Arcade’s Journal -- The Faerie Circles, Part 2

...passed through the gate, and looked for the large tower where the conference was to take place. Since the land is in permanent twilight, we had been using the burning of some torches to measure time, but they did not seem to burn at a consistent rate....

...arrived at the foot of the tower. Light streamed from the windows high above, and seemed even to glow through the walls. The cacophony of a party in full swing was audible within. As we entered, however, there was absolute silence. We found ourselves surrounded by tables groaning with food and drink, but with nobody else around. It all appeared delicious, but we dined on the food we had brought, just to quench our desire for faerie-fare.

Just as we were beginning to search for a way up into the tower, despite the lack of doors or stairs, a woman’s voice inquired as to why we were interrupting the feast. We answered as best as we could, explaining our mission. Suddenly, we found ourselves in the midst of a huge gathering of creatures and a great swell of sound and celebration! Satyrs sang rude songs and guzzled wine in the corners. A profusion of small beings with wings flitted about. Brownies and leprechauns were arguing merrily. Dryads were everywhere. High in the rafters a group of flumphs entertained a very happy crew of stwingers.

At the head table sat the most beautiful woman I have ever seen, Sistamula, the Faerie Queen. At her side reclined a huge crystalline dragon and a huge faerie dragon. She invited us to eat, informing us that the usual penalty would not apply. I reminded Nolin of Michael’s stick, and he gave it to the Queen who was quite pleased. It had become a perfect rose, in full bloom.

The Queen addressed Nolin by his true family name, "Maradine". This is the first hint that Nolin has ever had to his father’s identity, concealed or unknown by his mother all these years. According to the legends that I know, that name belonged to an outcast elf and his family around the time of the Mage Wars.

A number of dryads giggled at me. I discovered that my feat of resisting a dryad in her grove in springtime was well known. Hmmph. I was in a black mood from the teasing, but the entrance of the King of Faerie cheered me considerably. He was in the form of a unicorn, a dazzling creature.

The royal pair said that we might save the forest by finding and stopping the "immortal" who was responsible. We were told that he was in our world, and that they would give us passage to a location nearby. The Queen gave Nolin an enchanted milkweed pod, and told us to use it to restore the faerie circles. It must be used within a destroyed circle, in the presence of that which destroyed it. She thanked us for our help, and hinted that the means to defeating the Doxelfar was contained within my staff.

The staff had often expressed a desire to meet a king, and cryptic remarks it had let slip hinted that it may have ruled a kingdom in its time. Therefore, before we left I introduced The Master of Space and Time to the faerie monarchs. It was quite tongue-tied, and I was forced to apologize for it....

...discussion with TMOSAT on the subject of humility and power, and the controlled use of power for good purposes. The staff is quite conceited, considers itself very powerful, and repeatedly states its desire not to be used for anything "unworthy". It is quite infuriating. It alternately acts like a petulant child, insisting that its trivial wishes and desires be pandered to, or like a wise former monarch, afraid of revealing its awesome secrets before the recipient is ready and has proven himself!

After much persuasion by me regarding the righteousness of our cause, it has agreed to aid us against the Doxelfar, but will not say how it intends to help. Aargh...!

...the Queen had Glimmer’s body turned to clay, and reshaped to its former glory. Afterwards, the wall gaped open for us, and we departed. Instantly, we found ourselves in the woods in our own world.

It was daybreak, and we found Tao sleeping nearby. When we woke her she was very surprised and disoriented. She had lain down to sleep in the woods south of Rampart, and awakened to find herself many leagues to the northwest. Alix was with her as well, having been magically transported here from the Manticore during the night. A little questioning revealed that at least two weeks had passed since we entered Faerie. Velendo and Cadrienne did not believe that we had been in Faerie at all, but remembered it all as a strange dream. They took some convincing. Finally we managed to explain our mission to the whole group....