Author: Morticia, Posted: Sat Jun 16, 2018 9:34 AM, Post Subject: Leisure Time at Loch Fynn [L:3] [W:300]

Nothing stayed peaceful for long anymore. Those days were long in the past. It was just a matter of time before something disturbed the curious party on their mission. Where Cymbel had Shiloh to hold onto him, Morticia was not so luck and fell right on her butt with an audible “oof”. Her terror filled eyes beheld the most grotesque creature she had ever seen, a montague collection of nature and leather with that deer’s skull which was most unsettling. Ryerles was screaming in her ear as the pixie pushed herself up to dart out of the way.

A quick glance showed the maid in the tree, and the other fae on his own as Shiloh began sneaking away. What could she do? Fights were never the pixie’s strong suit. As she looked between Cymbel and the monstrosity, her heart beating harshly against her ribs, Morticia remembered when her husband and she fought together against that hoard of dark creatures. She wasn’t just a pixie! ”We gotta get out of here, Mort!” ”No! Go to Cymbel, drag him out of here if you must! Trust me.” The air around her began to shimmer once more, cutting Ryerles off from further protest.

Her body began to shift and grow as large, leathery wings sprouted from her back. Where the pixie once stood was now a large dragon with lavender eyes, and glistening blue scales that seemed to glow under the moonlight. She roared at the creature, establishing herself as the most dangerous thing of the group. It lunged at her, which earned him a lash of her tail. With a deep intake of breath, Morticia let loose a stream of icy breath at the creature.

Author: Jesgil, Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2018 5:14 PM, Post Subject: Leisure Time at Loch Fynn [L:3] [W:300]

Jes was quick to scramble upon the sudden chaos that formed in front of them, causing her to dash behind a tree. A nervous sweat covered her forehead as she peered around the corner, gazing down the figure as it towered before them. "Oh gods, please don't tell me that shell was placed to keep him in!" If that was the case and it decided to rampage outside of the lands, things would not look so well for them. All of this just to refill a natural hot spring, too… She doubted it had any relation to solving their murder mystery, but there would only be more blood if that thing got loose.

"Awaken, my blood, and grant me thy steel," she muttered under her breath, holding her hands in front of her before a beam of light forged between her hands, crafting the shaft of a two-handed axe. As she took it within her fingers, her mind was stuck on processing anything she could. Did the plant part of it not care for ice? How deep could her blade even cut into it? All the while, whispers of tending to the murder still lingered, distracting her even further before she had to stop everything to make sure her heart did not stop from all the stress.

"It will be all right," she muttered to herself. "It will be alright. Lady Dal told you you are strong. She appreciated my aid when they appea–" Her words stopped as she thought back to the scales overtaking her in the pyramid. The thought of her icy powers overtaking her caused her to freeze once more, hunching over once more, composure lost as the weapon now rattled as if it was suddenly too heavy to handle. "Don't let it take you," was the new thing she muttered, though in a much more dull tone. "Don't let it take you…"

Author: Cymbel, Posted: Wed May 23, 2018 7:27 PM, Post Subject: Leisure Time at Loch Fynn [L:3] [W:300]

Shiloh gave a sound of approval when Jesgil helped bring the barrier down. Pleased that her suspicions were proved correct would give her a small smile, but knowing how she was she wouldn't stay happy for long. She was always moving onto the next thing to fret over, necessary or not. "Oh good lord…" He heard her mutter in a tone that made him feel uneasy. "What's–" The ground began to shake violently all of a sudden, nearly throwing him onto his back! Shiloh grabbed onto him to keep him steady, but what happened next made everything within him want to run. A horrible, unearthly shriek pierced the night's silence, breaking the tension they had been under this entire time. Panic was filling his thoughts as he realized whatever kept the poor employees from returning was likely coming after them!

"Gods above!" He yelled, covering his ears shaking. "It's coming this way! Everybody scatter!" His friend shouted above the roar. It was so dark out that he could barely see, but he did as told and ran to take cover. Before he and Shiloh went separate ways, he heard the metallic ring of something being unsheathed. As if to announce the dreaded terror of the forbidden forest, whatever had obscured the moons' light finally parted–revealing a monstrosity of the woods and earth. Towering at ten feet or taller, a horrid amalgam of twisted wood, leather, and vines formed the body of some deer-skull headed thing. Its arms were long and jagged, it began tearing away at the plants and trees in an attempt to swipe at them. Chunks of earth flew as it raked the ground, its footsteps causing minor tremors in the immediate area.

Shiloh was already running to the side trying to find a way to attack it from behind. However it seemed to sense what she was doing, and slammed its fists into the ground to discourage her. There were sickly yellow lights in the sockets of its deer-skull, and shaggy moss hung off its frame like fur. Somehow this monster had taken residence here, making it too dangerous to inspect the hot springs' source. At least that was what he believed from what he'd seen and heard. Hiding and trying to find a safer spot out of its long reach, Cymbel noted how terrifyingly fast it was for something made mostly of timber.

Author: Morticia, Posted: Wed May 16, 2018 7:39 AM, Post Subject: Leisure Time at Loch Fynn [L:3] [W:300]

Morticia listened to the fae and his friend, nodding slowly. ”I could try.” Her lack of confidence stemmed from having never attempting destruction upon inanimate objects before. A memory sent the pixie’s mind to a battle field. Surrounded by strange creatures, her at-the-time lover was fighting off his frustrations. She had finally decided on confronting him since he was caught sleeping with another woman. Anything that got too close to the pair was impaled through the eye socket with her vines without a second thought.

For a moment, her mind was flooded with the intensity of all the emotions from that time and grief of loss. So lost she was that Morticia was actually glad when Jesgil distracted her from it all. The pixie blinked with confusion, both from grounding herself back in the present, and with the request. What was the woman up to? Taking to the task seriously, Morticia manipulated the vines. Once the crystal was elevated nicely, another odd request was made. It took some creative thinking. Settling the crystal in a makeshift vine setting, two tendrils began making it spin as if they were fingers pushing against the edges.

She kept the rotation going, listening to the odd tongue, feeling an odd sense of familiarity yet completely foreign. The ice was enchanting to watch as it coated the gem, becoming jagged and sharp. Once the loud crack of the gem and ice breaking echoed through the ground, the particles raining, Morticia released the vines, sending them back from whence they came. Jesgil tested the barrier, confirming that the crystal was indeed the powering device which kept them out. Hesitating, she wondered how important this was. This seemed like quite a bit of effort to go through just for a nice soak while she remembered times she had spent so long to forget.

”What you seek is toward the center I think. That place seemed the darkest.” ”Everyone be on guard. Our efforts are probably not unnoticed. Who knows what we’ll find out there.” Carefully, one foot in front of the other, the barefoot fae pressed onward. The silence of the night pressed upon them, increasing the eerie factor of the moonless sky in a creepy, dead forest. Their steps seemed loud, as well as Ryerles’s breath in her ear. A snap echoed through the air from ahead, causing the pixie to freeze in her tracks.

Author: Jesgil, Posted: Mon May 7, 2018 1:50 PM, Post Subject: Leisure Time at Loch Fynn [L:3] [W:300]

It certainly was a conundrum they were facing: How do you break a crystal they had no access to? Well, a major hint was the vines bringing it towards them. However, it was not enough for it to be brought back out as the shield was layered on both sides. Still, controlling the inner vines did mean they could let mana through, which was always a good plus. Another one was a simple look at the scene.

As the air was silent except for natural ambience, one thing caught Jesgil's eye: the rustling of the leaves because of the minor winds that blew. This sparked an idea in her head. "Excuse me," Jesgil spoke up, looking at Morticia as she still had control of the vines, "but could you please lift the crystal completely into the air?" There was a moment where the fae's face questioned her thinking, but then grew serious as she did so, fully revealing the gem before them. "Good. Now how about a nice, slow rotation." Again, confusion, but did so as well. AS she did, the Draconian stepped close and leveled with it.

"Awaken, my blood, and grant me thy frost," clicked out of her lips in Draconian tongue, feeling her ears ridge up and take new shape as she felt her power flow through her.  A single hand moved up to cover her mouth before lowering down, lips parting open to reveal a bit more fanged mouth as she exhaled a wave of ice particles from her breath over the gem. The more it rotated, the more the crystal was coated until it was encased with a solid coat of ice. "Now, do as I command, thy frost." Her hand sudden opened wide, causing the ice to take shape and place many sharp edges and spikes along the outside and inside coats of ice before clenching her fist in, causing the ice to forcibly implode on the encased object. When her grip loosened once more, the particles were quick to rain back on the ground, clear ice and green crystal shards intermixed. It was not until the last shard hit the ground did she push her hand forward again, this time clearing the air she hit just moments before.

Clearing her throat, her body began to shift back to normal before looking back at the three, asking, "Shall we be going then?"

Author: Cymbel, Posted: Tue May 1, 2018 11:20 AM, Post Subject: Leisure Time at Loch Fynn [L:3] [W:300]

"So the woods were truly sealed? They even considered people might come from above." This bode ill for them, however they had Morticia who found what they were searching for without difficulty. However, true to their expectations–the crystal that was creating the barrier was inside. Whoever had crafted this must have foreseen this. While he and the other fairy was dismayed, the maid from the resort now joined their ranks. Shiloh however, was surprisingly less upset. "Huh, so it was inside. Smart move. But…not entirely foolproof." "What are you planning?" He asked her. It was much more difficult to follow her train of thought when he couldn't see her face well. "Digging under's likely to yield the same result as flying from the sky. The only way we can open it up is by breaking it from within, or brute force." Shiloh turned her head to Morticia, and continued. "Morticia, can you use the vine to break that crystal? Crush it to bits, and maybe that'll lower it's structural integrity so we can exploit its weakness."

