May you always have walls for the wind...

[Ravenheart]

It may have been night in New York, but a new day was dawning over the Emerald Isle, and the sun peaked through cloudy skies as a portal opened inside the entrance way of Raven's Rock, the ancestral home of the Clan MacFeorais.

"Mum? Da?" Cormac shouted as he carefully guided in the energy cocoon holding his nephew Finn, followed close behind by Zach and Ichigo. "I hope your grandparents are here, boys. It will make this a lot easier. Mum is a grand healer."

As he looked around the entrance, Cormac could tell no one had likely been there very long if they were there at all. Things still looked a bit too immaculate for their own good. He was used to this place being busy and noisy and somewhat in a constant state of disarray.

There were always two constants in Raven's Rock. The first, and the one no one could see yet, was the tapestry in the grand dining room. The tapestry was a living thing, and you could always tell the health of the family by the way people looked on it. You could also tell which family members had new partners or who was now walking the road alone once more.

The other constant was the plaque that greeted all as they entered the house:

May you always have walls for the winds,
a roof for the rain, tea beside the fire,
laughter to cheer you, those you love near you,
and all your heart might desire.

"Hullo! Is anyone home?" Cormac shouted again as he and his nephews stood in the hallway.

[Eiriu]

"Thank the Goddess we are out of that nightmare!" Maeve sputtered as she, Erin and Laurel followed Cormac and the others through the portal. "Mac, what in the name of the Holy Isle was that all about?"

"You think I know?" Cormac said as he turned around and looked at his sister and nieces. "Le Fay was always a sore subject with Sister Dearest, and now we all know why. She is insane!"

"Sister Dearest? You mean Auntie Kari?" Laurel asked as Cormac nodded to her. "Trust me. No one likes Morgan Le Fay. Except Doctor Doom, I guess. The idea that he and Le Fay had a child together is just too weird for words. As in ewwww, can't erase that image from my mind now!"

"Then let's not go there," Maeve said with a chuckle. "Erin, would you like to look around the house a bit, or would you just like to find a room so you can rest? This house was built with a lot of pocket dimensions since it is on a ley line, so there is plenty of room."

 

[Roslea MacFeorais]

"I take it the party was a bust?" Roslea said as she walked out of the dining room with Annaliese and Brigid in tow. "I brought the girls here once Hayley went to that mutant exhibit in San Francisco. Some of the things on display are a bit too scary for little nieces, so we had a tea party instead. Hence my lovely purple glitter nail polish and feather boa. From the looks of you all, I think you all need something stronger than tea right now, though."

"Is Mum here?" Cormac asked as Roz finally saw the energy cocoon holding Finn and noticed Ichigo leaning on Zach. "We need a healer for the boys."

"Da and Mum went into town. I'll do what I can until they get back," Roz said as she eyed the cocoon more closely. "Did I hear you say Morgan Le Fay when I walked in?"

"Yup, Auntie Roz," Laurel replied as she went over and hugged her aunt. "And she is uber creepy."

"I know exactly how uber creepy she is, Laurel. I've had dealings with her in the past. Little ones, can you go over by Erin and Laurel and Auntie Maeve while I help Finn and Ichigo?"

Annaliese and Brigid ran over by heir cousins as Roz set to work.

[The Swordbreaker]

Footsteps could be heard outside the door as Ronan and Kennis made their way back home with parcels and bags from the local merchants in town. Kennis let Ronan get the door for her, and they both gasped as they saw what was going on inside.  Kennis rushed to help Roslea as Ronan came over to his four granddaughters. "Erin," he said as he embraced his newest granddaughter tightly. "I was hoping that your arrival here might be under less frantic circumstances. Welcome to Raven's Rock."

Ronan looked toward Maeve and shook his head, and then he looked back at Erin. "You look lovely. I take it the Hellfire party had a few unexpected events if you are all here now in need of a healer. What happened, Erin?"

