Moon over the Wisteria blossoms

    Wisteria has spent the last several weeks driving the SEA crazy, with half naked albino girl, or bun, depending on the moment to moment details running around. Taking up most of the gate house, growing a crystal garden. She's been knocking holes in walls, mounting frames with various sheets of materials in them, with complex magical matrices of crystals. Her hands are covered in myriad little red lines of light that show those crystals are sharp as well. However things have gotten even more hectic with the girl running in and out of buildings, popping out windows to drop to the ground and sprint to dive in some other window. The fey mood and the song in her head seem to be building to a crecendo and it seems that there might be a show for anoyone who's home or passing by the SEA HQ.

    Despite the dreafully important work back home-or perhaps because of it-the Baroness Wake has decided to make a rare trip away from her homeland. Even more unusually, she has come near to the focal point of one of the largest challenges she still faces: the troubling, subtle bending of one alliance against another. Well, in some company, it is not at all subtle.

    Wake expects many things when she studies this place that the Scale Emblem has claimed for its home. Wisteria's unusual behavior is not among those expectations. Yet it is not unfamiliar. Wake has experienced something of the like.

    "We are most busy, aren't we?" she calls out. A small curl turns the right corner of her lip into an smirk. It's nicer to observe one of these moods than to be in one. "Is all well?"

Slapping curses onto Scale Emblem Headquarters is a... Risky proposition. While Prophylaxis is sure that Wisteria has had their well being well and truly in her foremost of thoughts, the fact is that curses are... Curses. They're called that for a /reason/. He's dropped by again because he's heard that Wisteria has, uh... Begun... accelerating, acting even more erratically than usual, and overall behaving in very worrying ways.

He wonders, as he examines a red-stained crystal near the base of the castle, whether or not the blood is strictly necessary.

For all he knows, it might be! These are curses, after all.

"She's having a moment," he asides to the Baroness. "It's just a very /prolonged/ moment."

    Not knowing how much longer this was going to last, Mizuki got a bucket and used magic to clean whatever Wisteria was using for bedding to pass out from exhaustion in (or brought some in for Wis, if she didn't have any.) She then fell asleep in it herself. Also she's somehow ended up in a simple maid dress, perhaps to avoid getting anything nicer messy while attempting to clean up some of Wis's things because SOMEONE had to.

    Baroness Wake speaking makes her ears perk up and she rouses, looking around to see Wis zooming in and out. "Geeze, did someone give her coffee?! Wis, are you uh... are you okay?!" She springs to her feet and rushes to a window to check on her bun friend. She glances back briefly at Prophy, and then back to Wis, concerned as ever!
    

    If anything at this moment e entire headquarters felt like a giant radio tower emitting magic , which drew Setsuna back sooner then he had intended. Slipping in as he moves out of the way of Wisteria, it felt like a bad idea to get in her way, she would probably just go right through them. As he approaches from behind the others and his eyes follow Wisteria, " Is this it? Seems like she is about to pop at the rate she is going." Hmm however perhaps in the end Wisteria would remember the simple truth, there is no spoon.

    Wisteria finaly comes to a halt, fixing an especially intricate crystal latice just inside the gatehouse. "There we are." she says running her fingers through her hair. The tall albino girl dressed in just short purple shorts a chest wrap, and stains from alchemical experiments. She looks at the crystal then turns and... has an audience? "This is it, it's set... time... to... go..." she laughs and it's another of those somewhat mad cackles. "I hereby curse this castle and defend it's people from all foes who dare raise fist, blade, or art against us!"

    The albino girl starts gathering dark magics. "May the chains of the Beautiful One bind them, the flames of the Burning One scour them, and may the Blind One turn her blade from their grasp." The girl pushes the ball of dark magic into the last crystal she mounted. At the moment the dark light between her hands blinks out and the crystal starts to glow, a blue light blooms around the whole of the SEA HQ, the tingle of wave arts slithering through the air. Crackles and occasional thinner fading spots indicate this is not a perfect coverage but it works, it's running and the look on Wist's face is exstatic. Then she blinks, the status effect vanishing from Doc's scan. The girl blinks a few times more. "You have created an efficient new method of crrystal enchantment for arcane curses that will live on for years to come as a new technique. The Burning One has noticed your deed." she smiles a slow triumphant smile that most people here haven't seen, but anyone who had seen her being handed a trophy, or medal after a tourney would know. "Do you wish to begin the road to become a Moonlight Enchanter..." she lifts a hand to tap at the air. "Of course I do... who wouldn't?" she asks the air before falling over backwards, snoring almost before she hits the ground.... someone hasn't been doing much if she wasn't told for weeks now except building this curse.

