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Amethyst	Far beyond civilization, deep in the heart of a great forest, protected by Lunar magic, lies this snowy demesne. And a the sole Dragon is leading the way through it. At first there's a trail, but then, there isn't. It gets colder and harsher and more unforgiving, until, after thoroughly investigating whether or not someone managed to follow them this far, finally, the unforgiving frost parts and reveals a place that definitely feels magical. And as there are so many people, she is leading them not to the cabin, but to a clearing that's curiously absent of snow. Instead, there's various empty tables and loaded carts and packs. And in the center, is a fireplace that the Alchemist pours some sort of oil into, and then with a bit of firedust she lights it. "So. We're here."
Spring Wind	"Yep." Spring says, sitting on one of the chairs near the table. "No way in hell am I turning into a rat out here though. I'd lose my body heat in... What, five minutes? Can totally do a bear though." then stands up and walks over towards Amethyst, "You really need to tell me about the whole exaltation thing some time when we don't have a creepy cult to worry about."
Bright Journey	"Beautiful and mysterious," Bright Journey murmurs as they enter the clearing. "Just as the Lunar Exalted who inhabit it. I'm honored that you all would invite us here, and I for one hereby swear that I will not reveal its location without your permission." She steps closer to the fire and holds both of her hands out, letting herself warm up a bit in the chill, misty air. She turns and looks to everyone who is here for the first time. "I...admit Amethyst took me out into the woods once, but not this far, I don't think. I respect Tenken and his temple, but it's clear we needed somewhere else to meet, at least until this cult is handled. That's yet another reason to not risk this sacred place."
Hoarfrost	Just outside of view of the group all manner of monsters, animals, and elementals lurk in the forest's depths. Just waiting for anyone foolish enough to follow the group into the forest and get lost. If anything the screams of terror and sound of beasts only add to the forest's reputation. Fortunately for the chosen they have a guide to one of the forest's clearings. In the clearing a unicorn of pure white waits for the group to arrive. The last time there have been this many people in her forest it was almost all-out war. Now though it is a group of friends. "Welcome" it is not said as much emoted from the unicorn in body language that reads as clear as any language. "To my territory, my home, the Wintersong Forest." The lithe creature gives a bit of a bow and finds its way to one of the tables to attend. Watching the group with interest.
Silk Moon Lotus	Silk bows to her friend, "Thank you for allowing this gathering in your home." Silk smiles slyly at Bright "Don't worry about those guys today. I'm sure the acting troop I hired to pretend to be us will keep them from wondering where we are. At least for a while." Silk walks over to a chair and brings it to as close to the fire as she dares and sits down.
Rishi	A shadow passes over the clearing, once, twice, then a winged woman lands gracefully in an open part of the clearing. Her wings fold around her shoulders, forming a sort of natural half cloak. Rishi waves to you all and comes over to sit on a stool near the unicorn, fuzzy tail waving behind her. Given how thin her silken outfit is, it's fairly obvious that the cold doesn't bother her. "I could teach you how one ignores the weather, should you wish, Wind." "But yes, it is time to be discussing things. Our previous plan was that Wind and I would be staying with Ammy, in small forms, while she is captured. Then we would be taken to the hideout. Then I should give Ammy our antidote and the three of us would ...what is the term? "Wreck Shop, yes?" While the others join us?"
Amethyst	"My own exaltation story is definitely a tale worth telling sometime." The little Dragon smiles. Prideful ears go up. "And as far as the safety of this place, I hope this will be one of the last times we all meet before we stick a solid nail into their whole operation. How exactly we do that, is one of the principle reasons I've gathered you all here today." "So the plan as Rishi has summarized, was for them to capture me. The trouble is, we can't exactly just /make/ them capture me. But my new shop will be built soon on the ashes of the old one, and it'll be an obvious target for them. Once it's been re-established, rumors about me working on a cure for their toxin will be circulated. And after then, it's inevitable that they'll attack me. Now, the trouble is, I don't think you two want to be riding around in my pockets all of the time."
Spring Wind	"I mean that'd be neat, sure, but how many hours of meditating naked in the snow is it going to take me?" Spring asks in a sarcastic tone. "-But in all seriousness, that'd be nice for a little later. Again, either hitting a dead end and waiting for contacts to come through or something is when you get to do stuff like that. Not when you're worried about a threat you can do something about."
