Where:  Mystique Maison, the ballroom.
Who:  Andi Mystique, Tadewi Mystique, Rathe, Darius Lee, vertygo, Ash, Naxos.
Why:  It was supposed to be a welcome home party for Andi, but the Adept Rathe has *other* plans for his wife and sister-in-law.

Darius Lee nods to Naxos and snags a wine glass from a passing
servant, takes a sip then sighs softly, "Echo is of course taking after her father. She's pouring over his books. The darling can barely read basic but she's loves to turn the pages of these huge dusty books. No toys for her, just Kzin's books. "A soft look of love crosses her features, "Poe on the other hand is training hard to be a warrior. He's at the top of his class in sword fighting and is an excellent marksman".

Andi says, "Ah, talented children in their own fields already."

Andi smiles.

Andi says, "That can be good"

Darius Lee's lips compress tightly, "I wish Echo had chosen another
field to have a talent in, this magik business is utter nonsense. She's determind that she's going to grow up and be a blood mage like her father. I'm praying that she out grows this phaze"

Andi nods.

vertygo walks up the stairs to the balcony.

Andi says, "What would you like her to be?"

The music changes to Welcome to Paradise by Green Day

Darius Lee [to Andi]: anything but that

Darius Lee grins and takes a drink from her wine glass.

A group of revelers comes rushing at Andi for a moment, cooing over
her and complimenting her.  Then, they all drift away again, disapppearing back into the crowd.

Darius Lee watches the arrival and dispersion of the crowd with
amused interest.

Andi returns to the conversation at hand, "Perhaps a wanderer

There's a sudden scream of surprise and delight and the following
laughter seems to course through the room like a ripple.

Darius Lee [to Andi]: excuse me a moment

Andi says, "Of course"

Darius Lee nods to Andi, smiles then wanders away to talk to an old
acquaintance.

Tadewi moves through the crowd like a proper hostess, pausing to
talk, laugh, and speak pleasing words where necessary.  Truly she's
accustomed to this.

Andi says, "Yes it can.  Hello vertygo.  Thank you.   I do enjoy
being some again"

A hollow thud echoes down the outside hallway. The scent of charred
wood drifts past, acompanied by the sound of a brief hubub.
Something, apparently, has the servants excited.

Darius Lee's acute hearing picks up that last sentence causing her to
choke slightly on her wine.

Naxos says, "Lovely."

The crowd suddenly falls into a great hush.  The music being the only thing blaring, stuck on some ancient song from millenia ago.

Andi looks to see what is happening.

The double doors to the north open and Rathe steps into the ballroom.
One hand protectively on the hilt of Nightsong, a smiling, far too
jubilant Rathe waltzes into the ballroom like he owns the place. No
doubt, in his mind, he still -does-.

Naxos glances at Rathe momentarily.

Andi starts to greet the newcomer but stops.

Andi looks around at everyone's expressions and back to the newcomer.

Darius Lee turns and approaches Rathe with a wide smile, "greetings
magus"
Darius Lee leans over and gives Rathe's cheek a quick peck, "Kzin sends his regards and asks that you contact him at your convience. THere is some magik thing or other that he's interested in discussing with you"

Darius Lee smiles at Rathe broudly again, knowing amusement in her
eyes, befure she turns and walks away.

Andi . o O ( Hmmm, another mage )

Andi shrugs.

Naxos chokes out, "Magus?" His eyes turn towards Darius for a moment,
"His entrance was a bit less flowery for a magus."

Tadewi emerges from the crowd, confused as to what is going on.  Her
face turns ashen, pale green eyes widening as she recognizes the latest addition to the party goers.

Darius Lee waves a hand in the air, "Magus mage seeker, Id on't know.
I can never get your people's damn titles straight".

"A pleasant evening to all my oldest, dearest friends and
aquaintances," the Adept murmurs, addressing the largely silent room. For a moment, he looks mildly fazed; his old friends, after all, aren't giving him any kind of proper greeting. They're just...staring. "I'll speak to him," he murmurs in response to Darius.

Andi looks at her sister

Owl moves closer to Andi

Indeed, the crowd has just kind of stopped.  As if someone came in
and hit the 'pause' button.  Someone coughs, and it echos.  The stereo, neglected, has ceased its output.

Naxos [to Rathe]: I didn't notice your name on the guest list.

Andi [to Naxos]: There is no guest list

Naxos [to Andi]: Shh.

