Into the Mist
28th of January 2007 A.D.
There is something to be said for not retreading old ground, even if that ground is in hell. "I'd like to hire you for a spell Joe..." He's uneasy at first, then less and less so as you go down the laundry list of rules and regulations that mark study into the thaumic sciences in Sanctuary, the modern and civilian guides. The history of your inner world is no less marked by rulers and generals willing to sacrifice good sense and decency upon the altar of their own ambition, though as in this world the results were most often as flawed as the moral calculus that birthed them.
All the while Nergui waits, still as a waxen figure, not even bothering to drink the tea in front of him, presumably because there is little sense feigning normality in a company so far removed from it. Once you'd said your goodbyes to Lilly you turn to ask. "Is Chicago alright for you? It should be about 3 AM there?"
"Yes."
It occurs to you then that what had been for you an at times terrifying, yet nonetheless ultimately positive journey to bring hope to the Doomed must have for him been a reminder of that time long ago when he counted among its denizens. Alas asking if he's OK would likely be taken poorly. Does he have friends, companions? The Court of the Back Turtle is long gone to dust, that much you know. So when you make it back to the Last Station by way of Sanctuary you turn again not to ask but offer.
"Should you ever be in town we'd be happy to host you."
"A pleasure majesty." Something like a smile touches his lips.
"Neat," Isabela declares from the corner. "I wonder if he has fun stories to tell or magics to teach?"
Augustus proceeds to show that there is such a thing as looking politely horrified, though you Lydia and Tiffany do not stick around to see if he manages to keep it up verbally.
***
29th of January 2007 A.D.
You Regain all Essence -> Now at 15/15
Having left Joe Magarac behind at the palace you return to the heartwarming sight of their reunion in one of the larger of the palace's meeting rooms, made only slightly odd by the fact that he choose to take his full size once more giving the scene that touch of Gulliver's Travels as she shouts up to be heard. "Thank you Moll... I mean Your Majest..." Nora starts.
"Molly is fine," you cut her off. "Really I should be thanking you, without you telling me what was going on we might have been in so much deeper trouble down the line when Mikaboshi's plans came to a boil." That's a lie, the Crown had shown you part of it before she had opened up, but in the grand scheme of things it's more than just protecting your biggest secret, it's giving her back some control in a world seemingly gone mad.
That is how you come one bright cold day towards the end of January to stand again on the precipice of the Well accompanied not just by an armored up Lydia and Flicker in Moth's Eye but also a flannel wearing (makes sense in hindsight) Joe Magarac.
"Are you sure you don't want an upgrade? What about a wave warping field? Kinetic and electromagnetic?" Flick asks, wheedles really, her grasp of English far outstripping her understanding for why anyone fortunate enough to be made of metal would not want to take advantage of the many avenues of enhancement they have before them.
"Alright, everyone is ready?" Lydia asks, a little loudly. "Into deep woods and under briar we go."
"Woods? Jungle?" Flick asks, but Lydia is obviously as sick of delays as you are. She claps her hands the sound like silver on stone as her essence parts the way into...
"Doesn't look that different," you half whisper.
Ahead is a continuation of the bare field before the hall where you had met Nora whips of mist coiling around the the stumps of trees.
Wait... You step across.
Are those petrified?
The closer you look the less they seem like trees they seem more like broken columns or the worn stumps of broken standing stones, Then as the path closes behind you you realize even that had been a trick of the light. All is mist white and thick, no ground below, no sky above, a place of echoes not a sound being heard.
Flick struggles with her instruments, trying to find a level plane to set them on when it seems the 'ground' only exists under your feet. Finally she gives up and sets them floating. half a dozen vaguely pyramid shaped structures buzzing, or rather humming taking readings.
"I have never seen a place more morphic than this," she mutters under her breath, "it almost reminds me of some parts of the Labyrinth."
"It goes really deep," Lydia grabs a 'piece' of mist in hand that briefly congeals to the consistency of cotton.
"It's a forge that hasn't been lit," Joe adds.
And all of a sudden it clicks. "Or a bridge that hasn't been built." This place is filled enough with Essence that you could build a permanent path to Sanctuary here, one that does not count on you ferrying people back and forth.
What should the Well be developed into?
(All options will require an investment of AP or time as others do the work in the background)
[] A Gate to Sanctuary, allowing trade and the movement of people
[] An Artifact Forge, reducing the cost of Splendors by ● to a minimum of ● (●●●●● to ●●●●, ●●●● to ●●● etc...)
[] A Proving Ground, allowing for the improvement of Mortal Talents, potentially even the Awakening of Essence
[] Write in
OOC: This feels a little scattered, but there was a lot of ground to cover. Hope it works. 
