*McKyren's Folly presented by Lady Miriweather Ellisai [#c1300dd2]

**Introduction: [#zda0036e]

Lady Miriweather climbed a narrow spiral staircase.~
Miriweather furrows her brow.~
Miriweather asks, "Am I interruptin'?"~
You curtsy.~
Lyvonia looks over at Miriweather and shakes her head.~
Miriweather beams!~
(Maddock sits up a little straighter.)~
Miriweather bows.~
Miriweather hiccups!~
Lyvonia smiles.~
Miriweather coughs.~

Maddock stands up.~
Nofret stands up.~
Miriweather says, "Um.."~
Miriweather says, "I heared they was gonna be a tale about wells"~
Miriweather peers quizzically at you.~
Miriweather furrows her brow.~
You say, "Perhaps I shall keep a supply of historical tales when our speakers suddenly take ill."~

Lyvonia grins.~
Miriweather reaches for her gnarled walking staff. It vibrates slightly, then leaps into Miriweather's hand, ready to add its power to her own.~
You say, "Hm it was scheduled over an hour ago--and you just missed the fill in."~
Miriweather appears tired as she leans upon her gnarled walking staff for support.~

You nod to Miriweather.~
Lyvonia says, "the Well of Souls was postponed"~

You see Lady Miriweather Ellisai the Halfling Empath.~
She appears to be in her 120's, has long, braided black hair, green eyes, and tanned skin.~
She is in good shape.~
She is holding a gnarled walking staff in her right hand and a flask of Roaring Bard's rum in her left hand.~
She is wearing a suede satchel, a tattered old dress, some silly-looking feathered wings, a silver sunburst pendant, a crystal amulet, a sprig of jasmine, and a large sack.~

Miriweather exclaims, "Oh drat!"~
Miriweather mutters under her breath.~
Maelkyth smiles at Miriweather.~
Miriweather says, "Well, I have a tale about a well"~
Miriweather grins.~
Miriweather hiccups!~
Miriweather coughs.~

**McKyren's Folly [#f6feab81]

Miriweather says, "Anyways.. Long ago.. on tha sleepy Isle of Teras.."~
Miriweather says, "it was the home of a burgeoning colony of dwarves."~
Miriweather says, "there was in tha town a family of dwarves." "~
Miriweather says, "They was known for their mastery of rock formin' over all tha lands." "~
Miriweather gibbers incoherently.~

Miriweather says, "they could make sheer poetry from stone.." "~
Miriweather sighs.~
Miriweather says, "Twas as if they could work the stone like a sculptor works clay." "~
Miriweather says, "They's family name was McKyren." "~

Miriweather asks, "Haves any of ye heard of the McKyrens?"~
Miriweather smiles.~
You shake your head.~
Nofret looks over at Miriweather and shakes her head.~
Lyvonia furrows her brow.~
Lyvonia says, "nae"~
Maddock shakes his head.~

Miriweather says, "Well, listen an' ye will"~

Miriweather says, "Now if ye are like me.. and question tha name McKyren... Well, ye knows those dwarves. Who knows where they gets their names? "~
Miriweather shrugs.~
Miriweather says, "Well.. Master McKyren had a grand family of which he was verra proud."~
Miriweather says, "He had 8 sons and 5 bonny daughters."~
Miriweather smiles.~
Miriweather says, "He and his lady wife were proud of their childrens...'"~

Lyvonia says, "got a lot to be proud of"~
Lyvonia chuckles.~

Miriweather says, "Now...old Master McKyren had his eldest two sons help him in his forge.. and found apprenticeships for the others with notable craftsmen. "~
Miriweather says, "His daughters were as fair as they were smart. They quickly found both husbands and/or professions to keep their interests. I hears tell one became a notable wizard."~

Lyvonia says, "the daughters found husbands..."~

Miriweather says, "While the McKyrens were busy being so happy...one day, Lady McKyren found she was again with child."~
Miriweather smiles slowly.~
Miriweather says, "She happily told her Lord, ole Master McKyren."~
Miriweather exclaims, "He was confoozled!"~
Miriweather chuckles.~
Miriweather says, "You see.. he had used up all his favors placing tha rest of the young ones with masters..."~
Miriweather says, "He didnae knows what he'd do with the newcomer.. and he and his Lady were late in life by then."~
Miriweather sighs.~
Miriweather furrows her brow.~

