The Name of the Rose (François/Leo, Tues. 4/3/07 into pre-dawn Wed. 4/4/07)

[Detritus]

Leo manages to scramble inside the gate just before it closes. You're once again in the sunlit realm of Avalon, minus your fallen comrade. The tower's shaking has subsided. Arthur rubs his hand absently and squints in the direction of the shrine. After a sharp intake of breath, he begins to move off the tower top when Meerlinda lays a restraining hand on him.

When you look in that direction, you see Gwynnis warily approaching a man in a black hooded cloak, Excalibur held before her bright as the noonday Sun. The hood conceals the man's face, and he is wreathed in shadow that seems somehow to burn.

"The Blackfire Mantle," Meerlinda says in a half-disbelieving whisper. "Grave peril attends any who approach it. I have no desire to collect any more of these," she says, and opens the hand that holds Jocelin's third eye. "Nor to see the world diminished by your destruction, Sire."

With that, Meerlinda leaps off the top of the tower, and an orange glow begins to build between her upraised fists as she slowly levitates further away from the tower's top.

"We must render assistance," says Arthur. "Would that I could have wrested Rhongomyniad from the girl," he says with a pensive gaze towards Gwynnis, the vigor with which he rubs his wound increasing. "Can you affect him at range?"

[Brother Brian]

"Nay sire, my modern bow did not travel into these relms with me." Francois pats his holsters to make sure this is true.

[Detritus]

"Not even a dagger?" asks the king. "I knew I would miss them one day," he says, and he pats around himself, subdued in the foreknowledge that his search will yield no fruit.

The hooded man darts back toward the shrine, and the burning shadow increases in size until it is an aura several yards in radius. The aura contacts the shrine on the death side of the earth mother mural, and the tower begins shaking once more. Gwynnis streaks towards the shrine, the radiance of Excalibur flaring to envelope her. Light and shadow cancel each other out, and Gwynnis plunges the sword into the side of the shrine's assailant. The hooded man absorbs the radiance with a howl of pain, but the dark aura engulfs the shrine's guardian, the protective aura of Excalibur sheathed inside the hooded man. You easily hear the Justicar's piercing shriek over the sounds of the shaking tower, which stops abruptly when the man falls and then disappears.

With a wordless cry of alarm, Arthur rushes to the side of his fallen bride. The glow disappears from Meerlinda's hands and she follows the king to Gwynnis. When you reach the area near the shrine, the mural is scorched with angry black marks. Similar burns decorate Gwynnis's body, and her hair is nearly completely singed black. A single clear tear leaks out of one of her eyes, and Excalibur lies just beyond her reach.

[Huxley]

Helpless, Leo only stands and watches, trying to think of something but standing in fear as his mind comes up blank. Taking Meerlinda's lead, he also follows behind Arthur in approaching Gwynnis.

Once he sees her condition, he rushes up to her to see if she's alive, and if he can do anything to help keep her that way if she is.

[Brother Brian]

Francois kneels next to Gwynnis.

Looking briefly at Arthur, he grips the blade of his sword and pulls it quickly through his palm. Cupping his hand, he holds it to Gwynnis' lips.

"By all that has ever been holy, I beg that the power of our blood carry forward into this realm..." he starts and stops. "Milord," he blurts to Arthur, "The Grail, is it here?"

[Detritus]

After you've both rushed over with the others to Gwynnis, Leo puts his hand down on something flowery-feeling. When he moves his hand away, the object is revealed to be the apple blossom that was in the Justicar's hair. It's a bit crumpled from Leo momentarily putting some weight on it, but unmarred by the scorching of the black fire.

"Of course, the fruit," Arthur says, looking down. He claps Leo on the shoulder, then reaches out with one hand and makes a plucking motion. An instant later he holds an apple. Reaching over to take Excalibur, he cuts a slice out of the apple and puts it Gwynnis's mouth just after François opened his wound to feed her. For a moment nothing happens, then Gwynnis gives a feeble cough, just strong enough to spit out the slice of fruit.

