Experiencing technical difficulties… Please stand by.

Deb, the editor of Tuesday Tales, has had a hard drive crash which is keeping her from updating the blog.  We hope to have her back soon and return you to the fun and excitement of Austin After Dark.

CAST OF PLAYERS:

Aaron Murphy……………..Claws-of-Honor………………….Were-Tiger
Jera Morrison……………….Alseyne Aulaudin…………………Sidhe Changeling
Debora Silkotch…………..Casey Gavin…………………………Human Psionic
Aron Head……………….Story/Setting/Everything Else…….Game Master

*********************************************

The street was dark. A nearby lamp post illuminated the corner where Casey, Tim and Tony stood. Just beyond and across the street from the warehouse an alleyway ran between two other garage-like buildings.

Casey wavered between the risks of being a visible, lamplit target and the equal hazards of sheltering in a tight, poorly-lit alley. “Maybe we should just hang out here by the door? We probably don’t want to get too far away in case they need help fast in there.”

Tim shook his head. “I think we should be across the street. We’ll draw less attention. There’s no one hanging out here. We’d be rather obvious.”

“I just got this ridiculous outfit so that I could hang around outside an S&M bar without drawing attention,” Casey grumbled, mildly exasperated. You’re telling me I still have to hide?” Sighing, she gestured to Pana. “Fine, we’ll go stand in a dark alley. What could possibly happen to us in a nice dark enclosed place like that?” (continue reading…)

CAST OF PLAYERS:

Aaron Murphy……………..Claws-of-Honor………………….Were-Tiger
Jera Morrison……………….Alseyne Aulaudin…………………Sidhe Changeling
Debora Silkotch…………..Casey Gavin…………………………Human Psionic
Aron Head……………….Story/Setting/Everything Else…….Game Master

*********************************************

Pip’s amusement drew a half-grin from Casey. “Always good to know where one stands in these things.”

“It would be more fair to say he’s not forbidden to kill you, I suppose,” Alseyne commented. “The only law we have that specifically refers to not harming mortals is one that refers to your ability to create glamour. We’re supposed to inspire you but not to manipulate the creative process or use our own glamour to infuse you to produce more glamour. Killing mortals, however, is not specifically forbidden though obviously if enough mortals are killed then the Dreaming dies with them so he’d likely be reluctant to do anything permanent to you.”

It all sounded a bit JM Barrie to Casey, and some of the words were unfamiliar to her in the context Alseyne was using them, but she got the gist and found it fascinating.

“With us,” Alseyne continued, “he would probably be content to see us retrorsed back to our mortal selves for the time being, which would simply mean we would have no memory of who and what we really are until we come across or produce some glamour that reawakens our Kithain souls and thereby our memories.”

“Wow.” Casey had been using that word a lot lately. “It really is a complicated business. If that happens to you, I should get you to a balefire then? That would restore you?” (continue reading…)

CAST OF PLAYERS:

Aaron Murphy……………..Claws-of-Honor………………….Were-Tiger
Jera Morrison……………….Alseyne Aulaudin…………………Sidhe Changeling
Debora Silkotch…………..Casey Gavin…………………………Human Psionic
Aron Head……………….Story/Setting/Everything Else…….Game Master

*********************************************

The SUV motored onto sixth street.

“This changes our plans a bit,” Pip said, settling in between Alseyne and Tony. “I think we should breach Sanctuary without Arian. Tim and T-Ray here can take the Spider’s place with Casey as our backup.”

Alseyne nodded. “I think that should do nicely. Casey, would you fill them in on what we don’t get a chance to tell them while you are all waiting in the alley? In the meantime, T-Ray, Tim, here’s the deal — Pip and I need to find out what is going on at an S&M bar called Sanctuary. We need to talk to the owner there about some missing fae that apparently were last seen there prior to their disappearances as well as about the Lady Percyndi who was seen there yesterday and to our knowledge has yet to leave there. The four of us…” she indicated Claws, Wynne, Pip and herself “…will go inside and try to get the information.”

“S&M bar?” Tim raised his bushy eyebrows. “I really should get to the city more. We don’t have those down at the lake.”

“You don’t even have cable down at the lake!” T-Ray complained.

“Once we’re in,” Pip added, “Wynne, you and Claws are responsible for finding out if Percyndi is still on site.”

Claws nodded in understanding.

Pip reached into his bag, withdrawing a scarf of fine silk and handing it to Claws. “That belongs to Percyndi. She was wearing it the last time the Duke saw his daughter. I’m hoping that you can use it to track her scent.” (continue reading…)

CAST OF PLAYERS:

Aaron Murphy……………..Claws-of-Honor………………….Were-Tiger
Jera Morrison……………….Alseyne Aulaudin…………………Sidhe Changeling
Debora Silkotch…………..Casey Gavin…………………………Human Psionic
Aron Head……………….Story/Setting/Everything Else…….Game Master

*********************************************

Alseyne looked over at Casey in concern, “Are you all right? You looked a bit dazed.”

