Session 95: Breakfast of Champions

As the party was readying to pass into the next day, Tove Gundarsson approached Levi to speak. He said that he understood that Narahm was really the Great Leviathan and thought that he would be weaker in this form than the Leviathan, so it would be best for he and Levi to approach him now for retribution. Levi was less adamant about violence as a form of retribution, but Tove insisted that he need be confronted for his assault on his people. Levi agreed to meet with Narahm with Tove, but believed that it should simply be a discussion.   Porter burst in to find Aisling, panicked and asking for a healer. Aisling followed him to his room where Anwyn Brookmist was sitting calmly on his bed. She pulled down her collar to reveal several hickeys left by Porter. Porter said that Anwyn said that if the Iron Swan found out, she would kill her and probably Porter. Anwyn said that it was a bit of an exaggeration that she would kill them, but also clarified that she would probably have Lira Windwhistle kill them instead. Aisling healed the hickeys and Anwyn was happy and said that now they could do this again, but Aisling was hesitant that it was a good idea and that healing should be saved for more urgent, less avoidable means. Anwyn thanked Aisling and apologized as she did not want to get her in trouble because she knows that the Swan Queen likes her and wants her to join her Swan Mays. After Anwyn left, Porter confided that he tried to be respectful and that "everything was over the shirt."   Aisling then returned to her room, sending messages to her father and sister, though she did not receive any immediate response. However, precisely at dawn, when the Sending Stone reset, she received a number of messages from her family. She got one from her mother saying that Briane Hawthorne took her and her father's stones to send more messages to her friends. Briane messaged Aisling pointing out that she was the reason why she was being grounded. And her dad, having been told about the Court Seasons, was worried that Aisling did not pack winter clothes, so he had sent another care package to her.   Aisling's care package included:

• Thick Wool Socks with Embroidered Bears

• Thick Mittens that will make you roll with disadvantage in any manual manipulations you attempt while wearing them.

• A Thick Wool Scarf

• A Thick Wool Knit Hat

• A Thick Winter Coat with fur trim

• Pouch of Salt with a note that reads: “For Circles. Or Slugs. Or Cooking. Can’t Be Too Careful.”

• A Small Iron Pendant that reads: “Aisling Hawthorne.” On the back it reads: “My Daughter. Mine.” It hangs low enough that when worn, it will be right in front of your heart.

• A Jar of Raspberry Jam with a note that reads: “Mom just made this fresh.”

• A journal with its front cover, back cover and spine all wrought from iron. The first page reads “DOCUMENT ALL FEY INTERACTIONS”

• A small velvet pouch of dirt from the backyard with a note that reads: “So you always have home soil to stand on.”

• Necklace of garlic cloves and a note that reads: “95% sure this is for vampires, but there’s still that 5%”

• A Notebook that is Labeled: “LIES THAT THEY MIGHT TELL YOU” Inside it reads:

• “You’ve always been one of us.” –No, you haven’t. I saw you come out of your mom.

• “Eat, it's just a little snack.” –It’s never just a snack. It’s a contract. Smile and take a bite, then spit it out when they aren’t looking.

• “We’re your friends.” –No friend tells you they are your friend. YOU tell them they are your friend.

• “You’re the Chosen One” –You’re chosen alright–chosen to be toyed with.

• “No one will miss you if you stay.” –-I will. Every minute. Every day. Don’t believe that one most of all.

• “You’re more Fey than mortal anyway.” –You’ve got your mother’s eyes and my stubbornness. That’s as mortal as it gets.

• “It’s a gift.” –It’s bait. Say thank you, then throw it in a river. (that is then crossed out and it then reads: “Your mom said don’t say thank you and don’t accept gifts.”)

• “It’s just a game.” –Unless it’s Crazy 8’s, it’s isn’t a game. And if it is Crazy 8’s, kick their asses.

• “We’ve been waiting for you.” –Bullshit. All that means is you’re a part of someone else’s plan.

• “You’re the final piece.”--You’re not a puzzle piece, you’re a person. They can’t decide where you’ll fit.

• “This is how it’s always been.” –They just are looking for an excuse not to change things.

