Dionysus You two go to the pavillion?

Avery Yes, though on the way, Avery's going to work up the courage to ask Aurelia to accompany him to dinner with Earl Rolton.

• Aurelia nods acceptance of the invitation.
• Avery brightens considerably and finds a way to send word to the Earl.

Dionysus An inn's messenger can be hired easily.

Avery oh good.

Dionysus Where do you go in the pavillion?

Avery the house tent.

Dionysus A matronly old scavenger (raccoonwoman) sits outside in a circle with a group of small families, passing around a tray of tea & cookies.

• Aurelia follows Avery's lead.

Dionysus She smiles at you, & says, "Welcome, children. Come, sit. There's enough refreshment for all."

Avery "Thank you, ma'am." he smiles and nods a bow to her, then says softly to Aurelia, "This is the Mother of Family's tent. Of the ones I've seen, I like it the best."

• Aurelia tilts her head at the greeting and looks up to Avery for direction.

Dionysus "Thank you, young man."

• Aurelia gives the scavenger a slight curtsy following Avery's greeting.

Dionysus "A strong bloodline you have, my dear," she says, looking Aurelia over.

• Aurelia blinks at her, startled.

Dionysus "Would you like a cookie?"

• Aurelia looks at Avery again, then nods.

Dionysus She gives you one, then moves along.

• Avery smiles. "This is a good place...I think so, anyway."

Dionysus To the next group.

• Aurelia says quietly, "Thank you."

Avery How long before dinnertime-ish?

Dionysus An hour or so?

Avery And about how long does it take to get to th earl's place?

Dionysus Ten minutes.

• Avery stays for a while, then suggests they head back to get ready for dinner.
• Aurelia leans against Avery's side and listens to the goings on until then.

Dionysus Just idle chitchat, mostly.

• Avery probably - tentatively - puts an arm around her when she does.
• Aurelia looks up at him, then rests her head on his shoulder, resuming leaning.

Avery And so they sit like that until heading off to clean up and to dinner.

---

Dionysus Avery, you sense Aurelia's dress is worth quite a deal.

Aurelia If Kashaji doesn't object, he wears a ribbon.

Dionysus He does not object.

• Avery smiles wryly. "you must look beautiful, Miss Aurelia."
• Aurelia touches her fingertips briefly to Avery's chest. "And you..."
• Avery blushes. "Thank you..." he offers his arm.
• Aurelia accepts.

Avery and so we go.

Dionysus People stare openly at the two of you as you stroll toward the Earl's place.

Dionysus As you go, you pass through a relatively nice neighborhood, where you hear a woman singing a delightful tune to a group of children.

• Avery smiles, listening as they pass.
• Aurelia ignores them, though she looks towards the singer.

Dionysus She feels bittersweet happiness as she sings, then suddenly, it becomes terror & pain. She screams. Avery, you sense something powerful & valuable, a living being, appear out of nowhere, behind her. It has no shape.

• Avery gasps, looking over like he can see. "What the..."
• Aurelia stops.

Avery "What is it...Aurelia? What's happening?"

Aurelia Do I see anything?

Dionysus You see nothing, Aurelia, except the woman scream & crumple.

Dionysus The children run away in fear.

Aurelia "She is fallen."

Dionysus And other people nearby react in panic.

Avery "There's something behind her...Can you see it?"

Dionysus The thing behind her begins to flow down the steps.

• Aurelia shakes her head.

Dionysus And you notice the chirping of frogs.

Avery "Is she alright? It's moving-" he breaks off at the frogs. is it coming toward us?

Dionysus Yes.

Dionysus The being strikes at Avery.

Dionysus You can sense it doing so, Avery.

Dionysus So no dodge penalties.

• Avery gets out of the way.

Dionysus Kashaji?

• Avery pales, backing away from Aurelia. "what is this thing..."

Aurelia Can he perceive anything?

Dionysus No.

Aurelia Then he is likely holding, confused.

• Aurelia does the same. "Avery..?"

Dionysus Aurelia the same?

Avery Can I tell what it is, or just that it's there?

Dionysus It has no definition to your mind

Avery Where is it?

Dionysus Near to you, a few feet away

• Avery is grasping at straws here...he'll try his turn demon ability.

Dionysus It fails to be sent.

• Avery pointed right at it when he tried, for what that's worth to Aurelia...
• Aurelia looks where he points and takes a step towards it.

Avery "Careful! I don't know what it is..."

Dionysus It seems to waver as Aurelia approaches, Avery.

• Aurelia takes another step and puts a hand on Grimdancer. "Has it flesh?"