"May I?" Meerlinda asks, picking up the discarded slice of fruit with one hand, and holding her other out to Arthur. The king puts the apple there, and the Tremere Councilor puts the two pieces back together and hold them over Gwynnis's mouth. Arthur gently opens his wife's mouth, and the apple begins to sweat. Gwynnis stirs after the first few drops of juice dribble into her mouth.

"Will this work?" Arthur asks as the operation proceeds slowly. He looks to François for a moment and then back to Meerlinda. "Should I retrieve the..." he says, and trails off.

"Patience, Majesty," is Meerlinda's reply.

After a bit more of the juice is in her, Gwynnis suddenly opens her eyes. She reaches up and grasps Arthur in an adamantine grip, pulling the king's face near hers.

"Murder... in the boy's... heart.... Had to... save her... She must... understand."

"She does," a small voice says from beside Meerlinda. When you look up, you see Sidana standing to the other side of the Councilor, wearing nary a stitch of clothing, though her long red hair strategically covers her body.

"You!" cries Arthur, bringing the point of Excalibur to Sidana's chest when she begins to kneel aside Meerlinda. "You would dare!"

"I... Sire," Sidana says, though she looks not at Arthur when she says this, but rather Gwynnis. She steps away when Meerlinda turns a suspicious gaze upon her.

"There was another girl I was with," Sidana says in the same small voice. "One with a sword. I do not see her." Her upper lip begins to tremble.

[Brother Brian]

Francois stands, still majestic. Gently, he holds his sword under Excalibur, as if parrying a blow. He words are measured, but there is a hint of malice in his voice. "The one you speak of was my kin, of the same blood as I. She lies dead, alone as I was compelled to turn my attention to you, instead of the beast she fought. So speak quickly, as to why the sword of swords, weilded by it's one true master, should not destroy you."

[Detritus]

A sob escapes Sidana before she can compose herself.

"You fought Sidana," the girl says to you. "I am of her, yet not her, not entirely." Her upper lip begins to tremble again.

"I am sorry she is gone, Sir Knight. I tried to warn her, but she seemed driven to reach the one called Heather, no matter the obstacles that intervened. I thought she was the one, one who could bring us together and help make us whole again."

The girl's knees give out for a moment, but she recovers to kneel languidly.

"Strike me down if you must. I am no match for Caledfwlch, and never have been. But Sidana needs me. We need each other."

A considering look replaces the suspicion on Meerlinda's face.

"She speaks the truth, Majesty. Or believes she does."

"Make everyone believe," Gwynnis murmurs, prompting king and sorceress to look back to her face. Her voice is steadier than it was a moment ago, but the Justicar still seems a considerable distance from total lucidity. "Slain at the altar. So easy."

[Brother Brian]

Without looking at Meerlinda, Francois states flatly, "No offense elder, but she speaks in riddle." To Sidana he says, "Speak planly, for I would have vengance for my clan. You are part of Sidana, but not the whole of her? Where is the rest?"

[Detritus]

"You fought the rest of her," Sidana says. "Wherever that beastly werewolf took her is where she is. We haven't been together since that night in Detroit." She closes her eyes in pained recollection.

"There was fire everywhere, and our foes were closing all around us. They were so many, every fallen enemy seemed to be replaced by two more. I fell, and Anneke fled the field at the last. She will not forgive herself until I forgive her, I fear.

"Then I woke up, and I was buried. So deep, yet it seemed so easy to make my way out. Before I knew it I was flying, and my heart soared with joy the higher I went. I looked down, and was shocked to see myself crawl out of the ground, skin and hair filthy, tears in my clothing and cuts all over my body, and then I realized it was the part of me I left behind. Or I am the part of her that died when she crawled out of the ground. I do not know."

"Your claim is that Sidana survived the battles in Detroit?" Meerlinda asks. "That she is Sabbat now?"

