8698/Rebel Return: Welcome to Gemworld

Rebel Return: Welcome to Gemworld
Date of Scene:	16 November 2021
Location:	Clearing, Gotham Woods
Synopsis:	A band of heroes, expected and otherwise, embark on a new adventure to free the people of Nilaa.
Cast of Characters:	Amy Winston, Terry O'Neil, Bart Allen, Meggan Puceanu, Daniel Ketch, Kaida Connolly, Tim Drake, Victor Stone

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Amy Winston has posed:
It is a cool crisp Fall morning, with a bit of chill breeze. Which is why all of the colorful red, yellow, and orange Autumn leaves are fluttering down from the trees. Everyone got the message. After giving the Nilaian rebels some time to recover at an undisclosed location, it was time to make good on the original promise of those fliers: It was time to go to Nilaa.

So it is that they have gathered in that same clearing where Princess Amaya's original attempt at rebel recruitment took place, that clearing deep within the protected primeval forests outside of Gotham. The clearing is a strange place, particularly on the second visit. Perhaps it is an alignment of the stars, or something giving extra juice to the ley lines that run beneath this place, but its pristine natural beauty is almost too beautiful as reality itself seems to waver. The perfect place, one might imagine, to open any sort of otherworldly portal with a minimum of effort.

And there in the middle of the space astride her magnificent white winged equine steed, Ypsilos, is Princess Amaya of House Amethyst in her full purple crystalline armor and regalia, a fairytale princess straight out of the story books. She is flanked by the five Nilaan rebels, their weapons and armor fully restored and ready to both protect their leader and take the fight back to their home.

"Thank you for coming everyone! It's finally time to return and take the fight to Lord Opal!"

Terry O'Neil has posed:
And there, of course, is Vorpal. He's clad in his Titan gear, with the added protection of sensible arm, shin and thigh guards, because you never know when someone is going to thrust something at you. Because it is Autumn, however, the attire is complemented by a scarf. A /very/ long scarf in multiple colors, that wraps several times around him, and which might be familiar to those who peruse the old episodes of a TV show with a physician with a tendency to sound like an owl.

"Wouldn't have missed it for the world, princess!" he says, glowing flamingo-club firmly grasped in hand. "I brought some 'surprises' I learned to make from Harley. Just in case."

Because of course he did. That would be what is hiddein in the satchel that is slung across his shoulders.

Bart Allen has posed:
Bart Allen really should have had Balm make him some stuff, but that would mean he had to put more thought and planning into something. Not his most notable actions that. He shows up in his costume but does have a cloak on with it, and a belt with a few bags of things. Mainly salt, cause salt is anti magic. At least in his mind. He also has a sword at his side. The same type as Kaida's sword but more in normal Impulse size, than dangerous mouse size.

Meggan Puceanu has posed:
Who can fail to enjoy a gorgeous mixed deciduous Atlantic coastal forest than someone born to a forest on the other side of the ocean? Meggan needs very little excuse to come admire the soaring trees and spreading boughs that somehow dodged the axeman's tithe. No impressive mast or unfortunate broad-bellied sailing ship are these rare few specimens, and she tries not to fall into murmuring to a few of the elder alders or maples in an enthusiastic, if very one-sided conversation. People might have questions, more than they possibly do about a white-haired, bubbly girl willing to turn into a dragon to affirm her commitment to helping Nilaa.

It wasn't a big dragon, but then these forests do not accommodate large wyrms without cracking a few trunks and assorted people. Thus, she stays in her perfectly surreal mundane form, starlit hair and pointed ears a dead giveaway about fitting in among the Rebellion. Collectively, they all represent wonderful dichotomies.

"You brought your pegasus friend," she enthuses when Amaya addresses them. Appreciative looks fall to the varied outfits, gear, and glorious winged steed. Her smile widens all the surer, giving a pale green shade to eyes otherwise bleached almost marble-fair. "You are all looking wonderful. How good fresh air is!" Belle Rive's poisons suit no one. Eww, bog air.

She floats after Vorpal and lightly pokes at his scarf. "Fourth was your favourite?" Yes, she knows it. It's literally the only static part of her DNA.

Daniel Ketch has posed:
Daniel's ride is also a magical steed. It must be. It should have been impossible to drive that big motorcycle through a forest. His ride is not dirt bike, but a huge armoured motorcycle that seems the bastard child of a crotch rocket and a futuristic military bike.