  

[Taranus]

Erin hugged her grandfather warmly as he welcomed her. He then asked about what happened and although her smile was still there her demeanor became more serious. "Morgan Le Fay happened." She said simply.

"The party seemed to be going as well as could be expected but Morgan decided to make an appearance and turn things on it's head. Aunt Kari and Mira managed to hold her off. Aunt Kari tapped into the goddess and Mira.....Well she does what she does best." Erin said as she hugged Ronan one more time. "It's good to finally meet you. There are a lot of the family I haven't met yet......OH you will have another grand daughter appearing soon as well. Her names Alexia. She showed up at the party and is the daughter of Aunt Kari and Thor."

[The Swordbreaker]

Ronan looked at Kennis as soon as the name Morgan Le Fay left Erin's lips. "Oh. The viper is back to cause problems for us all? I had truly hoped the Mystic Council had been able to shut her away for good this time, but apparently other forces were at work to free her once more."

As the MacFeorais patriarch shook his head, he thought about what exactly must have transpired at that gathering, and he imagined how Melkir and the others on the council were going to react to the world at large seeing magic in full display.

"I'm glad you are safe, Erin, and I'm glad you all could get Finn and Ichigo back here safely. And another granddaughter will be a boon indeed. Family, no matter where they hail from, are always welcome here."

Ronan hugged Erin again, and then he pulled Laurel into his embrace as well. "Now, before the rest of the clan descends on us, is there anything you need, Erin? I'm sure you'd welcome time with your mother away from the hurly burly."

[Karenza]

Branan's portal opened just outside the doors of Raven's Rock, and Kari was leaning into Logan as they crossed through the portal. It was not so much about her feeling frail at the moment. She felt fine. To be honest, the power stunts she had pulled at the party didn't drain her much at all. It was more the need to feel that someone was "holding her up" before she turned to hold up her sons. Sometimes she just needed to know someone else was there for her.

Kari and Logan didn't say much to each other as they crossed through the portal. Sometimes the words really were not necessary for them to know what exactly was going on with the other. That was why they worked so well together, and Kari thanked the Goddess for Logan and the way he understood her every single day. 

"Just a sec," she said to him as they stood outside the door. She placed her hands on his shoulders and kissed him gently as his dirty and tattered tuxedo was replaced by his more familiar boots, jeans and plaid shirt. At the same time, Kari transformed her own dress into much more comfortable boots, jeans and a sweater. "No need to go in looking like that," she said quietly before they entered the hallway and saw everyone still gathered there. By now Ichigo was on his feet and looking much better, and Finn was out of the cocoon and being carried by Cormac to one of the bedrooms upstairs in the house.

"They'll both be fine," Kennis said to her eldest daughter as she and Roslea went behind Cormac up the stairs. "Take a breath, you two, and Roslea will get you when Finn wakes up."

Kari nodded to her mother as she turned to check Ichigo. He gave her one of his slightly crooked smiles as he looked toward the stairs as well. "Zach's gonna find us a room to crash. I'll talk to Dad when he gets here. Maybe he knows why his sister went nuts."

"Your Uncle Branan is trying to find that out as well, Ichigo. I'll come up and check on you later," Kari said as Ichigo started to laugh.

"Mom, I'm not five anymore," he said with a wink. "Seriously, though, that would be nice," he said as he and Zach followed the others up the stairs.

"So, do we start to dissect this nightmare now, Logan, or do you want a beer first?" Kari asked as she looked around the hallway. It might have been good to be home, but her mind was still in a million other places at the moment.   

[Goddess]

Dana tried to bite back a few more tears as she, Rory and Donal made their way back home. She did not want to get into the whole Pete discussion with her parents or her siblings at the moment. She tried to run past her father and up the stairs, but she didn't make it too far.

"Da, can we talk later?" she asked as she took off her heels and sat on the stairs. "Tonight was not the best for any of us."

[chryseis]

Alexia made her way through the portal as she came out the other side electricity wrapped around her body transforming her dress into a pair of black boots, blue jeans and a blue top. " I am so glad to be out of that mess!" She said with a laugh as she walked into the area where everyone was.

