(( OOC note – this post starts up mid-scene because Alyssia was a late arrival. This takes place in the graveyard of the Ascalon Settlement a bit after midnight. ))

Valeria nods slowly. ‘Magister… in the Priory… the Countess said she was “bookish”. This Adriwyn has a better friend in Countess Dom Perevelli than she probably realises – what’s that?’ She turns to face scrabbling noises coming from the bluff at the edge of the graveyard. It sounds like something with claws is managing to climb that steep face.

“Hm…she did mention…” Mirex cuts off as Val does, and she catches the scrabbling. Despite her weariness, she wraps herself in illusory leather armor, and has her glowing, purple ethereal sword in her hand, and chaos energy crackling about the other, “Stay back…” she warns, as she takes a couple slow steps toward the cliff, but keeping her distance so she wasn’t in strike range of whatever it was.

Val looks like she wants to object, but she then remembers she came out in her nightclothes with blankets, and not in armour with her weapons.

A whispering sound seems to be in motion along the side of the graveyard, then it stops and coalesces. ‘I certainly didn’t expect such a welcoming committee at this hour, dearies.’ It was Alyssia’s strong contralto, and she came further into the area, which makes her discernable by sight as well. ‘Orchid, dearie, do be careful. I think our servants have made people nervous.’

A cheerful voice from partway down the steep slope answered, ‘Oh! All right!’

Miex eyes the necromancer a moment, then smiles slightly, “You know…I was just talking about you. Tori said you’d be back again, so I thought I’d wait.” She glances curiously at the cliff and the voice that had answered amongst the scrabbling, “Who’s your companion and why is she scaling the cliff with what I’m presuming are undead minions?”

Val steps back nervously before steadying herself. This night has had too much strangeness, and Aly’s glowing eyes unnerve her a bit. She looks and listens quietly, her eyes darting about.

Tori takes it in stride, waving to Aly, who waves back to her while answering Mirex.

‘That’s my apprentice, Orchid, and I didn’t want to raise up the minions here, where I might need the good will of Victoria’s aunties. Just in case, though, we decided not to parade them through town. So, she’s keeping them in line, riding one, while they climb. And they’re almost here. How have you been, Mirex?’

“I’ve been well, Lady Dore. Busy, unfortunately. You already know Tori, but this is Valeria Valdis, her sister,” she introduces Val, “If I may ask, what’re the minions for, precisely? Were you expecting a fight with the Baron? Or one of the Aunties?”

‘Pleased to meet you, Valeria.’ She chuckles, seeing Val’s reaction to her. ‘Yes, really, dearie. – And I came this at this late hour in hopes of avoiding the Baron. The minions are in case I really need protection while opening the Mists. My interest is in the spirit of Jocasta Mercer.’

“It would seem he’s away on business right now, so we’re safe for the moment. What’s your interest in Jocasta, my Lady?” she asks curiously. She lets her sword dispel, but she keeps her magic clinched to maintain the armor.

Tori takes interest in the proceedings again, twirling about and skipping up to Aly. ‘Jocasta doesn’t scream at me any more!’

The Grenthite is interrupted by this from answering Mirex. ‘Really, dearie? That’s good to hear! How did that come about?’

‘Auntie Dree gave her what-for! And… I forget. Claire and Jaine helped, and… Mirex was here… I’m just so glad she’s being nice now!’

Aly shoots Mirex an apologetic glance and keeps dealing with the younger girl-woman. ‘Do you think she might be willing to talk to me, then, dearie?’

Mirex simply smiles knowingly, “I think so, if Tori does. We came to a bit of an accord with Miss Mercer.”

Tori ponders the question, looking aside and seeming like she might be talking to the spirits again, with Aly’s gaze frequently following hers.

The minions crest the bluff and line up at the edge of the graveyard, with a very dark-coloured sylvari, as advertised, riding one of the larger ones. She hops down, patting the flesh golem fondly, her head tilting. Her violet glow barely helps to make her visible as she watches.

Aly nods with a smile at Mirex’s comment, and then again at what apparently she hears from Tori’s conversation. She leans on her staff, channeling some power through it, but not nearly so much as she seems to have saved up. ‘Jocasta Mercer, I am Alyssia Dore of House Durheim. As you were a priestess of Kormir, and in charge of Adriwyn Jardin’s instruction when she was at the orphanage, I’m sure you know what that means. But I am here as her friend, and I hope thus as yours. I would prefer not to exercise my power if we can just have a friendly little chat.’

