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Bright Journey	Sorrowthorn. An evocative name for a plant, isn't it? Poetic, dreary, with equal dashes of beauty and danger. Much like the Shadowlands themselves, assuming one doesn't run smack into a Deathlord's powerful servants. Fortunately, while that's always a possibility it's never a certainty. Sticking to the fringes, only slipping in long enough to collect what's necessary and, hopefully, slipping out again. Of course, hope is something in short supply around here. As Amethyst and Hoarfrost slip across the bleak threshold, subtle changes begin to be apparent. Colors start to appear more faded, the sounds of wild animals almost ceases entirely, and there is a pregnant, chilly silence that settles into the bones, never quite letting go.
Amethyst	Amethyst shivers, her wyld essence not mixing very well with the shadows. Prismatic tattoos that would usually shine of colors not typically seen in Creation, shine a darker duller whitish color instead, almost like they've been suppressed by the bleakness of the shadow. "I don't like this place." Amethyst says, shifting unhappily as she goes. Her blood whip has already been summoned, neatly curled up around her arm. "It feels like I can't even breath."
Hoarfrost	Hoarfrost walks ahead face buried in her notes as she does, rereading everything she has from her las journey here. "Now ... It has been some time but fortunately little changes in a shadowland." Talking more to herself than anyone in particular. Seemingly not nearly as bothered by the place's fell essence as her companion. Beside her a massive wolf taller at the shoulder than a Clydesdale follows after looking warily around at everything. Its paws leaving a frozen trail in it's wake. "It is a bit oppressive. We wont be staying for long hopefully. In for the flower and out as fast as possible."
Bright Journey	It's early afternoon by the time both young women finally make their way to the edge of the Shadowland, not all that far from Great Forks. There's already been some judicious sidestepping, walking around the shadowland itself for a short ways to avoid some of the most traveled roads. Granted 'most traveled' is a relative term, especially around here. But it's a far more preferable alternative to walking along a road and quite possibly coming face to face with the kind of traveler that would willingly move into and out of a Shadowland. Or worse, some of the official denizens thereof. The transition isn't immediate, but it doesn't take too long to realize when the threshold is crossed. With the fading of the more vibrant forest colors, and the chill in the air, the mist slowly drifting along the ground...yeah. Hoarfrost and Amethyst have crossed over, and gods keep their souls. Now, of course, the question of direction arises. Where's the Sorrowthorn from here...?
Amethyst	Amethyst doesn't particularly know where this plant is, she trusts Frostie on that. instead, she keeps her senses with her, ears moving and tracking any noise she can find. and all she can think, is the sooner gets Frosty gets the plant the sooner they can get out of here
Hoarfrost	"This all looks familiar so far." Hoarfrost says closing her book confident now that her field journal has lead her back to where she entered the Shadowland last time and she believes she has a path to the illusive plant. Confident despite the gloomy atmosphere. This may not be an ordinary walk in the forest but she surely moves through the brush with a practiced ease. Knowing that while she is focused on the hunt for the plant she can count on her friends to keep their heads on a swivel.
Bright Journey	Fortunately, Shadowland or no Shadowland, a forest is still a forest, so while there's many new dangers to replace the old, tracking through a forest is not all that different a task. Amethyst and Hoarfrost make good time, relatively speaking, as they traverse the gloomy forest floor, hop over nearly-dry riverbeds, and avoid several of the dangers of the forest. Amethyst almost has her head on a swivel as well as an ear to the ground, all but pointing out upcoming spiders' nests and vicious, carnivorous plants before they can really be seen. Still, no matter how good a time the ladies can make, it can't help but take time to find that flower. It's not right on the threshold of the Shadowland, after all. The journey takes a couple more hours, and as the temperature slowly drops, the shadows lengthen and always, always there is the creepy sensation of being watched. Amethyst in particular keeps looking, and she's been amazingly perceptive so far, but there's no shaking that feeling. Finally, among a copse of denuded pines deep within the forest, Frost's memory is pricked. This place isn't unfamiliar, though she'd only been once, so it's not incredibly familiar, either. What it is, though, is distinctive. Quite beautiful, in its own way, with the wan, silver grey light of the late afternoon sun shining between the trees. It shines on a small patch of ground, partially obscured by the shadows of the trees, the telltale spines and fernlike leaf pattern of what must surely be Sorrowthorn.