“I’m fine,” Casey murmured distractedly. But a moment later she leaned over to speak quietly into the fae’s ear. “Alseyne…the balefire…does it have any, um, consciousness? Sentience?”

Alseyne gave her an odd look but answered quietly, “Not to the best of my knowledge but you seem to have different abilities than us. It is certainly possible that you might sense something that is beyond the ken of most Kithain.”

Casey thought about that.

Alseyne smiled slightly, “On the other hand, balefire is known to affect some mortals in odd ways so it could also just be that. I’ll be happy to check with some experts on balefire for you, however, to see if we can get a more definitive answer for you.”

“It’s not urgent. I was just wondering.” Casey flicked a brief, yearning glance toward the hearth. “It’s lovely, isn’t it?” (continue reading…)

CAST OF PLAYERS:

Aaron Murphy……………..Claws-of-Honor………………….Were-Tiger
Jera Morrison……………….Alseyne Aulaudin…………………Sidhe Changeling
Debora Silkotch…………..Casey Gavin…………………………Human Psionic
Aron Head……………….Story/Setting/Everything Else…….Game Master

*********************************************

The SUV slowed to a stop along the side of Sixth Street. They disembarked, Pip taking Alseyne’s hand in his. Wynne stayed close to Claws, and Claws walked close to her in a protective – almost possessive — manner.


 Pana, the Malamute, hopped out alongside Casey and rushed forward of the party, sniffing the air.


 “It’s right through here,” Pip said to Casey as they entered a dark alley. Her steps slowed a bit; she looked around uncertainly at the unlit passageway.


 Pana scouted forward, padding softly. Casey followed, watching her dog’s body language closely. Fully into the alley, she saw a spray of multicolored light painting the pavement. It came from a round stained-glass window resting inside a heavy, ornately carved wooden door.

Casey stroked Pana’s head. “Good girl. Be safe.” The dog circled Casey’s legs, then padded to the end of the alley and sat.


 Pip pulled the door open. A burst of raucous laughter and singing and music flowed into the alley along with the sumptuous smells of roasting meats and fresh bread. Entering, they found a large hall with rows of handmade wooden tables with benches on either side. A hearth in which a fire crackled away while chickens spun on a spit over it. The place was torch and candle lit. A tremendous sense of cozy warmth enwrapped the party.
(continue reading…)

CAST OF PLAYERS:

Aaron Murphy……………..Claws-of-Honor………………….Were-Tiger
Jera Morrison……………….Alseyne Aulaudin…………………Sidhe Changeling
Debora Silkotch…………..Casey Gavin…………………………Human Psionic
Aron Head……………….Story/Setting/Everything Else…….Game Master

*********************************************

Alseyne smiled. “Wynne and I may not see eye to eye in most things, but one thing I am sure of – she is loyal to Pip. While I could see her potentially throwing her lot in with an enemy if it was just me involved, it would take something catastrophic to make her betray Pip. And what is happening right now…well, I just could never see it happening. But I will mention your concerns to Pip. He knows Wynne much better than I do and should know if there is anything to be concerned about.”

“I don’t want to stir up trouble between friends,” Casey said. “Wynne just looks…very dark to me. But I’m new to all of this, I could be misreading her.”

“I want you to feel comfortable too, Casey,” Alseyne explained. “If you have doubts then it could cause problems later. It is better for us to take the time to make sure there’s no problem now than to risk it at a crisis point later. For example, your feelings on Wynne could cause you to hesitate at a crucial moment and end up with someone getting hurt. Whereas if we can reduce your feeling of mistrust then there is less likelihood of that occurring. In addition, you actually COULD be reading Wynne correctly, in which case we need to be aware of the problem now so we watch her. I really doubt that is the case but it is always better to be safe in such difficulties as we might have this evening.”

“Well…I don’t know that trust is really an issue here, as far as that goes,” Casey replied with typical candor. “I mean, the stakes are pretty high in all of this; I get that we can’t afford to be too fastidious about who’s fighting alongside us. That Mr. Plicare for example…I more or less assume that if there’s trouble tonight he’ll see to his own survival and leave me to see to mine. Obviously I’m not here because I ‘trust’ you guys…we barely know each other. I just want to help. If you tell me that you’re sure Wynne’s on the same side as us, then I’ll take your word for it. I’m not crazy about ghouls either, but I can see that Trevor’s enemies are the same as ours, at least in this particular skirmish, so I’m perfectly willing to believe the same about Wynne. If you’re sure of her.”

