A Final Word on the Spires

Log Info

• Title: A Final Word on the Spires
  
• GM: Whirlpool
• Characters: Aelwyn, Rune, Harkashan, Ravenstongue, Eztli, Skyler, Bryn
  
• Location: Felwood
  
• Summary: A commemoration and celebration of the heroes who helped liberate the temple of Eluna within the Felwood, from activating the spires to breaching the temple of Eluna itself. This celebration is also meant to help further cement the union between these peoples and their governments.

It has been a short time since the temple was breached the corruptive influence within removed. A brilliant light had briefly shone over the Mythwood and a sense of peace had arisen. The brave adventurers within had emerged to find that patrols of Mythwood wardens and Alexandrian irreuglar forces -- had begun to arrive in force to prpeare to assist, and even then, had much ork to do to restore the large stretch of the Felwood upon which the curse had immediately broken under the shining light of Eluna's grace.

A feast was declared in their honor on the site and though it took some time to ready given the amount of work that had to be done, the time is now.

Outside the walls of the battered temple building, an ivy covered, pock and scorch marked building that sits nestled beteen dense forests of sickly trees, rises tall enough into the sky to stand just over them, the tip of its spire gleaming with reflected silvery moonlight. At its front are numerous banquet tables. Present are dignitaries from Alexandria and the Mythwood -- some familiar, some not. The bell-clad Maeva in the full and notable vestnents of a Mythood priestess of Eluna is very visible here, as are notable figures from alexandria and a representative of the City Council, an officious looking and somewhat portly man who seems to feel very out of place amongst the shorter, lither elves. His finery speak of ostentatious wealth and a high degree of formalism.

As the guests of hommor arrive, each are greeted and guided to a seat. This event is for everyone, however, and the numbers arriving aleady have them breaking out another table.

They prepared for this.

"I'm just saying... has someone made sure to check and double check every table, chair, utensil and jar of jam..." The voice of a certain half-sil who may just have had her fair share of issues with the Felwood, carries out of the shadows as she approaches along side the armored form of her Makari companion. "It's better to be safe than sorry..."

It's hard to tell just how serious the rogue may be in that moment. Even if the light of the Sky-singer now seems to have returned and burnt away some of the darkness, it doesn't seem as if she is entirely convinced, at least not yet. However, she does reach up and wrap her hand around her necklace, the one touched by the goddess, giving an incline of her head towards the temple, and then to Maeva.

Rune's blue hair is lightly decorated for the occasion, with a bit of her dyed hair braided along one side with feathers and a few colored beads. Despite this, she still has on her regular gear, though it has been cleaned up, at least. "If my father could see this..." She sighs softly. "Not that he would believe it..." She shakes her head, putting on a smile as she waits to greet the others.

A feast. That's about all it takes to get Bryn to show up. Food and (she assumes) drinks are pretty good reasons to go anywhere. Some of the people are known to her, but that's more in the guests and peers than among the 'dignified' folk.

When Rune asks about checking things, she asides (which could be calling loudly over) with a broad, tusky grin. "Don'tcha worry none. I'm gonna check those 'n make sure nothing's hidin in 'em..." One metal finger points at the kegs and casks.

"It might be poisoned." A young auburn-haired human beside Bryn points out logically, slightly vacant pale grey-green eyes bright as Skyler stares at the kegs himself. He knows people too, even if he wasn't involved, and with Jarik off doing Jarik'y things he decided to tag along with his replacement emotional support Oruch Bryn. He nudges her, and adds, "We'll have to try each one, just to be sure."

"I agree. We cannot be safe enough in this place." Harkashan answers Rune with a deep furrowed brow, touching her shoulder for a moment as he casts a spell of True Seeing upon her. The spell ripples out quickly, no longer causing the kind of exhaustion it once did, now that he's a 'fully fledged' Deathsinger.

Getting a few odd looks from those around him, the tall Sith'makar quickly erects his posture properly and rumbles; "A bad mimic incident in this region has led us to a particular... care around fully set tables we did not prepare." He explains. "No distrust meant to the organizer." He promises, glancing to the priestess for a moment. His tail lashing awkwardly behind the heavily armored figure.