Avery "...but whatever it is, it doesn't like you...I don't know...It's alive..."

Dionysus None perceivable

• Aurelia draws and holds Grimdancer in front of her, point probing the space as she walks forward.

Dionysus You sense confusion from before you, Aurelia, then, Avery, it vanishes.

• Aurelia frowns at the spot she felt that from.
• Avery relaxes. "It's gone..."
• Aurelia then turns towards Avery.

Dionysus There is a woman dying on the steps.

• Avery looks very shaken. "The woman...is she alright?"

Aurelia Does he feel alright?

Dionysus Avery is sick. The woman is sick.

Aurelia "You are ill..."

Dionysus The woman groans.

Avery "I'm alright..." he moves to check on the woman. "Miss...? Are you okay?"

• Aurelia looks towards her, then follows Avery.
• Avery looks up at Aurelia, frustrated at his inability to see. "How is she?"

Aurelia "Ill."

Dionysus She groans. Her face is flushed, & she feels hot.

Dionysus Her eyes are unfocused.

• Avery looks around just out of habit. "...can anything be done for her?"
• Aurelia hesitates. "I will bring a healer."

Dionysus A man is approaching cautiously, "Is... Is Lady Danveras all right?"

Aurelia "She has been made sick."

Avery "Is there a healer close by?"

Dionysus He steps back, "What is it?"

Dionysus He looks to Avery, "Y-yes."

Avery "Please, bring them. Hurry."

Dionysus He runs off.

• Aurelia watches him go, then sets her back down and find the kit to do what she can about the fevers.

Dionysus You soothe her enough to make her partially lucid. "Children..."

Avery "The children are fine, Lady Danveras...there's a healer on the way, just hold on..."

• Avery is worried, but hopeful and relieved.

Dionysus Aurelia, you sense a powerful empath approaching long before he arrives.

Dionysus The man arrives, sees the woman, & gasps.

• Aurelia pauses in her mixing, then stands when he gets close to be out of his way.

Dionysus He walks up to her, looks at Aurelia, does a doubeltake, then sits by her.

• Avery looks up, and follows Aurelia's lead.

Dionysus "You two, hold her still."

Dionysus "Healing sickness is the most difficult."

Avery "Yes sir." he does, trying to be gentle.

• Aurelia takes one side.
• Aurelia points at her leg. "Kashaji, lie."

Dionysus He does so.

• Aurelia holds down the arm and shoulder.

Dionysus The empath places his hands on her neck & closes his eyes.

Dionysus He groans as he leeches out the disease, then sits back, clearly relieved.

Dionysus The woman falls asleep.

• Aurelia watches the empath silently.
• Avery looks up, feeling the shift in her breathing. "...She's alright?"

Dionysus He looks to Avery, "You, too, are ill?"

Avery "I...Yes."

Dionysus He sighs, then places his hands on your face.

• Aurelia watches.
• Avery twitches at the touch, but otherwise doesn't move.

Dionysus He sags. "I cannot mend you right now."

Avery "It's alright...Lady Danveras was the worse off of us two." he smiles. "Thank you."

Aurelia "Will he heal?"

Dionysus He nods, "It's a powerful type of influenza. He will get worse before he gets better, if he gets no help."

Aurelia "Where is there help in this place?"

Dionysus "The only healers stronger than I am in this city that are left are the mages Osfur & Ruixu."

Aurelia "Where?"

Dionysus "You can find them at their manor on the north side." He gives directions,.

Avery How far is it from here?

Aurelia We're in the rich part of town.

Aurelia Or a rich part.

Dionysus It's about five minutes away.

Avery cool.

• Aurelia touches Avery's shoulder and looks towards it.

Dionysus The manor indicated is a squat, ugly building covered in overgrowth, mostly. The front door is half-rotted wood.

Dionysus But the light is on out front.

• Avery nods, reaching up to rest his hand on hers for a moment. and they go to the above-described manor.
• Aurelia knocks.

Dionysus A moment later, the door opens, & the ugliest gnome you've ever seen answers. "What?"

• Avery is slightly taken aback by the gnome.
• Aurelia blinks down at the gnome, then says, "Avery is ill."

Dionysus He cuts to the chase, "What are you willing to pay?"

Avery "how much does it cost?"

Dionysus "Is your disease fatal?"

• Aurelia shakes her head.

Dionysus "We could use some mutton."

• Avery glances at Aurelia, not sure how to answer that.
• Aurelia looks back at Avery, then at the gnome. "Mutton..?"

Dionysus "For the hyperreel."

Dionysus Another gnome says, "If that's another sick person, tell them it's free if they ride the hyperreel first."

