Sarne and Gerhart had been sent out to investigate strange things that were occurring around newly formed flower circles in Capitol Landing. It had frightened the commoners and the reports did not make sense either. A ring of black and purple flowers circles the ruins of the black spire. Groans of despair and sorrow can be heard on the wind, with a sense of dread sitting in the air.

Sarne wondered if the Black Tower had been occupied by something new. That's why they sent Sarne and Gerhart they were heroes of the fighters guild now quite capable of handling themselves. It helped that they could fly there and get there quickly and deal with any trouble that might arise.

Flying over there did not seem to be any problems. Sarne signaled to land. Sarne landed and walked over to the ring of black and purple flowers that circle the ruins of the black spire. He felt lightheaded as he looked at Gerhart his body felt light and his vision blurred as he hit the ground and passed out. Sarne awakened and sat up looking over at Gerhart who was sitting up as well but the man did not look the same something was different.

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SPOILER: Click to show

Quest Name: Ring of Flowers (Capitol Landing)
Participants: Exactly Two
Location: One of the listed locations below
Post Requirements: 6 posts per person, 200 words per post
Reward: +2 Renown, 1 Mystical Archive Ticket
Description: Strange things are occurring around these newly formed flower circles and help is needed to understand why. Unfortunately, as one of the first groups of people to explore these phenomena, we are unaware of any specific strange or weird side effects interacting with these rings may bring, so be careful. Study the flowers, and record what you see, hear, or even feel.
Special Requirements:
Your investigations will reveal that these circles are not native to Charon and are coming from some other realm. They are Fae in nature and give off similar magical traces as the Fae creatures that currently live on Charon, although much stronger and more potent.
Upon arriving at the location, you will find that strange things have begun to happen, not only to the environment but to you as well, with prolonged exposure to the circle increasing the effects. Before you begin the quest, you must choose one of the locations listed below to explore, with a specific obstacle attached based on the region. These added effects cannot be ignored and must be applied to your characters during the quest.
While investigating the flowers, both members find that they have reverted in age, returning to their teen years. This effect sends an individual back to their adolescent period based on their race. You keep any gear and spells but are now a teenager. Lasts the entire topic.

A new day, a new set of weird things happening around Charon. Admittedly things had slowed down considerably for Gerhart, mostly by choice, but the lure of adventure and exploring pulled at him again.

The news of strange plants all over the place seemed like a weird and safe enough thing to look in to. He's no trained botanist or familiar with alchemy, but he's picked up plenty from living in the woods. Most of it was trial and error with which mushrooms would make you sick and which ones wouldn't. Lately, he had been expanding his knowledge of which flowers smelled nice and which ones were surprisingly toxic so as not to accidentally poison Cirice.

He was a bit surprised to see Sarne jumping into this as well, but he wasn't going to turn down the help. Someone with a formal education would probably be a bit helpful. At the very least, more people looking at it wouldn't hurt. Or so he thought.

"I wouldn't ju.....well that's good to know." He sighs a bit with a little laugh seeing Sarne enter the ring of flowers and then pass out.

He pulls his undershirt up a bit to cover his mouth and nose as he enters the flowers. It's enough to prevent the ranger from meeting the same fate, but little did he know what was really going on. Gerhart strained a bit to roll Sarne over so he wasn't passed out face first in the dirt.

He grins as he sees the eyes flutter open, "I was gonna say not just to run in here. This is prime fae trickery going on. You all right?" It seems Gerhart is unaware of any changes.

For the most part, a younger Gerhart looks relatively the same. The scars remain and growing up underfed meant he didn't grow that much. He might be a little shorter, hair less manageable, but from his own perspective he felt the same.

"Sure, I guess I walked into that one," remarked Sarne then he cracked a smile. Sarne could feel something was not right. something was off about the whole thing even Gerhart looked a bit off Sarne could not figure it out. but the feeling of maybe fae magic was nothing new.

The flowers or maybe magic was affecting Sarne and the Spell then might have been cast on him when He was gone for a year. Sarne was starting not to like the Fae as time went on. Looking up at Gerhart Sarne sat up slowly and then sneezed. "Man that was dumb of me," said Srne looking around then stared back at Gerhart.

"You feeling ok Gerhart? Something looks off just can not figure out what is changed." Sarne said wondering what was going on. Sarne himself did not change much either. Sarne just looked younger in the eyes. He did not his hair was changing some two being darker now.

