PART 1: Journey into the Cosmos

The fae knew she had wasted too much time observing the mortals, but she couldn't resist their antics.  They were just so intriguing!  Their costumes were fascinating, though Fallsenia found the one dressed in skins and bearing a huge blade to be just as terrifying as some fae of the Unseelie Court.  And their games were so varied and so strange, some involved shouting words, some involved moving tiny humans and monsters around a board that looked like a battlefield, and others had the most fantastic looking airships moving around a flat landscape.

But there was a decision to be made, and it was with regret that Fallsenia found herself traveling back to King Oberon’s court, lost in thought.  She had quite the weighty decision to make, especially if she wanted to learn more of her past and family.

The first stop had been to Capella, within the heart of the Court of Stars, and a marvel of learning and high magics.  But the grand library of the city had been in a disarray, nearly injuring the Steward of the Luminae Arcanum, Verseau. It was a near thing, but Fallsenia’s quick thinking endeared her to the Steward, who divulged more information, telling of a grand imbalance in the cosmos themselves.  Not to mention the odd talismans bearing the sigil of the Court of the Uncanny.  It was either too obvious, or a sign of something else.

The near disaster in the library made Fallsenia venture to the Fellwood with Verseau and Bracken, the Chief Tinkerer of the Court of Curiosity, to investigate just why in Titania’s name that talismans bearing the Court of the Uncanny’s sigil were found among the chaos of Capella.  But the chaos of the unknown disturbance had hit the Fellwood too, and more drastically than Capella.  The talismans had been sent as a message to bring others to the Fellwood, and it quickly became clear that no answer would be found here either.  In fact, they were ambushed by an old friend, and Dearg put the blame squarely on an invention of Bracken’s.  There had nearly been another fight, but Fallsenia shouted the others down, and they agreed to reconvene in Embervein.

The time hadn’t all been wasted since another possibility had been eliminated, and Serkan, one of the Redcaps of the Court of the Uncanny, had insisted on joining the little group to get to the bottom of things.  In fact, the short, angry fae had looked so insulted at the very idea that his Court was involved that he almost attacked Verseau just for suggesting such a thing again while they were traveling.  “Why in Puck’s left eye would we bring even more disdain on ourselves?  You lot look down on us enough as it is!  It’s a conspiracy, I tell you!” the Redcap insisted.  With the fervent sincerity of the declaration, Bracken and Fallsenia were inclined to believe him.

Without any answers from the Fellwood, the group had to concede they needed more information.  Fallsenia resigned herself to having to put the search for her mother and her past on the back-cookfire, especially with the fate of the Mystic Realms in danger.  Bracken ushered the group through the Court of Curiosity and the city of Embervein, explaining there was a shortcut from there back to Oberon’s court.  She wished they could have stayed longer, there was literal music being made by the workers’ hammers and the tinkerers had such fascinating looking devices.

The group arrived back at Oberon's court with their news of chaos and deception, and Fallsenia was no closer to finding the answers she had initially sought.  News of the possible conspiracy quickly circled the court, and opinions were offered, plans were made, and divinations cast.  But answers were still scarce.  Fallsenia found herself longing to watch the mortals who intrigued her so much, and gained a short leave to observe their antics.
But her uncle cautioned her that upon returning, she would likely be expected to align herself to a Court.  The beginnings of a connection had already been made to three of them, and each would be eager to attach themselves to a powerful member of the royal family.  Oberon assured her there was no wrong choice, but it was also a choice that could only be made one time.  She would still be able to travel to the other Courts, and cultivate the friendships already started, but Fallsenia was learning of the expectations of the higher Courts.
The decision wasn’t all that difficult in the end.  She wanted to be fair, taking time to speak with both Bracken and Serkan at length to learn more of their realms.  And while the inspired, manic energy of the Court of Curiosity definitely had its draw, Fallsenia knew that it was unlikely to find answers for both her mother and the cosmic imbalance there.  Plus she wasn’t sure that she could keep up with the whirlwind of activity, the fae there never seemed to rest, rushing from one idea or concept to the next.  It was a similar situation with the Court of the Uncanny, though for a different reason.  Serkan spoke fondly of cruel pranks and grand hunts.  But there was also a deep respect for the others of his Court, a motley assembly of outcasts and unwanted who regarded each other as family.

