himself at the tree but it's fall and the leaves are falling. As he approaches the tree Belathor comes around the corner, in the form Lark knew him. "Hey hun it's been a while. Unfortunately this form doesn't have much time left so I feel now is the best chance to tell you everything because ... I don't have much time left and ... I won't be able to communicate with you for a while. "   Clearly solemn and his usual quiet self he begins "Back when I was a youngster, I did something to save someone who was in dire need and tapped into powers I was not meant to use to save their young. However my elders did not approve and so cursed me to live many mortal lives protecting the people of this place. So each life i live i attach myself to people who may need guiding. Then my life ends and I start a new life. "   He takes a breath clearly grounding himself for something hard to talk about, "However this time my life ended early, I broke the rules and used my regeneration to bring you back. Now the ..... oh shit"   Everything goes to black and Lark relives the scales sequence again. This time the voice says "Let go or ill take you too" Then he woke up in a cold sweat.   The morning of the ball the whole group are awoken to alarms blaring from their message stones. Notification reads "you are invited to the portable pashmina in the entrance to the grand hall at exactly midday, don’t be late"   Before anyone does anything Lia gets a further message "Meet me at the Saloon at 11 i have everything booked in ready for the festivities"   The group discuss plans and meet up with Ygwain. Lia goes to meet her mom and Gwen and Lark go see Maude before taking Cre to get groomed ready for the event. Talonm stays to give instructions to the bookshop staff and Ygwain goes shopping for some items he needed.   Lia meets her Mom at the spa but shes acting weirder than usual. Filauria explains that she does infact love Magne and Lia but sometimes things happen and you have to make choices. Then takes her off to Daxia's private salon for fittings of gowns. However her mother shoes Daxia away. They then have a heart to heart where Filauria explains how her son has got into some bother and to potentially protect him she needs to pose as currently married to her ex and that Lia would have to pretend to be full elf and his daughter. Also there was an extra support she needs from Lia, she needed her to get to the library and replace the family tree with a forgery incase anyone looks into this. Lia begrudgingly agreed.   The group minus Lia and Cre, make their way to where they were told to meet "the Portable Pashmina". When entering they meet a dishevelled hooded Mao who escorts them to a room where a fuchsia door stands in the middle of the room with the logo portable pashmina hanging off it. He looks at them and says he will be out shortly. Then he enters the door closing it behind him and vanishes   Then, a moment later, Rapheal pops out introduces himself in all his colourful shimmering glory of draped sheers and silks over the body of a white tiger Mao and then takes players in one at a time. Each experience a different interior with racks of clothes they would only dream of owning or ever wearing:  

• Talon mahogany, silks, leather and velour fabrics in deep dark tones Lark chiffons and suade Beech wood and silver rails, green and brown tone fabrics Ygwain black rails and oak woods with lilac and Grey fabrics and dark brocade Gwen navy, pink and purple chiffons, cashmere and lace on white rails with Maple woods

  As each step out they find they are dressed in new ball appropriate attire and once they are all out they notice the door and Rapheal are nowhere to be seen. This is when Lia joins them wearing a green gown given to her by her mother. Ygwain gives Gwen some earings and she gives him a brooch, they had both got each other a little gift without realising. Once everyone is back incl Lia all In gowns then Cre walks in, looking very unhappy wearing a little boys sailor outfit holding a giant spiral lolly the size of him.   They then approach the stairs of tha ball and butlers take their invitations and any cloaks they have. A gold masked guard frisks them all for weapons. They are given a gold coin the shape of an oak leaf as things are checked. Lia has to hand over several suspiciously placed daggers and weapons and all are placed into a pocket dimension.   The Butler then guides them to a small purple curtain lined room where a very frantic looking fairy with blue skin and pink streaked grey hair rushes them with a quil and paper and says "name"   Beyond the curtain ahead they hear the Introductions: Daldor Boulderkind and Rose Quartzheart of Mir Baldr   "Name quickly." Maude Teahand and Bijuli Dhar of Ironoak   He then scribles each name and pushes towards the curtain opening Krigyra and Saffron Braeburn of Mir Buldahr   Then Ygwain is pushed through first - Rhaegian Teluvar Ygwain of Duxton Talon of the Ashwood   He looks at Cre "Whats your family name?" Cre responds "no family just friend"   Cre Friend of Ironoak Gwen is introduced as Rose Red of Mirrorvale Lia is introduced as Syltia'Tralia Thistleglow of Isalume   Several other parties enter as the group find their way to an empty table in this grand hall that was rapidly filling up with familiar and unfamiliar faces, fairy servers with trays of food and drink as well as a buffet to one side and to the other a band playing relaxing music.   Lia is drawn to look at the next entrance: Council Woman Filauria and husband Valdigor Thistlespark of Isalume   Followed by an announcement "Now entering the esteemed high council Vanyalë Tékarë"   Then the council members all started entering some in pairs some alone:   Apprentice Merlin and High Priestess Morgana of the Fir Chair of Trade Artax of the Copperhoof Tribe Scribes Sycamore and Daisy of Paddock Warren Chair of Communications Casovalia Hermes of Clan Jorryn Chair of Wellness Aki Viesova Protector of the Pansy Fields escorted by Thathu Goldmane Captain of the Mask and Finally Faeythe Oakheart Head chair of Vanyalë Tékarë   A few minutes later as everyone is settling into mingling, during which time Gwen and Ygwain start dancing, then a late arrival is announced - Grand Vizor Astaria Cressida accompanied by Lady Cressida Duchess of Mirrorvale   Panic sets in with gwen who goes into hiding towards the back of the ballroom. Astaria and Cressida make their way to the centre of the room where they begin a discussion with Faeyth. It looked as though Astaria was announcing that she had got engaged to the Emporer of Ironoak.