Location: 
Airedale keep -> Nids End
[@Pyromania99]
[hr]

[b]“Truthfully, I don’t know of any elf that would willingly go to Nids End.”[/b] Vyrell shook his head, pocketing the emblem. [b]“The elves of Lymensari are fairly isolationist. They would only consider leaving the forest unless they had no other alternative. And Nids End of all places? Its so close to the Laughing wood, I can’t imagine any elf would willingly even go there. Most elves would rather flee than engage with a human, too, so you may have problems tracking one down, but if they’re actively showing themselves…”[/b] Vyrell thoughtfully hummed. [b]“Well, best I can tell you, Lady Luna, be careful. Something about this doesn’t quite add up from what I know.”[/b]

With that, he’d leave Luna to prepare for the trip. It’d likely take a few days journey there and back, so getting some food and potentially asking if someone wanted to come with her was apt. Though with Elnith and Lugh seemingly intent on helping Ethelred with their fairy problem, that left Reinhardt and Niall. The former seemed to have already left on his own, while Niall seemed to have excused himself from the hall entirely.

That just left her and her ever faithful maid, Sucaria. The two would leave as soon as they had packed everything, Sucaria being Luna’s only companion for most of the trip which the maid was, perhaps, a bit too happy about. The travel to Nids End though, was fairly uneventful. A few days of travel along the coast, taking care of a few Fomorians that crossed the roads, and eventually the pair would reach their destination. The craggy, rocky, coast of Nids End. Covered in short grasses and eternally cloudy skies and a cold, gray gloom over the land as the coastal waters crashed against the coast.

[b]“Lady Luna…”[/b] Sucaria’s usually impassive, slightly teasing gaze turned slightly sour, her lips turning down ever so slightly as they neared the coast, no path or road having carried them here. [b]“...this place is…it makes me uneasy.”[/b]

That wasn’t odd, really. Nids End was one of the most dangerous places in Albion, known for teeming with Fomorians and Unseelie alike, not to mention a rumors and sightings of an Elder Beast which seem to somehow command the two creatures and telling them to attack any who got near.

Why a bunch of elves would be here was certainly curious.

Luna, would thankfully, not have to search long.

She’d hear it first. The sound of a jovial tune of a flute playing. A few raucous bits of laughter that would sound more at home in a bar than anything else, and a stark contrast to the general atmosphere here. There was also the faint sound of fighting. Perhaps it was an Unseelie trap?

If she did indeed, decide to investigate, It was perhaps, a rather odd sight. [url=https://i.imgur.com/nWppREE.png]A rather petite looking elf who couldn’t be much younger than Luna with short[/url], messy white hair and eyes the color of rubies. Her most striking feature was that strapped to her back was a shield nearly as big as she was, though she didn’t seem to have much trouble maneuvering with it. In one hand, was a rather ornate one-handed sword, gilded in golds, greens, and reds.

She was currently engaged in combat with what seemed to be a large fomorian. Built like a human, but with large, reddish colored skin and a single eye - a fomorian of a cyclopean build towered over her, but she didn’t seem bothered at all.

Not far away, in a small semi-circle around her and a large fire sitting on what was possibly the best place to land a ship for miles, were a group of elves dressed in dark green and red colored armors, and behind them beached on the coast were two ships. Each elf was armed, and on the sails of the ship, was the crest of a stylized red colored leaf.

None of the elves seemed particularly concerned about this. In fact some were taking bets or seeming amused by this whole situation, passing around what was presumably alcoholic drinks.

Sucaria seemed for once in her life, somewhat baffled by what she was witnessing.

Location: 
Airedale keep -> Hjrelskins Fall
[@Crimson Paladin]
[hr]

[b]“Hehe, thank you for the vote of confidence,”[/b] Elnith smiled softly. [b]“But next time, I won’t let such a beast best me.”[/b] Lugh’s expression immediately lit up hearing that Ethelred would allow him to come. He didn’t say anything, merely eagerly jumping once, then immediately running off, presumably to get his equipment ready for the journey. [b]“Well, Lugh seems eager to work with both of us, so I see no reason to decline.”[/b] Elnith continued, watching Lugh run off. [b]“Allow me to get my things. I may be a bit tired still, but I’ll do my best.”[/b]

It would take a bit longer for the two of them to get ready, and by the time the trio would leave, it’d almost be nightfall for the day. Thankfully, the lake was only a day away at most and they’d reach there by evening the next day. Upon enquiring in a nearby village the trio would be directed to another village only another days travel away along the north western edge of the sizable lake quite close to where the waterfall that fed into the lake from the northern mountains and glaciers flowed.

Fey were nothing new in the area, in fact it was the main reason most people didn’t choose to come to the otherwise peaceful lake. There was always a chance of running into an Unseelie here. Normally, though, they didn’t cause much trouble - the moment they had gotten into the next village mentioned, however, something clearly was amiss.

The entire place, though it had people here, actively avoided the knights as they arrived. Many would run inside at the sight of the trio, specifically it seemed Ethelred had put them on edge, a few shouting that the unseelie had returned and swiftly fled indoors.

[b]“Something…certainly has them scared.”[/b] Elnith idly commented, dismounting her steed and lugh soon following suit. A few villagers remained in the main pathway through the central part of the village, but all avoided looking directly at Ethelred, Elnith, or Lugh, hurrying along and going about their business for fear of drawing their ire.

Location: 
—--------
[@VitaVitaAR]
[hr]

The endless blackness beckoned, and so Fio went. She had already gained a good deal of information she could use to try and pry more answers out of the Fomorian. Her name, her relationship with that three armed fomorian, whatever she was doing with the bandits as well as whoever was employing her.

Deeper had to have more memories, and more information?

Of course.

But…

If this dream realm was part of Cethlann’s memories, then why was there just an endless expanse of nothing here? As Fio moved deeper into the cave, through the door, she’d find herself in a vast expanse, the instant she stepped out of the cave, the camp, cavern, everything disappeared behind her in a near instant.

She was simply just alone now. Alone, in this endless expanse of dark, glassy ground. It was hard to tell how much time she’d pass here. Whether she’d walk or stay put, it would all amount to more or less the same. Soon large, broken, rectangular objects began slowly growing from the ground, stubby looking branches and appendages reaching for the alien stars above the sky - except now there hung a large, white sphere, illuminating the dream world she found herself in.

And then…a crack formed in the sphere.

Rather than a crack, though it was more like a single, horizontal line.

And it opened, revealing within, was a large, single eyeball. Red and swollen, black, cursed goo leaked from under its eyelids and fell to the ground, the ground quickly shaking and seemingly becoming less solid under Fios feet as she’d start to sink into the ground.

The air became dry. Her lungs felt heavy as breathing became difficult.

The warding sigils on her skin began burning.

The rectangular structures seemed to be burning, melting, and slowly merging into the blackness below her.

This was bad. Whatever this was, it wasn’t just a simple curse that was trying to claim her. This malice, this hatred, this sheer fury she would feel began screaming in her head, demanding something from her.

And yet, even as above the stars dimmed, in the distant murkiness, she could see something shining faintly. From it, came a wave of calmness, and a gentle tugging. The light seemed to lessen the effects of whatever was happening in this quickly collapsing dream but she’d have to hurry lest she be swallowed.