    "She's ascending; quickening perhaps, though it has nothing to do with the turn of a babe," says the Baroness. "It is through mad devotion that we ascend to greater clarity. Surely all this was inspired by the artists of legend."

    Wake watches with vague interest, but she clearly expects to learn nothing earth-shattering from this moment. "It's fasincating how similar it is. I've seen it now several times, and the differences between each occurence is always overshadowed by the similarities. I found it rather liberating to go through it, myself. Though I was a dreaded nuisance. I believe I changed clothes ten times in one day. And at the other end? I know the ways of persuasion and the graces of language far more than I did. Is it not strange that what we knew in the real is reduced here until it is unlocked? I remember being incredibly talented in matters of diplomacy and etiquette there."

    Baroness Wake watches Wisteria tumble with an arched eyebrow. As is her way, she doesn't bother traveling through the space between her and the falling woman. She simply is there, in one sliver of shadow and out another, just in time to catch Wisteria. "Most unexpected. I reckon it's been a challenge getting her to properly sleep, then? It always seems to be."

    Setsuna watches the bloom and looks at the crystal before approaching it. He is sure the doctor and the others can look at the Wisteria but that little bit of enchanting capability he has is drawing him in. Kneeling down by the crystal his hand is running around it for a moment as he does his best to examine without touching. " Well I be damn. Such a new method of enchantment, it has potential." Looking over towards Wisteria he checks to see if she is still conscious. So many questions.

    Mizuki shouts after Wis when Setsuna says that, "You'd better NOT pop! I'll be traumatized for life!" But, Wisteria comes to a halt inside the gatehouse.

    And then Wisteria starts an incantation. "Wait, is this..." She freezes, saying no more, not wanting to risk interrupting the magic.

    It's... done? Wisteria seems to be reading a dialog box no one else can see. Mizuki runs up to hug her, "Congratulations!" Just as she falls asleep, and she ends up holding her with Wake. "Oh. Well... I guess she needs the sleep." She gives Wis's head an affectionate nuzzle. "I guess we should at least set her in the bedding I just cleaned, if we're not gonna carry her all the way back to the dorms."

"Hmn. In my case, it wasn't so much 'relearning old skills' as it was 'figuring out how to even apply those skills to the new world,'" Prophylaxis answers with a heavy shrug, even as Wisteria's arcane working crescendos to its zenith. A flash of blue light pours out of Castle Reach like a burst of Cherenkov Radiation. Prophylaxis frowns slightly as the Moonlight Enchantress... promptly passes out.

He checks her pulse, checks something /else/, and then nods slowly. "She'll be fine. Just exhausted. Let's bring her inside and get her someplace to rest up. We can handle her... hygiene later."

    Mizuki will happily help carry Wisteria wherever. She grumbles a bit at Prophy's comment. "I remember how computers work just fine. I just have no opportunity to APPLY that knowledge here. Music, though..." She rubs her neck. "My understanding of singing was learned, but what little I knew of theory was instinctive. Now... it feels like singing needs less practice, and I can compose lyrics on the fly, and my understanding of how notes fit together... nnngh, it's still instinctive, but like... chord progressions, scales, how it all FITS together, I just know so much *better* now but I don't know the *words* for it..."

    Wisteria snores lightly but has a very pleased looking smile. Perhaps she's dreaming of home, or crystals again, or something, maybe it's just dreams of food that isn't raw beef eaten by the handfull out of her inventory.

    "I can set her wherever you see fit," replies Wake evenly. "At least in this way, I'm not diminished from the real world. Digital muscles are every bit as strong as they were in the other world. If there ever was such a place."

    Wake's size is perhaps a real thing, then, and not the product of some random generation. Whatever the source, being six feet tall and a godhand helps one bear others without any hint of strain, or even much sign of effort.