Mirex blinks in surprise as Alyssia speaks, pulling her gaze away from the sylvari and her small army of creepy crawlies. She doesn’t interrupt while the two speak, although all she’d be able to hear is one side of it.

Aly seems to listen to the air while Tori chatters with Claire, based on the youngster’s side of the conversation. After a few moments, the priestess nods with a dry chuckle. ‘I’m sure we can accommodate that, Sister Jocasta, if you don’t mind a little set up time. – Victoria, dearie, I know you can see what I do – but please don’t try this yourself until you’ve learned about the dangers, hmm?’

Tori glances around in the way that indicates she’s listening to her Aunties, sighs heavily, and murmurs, ‘Yes’m.’

Alyssia nods, satisfied, and wanders along, reaching Jocasta’s uneasy resting place. She draws in the earth with her staff, encircling the whole grave including the headstone. She starts chanting and channelling, and from the looks of things, based on earlier events of the evening, probably gets help, since the misty portal opens quickly and apparently easily. The spirit that steps through resembles a woman of fairly advanced years, though erect and not bowed. She looks around, eyeing all of the living humans with some measure of suspicion.

Mirex watches the ritual with a certain awe. Just as many might be entranced by the wonders she could conjur up, so too was she by what Alyssia could do. She felt a brief pang as the thought occurred to her that what Aly had just summoned was a real person. All Mirex could create were lies. She shoved it aside though as she offered a small but welcoming smile to the apparition, offering a curtsy of respect.

Val shivers, shrinking back a bit, sort of hiding behind Mirex or even Victoria. Tori shrugs at this and watches intently, staring in that way five year olds do, and not usually those of five and twenty.

Jocasta’s spirit looks them all over some more, finally settling on Aly. ‘I have some measure of understanding as to why I needn’t fear for Adriwyn from them – probably. But I don’t know you, priestess though you clearly are.’

Alyssia nods with a dry chuckle. ‘In 1319, when she came back to the orphanage for the last time, she was in better health and better dressed than you had expected. She told you about a creepy-looking lady who withdrew charges and took her home for a while instead of letting her be prosecuted for stealing rags again. Look at my eyes. I am that lady who fed and clothed her.’

The spirit seems to mull this over a while, staring at Aly, and pacing over her grave.

Mirex offers  a comforting hand to hold or arm to slip about Val, giving her a brief reassuring smile before her attention went back to Jocasta, taking in her appearance, and listening to some insight into Adri’s younger life, “I’m in love with Adriwyn, Sister Jocasta. Alyssia can confirm. When Adri was…badly wounded after the baron’s assassins Sam and Reg attacked us, it was Alyssia that Adri asked me to take her to, and who healed her mortal wounds. I will vouch for Lady Dore.”

Val takes the reassurance gratefully, sticking close to Mirex.

Tori seems to be talking quietly with the other spirits again, though she’s closely watching still.

Jocasta looks the living over again, pursing her lips and shaking her head. ‘That’s the two of you vouching for each other. Even with your image of her earlier, that’s not terribly satisfying, and I don’t want to risk her safety.’

Aly nods. ‘Then is there something else you could ask, that only she would know to tell me? Since you last saw her, she has learned to enchant jewelry of her making – and with that, I am in touch with her now.’ With a dry chuckle, she adds, ‘Not that she’s all that happy about being awakened.’

Mirex blinked a moment, then blushes, “Oh…you have one of those too?” she touches the baubles piercing her navel through the illusionary armor she wore, “I completely forgot about mine… Sister Jocasta…I can also take whatever test you wish. Adri and I are…also connected.”

<Darling…? Adri…? It’s me…> She thinks toward the sapphire set in her navel, although it might broadcast to Alex as well since theirs were all linked.

Jocasta ponders this more, and appears to be listening to something through the mist arch behind her.

While the spirit mulls things over, the thoughts come back, <Hullo, Me! I’m not sure who I am yet. But you’d better be safe after so long without checking in!> Her heart’s clearly not in the scolding, however.

Aly chuckles with a small nod, answering Mirex. ‘I have.’

Val looks confused, and Tori treats it like anything else that passes over her head – she ignores it.

<I’m so sorry, my love. I’ve been so caught up, I forgot I had this so I could still talk to you. Are you well, darling? Oh, I’ve so much to tell you! But that will have to wait, for now. I might need your help here, dearest. There’s a ghost here that is a bit…skeptical that I know you.> Mirex blushes a bit at being scolded, though all her companions would see was the blush, and the soft but affectionate smile that touched her lips at hearing Adri’s voice again. She eyes Aly and Jocasta while listening for Adri still.