• “The stars foretold it.” –The only thing that a star will ever tell you is where’s due north.

• “You can leave whenever you want.” –Call their bluff. See if they let you. THEN walk back.

• “You can trust me.” –You can't. This also applies to mortal boys.

  Finally a few more letters were sent and received.   Aisling received a letter from Eldring Thunderstrike, hinting that her Court might be more aimable to bargain with if she were heading it and not her father, speaking of winds of change and heavily implying her want to overthrow him. She also told Aisling that the two should meet. Aisling also received a letter from the Barbed Countess, once again inviting her to come to her villa, expressing that she would expect her promptly after breakfsat.   Bolvaic sent a letter to Thora Asta of the Court of Thorns and Brambles, inviting her to come to his villa to speak, implying that they might be able to aid her. He also sent a letter to Dökkálfar, telling her that although she might not respect him, he has respect for her Court and imploring her to consider what might happen if winter were to rule over all of the Feywild.   Levi received a letter from Narahm, stating that he saw Tove glaring at him during the dance and hoped to be able to resolve the matter peacefully, if it could be done this way. He invited Levi to speak with him.   Illevaere penned a letter to the Starborn Lady, saying that Aisling had told her that she had stolen something of hers, but she does not know if it was a lie that Aisling concocted or if the Starborn Lady herself believed it, but stated that if she believed that they had taken something, then she should come and say it to them directly.   With the first night and the Autumn Canopy Ball behind them, new gossip was in the air, including the following strong rumors:  

• The Barbed Countess thinks that Caelum Thunderstrike is weak and is looking to humiliate him during the festival.

• The Fractured Princess has a glass orchid that smells just like the real thing.

• Aisling is looking to leave the adventuring party to stay in the Feywild, and is waiting for the best offer.

• Queen Aibel and the Barbed Countess are making secret dealings with the Goblin King to undercut the other fey in regards to the Gobling Market.

  Mumurings of lesser rumors also were heard:  

• There is friction between Aisling and Illevaere and their companionship is only a matter of circumstance.

• Chronomancy is not as reliable as one would think, and because of entropy, the futures may be revealed as false.

• Friendship is the most powerful magic.

• The Fractured Princess is making duplicates of everyone to replace them within their Courts.

  Over breakfast, the party discussed their various options and their invitations to champion their Courts. Bolvaic stated that he had already accepted the Court of Cinder and Ash's invitation, while Levi was intent on championing the Court of Hoof and Claw. Tertius had said that he was invited to champion the Thrice-Nine Kingdom, and Aralmeni believed that Queen Aibel had implied that she wanted to invite her. Levi and Bolvaic agreed to go to those respective courts, but then go to the Court of Storm and Surge together.   Bolvaic went to the Court of Cinder and Ash after breakfast, meeting Smolder who led him in to see the Ashen Lady who was sitting with Ashwyn Mariglow. The Lady responded that the ashes of the letter had arrived and she was pleased and surprised at how quickly they returned. She then askede Bolvaic to formally become Champion by undertaking an oath to be champion. Bolvaic took the Oath of the Fortnight Champion:   With ember breath and ash’s memory,
I stand not as heir, nor servant,
But as blade and banner for the Court of Cinder and Ash.

For the turning of the Fortnight remaining,
Through feast and fury, contest and quiet,
I bear the weight of my Court’s pride upon my shoulders,
And the strength of its fire within my bones.

I vow to rise when called,
To strike when challenged,
To burn when slighted.

Let the soot mark me,
Let the flames pass through me,
Let my name carry the scent of smoke until the festival’s final spark fades.

I am no rightful child of ruin,
But for these fleeting nights,
I am the fire’s edge,
The ash’s echo,
The fury of the flame,
And the Champion of the Ashen Lady.