    "If you would show me where you'd like to have her set down, friends, I will bear her. And perhaps you might tell me how your alliance is faring these days. I have been rather preoccupied as of late, but I have learned that we are working together on trains, of all things."

    Setsuna looks at the others as they talk about their own skills and weird moments. " My skill growth wasn't exactly something they teach in our world. Not a lot of opportunity to handle monsters and all. " His hand fiddles with a golden ring for a moment before he adds, " The growh in it though, left me knowing how to create strong magic to control the monsters. However like all things, it only left me with more questions." Looking at the unconscious Wisteria and then to the doctor, " Does she have a room here normally or does she stay in Tolbana?"

    Mizuki slumps slightly, which gives Wake the opportunity to fully heft Wis. "Digital muscles are stronger even though I'm smaller... and..." Suddenly her head whips around to look at Wake. "What do you mean, 'if there ever was'?! Come on, don't let this place drive you crazy!"

"Let's not worry about whether reality was or wasn't real, shall we?" Prophylaxis murmurs, rubbing gently at his left temple. "Otherwise, yes. Trains and steam ships. We're doing well overall, recently speaking. I believe we're getting ready to press on towards the next floor in the coming weeks, and we've got a handful of other projects coming down the pipe, both inside the tower and out. And yours? How is the whole... Undead issue in Ninetails coming from your end?"

There's a beat. He looks to Setsuna and shakes his head, "Technically we all have a room in Castle Reach. So we'll just have to find Wisteria's."

    Mizuki mutters, "M'not worried about it 'cuz it's not in doubt..."

    "Ninetails? I haven't been back there in awhile... so much other stuff going on, in the tower and with goblins... You dunno where our room is? I mean Wisteria's room I just sleep there sometimes... I mean..." The cat gets a bit flustered, lacking the right words to describe what their relationship is. "Here, this way." She strides out of the gatehouse to lead the way.

    Sleeps cause she needs it, it isn't like she's been taking care of herself. And she has dreams to ascend this ladder and that means more of this most likely in the future.

    "It is not insanity to logically question," replies Wake. "And perhaps this is not the best time for explanations of length. But suffice it to say that who I think I was is not someone who would be allowed to live in a sleeping prison. I know if my position were reversed with another of my standing, I'd have made the hard call."

    She turns from this dire topic with ease, and Wake smiles at Prophylaxis. "I appreciate that you have stayed so very busy. As for the undead, it has been a periphery matter while I gather strength in Eas. I suppose it is time that I again turn my focus to it. I can only trust that Giganpor and the others have held their own."

    Wake allows herself to be led by those who know the way. She moves with steady purpose, managing to carry her charge without drifting so much as a hair's breadth away from ideal posture.

    "I find the interest in technology a bit curious, considering how focused you are on the tower. Hopefully it serves you well. And perhaps it will keep us from becoming too estranged in our pursuits. The waves trouble some of us greatly, as I'm sure you know."

    "Tsk...", Setsuna can't help but make the noise at the mention of Giganpor and the others when it came to the undead, and it is only after he makes the noise did he realize it came out. He quickly continues at the end of the question when the Baroness asks about technology. " Technology will happen with or without us, even if we focus the tower there is no reason to not contribute to the tools we have here." Looking over at Prophylaxis and the mention of the next floor attempt, " Hopefully the time between the boss and the wave will be more generous this time. "

    Mizuki glances back at Wake. "...We might not be in our bodies anymore. We can't be certain of anything... about what's happened to us, I mean."

    She bristles, her tail going bushy at the mention of the traitor, Giganpor, but she doesn't comment on it.

    "Technology helps us with the tower. Climbing it on foot takes forever, and is probably already practically unmanageable logistically. Although reactivating the chaos gates would prove another solution if we could work out how, even then, chaos gates AND trains would be even better. Also, some kind of communications would help us monitor events of interest across the world and respond to the Waves better."

    While Wake's attention is on many things, part of her growing skillset includes picking up on emotions to a much greater degree. Not only do words convey feelings, but body language as well. Among those who bear them, the tail is an incredibly expressive instrument. That limb has an entire language unto itself.

