Gardens and the Graves

[Ashy]

Grouse's eyebrows knit together so tightly that it looks like a giant, tuftted, purple caterpillar has made it's home over his eyes. His mouth turns into a perfectly straight line.

Grandfather Thistle is NOT HAPPY...

He turns to Gus and then looks to the children and then down to the dandylion... Not taking his eyes off the silvery flower before him he speaks in a solemn, flat tone. There is no mistaking the gravity and seriousness in his voice. "Youngn'us, go wit' Gus and th' other faeries to th' faerie ring, as quickly as ya can. Be mindful, all of ya. I fear that th' garden is no longer safe as it once was. Gus, alert th' others as ya go, as best ya can, but d'not stray from th' quickest path to th' ring. If ya can, Gus, come back here once ya see th' children safely to th' ring..."

"...Go. Now..."

Then, Grouse begins to hum an old, old song. It is a song that is as old as the bones of the world, as old as the headwaters of the fountains that sprung up fresh from the ground when the world was brand new. A song nearly as old as the song sung by the Creator himself at the beginning of time. It begins beautifully, low and deep but it quickly becomes fierce and frightening.

Grandfather Thistle begins to dance, but it is a strange thing. It is as if the faerie is a puppet on a string and is not in control of his own movements; a jerky, disconcerting dance. The song and the dance end abrupty, on a chord that sounds like the snapping of a tree branch in the dead of winter. The sound causes one's heart to leap in one's chest...

Grouse, who has not taken his eyes from the dandylion the entire time, looks at it now, with a glimmer of hope...

OOC: Cast break enchantment

 

[Isida Kep'Tukari]

*With a pop, the dandylion now appears to be a dandylion... covered in blood.*

 

[Ashy]

OOC: I don't know if it is my turn again or not, but here are Grouse's actions when it is his turn....

Grouse grimaces when he sees the dandylion and he mutters something about "...blasted and beleagured devils...". He turns and bellows down to the creature at the bottom of the well, "Ya don't like that light none, eh? Well, if'n ya want me to nix it then ya better start talkin' and tell me what yer doin' here. And before ya open yer mouth and start yammerin' with that forked tongue o' yers, ya'd better tell me th' truth - I'll know if'n yer lyin' and there's a WHOLE FOUNTAIN 'AT FLOWS WIT' HOLY WATER UP HERE - I'd be more'n happy ta give ya a bath if need be, devil!"

Grouse lets his anger, which is very, very real and palpable cover his spoken lie to the fiend, he only hopes that the creature will not be able to call his bluff. 'At least 'til Gus gets back', he thinks to himself.

 

[Isida Kep'Tukari]

*At Grouse's words, the little devil begins to cry like a heartbroken child.*

*Grouse and Gus would know that the blood of a devil can be used to trade favors with the Infernal Court. It seems to be a rather roundabout and costly way of granting a wish.*

 

[Ashy]

"Quit Ya's Bawlin' And Start Talkin'!"

 

[Lady Shatterstone]

*After being shooded away to the garden, Oribella make sure the children are safe and behaving and makes her way back to where she can see the well and listen to all that passes between the creature inside and Grouse. She keeps still and holds her breathe least the thistle's anger comes down on her.*

 

[hafrogman]

Gus whispers to the thistle.

"Be careful Grouse, that's a very large demon down there. Evil and powerful."

Then he hops down off the well at Grouse's words, barely even concious of the fact that he was taking orders from the thistle. He turns to face the children and new arrivals.

"Come along now, Grandpa has got it well in hand I'm sure. We just need to step back aways and let him do his work. Come along now, children."

[ooc - is there a fairy ring that provides safety? If not, Gus will just lead the children to their sisters and tell them to play quietly in the flower gardens for a while]

 

[Steve Gorak]

Tuk, keeping quiet while he watched the situation unfold, says in a worried voice:

'Maybe you children can go and play in the house. I suspect the weather may turn ugly. Why don't you run along dears..."

Once the children are away, Tuk will cast Circle of Binding (BOEMIII p75) on the bottom pf the well, to prevent the demon from leaving.

He will aslo activate his ring of force shield (OCC:free action).

 

[Ashy]

Grouse's head snaps up when he hears Tuk's words, "Nay - th' young'uns should stay wit' us! Th' house might not be safe anymor'. If they-", the thistle points down the well, "-can get here, then likely t'is that they can worm their way into th' house. Further, I fear that they've been here before..." His eyes fall to the blood-soaked dandylion.

Grouse thanks Tuk for the binding, as now he feels like he can go with the children...

 

[Isida Kep'Tukari]

*The others hurry the children to a fairy ring, one marked with several blue stone in a ring deep in the graveyard. Katherine and Titian say there, both of them looking afraid. Oribella comforts them as best she can.*

*Tuk casts his spell of binding to keep the devil contained, though Grouse's words only cause more crying and wailing out of the little thing.*