But somehow he brought it here. It just... it doesn't belong to a forest. Seriously.

The young man nods to Amaya as greeting. Looking again somewhat aloof of the whole colourful gathering. He wears his coat, and yes, he has a shotgun somewhere. But really, if he gets into a fight his other self is going to show up, there is not much point on carrying weaponry.

Kaida Connolly has posed:
There's a tiny blur of brown and red. It seems Terry isn't the only one with a scarf. As she comes to a stop on a branch near to Terry, a long red scarf flutters out behind her. A dark black pair of loose fitting pants leave feet bare. A brown shirt flutters about with a long red scarf about her neck and over her lower face.

"Fear not, for I am here!" Kaida declares as she stands up straight. The loosely bunched scarf makes it easy for her to speak. Her large radar dish ears flick and shift toward sounds while her tail twitches behind her. She adjusts a shield at her back slightly and then her left hand rests on the hilt of a sword at her hip.

Tim Drake has posed:
    So, to clarify, Tim didn't get any kind of message. He had some awareness that a few of his fellow Outsiders had been helping a rebel princess of some variety fight bad guys, but given that a main tenet of the clandestine, Gotham-based team is to fight any and all superpowered bad guys who poke their noses into where they don't belong (AKA Gotham, territory of the Bats) he'd been more than okay with just letting them use their best judgment.

    He trusts his team.

    But then Carnelian--sorry, no, Carl Nellian--happened. Carl Nellian brought a bunch of orcs into Bludhaven (technically not Gotham, but close enough). Carl Nellian didn't take the orcs back to Gemworld with him when he left, which meant they went on raiding (as orcs are wont to do) and when Tim tried to get a cup of coffee for the long drive back home before leaving Bludhaven, he found a bunch of orcs tearing up the cafe.

    Tim is not the kind of person who gets angry. It's really just not his style. He's much more prone to caustic wit and acerbic sarcasm.

    Unless you mess with his caffeine.

    Ever since that night at the Bludhaven Museum of Natural History, Tim has poured hours into tracking down everything he can learn on Carl Nellian, former missing child. It has led him here. And that's a pegasus.

    Red Robin spends a not-inconsiderable amount of time just staring from where he's perched up in a tree, peering down into the clearing. Before, silently, he alights on the forest ground. Which has to be some kind of magic in and of itself, with all the crispity crunchity fallen leaves about. Bat Magic, baby. He's augmented his usual gear with a magical (possibly cursed) katana, a gift from a friend, and it isn't until he notices Bart that the young man in the cape and costume slinks forward to join the group.

    "Sorry to interrupt, but do you happen to know this man?" he asks, abruptly, as he pulls up a holographic display with a remarkably high-definition snap of Carnelian. Carnelian is holding a gun. Some wizard he is.

Victor Stone has posed:
    Victor Stone doesn't fit the aesthetic, really, with his shiny chrome, but he made a concession to the occassion, putting on a brightly-colored scarf to fit with the other Titans, teal and silver. He's about to declare his exuberance and readiness to fight the good fight when a Bat drops out of a tree.

    Well, a Robin. Whatever.

    "Oh, hey, uhhh... Red Robin, right?" He eyes the man and then looks to Amaya. /Does/ she know him?

Amy Winston has posed:
Amaya looks between those assembled smiling broadly. There is definitely a raised eyebrow at Daniel's bike, but she has slowly become accustomed to the eccentricities of the rider. The colors and joy of Terry and Meggan seem to set her at ease more than anything else. There is a warm smile for Kaida as well and a nod of greeting when the Chrome Titan makes his entrance.

Sitting regally on Ypsilos, there is a part of her that is Amaya and trying to act the station that the Nilaian rebels around her expect of her, but there is also definitely a part of her that is Amy and living out a childhood fantasy in the twilight of her teens. Not that there probably wasn't some impetus for that fantasy, the magic of her homeland tugging at the edges of lost memory.

She reaches for the fist sized amethyst around her neck preparing to open the way when there is suddenly another individual in their midst. Her eyes go to Red Robin and the hands of the five rebel soldiers flanking her all go to their weapons as he steps forward.

"You know him?" Amaya asks Victor when he speaks up on Red Robin's behalf.