He takes a moment, now that the sense of utter darkness and evil has begun to fade away, and looks up at the temple.

The Sith'makar has a lot of memories of this place. The Felwood was one of his first missions as a Deathsinger having arrived to the Alexandria region. And battered as the temple building may be now, it bears far more beauty now that it has been cleansed of the darkness that once held it.

Somewhere at the back of his mind, there's a tug, and he draws his attention back to Rune. "Hmm? Oh, yes, right." Pause. "Sorry about that, lost in... Memories for a moment there." He explains, and then steps back to join her once more.

"I can hardly believe it myself. This has been a long road, and I still have to shrug off the sensations of evil this place once held." He admits. "That is, I am trying to ignore the feeling, like a tail-less Sith'makar trying to ignore the sense of their tail still being there." He shudders at the wording.

He then steps further along, touching against Rune's back with the slender tip of his tail, and then proceeds to approach Maeva. "Priestess. I hope you are recovering well from your arduous channeling?" He inquires. Though he wonders where it ranks compared to Rune channeling the god of Eluna herself for a short moment.

"A celebration in their honor, where important dignitaries were working to assure alliances between various races?

Well, Eztli didn't really care about that, but hey, excuse to dress up, right? Eztli didn't bother with any woodland crowns or fancy paints this time, but she was wearing a loose dress of hundreds of tiny leaves of oranges, reds, yellows and browns.

"Yeah, can't say I blame you, I don't trust this place either." Eztli nods. "Give it a few years, maybe. Still, why not enjoy ourselves a little bit?"

Cor'lana Lupecyll-Atlon is really just happy to be alive. She's dressed in her nice blue-and-stars dress again, the same one she'd worn to the delegation of Llyranesi ambassadors to the meeting with Alexandria and Mythwood's political figures, and Pothy--delight that he is--is on her shoulder.

Unfortunately for everyone, Pothy talks in his true voice these days.

"When can we eat?" Pothy asks. He sounds like an elegant little boy, an innocent soul better suited for a choir than anything. "Please, Lana, I'm _starving_."

"You are _always_ starving," Cor'lana replies with a roll of her violet eyes. She looks over to Rune and Harkashan, smiling. She'll catch up with them in a minute. For now...

She approaches Bryn and Skyler. Skyler, she doesn't recognize, but Bryn had been there in the harrowing fight with the lich. "Hello! Good evening. I hope you're recovering well?"

"Lana, these are not snacks." Pothy looks at Skyler and Bryn balefully with blue eyes. "I'm sure they are very nice people, but they are not food. Please give me _food_."

The Dragoon, now a Knight-Errant of the Order of the Cockatrice, had done his best to spruce up his appearance. Which - meant mostly straightening out his red ribbons on his horns, with a few new thick red ones with gold rim. An embroidered red loincloth. Polished scales. He even managed to steal a red silken cloth over somewhere, to haphazardly tie around his waist to trail off the side. Naturally. Why hide good, even if naturally scarred, looks?

"The road would have been far shorter; if we had simply burnt down the woods." Aelwyn points out, though not with too much volume. "This one is not certain how anyone can ever trust these woods again." He certainly cannot. Despite his freshly glorious look, his demeanour shared the equal suspicion to the other veterans of this strife. "... it has been quite the seasons, has it not?" He flashes his teeth in a macabre grin. "It feels as if this one stepped of the ship from Veyshan into this place of nightmares like yesterday."

A feast for heroes!

Carver is here also, already seated at one of the tables. One of the benefits of living more in the countryside than the city itself is that she was one of the earliest to arrive. The downside being that she just looks... like herself. Despite it all, just her. Dirty, a lil' unkept, a lanky beanstalk in hides and furs with dirt on her cheek and face painted like a raccoon. Her plate is already loaded down and fit for voracious appetite but it seems lost to her.

Instead, she's looking back to the towering spire arching gracefully to the sky, her fork more for stirring than consuming. Seems like she's missed the memo. The spirit of the event is understood but the act of it lost to her thoughts.

She is only stirred from her thoughts when the irritable scratching of her utensil finally finds bare plate rather than mashed food.