"And if that doesn't work, I'll have to do this the old-fashioned way." Her voice trailed off and Cymbel didn't like what that was implying. "Let's try removing the barrier's elements first before that, please." In this exchange he learned something rather important–magic could still be used against whatever was inside to a certain degree. "It would seem this barrier only acts to separate sides. Should something be already inside, it would remain unaffected. Perhaps we should test and see if opening a portal in the barrier would be successful?" "That's something to think about. Good call, Cymbel. Still, it probably would've been better if we had come with a few hours of daylight. All this magic is making it hard for me to focus." His friend responded. She was always apprehensive when it came to handling things of magical origin. Her concerns were well-founded, as they were wont to be unpredictable and deadly. They had a few chances left before Shiloh's patience would give way to going with a 'direct' approach, and he was worried that she would scare off the others if she did so.

As they waited with bated breath, he heard the sounds of the night grow more quiet with each passing minute. It was unsettling, for him. He himself was better suited for the evening hours, but the lack of ambient sound made the night vacuous and empty. Sound was a sign of life, and without it that layer of familiarity any comfort the night would have provided would evaporate. 

Author: Morticia, Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2018 8:59 PM, Post Subject: Leisure Time at Loch Fynn [L:3] [W:300]

There was an underlying, overwhelming desire to lay it all out there, bare her soul to these two people she barely knew. Yet, she was completely content with the silence… Or she thought she was. So much turmoil stirred inside, Morticia was partially unable to even keep a straight thought. While the silence was somewhat amiable, she was still startled when she bumped into Cymbel, unaware that either of them had stopped.

Just as she was about to ask what kind of elements could be used, whether it be the elements of nature, or something more solid, Jesgil caught up to them. ”Wait!” Too late, the maid walked right into the shield. Ryerles chose this moment to fly from the branches above, laughing as she sat on Morticia’s head. ”That was hilarious! Do it again!” ”Hush you. Play nice.”

”About time you guys showed up. I was getting bored waiting for you. Entire perimeter is locked tight. Even from above.” With a frown, Morticia knelt and spread her hand, half burying her fingers in the ground. It had been so long since she used her natural abilities, she had almost forgotten how to use them. For a long minute, she sensed nothing.

Finally, out there somewhere, a crystal was half embedded in the ground. It was putting a lot of energy out. ”Found it.” Closing her eyes, some vines were rapidly beginning to push through the earth on the other side of the barrier. Under her control, the vines raced along the ground far beyond the barrier. They wrapped around the crystal, dragging it back toward the waiting group. However, when it got to the force field, neither vine nor the glowing, vivid green crystal was able to pass through. Morticia stood, dusted her hands and pouted. ”Now what?”

Author: Jesgil, Posted: Wed Apr 4, 2018 9:54 AM, Post Subject: Leisure Time at Loch Fynn [L:3] [W:300]

It was rough, having zero moonlight to guide her eyes, needing the light of the lantern to guide her way forward However, the glow it gave only gave her room up front to aid her eyes into where she is meant to go and what not to get her foot stuck upon. The pathway was cluttered with roots and stones with plenty of ground up leaves from the feet that have walked it. However, she was not one to tell what were fresh from the trio (or duo, if the small one flew) and what came from other travelers. However, that was not the only trick she had to use to trace her targets.

The wind was still for a moment as her ears ridged up, giving the three prongs on the tips that hid within her dragon blood as she concentrated on her hearing. Voices were heard as she focused. One being a very small female voice, almost like squeaks from her perspective while the other was more of a male voice from an entity around her size. While the words were a bit clearer, they were not her point of focus, simply the fact that she can find them and follow. With the light  of the lantern to save her step and the voices to guide her way, she gave pace towards where she should head.

Sure enough, Jesgil would be able to find the glow of a second lantern, giving a slight silhouette on three folks, one being a tiny being: the people she sought. "There you are!" she announced, picking her pace to reach them. "I was worried you had gotten lost. Shall we be going?" Not knowing all the details, Jesgil was the first to push forward, though it took only a few steps to stop with an "Oof!" as the shield that prevented them from pushing forward rippled in front of them.

Author: Cymbel, Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2018 12:24 PM, Post Subject: Leisure Time at Loch Fynn [L:3] [W:300]

It was dark out, and with the light from a lantern they were able to keep themselves from tripping over their feet. Shiloh decided to stay near the middle of their party, as she wanted to be the first to know in case sometime tried to snatch him or Morticia. The other fae's voice helped break the unsettling quiet. "Are you a fae of these lands? It's just that…" She hesitated, then continued her train of thought. "Everyone I meet seems to be split in half. Either they're from here or they're not. Personally… I'm not." There was a long pause as she voiced her feelings. He had sensed that she wasn't feeling happy, despite her best efforts to hide it. It must be due to a sad memory, or perhaps loneliness? Cymbel was no expert on emotion, that was Shiloh's area. It was somewhat ironic, seeing how little emotion his friend showed compared to him.

"Yes, I am from Parvpora. Shiloh herself said she wasn't from here too, and I suppose it's become commonplace." Came his reply. Stepping over a half-buried stone, he kept the light steady and continued on. He did his best to lend a listening ear to Morticia. But just as she was beginning to unravel her tangled emotions, she stopped halfway. They continued on like this, without either of them saying a word. The night wind blew through the rocky crags and trees with a low moan that chilled his blood. Ah this reminded him of that time he had visited the forest in Koschei… With the darkness around them, anxiety filled in what he couldn't see with vivid imagination. He desperately wanted to hold onto Shiloh, but held back. Perhaps he was becoming too dependent on her. Even when he was sure she would grow tired of him or be annoyed, she never complained. Was she alright with having him hanging around her so often? He wasn't being a bother, was he?

He had improved and grown more comfortable with leaving his shell, but vestiges of his old nervous anxiety would return on occasion. For someone who had lived for decades by watching the looks on people's faces and reading the atmosphere, old habits were hard to break. He still wasn't used to not feeling otherwise. Suddenly Shiloh stopped, and he nearly ran into her. "What is it? Is something wrong?" He whispered. "It's here. I can feel the barrier. Just a few more yards ahead and we'll reach the edge." She responded. "…It's strong. Use a light source to see if there are any ways we can break through. You need specific elements to create a barrier in the first place, so if we find what's being used to create it, then we can start taking it down. That is, if those elements happen to be outside… If they're inside, then we'll have to brute-force our way in."  

Author: Morticia, Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2018 7:37 AM, Post Subject: Leisure Time at Loch Fynn [L:3] [W:300]

Uncertainty began to fill the fae as she waited for the pair to ready themselves. Morticia did not usually need possessions when traveling. If she was hungry, scrounging for nutrition wasn't difficult for creatures barely six inches tall wherever they are. What would they find up there? Would that thing, the Lord of the Forest, show itself? When they did face something such as this, what could she even hope to offer in their defense? So many questions, and not a single answer.

By the time Shiloh and Cymbel announced they were ready, the pixie's head was swimming. Yet, she would not allow herself to be swayed in any other direction, feeling she owed this to herself to see it through. In an attempt to fill the silence as they marched toward the trees, Morticia repeated her question. "So, you never answered, Cymbel, was it? Um… Are you a fae of these lands? It's just that… Everyone I meet seems to be split in half. Either they're from here or they're not. Personally… I'm not." A glance up at the dark sky, noticing the lack of moonlight.

A mischievous smile spread across her face. Should they need someone to sneak and scout, tonight was perfect as if it was made specifically for her. No moon, no glowing wings. Once before, she was in a similar situation such as this. The sudden onslaught of decades old memories caused her face to fall once more. "I apologize. My emotions… have been a mess lately. For a long time, I was not hindered. But now…" Morticia trailed off into silence. As she tried to retreat into herself, the pixie gazed up at their destination. The group was making great headway, and would not be too much longer getting there.

Author: Jesgil, Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2018 8:14 AM, Post Subject: Leisure Time at Loch Fynn [L:3] [W:300]

… Why would he want to get the supplies himself? The thought never occurred to her, but the question certainly did raise many flags once she did. It was a highly suspicious for an owner to leave like that, especially with a major event in the background, as if on trigger to be discovered. … It must have been her usual habit of trusting her client that made her not wink an eye at it, thinking it was something common, so the more talk about how odd it would be for him to be the one getting things himself, the more red her face turned as she tried to hide it in the fish.

However, the cait before them could not help but bolster a laughter. "Sorry to ruin your mindset, but it is entirely possible he would do that!" He took a moment to calm himself before continuing, "See, if there is anything about the man we all accept, is that is a paranoid one. There was one time where someone did not get enough of a single item, something that would have easily counted as back up stock, and he freaked the hell out. Ever since then, he would go out on his own to be sure everything was the numbers he hoped for, probably triple checking everything before paying up the silver for it. The bigger caution here probably more comes from how calm he was when hiring the lass here." That did not exactly take away the discomfort, but more moved it to the other worry.