Sarne got to his feet and rubbed his nose for landing face first. When they stopped back out of the Ring of flowers. Sanre started to look at the tower and tilted his head some to the right staring at the black spire something did not look right to Sarne.

The ranger laughs a bit as he help's Sarne up, "Ah no big deal, happens all the time actually. Plants are weird and unless you ready every book out there, sometimes you just gotta learn by trial and error."

He stands up and stretches a bit again looking around the area. This place feels weird...not really like anything he'd felt outside of the Werewolf Woods. The air felt thick and heavy. From the stories he'd heard about fae circles, they were nothing like this. Maybe it's not like that at all.

There is a rare thoughtful expression before he raises an eyebrow to Sarne's question, "I feel fine, why? You look a little...weirdly better actually. Something is really weird about this place."

He rubs the back of his head as he tries to think through what is happening. Maybe some mushrooms or something? They easily could've missed a spore cloud and accidentally got something into their systems. He had no idea if there were any that could cause confusion or paranoia. Was this a new magic plant?

"You're from here right? You gotta know a little bit more about this place....I know the flowers are weird...whole reason we are out here." He laughs. "But does anything else look or feel weird?"

Looking at the tower He watches comes and goes out of focus. At the moment the runes look normal next a ghostly image is there of the tower of the past. This made Sarne feel different in a lot of ways. and something with his past had the same feeling. Sarne felt like he had been there before. The same soft feeling of magic. There is a smell of roses that l lingered in the air. The a lure of a haunting voices is it crying or is it calling Sarne could not make it out. This whole experince was starting to haunted Sarne

"Thanks for helping me up," said Sarne grinning. To Sarne, this felt like an out-of-body experience. "I think we should move away from the Flowers. I have a hex of sorts left over from my time missing this circle disrupts that hex. It is not only flowers here," remarks Sarne as he starts to move to the edge of the circle "I just was drawn to the circle I don't understand what happened," described Sarne. 

"There are a lot of things that are not making any sense to me," explained Sarne. "Quiet yourself can you hear voices floating on the wind?" asked Sarne now looking worried.

"Ah plenty of plants that do that, especially fae ones, they are meant to trick and trap people." Gerhart gives a little smile before putting his hands on his hips as they look around.

Other than the flowers, this place did seem pretty normal.....well as normal as things could be for what little he knew about this place. It wasn't exactly as a place known for fond stories. Wasn't hard to see why this place had the repuation it did....it had the look and feel of a graveyard through and through.

"The real question is are those voices or just the wind? A little late for the veil between worlds to thin like this....its usually towards the end of fall when you hear about things like that."

If it was ghosts or undead, you would also expect to see much more activity. Bodies tend to make a mess when they come out of the ground and ghosts have a knack for knocking things around. So, it was odd to see absolutely nothing except for these flowers. Did someone plant them or did they just appear?

Gerhart wasn't a big fan of all the questions, especially when they were ones he couldn't easily answer.

Sarne looked at the tower that once stood there gazing at the ruins of the black spire. still seeing a ghost image of the black spire back when it was whole. "Veil between worlds? is that even possible? If you look at the Black spire long enough a ghost of an image appears as it was when it was whole." commented Sarne looking around. The eerie feeling was still there. A cold touch was in the air. It sent a shiver down Sarne's back.

"Pretty but creepy place this is," stated Sarne looking around. Sarne bent down and moved his hands across the dirt. "The ground has a frosty feel to it," explained Sarne. He stood back up. "Do you hear that?" asked Sarne looking concerned. Sarne could not hear any animals in the area. It was quiet. Sarne could not even hear cricket chirping.

Sarne looked down at the grass it was not too tall and ressled in the breeze. Then looked out around the ring of black and purple flowers with their velvety leaves others rose-like. Sarne realized that they were all different flowers but a black and purple mix of colors. When he reached down the breeze was not coming from across the land but into the ring. "This is a riddle. The airflow going into the ring of flowers," explained Sarne looking bewildered about the whole thing.

"If this is a fairy or Fae magic I don't know if I want to know if I want to mess with it too much. I do not get a good feeling about this Gerhart." Sarne said still poking around the flowers.

"It's really not so bad...at least its not supposed to be. I've never actually met a fairy, but they generally aren't mean, just mischevious." He looked to the flowers again, then over to the spire.

The placement almost seems intentional...its directly in the path of the door. Odd. As he looks to the door, little lights seem pop into view. Gerhart's vision lingers on them before it starts to bob and float towards him.

He gives a soft smile as it approaches and starts to circle him, "Hey there lil feLlA." His faces scrunches as he coughs and taps the breastplate after his voice cracks.