Bryn's grin widens at Skyler and she nods. "Yep. Gotta check 'em all. Only way ta be sure. Whenever they let us get up 'n walk 'round...."

When Cor'lana makes herself known (first by Pothy's empty stomach, but formally by the greeting), she looks over and lifts a hand (the metal one) in return. "Ey! Doin great, how're ye?" Unlike many, the Felwood is a new thing to her, and the whole cleaning out of the temple was less the end of an era and more just one more new sight around a brand new (to her) city.

"Oh shit! I think I threw you into a bonfire!" Skyler blurts out as the elegant lady and her equally elegant sounding birb approach. The (ex) pirate is dressed nicely in a pair of snug leather pants, shiny boots, and a rather dashing coat, neckline lined in frothy lace. He peers at Pothy suspiciously, before shaking his head, "Huh. You aren't one of the killer toys. Hi! I'm Skyler Skywalker." And he bows to both Pothy and Lana, adding, "And I'll have you know I've been called a snack many a times! I'd say I'm not edible, but technically anyone is if you're not picky enough. I try and avoid eating anything that can talk back, though."

He spots Aelwyn's arrival, bouncing onto the tips of his toes to wave exuberantly to the Dragoon he's due to set himself on fire and wrestle with soon. Not today, though. Today is for celebrations and *booze*. Another series of faces he recognized are greeted like old friends, Carver and Eztli both recognized from the unfortunate incident with the Pothy plushies. To Bryn, he asks, "Do you think they have those little canapes made with goose liver? The grey stuff? It's *delicious*!"

Blue eyes blink slightly as a momentarily sheen of magical energy cover over them. Rune pushes her crystal glasses up on her nose and squints towards the table, "Everything looks in order." Squint. "But, just to be safe, I won't go standing on any tables this time. At least not without a fair amount of mead in me first."

A smirk is cast to Bryn, "A very important task. Senior booze inspector." She nods sagely, gaze following to the metal finger before looking back at the Oruch, "How're you doing?" There's real concern there, after what Bryn went through in the temple.

Then, she shifts focus, quirking a brow at the human (Skyler) beside the Oruch. "I don't think we've met. At least, I think I'd remember if I did. You can call me Rune, if you'd like. I act as blade to the goddess. Or in other words, I stab things that need to be stabbed." Smirk.

Then, what follows is a series of greetings to each of her other friends in turn. "Aye, a few years at least, Ez." She murmurs to the Makari in the dress of leaves. Cor'lana and Pothy are given a warm smile, and then she chuckles to Aelwyn, "I don't know, you've certainly changed a fair bit since I first met you. And hopefully we won't need to take the fire option."

"Heya Rune, Hark! Good to see you all again!" *Eztli waves enthusiastically. "And Aelwyn! Surprised you were willing to come out here again, glad you did!" She greets to the dragoon, and waving to so many other faces. She stopped and snuck by one of the casks, filling a mug quickly, and sneaking up behind Carver where she was sitting to catch the ranger in a hug. "Foods so good you couldn't wait till I got here?" The small makari chuckles. "But more importantly, you doing alright? I got you a drink if you want one."

Maeva warmly greets Harkashan and Rume as they approach, clasping each's arm in a warm greeting with her small, pale hand.

"Oh, yes. Very much recovered. She wanted me to say thank you to all of you, to let you know that she can finally rest and that the spirit of her love will never again return. It was difficult but --"

She peers at Rune for a moment, then shakes her head as if clearing her thoughts.

"Please, enjoy the meals. The music will start soon, and there shall be a toast as ell." She glances towards the as of yet uknown Alexandrian official.

Carver smooshes her cheek against Eztli's in greeting, taking the mug in both hands. "Iffin' I don't get here early, I wont's come at all. I don't belong here an' it's exhausting remembering rules... but hey, this is a big moment. We fixed the big giant penil relic for that Goddess!" A little softer, a little more serious. "An... she fixed the fores'. It don't feel like it did. I mean, still boils and festers in places, but it feels like a future was made. So I guess I'll have to forgive Eluna the occasional accidental penis if she managed to do that. It's nice. I feel like I played a small part in somethin' really important."

She places the mug down and returns the wave from Skyler. "Oh, I put a hat on Deathless."