"Tadewi, my dear!" Unfortunately for the populous at large, Rathe is
beaming. Strolling forward through the crowd -- which no doubt offers little resistance -- the Adept approaches Tadewi. "It's been so long."

Andi rolls her eyes at Naxos

Naxos pokeses Andi in the ribs.

Naxos pokes Andi in the ribs.

vertygo . o O ( oh my late )

vertygo says, "andi, lovely party.. i must get going.."

Andi gives Naxos a bad look and moves closer to her sister

Darius Lee leans against the buffet table, eating a hors d'ouvres
quietly as she tries to not burst out laughing at the scene in front of her.

Andi [to vertygo]: Nice you could some

vertygo bows.

vertygo leaves through the double doors to the north.

In fact, the crowd parts like the Red Sea as Rathe moves toward the
shakey form of Tadewi.  They press against each other, as if he was somehow diseased and they might catch it if they were too close.  Several party goers sneak out the entrance if they are close enough.

Andi looks at everyone and knows something is up but still has no clue

Apparently, Rathe didn't even notice vertygo's comment. Pausing no
more than half a dozen feet from Tadewi, the Adept's sketches an extravagant bow; one hand remaining on the sabre's hilt. "Good evening, Madame Mystique," he says blandly, not even the slightest hint of sarcasm in his tone.

Naxos taps Andi on the shoulder.

Darius Lee strolls over to Andi and sips her wine, "You should have
told me Andi darling that you were going to have such fabulous entertainment"

Andi stands next to her sister and looks at her like 'What is going
on'

Tadewi is at a loss for words.  How does one know? By the way her jaw
hangs just a wee bit, surprise clearly marked in her eyes, and an inability to respond at all to Rathe as he bows.

Naxos murmurs something to Andi.

Andi looks to Naxos and then to Rathe and then to her sister in
surprise

Pausing, the Adept cocks his head to one side; turning ever so
slightly to stare back towards the ballroom's entrance. "Ash," he admonishes, voice echoing in the largely silent chamber. "Stop skulking about in the shadows. Come say hello."

Naxos mutters under his breath.

Andi says, "But sis, you said he was dead"

The double doors to the north open and Ash steps into the ballroom.

Andi looks at Ash and wonders

Tadewi is still too shocked to respond, even to her sister.  Rathe
_was_ dead, either that or he'd been far too disinterested to return.

"Adept, such a surprise." She says almost automatically.

A soft hiss is heard first then one scaley leg emerges from the
shadows as Ash enters the room. His huge nine feet tall frame a commanding prescence. He lumbers forward, unconcernly knocking guests out of his path who were too slow to get out of the way as he hisses softly, "Yes master".

Andi glares at Rathe

Andi moves so her body is slightly blocking Tadewi from Rathe's line
of sight

Naxos blinks.

And at the sight of Ash, pandemonium sets in.  Someone screams, and
then it becomes a complete Cacaphony of yells and terror.  Guests start streaming toward the balcony, or slipping out the doors as soon as the beast is cleared of them.

Ash crosses to stand behind Rathe, a black tuxedo jacket his only
covering as he peers down at the two sisters to hiss, "I like the buffet they have hear master... it looks... tasty". Ash grins widely, showing off his razor sharp teeth as he swishes his tail, knocking several guests to the floor.

Naxos mutters under his breath.

"Have something to eat. Be sociable," the Adept suggests, attention
shifting back to Tadewi... and so, down to her sister. An eyebrow rises minutely; his grip on the sabre shifts slightly.  For all intents and purposes, he seems unaware of the chaos. "I don't believe we've met.."

Darius Lee leans against the buffet table laughing loudly as everyone
panics and flees about her.

Tadewi sighs, reaching up to rub at one temple as the pandemonium
finally dies down.  Of course he had to be here, to ruin the party for her sister.  "Adept, this is my sister, Lady Andi."

Andi says, "We haven't.  I wish we hadn't.  I would have liked it if
you wouldn't have come her at all"

Andi speaks at the same time as her sister

Ash steps around Rathe to the side of Tadewi and Andi. He lowers his
giant head to be almost eye level with Andi, his nostrils flaring widely as his tongue darts out to test the air. His tongue just brushes Andi's cheek before he straightens again, crosses his arms across his chest. "Scrumptous".

