Something Fae-shy

The town of Cullfield, Alexandros, late morning.

By the time that the adventurers arrive at the small town of Cullfield somewhere in the Heartlands, it's late morning. The town itself is one of dozens throughout the Heartlands. It's small. It's a farmer's town (evident by the name of 'Cullfield').

And it's got a problem that's very visible.

"Nobody's got a damn-darn shadow anymore," says Gallfrey, the mayor of Cullfield, a portly older human man says as he has a hand on his cane. He's reclining in his rocking chair, but it's true. Gallfrey doesn't have a shadow. "'Cept for you lot. It's the oddest thing in the world."

Then the door opens to reveal a half-elf man with brown hair that's graying a bit. He's holding a freshly made pitcher of sun tea, made by letting a pitcher with several ounces of black tea leaves marinate in the sun for several hours. He's lightly chilled the pitcher with some magic. "I tell you, darling, it's that girl that recently moved to town. She's odd. Nothin' but odd," the half-elf man says as he comes over to fill Gallfrey's empty cup with tea. He also does not have a shadow.

"Davnan, I'll tell _you_ once and once again, there ain't nothing wrong with Neriel. She's a small girl and a little peculiar, but not so peculiar as to be stealing people's shadows." Gallfrey smiles at him. "Thankee for the tea, though. This here's Davnan. He's my husband of thirty years."

"Thirty-one in two weeks," Davnan says with a smile. "Any of y'all want sun tea?"

Aragos stares at the ground where the shadows should be and shudders at the fact that these people certainly have some kind of problem. He doesn't know what it means that someone doesn't have a shadow, but he doubts that its good. "You'll have to excuse me if I don't take any tea. Or food. Or say certain words. Precautions." He looks a little uncomfortable, but determined. "Is Neriel the only thing new in town? Any odd circles of plants, rocks, trees or such? Any children go missing? Cream or sugar going missing? Salt askew? Anything at all that might be unusual."

"Is it an oolong?" Skyler is, well, *Skyler*. Which means his much-loved (and much mended) coat over the mithril shirt that gleams metallically. He's added a pair of white gloves to his arsenal and is currently playing with his ioun torch, tossing it in the air and then snatching it before it can start it's orbit like a happy little glowy moon. His pale eyes are bright with interest as he watches the mayor. He pats his belly with one hand as he beams at the rest of the party. "Oolong is good for your digestive health, y'know!"

He then misses his grab of the ioun torch, which decides to circle behind the long brim of his ridiculous wide-brimmed and befeathered hat. He grimaces, and patiently waits for it to circle back into range, feigning disinterest by listening to the mayor to trick the piece of stone that is, somehow, smarter than him. "No shadow sounds lonely. Is she stitching them to her feet or something? I've a friend that can vomit up a shadow-friend, feral little thing. She once sicced it on some slimes and the sounds were *ghastly*. GOTCHA!" And he snatches the stone, grinning broadly as he nods along at Aragos' questions.

Heartlands sounds like a great place to go. Bryn hasn't been there yet (or doesn't think she has), so that's reason enough to go; the getting paid to help folks, hit other folks, and/or fix things is just gravy. That she's thinking about food as they walk up is totally unrelated. "Huh... No shadows?!" She didn't realize that was a thing, much less that it was happening to them, unless it's pointed out and she stares at the ground.

Then her eye lifts back up to the pair. "Sounds great, but I'd rather ale... 'n it's better fer after the problem-fixin. So, new girl and then... everybody's shadow disappeared? Or somethin else happen and then no more shade?"

"I would love some," Myoides says. It is difficult to ascertain what this man's profession might be, with rolled up striped slops and heavy slicker poncho; he could be anything. He smells faintly of maple tar and water lily, and whatever oil he uses to treat his old equipment.

He listens politely to the very pointed questions, nodding along. His lack of insight is hidden within this gesture. "I will admit, I have only had the pleasure of running into fey a few times but it's always been one where they can be reasoned with. Perhaps this is just a bit of mischief until they get bored. I suppose they haven't, ah, well-- ransomed you about your shadows?"