The red Aduuli stands at attention, where she was commanded to stay. She's wearing a crumpled coachman's hat with holes cut out for her ears.

"I am sorry we could not do more for her." Harkashan answers Meava with a bow of his head. "But she will have the rest she needs now." He adds in agreement, grasping arms for a moment, before releasing and turning to Rune - who is off meeting new people.

The overgrown lizard makes his way over to join his love, and joins her in greeting Ravenstongue, Eztli and Aelwyn with a bow of his head head, before turning to Skyler and Bryn.

"Greetings." He recalls Bryn of course, but Skyler is new, and so he offers a hand out. "I am Deathsinger Harkashan." He introduces himself, with a bit of an over-exageration of his expression, since he knows that others can have trouble with Sith'makar subtleties when it comes to their posture and other emotive markings.

"Though I did not see any 'goose liver'. How do you tell it apart from other livers? Aside from their size."

"You did _what_--oh, you're talking about the homicidal toy versions of me," Pothy says with surprise and then understanding at Skyler's remarks. "I am called Apotheosis, or Pothy for short. I am the repository of knowledge for the inheritor, Cor'lana Lupecyll-Atlon." And he nudges Cor'lana's waves and curls of black hair. "Who is her, by the way."

"That I am," Cor'lana says with a smidge of embarrassment. "I can introduce myself, Pothy, you big ham." But she smiles at Skyler. "My husband, my sister, and her wife were there when you were dealing with that. I've heard you were quite brave. Such bravery is needed in these times. As for being edible... The less we talk about people being edible, I think, the better."

She smiles at Bryn. "I am doing well. I'm just thankful that... Well, that we're here! Alive and well. Here for another new year. Not everyone is so fortunate. I thank Ni'essa for her guidance and wisdom, and I thank Vaire for her wit and inspiration... And then I thank Althea for holding my family together. How about you and yours?"

Aelwyn looks shocked, nearly offended. Change, him? He clicks his tongue audibly, tail swaying behind him. "Now, this one has not turned into a dragon or dragon kin yet," He gestures around his other kin, before he settles into a grin aimed at Rune. "How dare this one change?" He rumbles, before moving to lightly tap the half-sil's ankles with his tail. "We made it. No more lifting Lava's ridiculous armor for us." There is a brief look towards the way too tall, probably too large of a sith-makari in heavy armor, Harkashan, before his eyes turn back towards Rune. "All of us change for better, yes? Or perhaps this one is seeing is just Twin's influence?" He flickers his tongue out again, teasingly.

The ruddy, and quite autumn colored, sith-makar turns towards Eztli. "The leaves suit Spelldancer fine," He compliments - naturally, as one wears his colors - before turning towards Rune. "As do feathers. Did Ribbon inspire one?" He flickers his tongue out in the air.

The exuberant waving makes Aelwyn turns his head and he flashes his teeth - always somewhat unsettling sight, even with the gleeful fire in those slit orange pupils. "Sky," He greets, before bowing his head towards Bryn. Cor'lana, Carver in the distance. "Braid, Ravenkeeper, Huntress."

Finally owards the others, "Speaking of tables, this one learned a new table dance." He flashes his teeth. "It shall be demonstrated when the bottles and casks threaten to run empty." Perhaps a threat, perhaps not. "The least these woods can do is witness true celebration for the perils it has brought."

Eztli hugged Carver for some time, returning the smoosh before leaving to stand next to her. "Aw, don't say that, Carver, you're as welcome here as anyone, and no bit less important. 'Specially to me." Eztli laughs. "Yeah, after all that mess, we did a lot of good. Did a lot of good things. We'll keep fixing things here till there's nothing left to fix, yeah?"

"Thank you, it'd be a shame to use a dress this nice only one time. Crown's a bit much though, don't want people thinking I think I'm above them." The makari snorts. "Sounds fun to see that, if I don't take all the attention with my own so no one sees it, though."

Skyler says, “Hi Rune! I also stab things that need to be stabbed." Skyler scratches his jaw consideringly, before shaking his head and giving a broad, cheerful grin. "Mostly for fun and profit. Most Clerics call the Gods our parents, though, and I'm pretty sure whoever my parents are upstairs or wherever the gods are, they're as disappointed in me as the ones on this plane."