Still, the others had the time to finish their meals and take off, preparing for the day ahead, leaving Jesgil with the cait chef in front of her and the worry that twisted her stomach. When the meeting was called and the staff was brought together, the announcement was made, informing them that, aside from that, they should treat the day like any other, leaving time to mourn for him after his killer had been found, stating people were investigating already. That did not stop a few eyes from digging themselves into Jesgil. A fresh face showing up after the death of their boss… who would not distrust her after knowing they had been working under a fake for some time… This meant when planning out the shifts for the night, many worked their way to ensure Jesgil would not be with the customers. After all, what if one of them fell to her hands?

And thus, she found herself on dish duty with the younger apprentice caits, scrubbing away at the dishes as the costumers flowed in and out, the head Cait looking back at her. "Ya know, I hate it when others try to do the jobs of my cats," he told her, faking anger at her. "Why don't you do something more useful than this? How about, I dunno, help track down those guys from earlier and lend the a hand?"

"But –" Jesgil was about to argue back before the cait stomped his foot,

"Those who work in the kitchen are under my direct order, so your new job is to help those people, got it?!"

A pause filled the air before Jesgil nodded, saying, "As you wish," taking the moment to try off her hands before fetching a lantern and dashing out, looking for whatever tracks the three had left. At the very least she knew which direction to look.

Author: Cymbel, Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2018 11:25 AM, Post Subject: Leisure Time at Loch Fynn [L:3] [W:300]

"That's a possibility. But we'd have to test it though." Shiloh said, turning the fork around in her hands. "First we'd have to find this Amos, then have a little talk with him…" Cymbel had been with her long enough to know what she was implying, and it had nothing to do with having a 'little talk'. Morticia raised several good points, and he had to agree. "Yes, it does seem a bit odd doesn't it? Normally a busy man like himself would have others take care of routine tasks while he works on the more sensitive items. I suppose this adds to our knowledge of the owner being an impostor. If he wanted to ensure he wouldn't be found out, he could have chosen to involve himself more deeply to keep a close watch on things." He felt a pit of anxiety form in his stomach when the fairy woman announced that she would be paying the haunted woods a visit soon.

His friend was still mulling over something, and made a comment on the information the maid shared with them. "I see, well it would appear we should expect to suspect the one who cares more about the business than the staff. But only Dalanesca and Angela know the depths of people's hearts, so who's to say it can't be the other? I think…I know what the late owner was implying when he said the plans his murderer had in mind for his resort were unspeakable." There was a pause as she resumed. "So he wanted to make it into that kind of business… We should go see what the forest is all about. There's not much for us to search for here anymore." Again, Shiloh's face had resumed its usual stone-like expression. Her eyes weren't looking at the others, and he was wondering what she was thinking. She had always been a very careful person, even with words and how she expressed them. There was a tenseness he could feel coming from her. Perhaps she felt it safer if they all left together?

"Finding the place shouldn't be difficult…though it will be dark soon." He said the last bit with a hint of trepidation. Were they truly going to investigate a place like that with night approaching? Sure he wasn't alone, but what that staff member had told them earlier still didn't give him any peace. Rising from the table once the others had finished their meals, he bade the maid a good night and a safe evening. "I wonder if we will see 'Amos' tonight." Shiloh muttered with a wry smile. "Hope not…" He replied. What would they find waiting for them in that bloodstained copse? 

Outside dusk began to fall and the patrons were retiring for the night. A small few were preparing instead for a covert trek uphill to see the site of the spring–and where a set of murders had began. Armed with only their wits and possessions, only the moonless night would be their witness.

Author: Morticia, Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2018 10:44 AM, Post Subject: Leisure Time at Loch Fynn [L:3] [W:300]

Interrogation continued, questions asked and answered in kind. While the matter of the owner having siblings wasn't answered, at least the cait sithe clarified that he did have a set of children. Whether by respect or awkwardness, everyone ignored the question she had asked a proverbial being, she had noticed. A strange notion entered her brain that she couldn't help but wonder aloud. "What if Amos is masquerading as the owner?" It would make sense why no one has seen him in weeks. Morticia finished her meal as she listened to everyone around her, suddenly feeling six inches tall again.

There was to be a staff meeting soon. However, remembering back to the guild hall she had lived at, the owner rarely did the collecting of new supplies himself. He assigned people to do that for him. While the grandmaster did go on certain missions, he delegated much of the work, leaving himself to the finer aspects of running the guild and maintaining the magic of the hall, or whatever it was he did near that crystal. Blinking, Morticia pulled herself back to present. "Why would he acquire fresh supplies himself? Doesn't he delegate that to staff, so he can do, I don't know, important stuff?"

However, there didn't seem to be much more information they could scrounge up here. Looking at the cat, the pixie stood and gave a humble nod of the head. "Delicious meal, thank you." Turning her attention to maid, fae and friend Morticia flashed a mischievous smile. "Well, I don't know about you guys, but I guess I'll head to the spooky glade." Morticia knew what she was doing, and it wasn't being brave, or courageous. The pixie was running, hiding from herself, her memories, and a mountain of emotion that would swallow her in despair should she peek upon it. If she could fool herself into courage, or mischief, perhaps she can keep hidden her true reasoning for being here. Murder and mystery was just a coincidental adventure for her.

Author: Jesgil, Posted: Wed Mar 7, 2018 10:23 AM, Post Subject: Leisure Time at Loch Fynn [L:3] [W:300]

"I've been around long enough to catch rumors from the staff!" Jesgil said, looking at the fae as the head cait walked back in, fish shimmering in golden scales in paw before handling the prep work. Luckily for the customer, it was gutted in the back. "Besides, who would not write a will to ensure ownership when events like this happens? I mean, no matter what we think, we will all need to pay a visit to Lady Dalanesca eventually."

"Girl's not wrong," the cait confirmed as the threw the fish on the grill, letting the smell of the fish cooking fill the air. "The man is one of age, so he would have had one for his clock ending, and if there were going to be bets on who ownership would be headed to, then we would most likely be talking about children, not siblings. The son or the daughter."

"Right. One of them was well-respected with everyone here and kept the staff at heart, but had no idea how to actually run a business. The other is very business-literate, yet could not exactly care about the current staff. However, I could never really hear about which one was which and I had not seen either of them myself to make any personal opinions myself.

Of course, the more human-looking female wanted to check in with Jesgil about the man she talked with. After all, Jesgil was technically the last person to speak with him, and the chances of him being the fake was pretty much a guarantee. "He was… a quiet man. He asked me simple questions to make sure I knew I could do the work. Though, a bit before and after the interview, it was as if I could feel his eyes scan over me, as if I was going to be doing some…" her head tilted down to hide the blush, "other work instead. But other than that, his questions and focus was upon the cleaning and maintaining of this shop as well as handling the guest's needs."

It was not long after that when the fish was slid in front of Jesgil, the chef finishing up his garnishes in front of them as he typically would before pouring a glass of tea to go along with it. "Whoever it was im-purr-sonating him got down most of his traits down to a T, meaning he was very familiar with the owner. During the last two weeks, there was not a point in time anyone questioned his actions.

"However, he left here yesterday to collect new supplies, so when we have our staff meeting, you  can probably bet –"

"He won't be there…" Using the fork, Jesgil tore a portion of the fish off before popping it into her mouth. While it was just as flavorful as she hoped, her mood settled the flavor. That is, unless someone else went missing and the imposter is now taking their place… In fact, she would not even be surprised to be a suspect just by how new she was…

The next question caused Jesgil to jump this time, snapping her back to reality. "Amos? Umm… not that I can recall… unless we are talking about 'that creep' the others talked about. All I can really say I heard was how senile and jumpy he was."

Author: Cymbel, Posted: Tue Mar 6, 2018 11:05 PM, Post Subject: Leisure Time at Loch Fynn [L:3] [W:300]

Shiloh certainly was handling this well. Despite the disturbing scene they all had witnessed, she still was able to stomach the rest of her meal and resumed eating like normal. Not wanting to let the food go to waste, he took up a fork and returned to finishing off the rest of what he had ordered. "So the late owner has remaining family members?" He asked, noting what the maid he and his friend had met earlier said. "Do you suppose this might have something to do with inheritance and property ownership?" Shiloh kept quiet for the most part, stuffing food into her face as fast as she could. Her unfocused stare meant she was likely multitasking mentally, thinking about what information they had learned so far and possible connections if there were any. Having cleaned her plate, she washed it down with her drink.

"So how did you know about the owner's family relations? Actually, let's start with what kind of person the owner of this place was. When you met the man who hired you, what was he like? Your first impressions and anything you remember up to this point would be nice." Leaning against the back of her chair, Shiloh was pressing the prongs of her fork against the empty ceramic plate before her. "Oh, you're trying to determine if the impostor left behind any possible clues that might inform us of his motive?" He inquired, half-hoping his guess was right. "Sort of, yeah." Came the terse reply. "Every bit helps. Besides…we can't really rely on the testimony of the dearly departed, as we've seen here. They don't know anything outside of what they knew when they were alive. So if they didn't see who killed them, they can't say anything about it. I wonder how far this 'impostor' thought ahead."