Terry O'Neil has posed:
"Oh, totally- best Doctor all around!" Terry expresses his bias to Meggan with a grin. "Like, it's not even a competi-"

And then he pauses, because a robin fell from a tree. Normally, he'd put one such bird in a box and try to nurse it to health, but this Robin is decidedly too big for a box. Being a student to a ninja turtle sort of inures you towards people appearing and disappearing noiselessly around you. His sole reaction is to say:

"Oh yeah, that's Red Robin. He's cool. Hey, Robs, long time no see. Not since that rooftop in Gotham."

SO specific, there. He doesn't mention that it was also the night they both cracked a joke about Damian's height, and then a birdarang was aimed at him from the shadows. From a particularly low angle.

The Cheshire's green eyes rest on the holographic project and, after a few seconds of searching his memory, he says "Don't recognize him. But he's got a very punchable face." Ever so helpful.

Bart Allen has posed:
Bart Allen will hold a hand out a hand towards Robin a fist for the other to thump his fist to. "This is the girl SB helped out a bit and needs help kicking the evil sorcerers out and freeing her people." He explains to Robin "We are fixing to go kick but and take names, maybe even have some fun storming the castle." He offers a smile to his friend a smile and says "You coming along to help?"

Meggan Puceanu has posed:
Their mouse-heroine is back! The singular piping of Kaida earns a delighted look as Meggan looks for the petite figure among the trees, though her somewhat unerring ability to place the whereabouts of people is a heightened curse of empathy. It might even be an ideal counterspell for Bat Magic of level 7 or lower. Lilting laughter shines softly on her lips. "Our day is brightened by your presence. I'm grateful for no reason to fear." Oh, sweet summer Meg.

She pauses to pull off her shoes for no apparent reason whatsoever, the worn trainers tied together by the laces from her belt-loop. Bare toes scrunch into the needles strewn over the earth, her reaction to a sudden Red Robin appearance met with casual aplomb, as it would be. Her fingers curled in a greeting make for a friendly hello.

"Tennant deserves to be up there. And the War Doctor!" she sidelong whispers to Terry, for opinions deserves to be plucked between the twin bastions of faerie chaos. "Hello, Robin. It's been an age! Much nicer than Gotham sewers."

What do they do in Gotham sewers is probably along the lines of Belle Rive sewers. She tells Amaya, "They know him better than me, but his heart is good and his purpose never sullied by cruelty." That must be worth something for her to even bring it up. That strange projection gets a sidelong look, a shaken head. "Not exactly, no, but I could ask around later?" A wave of her hand is friendly. It also very likely means asking the forest, the city, possibly a few kilometers of ocean.

Daniel Ketch has posed:
So yeah, a bunch of magical people. And Cyborg, too. But it is easy to picture him as a knight. And Daniel, who looks pretty normal, is perfectly fine with all this, even with the Pegasus.

And then there is a ninja, falling from a tree, with holograms. That is what makes him mutter a 'what the f***'. Right, because they are close enough to Gotham. Now he could make a comment about how they are going to another world to fight an evil wizard for justice (-and- vengeance) and Robin is on the way.

Instead he sighs, "nope, never seen him. I need more coffee."

Kaida Connolly has posed:
Zipping out of the tree, Kaida appears near Red Robin, peering at him carefully from below before zipping over to Bart to assess his Bartness. She then races back past Victor, giving him a look in passing before leaping for the shoulder of none other than Terry Who. Her own scarf flips about behind her, settling only slightly once she lands.

"Looks like we have quite de group." She nods her head and smiles at Meggan before giving her a nod. "I'll make sure no one has anyt'ing to fear!" She nods her head and seems to have taken on a bit of an Irish accent, "I'm ready for a grand adventure into dis new world in which people are needing help."

Tim Drake has posed:
    "Cyborg, Vorpal," Tim replies, business-like, returning the greetings from the Titans with a polite tip of his head. One is given to Meggan, too, while still holding his hand out so that the emitter on his gauntlet can project the image of Carnelian. He hasn't yet received an answer from the Princess, but he's patient.

    Though his free hand does, of course, lift to bap his knuckles against Bart's. No greeting needed, there, beyond that.

    Instead, Red Robin gestures to the still image. "Carl Nelligan, alias Carnelian. This man raided the Bludhaven Museum of Natural History with a band of orcs, looking for a black diamond containing what I have reason to believe is a malevolent magical energy. One I've encountered before." He pauses, perhaps for dramatic effect.