Bright Journey	Bright looks very impressed by the unicorn, but aside from a respectful nod does not try to greet her or otherwise distract from the topic at hand. Instead, she focuses intently on Rishi and Amethyst's explanation. "Exactly. Amethyst and I had this discussion the other day, and we talked about those very details. For now, let's focus on what your team will be doing, and how we can get you captured. We should discuss what the other team is doing as well, though, afterwards." Bright nods towards Amethyst, frowning a bit as she thinks things through. "Personally, I just hope it's done in a way where they want to capture and interrogate, rather than simply -stab- her. I'm hoping they are going to want to at least find out how much she learned, but we can't completely control that. We can only make it as enticing as possible and bide our time. Meanwhile...yes. How -do- you two want to handle this? As soon as the rumor is spread, just stay with her day and night? I don't know how long you two can stay in forms like that, but I'm sure it has to be at least uncomfortable."
Hoarfrost	The unicorn gives another grateful bow in turn to each person new to her home. The nervousness turning to excitement. She has /guests/ she is entertaining a whole group of chosen. Shifting with exited energy she wraps her long whip like tail that ends in a long flowing mane about Rishi as she sits. "Should I come with your group, or would I be of better use covering your escape with magic?" the unicorn uses the same body speak as before. Oddly able to convey much with but slight tilts of the head and glances of the eye. An elemental of fire glides from table to table brining bountiful plates food, mostly greens, nuts, and fruits. Though there are a rare few meat dishes. Drinks, of warm teas and chocolate are brought as well and passed out to the group.
Rishi	Rishi tilts her head, her hair like dark silk flowing over her shoulder as she considers. "I am having the rounds of people to be checking on so I cannot be staying in Ammy's pocket all of the time." She smiles slyly. "As much as I might enjoy that." She idly reaches out and starts petting the unicorn's back. "But, it is not a particular hardship to me to remain there during the night time." Rishi looks up, thinking, "...I disected and then ate a number of creatures to see how they handled the weather, but I did need to spend 37 of the hours in the desert, yes, before I saw the ways of doing it for myself. But it has been most useful since then, so it was time well done, I am thinking." "Hrm... what if she gets the large and strong guard of the body, but who can only be staying with her for certain times of the day? Would they not be waiting to attack for those times when the guard is being absent?"
Silk Moon Lotus	Silk takes a mug of the hot chocolate and holds it between her hands allowing them to warm up a little faster. "I could take a turn keeping watch over Amethyst and her shop. I cannot change my form like you can but I am a master of disguises." Silk thinks on this for a few moments. "I could make any one of us up to look like someone else. This would allow others to take turns."
Spring Wind	"I can remain as whatever for as long as I please. Clattering around in her pocket would be kind of uncomfortable though." Spring says, picking up a tea mug and sipping. "I'm probably going to squeak or something if I bounce the wrong way. Kind of telling."
Amethyst	"How are you at being sneaky?" Amethyst asks the Unicorn. And then she considers Rishi. "It would be good form, in general, to have some sort of personal guards around me. And maybe I part with them at night time along with the rest of those who would work at my shop." Amethyst muses. And she also briefly thinks of how nice it'll be to not need to travel /alone/ anymore. (Bit by bit,) 0 o . she thinks. And then she considers Rishi, Silk, and Spring. "Well, each of you three could either be present at my shop or pose as one of the would be body guards. Tho if you were one of the guards, and I was suddenly attacked, you would need to fake being knocked out and then covertly follow." "None of the attacks have happened in broad daylight, right? Maybe one night I could just go out on a stroll around my shop with no guards flanking me."
Bright Journey	Bright smiles at the byplay as she gladly accepts a light meal. She doesn't interject right away, of course--of everyone here, she's the most useless at disguises and whatnot--but still, she takes pleasure in the company and the banter. "I don't expect to be able to impress anyone in this phase, but I'm happy to get the rumor spread and maybe even show up -elsewhere- so as to keep shrewder eyes off of what you all are doing. More importantly, I'm hoping that those of us not going in will be able to take down some of their tails once you're in, both as part of the distraction and to blind them for when we arrive. I was told some of you have magic to tell us when we should go to their little hidey-hole?"
Rishi	Rishi brightens at Silk's comment "Ah, you can be doing this thing as well? We should discuss our techniques later. I still sometimes have the tricky problem in changing the bones." Rishi headtilts again, considering, before shaking her head. "I think I should be staying in Ammy's pocket. I do not have the other human forms and I can be making the cure for anyone who is there, so it is best if I am being taken too, without the problems. The night stroll is likely being the best plan, I am thinking. Though...they might be thinking that something is up, so...could we invent the reason for the stroll? Something that she should not be seen doing, yet must be doing?" Rishi sits up straight. "Is someone here knowing the spell of the Infallable Messenger? I should greatly like to know this thing and I have several of the spells I can be teaching in return."