    Before she turns her attention to this, she settles Wisteria gently onto the bed. A moment later, she is back out of the room, leaving the good doctor to do.. well, whatever it is doctors do. Take a pulse or blood pressure and flip paper on a chart, probably.

    No longer close enough to disturb Prophylaxis or Wisteria, Wake turns the conversation to what seems very important.

    "I feel I am ignorant of something. The mention of the name Giganpor disturbs you.." She looks first to Mizuki, and then to Setsuna, "And you, as well? I have clearly been out of circulation too long. What has come between him and your alliance?"

    Setsuna look at the two ladies and gestures towards a sitting room off to the side, " Best not to hold conversation in front of the door. " The necromancer takes to leading the way, his skeleton leg clicking on the stone floor as they walk, giving him a distinctive pattern. " Where would you like to begin on that matter? How many of his alliance mates has left the undead to us , perhaps that Giganpor was tossing weapons to goblins for them to use to kill us Scale members. There are a few sore spots. " As he finishes leading them to the sitting room he looks at the two once again, "Tea?"

    Mizuki bristles when Wake says the name again. She whirls on Wake angrily. "Are you KIDDING?" After a moment, she relaxes a bit and blinks. "You really don't know, huh...?" She sighs, and rubs an arm. "He supplied the goblins on one of the floors with weapons. It contributed to the deaths of adventurers AND landers."

    She looks away, rubbing her arm awkwardly. "I remember talking with him about weapon ideas, back when Wis" she nods at the unconscious bun, "first made her enchanted blade. To find out that he'd betray his fellow players like this. And for what? He got Landers killed too, so who is he fighting for? What ideal?" She shakes her head. "I don't get it."

    Wake sighs deeply and settles in a seat, her usual grace slipping for a moment as she takes this in. "I.. did not know this. I apologize. I have spent so much time focused on my dream and on my beloved that I haven't paid as much attention as I could have."

    It takes some time for the Baroness to regain clarity of mind. It is disturbing news to her.

    "It is fear of death that frankly turned me away from the Undead. I have heard rumors of people not being quite right afterwards. I have a fiance and I promised her that I would not risk my life without great need. If that makes me a coward, then I am a coward." Her eyes shift slowly between her hosts.

"Tea would be perfect, thank you. But also.. how is it that no war came of that? I don't think Olympus would tolerate such a thing, were it done to us."

    Wisteira sleeps the blissful sleep of the acomplished and doesn't deal with drama because sleeping is good so very very good.

    Setsuna looks at the two for a moment before he ... passes on a chimlink to some guy named Charlie to bring tea. The Baroness was our guess and it would not do to poison her with bad cooking , no better to let the on call cook handle it. " It should be here in a moment , " He comments before he circles around to look over at Mizuki and shakes his head. " I don't know enough about alliance history to get it much either I just don't think he is happy we are climbing the tower."
     Turning his head back over to look at Wake and consider her question for a moment before he answers her question with a question, " To what end? We can't die. So we just continuously throw ourselves into the cathedral all because one guy pissed in our lemonade. Only the people the NWA are said to care for would have suffered. There was retribution though..." He trails off and wishes Charlie would hurry up so he could cooly pause for the next part before just answering, " Xander went and confronted Giganpor when he found out, sent Giganpor to the cathedral and then that was it. Well actually I think Prophylaxis and Giganpor had to go settle things with Bear. After that nothing else has really came of it. Best not to let one part destroy the whole, you know?"

    Mizuki shrugs. "It's fine, you didn't know. I just thought maybe you were tryin' ta start somethin' for some reason."

    She blinks. "I don't think fear of death makes you a coward... even if others might feel that way given how things are in here. I'm still afraid of death, but..." She shivers. "I accept that it might happen. And I'm... I guess the idea of never being able to contact the outside world again, scares me more, in a different way. I died once, but I don't feel any different. I've had a number of close calls, before and after..."

    Mizuki rubs her arm. "At least we come back. If we didn't... I don't know if I could do it. R-risk my life. T-that time the goblins made me feel pain and broke my bones... I was resigned to my fate, but I knew I'd come back. If I thought I was going to die for real, then and there..." She shivers and shakes her head. "I don't wanna think about it. Fortunately, Merek somehow removed the effect."