"Grand dad this is Alexia." Erin said with a smile as she waved Alexia over.

[The Swordbreaker]

Ronan walked over to Alexia and extended his hand to her, but then he thought better of it and hugged her. "I'm not sure if you knew your maternal grandparents in your world, but I'm your grandfather Ronan," he said as he released his hug. "Your grandmother Kennis is upstairs tending to Finn, but she should be back down soon."

As Ronan looked behind Alexia, he saw Thom had followed close behind her. "I hope your brothers and sisters and the rest of the family have made you feel welcome, Alexia. If there is anything you need or anyone you wish to meet, just ask. I will do whatever I can to make it happen."

[The Peacemaker]

"Pete was called back to London," Rory said to Ronan as he put his hand on Alexia's shoulder. "Welcome to Raven's Rock. Alexia. I'll go put the kettle on for anyone who might want a cuppa in a bit."

"You? Cook?" Donal laughed as he shook his head. "Heaven help the world if we have to rely on you to fix our," he said as he stopped to look at his watch, "breakfast."

"I can boil water, Donal," Rory said with a chuckle as he moved past Kari and Logan. "Remind me not to go to any more Hellfire gatherings," he added as he tapped Logan's shoulder before disappearing down the hallway and into into the kitchen. "If anyone wants to help, fell free!" Rory's voice echoed back down the hallway as the clatter of pots could be heard in the main entrance way.

[Nephilim]

OOC: Chris, have fun. I have no set plans on the translation or on the weapon much at all. Not yet anyway.--K

IC:

Thom groaned as he dropped a very large battle axe at his feet. "This looked a bit more interesting than the rest of the items littering the floor of the Hellfire Mansion," he said to his grandfather as he moved closer to Alexia. "Asgardian markings, I think. Alexia, I know you're from another dimension, but maybe you can translate this before we put in a call to Thor. I want hm to meet you more than I want him to see this, but if both things need to be done, then we should know what we are handing him. It feels as if it were stolen from someone of great honor. It isn't giving off negative energy at all."

"Except for the areas touched by the demon ichor," Caedmon said as he made his way into the room. "Hello, I'm your Uncle Caedmon," he said as he hugged Alexia. "I can sense the demonic blood. I pray that it isn't something that will upset the Asgardians too much."

 

[chryseis]

Alexia walked over to the weapon and as she got closer she knew exactly what it was as a smile came to her face. "I know this weapon well. It's history is a little unusual but honestly under the circumstances nothing is unusual in our cases." She said with a laugh as she got closer.

"I don't need to read the inscription but it's a part of the legend. This weapon dates back to a time when the Celts and Asgardians were working side by side against a dark mystical evil. The weapon is similar to the hammer my father carries in the sense that it has great mystical power however the difference is a mortal or a mystic can wield it but a strong will has to be there....Other wise it will drive the wielder mad. Mother's friend Ada might remember this weapon as well as she's seen what it can do......But what is amazing is that it's been found again. I remember father saying it was long thought lost."

She then turned back to the others. "It does seem dormant which means that is probably why no one knew it still existed."

[Nephilim]

OOC: That is perfect! Thank you!

IC:

Thom smiled as he looked at Alexia. "I knew you'd have this figured out fast. We can stow this in the family armory until we get word to Thor. I'm surprised Loki didn't try to snag this, but he seemed very preoccupied when we left. I'm not sure if it was that robotic Scarlet Witch that made him so distracted or what, but I wasn't going to ask for details."

As Thom watched Rory walk back to the kitchen and Caedmon come over, Nephilim wondered if anyone was going to take Alexia on the guided tour. "After you've gotten to meet everyone, I can take you on a tour of the house and grounds if you like, Alexia. By then maybe your father will be able to join us."

[The Dragoon]

"Now, who wants to go ride a dragon?"

