19249/That Troll Animatronic Is Amazing!

That Troll Animatronic Is Amazing!
Date of Scene:	08 October 2024
Location:	Westchester Rennaisance Festival Grounds
Synopsis:	Aisling learns that magic is real!
Cast of Characters:	Amy Winston, Aisling Caroll

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Amy Winston has posed:
The sun hangs over the grounds of the Renaissance Festival in upstate New York. Lively chatter fills the cool air, mixed with the smells of roasting meat and cider. At the entrance gate, banners wave above as people in costume call out to the crowd, inviting them in.

Merchants line the paths, selling jewelry, swords, and period clothes. The distant sound of a lute carries over, accompanied by a singer's voice telling tales of old. In the center, knights ready themselves for the jousting tournament, the clink of their armor and the stomp of horses building excitement among onlookers.

At the heart of the festival stands the jousting arena, where knights in shining armor prepare for the grand tournament. The clatter of hooves and the clang of metal against metal echo across the fairgrounds, sending a thrill of anticipation through the crowd. Noble lords and ladies stroll through the marketplace, their silken robes trailing behind them as they pause to admire the fine craftsmanship on display.

Aisling Caroll has posed:
    Things had been moving incredibly fast since Aisling first took her new job at Xaviers as a Nurse. So much had happened, she'd met so many people, and the days had flown by like a whirlwhind. She'd scarecly had a single moment to herself to relax, and process things, but sitting in her room alone wasn't an option. Not with someone as stir crazy as she can get. No, the open road called and she had a phone, saved up money, and the bike she loved. So, a day off was needed and a destination for the ride to explore upstate New York, a place she'd never been in her life, was also needed. That destination? The Renn Faire. She'd never been to one, and today, that was going to change.

    She'd arrived, paid for her ticket, and began wondering about the place in sheer awe of it all. This was, out of the world to a former/maybe still Gothamite. That and the food, what were these things? SCotch Eggs? THey were so incredibly yummy... and she'd bought several of them, found a bench to sit on, and was happily munching away while people watching.

Amy Winston has posed:
A shimmering portal flickers to life at the edge of the Renaissance Festival grounds, hidden just beyond a thicket of trees. With a burst of light, Amy tumbles through, landing hard on her side. Her dress is torn, blood smeared across her arm, but her eyes are sharp, burning with focus. Gritting her teeth, she scrambles to her feet and quickly notches an arrow, aiming back at the still-open portal.

"Come on, portal, close!" she mutters, urgency in her voice.

But just as the portal begins to shrink, a massive clawed hand tears it wide again. A hulking troll, snarling with malice, lumbers through, eyes glowing with hunger. His jagged teeth glint as he growls, "I have you now, little morsel!"

Amy fires, hitting the troll square in the face. "I'm not done yet!" she yells, drawing another arrow as the troll recoils in pain.

The crowd nearby, unaware of the very real danger unfolding, claps and cheers, mistaking the scene for a thrilling new addition to the festival's entertainment. The troll, however, roars in pain, swiping at the arrow stuck in his face, his focus fixed on Amy as she stands her ground, ready for the next strike.

Aisling Caroll has posed:
    Joys of being around so many people with powers and abilities, is that one can tell when something is in fact, NOT part of the festival.

    The portal snapping open, and throwing out a young woman dressed like a princess from one of Ais's most beloved fantasy novels would normally rattle her. There are people here though, people that don't know, people that need protecting and that other young woman needs help.

    Aisling hops off the bench she was happily calling home, finishes up her food, because ya know it's yummy. When standing up right she inhales and exhales, and in a single swift motion she uproots the bench entirely in all it's solid metal and wood glory. "Hey!!! Ugly!!!" she screams, "Catch!!!" oh gods ais, you're a dork.

    The joys of being able to lift a ton, is that when you don't lift that much? It makes it much easier to throw it, at speed. So, Troll with Arrow in face? Meet bench. Bench? Meet Troll.

Amy Winston has posed:
The troll growled, wiping at the arrow stuck in his face. "You think that hurts, little morsel?" he sneered at Amy. "I'll crush you before-"

He paused, hearing a voice from the side.

"Hey!!! Ugly!!!"

The troll turned just in time to see a bench-yes, a whole bench-flying toward him. It slammed into his chest with a thunderous crack, knocking him back several paces. He roared in frustration, stumbling to stay upright, knocking over a tree in the process.

"You think that's enough to stop me?" he snarled, swinging his massive arm in the direction the bench had come from. "I'll feast on all of you, starting with the loud one!" He lunged forward, blood dripping from the wound in his face, eyes wild with fury.

The crowd rolls with approval.