Aly breaks the face-off first. ‘She says that Orwin never learned to stop bullying, and that last she’d heard, he ran off to join the bandits out Beetletun way.’

The spirit nods to that, still apparently also listening to something behind her.

The Valdises continue as they’ve been, with Val slowly regaining her composure – though Orchid’s continued playing with the warped minions probably isn’t helping her.

<Jocasta. So much I’d like to ask her. Tell her that her brother’s cryptic obituary is really frustrating when I’m having to stay holed up because of assassins. And we’ll talk later about regular check-ins, but Cris told me not to expect better, so I’m not mad, love.>

“She also says there is much she’d like to ask you, Sister Jocasta, and that your brother’s cryptic obituary is really frustrating when she’s having to stay holed up because of assassins.” Mirex relays the message. <I’ll try and be better, dear one. I promise. I love you, my Adriwyn.>

The spirit frowns, but nods. ‘I suppose Pierre’s message would have been, since he had to assume the Baron would also see it. And she will have no trouble asking me things if she can come here. Sadly, I can’t visit her.’

Aly nods to that with a small frown of her own. ‘She was hoping you could shed light on some of the references she hasn’t figured out yet – if you’re willing to now. Though one thing she especially wants to know is why you couldn’t tell her who she is – and what a danger that would be to her – once she’d got older.’

Tori gets bored and wanders over to see what Orchid’s doing, and starts up a mostly quiet conversation with her, though each of them keeps acting like an excited child as they talk.

Val keeps hold of Mirex’s hand, though she is steadying up again.

<I love you, too, silly! Or I wouldn’t be worried! But Aly’s there, so there should be no real trouble with the ghosts.>

<Oh, I’m not worried about the ghosts. They’ve been very helpful. Tori has helped me commune with them. Which reminds me. I can beat him. So easily. Find a way to get here. I have to stay to keep the Baron form harming Valeria and Tori now that Val is free. But I promised you the Baron was yours, if I could make it safe to do so, and I’m confident with their help I can. I also promised Sister Jocasta I’d bring you here to commune with her.>

Mirex squeezes Val’s hand reassuringly, while focusing on the spirit and Aly. She keeps an eye on Tori but she seemed safe enough with Orchid so she wasn’t concerned. “I confess, I’m also curious about Adri’s past, Sister Jocasta. And to try and understand more about why the Baron is doing all this, and what his connections are. Recall, that I promised to bring her here, when we had finished the Baron.”

<How soon? How extreme do I need to be about finding a way to get there?> Adri’s shift to her “action” mode was almost disconcerting.

Val smiles a bit, starting to look around again herself, mostly after her sister, but also apparently keeping something of a watch.

Jocasta’s spirit nods. ‘Right. Well, it wasn’t entirely my decision – and Pierre didn’t know her, but he knew the Baron. I’m sure watching Adriwyn’s mother die and being unable to get her help… well, it changed him. He was very nervous of the girl’s risks, and hated that he couldn’t find a way to adopt her himself to keep her from her troubles with bad families and the streets. And yet, being a “gutter-snipe” was her best camouflage, or so we thought.’

<Oh, don’t be unsafe, dearest. Just get Cristian to get you here. Preferably in the next few days. I don’t know when the baron will return but lets get you here before he does.> Mirex smiled at Val slowly getting used to all this, “Don’t worry, I’ll do my best to explain later” she murmured in promise to the young woman, while listening to Jocasta and Aly converse.

<So I shouldn’t just hop on the Chicken Pusher and jump off in the night sky over the Settlement? Honestly, that’s probably safer than anything but a stealth drop from the Current, anyway. But fine, if he’s not there right now, I don’t have to run out on Alex in the middle of the night.>

Val nods. ‘Would be nice.’ She gives Mirex a smile, then resumes scanning the area, possibly because playing sentry made her feel useful.

Aly thought over the spirit’s words, then nodded. ‘I see. Being seen with him would have been too obvious a thing to keep hidden, but an Ascalonian countess as a homeless waif in the streets of the Reach… who would believe that? And considering the holes I had to patch up in her this last time, I won’t disagree with your choices. Even she may not, once she gets here, though she’s simmering at me over it right now.’