When the last bonfire of the Festival dies, so too shall this bond.
  The Ashen Lady then gave Bolvaic a symbol his position, Cindercrest, the Ember-Shoulder, a single magical pauldron that allowed the arm it rested upon to ignite in flame that would not harm Bolvaic, but would ignite any weapon he held. The pauldron also gave him resistance to fire damage as well as invoking his station to any fey who were to see the pauldron ignited.   Illeveaere was visited shortly after breakfast by Elen of the Ways, one of the Emissaries of the Stag King. She told them that they would be serving as their champion during the festival and offered Illevaere Witherweft's Vesture, magical leather armor seemingly made of leathered autumn leaves scaled together, giving them constant ability to speak with plants, the ability to misty step away with the first strike of damage. The armor would also cocoon the wearer in roots and vines if they were to fall in combat, shielding them from further attack, and if the wearer had fallen on natural surface where the roots could sink into soil, they would be more likely to rise from their unconsciousness alive and reinvorgated.   Levi went to the Court of Hoof and Claw and saw Mac Tíre, along with Bjørn and the rest of the Council of Predators. Mac Tíre was skeptical of Levi's bid to be champion, even though the other members of the Council were in agreement that he should at least be considered. Mac Tíre agreed to test Levi, tasking him to go on a hunt to bring back quarry. After sniffing the air, Levi asked if any of the Council were hungry, stating that he believed it would be a wasted kill if he were to fell a creature without it being put to use. Bjørn chuckled and stated that he believed that Levi had just demonstrated the wisdom of a true hunter--not to kill needlessly. Though he was not pleased at the response, Mac Tíre could not deny Levi's wisdom in the moment and ceded him, and the Council agreed to name him their Champion. Bjørn then spent some time teaching Levi more about his aspect of The Great Bear, instructing him on taking the hybrid form, and using his bestial power to strengthen his bite and claws, however, Levi also gained the taboo of a vulnerability to cold wrought iron.   Aisling went to the Court of Thorns and Brambles and was led in by Mister Black to join the Barbed Countess who was waiting for her. There were no plush adornments in the villa, just practical--and possibly uncomfortable--furniture, as if to be a constant reminded that comfort is not to be sought here. Lady Hookpetal and Thora Asta were both present on the balcony where the Countess received Aisling. Thora served tea, though Aisling courteously declined. The Countess tightened the thorns that enchased Thora enough to make her drip a drop of her blood into the Countess's tea. When Thora showed a bit of resistance to her position, Lady Hookpetal sneered at her and bade her to tell Aisling why she was here serving. Thora responded that, despite never speaking to him, Sir Altharion had professed romantic interest in her. Lady Hookpetal snorted that it was not simply that, and that she has 277 entries in the Court's Record of Grudges and that she would do well to learn and memorize each and every one if she wished to atone. Thora cried out that she didn't even speak to him, if she knew, she would have rejected him and that it wasn't her fault that he liked her more than the Coun-- It was at that point that the thorns tightened around Thora and she was silent.   The Countess asked Hookpetal if Aisling had an entry in the Record of Grudges. Hookpetal smirked and read them off:  

• Association with muderous thieves who cut down their knight before he had bloomed and stole precious artifacts from the Court.

• Accepted the Countess's thanks instead of politely refusing.

• Sat at a table with Spring and Summer Courts during the feast instead of at the Countess's table.

• Toasting the Court in only vague measures without naming the Court, the Countess, or giving her the Golden Apple once it was won.

• Wore a gown with wings of a butterfly instead of a gown complimenting the Barbed Countess's Court.

• During the box step of the waltz, closed left to right too quickly making the Countess appear that she was out of step a fraction of a second after hher, even though Aisling was early.

• Tarried thricely on invitations to visit the villa, only arriving after being asked in writing.

• Wore a gifted bracelet in her hair rather than on her wrist in a mockery of even the most basic principles of fashion and accessorizing.

• Did not take a seat when offered, instead standing and implying that the Countess was weak and needed to sit.

  The Countess then ordered Hookpetal to tear out the page and toss it into the hearthfire. Hookpetal was surprised and hesitated at the order, and the Countess told her that once it was done, to add "hesitating in following a directive given to her by her sovereign Countess" onto her listing in the Record. Hookpetal blinked and followed the direction.   The Countess told Aisling that she was officially starting with a clean slate, and seemed genuine in her intention. She told Aisling that she had hoped that she would feel comfortable in her villa and that, should she decide to remain in the feywild, that perhaps she could attend her Court.