    The Bats are so very fond of their drama, after all. "Thankfully he didn't find what he was looking for. However I," and here he stops, his mouth twisting and his nose bunching up beneath his domino mask. The turning of his head suggests Red Robin is scanning the group in a sweeping look, though of course his eyes are hidden behind white lenses.

    He blows out a breath. Then nods to Bart.

    "I would really like to punch him in the face."

    Yep. Tim is still mad about the coffee thing.

Victor Stone has posed:
    "He's good people," Cyborg notes. "A friend of the Titans, a friend of Bart's. Hey, Red, you want to come storm a magic castle with us?" He indicates Amaya. "Look, she's got an /actual/ pegasus. And there was this guy in really awful armor who had ogres and, uhh... hyena people."

    He eyes the projection of Carnelian. "...He really does have a very punchable face. Hey, Kaida, am I allowed to punch /him/?" He's grinning. The whole tense business at Titans Tower a week or two ago has mostly washed over by now, at least in his mind.

Amy Winston has posed:
Amaya seems lost at all of the Doctor talk, likely she didn't get much exposure to British TV growing up. But for now her attention is on Red Robin. "Stand down." She tells the rebel soldiers when many of the assembled heroes seem to know him and even a dragon vouches for the purity of his heart. The rebels seem to relax, at least a little, but still seem rather protective of their princess.

"See? You have nothing to worry about." Amaya tells the rebel soldier, gesturing towards Kaida, before looking back towards Cyborg and Red Robin again.

Studying Red Robin's projection, Amaya's expression sours from the bright exuberance she was projecting before. "Yes, I know him. You're not the only one who wants to punch him in the face." There is a general murmuring of agreement among the rebel soldiers to the tune of 'damn right'.

"Carl?" That is apparently new information and for a moment makes it far more difficult to take the man seriously, but she manages to regain her composure. "That is Carnellian, yes, the adopted son of Lord Opal who is the Tyrant currently in control of Nilaa. Underestimate Carnelian at your own risk, while he has no magic of his own, he is incredibly cunning and has caused many setbacks to the rebellion's efforts over the past year."

She nods at the mention of Orcs, "Dark Opal, has managed to summon many terrible creatures from other realms to do his bidding. It is how he managed to amass an army capable of opposing all the other houses. Black Diamonds are new though." She looks to the rebel soldiers around her, who equally don't seem to know anything about black diamonds. "House Diamond was decimated by Dark Opal and the fates of its heirs are still unknown."

Terry O'Neil has posed:
"Carl... neli- oh for crying out loud. We're going to be thematic, aren't we?" Vorpal mutters, after giving Meggan a thumbs up on her WHO suggestions. "Okay, then, henceforth I am lord Catseye. And this here..." he trails off, looking at Kaida.

There are gemstones named after peacocks, crocodiles, even bumblebees. But nobody apparently has named a gemstone after a mouse "... we'll think of something."

Swinging his magical club over his shoulder, he says, "Enough talk. If Red Robin will come with us to storm the castle, I am more than ready to go and bust their opals."

Bart Allen has posed:
Bart Allen looks over and says "I'll hold him while you punch him, saw it on a hockey match that was on the tv in the break room." He looks to Amy and says "He maybe cunning but he aint got anything on Rob. I have and will follow him through anything." He says sincerely. He does hold up a finger and is off and back again in the blink of an eye with a new bag tied over his shoulder, and is munching on a slim jim.

Meggan Puceanu has posed:
Meggan needs a fair bit to take in. First of all, the sudden arrangement of all these fancy names after stones, which causes her to round her eyes slightly. With a quick shake of her head, she says, "Perhaps something like a pretty grey gemstone? There must be several."

Felicitations to contribute but not much else render her quiet for a moment, and then the barefooted girl rises up from the soil reluctantly by about two or three inches. "Vor-- Lord Catseye is correct, we should not tarry any further or else we risk losing advantages." She shakes her head a bit to move her silvery hair in feathered sheets, brushing it off her face.

"Does anyone know if he has to breathe?" Dark Opal or Carnelian, probably, as opposed to Terry. The genuinely gentle way she asks that might banish any notion of terrible ideas, totally.