Alseyne grinned impishly. “I would say that I’d trust her with my life, except that in my particular case Wynne would be just as likely not to save me, given our past history.” She sobered somewhat. “I will say that I would trust her with Pip’s life, and I consider that a much more valuable commodity.” (continue reading…)

CAST OF PLAYERS:

Aaron Murphy……………..Claws-of-Honor………………….Were-Tiger
Jera Morrison……………….Alseyne Aulaudin…………………Sidhe Changeling
Debora Silkotch…………..Casey Gavin…………………………Human Psionic
Aron Head……………….Story/Setting/Everything Else…….Game Master

*********************************************

“Casey, don’t be shy,” Alseyne looked over her shoulder at Casey. “What do you think of this for you?” The Sidhe pulled out a black leather dress that had lacings up both sides, leaving a strip about two inches wide bare on each side from her armpits all the way down and of a length that would come down to just the top of Casey’s thighs.

Casey raised an eyebrow. That was actually kind of pretty. Except…she obviously wouldn’t be able to wear any kind of undergarments with it. And if there was fighting tonight, a dress like that could not be depended upon to keep things covered. “I should probably stick with pants,” she decided. “I don’t want to be worrying about what’s, um, on display if we get into a scrap with the bad guys.”

Alseyne shrugged “Why worry about it? I had to fight naked once when an enemy burst in at a very inopportune time. You just do what you have to do and ignore any wardrobe malfunctions. But you do whatever is comfortable for you.”

“I’m still getting the hang of the fighting thing,” Casey laughed. “I think fighting naked is in the advanced course.”

“That’s alright. Pip and I will be happy to give you some pointers. Half of a knight’s life is devoted to fighting and training anyway so we’re old hands at it.”

“I appreciate the offer,” Casey smiled — inwardly resolving that naked fighting lessons were absolutely out of the question, from Alseyne or Pip or anyone else. A girl had to draw the line somewhere. (continue reading…)

CAST OF PLAYERS:

Aaron Murphy……………..Claws-of-Honor………………….Were-Tiger
Jera Morrison……………….Alseyne Aulaudin…………………Sidhe Changeling
Debora Silkotch…………..Casey Gavin…………………………Human Psionic
Aron Head……………….Story/Setting/Everything Else…….Game Master

*********************************************

Pana fell in beside Casey. She stroked the dog absently as they approach the street.

:: You made some new friends :: Pana observed.

**I don’t think we’re friends yet. We have common goals, and I think I can help them**

A black suburban pulled forward with lettering on the door: AUSTIN TAXI. “You call for a ride?” The driver called out.

“That’s us,” Pip said.

The drive stopped in the parking lot and hopped out, pulling the door open for them. “Where to?”

Pip looked to Wynne, who answered the driver as she climbed in. “Whips and Chains.”

He smiled, “Alrighty then.”

Alseyne rolled her eyes at Pip, not at all surprised that Wynne knew the best all-night leather shop in town.

Casey gave the Sluagh a sidelong glance. She’d never even heard of the place. It sounded…interesting.

Pana sniffed at the interior of the vehicle. Casey climbed in, settling the malamute in the back.

Her nose was still going. :: Humans… have mated here. Tonight. ::
(continue reading…)

CAST OF PLAYERS:

Aaron Murphy……………..Claws-of-Honor………………….Were-Tiger
Ezrandi Shadowheart……Andali…………………………………Eshu Changeling
Mia Schubert……………….Marlboro…………………………….Satyr Changeling
Jera Morrison……………….Alseyne Aulaudin…………………Sidhe Changeling
Carol Hart…………………..Janneth Jones………………………Troll Changeling
Kendall Nye…………………Joseph McAdoo……………………Ronin Garou
Rob Bennett………………..Arian Plicare………………………..Ananasi
Suz Dollar…………………..Samantha Reese…………………..Human Guardian
Debora Silkotch…………..Casey Gavin…………………………Human Psionic
Aron Head……………….Story/Setting/Everything Else…….Game Master

*********************************************

Alseyne glanced tiredly around at her people. “Too bad you can’t send me backwards in time so I can get some sleep before we go out, Myrle.”

The dragon shook his head. “I can only send you forward.”

“Guess I’ll just have to catch a cat nap while we wait for Arian to get his weapons.”

Falco offered, “I can help with that.” He extended his hand to Alseyne.

Alseyne pulled back warily. “Just what are you planning on doing? Putting me to sleep? If so, we have a bit more planning to do.”

Something that was almost a smile quirked Casey’s mouth. “I suspect he wants do the opposite. Make you wide awake and alert, like you’ve just had a full night’s rest.”

“It’s…” Falco answered slowly, “An Eastern technique. A little like accupressure.” His hand was still out, waiting for Alseyne’s hand.

She looked at him for a brief moment before holding her hand out to him. (continue reading…)