Andi glares at Ash and then returns her angry gaze to Rathe

Ash . o O ( andi no like ash? how sad, ash like andi... )

Almost fondly, the Adept tousles the younger Mystique sister's hair;
attention flicking back towards Tadewi. His smile is more reptillian than even Ash's could ever be. "Such a darling girl," he murmurs, nearly inaudibly. "So full of anger. Perhaps, in time, she will learn to fear."

Andi says, "Fear?  Whatever"

Tadewi tries to move Andi to the side, immediately stepping forward,
"You've ruined this household enough, Rathe. For God's sake, let us be."

Andi says, "More importantly, leave my sister alone"

Both eyebrows raise now; amusement registers with razor-sharp clarity
on Rathe's pale visage. "I've come back, after all this time, and this is the reception I receive.." A soft `tsk'.

Ash turns and lumbers to the buffet table, his long tail swinging
behind him in a wide arc as he moves. Darius Lee steps out of his way as the arge repile picks up the entire punch bowl, pouring the entire contents into his mouth, heedless of the punch that streams from the side of his mouth down onto his clothes and body.

"Ash.." Rathe's smile widens fractions of an inch. "Come here."

Darius Lee watches Ash with a a slight look of digust on her face.

Tadewi feels that familiar tingle, a presence of eternal fear
clenching at her stomach.  "You've only returned to cause more havoc.  Please don't do this."  Of course, the mention of Ash's summoning draws her attention toward him. Oh merde.

Andi says, "I do believe, Rathe, that means you are not welcome"

"Ash, my boy..." Attention shifting down towards Andi, Rathe releases
a nasty little chuckle. "Give our guest of honor a piggy back ride. Little girls love piggy back rides."

Ash's head snaps around sharply before he nods. Ash starts to turn
away but stops grabs a lamb haunch from the table then turns around to lumber back to Rathe, the empty punch bowl in one hand, the lamb haunch in the other. Ash puts the entire lamb haunch in his legs, his jaws breaking the bone easily as he hisses between chews, "yesss masster?"

Andi . o O ( I wish I hadn't put on that poster that Everyone was
invited )

Darius Lee mutters softly, "Didn't anyone every teach that lizard to
chew with his mouth closed".

Andi moves away from the lizard but not too far from her sister

Ash throws the punch bowl over his shoulder. The punch bowl soars
through the air to crash against the far wall as he takes a step forward, his arms snaking out to snatch at Andi.

Andi attempts to stay out of reach

Ash lets out a slithery laugh as he croons, "here kitty kitty", his
tail lashing from side to side as he grins widely. His massive claws reaching for Andi. Its clear that if she wishes to continue to evade him she'll be force to abandon Tawedi's side.

A forward step brings the Adept yet closer to Lady Mystique; while
Ash snatches clumsily at Andi, Rathe continues his approach. A gloved hand rises with preternatural speed, in an attempt to cup Tadewi's chin in a palm.

Andi circles get wider and wider from her sister

Ash grins and makes a game of his persuit of Andi. He lumbers after
Andi in a lazy fashion, obviously enjoying playing with his dinner as he herds her father and father away from the Adept and her sister.

Possessing no great speed, nor true desire to avoid Rathe's grip,
(She knows full well the price of disobedience.), Tadewi's chin is easily brought into Rathe's grip.  She swallows, eyes focused solely on his face, even as she knows her sister is possibly in mortal danger.

Andi hops over the piano to keep away from the lizard

Ash grins and slams his fist down onto the piano, splitting it two,
then stepping over the pieces as he continues his persuit of Andi.

Andi runs a little up the stairs going to the balcony and then before
she climbs too high she moves over the railing and hops to the ground.  She then continues to jog away

"Tadewi," the Adept says quietly. If Ash's voice is an animal croon,
his master's is the sleek whisper of death. He does not raise his voice; he seems to feel no need. "You really should try being a tad more cordial. This behaviour does not become a lady."

Ash watches Andi climb the stairs, puts one foot on the steps but
watches her hop away. Ash lets out a loud boistrous laugh that echos through the ballroom before making one powerful leap that lands him directly behind Andi. He spins rapidly, sending his long tail flying out behind him in an effort to knock Andi off her feet.

Tadewi knows better then to overtly show defiance to Rathe.  And so,
very quietly, she replies to him, her chin still caught within his hand. "Why are you here, Rathe?  What do I possibly have to offer you now?"