Amethyst	Amethyst groans and freezes, her tattoos glowing in spite of the presence. Her blood lash unfurls as she looks around, searching for the source of this feeling. "I think we have company." She says, shivering more in the presence of whatever this is. "We should get the thorns and get out of here"
Hoarfrost	Its beautiful. Even in the Shadowlands the forest is just where Hoarfrost is most comfortable. In a strange way the forest feels like its locked in an eternal fall with the way everything clings to the edge of life. Seeing the group of pines she slows. Hand running along a tree as she creeps forward into what seems to be the goal they have in mind. There is a malevolent energy. Petrichor pauses and growls low to alert her they noticed to too. "Hold" lifting her hand and taking a few steps back. "There is something odd about this." Licking her lips she considers her options and nods "I'm going to try and grab it with magic. Let the decoy take the brunt of the malevolence, and we can take the prize."
Amethyst	"Got it." Amethyst says. "And if they do try anything. I'm ready" her blood whip hovers around her as she stands ready for any sort of trouble. alas, with how her power was born out of the wyld, she must really stick out
Hoarfrost	Reaching out into the world with her essence reaching into the roots of the world for perhaps the first time in a Shadowlands. Perhaps more shocked that she should be at the desolate nature of the world here. It takes a moment to adjust her tact barely missing a horrible mishap and begins imposing her will into the world none the less. Water is pulled from the world around her forming into a pallid form of a zombie, or at least her best interpretation of one.
Bright Journey	It goes without saying that both young ladies are focused on the cluster of Sorrowthorn and the copse of trees. It's then, with maximum attention and focus, that the tableau dawns on both women. The Sorrowthorn grows thickly enough that this wasn't immediately obvious, but a chill wind blows through the copse, slicing effortlessly through warm clothing and stoic skin alike. It's all but freezing as it becomes obvious why the Sorrowthorn is here. It's growing over stone, over roots...and over a flat, unnatural expanse of turned earth, un-eroded by wind and rain. Something's here because something was laid to rest here, shallow and insincere. A voice whispers from everywhere and nowhere at once, clearly audible despite the sotto voce words. "Finally, my Prince comes." The voice starts to coalesce, from everywhere to just one spot, above the Sorrowthorn. "You're quite tardy, you know."
Amethyst	Oh no. Amethyst steels herself against the cold with the immaculate fables she's always thought of. What she would give for Hesiesh's flames right now. And this thing believes them to be its prince, or the two of them are about to have an incredibly awful day. She tries to remember some Immaculate fable about how to work with and pacify the dead so they might not grow aggressive and angry.
Hoarfrost	The cold air tosses the witches long hair all about her as she works her spell. For once the cold is not her ally but a warning of the dangers that are about to rise from below. Pouring more of her mastery over the arcane to hurry the spell up so they might escape quickly with their quarry. At last the spell takes shape and a haggard and undead dressed like a recently risen prince fresh from the grave. "My lady forgive me!" Hoarfrost mouths the words and the illusion speaks in turn with a tone that begs forgiveness. "I am not your prince, but I come for you no less." The prince of nothing walks forward head bowed towards the flowers. "How can I be of service?"
Bright Journey	The apparition is only faintly visible at first, but as she drifts forward to greet the sorcerous 'zombie', the living ladies are treated to a worrisome sight: The late afternoon sun is moving towards gloaming, and when the red sun glints through the trees at the ghost, she appears translucent and barrely there. In places where the light does not reach through, though, she looks considerably more substantial. "Wh...but...not a prince?" Her voice floats on the wind as her words start to sound confused. "You seem so..." She sighs deeply, a woodwind through the trees. "I...understand. Please, show me to my prince. We can be here happily ever after, just like in the stories!" With this, she looks at Frost and Amethyst. "One of these fine young gentlemen surely must be my prince. You know, don't you? Please, I beg of you...show me!" The first slight hint of a shift in temperament shows itself when the ghost's request becomes a demand. "Show me my prince! I demand it!"
Amethyst	'And so you consult a monk' Aghasdf. Amethyst's internal searching yields only nothing. She never had any books from the monks, and doubts she'll ever find any if she can't save her father. He'd have some idea of where to look, at least, short of stealing them from a temple, and she would never. Reality brings her back to attention. Amethyst stands ready. "I'm afraid we don't know who your prince is. Is there so other way we can help you?" And she thinks to herself . o 0 (Oh dragons help me)
Hoarfrost	"Of course i am a prince. I fear not the one you would have wanted." Doffing his cap he gives another deep bow to the ghostly woman. "And take you to him I shall! Please follow me this way the journey shall be a brief one." It moves as if to lead the woman away pausing as she spots the two sorceresses hanging out at the edge of the wood. "Bother not those useless waifs my dear. Common folk are below us. We have a prince to retrieve!" looking as dutiful as a zombie can manage. Hoarfrost and her hound give the best approximation of a bow they both can manage. Hoping that the deception will continue to work. The ghost doesn't seem to be able to make much out of the world around her. Waiting for the moment there is room to move so she can change shape and make a bolt for the flower.
