Session 97: The Hunt Begins!

The stag is a powerful symbol of the Otherworld–the realm of spirits and gods–known as Tir na nÓg, Avalon, Annwn, Magh Meall, Faerie. A white stag, rarer still, was believed to be a messenger from the Otherworld. Its appearance often marked a liminal moment or location where the veil between worlds had worn thin. To see the white hart was to be summoned–not merely to hunt, but to undergo a transformation, spiritual or otherwise.   One didnt chase the hart to kill it, but to be tested or led–often deeper into enchanted forests or into contact with the divine.   In non-pagan beliefs that co-opted the symbology, the white hart became a symbol of purity, grace, and unattainable ideals. The white hart came to symbolize divine mystery and unattainable perfection. Kings and knights set to chase the white hart, but could never catch it because, in these beliefs, divinity and perfection were unobtainable but should still be sought.   But that is the difference between pagan and non-pagan beliefs. Divinity is a part of every day life to pagan beliefs. It is obtainable. Touched. Experienced. Lived. Loved. But it is still indicative of a journey. To kill the white hart is to invite doom. But to follow it–catch it–is to discover truths long buried–about the land, the self, or the gods. It is elusive and sometimes unreachable, but it is not to be chased to possess, but to become more fully ourselves in its pursuit.   With the Champions assembled, The Emissary of the Stag King, Elen of the Ways, recited the rules to the contestants.   No tree or beast may be felled with iron.   The Hart may not be killed. The prize is to capture a single antler, but the Hart must not be slain.   The Hart must not be lied to. If spoken to with word and promise, your words must be true.   Hunters may lend aid to one another or even work together, but the antler may only be claimed by one.   Hunters may oppose one another, actively interfering or sabotaging others. Preference is for cleverness, tricks, misdirection, and illusion. Harm is a possibility, but frowned upon. Death should be avoided, if possible.   The winner is the one who returns to Elen of the Ways with the antler in their possession. The winner must then give the antler to another. The winner of the Hunt does not keep the antler for themselves. They must gift it–to keep it is to break the cycle of generosity and balance upon which autumn relies. In return, the Court of Leaves and Whispers bestows a boon–a prize for the winner.   The Hunt for a White Hart is sacred. Any promise made during the Hunt is as binding as any Oath.   The Hunt is a challenge for the Champions. They may be no further aided by their Court once the hunt has begun.   The Hunt will begin in one half an hour’s time.   With the rules stated, the champions had a bit of time to prepare and to potentially make alliances.   The Starborn Lady approached Illevaere and asked them if they could speak. She told Illevaere that she had received their letter and wanted to put an end to their misunderstanding. She said that when dressing her, Blue had lost a ribbon. She assumed that Blue, in trying to discover where it was misplaced, went to her Library of Stars and must have discovered this: the Starborn Lady took a pinch of stardust and sprinkled it out to reveal a scene of Illevaere entering her chamber, opening her lockbox, and taking the ribbon. The vision of Illevaere had "time echoes" behind them in the same manner that Minet Reed has, and that Ilbryen had when they were visited by the future version of themselves. The Starborn Lady assumed that Blue must had seen this and approached Aisling to resolve the matter, though unprompted. The Lady stated that she was punishing Blue for her actions, but that Illevaere had to stolen her ribbon--yet.   Illevaere explained to the Lady that it was wholly possible that it was not them at all, as Illeveare had discovered shapechanged guests who approached them, and countered their magic when they tried to remove it. The Starborn Lady smirked just a hint at this revelation, but it was enough of a smirk that Illevaere recognized it from when they saw it before--when the Starborn Lady was asked who their Court sent forward as their Champion. The Starborn Lady had said:   "A spectacle wherein mortal competes with mortal interests us not. We send no one."   Illevaere was suddenly stuck with the notion that perhaps the Starborn Lady was not refusing a champion, but rather that their champion was No One.   The Starborn Lady said that she has no issue with Illevaere as they had not stolen her ribbon--yet. But after they have taken it in the future, they can discuss matters in the future. The Starborn Lady also told Illevaere that they would send Blue to them after the dance tonight so that they could also punish her for her errors and accusations.   Bolvaic sat and offered prayer as he asked for guidance from both Ctenmillar and Caena during the hunt. Aralmeni overheard Bolvaic's prayer and watched, smiling, occasionally adding a bit of guidance on how to refer to the gods.   