    She walks along. "Giganpor acted without the knowledge of his guild, as did Xander in retaliation. A war did not happen because neither alliance wants one. If people acting on their own could drag the alliances into war... it'd be too easy for a griefer to bait us into it and then run and hide."

    "...Tea sounds nice."

    "I never said war was a good idea, but humans have rarely let that stop them before," replies Wake. "And tempers flare easily among some. It is good that it was handled without further escalation. I wonder if it might happen again, though. I have long suspected that someone who takes offense at the rate of tower clearing would do something rash. I simply wasn't aware that they already had done so."

    The Baroness turns her attention to Mizuki, smiling for a moment. "I appreciate your kindness. I had heard of the pain threshold and that, too, has guided my actions. As has the ability of the undead to simply capture us for indefinite periods of time. It made me realize that while we appear quite resistant to death, there are worse things that might be done. I feel the world is becoming much darker than it was before these things came to light."

    Wake draws in a breath and holds it for a time. Whatever thoughts she is sifting through, they aren't pleasing her. After a longer pause, she finally concludes, "It is clear we must stay aligned, even if our goals are quite different. I have no desire to return to what was. That world that was rather unwelcoming. It holds no great appeal to me."

    Setsuna is about to say more when the tea arrives brought in by a scale member who must be Charlie and Setsuna takes the tray from the man as he adds, " Thank you Charlie. " With that Charlie withdraws and Setsuna begins to pass out the cups and pours the tea slowly, a nice oolong tea it would appear. Still a bit hot for the tongue but well pain being suppressed and all. Finally Setsuna takes a seat himself and sips his tea as he listens for a moment. "So then what else do you wish to know? I must say a lot seems to happen and its hard to pick what is news worthy and what is better for the marketplae tabloids."

    Mizuki shivers and grumbles at the mention of 'worse things', then stops walking for a moment when the outside world is mentioned. "I just... want us to be able to contact it. Restore old ties. I'm sure both worlds could provide a lot of value to eachother, if we could find a way to communicate. If we can go back to our bodies... I guess we'll see."

    She rubs her arm awkwardly again. Then stops and looks at her hand on the sleeve of her dress. And then looks down at what she forgot she was wearing. "AH!" She shouts in alarm, and ineffectively covers her body with her arms, and her tail curls around too, uselessly, the insides of her ears blushing red.

    It's a plain dress and not even one that shows a scandalous amount of fur by any remotely reasonable standard.

    Despite this, she looks as scandalized as, say, someone who decided to try crossdressing out of curiousity, then forgot what he was wearing only to realize AFTER he walked out into public and now is SURROUNDED BY PEOPLE WHO CAN ALL SEE HIM.

    The shout gets a few brief glances, but passerby continue to... pass by, paying no mind to a catgirl in a dress because that's not even a remotely weird sight. There are probably MULTIPLE cat girls around who wear maid dresses INTO BATTLE, for crying out loud.

    After a few seconds, Mizuki goes back to standing normally if a bit stiffly. She takes a tea cup, "Thank you." and takes a sip. Slurrrrrrp. "Ack! Hot!"

    "There are many things I wish to know, but perhaps it is best for now to talk about what is happening in Eas. Information should be shared, and I haven't held up my end yet." The Baroness' voice restrains her pride in the achievements there, but she is of course pleased.

    "Mm, and this is excellent," Wake adds sincerely. She very much appreciates the tea, it would seem. The heat is a welcome thing to her.

    "With the monster nests cleared and their shaman defeated, the orcs are gone from the mountains. Goldenblade finished the road to the ruins, and quite frankly I am amazed at the quality of her work. I am deeply grateful for it. Many a lander may one day travel along its smooth path. To prepare for this, we have started rebuilding the village, so that housing will be available. Yet that is not the first thing to be done. Uta led a great effort to build a library in the fortress. I believe it inspires confidence in our builders to know that something so valuable is already there."

    Wake was about to make another point, but the rather unexpected outburst from Mizuki draws her attention. It seems she is.. puzzled. "Are you alright, dear?" she asks curiously. "Are you cold? You should try the tea, it is quite..." Mizuki's reaction to the heat comes in just as Wake finishes her thought, "Hot.. err. Perhaps too hot for your tastes."