Bright Journey	Uhoh. The ghost's eyes widen, and her lips begin to tremble as she looks from the zombie to Frost to Ame, back and forth. Wild, uncontrolled anger comes from her eyes in an almost visible wave as she reaches out for the zombie construct. "You lie. You lie! YOU LIE! My prince. My prince is here. He HIDES! He's eloping with...with...that TRAMP! She'll never lay eyes on him!" With this, her eyes recede into their ghostly sockets. "Never shall her lips kiss him!" Her lips tear off of their own accord, ghostly blood spraying down her white dress. "And she's ONE OF YOU!" She looks at all three, the zombie and the two ladies, and lunges, trying to tear the zombie limb from limb. She fails, of course, goes right through him. But she's getting slightly more substantial as the sun's wan light continues to fade...
Amethyst	"We should make a break for it, before she becomes substantial." Amethyst says, looking to Frost, and she's ready to start running towards the Sorrowthorn. "Get in, get the flower, get out. Simple, right? And then run and hope she can't follow us. We don't have time." Amethyst points towards the horizon.
Hoarfrost	The ghost's ire focused on the magical image Hoarfrost takes the moment to change shape to that of her totem form. A Lithe, almost deer like unicorn. Head ducking she tries her best to scoop up Amethyst and bolt for the flower as fast as her horse legs will carry her. Following close at her heals the massive wolf taking a defensive posture to them both as she charge forward!!
Bright Journey	The ghost is screaming bloody murder, now, ghostly blood all over her mouth and dress. The lack of eyes doesn't seem to stop her going right after the zombie construct, flailing at it in sheer, mouth-foaming insanity. Her screeches and howls echo through the woods, and in response, other, stranger, more frighteningly unidentifiable noises start to howl and bay in response. Someone knows something is going on, and with her unearthly screeches, they can't help but home right in to the noise. Frost's shift is as fluid as water, and the ghost may technically be in the way, her attention is very much elsewhere at the moment. The construct is trying to flail and defend itself, but it clearly doesn't know what to do. If the pair intend to get that Sorrowthorn, now is the time! There's plenty of it on that grave.
Amethyst	Startled by the sudden transformation and even more by being swooped off her feet. "Wah!" She's surprised, but only for a few moments before recomposing herself. She nods in understanding and goes to town with harvesting the plant just as soon as she's in range. She wants to waste no time and boy oh boy does she not have any. No fancy quotes either, just her training as an alchemist. Unfortunately, alchemy training doesn't exactly preclude harvesting the plants.
Hoarfrost	Thinking of speed and not really thinking of the rest Hoarfrost prances in place not having thumbs by which to gather plant. Instead doing her best to pull them root and all with her mouth. Giving a mental command The great wolf does the same. Hoping Amethyst has the rest she bounds off again leaving her simulacrum to its fate. Those living need to make an escape!
Bright Journey	Sorrowthorn is not exactly named for its ease to harvest, especially on the back of a moving Steward at full speed trying to outrace the sunset! Everyone picking plants ends up with thorns everywhere, painful stabs all over the place. But there's no time to be more gentle. There's only the hope that partly crushed plants are good enough for the formula! At speed, though, the three of them (minus the poor construct!) haul a more than respectable amount of ass. They leave the screaming ghost behind, and can take some comfort in the fact that whatever else is coming, it will be dealing with the ghost first. At this speed it's impossible to cover tracks, alas, but getting out of the Shadowland before sunset is the only thing on anyone's mind at the moment. Without Frost's nimble totem form, everyone may have gotten stuck in the Shadowland, or worse, the Land of the Dead if their timing had been off. Fortunately, it's taken far less time to get out than it had to get in, partly because of speed and partly because of a straight, relatively unhindered hard run to the border of the Shadowland. As the three cross the threshold, a chill, pregnant silence that wasn't even that noticeable while inside finally releases, and color comes back into the world. The three can slow down and enjoy the last rays of the setting sun, from just outside the borders of madness.
Amethyst	Some bandages need changing and they both need to get those thorns out of their bodies, but success. Amethyst visibly relaxes as her tattoos flare with a burst of prismatic essence when they cross the threshold. A lot of tension all released from the fae-blood being in such a land. "We made it." She says, leaning against her friend. She might be a little tired after all of that.
Hoarfrost	Panting, and damp with a sheen of sweat not used to a rider even one as small as Amethyst let alone fleeing like a bat out of hell. (A horse out of the underworld?) Falling and shifting her laughter turns from a whinny to giggles as she falls safely back in creation. "That was great!" trying to catch her breath even as she laughs. Body full of exhilaration. "See! Nothing to worry about."