"Is that what happened?" Sidana furrows her brow in concentration. "Yes, it's coming back to me. That's what they do with new recruits, isn't it?"

[Brother Brian]

"I pray, let someone make sense of this one's gibberish. Am I to believe that she was physically duplicated and now exists twice? Should she be slain, would it equally slay the other?"

[Huxley]

"I wish I could... what she describes sounds like a plausible Sabbat embrace"

[Detritus]

"I pray, let someone make sense of this one's gibberish. Am I to believe that she was physically duplicated and now exists twice? Should she be slain, would it equally slay the other?"
"I do not recall making the claim that I am a physical duplicate of Sidana, Sir Knight."

"Then how is it that you are here?" asks Meerlinda.

"The eye, of course. It drew me to the girl in the first place. When she came to the uttermost deep bearing a token of my Sire, I thought that I was to be rescued at last. It seems I was wrong about that," the girl finishes sadly. She slumps dejectedly for a moment before recovering her posture.

"If you would say that vengeance is thine, Lord Knight, then know that you would not destroy Sidana if you struck me down, save that she will never be more than she is now."

"An aspect of Sidana," Meerlinda says slowly. "Whatever she lost crawling out of that hole. That is what you claim to be."

"Of her, yet not her," the girl replies. "I cannot claim to understand how it happened, but it did."

[Brother Brian]

Turning to Meerlinda, Francois says, "Counceller I beg thee, I am but a simple soldier; you seem to understand the riddles that pass for speech from this one. Is she, or is she not responsable for the death of Jocelyn?"

[Detritus]

Turning to Meerlinda, Francois says, "Counceller I beg thee, I am but a simple soldier; you seem to understand the riddles that pass for speech from this one. Is she, or is she not responsable for the death of Jocelyn?"
The Councilor considers the question for a moment.

"I do not believe her hands wielded the spear in anger, if that is what you are asking. Yet even if they did, she bears no burden of responsibility for Jocelin's choice to place the need for personal vengeance above her own safety. The wielder of the spear, whatever her transgressions, did not heedlessly charge into mortal peril in direct contradiction of her Primogen's stated command."

[Brother Brian]

"We can speak of shared culpability and the sins of my kin another time. Is this person before us, the one who lead our enemies on the field of battle, who collapsed the gate, and who engaged a Camarilla Justicar in combat?"

[Detritus]

"I have already stated that I believe that her hands did not wield the spear in anger. What further answer would you have of me?

"As for the gate, it did not collapse as you suggest. I closed it, as quickly as I could while permitting retreat to Avalon. It seemed a prudent measure, as did the Justicar's insistence that it not be re-opened once closed."

[Brother Brian]

"I have already stated that I believe that her hands did not wield the spear in anger. What further answer would you have of me?

"As for the gate, it did not collapse as you suggest. I closed it, as quickly as I could while permitting retreat to Avalon. It seemed a prudent measure, as did the Justicar's insistence that it not be re-opened once closed."

"I never wield my sword in anger, yet what I do with it is still mine to bear. If you mean she did not weild the spear, that it was her twin or doppelganger, then say so. Clearly, simply, and with no addendum."

[Detritus]

"You would accuse her of prevarication?" Arthur asks, soundly mildly scandalized.

"It is fine, Sire," replies Meerlinda, turning to the king. "My command of idiom seems to fall short of a passing grade. Instead of further answer, I shall give less. It is my belief that the nude girl to my left did not wield the spear." Only then does the Councilor turn her placid gaze back to François.

"I have known the Justicar for a very long time, for ten lives of men and more, if you must know. Much longer than you, of that there is no doubt. I would not hedge words to protect an assailant who would attempt her life."

[Brother Brian]

Francois removes his blade from under Arthurs. "My lord, I have found that is the nature of our kind to equivicate, to speak such that lies are not told, yet the truth remains veiled. I do not accuse the councelor of speaking unplainly for any nefarious purpose, indeed, it becomes nature to us as we age. And as the councelor suggests, she has lived for some long time."