It is only at this point he realizes how much smaller he has gotten thanks to the fey circle. Though even this realization is nothing more than a funny story he will get to tell when he leaves here.

He offers out a hand for the light. It moves into his hand and gently bobs as if perched there.

"You here to help us?" The light pulses a bit. "Uh huh....uh huh...right right...no that makes sense....I'll ask him."

"Hey! I don't think this is a riddle Sarne!...seems like there's a tylwyth teg inside, this little one was traveling with here when something separated them inside. I think they just wanna go home at this point."

The magical energy was starting to take more of an effect as Sarne noticed some changes as well sure his armor and his gear were the same even his knowledge seemed untouched. Sarne's armor was now getting larger. No, it was Sarne's size that had changed slowly as his armor now fit loose.

Sarne looked over to Gerhart seemed even younger now. not that he was old in the first place only in his mid 20's but some of the maturity of his experience and melted away. "I would agree what the magical energy here is from the ring of flowers. The flowers are not from this area. so there is another reason to expect magic to be invented," Remarked Sarne walking over. Looking at the little light in Gerhart's hand. "The light has the answers?" asked Sarne wondering how the light had the information.

Sarne thought for a minute on all the stories of his childhood of such things as fairies and the Fae. "Its best chance of getting back would be the tower somehow. Maybe the door or stairway going somewhere I think. I was warned as a child by my grandmother never to take a door or a stairway that leads nowhere. That would take you to places you don't want to be," replied Sarne thinking looking the tower over again.

"Maybe this is why we are...whatever age it made us." He smiles as the light starts to bob out of his hand and towards the Spire. "It's supposed to be easier to see wisps and fairies when you're a kid. Your eyes are less clouded by the world, so you can see into others more easily."

Gerhart seems to have no such concern about following after the light. He wasn't as naive to believe nothing bad could happen, but someone needed help and they would have to go inside eventually anyways. Why waste time being scared or nervous?

"Makes sense...probably why the An Lucht Siúil don't have doors, that way we always go some place we want to be." He grins wide as they trot up the stairs.

The Black Spire itself is as old and rickety as it has ever been. Unfortunately the time magic of the fairy ring doesn't work on buildings it seems. Gerhart stands in the middle of the foyer with his hands on his hips. The light bounces in the middle of the room waiting for them both to catch up. It seems impatient as the light flickers.

"OK, OK calm down little guy." Gerhart puts up his hands defensively. "Which way are we going then? All the way up? Gonna be a long walk....wanna hop on for a ride?"

Sarne was not too far behind Gerhart where was the little like taking them with every creek or movement of the wood stairs Sarne's armor did not slow him down but that did not mean the weight was not there. sarne could move a bit faster flying but waited un tell he got to the middle of the foyer with Gerhart and his little light friend.

Sarne was Gerhart hut his hands up and talked to the little light. "what? all the way up?" questioned Sarne. Taking a big breath from the run up the stairs sarne let it out slowly. "OK but this time I am flying," said Sarne as ae started to change. [1] Sarne celestial features started to show. Sarne's blond hair changes to almost silver it shines like metal. His complexion turns a tan-colored with lustrous skin tone. Sarne's eyes change to a piercing gold. A pair of feathery angelic wings grow from his back. Sarne is covered in a gold hue. " Is this what you meant by a ride Gerhart?" asked Sarne now hovering flapping his wings.

Giving a grin sarne did not wait for an answer as Sarne flew up the Spire. looking down making sure not to get too far ahead of the light and Gerhart "Do you think we can help the little guy to get home?" do you know how to open the gateway, Gerhart?" asked Sarne moving barely missing a wood beam "that was close" Commented Sarne dodging a few more. Twisting in the air and swiftly moving around the different obstacles in the Spire. reaching the top Sarne hovered and looked around.

[1] Beacon of Light / Grafts Feathery Angelic Wings

Gerhart chuckled as as the little light nestled into his hair while he took the stairs. Now his hair had a little glow like a lighthouse in the fog. Even with two ways to fly, he preferred walking, he'd always walked everywhere else. Besides, it's not like this was a race. They would get there when they did.

"Careful you don't make yourself look too fancy, the fey might try and steal you. They always prefer bright and shiny things....well the good fey do at least. Some aren't as nice."

Of course, he can't be as fast as the man who can fly, but the ranger is surprisingly closer behind than he expected. It must be that small burst of youthful energy from whatever was happening in here.