When the priestess speaks up, though, he shoots Bryn a quick, slightly panicked look, "They'll let us get booze before the speeches, right? I didn't bring any myself. You see that one mage from the tavern with the plum stuff that makes you see the stars?" He glances around with a worried expression, even as the prattle continues to spew forth, "He struck me as the type to smuggle alcohol everywhere. Oh my *gods* that hat is too cute, how do you keep him from eating it?"

And then there's a hand thrust at him, and he turns to Harkashan. He blinks, waiting for something resembling thought to catch up. "Well met, Deathsinger. And your husband's Telamon, right? He shared some of his magic alcohol with me once. Good guy."

He then addresses the white raven, pulling a bit of owlbear jerky out of an inner pocket and offering it. "Hello, Pothy. I'm pleased to inform you that I have one of the big version of you in my room as an armor stand right now, and I'll treasure it all the more for meeting you. Hullo, Dragoon. I look forward to your dance. Don't forget to put a hat out though; if people start throwing coins they can sting if they hit your eye."

He then shifts to the other makari. And... Blink blink. "Above them? But you're so short. Scary, but short." And then Skyler rubs the back of his neck, "Sorry. I'm afraid I've been on the road for a while and it's made me a bit feral with my manners.”

There's a moment where Harkashan's brain also has to catch up, with Skyler's quick way of talking. Thinking for a moment that he's suggesting that Telamon is his husband, rather than Ravenstongue's. "I fear the Archmagus is..." He begins, before that thought catches up, and he steps aside.

He then smirks at Eztli and inquires; "Are you certain? I think you'd make a wonderful Shaman Matriarch for the hatchlings. Crown and all." He offers to her. "Imagine the tales. The hatchlings who get to speak of having been taught by the The Dragon Matriarch."

One of Rune's ears twitches in the direction of the priestess, her eyes turning to meet the woman's gaze for a moment before that shake of the head. A puzzled expression passes the rogue's features, brows furrowed, but she doesn't address the look outloud. Instead, she just looks at Harkashan with a tilted head and a raised eyebrow. As if he might have an answer.

Instead, Aelwyn's question snags her attention, "A couple of them are curtesy of our feathered friend, yes. Thought it might be nice to do something a bit special for the feast." She lifts her foot to tap back against the Dragoon's tail. "And I kind of like the change... though, you used to wear a lot less." He gets a wink at that.

Then, to Skyler, "Always good to have more blades in a fight." There is a knowing look about the 'fun and profit' side of a good fight, "My connection to the Sky-singer came later along the line. We weren't always on the same page, but we got there." Her eyes flick to the temple, and then she shrugs once.

Maeva stops by the officious looking man and leans in to whisper to him, perhaps to let him know its his time to speak. Several elven musicians with a varity of instruments appear to be setting up together to prepare providing entertainment. They're very colorfully clad and seem pretty pleased to be here.

More food is being placed on the banquets as the various other individuals present, many simply who worked at the Felwood Camp site, are already seated and enjoying the finery of it all.

The official stands up and moves towards the front, stabding before the great temple door with a glass in hand and a smile on his face.

"A moment of everyone's time, please," he calls out, waiting for everyone to take a moment to give him theri attention.

"Most of you don't know me -- so let me start with an introduction. my name is Ollun Singlebrooke and I am an envoy from the Council of Alexandria to the Mythwood. Today, we celebrate the first of our great works together, a shining example of what we can do going forward. An intractable problem, the Felwood, has been dealt a heavy blow, and never again shall it present the threat it once did. This temple to Eluna, ancient and wonderous dating as far back as the first days beyond the Kulthian Sundering, shall become a beacon for us all once more. A beacon of hope. A beacon of unity. It will shine the way forawrd for us all, showing that through our combined peoples we can confront any danger, solve any problem, and build any dream we so choose."

"Many sacrifices were made to make this future possible. Wounds inflicted whose pains shall long endure, but they were endured in the pursuit of the good of all, and for the copious gold that was paid out to finance those services."

That last bit earns a chortle from the crowd, and its clear from his own tone that there's no malice behind it.