Andi doesn't see the tail coming and is flying across the room.  As
she slides across the floor she slides under the food tables.  She attempts to get to her feet on the other side

Ash takes several running steps forward causing the floor to tremble
under his weight.Ash picks up the tables and throws them infront of Andi in an effort to block her escape, obviously becoming tired of the game.

Darius Lee hurries out of the way of the flying tables, "if I had
known this ball would have an athletic competition I would have dressed accordingly." SHe sighs loudly and ducks as a table goes flying over her head. She spills a ocuple of drops of wine on her clothes making her curse loudly, "Damnit, and I just had this dress cleaned"

Andi attempts to jump over the tables as Kuari, her owl, flaps his
wings in Ash's face in order to get him away from Andi

Ash snaps his massive jaws at the Owl wich to him is no bigger than a
small gnat.

Andi continues her run and yells for her sister and the owl to get
away

Grip tightening, the Adept's knuckles turn nearly white with the
force exerted. "I've come to visit the family, dear Tadewi. I expected a more dutiful performance from my dear, dear wife." At length, his grip releases; he takes a single step backwards.

Ash sighs loudly and waves one massive arm across his face, knocking
the owl out of his way as he takes several flying leaps across the room, one of the leaps causing him to land directly infront of Andi.

Tadewi nearly stumbles as Rathe finally releases her.  Regaining her
foothold, her gaze is frantic, stumbling over the wreckage of the ballroom for her sister, who becomes her immediate concern.  "For God's sake, Rathe, call him off.  If you wish me to beg, to be humble I'll do it, any and all of it. Please!"

Andi attempts to stop but bounces off the lizard's leg and starts to
run in another direction

For a moment, the Ballroom's light seems to diminish; the Adept's
shadow swells, then -- bizzarely, impossibly -- detatches, flickering across the room. "Ash," Rathe calls quietly. "Arathiel will detain her. Cease."

Ash turns his head to look at Rathe then hisses annoyed, "but I was
having fun..."

Ash lashes out his tail, aimed at Andi's feet.

Andi continues to run as the owl bounces off Naxos from being pushed
aside by Ash.  Andi then trips on the tail

Ash leaps forward, slamming a foot down on either side of Andi, one
large hand reaching out to clasp her head.

Serpentine, Arathiel rears up from a patch of shadow; thrashing in
mute rage. It's shape is protean, monstrously so -- darkness incarnate, assuming all shapes and none. A nightmare made flesh, it looms over Andi.  Enveloping. Suffocating. Substanceless, yet with substance -- a thick, sluggish patch of darkness.

Ash! Rathe hisses. "Enough. Arathiel will -deal- with her."

Ash hisses loudly and leaves his hard won prey, the giant lizard
almost seems to sulk.

Andi thrashes as if trying to escape something she didn't really understood

Ash hisses loudly, "poor kitty, she would have been better off with
me" Ash grins fiendishly, his gaze looking around the room for an alternative snack. His eyes settling on his Darius Lee, he points to her, "May I masssssssster?"

Darius Lee eyes the giant lizard warily, a triskelion appearing out
of the depths of her clothes. She quickly brings it out to bear a feral gleam leaping into her eyes, "just try it lizard boy. Poe needs some scale armor anyways".

Slowly, Rathe turns back towards Tadewi. "It would amuse me to see
you beg, Lady Mystique," the Hunter purrs, voice smooth as poison. "But I've only come for a taste. You're so delicious when you cower." Ash receives no response; negative or positive.

Darius Lee points her bioscanner at Ash and slowly sweeps its sensors
up and down his body.

Tadewi is indeed quite horrified, taking a single step forward toward
her sister, who is now incarcerated in some odd shadowy prison.  A taste of what?  What in the name of God has Rathe become?  Turning back towards Rathe, her frustration manifests itself.  "What do you want!"

Ash hisses at Darius Lee and takes a lumbering step forward, but
halts as a lingering guest tries to depart. Ash leaps on this new prey and devours the man, tuxedo and all.

A deep breath; a vinter inhaling the scent of a particularly good
year of Merlot. A soft chuckle escapes the Hunter's lips, and he advances a single step. "So beautiful, so fragile. I can smell your fear, little one. I've not caught the scent of one finer since Lyetra visited my valley."

Darius Lee keeps a careful eye on Ash as she moves to stand by Naxos,
"a wonderful party don't you think?"

Confusion is the new emotion emitted from Tadewi's psyche.  "What has happened to you?  What are you?"  She moves another step toward her imprisoned sister.