• Avery pales a bit further at that.
• Aurelia looks at Avery.
• Avery does not like the idea of riding on anything gnome-made.

Dionysus "The hyperreel is safe, sickman."

Avery "...what is it?"

Aurelia "I will ride."

Dionysus He looks at Aurelia, "Are you sick?"

• Aurelia shakes her head.

Dionysus "If they're not sick, maybe they won't vomit when they ride it!" the other gnome shouts.

Dionysus "And you want... Him healed?"

• Aurelia nods.

Dionysus He shrugs, "Suit yourself. Osfur, we've a live on here!"

Dionysus He lets you both in. "Healing after you ride."

Dionysus Now I have to make up what it is.

• Avery glances at her as they enter, slightly worried.

Aurelia Haha. Sorry.

Dionysus A huge machine, like a model of the solar system, takes up the inside of the house. Each orb is a seat in an iron ball connected to an arm that connects to the main trunk, which will soon be rotating.

Dionysus They lead Aurelia to one.

• Avery stays close to Kashaji.
• Aurelia looks at it, then begins taking off the outer layer of her dress.
• Aurelia offers it to Avery when done.
• Avery takes it. "...be careful..."
• Aurelia then enters at the gnomes' direction.

Dionysus "Put this on." They hand you an old boot.

• Aurelia blinks at it, then does as directed.

Dionysus They stare as you, presumably, put it on your foot. Then one says, "It's your crotch you're risking..." Then they throw the lever.

Dionysus It begins to spin.

• Avery just gets more worried and prays it doesn't blow up.
• Aurelia holds onto the sides of the seat.

Dionysus Roll strength, Aurelia.

Dionysus The thing stops suddenly. The gnomes scowl. "She resisted."

Dionysus "If she resists our spells, we won't get results. Sronger spells next time?" "Absolutely."

• Avery has no idea what that means, but it's probably all for the better.
• Aurelia begins to climb down.

Dionysus "Wait!"

Dionysus They rush to throw a lever.

• Aurelia waits.

Dionysus They throw the lever.

Dionysus The potted plant turns into a chicken.

• Aurelia blinks at it.

Dionysus "That's never happened before."

• Avery wonders where the chicken came from.

Dionysus "One day, that will be a man again."

Dionysus "So, you need healing?" He looks to Avery.

• Aurelia climbs down and returns to Avery's side.

Avery "Uh...yes..." he looks - and feels - very uncertain about this.

Dionysus He begins to glow opal.

Dionysus Avery, you glow opal.

Dionysus Then, you feel better.

• Avery relaxes.
• Aurelia smiles.

Avery "Thank you."

• Aurelia redresses.

Dionysus "Why are you still here? Another ride?"

• Avery shakes his head. "We were just on our way out...thank you, though." and he beats a moderately hasty retreat with Aurelia.

Dionysus It's late when you leave the gnome's house.

Dionysus The Roltons have likely finished dinner.

Dionysus You can eat back at the inn, or at a different inn, or at a restaraunt, or a tavern...

• Avery will find a good restaurant...I imagine there are a few in this part of town. Shame to waste the fancy clothes, y'know.
• Avery would apologize to Aurelia as well. "I'm sorry we didn't make it to the Roltons'...and that you had to ride in that...hyperreel thing." he looks uneasy at the memory.
• Aurelia shakes her head at the first, then says quietly to the second, "It was not frightening."
• Avery blushes faintly. "You're braver than I am, then...but at least we can still have a good meal." he grins a bit. "Anything you'd like."
• Aurelia smiles faintly back, and selects a lighter fish or bird course.
• Avery orders something similar. diet restraints, y'know. "Still...I can't say it's been a bad evening."
• Aurelia nods.

Avery "Eventful, certainly..." he smiles shyly. "I'm glad you came with me."

• Aurelia tilts her head, then smiles again. "I am, also."
• Avery blushes faintly again, smile widening.

Avery and the evening probably continues much in that vein. after dinner, "Do you want to head back to the inn, or see a bit of the town?"

• Aurelia looks up at him for a moment. "The town."
• Avery smiles and offers his arm. "Then the town it is."
• Aurelia accepts.

Dionysus Anywhere in particular?

• Avery follows Aurelia's lead.

Aurelia Nowhere in particular.

Avery and they eventually return to the inn after that, I'd assume.

Aurelia Indeed.

Dionysus Feel free to fil a few minutes with rp of that walk, then

• Aurelia simply walks, unless Avery brings something up to talk about.
• Avery is perfectly happy to just walk with her.