[three_fourth]
Crysania: So I told Spike to set up a picnic for us on one of the uninhabited islands.
Lalandra: So how are we getting there?
Balreth grins widely.
Crysania: Well, Balreth and I devised a contraption just for that purpose.
Grace: I don’t like this already.
Georgia whimpers.
Nyx gives Georgia reassurance, but is the first to give the strange look.
Crysania: This is the Airbox.
Grace: Huh?
Balreth begins the tour: Well this down here is steel-banded wood for the frame that we stand in. The bucket here is connected to this massive silk bubble via a series of braided leather cords. There are A LOT of cords on each corner so we’ll not break off.
Lalandra: This is a Lawno waiting to happen.
Grace and Nyx sigh together.
Balreth looks at Crysania helplessly, but continues: In the middle here is a container full of Tar that we brought back from Ascalon. The tar is soaking this dense wad of material here and won’t burn nearly as fast as the tar by itself.
Lalandra jumps: BURN?! Nuh-uh, no way.
Grace: I’m with her.
Nyx: Yeah, really.
Crysania shrugs, and gets into the Airbox with Balreth. Balreth casts immolate on the material and the silk bubble begins to raise and expand.
Lalandra looks in awe: Well I’ll be damned.
Nyx nods in agreement: Ain’t that the truth, Necro Sis?
Grace sighs but gets into the box, followed by the other two.
Georgia panics outside of the box, but Nyx tells her to be good and waves goodbye as the Officers slowly begin to rise up off of the ground.
Grace: Wait. How did Spike get there?
Crysania shrugs: Doing his old school Ranger thing?
Lalandra: Wait… How are we going to move?
Crysania and Balreth grin, before casting Air Magic spells off to one side.
Nyx: Hhheeyy… We’re going the wrong way!
Crysania shakes her head.
Balreth: Nope, we’re pushing the airbox, not pulling.
Nyx nods her head: aaaaahhhh.
Grace: At least the view is nice.
All of the officers are looking around The Mists of Quinland, soaking up the scenery in peace and quiet, only to be occasionally interrupted by the casting of Air Magic spells. The body postures of everyone indicate a relaxed state, which prompts Crysania to give a quiet thumbs-up and Balreth to return with a quiet mini-flex.
Crysania, leaps off the side: This is my stop.
Grace panicking: Crysa-!
Balreth interrupts with a hand on her shoulder and a gesture to watch.
Lalandra leaps off as well: Great idea!
Grace watches with interest as Crysania opens her Aion Wings and circles calmly down to a gentle landing. Lalandra follows suit, albeit with less grace.
Balreth puts the material out and expertly guides the airbox to a smooth landing on the Picnic Island.
Nyx and Grace hop out, informing everyone how pleasantly surprised they were with the whole trip, but Crysania gestures for everyone to be silent.
All the officers creep over to Crysania’s location, as she motions to silently look forward into the forest. She even covers up her hands and arms.
Everyone follows Crysania’s finger to a large wooden table and a series of identical high-backed wooden chairs. At the center, is Spike having a Picnic, all by himself…sorta.
Lalandra: He must’a gotten bored.
Grace: Well let’s go say hi.
Nyx grabs her and pulls her back down: Oh no. Let’s watch, this should be funny.
The officers got comfy, and listened in on Spike’s Picnic:
Spike: Who wants to play Tiddly Winks? Oh? You do Mrs. Muffykins?
Spike looks taken aback: Why, no, Mrs. Muffykins, I have not seen or heard from Puff the Magic Dragon since he blew down my house – that two-timing B!t(h.
Spike moves his interest: Yes, Mr. Fluffersonandson. I do believe that Whisky can still retain its quality with a little ice melt, but only if the water was distilled.
Spike ponders for a bit: Yes Sir Notappearingatthispicnic, I do prefer natural tones. It all started when I was attacked by the color purple you see, terrible story.
Spike strokes his chinny chin chin: Ok Colonel Mustard, I will tell you a story on one condition. If you confess it was you in the library with the lead pipe.
Spike nods in satisfaction: First, we must play a game of hide-and-seek.
Spike covers his eyes: Ready or not, here I Come!
Spike uncovers his eyes and leaps in triumph!
Spike: I got you all! In record time! As per the Hide-and-Seek Accords signed in the Dwarven Kingdom of Clichegar, You all now owe me a toga and a river of wine to float down.
Spike slams his hand down on the table angrily: I should kill you all! Trying to get me in the color purple again, I see. A wiseguy, eh? I know what to do with wiseguys.
Spike makes a malicious gesture near one of the chairs.
Spike collapses on the grass crying furiously.
Spike, weeping: Now Mrs. Muffykins will never do anything requiring opposable thumbs again.
Spike stops, stands up and draws his dagger: Wait a minute. Mrs. Muffykins doesn’t do anything requiring opposable thumbs…
Spike waves his dagger around menacingly.
Spike: Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on…oh…oh dear…
Spike deflates, and becomes horrifically depressed.
Spike turns the Dagger on himself and shouts: Goodbye, Cruel World!
Just then Crysania leapt into the clearing: Hey Spike!
Spike hurries and sheaths his dagger, pretending that it never happened.
Balreth quickly followed suit: Wow! Nice set up.
Nyx and Grace agreed vigorously.
Crysania: I hope we weren’t keeping you.
Spike, as if nothing ever happened: Oh no. I was dreaming of Silkball. Fun times.
Balreth playfully elbows Spike: A little gameday withdrawl, eh?
Spike looks up at Balreth with misty-eyed admiration: Finally, someone who understands.
Crysania clanks some stuff together on the table: So, what’s on the menu?
Spike looks around at all the empty plates, and panics: Uh… did I ever tell you that I like Brickhouse?
Crysania growls: Sssppiikkkeee…
Spike giggles nervously before producing a large basket from under the table!
Spike: Had you worried, didn’t I?
Grace mutters: Not like before…
Spike: Eh?
Nyx jumps in: I’m hungry too!
Spike: Ah, yes. Well there is plenty, so dig in.
Grace looks at the serving dishes and utensils and rises in volume: Wait…these are from My KITCHEN! SPIKE!
Spike drops the basket and runs into the forest: Quin or Quit!
Balreth calmly picks up the basket and the Officers enjoy a fun-filled picnic, with Spike cowering in the forest somewhere nearby.
Nyx: So much nicer than the Temple…
Balreth: …and I improved my guard rotation.
Crysania: I’ll have to test it.
Grace: Oh no!
Crysania: Bamf!
Grace: Nope! None of that. I’ll not have The Duke so dreary like that again.
Lalandra: AAAWWW, that was SOOO Cute.
Balreth blushes momentarily, and much laughter filled the forest.
Another peaceful day in Quinland.
[/three_fourth]
[one_fourth_last]
Episode 64
30 Nov 2011
Notes: Full references to be added soon.
References: Guild History
[/one_fourth_last]