Daniel Ketch has posed:
"Damn, I will be Brimstone, I suppose," mutters Daniel. Maybe Count Brimstone. He always wanted to be a Count. Well, at least between 10 and 12 years old. "Actually, I am actually interested in hearing more about Nilaa's society. But perhaps we should get going too. A gathering of weird people like this is likely going to draw more attention." He looks at Robin at saying this. "Possible attention from the other side, too."

Kaida Connolly has posed:
A smile is offered to the rebels and then she looks over to Terry and she rolls her eyes at him, "Rhodonite, obviously." She snickers before shaking her head and looking over toward Victor, "Rhodonite Ninja!" She declares and races over to Victor's shoulder and flips up to his shoulder unless stopped before poking him.

"Punching is always allowed. Just like I still kinda sorta owe you a punch!" She nods and shakes a tiny fist at him before she nods and then looks forward, "I am willing to put your punishment on hold, however, till we sort all dis out!"

Tim Drake has posed:
    The support for his presence coming from so many corners, many unexpected--well, Tim appreciates Bart's support, and the depth of it is certainly unexpected in its own way--causes Red Robin to pause. He looks at the Titans who vouch for him, and at Meggan as well, then clears his throat.

    Which is about the extent of letting his emotions show that Tim will allow while he's in costume.

    "Carl Nelligan. He was reported missing by his family several years ago, and as far as I can tell he vanished entirely up until three nights ago when he broke into the museum."

    As the projection dims before finally vanishing, Red Robin exhales slowly. "We can discuss the black diamonds at a later time. It was several years ago when I..." Uh. How do you explain that a then-fifteen year old villain used them to unleash a Kaiju of nefarious mystical energy upon Gotham, and now you're dating said villain?

    Easy: you don't. "Encountered them last."

    He nods once. Then, quietly, he says to Bart, "Thank you."

    Okay, maybe a little bit more emotions showing there.

Victor Stone has posed:
    "Hematite," Cyborg says with an entirely straight face. He grins at Kaida. "Later," he agrees.

    "I'm with Terry. Let's get to Nilaa, storm the castle, and roust this Dark Opal for good." Oh, if only it were really going to be /that/ simple...

Amy Winston has posed:
There is a small sigh that escapes Amethyst at the talk of storming castles and toppling Dark Opal. It's not that she doesn't appreciate the sentiment. "No castle storming just yet. If it were that easy the rebellion wouldn't be in the state its in. Dark Opal's grip on the other Great Houses needs to be broken, his armies scattered, and if possible Diamond and Ruby restored somehow. There is a lot to do." But she forces her expression to brighten again. "But I know we can succeed with all of your help. I grew up reading stories about Earth's heroes and seeing them on TV. If anyone can help," The claiming of different stone names also manages to bring forth a giggle from Amaya. She does her best to put on the lofty airs of a fantasy princess, but there is still a girl who grew up on Earth in there.

Amaya nods slowly as she listens to Red Robin's explanation, Carnelian being from Earth would explain his utter lack of magic at the very least. "We can discuss this further at Castle Amethyst, I am sure Citrina will have her own wisdom to add." She just sort of accepts Red Robin is coming now, like it is already decided.

The fist sized perfectly cut Amethyst crystal she wears around her neck is held aloft and the entire clearing pulses with mystical energy, the air practically vibrates and hums as a beam of purple light shoots from the crystal and forms into a shimmering purple portal. "This way, mind the crossing between worlds. If you stray from the path you'll be lost forever in the nether-void." And with that she guides her magnificent steed towards the portal and rides through.

Those following after her will experience the truth of her words, a shimmering purple path leading to another portal perhaps one hundred feet away. In all directions off the path though is a seemingly infinite nether void that of inky black and the occasional half-seen monstrous shape in the distance.

The second portal beyond the glowing path opens up into a world like Earth, but definitely not Earth. The sky is blue but the color is somehow off, an usual shade almost too pastel. The flora is different too, the plants come in mostly familiar shapes but there are far more colors and chaotic wild growths. The fauna is different, those are birds certainly, but not the birds of Earth. Some are larger and wilder, others more beautiful, exquisitely so. The entire place is like a fantastical imagination run wild and looming before the intrepid adventurers, Castle Amethyst.

The castle is massive and seems to be carved largely from the gemstone of its namesake, soaring towers and sweeping parapets, with a massive drawbridge entrance straight out of any number of fantasy stories. Though far from flawless, this sparkling castle has seen better days, some towers are cracked, chunks missing here and there from the parapets like they have suffered under bombardment from siege weaponry. It is the Jewel of the Ruling House, but a cracked jewel all the same. Still however it continues to sparkle defiantly.

