[Rhythm of the Night] For What Ails You

Eis purses her lips. They'd all had quite a bit to say during this whole ordeal. Nothing would surprise her at this point. But she'll humor him. Focusing on the road, but listening earnestly, she lets him say his piece. Everything sounds agreeable. Something needed to take the ritual's place if they didn't want to jeopardize the relative safety the Freehold has enjoyed. Eis remembers all too well how Samedi had expressed his concerns about people poking their noses into practices they ought not to. And, after a sense, their little investigation is doing just that. But Gavin is offering a chance to smooth things over without reaving the Wyrd and Vegas alike. The last bit about Lucas causes her to shoot him a brief, appraising look. Lucas is perfectly agreeable, in her book. What had she missed between the two of them? She'd ask later, she decides. If there's time. 

"Yes... I agree. I imagine situations like this are the reason for Samedi's warning about disturbing rituals and secrets. The ritual may have undesirable elements, but it serves a purpose. We can't just leave that purpose unfulfilled. Who knows what might happen if we did?" She clicks her tongue against her teeth. How does she put the next bit delicately? Oh... right. She doesn't particularly care if she does.

"The other matter. The 'plan'. I can't argue with results. But it is a costly endeavor. The Wyrd demands much of me to accomplish such a thing." Her brow furrows. She shoots him one more glance to make sure she's got his attention. "It may not matter to any of you," she starts, apparently lumping him in now with the rest of their group, "or you may not have even been paying attention - which is perfectly fine - but my inner hopes and fears are my own. I don't need people poking, prodding, or even asking me about anything I've mentioned while invoking the Contract's power. And trusting others in good faith on the matter isn't good enough. I need to hear you swear that you won't bring up anything personal I've mentioned for this purpose, unless I invite you to, before I agree to do it again. I fully intend to hold you to it."

"Good." Eis trusts the Wyrd to sort him out if he doesn't hold his end.



With her personal fears assuaged, she focuses on the task ahead. She'd likely have little trouble with convincing Callahan, which leaves the other goal on Gavin. "Maybe that's what we need help with. The part with fixing the ritual. Or, well, it's 'requirement', as you so succinctly pointed out. I'll handle Callahan alone. Give him assurances and do my best to salvage this political nightmare. But you..." she says, trailing off. She wags a single finger at him, clearly brainstorming and latching on to what's going through her head. "You can deal with Chunhua. Fixing the ritual is a given - I think she will see that. The both of you will need to be able to find a way to fulfill the requirements." She snaps her fingers. That's it.



Eis slows and looks for a place to stop. She can't do this with her attention divided. Once parked, she nods to herself and begins. Bleeding away more of her 'reserves' to the Wyrd, Eis begins in earnest, her words carrying first the tune of a confession, then gravitating towards a speech. "You know what I hope for most? To see my daughter again. To watch her grow up. But she's gone. And my own worst fears are realized; I'm powerless to change that. Three lives hang in the balance, and if we don't act swiftly their own families will experience what I've gone through. Because we can't allow the old ways to continue. So we stand at the edge of a precipice - a familiar, flawed field behind us and a terrible, dark unknown below. We can't throw ourselves from the cliff and just assume everything will be alright. Nor can we go back. Not now that we understand where it is we came from. We have to build a bridge forward, across the gap to the field ahead. Much like the one behind us. But better. Our way forward - our bridge - is to fulfill the requirements of the Spring ritual without the need for human sacrifices. The esoteric knowledge exists... but Gavin and Chunhua need to be able to dig it up to appease the Wyrd."

Gavin attempted to sort out the scribblings as they formed and when they started to become strange he popped out his phone to record the remainder of the incident. What was on the paper, even briefly was illuminating. It showed terms he thought unrelated. Possible relationships that might be functional in supporting changes that surround Spring's activities. The hidden message within the plan as it exploded with ink on the pages starkly imprinted on Gavin's mind: FIND LAMASSU AND SOLVE THE HUNGER. What were the threads that bound the winding ways of the Wyrd behind its demands. Were there other commonalities he could pull meaning from? What was the hidden meaning behind its dark request?


"Right, so I'm thinking the Wyrd is taking the piss. Get fucked, yeah!" he let out what was an amalgam of chuckle and grimace toward the universe, venting briefly before settling back down into problem solving mode. There were things to be learned, and things to be done. "I'm feeling like this isn't going to be our solution to the ritual problem, but who knows. It might be useful in fending off those scum traffickers over there. Looks like we're either where they wanted to be out of unbelievably unlucky coincidence or they've mapped me out again, but that's the backup plan. I could only hope that the Wyrd would be sated with the blood of their type, but my luck isn't that good." He was vaguely gesturing toward the ominously appearing weapon in Eis' lap, and the bag of coins.

"Let's get moving, seems time is of the essence if there are other things that might change this stuff into something useful. Thanks for trying it. It was always a stretch. Gonna go stealth mode to keep these guys from following me to more of us."

Gavin offered to carry the unexpected things, including the inky paper, to the meeting with Chunhua. 


Under the protection of the Wyrd's invisibility Gavin moves through the place toward meeting with Chunhua. He hangs back just long enough to note if the guys picked up on his transit with Eis, hoping he didn't end up tarring her with his problem. 