Mal made his way inside to see Annaliese and Brigid running toward him. "I thought you two might want to go for a flight later. Now, go off to the kitchen and get something to eat before Uncle Cormac eats all the good biscuits! You know how he likes his raspberry jam on his biscuits!"

"Rory's cooking," Donal said as Mal got a frown on his face. "I know! I'm going to find the Fruit Loops."

"Weetabix! Mum tossed out your Fruit Loops!" Rory shouted back from the kitchen, "and apparently moved all the pots and pans as well!"

"And another fun day at Raven's Rock," Mal chuckled as he nodded to Kari and Logan. "Beer. That actually looks good right now. I think I'll join you."

[chryseis]

"Actually no I haven't gotten to meet everyone but I figured with the time we have Ill be able to do that. Still I would like to get to know this place."

[Nephilim]

"Once a few more of the family wander back in, we'll go on that tour," Thom said to Alexia as he watched their Uncle Mal sit with their Mum and Logan. "The property has been in the family for centuries, and I think most of our Mum's siblings were born here."

"Most, but not all," Mal said as he waved to Thom and Alexia. "I'm your Uncle Mal. I'm the one who trains the family dragons. Your Mum has been the one who worked the most with the horses. Cormac was always mucking about in boats."

"Alexia, how much of the family looks familiar to you? It seems we are in just about every world, but the makeup of the family always seems a bit different," Thom continued as he heard Rory making more noise in the kitchen than should be legal. "If you had an Uncle Rory there, I hope he had better command of the kitchen!"

[lostgirlxm]

"It's about bloody time to all showed up!"Bryce said as she walked into the main area looking like her more casual self. She was one of the first to arrive and had already made herself at home.She walked over a short distance behind Mal "So Alexia...How do you like it so far? Did it look anything like it does now?"

Alexia smiled and laughed. "Well a lot more Asgardian decor but yes very much."She said as she then responded to Mal. "Well quite a lot of faces I recognize but some I don't......More do then don't."

[Karenza]

Kari leaned back and gave Logan what they both called The Look. He knew she was turning both her telepathic and empathic powers down now that more of the family was arriving. She smiled as she saw Bryce and then realized Bryan had likely not come back with her. She made the decision to think about all that later once Finn and Ichigo were both in the clear.

"I'm glad you have seen more familiar faces than not, Alexia," Kari said as she stood up and made her way closer to her Asgardian daughter. "Later we should show you the tapestry..."

"Oh no! Not the bloody wall hanging!" Mal said with a loud laugh. "It's like those photographs in Harry Potter with the figures moving around, but they change all the time. You dye your hair, and it changes in the tapestry. Beard? Poof, it's there. Shave?" Beard gone!"

"It is a living family history, crafted by your great grandmother Siofra," Kari said to Alexia before she turned to smile at Bryce. "I hope Bryan..."

"What, Mother?" the tall, blond man said as he stepped out of a doorway just beyond the kitchen entrance. "Bryce convinced me I should, at the very least, listen to your side of the story. It seemed the prudent thing to do."

Kari smiled as she went over and hugged Bryce. "Thank you for convincing Bryan. I think you are the first person in the family he has ever listened to."

[Belatu-Cadros]

"Indeed, you are," Bryan said as he walked over and hugged Bryce as well. "If we had known all this that night at the Wicked Wolf, then perhaps I'd have been here sooner."

"You two met before tonight?" Kari asked as Bryan nodded his head.

"I came to San Francisco weeks ago, and I met Bryce one night in that mystic bar. Then all hell broke loose when those maniacs with the crosses arrived. We all ran into battle, but I lost track of Bryce."

Kari nodded as she watched Bryan. "Well, I'm glad you all made it here. If I wasn't certain of it before, tonight showed me very clearly we are in for a hell of a time going forward."

"Isn't that what we've all seen since our births?" Bryan asked as he moved closer to Alexia. "Doesn't every world have its own brand of insanity bred in its very core? Or did the Celto-Asgardians of your world do a better job of policing the maniacs, Alexia?"