It was troubling, meaning despite having the serendipitous luck of a necromancer being present that did little to clear the haze surrounding the strange phenomena at Loch Fynn. "I suppose we'll have to move past questioning then. We haven't made much progress, I regret to admit. Perhaps we will have to pay that haunted glade a visit after all…" He wasn't looking forward to that, for sure. Personally he was hoping their investigation here would be sufficient to solve the strange occurrences so they wouldn't have to revisit the forest where the source of the hot springs was located. Recalling the fate of those who tried to breach the supernatural barrier made a chill run down his spine. "Well, I'm going to speculate that the murders happening around here are related to the stoppage of the spring and the freak tremor that girl back there told us." Shiloh said, gesturing with her fork. "It's too coincidental. I'd be more surprised if it wasn't related. There's also that crazy hermit, so we'll need to see where he fits in all of this." Looking to the maid, she asked her: "Did the staff ever mention that 'Amos' to you?"

Listening to Shiloh lay out her lines of reasoning, he began to wonder if it really was just happenstance too. Then, a terrifying thought came to mind. If someone could pose as the owner for two weeks, then what if that hermit Amos had been 'replaced' too? The spirit of the true owner of the resort mentioned that he had been acting much differently than usual, and there was that hint of an unnatural shadow. From the staff member who had told them of the springs' closure, Amos came by every now and then to help out with dowsing. If someone had been tracking his movements and patterns without the man's knowledge, they could learn enough about his habits through observation to know when he would come to the Highlands. Then, they could easily have the man dispatched and plant somebody else in his place. The only ones who would notice would be those who had interacted with Amos the most in the past, and from there the culprit could identify their next victims to silence. It was horrifying to think of, but it was plausible.

What if the person who impersonated the owner was still here, under a different face? He was worried if it was safe to speak in a public place like this. Would they even be safe in private? Anxious and afraid, he didn't want to go anywhere alone now. 

Author: Morticia, Posted: Sun Mar 4, 2018 5:46 PM, Post Subject: Leisure Time at Loch Fynn [L:3] [W:300]

A dead body hidden for weeks. An imposter who can possibly take any face. Now, anyone and everyone could be suspects, until the search list could be narrowed down. Pinching the bridge of her nose between thumb and forefinger, Morticia felt dizzy attempting to process everything. There had to be some connecting factor they were missing!

Shiloh suggested their meals be consumed. Leave it to a complete stranger to remind her of basic necessities… Just like… Mutely nodding in agreement, the pixie returned to her seat. Yet, she could barely bring herself to eat a single bite, as her heart fell to the pit of her stomach as a stone. While managing to eat a bite or two, Morticia marveled how death and bodies had become so much a part of every day life that she was unfazed by it, regardless how it might seem. Her thoughts were interrupted by the maid from other accompanying them at their table.

With her fork pausing on its path toward her mouth, the pixie looked at her. "Siblings? As in his kids or did he have brothers and sisters?" On one hand, she was quite proud of herself for having remembered such details about human familial relations. "Wait, how do you know about that? I thought you said you were new!" Ryerles suddenly spread her wings and hopped down, snagging a floret of broccoli. "Always forgetting about me." she complained as she took a bite.

"You know, you could always check out that wooded area like I asked earlier." Grumbling, and shooting the pixie a deathly glare, the succubus flew away, floret in hand. Forgetting that she wasn't alone, Morticia sighed and stared up at the ceiling. "Why can't you be here?" she asked.

Author: Jesgil, Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2018 9:25 AM, Post Subject: Leisure Time at Loch Fynn [L:3] [W:300]

It was unnerving seeing the necromancy in play. Not exactly her first time seeing the undead, as she had faced off many (some of which were by the side the Lady Dalanesca herself), but it was odd seeing this body trying to move. It was stiff and rigid thanks to being apart of the curing process, though Jesgil could only guess more magic was applied on making his voice turn out normal to make things easy to understand. Still, it was hardly enough to keep him going for the moment and had been placed to rest. It was at that point the head chef took charge and started making orders to the rest of the cait sidthes, from burning every food item that was stored inside to getting a priest to prepare a proper funeral and purification. He even had some to check the rest of the available food stock to ensure nothing else was damaged and a massive cleaning crew for their cookware.

The top cat gave a heavy sigh before turning over to Jesgil, who still looked quite dazed form it all. "Alright, take a moment to calm down," he told the Draconian. "We will have a staff meeting after we get things in order and let me out of the bag." It was a stupid play on the phrase, but it was enough to cause Jesgil to chuckle and calm down. "Atta girl. Now then, why don't you go ahead and sit and the counter and I'll fix ya up something. Hopefully it will be something we can fix, at least."

There was a minor pause before Jesgil muttered, "Goldentail?" There was nothing but a cocky smile before a paws up from the head chef, confident on their fish stock. "Alright then. Thank you." Giving him a quick bow, she headed to the tables and sat next to the group she met with earlier: those who went in and checked with her.

"How could this happen?" she muttered, her head sloping to the counter into her arms. "Oh, I am sure everyone's going to be sad about this too… Guess the place is going to have to rely on which sibling was written into his will then…"

Author: Cymbel, Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2018 10:19 AM, Post Subject: Leisure Time at Loch Fynn [L:3] [W:300]

"…Murder. Why is it always murder?" He heard Shiloh grumble under her breath. He had just taken a sip of his drink when they all heard the screech, and the sight that followed made his stomach turn. They had found a dead man in the same place where the kitchen kept their hams and sausages. It was then that Morticia told them to follow as she had an idea. The deceased was cut down, and when the body was laid on the floor the fey woman began to work her magic. To his horror, the corpse opened his eyes and stood up! Necromancy?! Even Shiloh was staring with that hard glare in her eyes again. His first reaction was to scream, but Shiloh had already noticed and stuffed a piece of food into his mouth. As he was being distracted, she quietly whispered: "Shhhh." As odd as it was, it worked and helped him calm down.

They both looked on as Morticia questioned the dead man. The fact this was happening was making him feel nauseous, but at least he wasn't bleeding or had any open wounds. The revived corpse stated that he had been murdered by someone who was posing as him, and that person wanted to destroy everything he had worked hard to build. Sadly he refused to divulge what plans the villain had in mind, but he went on to mention something about the old hermit the girl from the hot springs named earlier. And from the description he was giving, it would seem Amos was either possessed, or worse. Then, as suddenly as he had come back from the dead–the corpse slumped over, inert as before.

A hush had fell on the entire room as the onlookers were taking this in. The cait sidhe workers were noticeably rattled, with their tails stiff and fur ruffled. But the head chef was a different story. The cait sidhe had his arms crossed and hackles standing on end. "Rotten scoundrel…" He snarled. "As if killin' him wasn't enough–the dog had some nerve leavin' him to hang where we'd find him!" One of the other sous chefs came forward asking timidly, "What do we do now? The whole drying storehouse's–" "Throw it all out!" The ornery cait sidhe snapped. "Clear everythin', even the hams that weren't near it too. All it's going ta be burnt, and we're not usin' the place 'til we get a priest in." While the staff members returned to their duties one by one, Shiloh mumbled loud enough that only Cymbel could hear. "…Good thing we didn't order any cured meats then?" He gave her a grimace and she went back to racking her brain with the new information they had learned.

"What a terrible tragedy… To think he had been trapped there for who knows how long." With all these horrid things happening, he was wondering if this place was cursed. But what struck him as odd was how sudden all these things were occurring in relation to each other. When he looked to his friend, he found Shiloh's face had gone pale and she had a stare that could bore straight through a wall. "This is bad, it's worse than I thought. By the condition of the body, he could've been in there for at least two to three weeks. Then that means…for at least that period of time someone has been impersonating the resort's owner." That revelation made his blood run cold. He thought of how many guests had come through Loch Fynn, just like them. They could have interacted with the murderer, and none had been the wiser. With the atmosphere tense, Shiloh nervously poked him in the arm. Addressing him and Morticia, she said: "It's probably not a great idea, but maybe we should all finish eating first. At the rate we're going, if we don't eat now we'll never get the chance with things going awry at every opportunity."

Author: Morticia, Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2018 3:28 PM, Post Subject: Leisure Time at Loch Fynn [L:3] [W:300]

It was not easy for her to be caught off guard by her surroundings, yet when the fae from earlier spoke to her directly, Morticia jumped with a start. "Oh, um… Yes?" She thanked the woman as the door was held. Her eyes fell on their server, widening with surprise. Never before had creatures such as these had been spied upon. Essentially, they were cats who stood on their hind legs, elongated fingers for greater finesse, and capabilities for speech. Though it really shouldn't bother the pixie, she found it unsettling nonetheless. How do they keep the shedding out of the kitchen??

Delicate fingers ran over the soft leather, remembering the first time she had felt the material in this form. Once more, she blinked as Cymbel introduced himself and Shiloh. "Oh, I'm Morticia. Pleasure…" That was the way greetings went, yes? Ryerles found her way to the pixie's shoulder. "Now that you're big, you seem to forget about me. I'm Ryerles." Returning her attention to the menu, a soft blush began to creep over her cheeks and ears. "So many choices… I'll have… sauteed vegetables over a bed of rice, and… Mint tea with honey? Please…" Normally, she wasn't shy, no matter her form, yet today, she seemed hesitant. "So, you're a fae of these lands?" Thanking the chef once the food was served, Morticia lifted a fork, inspecting it almost as if she had never used one before. Tentatively, she moved it into proper position, poised over the meal when that loud screeching meow caused the fork to clatter to the plate.