[Detritus]

"It is as you say," the king replies. "I have seen it more than I would like myself," he says, and his eyes stray towards the Justicar's face. A bit of her normal hair color has returned amidst the charring, but she sounds like she's muttering in a dialect of French that is beyond archaic, and would have been considered such even during François's mortal days.

"I would have the truth concerning the girl," Arthur says after turning back towards to Meerlinda. "I find your explanation difficult to credit."

"The eye," the girl says. "It's all in the eye. Anyone with sufficient skill in Auspex could retrieve it."

"I believe she speaks the truth," says Meerlinda, "but if you wish it, you may interrogate the eye yourself." The Councilor shrugs, and then the eye appears from one of the sleeves of her robe, and she holds it before you in the hollow of her palm.

[[The Spirit's Touch (Auspex 3) is the relevant power, if you want to have a crack at the eye.]]

[Brother Brian]

Is my Auspex still advanced from the earlier ritual?

[Detritus]

Is my Auspex still advanced from the earlier ritual?
Yes. That will remain in play as long as you have the Justicar's eye.

[Brother Brian]

Then I will give it a shot.

[Detritus]

When François takes the eye, the first things he gets a sense of is the essence of Jocelin's being collapsing into the eye just after the Garou seemed to have destroyed her.

Then, all the info in the The Deep Umbra (http://forum.criticalfumble.net/showthread.php?t=20370) and Beware the Violent Welsh (http://forum.criticalfumble.net/showthread.php?t=20725) threads become in-character knowledge for François. A summary of the pertinent info:

Jocelin found herself stranded above the coast of Alaska after the astral engagement with Samantha and friends. She met up with some insect-men, whom she tried to talk to, but received only bilious vomit in response. After dispatching the insect-men, she got directions from her sword, the same words (SOMERSET on one side and GLASTONBURY TOR on the other) that Gwynnis traced in her blood on the sides of Jocelin's katana.

Upon reaching Glastonbury Tor, she encountered someone who, after a bit of verbal sparring, somehow blew her most of the way across the Atlantic. Jocelin returned, experiencing some disorientation as she moved, at least at the beginning of her trans-Atlantic trek.

Eventually, the someone that Jocelin encountered over Somerset revealed herself to be the same girl that sits across from you on the other side of the Justicar. After some discussion, she convinces Jocelin to aid her in her quest to be reunited with Sidana, and then took up residence inside Jocelin's body (actually, inside the Justicar's eye, to be more precise). In the battle with the first werewolf, she somehow made Jocelin's sword glow with the fiery wrath that helped in defeating that foe.

[Brother Brian]

Francois inhales deeply, and speaks.

"She called herself Siadana's "good twin", and refered to your wife as mother your majesty, and you as Father. How literal that was to be taken I can not say." Francois says. "I believe, by the way she was able to join with my kinswoman, that she is not sibling, but half of a divided whole, existing only in this spirit realm. She stated at one point that Siadanna was once moderated in her evil, when they were together, which also gives rise to my thought that they are in fact pieces of the same soul. In any event, I believe that the one before us has only secondary culpability in the death of my kin."

Francois turns to the girl. "You did however, manipulate Jocelyn to do your bidding. However her choices remained her own, she did not have to fight the loup-garou as she did. What guilt you take on yourself is up to you. I shall declare none on you."

Finally he turns to Meerlinda. "It seemed to me that Jocelin's...soul...may have escaped at the moment of death and entered into the justicar's eye. Know thee any magick that might return it to her body, which lies in New Orleans?"

[Detritus]

Arthur eyes the girl for a moment before giving a slow reply.

"She is not an heir of my body, but..."

"I felt something of my Sire's presence in Jocelin," the girl says, looking at Gwynnis with sad eyes. She then indicates both Francois and Leo. "As I feel it in you both."

"It is a result of a ritual to aid in efforts against Sidana's new compatriots," Meerlinda explains.