Terry O'Neil has posed:
Vorpal twirls his flamingo club and the chaos magic construct transforms into a cane. And then it elongates to a ridiculous extent, like the cartoon of a vaudevillian's 'hook' cane. He holds it behind him and says, "Everybody grab hold of the cane. We don't want people falling into infinite impossibilities because then we'll have to write your mothers about it."

After coming out on the other side of the portals, he lets out a whistle upon sighting the castle.

And then, after a moment's musing, he adds "You know... this isn't the first time I've traveled to a crystal castle you had to access through a necklace. And I am not entirely sure what that says about my life."

Bart Allen has posed:
Bart Allen follows along he is rubber necking some, but he stays to the path, and once they are on the other side of the portal, he fumbles in one of his pouches and pulls out a digital camera, and starts taking pictures of the animals. He is almost vibrating to want to run around taking closer pictures of the animals, but he looks over to Red Robin, and will still himself, but he does continue to take pictures if he sees a new animal.

Meggan Puceanu has posed:
The void ought to be frightening, and in some way, Meggan knows the emptiness better than anything else. She strays just a footstep behind Vorpal, her self-appointed lead in the marching order, those pale grey-green eyes reflecting the everlasting dark. One hand put to his ridiculous cane keeps her moving along, though easily drawn given she floats.

Another portal sparkles around them, and a good deal of the lasting radiance falls upon the pale-haired girl. She inhales at the sight of the castle, her smile widening to one of sheer, unadulterated joy rarely seen on people over the age of twelve. Fourteen, maybe, in a mystic realm such as this. "Oh," she breathes. "It says wonderful things!"

The chiming of her voice resonates with usually unheard harmonies, melodious and lyrical. Silver knotwork literally flows over her left arm in living spellwork, though it does absolutely nothing for the iridescent lightshow playing over her with no subtlety at all. Or the starry green of her eyes. "Such loveliness is paramount to preserve, however we may be of assistance." Her body's practically subtly shifting to meet the moment, and it's only a matter of time before she gets the trailing current of hair behind her or flowers springing up again. Magic is a drug and helloooo, addict.

Tim Drake has posed:
    Somehow, the bit about not straying from the path if you don't want to be trapped in the void forever isn't even the most surprising part of all this. Not that it matters; Tim is committed enough to punching Carl that he's willing to accept a fair bit more than he would otherwise. The Bats and their grudges... though this one is very Tim-specific.

    Has he mentioned how the orcs kept his precious coffee from him, recently?

    Red Robin follows through the portal, sticking close to Impulse for reasons that are probably obvious. Though Bart is showing a serious amount of restraint, which in turn convinces Tim that whatever cause this is, it's a worthy one.

    Because for Bart this must be torture.

    His own reaction, once they're through and free, is rather subdued in comparison to the others. The domino mask hides a fair bit of his expression, and while it's clear he's looking around by the way his head turns to-and-fro, Tim is a quiet presence among the group.

    It's really the castle, with its damaged parapets and battleworn facade, that really catches his attention.

    "They've really been through it, haven't they?" he asks, no one in particular.

Victor Stone has posed:
    Cyborg's attention, too, is drawn to the castle. Not that the place isn't beautiful and breathtaking, and not Vic hasn't been known to indulge in similar things at times, but his tactical eyes is drawn right to the reason they've come--the castle, with its cracked towers and missing parapets. He frowns slightly, his exuberance dimming.

    "Damn," he mutters. "They /have/ been through it. Not as lovely as it could be." He looks over at Amaya. "But we'll see it gets fixed. You were right, to trust Earth's heroes. We get the job done."

    He's starting to think they might need to call on some help, though. Some of the other Titans, maybe.

Amy Winston has posed:
Once everyone is done taking in the view, Amaya motions for them to follow as she spurs on Ypsilos towards the castle. She pauses in front of the glittering moat that surrounds it. The moat is filled with something that seems like water but glitters like gemstones. The sound of creaking chains can be heard as the drawbridge is lowered and the portcullis raised, even the wood here seems to have at least a bit of glitter to it.

"Everyone, welcome to Nilaa and Castle Amethyst."

And with that she leads them across the bridge and into the castle to the beginning of a new adventure.