Some staff members, though highly curious as to what happened was trying to keep the guests back. Nodding to the pixie, the succubus took to the air, checking on things. Upon returning, Ryerles whispered in her ear, and for once Morticia had a mischievous grin. "I have an idea. Follow me, Cymbel, Shiloh." For being as light weight as she was, she as stronger than appearances led to believe, yet was gentle as she pushed the cait sidhes out of the way. There was the maid from earlier gaping. "Let's hear his story. Someone help me get him down?" Once the dead was laid on the floor, Morticia knelt beside and placed a hand over the heart.

The man's eyes blinked open as the necromancer stood triumphantly. He sat up, looking at her. "The spell is temporary. I cannot bring you back completely. Use this as a chance for revenge. Was this deliberate, or murder?" "Do you honestly think that I would deliberately kill myself when I'm happy running this place? I take pride in our work here." "Murder, then. Did you see who?" "Ya… The bastard had my face! He wanted to run my business into the ground, tarnish my hard work, my name, and something about under appreciated? Went on and on about what he was going to turn this place into." "Care to elaborate?" "No, let's just say it was unsavory." Thinking, she didn't think he would have any information about current events, not if he has been in there for weeks."What do you know about Amos?"

"The old man? He has been a bit cuckoo, but we expected him weeks ago. No one has seen him for some time. Last time I saw him, he seemed more deranged than usual, like cackling to himself. And his shadow… looked demonic." The boss zombie shuddered, and made a religious symbol before him. Morticia frowned, unable to connect the dots. What the heck was going on here. Yet she felt too much of a drain to keep him with this level of consciousness. "Unfortunately, this is the limit of our time. Rest well, Innkeeper. May Dalanesca take mercy on your soul." He slumped over, and was dead once more.

Author: Jesgil, Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2018 8:33 AM, Post Subject: Leisure Time at Loch Fynn [L:3] [W:300]

Jesgil was sure to give the curious guests a bow before closing up the door to the empty spring. Hearing them talk, she could feel her stomach rumble just thinking about the food they would be prepped by the numerous cait sidhes that ran the kitchen. They were goofy folk, but proud ones, especially when it came to their food. "I could really go for a Goldentail… side with some jasmine rice, a warm, brothy soup and noodles… and a nice pear tea…" she muttered to herself as she planed out her lunch before clapping her cheeks back to reality. "After you finish cleaning," she assured herself before taking back to the third sauna room and scrubbing it down.

AS she worked, though, her ears began to pick up noises as they began to ridge up, her sleeping blood stirring and sharpened her senses. The sound of the brush scrubbing the seating was drowned out by the panicked meows of of the cait sidhe. Don't worry about it… she tried to tell herself. They have things under control… She could feel her pace slowing down, foot getting thumpy as the cries caught her ears more. They have their job, and I have… mine… Unfortunately for her, the cries was enough for her to stop and quickly leave the sauna. "Sammy, can you finish up here? All that's left is the massage parlor and the dressing rooms."

"B-But where are you–"

"Bathroom!" Of course, that was not where she was headed. Instead, her feet darted over to the backside of the kitchen. Normally, she would get meowed at for doing so by the head cat, but matters were drawn elsewhere, as she too gasped in shock when she saw the body… However, it was more than the mere detail of there being one.

"H-how long… are these things closed?"

The head cat turned his head as Jesgil asked her question, before stating, "Weeks, meaning this body got the same treatment as a honey ham."

Weeks? "I-Is there any chance its opened before then?"

"WHAT?! Only an idiot would open this up before things finished curing. Otherwise, things would take longer and the quality would be put into question… Why? What has gotten you so purr-plexed?"

"I-I-I saw him only a couple days ago… When I got my job here!" It took a mere moment for things to click when the cat staff heard it, but it was clearly audible now and in much more panic when it did finally click: The head of the inn had been dead for a while…

Author: Cymbel, Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2018 1:15 PM, Post Subject: Leisure Time at Loch Fynn [L:3] [W:300]

He and his friend approached following after the maid with anticipation as the door opened. With great expectations, they were greeted with…nothing. "…It's dry." Shiloh said flatly. He could see the corners of her mouth twitch in annoyance, but she kept quiet. Somewhere in the back of his mind he recalled the image of a stopped up wash basin, but chose not to bring the topic up. With no other option except to take the maid's suggestion, he sighed. "I suppose we should get ourselves something to eat then…" A bit dejected, his gaze was downcast. "Thank you for your help." He said to the maid. Although they hadn't learned anything new from their investigation, he appreciated the favor the cleaning maid had given them. 

Navigating their way to the dining hall, he was wondering about the maid's unusual remarks regarding the resort's chefs earlier. In his absentmindedness, he nearly ran face-first into the doors, only to be barred from a collision by an arm. "Ah!" Looking down, Shiloh's arm was blocking him again. "Hey, don't go around in a daze like that." It was then he noticed that they weren't the only ones on this side of the door. "Oh, you're the fey woman we met just a while ago! Were the places you wished to visit in the resort closed for maintenance as well?" "How about we continue this inside? Standing around like this'll block the door." Shiloh suggested, looking behind them for any incoming guests. Without further ado, they both entered. Shiloh held the door open for him and the lady, entering once they were through. The fragrance of delicacies enveloped the room, and he could barely stand it. Right away they were attended by a server. "Greetings, sirrr and misses. How may I be of serrrvice?" "I'd like to request a table for–for three please." Cymbel paused a moment when he realized whom he was speaking with was a bit lower to the ground than he expected.

"Right this way. Please take a look at our resort's menu. Each meal is made upon request, and our accomplished chefs will dazzle you with their culinary skill and fabulous purr-formance." The calico cait sidhe in a prim uniform crooned. They were handed a set of menus bound in soft leather and inked parchment. "Thank you." He said, giving the feline a nod. As they seated themselves, he remembered the conversation they had put on hold before coming in. "Where was I? Right, I don't believe we introduced ourselves to each other. My name is Cymbel, and this is my friend Shiloh." He motioned to the poker-faced brunette, who raised a hand in affirmation. A person of few words, unless necessary. Admittedly he was a bit overeager to speak with other fey, especially if they weren't anyone he knew. 

When the server returned to take their orders, he looked to the others. "Both of you can place your orders first. I'm still deciding. There's so many options to choose from." The menu was very extensive–first courses, second courses, appetizers, desserts, soup courses, drinks of all kinds, and the chef's special. Shiloh mulled over her menu then handed it to the cait sidhe. "I'll have the rosemary chicken entree, with red tea. No sugar." Once it was his turn to order, he handed his menu in as well. "Let's see, I'd like to order the chef's special. With rose tea please." 

It was a short wait, as the chef then arrived. With theatrical flair, the ingredients were sliced and diced, sauteed and sizzling with showmanship. The seasonings were sprinkled with finesse and the garnish placed with care. Plated and served with a show worth retelling to family and friends, their dishes were presented with a color-pointed cait sidhe standing with arms crossed in pride. 

Meanwhile…elsewhere one of the sous chefs went to the storage room to pick up a chain of sausages that had been left to hang-dry. Inside, there were hams and salted meats left to cure in the cool, dark place. Taking a lantern in paw, the tabby cait sidhe entered through the creaky door and pulled out a stepladder. Pulling down the sausage links, something brushed against the back of his fur. Turning around, he thought it was just another hanging leg of pork, until…he saw a boot. A high-pitched meow pierced through the air and everyone in the dining hall heard it. The other staff rushed to the scene, and they swung open the storeroom to find a man hanging from the rafters. The sous chef was on the ground, staring wide-eyed at the terrible sight.

Author: Morticia, Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2018 8:45 AM, Post Subject: Leisure Time at Loch Fynn [L:3] [W:300]

So many people to look for, too much information to hunt for without being too obviously nosy. "Thank you, Ryerles." Lavender orbs slid over to the maid. It seemed highly coincidental that a temporary worker would be in place at this time, offering no relevant information. Idly, she wondered if she had anything to do with the current situation. It was unlikely, yet this was the kind of thinking she tried to leave to… Morticia sighed.

Still, that temporary worker was offering a sneak peak for something. Determined not to let herself be left out of the fun, the pixie shrunk herself back to her original six inch form. Black hair, slightly darker purple eyes, and the typically short black dress with her iridescent dragonfly-esque wings. Staying near the ceiling, the pixie followed them, ears straining to pick up every word. Morticia gave a smirk as she watched the pair switch from shoes to slippers. This was a benefit to being a pixie, one did not have to worry about shoes or tracking prints all over the floors.

Her suspicion was correct when the door was opened, revealing what was supposed to be the hot spring. As if her heart sank, Morticia's elevation decreased. She fluttered to and landed on the edge of the rock tub, looking forlornly in. This place was supposed to be misty, full of hot water… Bring back memories. Though what she was thinking of was more natural, everything else would have been perfect. Where was the water? What had happened?

Things truly were not going the way she needed them to be. An unsettling feeling of being lost threatened to choke the pixie. This just wouldn't do! It impeded her needs. With slight effort, Morticia channeled her emotions into anger as she took to the air and flew past everyone. Upon seeing Ryerles, orders were given. "Go check out that forest. We need more information." Using polymorph once more, the white haired woman now stood before the door to the dining room.