"In answer to your question, Francois, there is no ritual I know of that can achieve the rejoining of Jocelin's body and spirit. However, there is one who lies nearby who may be able to effect the reunion." The Councilor's eyes move to the shrine.

"The Lady of the Lake?" Arthur asks. "Why do you say that this is within her power?"

"Yes, the Lady of the Lake," says Gwynnis in a weak voice. Her eyes are steady when she speaks. "It is but one guise she has worn through the ages."

The king moves kneel at Gwynnis's shoulder. "Are you well, my love?"

"I hurt. Everywhere. But, I have survived, at least thus far." The Justicar's eyes fall on the redheaded girl for the first time.

"Since you are all not engaged in mortal combat with the girl, I shall assume that there is a good explanation for that."

"I would not harm you, Sire," the girl replies. Gwynnis manages to raise a skeptical eyebrow, but leaves it at that.

"The Lady of the Lake?" Arthur asks.

"Yes, about that. The Lady's memories stretch back to a time before the invention of the written word. In our world," Gwynnis says, subtly emphasizing that word, "she is known as Arikel, the Rose. She is the founder of my line."

"I... I did not know that," Arthur says quietly.

"I will try to keep you better informed in the future," replies Gwynnis, a trace of sadness, or perhaps regret, entering her features. "It is a failing of mine." Arthur smiles, yet a touch of sadness is on his face, too, when he does.

"Will you place me before the earth mother's shrine?" Gwynnis asks of Meerlinda.

"Of course," the Councilor replies. "I would guess the girl must accompany us."

Gwynnis studies the girl once again.

"And if I refuse this?"

"I believe Jocelin's fate is bound up with hers. You have not completely discharged your duty there." Gwynnis lets out a sigh and then winces.

"I concede the point. I must admit, I am unaccustomed to failure. It is a disagreeable feeling, knowing that one has failed." The Justicar then turns to Francois and Leo.

"You both have some stake in Jocelin's return. I think it appropriate that you accompany us to the shrine, if you wish. However, I will warn you, I cannot predict how my greatsire will react to any of us, nor do I have the least bit of control over what she will do. She has the artistic temperament in great measure, I am afraid. I suspect that she has called me, called us, here, though, so she will not mind. In any case, the brunt of her displeasure is likely to fall upon me, should it come to that. How do you choose?"

[Brother Brian]

"I will accompany you my lady, out of duty to my kin, and affection for your clan."

[Huxley]

"I will go. Additionally, I would fault myself for not having grabbed Jocelin sooner in the deep Umbra. Based on previous experience, I should have known that she would not act rationally. Perhaps I can shoulder some of the displeasure, seeing as I am currently in better health than you"

[Detritus]

"Your offer is generous, perhaps even more than you know, but she does not always make her displeasure known through physical means. Nonetheless, I appreciate the gesture."

Gwynnis then signals for Meerlinda to move her to the shrine. The Tremere Councilor lifts the Justicar's body, unsupported, with a one-handed lifting gesture. Arthur and Sidana's better half follow the women to the shrine, the king idly twirling Excalibur in his hands.

The redheaded girl is quite lovely when you take a moment to look, and was just beginning to grow into a stunningly beautiful woman, but she can't be more than about 14 or 15 years of age, physically. There is no trace in her of the coltish awkwardness that often afflicts girls around that age, however. Her long red hair reaches to the middle of her thighs, and provides strategic cover for her body.

Upon reaching the shrine, Meerlinda gently sets Gwynnis down.

"Will you call forth the Lady, dearest? I'm afraid it must be the dark side."

Arthur looks at his wife for a moment, then finally nods a brings the tip of Excalibur in contact with the death side of the earth mother's mural. The sword flashes for an instant, and then shadow begins to shroud that side of the mural, and the king steps away. Once the wall is completely obscured, a woman begins to step out, one garbed in a flowing white dress, yet with her features hidden in the murk, save for her dimly lit outline.