Levi overheard his pups, Freki, Garmr, and Skaldi talking about Dar Linkrag, the goblin bear, and their trying to determine if he is really a bear or not. Levi instructed his pups to help teach the goblin how to hunt and track like a bear and the wolves dragged the goblin away to teach him.   Aisling approached Violet Feyheart to see if she would assist her with the hunt. Violet said that since the Champions could not recieve help from "their Court" after the competition had begun, and since Aisling as not aligned with any Court, her continued assistance would not break the rules. She said that she knows of places withing Myrrwynn that are fields were stags may loiter and once she saw which direction the stags went to, she might be able to direct her.   As Aisling spoke with Violet, Black Bill approached and interrupted. He said that he is in a peculiar way with this challenge, as it was obvious to him that his Queen was still interested in Aisling and had not completed wooing her. So, in service to his Queen, he should aid her and see that she does well. However, should she shine too bright, if the Queen were to bring her into her Court, she would likely replace him as Court Champion. So, he said that while he would help her, she would not receive the antler over him.   Mitch asked Ilbryen that, since they are allowed to team up, if he could team up with them so he wouldn't die. Ilbryen agreed to help and protect Mitch, who was champion because he drew the Short Straw--a magic item that once drawn, immediately attunes to the drawer and makes everything more difficult for them. Minet Reed approached Ilbryen, stating that he had just returned from several futures and that the rules stated that Champions could not receive aid from their Courts once the contest had begun, technically, this is now before the contest had begun. He told Ibryen to ditch the goblin--that he would only slow them down. Ilbryen refused, saying that they had already agreed to aid Mitch. Minet then suggested as an alternative, to immediately kill Mitch, cast gentle repose and then to revivify him once the contest was over. He said that there are so many ways that Mitch could die that would require Ilbryen to collect all of the body parts or spend time retrieving the corpse, that it would only slow Ilbryen down and the most humane, most efficient way to resolve it was to take him down immediately. Ilbryen refused this course of action. Minet then gave Ilbryen a scroll containing the spell Word of Recall with a location that was set that the stag would most likely be in, suggesting that Ilbryen could lead people away from the hart, then use the scroll, leaving them lost in the woods with Ilbryen now poised in an optimal position. He also gave them an Echo of the Lost Moment a consumable magic item that would allow one action to be retaken. Finally, he gave them advice: that they need to use their position as Herald of the Goblin Court to their advantage. They could make a declaration as herald and the Goblin King would be inclined to follow it. He suggested making an announcement that the Goblin King would give 10,000 gold to the Champion who got the antler and handed it over to Ilbryen. Ilbryen took these suggestions "under advisement", but made no action to do any of them.   Narahm approached Zadock, mentioning that there were a lot of mortals present, and that perhaps it could be used as a time to help determine a good potential suitor of the Undine, Coraline Tidebloom. He expressed his own unfamiliarity with mortal mating rituals, stating that with him and Acacia, it was different. She had begun by dangling her roots into his water as he lapped up on the shore and--Zadock excused himself from the stories of Narahm and Acacia's mating. He was approached by Crepe Myrtle, the Arborean ranger from the Court of Rampant Green. She told him that since their Courts were aligned, perhaps they would work together--an offer that Zadock happily accepted.   Illevaere spoke with the members of their Court, clarifying the rules. Elen of the Ways said that while Illevaere's role is to hinder the champions, the hunt is meant to be won--but someone worthy should be the once to claim the antler. Wistari Enydark stated that he would transform as well into a white stag to try to mislead the Champions at the contest's start.   Aisling then gathered the party together to discuss strategy. They agreed to work together, and Myohn was included in the party gathering. The group agreed to share resources and not to hinder one another, though ultimately only one will be able to collect the antler. Levi stated his intent to track by scent and Tertius stated his intent to follow Levi. Bolvaic was reminded not to kill the stag, a small detail that he had missed. Aisling and Myohn seemed intent on working with one another.   