Sounds filtered through, slightly muffled from the obstruction before her. A plethora of voices, clinks of metal on metal or china, sizzling food. While the aroma was delicious, the fae could not bring herself to open the doors. "I could use your hug right about now…" she whispered to no one in particular, the anger trying to melt into tears.

Author: Jesgil, Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2018 7:28 PM, Post Subject: Leisure Time at Loch Fynn [L:3] [W:300]

It was sad to see a customer getting so disappointed in front of her, but Jesgil had to bare through it. After all, they were putting in so much work already that it would be damaging to do anything to appeal to it. After all, while she was there to help aid the customers, she had an official boss to deal with, and he was the one paying her. Still, Jesgil gave them a bow as she told them, "I am sorry for the disappointing news, but I hope you understand." Raising her head, she stapled on, "With an area like this, you after get a lot of traffic, so it only makes sense to set a time where the staff can clean it up to ensure no one catches anything. Just give us a few hours, and use and use it to your heart's content! Well… half of it." A nervous chuckle escaped her as she scratched her cheek before a thought popped into her head. "Oh! If you do want to experience everything this place has to offer, then you should definitely spend some time in our dining hall. Our chefs cook everything in front of the customers, giving a grand paw-formance while cooking everything to purr-fection." A giggle escaped her after realizing the puns she had, though figured it was now enough to give them clues to what to expect. Who knows: maybe they were chefs who decorated themselves with cat ears.

Still, the woman was keen for more details about the rumors that floating in the hall, having Jesgil respond with a shrug. "Sorry, but I am a temporary here. Not been here long, and the incident was a thing before I was hired. Although…" Thoughts and ideas were floating in her head now. "Tell you what: Keep this a secret with us, but I could let you in to see how things are on our end. My boss may hate me for doing this, but if it opens up the spring, I would say its a win-win for all of us, no?" The two looked at each other for a moment before agreeing to her terms. Smiling, she told them, "Right this way," before leading them into the women's changing room, lines with lockers and fresh towels from the wash. "If you may please change your shoes for these slippers," she offered, making sure their shoes would not leave any extra footprints to clean up.

Once changed, Jesgil led them through the spa area and over to the wall that divided them from the hot springs themselves. "Forgive me, but I cannot let you cross this point further. The floor is still wet," she warned before opening the door, revealing what should have been the natural hot spring, full of fresh water and mist, but instead were greeted by an empty rock tub.

Author: Cymbel, Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2018 10:20 AM, Post Subject: Leisure Time at Loch Fynn [L:3] [W:300]

"Hello, sir and madams. I am sorry to say, but this is the day of the week where we have to close off the spa for cleaning. I am sorry, but we will make sure it will be ready for you after the dinner services." Cymbel's renewed hopes were dashed again by yet another unforeseen development. "W-what?" Confusion was in his voice, as the disappointment had yet to set in. "So that means, the spa is closed until evening?" His spirits sank and he hung his head. Shiloh patted him on the shoulder, trying to make him feel better. "Don't worry about it. We still have six more days here, so there's no rush." "You're right…But I wanted to see everything at least once before we leave." He sighed. If Shiloh wasn't too upset over it, then perhaps he was just overreacting. Right away, Shiloh was quick to take advantage of any opportunity to glean more information.

"By the way, do you know if anything happened before the tremors?" She asked the woman who was cleaning the spa. "Any strange weather, unusual arrivals–that sort of thing?" He was wondering why she didn't ask about the hermit who was well-known around these parts, but it was likely she was being thorough. Maybe she wanted to test how much the maid knew before asking more in-depth. It was hard to tell what Shiloh was thinking in times like these. She herself had mentioned that she had a hard time in noisy places, because so much was flooding into her senses at once. Her analogy was like being in a crowded room where people were all talking at once, but having that same feeling all the time. Yet it was that same hypersensitivity that allowed her to notice things the fey would have missed. 

"We were just informed that the hot springs were closed, so we wanted to know if there was any way we could help." He added, trying to soften his friend's interrogative questioning. Even though he couldn't assist in picking up those minuscule details, he could smooth over their interactions. Somewhere behind, he heard some people talking but kept the majority of his focus on the maid they were speaking with. A few of those voices sounded familiar, and he was sure Shiloh would be moving on to them next. He picked up a few words nonetheless. Something about a person named 'Amos' and a ritual of some sort?

Author: Morticia, Posted: Thu Feb 8, 2018 3:08 PM, Post Subject: Leisure Time at Loch Fynn [L:3] [W:300]

The pixie nodded ascent. "Yes, and I'm about yae tall." She lifted her hand and gave an estimated height between her forefinger and thumb before pointing at the succubus on her shoulder. "Actually, I'm about an inch shorter than Ryerles." Of course, the mentioned succubus was laughing her head off. "No you're not! look at you!" Morticia playfully glared at Ryerles as best as she could. "Watch it, succubus. I'll smack you off that shoulder." Was this how he felt as she joked on his shoulder? Though, he'd usually laugh along with her.

Everyone left, leaving Morticia alone with her friends. Crossing her arms, the pixie looked after them, contemplating her next course of action. "Mort… Do the hot springs mean that much for you? Let's help them. A couple of six inch girls could do a it better than lumbering six feet tall people." She had half a mind to lecture Ryerles on the grace of most some, in particular the fae that walked off with that woman, though she had something different about her as well. Her husband, on the other hand… Clumsy… Wiping away at another tear, Morticia softly padded after them.

Fact number one, the hot spring was closed, though they wouldn't say exactly what was wrong. Two being that people have been disappearing where the source comes from. Three has an old hermit having not shown up yet since. There has to be a connection, and Morticia was having difficulties stringing it all together. "Go see what you can hear." Still absorbed in her thoughts, Morticia only paused long enough to watch Ryerles spread her demonesque wings and take flight. Everyone looks around them, searching for possible eavesdroppers when gossiping. They never look up.

Unfortunately, trying to wrap her mind around this mystery, Morticia bumped into someone. Apologizing profusely, she realized it was the two from earlier. Peeking around and looking at another employee, the pixie smiled softly. "Can't catch a break, can you? Everything seems to be closed." Straightening herself, Morticia made a big show of pacing back and forth, her hand on her chin as she tried to puzzle it out. "So, people are missing, presumably dead. This hermit hasn't stopped by yet, and the hot springs are closed due to a problem at the source. There are rumors of a terrible looking beast."

Stopping in her tracks, she flashed a mischievous smile at the fae and his female friend. "Do you want someone to check out that area? I already have Ryerles listening for information." There was a small commotion from behind, someone screaming and cursing. Curious, the pixie turned and burst into laughter. Ryerles was gripping some brown hair as she flew straight for them, the woman it was attached to chasing after her to keep her hair from being pulled. Practically making her stumble to their feet, Ryerles crossed her arms as she hovered there. "This one was talking about something. Tell them."

The woman began to gripe how it was none of their business when Morticia interrupted. "I'm terribly sorry for my friend's actions, but if you would be so kind as to tell us what you were talking about? It's very important if you want the hot springs back." "Not that I think it's any of your business, but okay. It happened about a month and a half ago. Randal likes to go up to those trees everyone says the spring's source is, for fun, you see. He said he saw something weird. Old Man Amos had been performing a ritual, but not anything he's ever done before. It freaked Randal out, and he booked it. Ever since, the springs have been closed. That's all I know, I swear!"

Author: Jesgil, Posted: Wed Feb 7, 2018 10:24 PM, Post Subject: Leisure Time at Loch Fynn [L:3] [W:300]

Back… and forth… Back… and forth… Each motion being a monotonous grind against the floor as the crimson-haired girl with bandaged arms pushed and pulled the handle to a scrubber across the floor, humming a small, catchy tune she caught from the bards on her journey here. It was not unusual to pick up odd jobs for her as she traveled, but it was when it came to bigger businesses like this. At the very least, she was able to strike a bit of a business deal with the owner. She worked changing shifts, and she would get partial pay and free stay for the week. Handy for them, considering they stated their time for business was about to pick up soon.

Still, they had to give her one of the biggest jobs their work place had: cleaning staff for the spa and hot springs. "It works out pretty well," she remembered the owner saying, "While we are looking for a solution, this will give us the perfect chance to ensure that the area will be nice and clean for when it opens up once more. Make sure you get it done by moon-rise, though. The place loves to get busy at night!" The last bit of words, though, faded into the back of her mind as she brushed the sweat off her brow and looked around. There was but a simple wall and door blocking the actual hot springs where the guests could lounge about before they reached the actual spa area, where three sauna rooms were housed next to each other with a massage parlor right nearby and mud masks nearby. It was a place that did not shy away too much from the comforts of mixed genders, though it did house some spaces for those who did feel nervous exposing themselves in front of the other.

The center sauna door opened up as Jesgil stepped out, brushing her forehead as she told herself, "Now to let that one dry before I worry about touching up the tougher spots." Though before she was about to get ready to clean the third room, her ears picked up the sound of approaching footsteps. Probably other guests who wanted in early. Still, she could not let them in while she was doing her job. Would make things even harder. With her fingers skimming her hair behind an ear, she double checked to ensure they were not ridging out too sharply before stepping through the dressing room to meet with the approaching guests.