Ash whips his head and spies the sleeping man, a look of 'heh lunch'
crosses his features as he starts to skulk toward the man.

Darius Lee sees Ash's approach and prudently abandon NAxos to stand
on the other side of the room.

Andi moves within the shadow and murmurs that sound a little like
shouted curses some from her direction

Ash looms over Naxos, his jaws opening hungrily.

Naxos reaches behind his back, grasping ahold of his spear. He brings
it to ready, and holds it easily as he prepares to poke some fun at others.

Naxos [to Ash]: Don't make me beat you.

Ash grins widely and hisses, as he brings whips his tail at Naxos.

Naxos looks mildly distressed, but manages to thwack away Ash's tail
with the haft of his spear.

Ash hisses softly, his tongue darting out to taste the air, as he
swipes his claws at Naxos his tail simultaniously lashes out at Naxos.

"Excuse me, Lady Mystique."

Spinning on heel, the Adept -- longcoat swirling around him --
touches the tips of his fingertips to his forehead, extending his
outstretched fingers towards the unfortunate mariner. As Toraxyn once
commented, Rathe -does- have a theatrical side.. and he doesn't approve of his display being interrupted.

Rathe puts his fingertips to his forehead, extending his hand and
fingers in a gesture of arcane power.

A billowous jet of reddish flame slams into Naxos, obscuring him from
view momentarily as the flame wraps around him like an inverse silhoutte.

Naxos screams, waving his hands around as the flame subsides.

Ash hisses, "Dinner served well done, just the way I like it"

In a moment of commendable courage, Tadewi sees her opportunity and
she takes it.  The moment Rathe turns toward Naxos, his concentration away from her, she leaps toward him, brandishing a dagger that had previously been hidden in a sleeve.  She aims for his back, anywhere that seems vunerable on the Adept.

Ash turns to thank his master for the meal in time to see Tadewi
lunge at Rathe. He hisses angrily, his eyes narrowing as he sends a sharp shard of pain in to Tadewi's mind as he casts the spell mindspear.

Naxos coughs.
Naxos grunts slightly as Ash's claws dig into the skin of his
shoulder, but begins his own assault.

Naxos thrusts his spear at Ash.
Ash avoids the attack.
Ash bares his teeth and lunges at Naxos.
Naxos dodges.
Naxos thrusts his spear at Ash.
Ash receives a minor wound as the spear pierces the right thigh.
Ash bares his teeth and lunges at Naxos.
Naxos dodges.

A cobra rearing it's head. If anything, this is the impression the
Hunter gives as his head snaps back towards Tadewi, neck craned. His
longcoat, still  moving with his momentum, continues to billow -- the
poisonous snake's midnight-black hood. Charred fingertips are brought up in a gesture of warding far too late; Ash's distraction proves to be what saves Rathe's life. Rather than severing tendons, the dagger merely draws a shallow gash across his arm.

A hollow sounding scream emits from Tadewi's throat, the dagger wildly
stabbing at Rathe as momentum continues to carry her forward even as she has lost all ability to carry through the attack.  She crumples to the floor in a pile of white silk afterwards, the knife clattering to the ground, sliding across the sleek wooden floor, Rathe's blood slicking the floor.

Ash lumbers over to loom behind Rathe protectively.

The hollow thud of a pale leather boot connecting with the lady
Mystique's ribs. The Adept, visibly unhappy, snaps his fingers once in Ash's direction. After all, he's been denied his dinner. "We're leaving."

Rathe slides a warp tube from a wool longcoat.

Ash nods his head.

Darius Lee crosses over to Tadewi's slumped over, "its was a lovely
party., Thank you for inviting me

Darius Lee looks down at Tadewi cheerfully, "We must certainly do
this again sometime" before stepping over to head out the door.

Tadewi expels her breath, completely disconcerted and unaware of just
what is going on around her.

The music changes to Welcome to Paradise by Green Day

Darius Lee leaves through the double doors to the north.
Pale hands wrap around a small black tube; nimble fingers manipulate
the device, issuing a hazy red glow. "I will return," he says quietly;
ominously, before stalking off in the direction of the doors.

Around Andi, the shadow shatters - dissapates, reforming elsewhere.

Rathe holds his warp tube at arm's length and slowly twists its ends.
A warm glow pulses from the device, then slowly fades.

Andi gulps in fresh airs, "Sister, I'm going out hunting"

"And I will be seeing you, as well, Andi," the Adept murmurs,
vanishing into the darkness.