"No, that coin was well spent because today e stand in front of you as *one people*, and it could not have happened without all of you. Andin fact some of you went even further, above and beyond expectations, to confront the final danger in this temple. Please step forward, Harkashan, Bryn, Rune, Aelwyn, Cor'lana, Carver, and Eztli."

As people clap, and several of his new friends march up, Skyler sadly whispers to himself, "We didn't have time for booze before the speeches."

emit Harkashan rumbles to Rune, "You did kind of get inhabited by Eluna for a bit..." He reminds her. "I think that may have a particular effect on the Faithful to Eluna." He then quiets, as the speeches begin.

He takes that opportunity to snag a glass of water and takes a quick moment to down it, and then pulls a small wineskin from one of his bags and then presses the wineskin to Skyler's chest. A small draconic-like grin, before he notices that apparently he's being asked for.

He looks to Rune and the others being called forth, then back to Ollun and heads on over there, to take position. Offering Rune an arm to hold if she'd like to head on over together.

Aelwyn clicks his tongue, looking at Rune from the tap. "Ah, she wounds this one." He soreads his hands. "If not for the cold and the modicum." His lips spread into a grin. "Though only one of those shall be a minor hindrance tonight, this one hopes."

The Dragoon turns to look towards Skyler; and at the end, perhaps most to Eztli, he says, "Ah, yes. This one shall wrestle him in the fire." He says, matter of factly, as if that were something people normally would do. "The flames shall burn bright." His grin widens.

The Dragoon then falls silent as the speeches begin. He leans towards Skyler. "Always carry a flask." He rumbles, already looking like he was about to zone out - up until his name was announced. The Dragoon picks up his flaming glaive and with an exaggerated, grandious pose, he bows his head towards the crowd - clapping or not - and lets his tail flick out the red silken sash slash side-skirt slash exaggerated loincloth flutter behind him as he takes his position. All show, some bone.

Cor'lana had been about to chat more with Skyler and to greet Aelwyn before Ollun's gathering of attention. Then she flushes a little as her name's called. "It never feels real," she murmurs. She hopes it never does, lest the ego go to her head. The last thing the world needs is for another Theatre District 'diva', even if she's really just writing lyrics and occasional bits of music for shows.

She steps forward, and Pothy murmurs, "Smile! Nice and big!" into her ear.

Cor'lana tries. She hopes it doesn't look forced or fake, but there is a reason to smile: Mythwood and Alexandria standing together.

"Oh, wrestling in the fire? Well, just make sure no one gets burned." Eztli chuckles, looking to the others. "Hey, guess we're going up there, then?" She grins to Carver, offering the Ranger a hand before stepping forward. "We've all been happy to help people here, I know. And it would have been impossible without everyone's help. I just hope that this is the first step for everyone, in making even more beneficial changes for the area."

"Ahh..." The sound of understanding is met with a sheepish and shy expression from Rune as she nervously tucks a few strands of dyed hair back behind one semi-pointed ear. "I mean, it wasn't like it was intentional, but... I'm glad we could help, regardless." The spotlight isn't really a place she is used to being in, and... then her name is called among others.

She only has time enough to raise a challenging brow to Aelwyn, before she takes Harkashan's arm and walks with him to join the others who are being drawn forward. If nothing else, it's easier to hide next to the hulking form of the armored Makari. Her spare hand, however, is fidgeting with her necklace. Even if it's purpose is largely done, it still acts as both comfort and anxiety relief in such social circumstances.

Carver considers Skyler for a moment, as she tastes some of the roasted vegetables. Would he pass for a Carver? Eztli calling her out explicitly has her exhaling the passing fancy away. As amusing as the misdirection would be...

She gives a whistle, and Deathless trots to her side. Emotional support animal? Or active participant she actively relies on. She sighs as she removes the hat, and nods to Eztli, following the sorceress as the horse follows to her heel.

"Often," continues Singlebrooke, "Individuals suych as you and they," he gestures towards the gathered souls beside him, "have found themselves in situations where a choice must be made. A choice to confront a danger so that others do not have to, a choice to sacrifice so that others need not, a choice to endure so that others need not, and again and again those brave souls, whom I dare call heroes, have made the choice to confront danger head on, to sacrifice and to endure again and again. They do so for a variety of reasons, some noble, some not, but what matters that when they act and suffer as they do? Motivations matter little to those spared the lash of misfortune."