Eis enters normally, with Gavin close behind under a bent reality. The place felt like she was stepping outside of Las Vegas, with a surprising amount of well-kept greenery and a koi pond at the center. She passed through a courtyard that doubled as a tourist café that was currently quite busy, despite the rain. The office itself was tucked away down one of the quaint paths that the Snowskin was tempted to take her time with. Stephen Callahan looked a little out of place as one of those hipster bohemians Eis saw in coffee shops and campuses, though this one had an almost sickly like pallor to how pale he was, with calla lilies blooming from his hair and splits in his skin. His eyes has a sort of grey sheen to them, as if he were a beautified corpse. Lively and charming, however, grinning brilliantly as he recognized one of his Court.

"Eis, right? I think I've seen you at a few gatherings now. Nice to see you participating in more of the rites," he said, almost musically. There was a willowy presence to him as he stood, which made it hard to place whether he were one of the Fairest or a Darkling. The floorboards creaked and snapped as peering eyes and fingers retreated from her periphery, hair standing on end as if she had disturbed a grave.

Stephen's eyes flicker with what Gavin assumes is a Contract about to strike the Fear of God into his lizard brain and cause a freeze, before the Squire registers who it is and settles. Well, leaning back as it were as he blinked and caught his breath, but the Beast would take his wins where he could get it.

At the mention of the gangsters his smile falters and he mentions them arriving some time ago and getting lunch. Obviously he was minding his own business and didn't care much if one a pile of gangsters decided to take a break at the gardens, but with Eis' vehicle parked with them it was a good thing Gavin was invisible rather than arriving with her. He didn't get nosey about the details as to why he was being 'stalked', assuming if Graves wanted the help he would ask and likely knew better.

"Oh, yes she is usually in the Echo Chamber," he mentioned. Those outside their court didn't know the details, and those outside the Entitlement only knew it was a sort of massive archive that the Witness would add to as a chronicler. It was a highly treasured resource for the Leaden Mirror, but the other Seasons would likely frown upon the idea in their paranoia or lack of interest in the grander story. He set up Eis with some tea while he showed Gavin to a rather innocent looking path, handing him a special candle and match to light to unlock the Gate.

As the Beast wades through the Thorns, he beholds a massive World Tree. The grooves of the wood, upon inspection, have almost undetectable script along the ridges and veins. Countless stories, great events, train of thought, and threads of fate flicker and pulse. The entrance within the ancient roots, is hollowed far into the pits of the forest, as tower in their own right with spiralling ridges to trek below. Under the Tree is pitch black, motes of bright pollen barely lighting the floor save for his candle that flickered and guided. As Gavin descended, the flame coughed, creating alarming snapshots with his silhouette of a great unfamiliar predator.

The tree eventually begins shifting into a library, though it is not organized. The books are hoarded, floating in time between reality.

Chunhua sits at the center at a simple writing desk in the middle of a black lake, embroidering an elaborate piece with leaves creating a fractal design. As Gavin approaches, the surface ices over with frost. There isn’t any formal seating, just stone formations.

The Knight of Webs slowly looks up from her task, the hiss of the wind, squeezing through the space of an unseen thicket. The ancient dryad didn't bear a friendly soft, green tinged face or locks of mossy hair curling with flowers and leaves like Greek legend or fantasy art. Rather, she was severe and regal in a motionless, carved flesh with sprouting branches from her crown.

"Good afternoon," she said mildly. Voices laced her flat affect—too quiet to hear their words, but undeniable creak and quake with the ancient boughs, heavy and saturated with secrets.

Maybe it was because she didn't expect a Razorhand to manifest and launch into a rant, but Gavin immediately noted that the dryad was a hard read. She listened silently to the details on the Summer investigation and conspiracy with the Spring Entitlement, with a slow blink as the younger Beast declared that the Rite would fail.

"A pass," she repeated, cool and void of any telltale emotion, nor did she offer an opinion on the other courtiers having a lack of concern in the Rite's fulfillment. Maybe she was used to such things?  

Wheels were turning as her gaze swept to the destroyed note, the rest of her body not having moved since Gavin started talking. "The former Spring Monarch is deceased. You would be looking for a corpse, or an echo."

Blink.

"Do you have an autopsy and toxicology report for my squire to work with?"

Her attention roved back to Gavin, "Your diligence in this investigation is appreciated. It was good of you to bring this to attention." The compliment seemed earnest at least, reflecting inward like she was already preparing. He had provided time.

"Summer's Wards failing this year would spell disaster, according to the whispers. The Verdant court will have to manage the consequence of their Queen rejecting old agreements. The Vermillion Queen will either drop the precedent set by her ally, or take up an old Rite to course correct. If the former applies, the Ashen Hunt will have to make up for it. Thank you, Graves."

As he relayed that the Torrent had burnt any frame of reference for the scientist to work with, Chunhua clicked her tongue.

"Then I suppose mister Callahan will do what he can."

It may have been a little disappointing to witness a lack of frustration or alarm at the idea of her Squire being on the chopping block for assisting in undermining the ascended Queen's Law, but she didn't seem chuffed of the potential inconvenience.

"At this time, I would delay any diving into the Skein, mister Graves," she said plainly. The Freehold's Sovereigns hadn't given the green light on explaining as to why just yet, however...

As Chunhua stood, her mien became more distinct, limbs stretched and towering with her approach. "You seem quite devoted to ensuring the safety of your community, mister Graves. I would divulge to you as to why there is a delay if you Promise to keep it to yourself until Summer, with the understanding that the monarchy and their knighthood are creating a response plan that will not cause unnecessary deaths...like we saw with the Revenant Crisis."