[adamu]

As the faux ceremony (with a real officiator!!!) had opened, Al had taken Robyn's right hand in his left. A sort of giddy electricity had surged up his arm and then split, a thousand volts racing for his loins and five thousand to his heart - no, dammit - some crazy uncharted place in his reptilian complex that released hormonal intoxicants into his system. He didn't dare turn to look at her. Especially not now that she could see properly. So he tightened his grip on the half-tangible brass knuckles encasing the fingers on his right hand to remind himself of the dire nature of the twin dangers he now faced. Knowing trouble was imminent and inevitable, his lips began his quiet call to the voodoo gods while his ears trained themselves on the words of the officiator, alert for anything that sounded remotely final or like a question....

[Mercy Merchant]

Robyn was not prepared for the feeling that coursed through her body at Al's touch, and she somehow feels that he is sharing the feeling.  It is not like they had not touched before, but this...........this is different somehow.  It must be the ceremony and what it would mean to complete it.  She experiences a moment of mind-numbing exultation before she tamps it back down into a corner of her heart.  This is not what Al would want and she is not going to betray him is this manner.  He would never forgive her if she takes advantage of the situation and she spares a moment to send him a private message.  >>Do not worry, Al.  I will wait for you to court me and sweep me off my feet.  I will not trick you into something you are not fully convinced that you want.  I love you too much to do that to you.  Stick with the plan.<<

Her emotions settle back down and she is able to focus part of her attention on the minor confrontation ISaint and Deckard are having with the Iron Company representative.  She parks this off to one part of her mind and turns the rest of her attention outward to sense for other possible interruptions.

[Aria]

[Saturday July 11th?, 2076; Great Hall, Lyonesse, Metaplane]

Fredryk considers Isaint’s words and almost seems ready to relent…except then he gets a glazed look in his eyes as the air around him seems to darken subtely… he growls, almost an animalistic sound

“I told you to get out of my way!” and then he shouts past you “Tamsyn, your father needs you… Now!”

Tamsyn for her part is clearly torn, and looks desperately to Al and Robyn for their support…

Around the great hall the darkness seems to be spreading in from the edges and the sounds of merriment and enjoyment of the Harlequinade are counterpointed here and there by aggressive raised voices.  With a sudden displacement of air Celedyr returns to his natural form, dwarfing all else in the room.  Beside him the two drakes shed their human form also, Lady deBathyre’s recognisable face being replaced by a silvery dracoform with glittering blue highlights to her scales…

And much to Isaint’s mentor’s audible disgust another dragon has appeared from somewhere…much smaller but only marginally less impressive.  Another Western dragon, this one a very dark grey with almost gunmetal highlights to its sinuous hide…

***

#81

[adamu]

Al shifted to bolster Tamsyn's resolve.

"Steady as she goes, there, Tusker Tam. He'll be yer family long after this here hootenanny's history, but today could be yer one chance to carve things in stone with this here little lady. No pun intended," he added disingenuously to Cara.

Then, startled that this Satanic plane had tricked him into actually encouraging an unnatural union, he added a more pragmatic remark: "Anyway, Ol' Al knows all about loyalty ta yer kin, an' there ain't no faultin' it. But that voice down there callin' for ya, that ain't yer dear Uncle Freddie. Nah, sister, that's our old friend from the gardens, you mark my words. So you dig deep an' stay the course, an' we'll git ya through this."

[Jack_Spade]

'Dragons. It just had to be dragons.'
He hadn't missed the sudden change in demeanor either: <<For anyone who hasn't noticed it: The Nightmare has begun to throw around mind affecting powers.>>
With the transformation of the dragons, Isaint also had lowered his armor's visor, or - in the metaphor of this realm - his face had vanished behind deep shadows.
"What you do is wrong and you know it. Screaming like this does nothing to further the honor of your house and damages your reputation as reliable and stoic soldiers."
Isaint hoped that his words were enough to get the man to snap out of it - but just in case he had the shield prepare an electric charge

[obidancer]

Seeing the Draconians turning back into their Lizard form was definitely not a good sign, but the arrival of yet another, that was just fucked up. But Deckard was pretty sure that was enough to catch everyone's attention.

Using the  distraction he grabbed a few reagents and cast a low power Sound Barrier around the Uncle and his goons. The Barrier was big enough to encompass ISaint and himself inside, but outside of a few, pretty much everybody else wouldn't be able to hear the Iron Company dignitary anymore. He doubted that it could stop the Nightmare power if this was indeed happening, but at least no one would get started with what the Uncle had to say, particularly not the Brides.

Deckard stepped next to ISaint, mentally engaging the Spirit inside him, calling upon his Influence power. Please allow me. This was directed at both the Spirit and ISaint. An eerie power emanated from his voice, though only the mage was really noticing it. To others, it was just a plea:
Sir, you need to stay quiet and go back to you seat. This will be in the greatest interest of your House. Peace and Serenity must remain!