"Giftbearers, come forward."

Several of the Mythwood elves move up from behind the crowd, bearing wreaths of twisted, shaped twine and vibrant leves, adorned with bells and tassles, decorated with the words 'TO ENDURE' above a a carefully and masterfully carved and painted pair of figurines, a phoenix in fight beside a a towering oak. Each of the elves approach those designated and aim to place the wreath upon them. They smell of pine and blooming flowers despite the season.

Harkashan moves to stand in some form of attention, sliding his tail curled around the back of his legs, touching Rune with their tip. Watching the people in front of him with a more neutral expression.

The Sith'makar isn't a very prideful individual in many ways. This was the right thing to do - is how he sees it. He just did what he could do to help. And somewhere along the line, someone asked him to take a leadership role on the matter of the Felwood amongst Adventurers.

That neutral expression turns to one of curiousity however, when the wreaths are brought forth, and the Sith'makar kneels down before the shorter Elves so they don't have to get a stepladder in order to put the wreath on him.

There's a small sneeze as the gift is placed over his shoulders - though he has to wiggle and move his horns a few times so it doesn't get stuck!

Like a dog sticking its head through a large donut.

Cor'lana bows her head as the Mythwood sildanyari approach, and she makes a note to herself to ask them later if they happen to know Telamon. Once the wreath is around her neck, she looks a little bashful.

"Thank you," she says softly.

Pothy, who had flapped to the ground in the effort of the wreath being put around Cor'lana's neck, looks up at her with happy blue eyes, shiny in appreciation. "Good job, Lana!" he says.

Much to Lana's horror, though, Pothy then takes flight to stand at Ollun Singlebrooke's feet, looking up at him with begging blue eyes. "Is this the part where we eat!?" he asks. "Pleaaaaaaase?"

"Oh gods," Lana says, paling.

There was a time Aelwyn was simply doing this for coin, a contract off the board to put his skills to use. Yet very quickly, it became very personal to him. To endure the pain and misfortune? Yes. Some things coin cannot hide. He looks around the others, seeing their reactions - and then he flashes his teeth into a wide, genuine grin. "To endure with friends," He rumble quietly. In doing so, the Dragoon nearly misses the wreath being pushed upon him. And indeed, it snags upon his upright horns for a moment, before Aelwyn bows properly.

The notion to eat. "No great favor comes without greater cost, yet," He gestures towards the rest of the adventurers, "It is with great relief and dare say, pride, we all stand here. And only through our numerous personal sacrifices and through our even more numerous acts of glory, these corrupted woods shall have a chance to heal." And then he flashes his teeth in a very disturbing, macabre grin. "And if not, we shall return and finish the job."

Eztli kept one hand on Carvers, looking a bit awkward herself as she waited for, a big wreath? "Well, I guess I shouldn't have worried about not wearing any branches today, in that case." Eztli chuckles. "Thank you, this is a great honor." *she nods, shuffling a bit to make sure everything was sitting right, and the wreath wasn't getting caught on her dress.

It seems to take a quite a bit of Rune's focus not to be overly fidgety, keeping it mostly to just her thumb pressing over the various pivot points of her necklace. However, Harkashan's arm is probably being held on to tighter than is strictly comfortable. Thankfully, he's thick skinned.

As the wreaths are brought forward, she steps back briefly, giving the Makari room enough to work his head through the wreath before bowing her head to accept her own. "You alright?" She asks, perhaps inquiring about the sneeze.

Then, there goes Pothy, and his antics are enough to have her hiding a smile behind one hand. It eases some of her own anxiousness. Of course, that is off-set by Aelwyn's promise to return and 'finish the job' with one of those grins of his. Rune shakes her head at him and makes a distinct 'no' gesture.

Carver does not have horns, so in bowing her head in acceptance of the gift, there is little physical awkwardness. Accepting the spirit behind the gesture does have her wallowing in her thoughts for another minute, her free hand holding the twisted wreath up for closer inspection. She did not recognize the meaning behind the great tower, nor the phoenix. A little gap in knowledge about local affairs.