Davnan looks a little embarrassed. "I have no clue what kind of tea it is," he says. "Gallfrey got a nice deal on some tea leaves a while back in bulk from a trader who came through here, so I've just been making it ever since. And I have no clue what she's doing with those shadows, but it's gotta be her. Nothin' else has gone missin', and she's the newest thing this town's gotten."

"I tell you once again, Davnan, Neriel is not the issue here," Gallfrey says with a pout that disappears once he's chased it away with some sun tea. "And no, we ain't got a ransom nor nothin'. The only reason Davnan's got his hairs in a bunch is people started noticin' their shadows were missing after a little shindig we put together at the local waterin' hole."

"That's a tavern, for you city folk," Davnan interjects.

"Or a pub or a gastroenteritis--actually, ain't that a disease?" Gallfrey muses, before shaking his head. "Anyway, we got a waterin' hole, and we had a little get-together there a while back. Davnan's birthday. Threw a party there and everyone came! Lots of dancing. Everyone had a good time. We made sure Neriel got an invite, because she lives in a little hexagonal... Pentagonal... One of those polygonal shape things, cottage, up on that hill a little outta-ways from town."

Gallfrey pauses to sip his tea again before he adds, "I don't want her gettin' too lonely up there. She does nice work. Makes potions. Fixes things for people. Been a while since we had anyone magically gifted besides Davnan."

"That's why I'm tellin' you, she's odd." Davnan scowls as he looks at the group. "I ain't never met nobody with five-foot tall ravens."

Aragos blinks at this. "Five... foot... tall... ravens?" He blinks again and looks over at his companions. "Yes... I think we ought to talk to this girl a bit. Just to be on the safe side. It couldn't hurt to talk to someone with friends like that." The paladin shakes his head a little. Five foot tall ravens. One would think something like that would be more worthy of note especially out here in the middle of nowhere.

"Hi, I'm Skyler, and one of my best friends is a five foot tall raven." Skyler says cheerfully, "His name is Crik and he's a bit of a kleptomaniac with a fetish for disguises." He scratches his jaw, "Nice enough, when he's not putting stuff he shouldn't in his mouth."

He glances at Aragon, adding, "I don't think he means Egalrins, though. You ever encounter anything like that hanging around with Cor'lana's bird-pappy? I'm guessing not, but... I'm more familiar with pixies." His tone is serious, and he frowns, considering the various bits of clues, before he shakes his head with a faintly pained expression. "Was the loss of your shadows immediate, or gradual?"

"Never seen a raven the same size-a me, that should be a treat." Myoides admits. "Thankfully, I am famously well-on with birds. I fed a River Lout, right out of my hand." He pokes his palm for emphasis, "So I am sure we will get on shiny." He agrees that Davnan is right about one thing. The girl was odd if she really did keep on guest's like that, though he is keen to the fact that exaggeration in village scuttlebut is as common as spring rain. "Now, don't worry no more. I can tell that my friends here, they got plenty of experience. Sure as the creek rises, we'll get to the bottom of ya'll's disappearing shadows."

"Well, it was near midnight by the end of it," Gallfrey remarks to Skyler's question regarding the loss of his shadows. "So nobody noticed until the next day. I didn't until I looked at Davnan in the garden and noticed he didn't have his shadow. Also, I don't see anything odd about five foot tall ravens. I've heard they can get big with enough love and care."

"Not _five feet tall_ big," Davnan says with a mild bit of exasperation. "That's a prodigious bird of great size. Too big to be a familiar, in fact."

While Gallfrey doesn't pay much of Davnan's remarks on the ravens any mind, he does seem cheered by Myoides' promise about getting to the bottom of their shadow problem. "Now I know you folk will take care of it," he says. "The adventurers from Alexandria are famous an' all. I paid good money for y'all to come out here. Any other questions y'all need answering?"

With the group's curiosity satisfied (at least to the point that Davnan and Gallfrey can satisfy it), Gallfrey gives directions to Neriel's cottage. Some townsfolk wave at the group as they walk out of town. None of them have shadows, either.

The walk is actually quite nice and satisfying, although a bit on the balmy side as the noon comes up. It's not yet the dead heat of summer, but it's coming. Butterflies lazily flit through the trees and grasslands as the group journeys to the house.

When they get to the bottom of the small slope where the cottage is situated, the scene is rather idyllic. Chickadees sing in the trees. Flowers are in full bloom. And a dirt path helpfully trails up to the doorway of the house.

