snip

Emrys cackled with laughter, “Then let’s begin you lumpish battle brained pignuts”. Before anyone could react to his foul mouthed epithet he waved a hand and the room faded with a flash leaving them standing on the green crest of a hill overlooking a peaceful valley with a dark grey castle sitting in the middle of it a river running down both sides of it and a drawbridge that was down providing access.

Just as the scene had changed so had their clothing and accoutrements. Stark looked down at the rough spun cloth he was wearing in a mixture of forest greens and browns. A longbow was fastened across his back with a quiver. He looked at the others and the weapons they had been provided and nodded in satisfaction.

“Anyone feel up for a touch of castle storming?” Stark’s dark grin was vicious and he was obviously living his best life.

S’Raal grimaced, “We could try diplomacy you know…”

Stark Nightstalker.

Marishka barely had time to blink before the scene had changed. Glancing up she realized how bright the sun was, blinked several times, and looked around before noticing everything about her ensemble had changed.

‘Well, what’s another costume?’ she thought. At least the weapons were real.

Looking at Stark, she realized just how at home he seemed in this environment.

“I have always wondered if you were a man out of time good sir.”

• Marishka

Stark chuckled, “I think you’re going to like this as well Marishka”.

The change of scenery happened without the usual hum of a transporter and was so fast that Tello had to blink a couple of times to let the new reality set in. “Whoa…that was a bit unnerving.” She looked around at the area and at the others in the group, taking note of their unrefined clothing. She ran her hands over her hair, face and body making sure it was all there. She was dressed in pants, boots and a loose shirt with a dagger hanging in a short scabbard over her right hip. “Okay, so this is different.”

—Anaar, XO

Orvos had done enough sudden transporting through the Nexus to have become accustomed to such things even now. He looked down at his garb. He wore a dark blue loosely fitted shirt with a brown leather vest over it. His trousers had a dark blue accent to them as well. A black belt held a pouch of coins and several throwing knives. On his hip, was short sword that was a bit too small for the sheath it was fitted into. Odd, he thought to himself.

“All part a de service madam,” Emrys did a grotesque imitation of a bow.

Stark looked down at the castle, “Judging by what were looking at I’m going to guess we’re looking at collecting “Albion”. In the reality we visited last we had an ancestor of Robin of Locksley to claim it, this time around I have no idea if it is Albion we’re after or who is being called to bond. Do any of you feel some kind of pull towards the castle?”

Stark Nightstalker CIO

“I’m not sure I can distinguish a pull from intense curiosity,” chimed in Orvos. “But I’m definitely ready to make a scene,” he said with a mischievious grin.

Marishka sighed and centered herself. Perhaps it was time to put all those years of Vulcan meditation to use. Was she being pulled? The castle was a lovely yet incredibly imposing structure. Perhaps it was something she would care to investigate as some type of tourist but, would pull be the right word to use? No, more centering was needed before she would be able to answer that.

• Marishka

Stark looked at the castle below and then led them around the crest of the hill and down to a point upriver. “I’m going to lay bets that with the river flowing on either side of the castle that there will be something that channels the water when it floods. If we’re lucky, we might be able to get inside through a pipe of some sort. Can everyone swim?”.

Stark Nightstalker CIO

Marishka took stock of what she was wearing yet again.

“If I loose what passes for shoes at the moment, yes.”

Most Klingons didn’t like to swim but many Orions found it quite erotic, especially the females. Since she had never been completely guided by one of her racial components, she had learned to swim, much to her father’s frustration.

• Marishka

Tello nodded. Her father tasked her brothers to teach her to swim when she was very young. As far as feeling drawn to the castle? She was aware of a sense of curiosity about seeing the inside of it and possibly the people who lived there, but there wasn’t any sensation of need to get there—at least not yet. Perhaps as they got closer? She would simply wait and see. This adventure was all new territory for her so she would have to read and adapt as they went.

—Anaar, XO

“Can, yes. Though some may end up being more of a distraction to anyone watching the walls.” said Orvos hinting at the fact that Marishka’s physiology could get them in trouble, so to speak. “I almost wonder if a distraction could be of some good use though.” he added thoughtfully.

-Lt. Commander Orvos Legen, CE

Marishka turned and smiled at Orvos.

“And just what did you have in mind?” she asked standing straight and looking him in the eye.

The reason she had shown no outward surprise at her costume change was because it reminded her of things she had often worn before.

She wore a headband of small dangling coins that tinkled quietly as she moved.
Her earrings were long dangling intricate works of art consisting of chains and pieces of abalone, jade, and obsidian.
She wore a fitted vest of fine green silk that left her nearly exposed and was embroidered in pale greens and golds with precious stones set in strategic locations.
Her green silk dual split skirt, that matched her vest, draped down, fitting her curves, the front panel covered the front of her legs from mid thigh to mid thigh and down to her knees. The back panel wrapped from one outer thigh, around behind, to the other outer thigh and tapered to drape down just above her heels.
The skirt was held up with a segmented belt made of seven heavy metal bars that Stark should recognize.
Her feet were bare except for intricate leather strapping from the middle toes of her feet, over the tops of her feet, around her legs up the her knees.

Marishka looked like a dancer.

“You know, I think I’ll keep the shoes.” she said putting a hand on her hip.

• Marishka

Michail had been silent up until now and blended into the background well in his brown and green rustic outfit. “S’Raal, T’Pon and I could create the diversion if you wish while the rest of you infiltrate?”

Michail