((OOC: This is a follow up post to "this could go badly" anyone can jump in. it is just a fair warning heads up this involves exiles stuff.))
Poppy leads the group far south of town as the letter had stated. She finally leads then to a halt scanning the area for a certain green hair druid. "Goose?" The fae called out into the wooded area.
Waiting for the others to arrive at the meeting place with Goose, Ayrin paced back and forth, nudging loose stones with the toe of his boot. He was nervous but ready to provide backup for his Bear brother if he needed it. In the midst of his pacing he heard the voice of Poppy calling and looked up from the ground.
"Heya Poppy, Weylyn." The duskling greeted the two he was most familiar with, nodding in acknowledgement to the others that followed.
A green-maned panther approaches from further south. When it nears it shifts into humanoid form.
"Good evening, everyone," Goose says as he nods to each in turn. "We still have a ways to travel. I would rather not endanger Jastrey with what we do if possible. Though, our precautions may be of little use..."
He turned, shifted back into his Wild Form, and led the group deeper and deeper into the woods.
Poppy gives a light nod to Ayrin. "Morning. This is Dayne he is one of the newer docents" Poppy said introducing the other fae. She gives Weylyn a soft laugh. "Maybe after all this I can enchant something with a touch of it." She said with a smirk.
"Ah there you are Goose." She said following him as he leads the way. " well even if the distance does nothing it better safe to try at least it." The fae chirped. "What are you going to speak with these said exiles about?" The fae said a curious smirk on her face.
Weylyn nodded to the unseelie "I might take you up on that." He said falling into step beside her. "I'm here to help in case it turns into a fight. But I'm not getting close to those things while you're talking... their words have a power to them." He said to Goose surpressing a shudder as his ears laid back against his skull.
Ayrin redirected his attention to the male fae and greeted him. "It's nice to meet you Dayne! Just a shame it's not on better circumstances." He said with a nervous smile.
The duskling returned to a more serious expression as he turned to follow his fellow druid and lead the others further away from Jastrey. His hand was clenched around the grip of his father's sword in anticipation, he did not have a good feeling about what was to come.
"Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii." Dayne waves vigorously at the duskling.
"Better circumstances? How much better could it get! Learning from my new mentor, new friends, head voices, scenic local..." As he keeps listing his reasons, Dayne's voice begins to trail off until it's an incoherent babble.
At Goose's arrival, he snaps back into reality. He beams brightly at the green haired individual, waves intensely, and grins sharply.
"Well I suppose that's looking at the better side of things," Ayrin chuckled at the fae's optimistic take on the current events. "I can't say I'm not morbidly curious as to what will happen, I only hope for our friends' and familys' safety back in town. There's no telling what will happen given the nature of the Beyond." The uordeq continued as he walked.
Goose paces himself so Poppy could fly alongside him. "It is questionable if either we it these creatures are capable of communicating with each other. So far their vocabulary has been limited but their meaning fairly clear." He walked along in silence for a moment. The sun was lowering in the sky and began casting long shadows through the forest.
"Most of you probably do not know this, but I had a wife and daughter whom I thought died in a fire that consumed our village prior; that is what brought me to Jastrey. A [month] ago I was approached by a fortune teller of sorts who claimed to see my village burning and my wife disappearing; I do not have any other clues to go on right now.
"Now a few days ago a woman who was somehow affected by these creatures came to town. Some of you may have net or seen her. Among all her babbling she made it clear that she believed that my daughter was alive and in the custody of these creatures. Whether or not her words are true or not I cannot be sure, but since my return from Talaud I have had continued interaction with the creatures and have a way to trigger their effects. I do not know how this will go, but I will be fanned if there is a chance to get my daughter back and I do not take it."
As he finishes his story they pass a large stone where Kresh sits. "This way, Kresh. Another mile or two in this direction should be good."
Goose nods to Poppy, then speaks to Kresh. "I appreciate your concern, Brother, but what I have seen is more than mere nightmares. Perhaps soon you will see that for yourself. And maybe I can get some answers."
He continued leading the group on in silence until the woods around them had grown dark and the sun had set over the horizon. Finally he stopped in a small clearing and looked around. "This should do." He turned to the others.
"Some of you have seen what I have seen. Some of you have not. Regardless, I feel it best to quickly prepare you. Some advice:
"First, note the location of your allies. The illusions these creatures create are powerful enough to make you believe your friend an enemy. Try to keep your minds clear and see through the illusions. Healers need to be ready to assist if in-fighting begins.
"Second, you would do well not to gaze too long or hard at the creatures. Further problems have arisen for some, including myself, when trying to inspect them more closely.
"Finally, words hold power when dealing with our objective. Fortunately the words that seem to hold the power are in a tongue either long lost or unknown to to this world. For your own safety, do not repeat any word that you hear them speak that you are unfamiliar with.
"I will be breaking this final rule in order to attempt more direct contact. In the past one word has triggered various visions for me. I have heard them speaking enough to recall several of the words they speak. Their meaning is unknown to me, but I hope that they will have something of a desireable effect." He looked each one of his allies in turn. "Mind you, nothing that happens here tonight will be good; that is the feeling I have. So thank you for being here."
He stood in silence for a moment then took a deep breath.
"Rahsh kaluth Oxoqlps vakrekt!" [intentionally mispelled to simulate an attempt to pronunciate]
Weylyn followed Poppy at a jogging pace to keep up with the flying Fae. Coming up behind the Unseelie he leaned on his staff to catch his breath. "I really need to learn how to do that..." the ulf said before straightening up and looking around for the dryad. "So this is where we're meeting Goose?"