It seems... almost too quiet, somehow.

Aragos wastes no time, heading straight up the path to the door of the house, ignoring the idyllic setting and the flowers with their buzzing insect activity. All he cares about at the moment is getting to the door of the house. Which means going up the hill to where it is. He sighs as he trudges up to the door. Further, and further. His armor slowing him down considerably. It's hot. He finally reaches the door and knocks on it firmly. *Shave and a haircut*.

"It'd be rude to pick her flowers, right?" Skyler says wistfully as he glances at the foliage as they trundle along, keeping a close eye on the other two while letting Aragos take the lead, clearly prepared to race forward and hold the rear.

He glances over at Aragos, adding, "That one flower looks exactly like your eyes! It'd look so *twee* behind your ear, man." He leans forward, plucking it and two more. One is a bright yellow, tucked into Bryn's ear, while the other is a pale green he puts in his lapel. The purple flower he holds, eyebrow rising as he looks like he's considering something. "Bryn? Wouldn't this look just too precious in his hair?"

It may not be a dry heat, but it's not THAT hot. Bryns had worse. Of course, she isn't wearing as much padding or metal as some folks. She strides along after Aragos, pausing a step when Skyler adds to her ear adornments. Though she can't see it in place, she doesn't take it out and laughs, regardless. Then she moves to catch up "Yep. Gettin't there 'r keepin't there'd be the hard part. Want I should hold 'im down?" She probably isn't serious.

Probably.

"Better to ask forgiveness... you probably would not receive permission." Myoides quotes, frankly less perturbed by the heat. Sometimes modest armor pays off. The buzz of insects is a melody that he plucks at, imitating and building off of as they march up that hill; right to an experience. He can't help but wonder as the well-dressed man flirts with the Oruch if purple actually is their color. He looks down to his pendant, the old driftwood symbol briefly exposed, tucking it away quickly.

What's odd to Aragos is that he actually gets an answer to his knock in the form of another knock. _Two bits!_ And then the door opens--

Oh.

Oh, that's a giant raven. A five-foot-tall giant raven with some kind of delicate headband, woven in chainmail, set around its head. It peers at Aragos with dark hazel eyes. And yes, he has a shadow.

"Milady, there is a gentleman at the door." The bird speaks with a deep and rich baritone. "A stranger."

"A stranger?" That voice is a rather ethereal sound, something like a pixie's voice might be after getting into a saucer of feywine: sedate, high-pitched, and a little dreamy. "Ask him to give his name?"

The raven stares at Aragos again, bird-blinking for a moment. "Milady asks you to give your name," he says.

"No." Aragos states flatly, frowning. "And I don't appreciate the effort." He turns to the group a little. "Don't give your names unless you want them stolen." He replies and turns his purple eyes back to the raven, ignoring the discussion about the flower which is.... hopefully irrelevant. Skyler knows he punches hard. From personal experience. "We are here to see Neriel. And no we don't want any food or refreshments. So don't offer them."

He sounds grouchy, and he is. It might be the flower talk. Maybe.

The flower is put in Skyler's lapel, and he gives Bryn a significant glance. The discussion on flowering the paladin is put aside for another moment. Probably during the middle of battle? Skyler raises his eyebrows at the giant raven, muttering an aside to Bryn, "Do you think Pothy'll get that big, if he stops eating all the junk food?"

He strides up towards the door, making no attempt to hide behind the paladin's armored bulk. "Hello there. I promise, we're strange but not strangers." He says cheerfully, "I apologize for my friend's face. He can't help it, he was born like that. We're friendly, just... full up on tea. Have you had the mayor's scones? They're delightful. I think he puts a hint of nutmeg in them!"

"Definitely nutmeg." Myoides agrees. "He also told the truth, or a fairly accurate version of it." That is indeed a very powerful, striking figure of a raven that is almost as tall as he is. Fascinating. "You can call me Mouse, if you like. Come to call on the good lady's patience, if she would be so kind." He smiles. It's a handsome enough one. Honest.

Bryn rolls her metal-laden shoulder at Skyler. "No clue, but eatin alla that junk ain' made 'im bigger, yet..." So she's doubtful. Then she eyes the little(ish) bird and offers a wide, tusky grin. "We're just here ta chat, on account of some weird shite. Maybe she knows somethin helpful about it?"