"Hello, sir and madams," Jesgil greeted with a bright smile on her face. "I am sorry to say, but this is the day of the week where we have to close off the spa for cleaning. I am sorry, but we will make sure it will be ready for you after the dinner services."

Author: Cymbel, Posted: Tue Feb 6, 2018 10:51 PM, Post Subject: Leisure Time at Loch Fynn [L:3] [W:300]

The woman Shiloh had helped earlier seemed taken aback by him, somehow. When she said the first thing that came to mind, it was then his turn to be surprised. "You're fae?" She asked him. "What? I–y-yes!" He stammered, completely caught off guard. "Was it that obvious? Oh…I suppose I do stand out quite a bit, don't I?" A bit embarrassed, he was half-temped to revert back to his usual glamour spell out of habit. Without it, he felt…exposed. Since Shiloh was here, he felt a bit less self-conscious than usual and with her help he had gotten more comfortable going about without it on. As he tried hard to keep his face from going red, he listened to the fae woman reassure him that she was alright. It had been a while since he had met another of the fair folk, let alone a complete stranger. Cymbel was getting a bit ahead of himself, showing excitement at the woman mentioning wings.

"Ah, are you by chance a winged fae? That makes us different from each other then. My…ancestors and I were not born with wings." There was a moment of hesitation as he almost mentioned his brothers, and stopped to correct himself. It had been years since he had left, but he still couldn't completely omit them from his memory. The memories of that cold and heartless house, where he spent years without hope or happiness under scrutinizing eyes that were never pleased with what he did. But things were different now. The past was just that–the past. He was no longer under his father's thumb, or the object of his brothers' scorn. The two women who had initially prepared to leave came back, and the younger of the two took an interest in the small wyvern the fae lady had on her shoulder. Seeing the little creature reminded him of Shiloh's pet wyvern, which she had brought back after the aftermath of the sudden cold snap in Ignius. Shiloh kept quiet during the conversation, looking elsewhere to appear occupied. But he knew that it was her way of giving him a sense of privacy. She had said to him several times that she wasn't good with people, even when he tried to convince her otherwise. 

With nothing else to ask the resort employee, he politely bowed out as he and Shiloh prepared to return to the resort. "Thank you miss for informing us. Please don't be to hard on yourself, sometimes strange and unexpected things happen. Even though the hot springs aren't operational at the moment, the service here is exceptional!" It made the blonde woman smile a little, and her worried face brightened up a little after hearing that. "Thank you sir, again we're very sorry for the inconvenience." When the pale-skinned woman with white hair asked if she would like their assistance to help get the thermal source working, the staff member paled at the offer. "Oh–please, there's no need for that! I couldn't ask for our guests to do menial work!" It appeared she was more terrified than simply being polite, however. Shiloh took note of that reaction, but said nothing. "Besides, we already have someone searching for an alternative source through dowsing. There's an old hermit who would come by every few moons or so, and if there were any problems they'd normally be resolved quickly once he was present. He hasn't stopped by lately however… Maybe he hasn't passed by Loch Fynn yet? He always said he traveled by the moons' light."

Another person who was part of this place's history was mentioned. It was hard to get a clear picture of the situation, with so many unrelated incidents all together. Shiloh was crossing her arms frowning again, analyzing it all. With another polite bow, Cymbel and his friend began heading back. "It really is strange." The rogue mumbled. "Yes, isn't it? I hope things are resolved soon. I admit I was feeling chills run down my back at the description of that 'Lord of the Forest' which haunts the woods." The fey said as they made their way to the spa. "Hey, why are we going this way? This isn't the dining area." Shiloh gave a furrowed look of confusion. "Oh, I thought we could take a look at the resort's spa. We've both never been to one before, so I thought it would be more fun if we went together."

The rogue scratched the back of her ear and looked to the side. "I don't know… Isn't this where they put mud on people's faces and stick slices of melon or something on their eyelids? I'll just hang around the sauna, if they have one." Sensing her discomfort, he held onto her arm as she was trying to sidle back towards the rooms. "The spa treatments, I presume? You could ask for them to leave that out if you don't like it. I've never seen those either, but why not at least give some of their treatments a try? I heard they have staff members trained in giving massage therapy. You're always on the road working, so perhaps it could relive some stress?" Though she was hesitant, he managed to succeed in convincing her to agree to the massage therapy session. He himself wanted to try the aromatherapy baths, which weren't too far away from the massage tables.

Author: Morticia, Posted: Tue Feb 6, 2018 9:45 PM, Post Subject: Leisure Time at Loch Fynn [L:3] [W:300]

An arm arrested her free fall, then carefully stood up as if she were naught but a stand-up doll. Even for her size increase, Morticia had once been told she still didn't weight all that much. Must be the lightness of her bones as a pixie, a hollowness to them, or so they had guess. The fae blinked awkwardly as everything returned to how it was a moment ago. Her attention turned toward the direction the employee pointed as Ryerles and Tenebrae assumed their places upon Morticia. "Mort, what are we doing here? Are you okay? Don't tell me that you're planning on checking out that hillock up there!" Ryerles was whispering in her ear.

The pixie's imagination raced with the description. It was unlike anything she had heard of, and knowing- Morticia shook her head violently. 'I will not think of it. I will not think of it… He'd investigate it.' Her head hung low as she was torn between memory and the interrogation before her. When all was said and done, a voice directed at her to pull her from the past, Morticia looked up at the gentleman with a startled expression. Ryerles turned to whisper conspiratorially in Morticia's ear, yet taking in his appearance for the first time, Morticia was floored.

"You're fae?" She was primarily going upon the fact that his eyes were a beautiful blue she had not seen in most humans, and their hair was near identical. Granted, this wasn't her original color. Before she learned this form, Morticia was stuck with brown hair. The day she performed it for him, it's been this silvery white ever since. Her lavender eyes were always the same, however. "Sorry… I'm fine, thank you. It's just… I'm not used to being without wings." It didn't help that this form always had her a little clumsy… Until she got pregnant. While she managed not to burst into tears, they welled up under her eyes, threatening to burst forth, to melt the pixie into an emotional wreck. This was the primary reason for being at the springs.

"Hmm? Oh… sure." The question brought to her by the pale skinned younger one took her off guard. Quickly, Morticia wiped her tears, ignoring the questioning Ryerles was giving her while Tenebrae stretched his neck to sniff at the food before nibbling at it. "I may not look capable, but I can offer my assistance as well." She really wanted to look at the waters, sit by the edge. A desire to take a soak wasn't present, which was odd as that is what most people come here for. Once again, the younger one began asking more questions, causing a small smile to play on her lips. "His name is Tenebrae, but he does not speak He is quite intelligent and can follow complex commands." Tenebrae pressed his head into Aqua's outstretched hand. "Seems he likes you. I'm Morticia, and my friend on my shoulder is Ryerles."

"Trust me, Mort, I'm not accustomed to this at all. I don't like your shoulder… Though it is nice not to fly all the time." Morticia couldn't help but chuckle. "Trust me, my friend, I know all about riding on the shoulders of a friend." It was how she traveled with… him. More tears sprang to her eyes, and Morticia gently wiped one away, trying hard not to dwell on the past.

Author: Vinsue, Posted: Tue Feb 6, 2018 8:46 PM, Post Subject: Leisure Time at Loch Fynn [L:3] [W:300]

Vinsues plan of going to the room was never carried out and forgotten of when the reason for the springs not running was stated. Finding some deer faced goon and stopping it was more of her idea of fun. Vinsue looked at aqua with the request in her eyes. “we are on vacation.” aqua said only to give up and mentally take notes on body languages and words knowing she would likely need to recite it later. Vinsue was not one to argue with and she knew it. Keeping note of one person was a breeze. Two was what she was use to but three was a challenge. As soon as subjects switched to the pointed eared girl and her state of health. Aqua did not seem to notice or care but looked at the scaled creature on her arm. Aqua looked at it than her mom before holding her hand out. Vinsue looked at the hand and summoned some dried meat in it. Aqua smiled as she stepped closer to the creature and held out her hand. Aqua loved animals especially ones that look somewhat like her true form. “hello there. Can i pet your wyvern?” she reached out her hand with the food a bit closer to the adorable little creature. Vinsue on the other hand thought of the problem. “think you could use a couple sets of extra hands to get the springs working again?” She could not see why aqua was so shy a few minutes ago but now seems just fine around the same group of people. She would need to ask later but for now left it as it was for now. As if aqua knew her mother's thoughts she moved a step to the side away from the woman. “what is its name? I bet a cute boy like him has a really nice name. Does he speak?” aqua started but stopped and looked at Vinsue as she interrupted “Aqua relax on the questions not everyone is so open to them.” aqua frowned before looking back at the wyvern and reached to pet it if it allowed. She did not like commands but knew Vinsue usually had a good point when she did so.