"We should be able to, we just have to find out what's keeping their friend here. Could be they accidentally got caught under some cold iron....something else could be trapping them here. Wisps are great friends if you're ever lost or need directions, but hard for them to tell me anything more than that."

He smiles as he looks up towards the light in his hair, "But don't worry buddy, you're doing great."

Towards the top of the tower, an odd song seems to echo out. It's almost like an old woman singing, but something about it just seems ever so slightly off. Gerhart's ears perk up at that as he slows to a stop. He pauses to try and hone in on the voice. It's not a familiar one, but something about it makes the hairs on his neck stand up.

"Something is up there....I don't know what or if its hostile, but its there."

Landing on the stairs near the top Sarne could hear the strange singing too. He tried to place the tune but could not. the stairs Sarne was standing on were creaking some under his weight no one had been there in a while even the dust was thick and no trace of tracks or disturbance of the things around the tower. It was that singing that just seemed familiar.

Gerhart was just behind Sarne one platform down coming up the stairway. Sarne could not get over the tune Sarne started to hum the tune could have been then it hit him. His grandmother had hummed that music sometimes she said it was old. An ancient type of old. Sarne felt it now as his instinct could feel the presence of something not too far away above him.

Sarne looked down at Gerhart and signaled Gerhart to stop and then come slowly and quietly. Then Sarne gave the sign of danger. One thing fighters knew was the hand signs so they could talk without words or noise. the Fighters Guild trained their people in signs. Sarne was sure Gerhart knew what Sarne was trying to say.

Sarne's feathery wings disappeared into his back. When Gerhart got to him. "Is that little guy's friends up there? or parents perhaps?" asked Sarne, concern on his face but not fear. If there a Fairy or Fae up there that could be bad news for Sarne and Gerhart if they think they are responsible for their missing friend?

"Their friend maybe, but something else...maybe a hag which means....well it doesn't mean good things. Which I mean....we can just kill it, but they can be reasoned with...sometimes, it's a real mixed bag." He laughs softly. "Some are just kindly old swamp witches and others are mad fey creatures who like to be evil and torture things."

He looks up to the ceiling above them where the noise is coming from. It is really hard to tell what kind of hag they are going to get from down here, but seems like there was only one way to find out. Gerhart started to head up towards the room, offering to take the lead unless Sarne was adamant about going first.

Creaking up the stairs, they eventually come to the makeshift lair of the hag. Small animal bones and fur decorate the room along with a large amount of similarly strange flowers as to the ones they found outside. The biggest feature of the room was a large cauldron in the center of the room the hag was tossing chunks of something into.

The little wisp with them shifts colors and flies out towards the cauldron to softly thump into it. The hag turns to the cauldron with an amused cackle.

"You're still here little one?" It pauses to listen to the wisp. "Ohohoho friends?"

"Well...there goes our cover." Gerhart just sighs and comes up the final few steps into view of the room. He gives a signal to Sarne to stay hidden. If he could sneak around while Gerhart held its attention, then this would be an easy fight. Seemed pretty clear this hag was behind the strange things happening which meant it wasn't friendly, it was trying to make a home here.

Sarne took Gerhart's cue retracing his wings. [1] He merged into the shadows around him. This was Sarne's normal way of hiding. He was undetectable this way and could even move to see what Gerhart was worried about. Sarne had never seen one before now, a Hag. Only heard of them from his grandfather things were much different some 800 years ago. Sarne'd grandfather was almost 900 years old when he died. Sarne's grandmother was 800 years old when she died. That was a lot of knowledge lost forever.

Oh, friends considered Sarne. The little light gave us away, thought Sarne. Now the hag was going to make a stew out of Sarne and Gerhart, Sarne presumed. what now sarne knew he had to trust Gerhart and whatever plan he had. Gerhart did sept to one side slightly giving Sarne a way to approach if he had to.

The room was not well-lit and there were lots of shadows he could move to if had the chance to. but it was dusty and whatever the hag had in the large cauldron smelled horrible. the light flickered on the walls from the low fire the Hag had going but it did warm the room some and the damp air was more dry. and of course, the Hag did not have a good smell about here either. The small bones scattered about. Interesting that there was not any rotten meat or vegetables around some moldy chees in the corner but Sarne wondered more of a trap for rodents.

They had looked at Gerhart with inviting eyes, not the ones that said hello nice to meet you more like the eyes of someone demonic. Sarne could only hope that the little light had not given him away just yet.

[1] Pass without a trace / The Houdini Act