You say, "He shouldn't have been holding by her chin hairs the week before."~
Miriweather appears tired as she leans upon her gnarled walking staff for support.~
You nod to Miriweather.~
Miriweather starts chuckling at you!~
Maelkyth shivers.~
Miriweather says, "well.. you know those dwarves"~
Miriweather stares off into space.~
Maelkyth glances at you.~
Miriweather examines her fingernails.~
Aranrhod appears to be trying hard not to grin.~
You say, "More than I wish to."~
Maelkyth says, "that is truly disturbing"~
You nod to Miriweather.~
Lyvonia grins.~
You say, "Blame Kadesha."~
You mutter something inaudible.~
Maelkyth blinks.~
Lyvonia starts chuckling at you!~

Miriweather says, "Anyway.. time marched on."~
Miriweather says, "It drew near the time when Lady McKyren would deliver the new arrival."~
Miriweather furrows her brow.~
Miriweather says, "She was large... and happily predicting the lustiest of the McKyren children."~
Miriweather smiles softly.~

Miriweather says, "She came to labor on a stormy night.. the sea blew in on screaming wind. The trees were bent to the ground."~
Miriweather furrows her brow.~
Miriweather says, "Lady McKyren labored all through the stormy night." "~
Miriweather furrows her brow.~
Miriweather says, "When dawn at last coaxed the sun to shine on the debris-cluttered beaches of this isle..."~

Miriweather glances around her..~

Miriweather says, "...it found McKyren the new father of a baby boy..."~
Miriweather says, "...and his Lady dead of the birthing. "~
Miriweather sighs.~
Miriweather pulls her walking stick close and glances around.~

Miriweather says, "Twas a sad and bleak day." "~
Miriweather says, "The town mourned its loss.. the Lady was a much loved member of the community.."~
Miriweather says, "But none mourned like her husband."~
Miriweather says, "However.. time passes. The Lady was put into the ground and the family tried to pull itself out of the stunned grief and go on living."~

Miriweather says, "The leetle boy was sickly from the start.. and grew slowly. Always smaller tha' he should be.. but cheerful in the face of everything."~
Miriweather says, "Although the lad was much loved by his siblings and the community...his father could never look on his face without tha sadness of missin' his wife preying on his mind." "~
Miriweather says, "But.. as years passed... his brothers and sisters grew to adore him above all elese."~
Miriweather says, "They found his cheerful smile tha only balm to sooth tha missin' of their ma." "~
Miriweather smiles.~

Miriweather says, "Well.. tha lad grew, although not much. He was always smaller than all tha other dwarves." "~
Miriweather says, "And... finally tha day came for him to choose a profession."~
Miriweather says, "He had longed to join his brothers and dad at the forge all of his life."~
Miriweather smiles.~
Miriweather says, "However..."~
Miriweather furrows her brow.~
Miriweather says, "his dad didna share his conviction that he should."~
Miriweather sighs.~

Miriweather says, "So..."~
Miriweather glances around her and smiles..~
Miriweather says, "he began to spend more and more time roamin' tha cliffs and valleys of this island.. and practicing tha craft he saw his family performin' in secret out there."~
Miriweather says, "This island being that of Teras Isle."~

You ask, "In secret..?"~
Miriweather nods to you.~
Miriweather says, "In secret."~
Miriweather smiles.~
You give your eyebrow a little workout.~
You lean forward.~
You ask, "Why..secret?"~

Miriweather says, "Now.. whereas his da' was a true master.. however, tha older brothers could never seem to quite 'get' the knack of the art. "~
Miriweather says, "Well, he knew his Dad didna believe he could do it.. so he set out to 'show' him"~
Miriweather smiles at you.~
Miriweather says, "So he practiced in secret like"~
Miriweather nods.~
You say, "Ahh, I see."~
Miriweather smiles at you.~
You say, "Quite a venture for a young dwarf."~
Miriweather nods to you.~

Miriweather says, "Leetle McKyren watched his da' form works of pure poetry from stone... and studied him as he worked."~
Miriweather says, "..and then he would go to the hills and caves, and try to echo what he had seen his da' do."~
Miriweather smiles.~
Miriweather says, "A studious young dwarf."~
Miriweather nods.~

Aranrhod asks, "And was he able?"~
Miriweather smiles at you.~
Aranrhod raises an eyebrow in Miriweather's direction.~
Miriweather says, "well now.. let me get to that, Aranrhod.."~
Miriweather grins.~
Miriweather winks at Aranrhod.~
Aranrhod says, "Alright"~
Aranrhod nods to Miriweather.~
Aranrhod grins slowly.~

Miriweather says, "One day.. while out roaming the craggy hills of he found a cave." "~
Miriweather says, "Of Teras.. that is"~
Miriweather smiles.~
Miriweather says, "It was large.. and able to accomodate whatever he could imagine."~