Amy glances over at the young woman that offered an assist and offers her a quick smile. Then, her eyes start to glow violet. "Meree aatma ko pankh de, udaan!" With a leap, she takes flight, dropping the bow and arrow and starts a second spells. "Maanik ko laal hone do, jvaala!" From between her hands, a sperk of fire forms and blazes down at the troll, engulfing it, but not before it swats the Princess down into the ground with a grunt.

Aisling Caroll has posed:
    That's, that's magic... like, honest to gods magic. Holy...

    No, no Ais, focus. You know this is real, they don't, and she needs your help.

    "No!!! But /I/ AM!!!" she snaps back at the snarling mountain. Time to live up to her chosen moniker. Aisling leans down, taking a sprinters ready start, and bursts forward. She's not a speedster, not even close to a 1,000th of a percentile compared to the real ones. She has cracked nearly forty miles an hour before though, and at this distance, with that speed? She's crossing the gap faster than most regular people can track.

    So, close that distance she does, like an arrow let loose from it's bow. She slides to stop, spinning around kicking up dirt and kneeling with her back to the troll. Her eyes, one sapphire and the other emerald, lock on to Amy's. She reaches a hand out like the knights her books and offers an impossibly warm smile. "Do you require assistance my lady?" Oh yea Ais, ham it up for the crowd.

Amy Winston has posed:
Amy watches, wide-eyed, as Aisling strikes the troll. Flames lick at the creature's skin, its roar of pain filling the air before it collapses. In a burst of magic, the troll vanishes in a shower of glowing sparks, leaving the battlefield silent for a moment. Amy, still holding her bow, exhales deeply, trying to steady herself. Her arm aches, blood trickling down, but she lowers her weapon.

Then Aisling appears before her, kneeling like a knight out of a storybook. The crowd watches in awe, thinking it's part of the festival, as she smiles and extends her hand. "Do you require assistance, my lady?" Aisling asks, voice warm and playful.

Amy blinks, still processing the fight, but something about the gesture pulls her into old habits. She takes Aisling's hand and, with a soft smile, dips herself in a light curtsey slightly. "Thank you, brave knight," she says, slipping into her royal tone, her voice a bit shaky but sincere. "Your strength has saved me from certain doom. I am in your debt."

The crowd erupts into cheers, clapping and shouting, convinced this is the most immersive show they've seen all day. Some even throw coins toward the pair, calling out for more.

But Amy's vision wavers for a moment, the adrenaline fading as pain and exhaustion creep in. She stumbles slightly, gripping Aisling's hand a bit tighter. "Though, I... might need a bit more help than that," she admits quietly, her voice faltering as she tries to stay upright. The wound on her arm throbs, a reminder that she's not as fine as she appears.

Aisling Caroll has posed:
    "Thank you for your adulations fair Lords and Ladies!" Aisling plays this up, because she needs too. They both need too. She leans in to whisper in Amy's ear, "We need to make ourselves scarce. Just, hold on for me."

    She bows lightly to the crowd and starts to help guide Amy towards a back stage curtain hanging between two of the nearby shop buildings. She hopes no one is going to challenge them at the moment, that and it might help them make a safter get away.

    "Stewards will be by shortly to collect your generous donations!" another lie to sell the show, to wrap it up in a tight bow.

    With that handled, she goes back to holding Amy upright and guiding her out back.

Amy Winston has posed:
Amy clung to Aisling, their sides pressed together as they moved through the crowd, her head spinning from both the wound and the rush of the fight. She forced a smile to stay on her face as Aisling played to the crowd, bowing slightly when they cheered, though each step sent a sharp pulse of pain through her arm. Still, the regal habits kicked in, and she couldn't help but speak in her royal tone, despite the situation.

"Thank you, kind people! You have my deepest gratitude!" she called out, her voice trembling just enough that it could pass as part of the act. Inside, she was struggling to keep up, but Aisling's whisper steadied her.

As they made their way toward the curtain, Amy leaned in closer, her voice quieter and a little less formal. "I owe you for this," she said softly, her breath shaky. "You've got some impressive timing. But let me get us away from here and to safety."

She lifts her hand and speaks, "Hamen yahaan se le chalo. Teleeport karo!" Normally, she'd open a portal back to Nilaa... but for now, just behind the buildings and farm should work.

Aisling Caroll has posed:
    Traveling via magic and portals, that's going to be a first. Once they're behind the buildings and farm, Aisling pulls away from Amy slightly only to place both of her hands on the other womans shoulders. A smile crawls back across her lips, there's such warmth and kindness in her face. "No" she shakes her head to add the extra emphasis, "You don't." That one, in reply to her being owed. Already living up to her namesake it seems.

    "Now, if you'll do me a favor and sit for me? I'll get that wound taken care of."