"Oh poop. It was worth a try," the ethereal voice from inside says. "Well, let them in, Seneschal."

The giant raven hesitates, but then he bows deeply. "At milady's request, please enter," he says. "As you have denied repast, you will have to stand a respectable distance away from the table."

Once he departs, things become clearer. The cottage is a cottage. An umbrella rack waits by the front door. There's shelves filled with various knick-knacks. Dried herbs and flowers and even braided wreaths of garlic hang from the wooden beams that prop up the ceiling. (Some of the taller members of the party have to duck underneath them.) There's plenty of bookshelves, a shelf full of crystals, a shelf filled with scrolls, and even a small pedestal with a blue orb that could be pondered upon.

In the center is an ornately-carved table. There's a dark-furred pelt on the floor and what looks like a cow's hide on the floor to the other side. Sitting in a walnut chair is a small woman, maybe less than five feet tall, with blonde hair and stunning amber eyes. She lifts a hand and waves it.

The hand is a different color than the rest of her skin. It's dark, almost black, and it seems to dance around her wrist like an ink blot that hasn't made its mind up on where it wants to live on the page. Her other hand in her lap has much the same condition.

"You may call me Neriel," the woman says. "What brings you by, strangers? Did the mayor send you? I do like Gallfrey's scones; they're nice."

"Shitty taste in tea, though." Skyler says consideringly, tapping his lip with one white-clad finger, "I'll have to see if I can arrange for some nice oolong from the Jade Isles... Though it's almost as hard to find as almond milk in this part of the world."

He also pointedly lets Aragos take the lead, and nods for the others to go first so he can take up the rear... Although he's so friendly and cheerful about it that it hopefully doesn't stick out too much. He glances around the garden, wary for anything unusual before he follows the last one in.

Aragos enters the house, ducking under the herbs and garlic braids. He still has something of a frown on his face as he comes to a respectful stop shy of the table. He offers a polite bow of his head in brief. His eyes darting to the little bit of odd shadow that are upon her wrists. "Yes, the mayor it seemed invited you to come to a birthday, but you failed to attend and the next day the whole village was missing shadows. The coincidence and the strangeness of your... companions drew us to come investigate. After all even as an adventurer it is not every day that I see a woman with moving marks upon her flesh, nor ravens so large as your Seneschal."

Right to the point then.

Bryn ducks to get in the doorway, and then again after to avoid headbutting a rafter or two. "Nice place ye got 'ere. It's ... cozy." After that, she's nodding with (and jabbing a thumb at) Aragos. Until she notices the Rorschach hand(s), which draw her eyes more than the big birds.

It is hard not to make certain assumptions about that strange 'glove'. Myoides's eyes are certainly almost immediately pulled to it. Even as Aragos directs them to the crux of their problem without an attempt at diplomacy, he just gently clears his throat. He looks past the woman to the companion she gave such a lofty title to. Mmhm.

"We hope to get to the bottom of this little shade heist as quickly as possible. Your neighbors are certainly becoming worried by the implications. Do you happen to have any insight on the matter?"

Skyler doesn't see much of anything out of sorts in the garden, although it is a little odd that there's not even any fruit-bearing bushes of any kind.

"I appreciate your compliment," Neriel says to Bryn with a small smile, but then she looks confused at Aragos. "I was there at Davnan's party, though. I danced with people all night long. It was really nice... I have never lived anywhere as nice as Cullfield. Most people just think I'm odd."

Seneschal adds, "Milady has had problems with people being less than understanding of her in the past. She is treated poorly for it." Then Seneschal pecks at the smorgasbord of meat in front of their birdly body. Neriel at least makes sure that her ravens eat well. The other one still hasn't spoken to it.

Neriel frowns at Aragos and Myoides, her eyes shining a little like she's going to cry. "The townsfolk aren't mad about their shadows, are they?" she asks.