[vulpine]

The portal opened up once again as Ceri and her girlfriend Shannon walked through. Ceri looked more like she normally did in jeans and a t shirt but she still wore her military Purple beret. Once they came through Ceri smiled and put her arm around Shannon. She knew Shannon wasn't as open about her sexuality as Ceri was but they were among family......No judgement here.

"Well finally we are among warm friendly faces."She said to Shannon before giving her a quick kiss."Too long a wait I gotta say."

[Nemain]

Shannon's mouth dropped open when she saw all the people gathered in what had to be the biggest "family room" she had ever seen in a house. "Daniel said this place was big, but I had no idea it was some huge castle," she said to Ceri as she leaned in close to her.  She wasn't used to being very open about her sexuality after her time in SHIELD and because not everyone in her own family accepted her lifestyle preferences. "And yes, very nice to see happy faces indeed. After that whatever it was back in New York, I'm happy for the down time."

As she looked around the room, Shannon smiled what could only be called a real smile and not some half-hearted thing with slightly parted lips. "Thanks for inviting me here, Ceri," she said before she reached over and pulled her girlfriend into a long kiss.

[chryseis]

Alexia laughed when her mother mentioned the tapestry. "Oh yes I remember that too." She said as she looked back and saw Ceri and Shannon kissing. "It's a nice feeling to see how in love they are with each other."She said as Bryce laughed.

"Yeah it is but it'd be nice if they got a room!" Bryce said teasingly as Ceri broke the kiss for a minute and gave her sister a dirty look before smiling and went back to her kiss with Shannon.

Alexia was then taken back to what Bryan had asked her. "Oh we had our crazies but we kept a really good tab on them....One major war was enough."

[lostgirlxm]

Bryce smiled again seeing Shannon and Ceri's love for one another but she thought back to what her mother said. "Yeah I am glad I was able to show him the good side of things." She said nudging him slightly in the arm. She then walked over toward where the Axe was sitting looking at it for a moment. "So sis you said this thing is sleeping?" Bryce said as she picked it up to hold it for a minute it started to glow as the glow radiated over Bryce she raised it and bright Green energy surrounded her body. It seemed like she had awoken the power of the weapon.

"Oh no....."Alexia said as she could only look on. Traces of an Celtic Asgardian looking armor started to form over her it was then she dropped it and the transformation stopped. The Armor vanished however leaving a fully nude and slightly dizzy Bryce.

"Oh fer ****'s sake!"Erin said as she grabbed her long coat and in a blur she had it draped around Bryce. "Gees girl what is the saying about not touching things?" She said as Erin looked down at the weapon which now had a slight glow to it.

[Karenza]

Kari's eyes grew wide as Bryce woke up the axe and then stood naked before everyone until Erin covered her cousin in her long coat. The armor appeared and then vanished without a trace, and Kari, deep inside at any rate, was glad that Bryce had dropped the weapon.

"Are you OK?" Kari asked Bryce as she nodded to Erin. "And thanks for the save, Erin."

"I think we had better stow that thing in the armory until we can get more of our Asgardian friends here," Mal said as he sat at the table near Logan and finished his beer. "Who has the best chance of moving it without waking it up? Or, for that matter, not drawing too much attention to it so Loki comes here for some after-party banter. I heard he was less than pleasant to you, Alexia."

Kari shot Mal a look and then looked back at the axe. "Little dragon, no one need lift it," she added as she passed her hand over it and started to levitate it away from Bryce and Alexia. But then she felt the axe halt and lower itself to the floor once more, making a home for itself near the wall and out of foot traffic. "And I guess I was wrong about that. At least it is in a spot where no one will trip over it. Bryce, did you feel anything when you held it? I know weapons like this can flood one's mind with all sorts of history. Come to think of it, I'm sure Indy would love to have a look at it and bring along that librarian friend of his, Carsen Flynn. Carsen can get just about any weapon to speak to him. But first, Bryce, we make sure you are OK."