That Modern Blues Spirit
Game 42 Pictures
Caer Graceland stood dressed for mourning- the mourning of the passing of the Prince of Darkness. Those among the Duchy’s Kithain who followed the gods of mortal music shared a look as they noted the richness of blacks, purples, and silvers, the excessive use of candles as the only light source, and the touches of occult-themed decor. It seemed that the Spirit of Rock n’ Roll had no intention of letting the passing of Ozzy Osbourne from the mortal realm go unacknowledged.
Surprisingly, the mercurial Chimera did not choose to emulate the fallen rock god’s visage or musical stylings. Instead, strains of modern blues threaded through the freehold. The Spirit met the Guardian Barbella at the door, whiskey flask in one hand, eyes flashing in anger, wrenching the Heart of Rock n’ Roll from the Troll. Momentarily embodying the spirit of Bobby Hill, it all but screamed “that’s my heart, I don’t know you!” declaring that it had no memory of allowing anyone in its home, let alone granting them right to hold their Heart. After a few probing questions, it was discovered that the Spirit had almost no memory of the last four years.
The Liege Stormchaser, Duke Aizen, and their closest shared careful looks. Worries had been brought to light regarding a creature that could steal away memories; the valiant Troll Squire who appeared some months back had been its first known victim. While it seemed that the dangers had been escalating in recent weeks, it never occurred to them that the memories of Chimera could be affected as well. The Spirit seemed to have some broken memories of the Fool, Rhudarian, and of the Piskey, Clippy… beyond that, what it remembered seemed to change from moment to moment. It insisted upon speaking with the leaders of the Kithain to “set up a proper Contract, and find out who had hurt my balefire.”
The Spirit was not the only one present with missing memories. Some found themselves momentarily fallen into darkness, as if something reached out and pulled them backwards into a miasma of swirling possibilities. They lost seconds, minutes of conversations, and those with whom they’d been talking didn’t even notice their absence.
The Childing Countess Callisto also seemed confused and barely anchored to the Autumn World when she arrived, a bracelet with her own name emblazoned ‘round her wrist. A touchstone, a reminder perhaps? None knew, not even her own Knight Nicholas Stone. Something set the Pathfinder off, frightened her so much that she opened a portal into the Dreaming and raced into it like Quicksilver, calling out something about finding home. Don Konrad called upon his own gifts of speed to match her own, the two disappearing through the portal- and for a few moments, from remembrance.
It would be some time later before they returned appearing as if having fallen from thin air to land upon the Greatroom floor, physically unhurt but mentally shredded. In the Liege’s absence, the Advisor had held a short opening court- or tried to, before it was interrupted by the return of the two Sidhe. A coherent story could not be had from either of them, though Callisto trembled, describing the sound of iron church bells tolling out a funeral dirge. Something was deathly wrong within the Dreaming… something waited, something watched….
One would think this would mean the Kithain of the Grace Lands would choose caution.
Any who knew the Kithain of the Grace Lands would laugh at such a notion.
Rhudarian, quite possibly one of the best Fools the Duchy has ever seen, decided to win over the Spirit by swearing an Oath of Fealty to the contrary Chimera. The Boggan also decided to hold a game, one whose actual rules escape this humble court reporter, but which seemed to involve kazoos and suplexing the Daireaan Knight Eric Withakay. Verily, the final number of kazoos, and times the troll was suplexed escapes me- you see I, too, have been affected by erratic memory loss.
Clippy, always desirous of being helpful, offered their Soothsay talents to the Spirit, who seemed concerned about one of the tarot card decorations. One might think that, given the number of times the Piskey had been mentally damaged or otherwise harmed, they might be more cautious in offering this form of assistance. Alas, it seems need of the Childing’s always be helpful will constantly override their sense of self-preservation. The paperclip pursuer came out of their trance with a terrifying tale of falling down down down into the maw of a monstrous three-headed dog.
It would not be the last dark portent or painful seance for Clippy. Later in the evening, a seemingly innocent request for assistance from Corpse Hoarder resulted in the Piskey falling unconscious for several minutes. Not even the healing magics of Sir Stone were able to rouse them from the deep catatonia in which they found themselves. Once they did come to themselves, Clippy was distraught and fearful in a way previously unseen. While your court reporter finds herself unable to recall the details of what Clippy encountered, know that it brought deep terror to my very marrow. The fear has not left me since…
In attempt to reach an accord with the Spirit, Sir Stone suggested visiting the fairie peacat which dwelled in the gardens of Caer Graceland. The trickster chimera was, according to the Selkie, a pet or companion of the Spirit of Rock n’ Roll, possibly birthed from Elvis’s own love of peacocks. It tended to watch and observe- perhaps it could help convince the Spirit of the Kithain’s good intentions and previous agreements. So it was that in short order a contingent entered the Dreaming proper, the Pooka Holly pulling a wagon loaded with nearly every variety of fresh fish imaginable. Rumor has it, Duke Aizen gave her his own credit card to go fetch the fish. That was, as they say, a choice.