Illevaere was approached by Hyrsam, who was very pleased at himself for introducing Mynki to the competition, seeing how it upset everyone. Illevaere asked why everyone would be so upset at her presence and he explains that making Ephudol upset would put the ArchFey at ill-ease. He explains that every seven years, each Court owes a tithe to Hell. They give a fey or mortal of value and worth, ideally one that reflects the virtues of their Court. In exchange for this tithe, the fey of the Court receives power and longevity. He explains that the Goblin Court favors quantity over quality, which is one of the reasons why the Goblin King's Court is lacking in power comparatively. Illevaere asked Hyrsam about his own tithe, which he says he does not offer. As a result his "Court" is smaller and more slapdash than the others. And, as he described it, he is less "arch" when compared to the archfey. He also explains that he has other "champions" ready to introduce to cause a stir and scene, and that they are waiting to be called upon in his Court's realm of Pandæmonarchy. He says that is the reason why he began the rumor of the Court's need for mortal champions. He also says that he is not making many friends in the Courts due to his shenanigans and is going to have a difficult time finding beds to share, and asks if Illevaere's is still open. Illevaere said that, he is free to use the room if they are not there, but they are not particularly looking for a repeat performance.   As the half hour drew near an end, a white hart arrived. Levi caught a scent of the hart to track later, and Bolvaic charged the hart, who stood its ground. Bolvaic leapt onto the hart to mount it, but despite the attempt, the hart seemed to barely need move to slip out from under him. Bolvaic took this knowledge and rejoined the group. Wistari shaped changed into another, similar looking hart and Illevaere quietly tucked Sprout in the shoulder of the correct hart in order to cast touch spells on him. Illevaere also cast longstrider on the hart. Illevaere noticed Marlow Clyst casting something to allow his own shadow to disconnect and move into the true stag's shadow, though he closed his eyes and kept concentrating to keep the effect up. Mira of the Shallow Pool cast fog cloud on the area, obscuring the sight of the two stags (though she seemed able to see clearly through the mist). The two stags took advantage of the opportunity to bound and change places within the mist and then each darted out in a different direction.   Mira dropped the fog cloud and the Emissary of the Stag King began the hunt, allowing the Champions to give chase.   The Thorned Knight acted quickly, immediately casting an entangling spell that spread out, causing the terrain to be overrun with writhing thorny briars. The spell's center was cast upon Eryndor Haraldsson. With that cast, he began to immediately move westward.   Crepe Myrtle moved with relative ease out of the thorny briars and took with Zadock, moving eastwardly.   Tertius' Fox was heavily injured from the churning thorns and Levi helped him out of the briar and moved to pick up the scent of the eastwardly stag, but did not find the stag's scent heading easterly.   Mitch was severely injured by the thorns as well, but managed to make it out of the area's affect.   Myohn dashed westwardly as Tertius moved easterly, collecting the fox and moving to Levi to find the track.   Enraged, Eryndor charged out of the thorny briars to make a direct charge toward the Thorned Knight, ready to engage him directly.   Illeveaere, who had used the opportunity of the fog to hide, moved toward one of the harts.   Mira stepped out of the briars eastwardly, while Yegor Sokolov dashed westwardly.   Anwyn Brookmist was heavily injured by the thorns, but managed to move out of its effect, but was bleeding heavily. She called to Myohn to see if he was alright and if she should step in from him, but Myohn said he was fine and she should tend to herself, and she layed hands upon herself to heal her wounds.   Freydis, who was not caught originally within the range of the briars, held, assessing the scene but making no determination on which direction to move.   Black Bill spread his wings and took directly to the sky, flying straight up out of the briars and surveying from his height.   Aisling moved out of the briars and climbed a tree to gain sight of the stags from her higher vantage. Aisling Hollowthorne followed her out of the briars, but did not climb a tree, instead simply observing her mirror-sister.   Bolvaic moved eastwardly toward Eryndor, soothing his rage by telling him that now was not the time to use violence upon the Thorned Knight, but that there will be a time. Eryndor sneered and spit at the Thorned Knight, but followed Bolvaic's words, saying that the knight was not worth his fury or fervor.   Both Doctor Caligast Murk and Eirwen the Still-Breathing made if from the briars and went westwardly.   Marlow Clyst's concentration was broken by the thorns and he cursed as his shadow returned to him and he moved out westwardly.   Mynki was outside of the range of the thorns and moved eastwardly.   Sir Hearts Aflame, with just superficial scratched from the thorns, stagged from the briars to collapse near Aisling and Almost Ashling, claiming that he was greviously injured and required assistance from two beautiful twin women. Aisling told him that he just needed to rub dirt in the wound to make it better.   Aralmeni followed Bolvaic out of the briars westwardly and Ilbryen moved out eastwardly and cast mass cure wounds, mending both the fox and Mitch from their wounds.