Miriweather says, "In tha cave.. he began to work in earnest. At last finding a place to work the marvels he found within his imagination.. fueled by what he'd seen his da' before him do.\"~
Miriweather says, "And there..."~
Miriweather furrows her brow.~

Miriweather says, "..he began to feel the pressence of...something else."~
Miriweather shivers.~
Miriweather says, "It was...a strange... old..... conciousness."~

Aranrhod asks, "How old?"~
You rub your chin thoughtfully.~
Aranrhod rubs her chin thoughtfully.~
Maelkyth breaks out in a sweat.~
Nofret says, "Not a good sign..."~
Maelkyth's face turns slightly pale.~
Maelkyth gulps.~

Miriweather says, "But! Getting back to young McKyren's project.."~
Miriweather grins.~
Miriweather says, "he figured he should begin with something simple.. something pedestrian."~
Miriweather nods.~
Miriweather says, "he began to build.. a road."~
Miriweather smiles.~

Miriweather says, "He formed the rocks.. he called the sparkle of the heavens down into his road."~
Miriweather beams!~
Miriweather says, "As he worked with the stone.. the strange presence began to talk to him. "~

Nofret says, "So there is mica in the road, to add a bit of sparkle."~
Miriweather furrows her brow.~

Miriweather says, "At first he ignored it. He thought it was merely his own imagination."~
Miriweather nods.~
Miriweather says, "He thought it was...his own longing to become so in-tune with the rock that he could form it to his designs."~
Miriweather nods.~
Miriweather says, "But..."~
Miriweather says, "gradually.. he realized, that it was indeed.. something else."~
Miriweather smiles softly.~

You ask, "This consciousness was guiding his hand as well as his mind?"~
Miriweather says, "I don't think it was guiding his hand... I think he was truely gifted.. "~
Miriweather says, "However.. he was gifted as well in being open to listening."~
Miriweather smiles.~
Miriweather says, "Jest my opinion mind ye.. "~
Miriweather says, "Finally..."~

Miriweather smiles and glances around her, waiting for quiet..~

Miriweather says, "He acknowledged the presence.. and asked..."~
Miriweather says, "'Who are you?'"~
Miriweather shivers.~
Miriweather says, "He waited.. silence answered his querry.."~

Miriweather furrows her brow.~
Miriweather says, "He was a patient lad though.."~
Miriweather says, "He waited."~
Miriweather says, "Finally..."~
Miriweather says, "...softly... he heard an answer."~
Miriweather smiles.~

Miriweather says, "Fangthryn."~

Miriweather smiles softly.~
Maelkyth's face turns slightly pale.~
You blink.~
Nofret frowns.~
Aranrhod asks, "Who?"~
Aranrhod blinks.~
Maelkyth says, "sounds bad..."~
Nofret says, "Interesting name."~

Miriweather says, "An old voice.. a voice so low, its utterance was like the shifting of the earth."~
Maelkyth blinks.~
Miriweather says, "As he heard the name, at once he felt as if he'd known it all his life. And at the same time, it was as foreign as a demon is to a dwarve."~
Aranrhod says, "Old voice..."~
Maelkyth says, "still sounds bad..."~
Aranrhod says, "I can understand that"~
Aranrhod nods.~

Miriweather sighs.~
Miriweather says, "He was afraid."~
Miriweather furrows her brow.~
Miriweather says, "So he tried to ignore the voice, working all the harder on his road."~
Aranrhod nods to Miriweather.~
Miriweather nods.~
Miriweather says, "It began to wind its way through the tunnels, like a beautiful snake."~

Miriweather says, "It began dark in color.. but as it grew, it became the color of salmon.. vivid pink.. and full of the sparkle of mica, like stars in the heavens."~
Miriweather smiles.~
Miriweather says, "He soon realized that the strange ore he was using was tinting the road."~
Miriweather says, "He found it littered about the caverns.. and he used it." "~
Miriweather smiles.~
Miriweather says, "e was proud of his road... it was beautiful and smooth and seemed to grow from his hands like a living thing."~

Miriweather says, "Then one day.. as he was working.. he looked up."~
Miriweather smiles.~
Miriweather says, "The road had come to the entrance of a great cavern."~
Miriweather says, "He had never explored the caverns so far..."~
Miriweather furrows her brow.~

Nofret asks, "And perhaps the way to Fangthryn?"~

Miriweather says, "He walked into the new cavern. The place was big... the ceilings were high above and invisible in the darkness..."~
Miriweather sighs.~
Aranrhod says, "Something about caverns I do not like..."~
Miriweather says, "He walked forward.. marveling at the formations and the sheer immensity of the cavern..."~
Miriweather says, "And in the center was a well."~
Miriweather smiles.~