GAME: Skyler rolls sense motive: (17)+13: 30
GAME: Myoides rolls sense motive: (4)+10: 14
GAME: Bryn rolls perform/sing: (16)+14: 30
GAME: Aragos rolls Sense Motive: (5)+2: 7

Aragos shakes his head at the woman. "I wouldn't say that they are mad about their shadows. Worried about the implications. Concerned perhaps. They'd like them back in short." Aragos glances at Bryn, and then the new man whom he doesn't know much about. "Would you mind if we looked around a little? Just so we can say that we looked around and didn't see anything suspicious?"

He leans toward Bryn. "Do you know anything about magic?" He keeps his voice a little low, but not secretive.

"No one is mad." Skyler offers a reassuring grin, absolutely charming and openly friendly... If a touch lacking in obvious intelligence. But it does make it clear he isn't lying. "They're more worried about the whole shadow thing, and concerned for you."

He trades a quick glance with Bryn, eyebrow rising slightly before turning back. "You mentioned refreshments? I'm feeling a little..." He winks at the ravens, "Peckish."

He then nods along with Aragos, "If nothing else, we could take a quick peek and assure them nothing's wrong for you?"

Myoides nods with some sympathy as his fellow collaborators do a fine job explaining the difference. He can understand how this woman would struggle to fit in anywhere. His half-nature, the parts of him that were of the forest and sky, sympathize greatly. He always felt a little out of place too.

"A shadow does not seem like much but it is their's. It dreams with you at night, and wakes with you at day. I'd be worried too if such a thing ran off one day."

"I would want to go get it back."

"A li'l," Bryn answers Aragos out the side of her mouth, past one tusk. Her eye remains on their hostess as she adds, "Know lots more 'bout bullshit..."

Then she's joining in the nodding. "Yeah, ain' mad, just weirded 'n willied. It ain' normal. Like wakin up missin an eye ye had yer whole life. Ye know anything about what's goin on, or might be goin on?"

"You can look around, but the doors go to my bedroom and my friends' bedroom," Neriel replies to Aragos. "So I'd appreciate if you didn't go in there. A lady deserves her privacy." She wrings her hands a little as she says that, her eyes darting away from Aragos to Skyler.

"Would you like something to eat?" she offers. "I baked some bread earlier. It's nice. Rosemary-herb." She gestures to a tray that contains a sliced loaf of bread.

Then Myoides and Bryn speak. Neriel frowns lightly. "Do people really have that much of an attachment to their shadows?" she asks gently. "I mean, it's just a shadow. It doesn't _do_ much." Now she's a little defensive.

The two giant ravens glance between each other.

"I see." Aragos says, running his hand through his hair, and tapping his hand as it falls down. "You really shouldn't eat the food Skyler." Aragos says with a smile, but shrugs at the woman. "I've heard stories. Stories of things done to people who don't have shadows. I'm sure its the same with the villagers. Strange stories can give rise to a lot of discomfort. We just want to help."

GAME: Aragos rolls Diplomacy: (16)+16: 32

"Everyone has it and no one can lose it," Myoides says. "My God is a voyager, whose great kingdom is of the deepest shadows. It isn't for me to say if everyone cares. They do... and I do not want suspicion to come back upon you, and your lovely home. Do you have their little shadows, Lady Neriel?"

Skyler waves a hand at Aragos, a touch dismissively, "And you should relax! She's *obviously* just a scared little girl." He moves past the Paladin, giving the raven both a friendly grin before he makes his way to the table, stopping at her side, "My apologies, though. I don't think I gave my name, did I? I'm Skyler." And he puts one hand to his chest, bowing deeply...

And when he straightens, he's got his sword drawn, blade faintly gleaming as he glances over his shoulder at Bryn, "Bryn's right. She's bullshitting us. If your birds move, I'll *really* show you a murder."

GAME: Skyler rolls Intimidation: (18)+11= 29

Bryn now gives Aragos a sidelong glance. "Hafta share some o' those stories sometime. Ain't heard of people losin their shadows afore. Not till now, anyways." Between the (fey?) BSing, missing shadows, and shadowy stuff flowing along Neriel's hands, it doesn't take much to be suspicious. Or where to direct that suspicion. So the oruchess voices a little ditty to see what she might see in regards to the not-so-jazzy hands.

GAME: Bryn casts Detect Magic. Caster Level: 8 DC: 13

Neriel nearly falls out of her chair as Skyler draws a blade on her, panicking. The two ravens seem to be about to jump over the table when she yells, "Wait! WAIT! Please don't skewer me! P-put it away!"