Author: Cymbel, Posted: Mon Feb 5, 2018 1:15 PM, Post Subject: Leisure Time at Loch Fynn [L:3] [W:300]

Seeing the new arrival, the employee nodded again. "Yes, it is. We're working on finding the problem but…well the source is in a bit of a difficult to reach area." Shiloh crossed her arms and shifted her weight onto her left leg before pressing the blonde woman for more details. "And where is this spring source? I'm sure a team of able-bodied folk could get the thing clear even if it was stopped up in no time. So what's the problem?" Cymbel tugged at her arm to remind her not to be so intimidating, and she rubbed her eyes to adjust her gaze out of her initial harsh glare. "Please forgive us for prying, but we were wondering if there was any way we could help. Right? Ah–!" He looked at his friend, before noticing a woman stumble from behind. Before he could even move, Shiloh already had her arm stretched out to catch the new arrival from tumbling to the ground. The deity then carefully moved the entire woman upright like a carpenter moving a horizontal wooden beam vertical. There was a brief moment of an awkward silence as the brunette haired woman resumed standing as if nothing had happened. 

Hoping to break up the stiff atmosphere, Cymbel brought up the last topic they had been on. "Ah…so about the hot spring source?" The blonde employee's attention came back again and she resumed explaining to the three of them. "Oh–right! Yes, well you see the spring's source happens to be in a small copse of old trees up on that hillock there." She pointed towards a peak which was not quite as tall as a mountain, but high enough that its elevation was noticeable. "In the past years, strange rumors began to fly when a hiking group was attacked by a tall, wraith-like being with a deer's skull for a head. I've never seen it myself thankfully, but ever since then that neck of the woods is said to be haunted by a monster called 'The Lord of the Forest'. At first we all thought it was silly, some joke to scare tourists off. But when we sent one of our workers to inspect the spring's source months ago, he…" The woman paused, and swallowed hard. "…He didn't come back." 

"Did you investigate with a larger group then?" Shiloh asked. He was thinking the same thing, but let her handle the questioning. Knowing how his friend's mind worked, he was sure she mentally solved half of the problem already. The woman nodded to her question. "Yes, that we did. We even brought the hunting hounds to find him. And we did, but he was found strung up on the trees, looking like he had been broken. And then, it got worse. At one point, we couldn't even enter the woods there. It was like some sort of power was forcing us back." It truly was a strange chain of events. The fey himself couldn't wrap his mind around it. "I see…perhaps we could go up there with another party, but with a few sorcerers and–" "No." His train of thought was interjected by Shiloh, who was already resting her chin on her hand, propping it up with her other arm. Confused, he looked to her. "But–" "I mean, not right now. We should ask some more people about things to get a better scope of the situation." The rogue explained, giving more detail to her rather brusque reply.

Turning to the white-haired woman with elfin ears, he realized he had forgotten to ask how she fared before getting swept up in the local rumors. "Oh, I'm sorry. Are you alright? You nearly fell a while ago. Are you hurt anywhere?" His main concern was a twisted ankle, a fairly common injury for an accidental misstep. 

Author: Morticia, Posted: Sun Feb 4, 2018 9:26 PM, Post Subject: Leisure Time at Loch Fynn [L:3] [W:300]

"Oh Morticia, Look!" It was a lovely day for a flight, and as always, Ryerles accompanied the pixie. She was intent on finding a way to fix her friend who seems very different from who she usually is. Where was that playful, prankster Ryerles loved so much? Morticia looked in the indicated direction and saw a sprawling resort looking establishment. "Wouldn't it be fun to play some harmless pranks on some of the patrons? What do you say? Or, we can just rest our wings there. Whichever."

"Pranks or relaxation… Is that all you think of, Rye? Alright. Might as well check it out since we're here." There was no question of the cost of anything or how to get in as no one tended to notice small creatures overhead. One thing Morticia learned long ago is that a lot of the population spend more time looking at their feet than the sky, making things all that much easier for her. While flying over, scouting the area, Morticia head the words "hot springs", causing her to pause.

Her heart suddenly yearned. "Mort?" Ryerles whispered. The pixie shook her head and swooped in to land on the ground, a fair distance away from the people talking about the springs. Of course, the succubus was freaking out. "Are you crazy? Do you want to be squashed?" "Let's see if I can remember how to do this…" Morticia concentrated until her form began to shimmer and grow.

Looking at a window, her reflection faintly stared at her. Long, beautiful white hair, lavender eyes, high cheekbones, fair skin and lightly pointed ears giving away her fae blood, but no wings. The sight brought tears to her eyes. How long has it been since anyone had even seen this face? Even her dress was the typical sleeveless black, almost inappropriately short dress was the same. As usual, she was bare footed. Ryerles hovered, jaw dropped and staring. With a small smile, Morticia lifted her hand and signaled for Tenebrae.

With her pseudo-wyvern curled around one arm, clinging to her as if he was claiming her, and Ryerles on her shoulder, the delicate woman, standing only at five foot six approached the growing crowd. Morticia arrived in time to hear something about tremors stopping the flow of the water source. Her bubble of hope burst, everything shattering around her as her fragile hold on her own mental state was utterly destroyed. A couple also approached but said nothing, yet Morticia's disappointment was written so clearly on her face as she looked at the pair who had been talking to the staff member.

"The springs are truly closed?" Her musical, bell-like voice sounded pathetically small. The pixie went to take a step forward, as if to take a peak behind the apologetic worker. Yet, it had been over thirty years since she had assumed this form, and thus the pixie was now unaccustomed to traveling wingless. This resulted in her stumbling forward, practically into the arms of strangers, her winged companions taking flight and hovering above.

Author: Vinsue, Posted: Sat Feb 3, 2018 10:21 PM, Post Subject: Leisure Time at Loch Fynn [L:3] [W:300]

Vinsue could not say away from the window of the ship. She was always on the lookout for threats expesuly when on the oppen water in human form. "Relax mom were on vacation not on a job or anywhere near a place they would be." Aqua said as she left her hand on Vinsue' s shoulder. Vinsue simply looked at her. "I might if it was not the fact we helped the spa get stuff from our friend and in doings so got a free weeks stay there." She stated as she returned to looking out the window. 

They both knew now that one of the girls they saved was the only child the owner of Lock Fynn resort and that though they first tried to reject the offer they both found themselves on the way to there resort. The mountains now came into view witch set them both into motion. They gathered there stuff and made there way to the open air above deck.

They agreed that the hot springs would be there first stop against aqua's fear of water because mom was there and it would help them both relax. This was all the stuff they discussed on there way up the stairs and through the check in. Unpacking in the room took little time. Finding the springs on the other hand took a long time and they arrived as the bad news was delivered.

Both where disappointed but did not complain. Aqua was quick to step behind her mom as she recognized the one from the skyship and the spider acid burn. She still did not like the god. Vinsue on the other hand had finally recognized an old friend of hers. Cymbals new stile of clothing had made it hard to recognize him but as soon as she did she was glad to see him. She was going to say hi but was quick to pick up on aquas discomfort and desided to go back to the room.

Author: Cymbel, Posted: Thu Feb 1, 2018 9:05 PM, Post Subject: Leisure Time at Loch Fynn [L:3] [W:300]

 A few days ago, there was the sound of roaring engines from above while a fierce wind whipped the trees. Looking out the window, he was astonished to see none other than his friend's airship hovering meters above his house. A rope ladder was thrown from the door, and one of Shiloh's staff members descended to meet him. He–or she, the fey wasn't very good at distinguishing when it came to the less human-looking ones, greeted him warmly and congratulated him for having the honor of a week-long stay at a famous resort far away in the Highlands. Puzzled, he gave his thanks as he was given a token bearing the resort's name and symbol. All this time he was wondering why the Clephsydra had flown all the way out here, since he hadn't seen Shiloh step out. Voicing his questions, the automaton cheerily stated that she also had a token for a week's worth of time at the same place as well. The way they were implying, he guessed that this meant he and Shiloh would be going together, and he was happy to do so. After running back into the house and throwing together a pack of a week's worth of things, he boarded the airship bound for Canelux.

The trip was short thanks to their skilled navigator, and it was then he learned that Shiloh had more or less been forced into taking a break from work. She was still fretting, but she didn't seem upset that he was coming with her. Having spent time with her, Cymbel had picked up on a few things when it came to understanding Shiloh. Most of the time she was usually annoyed, not angry–though it was easy to see why people would make that mistake. Complaining normally meant so, and only when she was angry would more serious words or silence come forth. Talking with her helped her temper cool down to where she wasn't visibly frowning once the eastern shores of Canelux were in view. Either way, the rest of her staff were more excited for their captain's first official 'vacation' than she was.

They arrived safely and checked in at the front, receiving their rooms without incident. And fortunately for them, they happened to have two rooms side by side available! Cymbel was in a new change of clothes from his usual Ataiyan garb, and when Shiloh was ready they both went to the resort's famed hot springs. He wanted to see the resort's spa area too, but that would be for later. But to his dismay, they were met with a sign stating the hot springs were being closed off. "I'm terribly sorry sir and miss, but Loch Fynn's hot springs are out of order right now." A flaxen haired girl dressed  with the same uniform of the resort staff said apologetically. "But…why? What 's the matter?" He asked, wide-eyed. The girl sighed, but explained to situation to them. "It's disappointing, I know. I've had to tell everybody else who came by here the same thing. For some reason, the thermal source for the hot spring pools has stopped flowing. It was fine yesterday, but after that tremor the water source for the springs was stopped up."

"Oh, I see…Is there a way to fix it?" He asked, hoping she would say yes. Unfortunately the way the girl looked meant that was likely a 'no'. "If I knew, we'd be working on it right now. It really is strange. Everywhere else it seems fine."