It was to her uncle and new friends alone that she announced her choice.  “Uncle Oberon, I choose the Court of Stars.  Verseau has told me of different masteries to be found within Capella, and I will pursue one of them.  I will work towards both saving the realms from the imbalance, and to find your sister,” Fallsenia said, keeping most of the tremble from her voice.  It was a momentous choice, and one she knew would carry consequence for the rest of her existence.

But there was a decision to be made, and it was with regret that Fallsenia found herself traveling back to King Oberon’s court, lost in thought.  She had quite the weighty decision to make, especially if she wanted to learn more of her past and family.

The first stop had been to Capella, within the heart of the Court of Stars, and a marvel of learning and high magics.  But the grand library of the city had been in a disarray, nearly injuring the Steward of the Luminae Arcanum, Verseau. It was a near thing, but Fallsenia’s quick thinking endeared her to the Steward, who divulged more information, telling of a grand imbalance in the cosmos themselves.  Not to mention the odd talismans bearing the sigil of the Court of the Uncanny.  It was either too obvious, or a sign of something else.

The near disaster in the library made Fallsenia venture to the Fellwood with Verseau and Bracken, the Chief Tinkerer of the Court of Curiosity, to investigate just why in Titania’s name that talismans bearing the Court of the Uncanny’s sigil were found among the chaos of Capella.  But the chaos of the unknown disturbance had hit the Fellwood too, and more drastically than Capella.  The talismans had been sent as a message to bring others to the Fellwood, and it quickly became clear that no answer would be found here either.  In fact, they were ambushed by an old friend, and Dearg put the blame squarely on an invention of Bracken’s.  There had nearly been another fight, but Fallsenia shouted the others down, and they agreed to reconvene in Embervein.

The time hadn’t all been wasted since another possibility had been eliminated, and Serkan, one of the Redcaps of the Court of the Uncanny, had insisted on joining the little group to get to the bottom of things.  In fact, the short, angry fae had looked so insulted at the very idea that his Court was involved that he almost attacked Verseau just for suggesting such a thing again while they were traveling.  “Why in Puck’s left eye would we bring even more disdain on ourselves?  You lot look down on us enough as it is!  It’s a conspiracy, I tell you!” the Redcap insisted.  With the fervent sincerity of the declaration, Bracken and Fallsenia were inclined to believe him.

Without any answers from the Fellwood, the group had to concede they needed more information.  Fallsenia resigned herself to having to put the search for her mother and her past on the back-cookfire, especially with the fate of the Mystic Realms in danger.  Bracken ushered the group through the Court of Curiosity and the city of Embervein, explaining there was a shortcut from there back to Oberon’s court.  She wished they could have stayed longer, there was literal music being made by the workers’ hammers and the tinkerers had such fascinating looking devices.

The group arrived back at Oberon's court with their news of chaos and deception, and Fallsenia was no closer to finding the answers she had initially sought.  News of the possible conspiracy quickly circled the court, and opinions were offered, plans were made, and divinations cast.  But answers were still scarce.  Fallsenia found herself longing to watch the mortals who intrigued her so much, and gained a short leave to observe their antics.
But her uncle cautioned her that upon returning, she would likely be expected to align herself to a Court.  The beginnings of a connection had already been made to three of them, and each would be eager to attach themselves to a powerful member of the royal family.  Oberon assured her there was no wrong choice, but it was also a choice that could only be made one time.  She would still be able to travel to the other Courts, and cultivate the friendships already started, but Fallsenia was learning of the expectations of the higher Courts.
The decision wasn’t all that difficult in the end.  She wanted to be fair, taking time to speak with both Bracken and Serkan at length to learn more of their realms.  And while the inspired, manic energy of the Court of Curiosity definitely had its draw, Fallsenia knew that it was unlikely to find answers for both her mother and the cosmic imbalance there.  Plus she wasn’t sure that she could keep up with the whirlwind of activity, the fae there never seemed to rest, rushing from one idea or concept to the next.  It was a similar situation with the Court of the Uncanny, though for a different reason.  Serkan spoke fondly of cruel pranks and grand hunts.  But there was also a deep respect for the others of his Court, a motley assembly of outcasts and unwanted who regarded each other as family.

It was to her uncle and new friends alone that she announced her choice.  “Uncle Oberon, I choose the Court of Stars.  Verseau has told me of different masteries to be found within Capella, and I will pursue one of them.  I will work towards both saving the realms from the imbalance, and to find your sister,” Fallsenia said, keeping most of the tremble from her voice.  It was a momentous choice, and one she knew would carry consequence for the rest of her existence.