"Milady, allow us to defend you," Seneschal intones. The other giant raven nods.

"If they really wanted to kill me like the others tried, they would have just broken in and done it already." Neriel frowns deeply. She's got real tears in her eyes now. "Yes, I have their shadows! I took them at the birthday party. I collect them, and I make things with them!"

She gestures to the giant ravens, starting to sniffle now. "I made them special headbands that would make them be able to learn and cast magic and extend their lives! I really, really tried not to take shadows from the people, but I needed shadows from people, or I was going to spend ages touching every single rock, flower, and plant there ever was, and they would have died of old age before then. People-shadows are stronger than inanimate-shadows, and... Seneschal and Advisor deserve their magic. They saved me from the last town that ran me out--one of the townsfolk figured out what I was and tried to have me killed by an angry mob."

Advisor, the other giant raven who has yet to speak, nods. "Seneschal and I escaped from a wizard's observatory when he died in his sleep. We were experimented upon to get our large size and considerable intellects."

"It is quite possible that without Milady's headbands, we would die naturally within the year," Seneschal remarks. "The wizard was not kind in his experimentation."

Aragos holds up a hand toward Skyler, sensing that this is at last the truth. "Lies do not befit a woman." He says frowning. "If you had told us the truth from the beginning, we could have trusted you in your words, but you lied instead. We at least would not have judged you for being fae."

He takes a step forward and lowers his hand gently. "If you need shadows to do your work, and it causes no harm for the shadow to be taken... Take mine. Extend the life of your friends, but do not do it by taking from those that do not deserve it. Those that have treated you thus far with kindness and given you a home. Do not steal. Ask."

"Or if you *are* going to steal, do it smarter." Skyler adds with a dryness that's not his usual fare. He's cheerful quips and sunny smiles, but it is a gentle reminder that for all he's a dashing gentleman adventurer now he *was* a pirate. "I don't know how much the... ahem... flavor of the shadow sticks around, but if it isn't like corn and your sorceries digest it, surely you can find assholes that deserve their shadows stolen." Beat. "Probably not this guy, though. He's got an fey lord that'd probably be upset." He squints at Aragos, "It wouldn't be nice to get the Bird-Papa pissed off at her for something you did, after all."

The sword, however, is lowered but not sheathed. And he keeps the table between him and the birds, while close to her, "We aren't heartless. And we know some very powerful people, some that are unnaturally fond of ravens. Be honest, and maybe we can help?"

"Even better, trade for it." Myoides encourages, after a bit of the shock of the sudden appearance of steel. He rubs his hands together. "You will find people will get over your eccentric nature, when you are a part of a healthy community. When your presence is known to enrich their life, you can tread much more safely. Be as bountiful as the sea, and many will know you... and not be afraid, even if your shadows are deep."

Bryn sees magic, then almost instantly regrets it, turning her head away from Seneschal and towards Aragos. "Kor's saggin satchel, that burns!" After a beat, she points out, "Ain' lyin 'bout magickin' 'em up, that's fer sure." Another pause for thought before she adds, "Ye got 'em time ta do the slow way, now, right? Maybe pick up the ones from rocks 'n stuff, trade 'em out, give 'em back? Shoulda asked first, yeah. Nobody likes a thief."

Neriel blinks as Aragos offers up his shadow willingly. "You would--" And then Skyler tells her that there's a fey lord that would be upset if she took Aragos's shadow. Her eyes almost become as wide as the bowls of broth that are by her giant ravens. "I have no wish to cross any of the nobles," she says. "Even if the Unseelie monarchy's been recently replaced; I've heard the new Queen isn't any nicer than the old one, at least to us fae..."

She looks at Bryn and Myoides thoughtfully. "You think they wouldn't think I'm... weird? For asking? Because I tried asking once, a long time ago, and the person laughed at me and thought I'd gone mad and walked away. The people here are nice, but I don't know if they're _that_ nice."

She looks down at her hands again before she looks back up at Skyler. "I still have shadows left over," she says, holding up her hands. "I was going to try and give them back, but sometimes people ask for potions and scrolls and... I have a bunch I've made throughout the years. I should give them back, though. I can make those things again with inanimate shadows. Who're your powerful people? Can they make Seneschal and Advisor live longer? Because I'll unmake the headbands and give the shadows back to their people if they can."

