Sept. 22, 1999
The angels are on their way to visit the roc -- moving as fast as vessels allow. There is some speculation about whether or not the Laurencians might follow them ("Of course there are no Laurencians following us. There is no purpose to it when they have been assigned to watch the Tether and besides, they would get pine needles in their hair," Rook mutters) -- but Matt is dispatched to check nevertheless.
Why yes, there are two. Matt uses his Malakite of Novalis attunement to befoul their path -- making the field look rather like it's full of rabid daisies. Poor Laurencians. Rook gets concerned enough to go back and check on Matt, and approaches the Laurencians. They are understandably not happy, nor particularly forthcoming with information, and Rook leaves again, having deemed them 'not allies.' Matt's resonance reveals a very dour leader-Malakite of the Sword, and a much younger, more open-minded subordinate Malakite. This however does not save them from angry plant life and the Wrath of Flowers.
It is decided that it's better to be quick than subtle, so Jael and Irad change into the dragon vessels they have not worn for a long, long time. Alaric returns to Matt to help him negotiate with the Laurencians, and Rashi goes dog. Rook and Arabis fly point to keep watch for humans (Rook: "Is there a particular side you prefer, Arabis?" Arabis: "I am equally adept at both sides."). Jael and Irad labor to stay just about tree height. This proves too difficult, however, and they are forced to fly much higher; Rashi gets a ride in one of Jael's claws.
Naturally, the flight of dragons is noted by the laboring Swordies. One produces a cell phone and uses it; they abruptly turn back. Matt and Alaric decide to follow them -- Alaric does not think one can negotiate with these people, but Matt feels compelled to try. Matt also calls Giles and asks him to look into Heaven and see what's being said Above about what's going on down here. Giles promises to try, though one imagines he cannot quite believe the amount of sheer chaos we drag behind us. . .and not a Windie among us.
The roc is found at long last, happily perched on a cliff face. It is not frightened of dragons (one carrying a dog) landing near it. It recognizes Arabis from before and consents to talk to her. (Roc re: the dog/Rashi -- "Angel or snack?") They all talk Tapestry, in which we learn that the leaders are near the center of the weave (naturally the hardest part to reach). Arabis feels that this Tapestry is her sole reason for being around at the moment and the subject of her Prophecy. For the first time in five hundred years, she feels she may be making the right decision in serving her Word. The roc reveals it can return to the Marches at will -- and while it will promise to avoid humans, it will not promise to avoid the corporeal plane altogether. It has a bunch of tolerant angels present. . .and it knows that.
Rook returns from a brief excursion to find the servitors of Animals (he finds a swarm), and Rashi asks him what *he* thinks. He gives a fine speech (which the GM did not record, dammit) about how he feels prison is wrong, and that the Ethereals deserve free will -- but he wants Arashiel to make a decision.
"I have already decided," Rashi reveals to a circle of surprised faces. "The question now is whether to act on that decision or abandon it all together." They elect to take the Tapestry to the Far Marches and talk to the leaders, which necessitates unweaving.
But how to get there? Arabis' Heart is the closest to the Marches, so everyone decides to ascend that way and cross straight over, rather than go to sleep and send the mind alone. Irad points out mildly that he cannot go to Heaven, and will meet them in the Marches. With Irad high overhead, the rest of the angels return for Matt and Alaric.
On the way, Rook gets a phone call -- how odd. It's Wayalnd the Smith, calling about unfinished business and a debt that he owes to Rook. And no, it cannot simply be written off. Rook naturally does not tell his fellow angels who called him in the middle of nowhere, or anything about the conversation (Arabis' player writhes on the couch: "Oh no. . ."). The PCs continue in blissful ignorance.
The Volcano is a fantastic place -- niches spiral up the side of the massive volcano, and Arabis' Heart is among them. The angels climb out of the Volcano and sneak along out into the Marches. By a miracle (and a tired GM who missed a detail) they avoid encounters with the Guardians, and escape into the Far Marches without difficulty.
In the midst of the vast grey plain that is the Marches, they find a forest suddenly springing out of nowhere. Huge trees loom overhead in a green canopy. It's very quiet, this forest. Rook and Arabis spy a unicorn peering out from round a tree, looking curious. Rashi is the natural choice to go talk to it. The unicorn does not want her forest populated by the contents of the Tapestry, but she will gladly guide the angels to the edge, and they may unweave it there. Rook's resonance reveals an honorable creature, if a bit isolationist. Matt's resonance reveals an anxiety and curiosity. The edge of the unicorn's forest butts up against a wide land, about which the unicorn does not know, but which she suspects holds a Sidhe lord or two.
The unweaving commences: a faun is the next released (Rashi's player, OOC: "We are looking for a *small* figure this time.") The obligatory warnings are issued (This is 1999, do not go earthside), and it's allowed to run free. A dryad takes one look at the angels and flees into the unicorn's forest. Now the unicorn is amused -- and promises to tell the bolters that they can not go earthside, once she finds them again in her forest.
Happy fun unweaving is interrupted by the unicorn -- she gets a strange look on her face, says, "There is someone in my forest. . ." Arabis goes with her to see who's there -- why, demons, of course. A Djinn, three Calabim, and a Balseraph. Joy.
Arabis returns with this unhappy news, and the group elects to run away for the moment (is that a gleam in Rook's eyes? Indeed it is. . .and in Matt's. . .hmmm. I think they want to fight.), though plans are already in the works to make a stand and do some smiting.
No one ever said unweaving would go smoothly.