This was directed at the Uncle - or whatever entity was controlling him - and his goons, the only ones that could hear him anyway, outside of ISaint.


F3 Sound Barrier with 6 reagents Sound Barrier spell F3 with 6 reagent: 18d6t5 4
Influence Power from the Channeled Spirit of Man (-1 service): Influence Power Spirit of Man F8: 16d6t5 6

[Mercy Merchant]

Robyn and Al2 remain near the two brides and take stock of what is happening.  She sends a quick message to the team.  >>ISaint, is it time for Al to reject me and allow the real brides to step in for the ceremony?  Things could go to drek right quick if we do not proceed with this ceremony.<<

[Jack_Spade]

<<Now is as good a time as it will get. At least I've got the riot shield in place. Do the switch.>>

Isaint let Rick do his thing, marveling once again about the vast repertoire of tricks his friend had up his sleeves. He did his part in looking away from the man, allowing him to retreat, should he chose to, but at the same time he was ready to start throwing punches if necessary. 

[Mercy Merchant]

Robyn nods without saying anything and simply steps backwards and to the side, putting the two girls directly in front of the priest.  She nods at him to continue his part of the ceremony and casts her net of sensors wider so as to be able to see if anyone is approaching the area.  Part of her is sad that this was not her and Al for real, but she keeps that hope alive for the future.

[adamu]

Al had been mentally planning some suitably melodramatic denunciation of their vows, but when the signal came and Alyce quietly disengaged, he figured that was best - no need to draw unnecessary attention to the switcheroo, after all.

He felt a warning twinge of loss when her hand left his, but it was matched by a wave of relief as the officiator launched right into the ceremony for the star-cross'd sapphos. Hand at waist level where only the priest-guy would see it, Al twirled his finger in a "hurry it up" gesture, and prayed that the guy would have the good sense to skip the "speak now or forever hold your peace" bit.

Another minute and they could blow this popsicle stand and get some proper brews back in the real world....

[Aria]

[Saturday July 11th?, 2076; Great Hall, Lyonesse, Metaplane]

Fredryk wilts under the mental assault of Deckard's spirit power and the countermand of the nightmare, collapsing back into the arms of his waiting guard...that is more than enough provocation for two of the three henchman to draw archaic pistols as long as their forearms and wave them threateningly at Isaint and Deckard...they might not be audible but the sight of brandished weapons is enough to clear a space immediately around you...

***

On the stage the sham ceremony is replaced seamlessly with the real, the Padre barely batting an eyelid  "De ye Tamsyn Senjak, Fifth of your line take..." but the rest of his words are drowned out by the dark cloaked figure that towers up behind him from nowhere ~Oh I Do, I most certainly Do~
 
***

#82

[adamu]

Al interrupted his muttered chants just long enough to growl, "No hippie asshole, ya most certainly don't," before launching himself at the shadow brass knuckles-first....

[Jack_Spade]

It wasn't as if Isaint hadn't expected it, but the spirits ability to sneak on stage undetected irked him immensely.
Undetered by the guns pointed in his direction, he turned his attention to the towering figure, while still holding his shield in the other men's direction.
'St. George give me strength' - Readily, he felt his patron's power flow into him, filling him with confidence and a determined kind of anger.
Meanwhile, with the fluid grace of hundreds of hours of grueling practice, he drew his Super Warhawk. Only the metaphor of this place had turned it to look like a hybrid of a short sword and some kind of sci-fi gun. At least the ammo select seemed still to be in there somewhere. He had personally seen how the cartridges had been filled to the limits of the custom gun. Pulling the trigger was accompanied by the absolute loudest noise Isaint had ever heard a gun make, despite the muting effect of his helmet. A flash of incandescent red light showed the path of the projectile (if it still was a projectile here - damn metaphor) flying dead center towards the towering figures face.
A bit belated and probably unheard in the ringing after the shot he answered: "No one asked you."

[Aria]

[Saturday July 11th?, 2076; Great Hall, Lyonesse, Metaplane]

The shadow flashes white under the incandescent assault of Isaint’s weapon and it appears to be less distinct around the edges…something that doesn’t seem to phase it as the creature reaches forth and plucks the Padre up from the ground… the good Father looks down in surprise at the incorporeal hand reaching through his chest before coughing blood all over Al and the two would be spouses…and then Al’s assault sends it back to whatever hell spawned it, perhaps here it might even be actually dead!

***

#83

[Mercy Merchant]

Robyn has time to wonder at the boldness of these spirits to attack here in the presence of dragons as she unspools her whip from her hand and looks around.  The priest is already dead and his killer has already been dispersed back to wherever it came from by ISaint and Al.  She steps forward and Al2 takes his place beside her as she looks around at the seeming chaos that was once a serene gathering.  Spirits are surging out of the shadows and attacking people apparently at random.  Robyn's main focus is on protecting the two brides and her scanners are working overtime to detect any immediate threat as she says, "Remain here and close to each other.  Separating now will only make things worse.  We will get you through this and complete the ceremony."