    Aisling goes to work once she's certain Amy is as comfortable as she can be. She closes her eyes and draws back in to her own mind as she reaches both of her hands out. She inhales and exhales to stele herself, she's pure focus. Then, she gets to it...First, the pain subsides. It's pure warmth, like a waited blanket.

    Then, the bleeding stops.

    Lastly, Amy's wound knits itself slowly back together. With any luck, there wont even be a scar.

    Once she's done, Aisling opens her eyes and lets out a puff of air between her lips. The smile returns as she takes her hands back and folds her arms. "There, all done. How do you feel?"

Amy Winston has posed:
Amy sinks down onto a nearby crate, the weight of exhaustion finally catching up to her. She's still shaky, the fight having taken more out of her than she's willing to admit, but Aisling's calm presence helps her stay grounded. She watches as Aisling works, the warmth spreading through her wound like a soothing balm.

As the pain fades, Amy can't help but let out a small sigh of relief, feeling her body relax for the first time since the portal chase. The magic that knits her skin back together feels different from her own, more comforting, like being wrapped in something familiar yet new.

When Aisling steps back, folding her arms with that easy smile, Amy touches her arm where the wound had been, blinking at the smooth skin. "You're... amazing," she breathes, her voice soft but sincere. The gratitude in her eyes is unmistakable as she looks up at Aisling, soft violet eyes meeting her mismatched ones. "And so dapper for a knight." she teases.

Feeling steadier now, Amy offers a smile of her own, though it's a bit more subdued. "I feel... much better, thanks to you. I didn't think I'd get through that in one piece." She stands slowly, testing her balance. "But really, I don't know how to repay you for this. You've saved me twice over today. As for your words... I am Princess Amaya Amethsyt, First Princess of Nilaa, and I always repay my debts. Though on Earth, you may refer to me as Amy."

Aisling Caroll has posed:
    "Princess..." pause, blink, "of Nilaa?" she stammers this part out, utterly awestruck. "I..." she shakes her head and just jumps straight to it. She has an accent, but it's been subdued, or maybe the whole of the battle didn't make it noticeable. So, when she speaks here and now, in this quiet, it's very obvious. Though, perhaps the good princess doesn't know much about Ireland?

    "Hey, hey, hold on a moment..." Ais blurts out as she moves forward to place both arms square on Amy's shoulders again. "Give ya'self a moment lass..." she adds in, giving her a good look over. "My mutation grants me healing, but that doesn't mean your body just resets. You're going to feel the effects of that fight for thirty to an hour or so."

    Once she's certain that the other woman isn't going to just, crumple to the ground in a heap, she steps back and offers a hand. "Aisling, Aisling Caroll." As to the everything else? "As to being a /knight/, my fellows just call me Paladin. Something of a moniker I picked up when I proved I was very tanky, could dish out a lot of punishment, and heal people." The wink-smirk that follows is almsot something straight out of an anime protaganist.

Amy Winston has posed:
Blinking at Aisling's words, Amy finds the accent catching her off guard, though it only adds to the warmth and authenticity of the moment. She doesn't have much experience with Ireland, but the kindness and sincerity in Aisling's voice speak louder than any accent.

She chuckles softly, feeling the weight of the day settling into her muscles despite the healing. "Paladin, huh?" Amy says, her smile widening a bit as she reaches up and lightly caresses Aisling's cheek with the back of her knuckles, a gentle touch and very on court. "I suppose that's a fitting name for someone who just saved me twice. You've certainly lived up to it."

For a moment, Amy straightens herself, drawing on her royal training to keep herself poised despite the lingering exhaustion. "And yes," she adds with a slight dip of her head, "Princess of Nilaa. It's... complicated, but I think you've earned an explanation."

She exhales softly, glancing back toward the festival grounds. "I'm not from around here-obviously," she adds with a wry smile. "Let's just say my world has its own issues, and trolls like that one are a bit too common for my liking."

Her eyes soften as she looks back at Aisling. "Thank you, though. For everything. I might still feel the fight, but at least I'm not in pieces. I'm lucky you were there."

She shifts slightly, still trying to find her balance, then looks back up at Aisling with a thoughtful expression. "Maybe once I've caught my breath, you can show me what else you can do. I'm always looking for good allies. Especially ones who can tank and heal." She throws in a playful wink of her own, feeling a bit more like herself again.

Aisling Caroll has posed:
    Aisling nods, "Aye, Paladin, that's the Moniker, suppose I do sort of live up to it at times." She takes a big deep breath and exhales, shrugging her shoulders. "I mean, I don't really think I did all that much Princess..." she adds with a light smirk. "I just saw someone I thought needed help, and acted." It really is just that simple to her.

