Solstice War - Gathering

[willysilver]

The Solstice was upon them. When the sun went down the magic began to swell, the veil between this world and the Other Side thin as vapor. Mortals could sense it, even, though they may not have a name for it. They gathered together, not realizing the animal instinct of safety in numbers.

But all around the city, from the dark parts, fae began to come together as well. Unseelie filled the city- boggarts and Red Caps and things unseen for many a year with bright eyes and sharp teeth. But they were tricksy, dangerous and malicious but no worse than they ever were. The real threat, the ever present danger this year, were the Milesian that crawled out of the sewers and tube tunnels to prowl they city. They were hunting tonight. They had eyes black and soulless, eyes too wide for their white, gaunt faces. Larger than their eyes were their mouth. The smile of needle fangs glinted in the street lights. Long arms ending with spidery, spindly fingers reached and clawed at passers by from the shadows.

There was a war in the city tonight and the nature of the foe, the Milesian, meant no bound mortal needed to be near any battle. Death would come to one or the other if a killing blow came down.

But there was hope. Seelie fae prowled the city as well, fighting for Light and Air. Even the Queen had seen fit to step through with her sword and shield. Such was the threat to the Fae way of life that the Milesian presented.

The longest day of the year dawned but the sunlight did nothing to frighten off the dark forces. The longest day of the year simply meant the things that went bump in the night were attacking in the light.




(Tag in, tag around! Open all week so check back. Have fun with your adventures. If you don't want any Milesian, there are plenty of Unseelie, too. Day or night, whichever works for you.)

Comments

[phouka]

"I think it will e the best ballad," the Phouka replied. He puffed up a bit at the praise.To be brave and mighty and free were all qualities that ought to be sung about, and that Winter would sing them about him made his swell.

But then he stopped. There was a rustling in a bush and he held Winter back to stop him. The rustling grew louder and then appeared a creature.

A creature...

It was a disembodied foot wearing a jaunty green hat with a long black feather. Out of the ankle there sprang a small arm and clutched in its hand was a wee lantern. The light was magical and beckoned them to follow.

But the Phouka did not follow. He only stared at the creature in confusion.

[winter_wisp]

Winter cocked his head a little, then looked over at Phouka.

"Is that a foot? Are people feet sentient? Oh my god, poor feet. Do you think they know they smell?" the pixie whispered.

[phouka]

Phouka couldn't help but laugh at that.

"This is what passes for the enemy?" he asked. "It might hop us to death."

[winter_wisp]

"It could be a trap. Like those fishes that pretend to be small, but they're big, and then they go, RAWR!" Winter argued, baring his teeth and growling.

"...Or maybe not rawr. Fish probably don't rawr."

[phouka]

"I am sure they do not," he chuckled. "It is Unseelie...I should challenge it to battle."

He paused.

"I do not know how to battle a foot."

[winter_wisp]

"You could... Kick it?" Winter suggested quietly. "Step on it? Put it in a sock?"

[phouka]

The creature had kept hopping away, its lantern bobbing back and forth as it went.

"A sock might work. Or a sack. I feel it would be an unmatched battle if I used my sword," he said, and each passing moment the foot got farther and farther away.

[winter_wisp]

"It's just a foot, maybe we should just let it be free. It's no threat," Winter insisted.

[phouka]

"I do not think we should just let it go..." the Phouka replied, but when he looked to where the little creature had been, it was gone. No trace if its scent on the wind, no sight of it's inviting little lantern.

The Phouka, for just a moment, looked terribly disappointed.

"Perhaps it is no threat after all."

[winter_wisp]

"Weird," Winter said simply, glad they hadn't had to fight a lamp loving foot. ...That wasn't really his brand of whimsy.

[phouka]

"Agreed," he replied. "With that done, we should go home. We can lock ourselves away inside and let the Daoine Sidhe fight the war."

[winter_wisp]

"But... You just said you wanted to fight, Phouka. We just..."

Wasn't Phouka's desire to fight the reason they were still out here? Wasn't it what they'd been talking about since they'd first encountered one another tonight?

[phouka]

Phouka smiled at him and pulled him close with one arm.

"I have promised you I will not die in this war tonight. The simplest way to keep my promise is to not fight, Winter," he said. He looked down at the pixie with such love in his gaze. "I will lay down my sword without hesitation if it means easing your fears."

[winter_wisp]

"But... Ballads and..."

Winter trailed off, thoroughly perplexed by Phouka's sudden shift.

"...Okay, home it is then."

[phouka]

"I still want ballads. I would like to be your muse, I think," he said, striking out for home. "You are such a magician with words. You will sing about me and I will be immortal!"

The tree was still quite far off on the other side of the park. Phouka talked on about how Winter could make him sound grand and heroic, and how he would like that. He was perfectly relaxed as he walked along.

And then there was a scent on the wind and his joviality stopped abruptly. He stood still, scanning the park and he reached to push Winter behind him.

"There are more," he said, a low growl to his voice.

[winter_wisp]

Winter squeaked, a little annoyed at being shoved out of the way. He didn't need protecting, he was a brave pixie.

"Of course there are," Winter huffed, rolling his eyes.

[phouka]

From out of the shadows came the marching of small feet. Too many and too orderly to be Milesian.

As they came into the light the Phouka could see clearly what they were. A dozen small men-shaped creatures, each with nut-brown skin, large pointy noses, and wispy white beards. Every one of them was dressed in shades of green and they all wore a blood red cap on their heads. Most carried bone cudgels, the thigh bones of priests long dead.

"Redcaps," Phouka growled. He raised his sword and charged forward, leaving Winter to protect himself as the rabid creature set about to destroy the entire garrison.

[winter_wisp]

Winter was calmer, watching them, and then freezing a few of them that closed in on Phouka, making them easier to strike down. He didn't dive into the fight though, observing and acting from a distance for now.

[phouka]

The Phouka was graceful as a dancer. He cut several down with his sword in one blow. The Redcaps gathered their forces and attacked all at once and the Phouka asterfully dodged their cudgels and teeth, striking again and again. He snarled viciously while he struck them down.

One leapt onto his back and began to beat his head with the bone club. The Phouka reached back and snatched hold of the Redcap and tore him off, flinging him far from the fray.

[winter_wisp]

Winter stayed near the edges, zapping any that got too near, watching Phouka fight and keeping his own dagger drawn just in case.

There were so many of them, all so small and wild.

"Phouka," Winter said, looking a little worried. "There are too many!"

[phouka]

Phouka heard, but did not answer. He slashed down the Redcaps, one after another. In turns they fell, one at a time, until there were only two. The creatures looked at one another, nodded, and turned to flee.

"Ha! Victorious!" Phouka shouted, then tipped his head back and howled at the moon.

[winter_wisp]

Winter looked caught somewhere between horrified and impressed, and he stared dumbly for a moment before speaking.

"Are we still going home?" he asked finally.

[phouka]

The Phouka's blood was hot, rushing through his veins. All around him were the bodies of little dead Unseelie.

"Yes, yes...I will take you home," he said, bouncing a bit as he stepped.

[winter_wisp]

"Phouka stabbed so many things. How many things do you think you stabbed tonight, Phouka?" Winter asked, doing his best not to look at all the wee corpses as he walked at Phouka's side.

[phouka]

"Many, many things," he replied proudly. "I am the best warrior and protector. I have protected many mortals tonight. Maybe even a hundred."

That was a gross exaggeration, but Phouka was quite proud of himself...and he wanted Winter's ballad to sing his praises very highly.