"I think they think you're strange regardless." Myoides admits. "Sometimes, though, that's okay." He has no input on these powerful people but it's hard not to look at his allies with newfound respect as they mention such storied connections. He does look a little pleased as the little shadow thief begins to grease the true wheel of society; bartering.

Aragos flushes at Skyler's words. "I can't give any guarantees, but there are no such things as those in life. Though, perhaps my willingness will show you that some would be willing to help you, even if Skyler is perhaps correct that I should not despite myself." After all, Alud'rigan is not particularly fond of fae.

"Take the risk. We will ask those we know if you release the shadows you have taken from the villagers. I would even be willing to ask if any of the villagers would be willing to part with their shadows for a time to lengthen the lives of your companions. I do not doubt that goodly folk would be willing if you were willing to aid them in turn with what you can make with inanimate shadows." Aragos takes off his gauntlet and tucks it into his belt, offering his bare hand to the fae woman. "Do we have an accord?"

"Of course it's fey bullshit." Skyler grumbles, pinching the bridge of his nose as if he's suddenly got a headache. "I have a *clause* about fey bullshit, dammit!" He takes a deep breath, sighs, and straightens up, "I don't know. My own talents are very minor..."

And to show off, he mutters something in an arcane tongue, and then moves his free hand in a mudra before making a sharp flick of his thumb. The purple flower on his lapel lifts, and he flicks his hand again... And the flower slides into Aragos' hair, tucking itself behind one ear. "See? Told you it'd look twee as fuck!"

Anyways.

He shrugs at Neriel, "If nothing else, our powerful friends have connections to other powerful people. People that have performed miracles of sorcery and divine power." He pauses, and adds, "Lana-Banana wouldn't willingly allow harm to come to your friends, though. And Telly is a soft heart. I can safely say if they can't help, they won't stop until they can help find you that help."

Myoides says, “Huzzah, Shadow Market!”

"Huh." Bryn is still looking away from the radiant (to her) corvids, even as she dismisses the magic. She doesn't have much to add to the bartering, as it seems that things are going all sociable-like, now. Because of Aragos, or at least that's who she's been watching more on account of the bright birbs. She shoots him a tusky grin while jabbing a metal thumb at Skyler. "Sounds like it's all gonna work out. Ye ain' so bad. No matter what Sky Guy says."

Neriel looks hopeful at Aragos's offer, looking up at him with those big amber eyes of hers. She nods at last to him, reaching out and shaking his hand. "We have an accord," she says. "If you're willing to accompany me, I'll go down with you to the town and give back the extra shadows. I can't give back the shadows I made the headbands with until we find some other way to make Seneschal and Advisor live longer."

She looks at Skyler and grins. "It's a good look on him. It matches the color of his eyes." That's one vote of confidence from the fae eye for the Sky-guy.

Myoides gets a hopeful smile. "I hope you're right," Neriel says as she goes to the door. "I've always been weird. But this town's the first place that has been kind to me."

With the adventurers' escort, Neriel comes back down to Cullfield. She hands some people back their shadows and apologizes. It takes a while for some people to wrap their heads around it, but when Neriel explains everything...

"Oh, that's all right, dear, but next time, you can just ask for a little shadow."

"Really? A shadow can make something or someone live longer? You can have it; I don't think I was using it anyway."

"Oh, I hated that guy anyway, he was always following me around." (Said with a chuckle.)

The townsfolk don't really seem to mind. A few people whose shadows were used for the headbands do want them back, but they also don't mind waiting.

Most extraordinary of all are the mayor and his husband, who tell Neriel not only to keep their shadows, but to sit down, have some sun tea, and some scones with nutmeg. Because they like Neriel. Because they want her to stick around. And they even tell her to go ahead and take all the shadows from their house.

...

Cullfield is a town in the Heartlands that, oddly, doesn't have many shadows. But they don't mind much. "They're being put to good purpose elsewhere," the mayor of Cullfield will say later. "Means there's less space for wicked things to hide. Now, do you want some of my husband's sun tea?"

Some things don't change, even sans shadow.

-End