Arthur favors the Lady with a precise bow, and Meerlinda makes a shallow curtsy. Sidana's better half makes a much deeper curtsy, and remains balanced on one knee instead of rising.

((EDIT -- Here's (http://www.criticalfumble.net/forum/showpost.php?p=311183&postcount=36) a pic of what I was trying to describe for the Lady's appearance.))

[Brother Brian]

Upon seeing Arthur bow, Francois gracefully genuflects to the approaching woman.

[Huxley]

Leo follows Sidana's example and bows while lowering himself to one knee.

[Detritus]

You feel more than see Arikel acknowledge your gestures. The Sire of the Toreador reaches until a slim hand and forearm extend beyond her gloomy shroud. A dim glow covers the life side of the earth mother mural for a moment. The illumination ceases when a brilliant flash shows for an instant above Arikel's upturned palm, and then she holds a simple wooden cup.

Drawing the vessel to her face, you clearly see three sparkling teardrops from Arikel's left eye drop into the cup. Three long-stemmed roses, much longer than could be held by their makeshift vase, suddenly sprout upwards. Just as they begin to fall from their precarious balance, Arikel grasps them with her free hand.

With a slight throwing gesture, Arikel sends one of the flowers to land atop the supine form of Gwynnis. You are all struck by the flower's beauty, seeming as it does to be a Platonic ideal in rose form. The petals begin to darken, and the charring covering Gwynnis lessens as they do. Then the petals blacken, and wither, as the flower draws the residue of the Justicar's battle from her body. The rose finally shrivels and then turns to ash before blowing away on a gentle breeze. Gwynnis appears to be completely recovered, physically, yet there is a palpable sense of loss at seeing such botanical perfection come to naught.

The Justicar rises to her knees, momentary uncertainty appearing on her face until she lowers in a slight bow while remaining kneeling. The two remaining roses then dart forward. One stem wraps around the Justicar's head, and the other around the head of Sidana's better half, with the blossoms centered in their foreheads. Arikel closes her hand briefly, and when she opens it again, she holds the eye that was in Jocelin's head.

Abruptly, the roses begin to constrict. Points of blood begin to well from the roses' thorns. Sidana begins to scream, but her cry becomes thinner and thinner as her body begins to stretch and narrow. The rose on her head pulls her towards her great-grandsire, and she continues to thin until she is narrower than the eye. Her body then seems to recoil like a stretched rubber band that has just been released, and the rose draws her back into the eye.

Then Gwynnis begins to scream and clutch at her head. For the span of three breaths she bellows at the top of her lungs in a wordless cry of agony. Blood begins to trickle down her head when the rose finally seems to collapse in on itself. Stem and blossom sink into the Justicar's head, and her screaming finally stops.

[Detritus]

Arikel brings the cup near her face again, and three tears from her right eye drop into it. This time, instead of taking hold of the flowers, they hang without any visible support after she drops cup and eye to the ground. The Toreador Antediluvian turns and begins to retreat back through the dark passage she emerged from.

Almost as an afterthought, Arikel turns back and makes a plucking motion with thumb and forefinger, as if taking a grape off the vine. François and Leo feel a subtle wrenching in their minds when she does this. Then she turns once more and completes her exit. The earth mother mural returns to its original state, no trace of Arikel's presence evident save for the objects she left behind.

Sparing only a glance for the flowers at the moment, Gwynnis sighs and stoops to pick up both cup and eye.

"And these two things shall come to thee in a moment in one day," she says, shifting her wistful gaze from cup to eye to Arthur's face.

"Neither of us is dead yet, my love," replies Arthur. The king takes the hand holding the eye, and closes it.

"You can still save her, I think." Arthur gently takes the cup from Gwynnis. "I will tend the orchards. You must put those flowers to their proper use."

Gwynnis finally takes the flowers, her strengthening resolve plain on her face as she turns to you.