<I’ll have him pick you up so that you can tell Alex.> Mirex giggled softly, “Me as well.” She added to Aly, “I’ll bring her here, though. I don’t want anyone putting any more holes in my Adri!” she stated firmly, “Lady Dore, I have a boon to ask of you. When you leave this place tonight, take Val and Tori with you back to the Reach. Leave them with the Shining Blade at the palace. They’ll be safe there until this is over….”

Aly nods slowly. ‘We’ll need to make some preparations here, then. Victoria will go if her Aunt Claire does.’ Her glowing gaze turns to the side, apparently looking at said ghost. ‘Valeria, you sounded willing for such an arrangement earlier. Is that still the case?’

Val nods, blinking. ‘Y-yes… I suppose I should pack us some clothes quickly, then.’ She turns to go do that.

Jocasta chuckles. ‘After so long, and being so worried about the girl… it will be good to see her again. But I should let you close up this portal so that you can get ready. I’m sure leaving before sunrise would be best.’

“I think so. Will it be possible for me to commune with you all here without Tori? I’m going to need your help one more time once Adri is here and he Baron comes back, but I’d like to keep Tori safe and away from here if possible.”

Aly and Jocasta both chuckle, the former almost sardonically and the latter with definite amusement. Aly answers, ‘With Adri here, her Gran will be irrepressible – and mobile. Though I’ll try to be back here as well, just in case.’ She looks over. ‘Orchid, dearie, I need you and Victoria here, please.’

As the sylvari and her new friend skipped over, the Grenthite looked at a different spirit. ‘Jaine, what does it take for you to be able to accompany her? Will you be able to for a possible extended stay?’

Val gives Mirex’s hand a squeeze and starts off toward the house to pack.

Mirex offers a warm smile and a nod as Val goes to pack, and she frowns as Aly seems to be discussing multiple spirits leaving, “Wait, they can’t all go with her. I need the mesmers here to be able to defeat the Baron!” she protests.

‘Ah. A good point. Yet she probably won’t go without Claire – who is one of the mesmers. – Victoria? Orchid? And Claire… are you agreeable?’ The three Mirex can see apparently hear Claire’s response. ‘All right. Victoria, your uncle will try to hurt you, mostly in your head, if he gets back and finds you not so much under his thumb – and even more so for your sister. Will you come back with Orchid and me – and Valeria – to Divinity’s Reach? You won’t be able to talk to your aunties for a few days, but we’ll visit with you as much as we can – and you heard what Claire said. How about it?’

“Please, Tori. I now it’s a lot ot ask and not quite what we’d been planning before Lady Dore appeared, but I don’t want to see you hurt. You’ve done so much to help me already.”

Tori looks rather put out, but Orchid squeezes her hand and whispers to her, and she smiles. She mumbles something to her aunties, then sighs and nods. ‘All right. But I want cookies!’

Aly laughs and smiles at her. ‘I’ll deliver them as soon as possible after we get you settled.’

Between that and Mirex’s coaxing, she seems suitably mollified.

Valeria returns after not too long in her armour and with a pack, and a day-pack sort of thing for her sister. ‘Just in case,’ she comments, tapping the metal.

Mirex nods in approval, “Very wise, Val. I’ll come retrieve you and Tori when this is all done. If for some reason the worst should happen, you’ll be safe there in the palace, and be taken care of.” She offered a last reassuring smile, then looked to Aly, “I’m in your debt, Lady Dore. Thank you for looking after them on the way to the capitol. There is an assassin. Reg. He may try to intercept you. I’m sure the Baron knows something has happened here with what I did to Valeria. You and Orchid be careful.”

Aly nods with a sly grin. ‘Oh, we’ll have the minions keep their eyes out. At least until we take a waypoint. But I’d rather not parade these notable redheads and my minions through town, so I’m afraid there will be a bit of a walk.’ She ponders briefly. ‘Valeria, you probably don’t want to go down the bluff in armour – but I believe you have sufficient authority to simply let yourself out?’ At Val’s answering nod, she smiles. ‘Then try not to show any reaction to having what will feel like a ghost leaving with you. I will stick with you whle Orchid and the minions get Victoria down, and we’ll meet up with them below.’

“I’ll remain here to await Adri…and the Baron.” Mirex adds, “Safe travels, both of you. We will meet again.” She remains there in the graveyard while watching their company split up to make their escapes.

Orchid lets Tori ride the flesh golem, which makes it all a grand adventure for her, while Aly and Val head toward the south gate. Along the way, Aly somehow just… seems to dissipate.