While this reporter was not included in said contingent, several of the more notable of the court were. Liege Stormchaser, Duke Aizen, and Countess Callisto, along with Holly and Sir Stone of course. While newly-minted Advisor Barbella Ironbreaker tried to keep proper eye on those left in the Court, the Spirit chose the Unseelie Piskey Ace High as Guardian, swearing him into the position. An interesting choice, given that rule was not yet due to change hands.
When the party returned to the greatroom, they were minus both the Seelie and Unseelie leaders. Concern mounted as to where Don Stormchaser and Duke Aizen might be, and how they may have been prevented from following the rest back through the portal. The peacat- unconcerned in the way that only cats can be- appeared on the Spirit’s shoulder, purring softly into the Chimera’s ear. Whatever the cat conveyed exactly is a mystery, but the Spirit did state that it now trusted there had been a previous agreement. Of course, a proper Contract had already been sorted and sanctified between it and the Kithain leadership, so the point was perhaps moot. Still it was nice to have a return to less strained relations- and it seemed to unlock a few memories for the Chimera, as well.
Suddenly, the Liege stumbled into the room, Duke Aizen leaning heavily against the Gwydion. Many Kithain rushed to their aid, with Countess Callisto just beating Ser Glitch to Don Stormchaser’s side. This proved to be to her detriment, for the Liege struck out violently, sending the delicate Countess reeling, his mind still lost to whatever horrors he had seen. House Daireaan circled around their Duke, while Glitch squared off against the Liege and Sir Stone took up his violin in determined fashion, ready to protect his Countess.It took some doing, subduing Duke Stormchaser, who ranted and raved about a monster in the dark, and of banality poisoning the Dreaming itself, but they did eventually manage to get him somewhat calmed and into a chair. Never have I seen a Gwydion so shaken to their very core, as this Sidhe was. Duke Aizen was in a similar state; the imposing Daireaan Duke started the evening not well, and whatever he had experienced had worsened his condition. Both insisted that no one should enter the Dreaming, for in it currently lay an impossible to defeat manifestation that seemed only to desire their UnDoing.
This declaration combined with the whispers of other threats and her own impulsive, Childing nature to push Countess Callisto into performing an exceedingly rash action. With only Sir Stone to attend her in case of danger, the Tower Princess slipped out into the gardens and Unleashed Wayfare, demanding the Dreaming bring her missing brother to her. In what would prove to be a cruel joke of Fate, the Dreaming did as she bid, ripping her brother from wherever he had been and depositing him by her side- where he promptly collapsed into a mewling, terror-stricken, incoherent wreck against her.
As the Kithain inside the Freehold responded to the obvious signs of an Unleashing, Callisto and Nicholas reentered the greatroom. Her brother clung to her, seeming so very small despite how his frame dwarfed his sister’s. While Sir Stone fielded questions, his Countess tried desperately to make sense of her brother’s ramblings as his voice and sense slowly returned to him. Without warning, the broken Sidhe clutched at his throat and began wheezing as if drowning, unable to catch breath. He died in his sister’s arms, and whatever message he hoped to convey died with him. Glittering tears fell from Callisto’s eyes as she clutched her brother to her chest, still, not fully comprehending that he was truly gone, unlikely to be reborn.
The evening was not entirely composed of dire portents and theatrics, however. Before events took such a dark turn, the Spirit of Rock n’ Roll appeared in the guise of Ozzy Osbourne belting out the opening of Crazy Train– except, the Spirit of Rock n’ Roll was also still there in its Modern Blues incarnation. Two Spirits? This seemed as if it should be a concern, but the Modern Blues Spirit seemed unconcerned. It played the Heart while the Osbourne Spirit sang, the combined effort of two such incarnations encouraging the Kithain in attendance to dance and sing along. Sir Stone joined in the music on his violin, while Sir Eric WithaKay did likewise on his own guitar. It proved a fitting tribute to the late Prince of Darkness, and the second Spirit disappeared with the final notes of its song.
Closing court, a sombre affair by most standards, included a warning from the Liege about possibly Hunters masquerading as paranormal investigators in the city, and a reiteration that none should enter the Dreaming, for their own safety. The Liege told of a council which was soon to meet, a gathering of invited from across the Kingdom of Willows. Don Stormchaser declared that any who held title of Baron or above in the Grace Lands must be present, and that they may bring an attendant if they so desired. Patterwing, a Pooka Knight of Danaan well-known to many in the Duchy appeared from thin air to sit next to the Liege. The Hummingbird spoke of a betrayal and a caution that included a warning that the gates of Arcadia lay broken, and that she would be High Lord Dice’s representative for the Council.
Now, as your court reporter, I did not wish the last words of this record to be ones of fear and gloom, for there were some spots of brightness amid the tumultuous evening. The most notable happened toward the end of closing court, when to everyone’s surprise, Duke Poe Aizen of House Daireaan, Unseelie, got down on one knee to propose to Countess Saoirse Roswell of House Eiluned, Seelie. While congratulations and cheers rung out through the Caer, one cannot help but wonder what those of higher rank in their respective Houses might think of such an open cross-court union. However, as even I need to cling desperately in the moment to thoughts of love and happiness, I shall hope that whatever consequences they might face shall be minor.