Amethyst	"Well, what would I be doing? It'd be a perfect chance to meet with Silk in disguise about more illicit things. Might as well work on other plans while we make moves for this one." The alchemist suggests. And then she looks to Rishi and nods. "That's alright. And as for how we get the message out, I was thinking failing sorcery, we could use spirits to our advantage, yeah?" She grins. "I'm sure there's some demon or elemental." And she looks towards Frosty. "That would help with getting a message out."
Hoarfrost	The unicorn's moments gives silence for a bit simply stoic and unreadable in her equine form as she thinks. Shaking her head however "I am not terribly good at stealth beyond becoming a mouse." her body language rather telling on how disappointed she is in herself in this fact. Still she nods and leans into Rishi as she pets her. Quietly listening to the group.
Silk Moon Lotus	Silk looks at Rishi "I can show you what it should look like when you want to look a certain way. I have not remembered how to do what you are talking about. I know the memory is there somewhere." "What if you start going to the docks a couple of nights a week without your guards to tend to those less fortunate? This would allow them to "pick" a night to do it." A fire lights in her eyes "Yes, other plans can be discussed with many other people in the area at the same time."
Bright Journey	Scratching her head briefly, Bright Journey can do little but look on, at this point. She shrugs and looks at Rishi. "I am not a sorcerer, unfortunately. I'm surrounded by people who know it, and I'm interested, definitely. But..." She shrugs and looks out into the woods for a moment. "It's just one of so many things I want to do right now. And hey, we'll have the chance if we manage to not die. Heavens only know there's enough people around to teach me!" She laughs a bit. "But if there's a spell that sends a message, that's what I was told we needed. No one here knows it, though?"
Spring Wind	"I mean, I'm pretty quiet regardless." Spring says, shrugging. "I can likely do the guard job, scurry towards a shady corner when they're not looking and follow out of sight."
Amethyst	Amethyst grins at Silk. "And that'll also be a surefire way of knowing that I've been taken, is if I don't show up on time." Mischevious ears are wide. And she looks towards Bright. Shameful ears go down. "I'll need to learn that spell sometime." And then a nod is given to Spring and a chuckle. "A guard who runs at the first sign of danger. 'I don't know why I even pay you!'" And she keeps giggling. "It's a cool idea Spring."
Rishi	Rishi elegantly shakes her head. "No, I am not knowing this spell." she sighs, then considers. "Hrm... When you are summoning the demon, they are having the bond forming with you, so they can appear before their summoner at need." she looks at Frosty. "Is this the same for the elementals?" At Frosty's presumed agreement, Rishi continues "I can be summoning the small demons for you to be carrying and telling them to be listening to you, so you can be sending them back to me with your messages. The same for Frosty and her elementals. Though the spirits would be having to fly back to where they were, so the messages would only easily be sent to Frosty and I." "Mmmm... Maybe they will be grabbing you on the way back from the docks, when no one is being expecting you at your shop? It is always best for the hunter to know what their prey is to be planning."
Hoarfrost	"Elementals lack the ability to become immaterial, and thus become difficult to hide. They do however share an innate bond with the summoner similar to that of a demon." The message conveyed through the toss of a mane and a little bob of the head. "Something small like a flame butterfly could carry a message with ease. I was already planning to summon a force of elementals to assault the base of the Cultists, to help counter their force of demons. I think perhaps I will call in a favor with the silver Pack to learn this message spell so that we might all learn it in turn?"
Amethyst	"It'd be quite helpful if you could learn the message spell, Frosty!" The Dragon smiles. And then she looks back over towards Rishi, "Well, the thing there, is that you're probably going to already be with me, right? It won't help tell anyone else. Tho I suppose Silk could probably inform the other folks if I miss a meeting, maybe?" Amethyst looks at Silk. "Speaking of everyone else, I don't personally know much about this place we'll be assaulting. But our goal inside, or, well, my primary goal is rescusing my father and freeing as many of their prisoners as possible, gather intel, sneaking past or fighting those in our way. And then you'll arrive outside and help extract us all."
Bright Journey	Bright Journey still doesn't have a lot to contribute, but she makes no pretense of nonchalance--she's paying close attention indeed. She did, after all, just say she's interested in the occult and sorcery! The discussion of demons and elementals, in particular, is something she pays attention to. She interjects a question at the mention of a flame butterfly. "That sounds adorable. So you can summon elementals with sorcery, not just demons? I've no interest in the latter, but the former, that's a thought for the future. "What, may I ask, is a 'silver pack'? I wonder if they might know the answer to an important question or two..."
Spring Wind	"Uh... I'm not talking about that right now, nothing relevant to this here and now anyway." Spring says, looking a bit wary.