Pothy's pleading has her looking back up, nodding. In agreement.

emit, just ctrl-uparrow a few times."

Singlebrook stares down at the raven for a moment as it speaks to him. Such things are perhaps not uncommon, but still remain odd enough to see in person.

"... yes, there will be plenty of time to eat and dance and sing tonight. Maeve, if you would? My part is done."

And he steps back and then allows the slender priestess to come forward once more.

"Tonight, I call a blessing from the Goddess of the Moon. May she ever grace us with her light and her wisdom take nest in our hearts."

She raises her voice and falls into song, one of the hymns of the Mythwood elves bkebded with the a song of love lost and then found once more, of separation and return.

The band accompanies her, its music matching her woith precision and with a melody that can only be called haunting.

Harkashan remains silent and standing, staring out forwards as the song rises to the skies. He makes a little headshaking motion at Rune to indicate he's fine - in regards to the sneeze. He can be a bit sensitive to strong smells after all.

How long ago was it, that he last had to delve into the Sewers of Alexandria, exploring its most 'interesting' parts? He can't remember, but it was a long time ago. Yet, in the span of his life, such a short time ago at the same time.

For now, he closes his eyes and lets the song wash over him and enter his mind.

Cor'lana knows this song. She's heard it before, thanks to several trips to the Mythwood, and thanks to honeymooning there with Telamon on an estate near Marniar'nir. She hums along softly at times, but she stops herself. Pothy returns to her and has the good grace to not complain about food being delayed while the people are singing.

Like Harkashan, she lets the song go over her, accepting it as a fitting song of the moment.

Aelwyn turns his head towards Rune, apparently completely missing her gesture. He tilts his head, with several of the ribbons' tails flopping away. 'What did I say?' He mouths, before the proceedings continue. The music arrives. It freezes Aelwyn in place for a moment, even his tail coming to a stand still. Moments pass.

It takes a considerable amount of time, before the Dragoon concludes, that this is a song he could not truly dance to. Then the draconian lets his mind wander. He remembers warmth. Maybe he can start a bonfire at the end of this.

The urge to face-palm at Aelwyn is strong, but Rune does her best to school her expression and focus her attention back on the official and priestess. She takes a deep breath, squaring her shoulders.

And then the blessing is called and the song begins. There is a slight dip of her ears, perhaps because of the meaning of the words. Music and stories like these have always been able to seize her attention, and her previous fidgeting calms as she seems to lose herself in the melody and the tale being spun before them.

Eztli was listening to the music and the prayer offered. she wasn't sure how to react, it was a custom from elves foreign to her, but she still could appreciate the meaning behind it. The small makari was left with her eyes closed, tail swaying slowly behind her.

The hymn completes and Maeva looks up.

"Now," she murmurs, gently.

At the top of the spire above you, five beams of light srike the cenral pire, as each spire is activated in turn. They feed into the central spire, whose glow intensifies until its almost as if a miniature moon sits directly above you.

"Under this light, under this blessing, we feast. We dance. We celebrate beneath the moon and the stars and amongst cherished friends and loved ones. Be merry, my friends, for the moon shall ever fill our hearts with her blessing."

With the end of the song and the light show going off above them, Rune gives one last look upwards towards the sky as if nodding to the goddess in turn. Then, she seems all too happy to get out of the limelight. "Come on, big guy." She tugs at Harkashan's arm. "There's food to be had. And... I could use a drink."

Aelwyn waits for the song to end - and then gives respectful nod to the end of the performance - but then he flashes his teeth to the rest of the party. "This one expects to see no one in good health come morning." He spreads his hands and then steps into the crowd. "Now, who here wishes to dance and see how the moon has blessed this one?" He asks from the crowd, before striding into the thick of it.

Eztli gave a brief nod as the singing finished, and a broad grin to all of her friends and allies present, watching the top of the spire. "Sounds like we're ready to celebrate, then? No folks I'd rather do that with." Eztli laughs. "Come on, I'll get a few drinks in me first while you go first, Aelwyn. Have to make the competition fair, after all." She adds, laughing more as she headed to the tables.