    "You're welcome..." wait a tick, "Your world? What else I can do?" Okay, this has to be a dream, right? "I... can I see it?" she just blurts out before stopping herself. "I mean, your world... there's other worlds? What's it like? Was that real magic?"

Amy Winston has posed:
"Oh, you're new to all this. Okay." Amy scootches over a little and pats the crate for Aisling to join her. "So, when I was really young... like, still a toddler, my Realm, Nilaa, came under attack by one of the Princes that wanted all of the Gems powers for himself. He murdered my mother and father and I was brought by my Witch Mother to Earth."

Amy smiles at Aisling's genuine curiosity, her eyes lighting up despite the weariness still lingering. There's something about Aisling's excitement that feels so grounded, so real, and it pulls Amy out of the intensity of the moment for a second. She lets out a soft laugh, shaking her head.

"It's always real magic when it involves trolls," she says, a little teasing in her tone. "And yes, other worlds-Nilaa is mine. It's... hard to explain in a way that makes sense." Amy pauses, searching for the right words, but there's a spark of pride in her voice as she continues. "It's a world filled with magic, both beautiful and dangerous. Gemstone kingdoms, creatures unlike anything here... and constant battles to protect it."

Her hand subconsciously moves to the spot where the wound had been, her fingers brushing over the now-smooth skin. "And what you did? That was a lot. You saw the danger and jumped right in, without hesitation. That's something that takes more than just strength."

Lifting up her hand, she summons an amethyst and turns it over in her fingers, before offering it to Aisling.

Aisling Caroll has posed:
    "I mean, a little, yeah... I grew up an orphan, on the streets of a big city. I've seen, supers and others like me, and people who can do things I can't explain. Nothing, quite like this though."

    Her curiosity and wonder fades for a moment, maybe some cracks showing in the mask she puts on. The mask that says she's strong and capable. "I, don't think much of it really. No one ever saved me, so, I save others. I just try and do what I wish someone would do for me."

    She steps back and then stares at the Amethyst for a moment before taking it, "How... what is this?" It's obviously a gemstone, but, she's having a hard time processing the creation of a gemstone out of thin air.

Amy Winston has posed:
"It's an amethyst. It's a thank you gift from the Princess of Nilaa to Lady Paladin for her assistance both against the troll and for your healing afterwards." Amy says with a grin. "As I said, a Princess pays her debts." she points out as she resets her hands back on her lap to soothe her skirt. "I was adopted on Earth. They were good parents."

"It's a piece of Nilaa's magic," Amy explains, her tone soft but filled with a quiet reverence. "Amethyst is one of the gemstones tied to the magic of my world. I thought you might appreciate it. I can create them, in a way - part of my connection to Nilaa."

Aisling Caroll has posed:
    "An amethyst..." she echos, as she is just lost in the brilliance of it. So lost in it, that she skips over the part about repaying debts. It's the being adopted on earth and having good parents part that brings her back to the world. She looks up and clutches the gem fully in a closed fist.

    "Were?" she asks rather plainly, a light smirk forming on her face as she follows it with an understanding nod. "I'm sorry" she adds. The kind of of understanding between orphans hangs in the air.

    "Thank you, and, call me Ais" pronounced as Ace. "Though, now, you're not the only one that wants to know what the other girl can do." She takes that smirk and forms a larger smile.

Amy Winston has posed:
"Were," Amy echoes softly, her voice even. "It's? complicated. But I had good parents while I was here on Earth." She lets that thought linger for a moment before offering a small smile. "I'm sorry, too."

She listens as Aisling tells her to call her "Ais," catching the pronunciation with a nod. "Ais," Amy repeats, trying it out. "Thank you. And you're welcome to see what I can do, but... you might want to brace yourself." There's a lightness in her tone now, a hint of playfulness as she mirrors Aisling's smile.

"And maybe... another time. I'm really am worn out from earlier. But if you want to plan to meet another time?" she suggests with a little smile.

Aisling Caroll has posed:
    Aisling nods in uderstanding, she gets it. She wont push either. "Consider me fully braced Princess" she adds letting out a light laugh. To the last part, she nods in full understanding. "Another time" she nods, pausing a moment, "I'd rather have a friend more than a gemstone as a reward by the way. Or at least, the chance to make one."

Amy Winston has posed:
"Oh, that's easy. You only need to ask my brave Paladin." Amy says with a faint smile. Rising to her feet, she grips the sides of her skirt and offers a formal dip of a curtsey. "As the Princess of Amethyst, Heir of my House, I offer my hand in friendship to you, Ais, Paladin of Earth. Or at least of the Ren Faire. I'd be honored to call you friend."

Aisling Caroll has posed:
    Aisling just beams from ear to ear. She returns the curtsey with a bow. "I would be honored as well to call you friend Princess" she adds, pure joy radiating from her and out in to the world.