You ask, "A well in a cavern?"~
You say, "What an odd place to put a well."~
Miriweather says, "Mind you.. my 'well' excuse."~
Miriweather grins.~
Miriweather winks at you.~
Miriweather leans on you.~
You say, "Ahh, I see the correlation."~
Miriweather chuckles.~

Miriweather says, "Okay.. getting back.. in the center was a well.."~
Miriweather says, "It was a deep hole and he could nae see the bottom."~
Miriweather says, "but he heard voices from it."~
Miriweather shivers.~
You ask, "He wasn't chattering to himself was he?"~
Miriweather says, "Well.. one voice really..."~
Miriweather says, "The voice that had become a constant companion."~
Miriweather smiles.~

Miriweather says, "Now.. getting back to the boy's family...by this time, they hardly saw him."~
Miriweather says, "When he would return, his siblings would ask him where he spent all his time.. but he felt a strange reluctance to disclose his endeavors. "~
Miriweather says, "'I'll wait till I'm finished,' he told himself."~
Miriweather nods.~
Miriweather says, "Then.. he thought, "I'll show them that I'm good enough to work with my da'!""~
Miriweather says, "Upon reaching the cavern the next day, he was astounded at the beauty he found there."~

Miriweather says, "And there, he saw the truth of the reddish colored ore he'd been using."~
Miriweather says, "Shards were there.. only in that cavern.. they were a bright ruby red."~
Miriweather says, "Finding such an amount of it.. his road continued."~
Miriweather says, "finally, the road covered the entire floor of the cavern in its pristine smoothness and supreme finish."~
Miriweather says, "The last section he finally finished.. in the southwest corner of the cavern."~

Maelkyth blinks.~
Maelkyth asks, "what kinda road is THAT?"~
Maelkyth mutters under his breath.~
Aranrhod asks, "Does a road like this exsist?"~
Maelkyth asks, "It dead-ends?"~
Maelkyth blinks.~

Miriweather says, "And there.. it ended at a wall. Upon the wall were incised strange symbols which he could not read."~

Nofret asks, "DEAD-end?"~
Maelkyth blinks.~
Maelkyth gasps.~
Maelkyth glances at Nofret.~
Maelkyth's face turns slightly pale.~
Maelkyth says, "ah dear..."~
Maelkyth shivers.~
You say, "A red road to a dead-end."~
You glance at Nofret.~
Maelkyth's face turns slightly pale.~

Miriweather says, "He sat upon the perfect surface of his incredible road and gazed at the symbols."~

You ask, "Symbolic, don't you think?"~

Lyvonia rubs her chin thoughtfully.~

Maelkyth glances at you.~
Maelkyth glances at you and begins to wail!~

Miriweather says, "They were beautiful.. their forms were graceful, looping across the wall in an endless dance."~
Miriweather smiles.~
Miriweather sighs.~

Aranrhod leans forward.~

Miriweather says, "As he gazed upon them, he began to hear his companion.. the voice.. and it began to translate the meaning of the glyphs."~
Miriweather smiles.~
Miriweather says, "Hearing the beauty of the voice.. he finally surrendered to it. "~
Miriweather smiles.~
Miriweather says, "As he tumbled into its depths.. he was overcome by the sheer beauty and agelessness of it."~
Miriweather says, "He was drawn into it, as a lover is drawn into the embrace of his partner."~
Miriweather says, "And as he gave himself up to it, he began to understand what he'd made his road from..."~

Miriweather says, "Suddenly, the little dwarf felt a shift.. as if a shift in the very 'being' of his reality..."~
Miriweather says, "And in that moment.. he felt a second presence.. like the one who'd become part of himself.. but different."~
Miriweather's face turns slightly pale.~

Miriweather says, "And this one was definately not friendly."~

Lyvonia frowns.~
Maelkyth's face turns slightly pale.~

Miriweather says, "The dwarf's kindly presence coiled into the center of the boy's being, as if biding there to protect him. "~
Miriweather says, "While, the... 'other'.. seemed to lift itself up from the well like a huge viper."~

Armaxis's serpent suddenly uncoils from around his neck and crawls down his arm, straightening into a staff in his hand.~
You glance at Armaxis.~
Maelkyth gasps.~
Maelkyth wails!~
Maelkyth swoons.~
Nofret shivers.~

