A packed night...

We started off by discussing the situation with Repanse, and Muldran resolved to use a spell to keep her inside the Twoer, while the others found out what was going on. Hayt was not too sure about this action... but we agreed it would be for the greater good.

When we spoke about Mary and Callum, things started going a bit awry. Ayame delivered this message, as well as a bloody bag of body parts...

"Think before you act
in ALL situations
Balance must be obtained in all things
Good and Evil"


While Ayame made this gruesome recounting - uldran leapt in the air as a ghostly hand touched his shoulder. Spinning around, a spirit floated past him, vanished, and stood beside Ayame. The Spirit, a lost soul, tried to communicate, telling us that it needed Callum's weapon - a gift had been passed from Mary to the WRONG Ayame - a lady called Ayame Mandara.

Well - to cut a longer story short, we decided we needed to know more about this Mary; that Hayt knew her... Or some bard did.

A combination of Roxanne's knowledge and Jessie's skill at spirit-talking helped us understand the message, and we worked out that Mary Fitton was the person we needed to speak to...

As the lost soul disappeared, dark steps trod on the stairs, and Mary Fitton graced us with her presence.

She tried to play games with the Court, twisting our words and confusing us - but planting clues as to what happened to Callum in her conversation.

{Samba, Hayt and those upstairs - what's your view on Mary at this point, what did you get from this?}

At the same time... Repi turned up. Muldran went to speak to her, watching her in her dazed state. Moving her to the Reliquary room, he started the ward to keep her in the Tower, as Roxanne watched.

Repi reaised what he was doing... And struck back at him with a bolt of energy, fear and hate in her face. She then ran for it, before Roxanne could react. Both Ayame and Rox watched as Repi fled into the distance...

Meanwhile, Mary was still running riddle around the Court, telling Jessie that she must sacrifice herself to save Callum.

{Jessie, Logan - I'd like your view on this as well!}

Arianne, Repi's sister also made an appearance - and almost came to blows with Mary over the current situation as well as Repi's fate (although Arianne did criticise Muldran for being far to obvious in trying to restrain Repi!)

Our new friend, Logan Drax has made quite an atatchment to Jessie, and as Mary left the Tower, Logan made an impassioned plea to Jessie not to give herself up.

Jessie left the Tower... to gather her thoughts and figure out what she should do next. Muldran offered Logan a place to stay at the Court for as long as he wished.

Finally, at the end of the evening, Tymo joined the Defenders,a nd is now part of the merry band defending the Court from external threats.

All in all, that dark day may come from within, as Mary's riddle about a traitor within the Court still hangs over our heads...

{Thanks to all for this - a great, confusing, entertaining, enlightening and fun evening!}

Muldran Skully
Shadow King of the Shadow Court
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I just didnt want Jessie to go with that Lady.
But i know she would do anything for her friends and I know she will come back to us, she told me so!! I belive in her heart and her word. I will wait here with open arms, ready to hold her and see she is well again.
All my love Jessie.
Come back soon.
*trys not to cry*


Logan.
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It seems that Vygorn was right - Those who pretended to be my friends have turned against me. I cannot believe it still.

But in my rage and hate I must think on what to do next. With the powers he has given me through his gift to me I have many options - several of them truly delicious.....

But wait what of Callum ? What of my sister and Hayt ? What of....damn I am being weak again - Perhaps I should seek out this Mary for she seems to sense the foolishness of them all just as I now do.

I am so tired.....

Repanse
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For my own part - The riddles of Mary fair made my head ache. In truth what I did sense, rightly or wrongly was a certain amount of ambiguity within Mary herself - seemingly flipping from what I could only describe in my simple way as evil to , well something far more complex and as yet ill defined. I think we must find this other Ayame if we have any hope of unravelling this particular conundrum.

Oh as I walked through Vesper this eve after I left the proceedings at Court I bumped into Daemor skulking in the shadows near the North bridge.

He looked at me grim faced and simply said "So it begins...." and with that he vanished into thin air right there before me ! I fear what may lie ahead - we must all be on guard for one another in the coming days and weeks.

Gorthyn, Lord Cardinal of the Shadow Court
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Ok, my thoughts and comments

First, to Repi

You were not betrayed by those you trust, rather they felt that they might know more of what is good for you that you do yourself.

A common misconception amongst those who believe themselves to be good. Nonetheless, if you wish to talk in peace, and with no threat of harm towards you, come talk with me.

As for Mary, I believe she is a misguided individual, she seeks to believe that the court is good, but because of the betrayel at her previous court, she seeks to tempt us to betray her trust as well.

It's a game often seen amongst children, they want to believe, but are scared to do so, and so attempt to make what they want to believe in act in the way that they fear they will act. In mary's case, i believe she expects us to betray any trust she places in us.

Since i cannot speak for the court, only for myself, and i realise she will hear these words, then i shall speak them directly.

You will not find such a betrayel with me Mary, nor i suppose, with many of the court. If there is a traitor amongst us, and that is not just another game to sow distrust amongst ourselves, then i won't speak for them, but the others of the court are good people.

However, even good people make mistakes, it is in how they react after the mistakes that shows you what they are really like.

Come to us again and talk, but don't play riddle games, talk openly, and maybe you will be surprised by the answers.

As for jessie, she will make her own decision, and we will allow her to do so, because to do otherwise would be to betray the tenets of the court. When she is ready, i will assist her in getting to where she needs to go.

Good luck Jessie, as Mary i think knows, Faith will take you were strength alone cannot.

Samba
The Empty One
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Very wise . I apologise for my games last night - I simply couldn't resist playing out my part to the full . I commend thee all for thy patience and thy wisdom .

Firstly , and very very wisely , you did not seek to raise the spirit - that would have been a bad move . And secondly you did not harm a hair on my head - very wise also .

Remember , its sometimes better to make the training harder to fight than the battles which are to follow . You stood up extremely well to my vicious onslaught - some of the personal remarks I regreted as soon as they had left my lips . But as you are aware the test was to see if you could hold together as a court .

Callum would have been proud of you .

Even if he never comes back to you whole I am sure his spirit will be with you forever .

You now know what to do . Answer my question . I shall need to make the exchange with Jessie . And somehow we need to get the Axe back from Ayame Mandara - IN PERSON please at the Court .

As to Repi - I have a lock or two of her hair , which I shall keep as insurance . Also it is odd that Daemor used exactly the same phrase as myself when I left thee last night " So it begins..."

Mary Fitton
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My body is in place now .
All I need is a sacrifice ...
I shall await Jessie's presence tonight - she must come alone.
I will be there at 8pm.
God willing at least part of me shall return ...

Callum
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Like I said before - I am now having doubts as to swap my soul for Callums only to get a Callum back who has permanent PMT.
And I shall give thee nothing Mary until we have that Axe.

*Jess*
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Ha ! After what happened last night I can only think that the "Traitor" is the Shadow King himself !

Repanse