    "Yes. I'm fine." Mizuki answers in the stilted manner of someone who is not fine, but she seems to be recovering from whatever it was. "This body doesn't get cold." Well. She's never been anywhere cold ENOUGH that fur and fire magic couldn't handle it, anyway. "Usually hot's not a problem, if I'm expecting it... It's fine." She concentrates on water magic, and breathes some icy cold air over the tea until she can drink it without issue.

    "A library... we're making one here, too. I wonder where people are finding enough books in this world... did someone reinvent the printing press?"

    Setsuna blows softly on his tea before sipping as he looks at Mizuki wincing. " Take a breath Mizuki, the system will fix the tongue in a moment. " Fortunately burned tongue was something that didn't last long in the game. As he sits back and listens, " Oh good, Uta got her library set up. " Looking at Mizuki he shakess his head, " No no if I remember right Uta went and struck deals with Landers to gather what books she could. It is quite impressive. However it has lead to an interesting twist to a plot I am hunting down. Someone is definately restricting information on certain subjects, Uta thinks it is the nobles." Setsuna adds his comments before looking back to the Baroness, " So I have been meaning to ask, is the new Castle Eas yours? An Alliance headquarters? Does this mean our quackerjack neighbors next door are going to leave Alne?"

    "Uta can be amazingly resourceful," notes Wake. "She's one of my favorite people in all the world. She also makes me laugh quite often. She's so skilled at sharing wonder and joy. That is a talent that is easily overlooked. But yes, you are correct. The nobles do restrict some things. But as a noble, perhaps I might prise some of those secrets out into the open. Or, more likely, we'll simply discover greater secrets entirely on our own. Shared knowledge grows, hoarded knowledge withers away."

    Having the topic shift back to Eas, Wake explains, "It is mine. I am truly Baroness Wake now, noble of the Fourland Dukedom, and ruler of the buffer zone between clans. My presence there is meant to ensure no war erupts between People of the Land. As for the Alliance, it may build a headquarters there, but that has yet to be decided. Regardless of the result, I don't think my friends in Plant Hwyaden will depart. It will be, of course, entirely their choice, but they will be very welcome in my home. I greatly value their investigations into the nature of this world and hope to continue supporting their efforts. Helping others achieve their noble dreams is, after all, something of a calling of mine these days. And that includes Landers."

Mizuki tilts her head. "So you're a real baroness with an actual castle of your own now... I knew you were going for that, but... hearing it out loud, as a thing you've achieved..." She scratches her neck. "I gotta say, that's pretty cool. Who in the old world hasn't at SOME point thought about how cool it would be to have their own castle?"

    Setsuna grins as he sips his tea upon hearing that the castle was Wake's, it was intriguing. " A noble goal if I ever heard one." Setsuna comments as he sits back and thinks for a moment on that as he makes a note to update his journal. " Well I was happy to help you get your castle. I hope you put it to good use. Perhaps you will have it in enough of a put together state by the time New Years comes around. We can count down to our anniversary."

    "The best part is I plan to get married there," Wake explains. "Back when this whole.. oddity started with us being captured here, she joked that if I ever asked her to marry me in a game, that I had better rule my own castle. As much as I wish to do good, and give the wandering and lost a home to make their own, I also have wanted to make good on that arrangement and marry the one I love."

    Wake at this point gets rather lost in memory for a time and sighs. "And I fear now.. I must get back there. I have a village to finish, and much of the castle to rebuild yet. I appreciate your hospitality, and I am grateful that you forgive my ignorance of history. Next time, I pray you can visit my home and drink tea with me over the waterfalls of Eas."

    Before she leaves, she glides into her trademark curtsey. It would seem, if anything, she's learned to make the gesture with even more grace. She's certainly getting a lot of practice in.

    Mizuki smiles, setting the tea down and clasping her hands together. "Awwww, that's so sweet! Do let us know when the wedding is, we could use more... happy occasions like that in here!"

    She responds to the curtsey by imitating it since she's wearing a garment it works with, ears blushing a bit.