Miriweather says, "the dwarf was terrified."~
Miriweather shivers.~
Miriweather says, "Suddenly, he felt the being within him rise from his chest.. and confront the malevoelent being approaching from the well at the center of the cavern."~
Miriweather shudders.~
Miriweather says, "The conflict began. The dwarf wasn't sure if it was within his mind.. or actually taking place. All he could do was cower at the base of the carved wall and watch the conflict." "~
Miriweather shivers.~

You ask, "But, what did the glyphs say?"~

Miriweather says, "The being he knew as Fangthryn battled relentlessly." "~

You ask, "Or was it the words which summoned the serpent?"~

Miriweather says, "However, his adversary was both immense and tireless."~
Miriweather says, "Finally, he felt the sweet essence of his companion begin to weaken."~
Miriweather says, "Slowly he drew himself up, until he was standing."~

Miriweather says, "He watched as clouds of vapor and static light circled the cavern as the immortals battled."~
Miriweather says, "He stumbled a few paces forward, toward the center of the chamber."~
Miriweather exclaims, "Suddenly, behind him, he felt a throb of air.. and turning, he beheld the wall -- at which he had marveled -- explode!"~
Miriweather says, "It was as if the explosion was in slow motion.. he watched huge pieces of rock slowly glide past him."~

Miriweather says, "And in that moment, he had an idea."~
Miriweather says, "In that moment.. he knew that his love for the being Fangthrym was what was dooming it."~
Miriweather says, "As the immortals battled.. he slowly walked forward."~
Miriweather says, "Each step seemed to take every effort he could summon."~
Miriweather sighs.~
Miriweather says, "He walked, step by step, forward.. toward the center of the cavern."~
Miriweather says, "And finally.. reaching its center.. he stopped."~
Miriweather smiles.~

Miriweather pauses a moment.. as if gathering her thoughts.~

Miriweather says, "He turned and connected his conciousness with that of the being he knew as..."~
Miriweather smiles.~
Miriweather says, "Fangthryn. He sensed the mystery and the beauty of his friend as he joined with it..."~
Miriweather says, "then.. he confronted the other."~
Miriweather exclaims, "He laughed in its face!"~

Armaxis says, "Sounds like a very dwarven thing to do."~

Miriweather exclaims, "He jumped about.. he made rude gestures to it!"~

Armaxis says, "Even moreso."~

Miriweather says, "And he sensed its gaze slowly turn toward him."~
Miriweather sighs.~
Miriweather shivers.~
Miriweather coughs.~
Miriweather says, "It was terrifying and horrible in its power."~
Miriweather's face turns slightly pale.~

Miriweather says, "It was everything he could have feared in every nightmare imaginable."~
Miriweather says, "And it was slowly coming toward him."~
Miriweather says, "Suddenly, it leaped, clutching him in its endless and timeless abyss."~
Miriweather gasps.~
Miriweather says, "And at that moment..."~

Miriweather glances around her...~

Miriweather says, "McKyren leapt into the bottomless pit he knew as the well at the heart of Fangthryn's Cavern."~
Miriweather sighs.~

Maelkyth blinks.~
Nofret buries her face in her hands.~
Maelkyth asks, "um, why??"~
Maelkyth blinks.~

Miriweather says, "They say.. somewhere.. McKyren's Folly can be found..."~
Miriweather says, "His brothers and sisters mourned him."~

Nofret asks, "Why, oh, why, didn't he just run out the way he came?"~

Miriweather says, "His father said he was never meant to be."~
Miriweather says, "However..."~
Miriweather says, "Tis said...."~
Miriweather says, "after the disappearance... occasionally..."~
Miriweather says, "his siblings were said to mention visitations..."~
Miriweather says, "Something would come to them.. saying that their brother was special..."~
Miriweather smiles.~

Miriweather says, "and tis said that every sibling that dwarf had was blessed with such good luck as to make them wealthy and fat all their days."~

Armaxis glances at Miriweather.~
Miriweather sighs.~

Nofret says, "I think that it would confuse me, hearing that a dead sib was special..."~

Lyvonia smiles at Miriweather.~

Miriweather says, "So.. thas an old story." "~
Miriweather smiles.~
Miriweather winks at you.~
You say, "Very old."~

Aranrhod says, "Thank you kindly"~
Lyvonia exclaims, "well told!"~
Aranrhod nods to Miriweather.~
Miriweather smiles.~
Miriweather leans on you.~
Nofret applauds Miriweather.~

You ask, "Now was it discovered of what nature this Fangthryn was, or the runes?"~
You peer quizzically at Miriweather.~
Miriweather says, "Well..."~
Miriweather says, "It was never determined for sure... but.."~

Miriweather says, "You all are welcome to explore the Folly and decide for yourself."~
Miriweather smiles.~

....The End....

----
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