Editing Game-Summaries:3/16/2019 Recollections (section)

==Recollections by Amon==
An emissary from the Fey courts wishes to make an audience with someone from Shianju Keep. Having made initial contact with the emissary, Iago confers with Ci and welcomes him into the Great Hall, where we are all assembled. Haethorwen, ambassador of the Autumnal Court, enters, dressed in regalia that seems as if it's made from leaves and branches in varying stages of decay. It's vibrant, and colorful and seems to almost be a hunting outfit. In appearance he seems elven, but something is off, and he has almost an elemental quality to him. Cassio tries to get a feel for his aura and sees that he's lit up like a Christmas tree, vibrant but not alarming. He only has three fingers and a thumb on each hand, ears that are long even for an elf, and has an unearthly grace beyond even what an elf would have. Iago, a tiefling himself, recognizes a fellow hybrid creature.

Ci welcomes him in the fey tongue, and they confer. "Fine mortals, humans, and whatever of the others you are, we would like to seek your aid in establishing trade contracts with the Material Realm." When asked who "we" are, he responds, "We, the Autumnal Court, of course." We are currently only six days from the Spring Equinox, the nadir of Autumn's power. He is informed that the Material Realm is not a singular entity that can establish trade agreements unilaterally, however the way Fey Courts act is as one, and he claims this year is the Autumnal Court's turn to dictate that action. We inquire as to what aid they need, and they, of course, inform us that the contest is decided by combat, against the Seelie and Unseelie Courts. Everyone looks for advantages from the different realms, and they're seeking us out in particular because of our exploits.

One of the things they can offer is aid and succor for Solace in its time of need. The Estral Court, strongest in Spring, is acting as host for the Courts. It'll be 5 days travel south from Shianju to get to the holdings of the Estral Court in the Golden Forest, where the Feywild from where they originate crosses over. We elect to take our two retainers for the keep with us as extra help on the trip, and pack supplies. As the portal network to the Magistery is down and the only portals available from the Keep wouldn't help, we're going to need to ride there. We elect instead to depart on foot.

We depart the keep, suffering through a five day journey with Cassio. On the way, Ci pumps Haethorwen for information about the structure of the contest. The Estral Court will open the contest, as it is their domain and the Equinox is the peak of their power. One of the major courts, Summer or Winter, will make the first real volley, and the others will respond. We will need to pick the appropriate time to attack, as too early and our small force will be overwhelmed, too late and we'll raise the ire of all three courts for sitting the contest out, and they will all turn on us. It is likely there will be other unaligned fey or contracted mortals aiding each of the courts. He assures us we should be in no real danger, and Iago gets the impression he's being genuine.

We enter the Golden Forest, and at first the journey through is as expected for a beautiful woodland. As we progress, we start to notice things that are off about the environment, moss on the wrong side etc. and eventually incontrovertibly find ourselves within the Feywild. The area is full of Autumnal Eladrin. The area has the makeshift appearance of nomadic natural homes. The others get outfitted in clothes more befitting the Autumnal Court, while I chill in my scary-looking plate covered in blood red symbols to Taiia, my head encased in a helm with glowing red eyes of doom. We get a makeover from a fancily-dressed minotaur. Iago tries to make friends with tiny fairies. He fails.

The next day we head to the battlefield, and see a land that seems like a mashup of the four seasons, connected by bridges with a central meeting ground. The spring and autumn sections are significantly smaller than the summer and winter. We hear a synthetic drumming song all around us and the sound of tribal drums playing in the distance. From the trees to our left, a purple glow emits amid the dark, and from the right, green. The mixed crowds of fey begin to stir. From the center of the massed crowd in front of us a single dais begins to rise. Music begins to play from the dais raised by the Estral Court, enthralling all the fey around us. Haethorwen bobs with the music and seems livelier than he's ever been. We all attempt to get into the music. I fail.

This goes on for roughly 30-45 minutes, then with no preamble, a dais rises on the Seelie side of the court, and music starts there. Distant sounds grow closer, and then percussion breaks on the stage and everyone gets into the music even more. The winter court joins in eventually as well with their own stage. A blast of stinging ice and snow explodes over us. The music continues and the courts begin attacking each other with magic and music, with the larger courts mostly focusing on the Estral Court. Ultimately we find the right time to enter the fray, opening fire on the Unseelie Court. The ferocity of our attack is such that the other courts, sensing weakness, follow suit, and together we demolish the Unseelie's musicians. Since I can neither dance nor play music, I help out by silencing enemy musicians where possible, and shattering sections of the stage where able. Cassio almost single-handedly destroys the Seelie Court by ramming into the court with his magical ramming rod thing he seems fond of. We make quick work of the weakened Estral Court. Victorious, our performers play an encore, and Iago gets a sylvan flute in recognition of his talent.

The concert ends at midnight. Haethorwen is so overjoyed at the success of the Autumnal Court over the others, he joins us as a friendly retainer. Shanju Keep also gains the Autumnal Blessing. Whenever we are within our domain, upon rolling Initiative we can make a Charm attempt on one target in sight. Iago also uses the opportunity to negotiate for trade for aid for the Magistery and Solace and gets his hands on a magical flute. Haethorwen notices the flute and notes that Iago has earned Seldoriath's respect. We make the trip back, nobly bearing the burden of five more days in Cassio's company.