Rishi	Rishi looks slightly hurt, even as she skritches Frosty's back, while being careful not to injure the other Lunar with her claws. "What is being wrong with the demons? They are most useful spirits. My spider demon is designing all of my clothing. And The Stomach Bottle Bugs are being most effective at healing the poison." She stops then considers. "I could be summoning several, if anyone wants to have something to be helping counter this poison without us being present?"
Amethyst	There's a spark of recognizition in Amethyst's eyes and ears when she hears the words 'Silver Pact', tho after Spring, she glances at Frosty, makes a mental note to herself, and doesn't comment on it. She's a Dragon what would she know, right? Totally doesn't know anything about them. "As far as learning sorcery goes." Amethyst addresses Bright. "There are many, many paths to it. For me? It involved questing against myself in the wyld. They allow anyone to try it, and upon completion, typically you become something like a lesser member of their structure." There's a bitterness in how Ammy speaks of the 'typically'. Clearly something was atypical about her own trials there. And then she looks at Rishi. "Stomach. Bottle. Bug. I have no idea what that is but those three words can't all possibly be referring to the same demon."
Hoarfrost	The Lunar Unicorn tilts her head at Bright Journey. Finally feeling that she needs proper words the unicorns neck and head glow silver and reshape into a woman's body from the waist up making her a centaur. Her skin white as snow clearly albino "Summon is perhaps a misnomer. They do not travel to you like demons do. You in fact use your essence to bring them into existence. Typically, they are undone when the task if finished." Hoarfrost has a warm pleasant smile in human form seeming more than eager to teach. Its all she can do to stop teaching the whole spell in the moment. "Ah- I assumed being friends of Tenken you where familiar Bright. It is simply a family name my relatives use." The answer is simple and may even be plausible but she is a terrible liar even when confident. "There are a few sorcerer's among them." Waving a hand to dismiss it. "That does sound useful Rishi, it would help us all overcome the poison if you are not around, and it would even help make us resistant to my sleep spell so I would not have to worry about putting you all out."
Silk Moon Lotus	Silk looks at Rishi "I understand that demons are relatively safe. Demons creep me out. Any demon that you want to put into my body, not happening. If there is another option for summoning that isn't creepy or going to try to rip my face off if I fail in a battle of wills, I'm taking that option." Silk takes a deep breath and lets it out. "Sorry, I have not had any good experiences with demons." "We have gotten off topic and should really return to discussing the plan. I think it best we return to the discussion of getting Ame kidnapped and stopping the cult." Silk know Frosty is hiding something but doesn't want to push for fear of hurting her friend.
Bright Journey	Bright slowly nods. even though she's trying not to be -too- revulsed by the talk of demons. Clearly, they are not high on her favorite playmate list, either, so much so that the whole Silver Pact thing goes right over her normally shrewd head. "Well, I'll...ergh, try to eat lunch more slowly. Lovely imagery. But Silk is right, we really should get back on track. It sounds as though we basically have our plan for the infiltration, do we not? And Silk, you and I and Tenken need to talk about our part. Wish he were here right now."
Rishi	"The proper name for them is Sesselja and they are being beetles of about this size." She holds up a loosly clenched fist. "They are having the ten legs and being almost as good at weaving the flesh as I am and they love eating the poison. One of their tricks is that they can be ...less material?....so they can be crawling through the flesh without moving any of the things. So, many sorcerers are being keeping them in their stomachs, to be eating all of the poison. Thus their other name of the Stomach Bottle Bug. They are actually being quite adorable and most useful." Rishi looks around, smiling brightly. "Who wishes to be having one?" Rishi frowns. "They are not the 'rip off the face' demons. They are the 'stitch the face back together' demons." She looks like she might continue in this vein for awhile longer, but she takes Silk's point and settles back. "...Very well. So...the plan is that one or more of us shall be posing as bodyguards for Ammy during the day and, at night, Ammy will be making the trips to the dock every few days, during which times I will be in her pocket. And we expect her to get taken on the way to or from the docks. That is as it stands now, yes?"
Spring Wind	"Well that's fucking creepy." Spring says, "I mean I'm just gonna say it. But also that's me and I routinely blow up guild drug stores after scaring people out so I mean take what you will from my saying that."
Amethyst	Amethyst nods to Silk. "Back on track is a good idea, yes." And then she listens to Rishi, and she nods. "And at night when I'm in my room, it would be good for you guys to be there with me in case they try to strike while I'm asleep. Beyond that, I think we're good." "As far as the Sesselja are concerned." Amethyst addresses Rishi. "I want a backup plan if for some reason I'm taken and none of you are around to follow me and ensure I get the antidote. It would just need to make sure not to announce itself too loudly to my captors. And I'm sure the cells they have can't hold a water dragon."