"The fates of Jocelin and Sidana are indeed bound together, as the Councilor surmised. Sidana's fair half will reside in the eye, which we will put back into Jocelin's body. In order to complete the restoration, we will have to capture Sidana.

"One rose will allow Jocelin's body to function again. Yet, that which is her essence will be submerged, the mind and even the physical form will be that of Sidana's fair half. We shall call her Rosalyn, in token of Sidana's benefactor, and the body's rightful occupant.

"The remaining two roses will be the focus for the completion of the restoration. When completed, Sidana will be re-integrated, and Jocelin's consciousness will reemerge. But we must ask swiftly once we are back in New Orleans. The restoration must occur before Easter sunrise, else both Jocelin and Sidana will be lost."

[Brother Brian]

Francois appears shaken by the experiance. He simply nods at the justicar's words while staring at the mural.

[Huxley]

"Then we should be on our way at once, yes?"

[Detritus]

"Yes, we should go now," replies Gwynnis. She walks over and picks up Excalibur. Arthur's eyes draw inwards briefly, the king lost in thought, and then he walks over to his wife.

"You've told me of the Lady's true nature before, haven't you?"

"Many times, my love," Gwynnis says, a wan smile on her lips. "Yet each time is as the first."

"And do I always figure it out?"

"Not always, no. Less often than not, in fact. The Lady can be protective of her secrets." The Justicar's eyes flick towards François and Leo for an instant during that last sentence.

"That is one thing, at least, that has remained constant through the years." Meerlinda comes up to lay a hand on the Justicar's forearm. King, Queen, and Councilor walk to the base of Glastonbury Tor. Gwynnis opens a portal to the astral plane, a darkness that stands out starkly against the splendor of Avalon at sunrise.

"I would not count this morning's engagement a total loss," the king says to you as you prepare to depart. "You fought bravely against hideous foes. That valor will serve you well in liberating your sister-in-arms."

[Brother Brian]

Regaining his composure, Francois bows to Arthur. "Perhaps when neccessities demands on my time lessen, the Justicar, your good lady wife, will consent to bring me back that we may continue our conversation."

Turning to the other kindred, "Let us fly, that Jocelyn may be restored."

[Detritus]

Meerlinda leads the way out. Gwynnis lingers for a moment before coming out last. The portal shuts, and you stand in darkness at the base of Glastonbury Tor. Everyone's garb and appearance has returned to their usual states once you exit Avalon.

"What you have seen," Gwynnis says, "places you in a distinct minority amongst those of the Camarilla. The usual party line concerning the Antediluvians is that they are a myth. It is a somewhat frequently stated belief amongst members of the Toreador clan that Arikel watches over us. I believe few actually realize just how true that is. She sees much, even sequestered as she is, and now, she has laid eyes upon you."

After one last look at Glastonbury Tor, Gwynnis begins to walk away from the hillside.

"There will be no need for us to traverse the distance back to New Orleans. Simply will the astral projection to end, and you will return to your bodies." With that, Gwynnis seems to vanish into thin air, though Meerlinda remains for the moment.

[Brother Brian]

Francois closes his eyes, and wills the projection to end.

[Huxley]

Leo looks back and thinks about what happened for a moment before heading back. His voice crackles and spits, "... Gwynnis had mentioned a toll for this place. I noticed nothing. What was she referring to?"

[Detritus]

Leo looks back and thinks about what happened for a moment before heading back. His voice crackles and spits, "... Gwynnis had mentioned a toll for this place. I noticed nothing. What was she referring to?"
"Are the attentions of the Lady not toll enough?" the Councilor asks. "Consider yourself fortunate that she paid you as little heed as she did."

Meerlinda then closes her eyes briefly.

"I would guess that you would not be able to repeat the catechism that permits entry to the realm. If there was further price extracted, I do not know what it is."

((This is true, the words Gwynnis spoke before opening the gate to Avalon were erased from Leo & Francois's memories. Anything else is a sleeper at this point, *if* there's anything more to it.))

[Huxley]

Leo wills himself back to his body.