Prelude

Hush now children, it is time. Time for the story to be told. Listen well.

"Hurry up!" A small voice hissed across the dark room, quiet as to not wake the sleepers in the beds. "We don't want Madame to wake up!"

"Alright, alright," mumbled a second voice, "I'm comin', give me a sec." A few moments later the sound of feet dragging across the floor in a sleepy manner was heard, along with the light tap of a not quite so tired person's shoes. "Yer all real slow, ya know that?" the first voice grumbled irrately, "What didja need to do, put on yer makeup?" A few small laughs came from the companions as they made their way up the stairs of the old house, seemingly playing a game of leapfrog to avoid the creaky steps. Finally they reached the top of the stairs, which lead into a small bedroom with a single bed upon which snored a rather large woman. Muffling their giggles, the companions snuck over to the only window in the room, through which one would see that the night had not yet lifted, that is, if one was able to see through the layers of ivy and crusty paint covering it. Together the trio pushed it open, and the tallest of the three boosted the other two out the window, where they clambered to the rooftop, before following them, making sure to leave a small hair pin under the window frame to keep their return entrance safe. Reaching the top of the roof, the three stood together, quietly staring at the horizon as the first rays of light began to peek through the sky, turning a once black night to a blueish-gray. The silence of night still hanging heavily over the streets. The three grinned at each other, as sharing such a magical time is a precious experience. Then, as quick as an alley cat hunting a pigeon, they were off, leaping from rooftop to rooftop, laughing in the fresh morning air, alone in their own secret corner of the world. The birds began to sing, chirping their cheery songs, proclaiming their joy to the world, and as they did so, another person, not too far away began whistling along with them. So too, did another character, hidden high above the streets in leafy camouflage, perhaps startling the poor birds nearby as seemingly the tree itself began whistling their songs. As the world awoke, few noticed the missing trio. The snoring woman got up, and began raising the other children from their beds. "Come on, we all must clean today, we have a newcomer." And so the day began, the sun high in a cloudless sky, all the children cleaning diligently, except for three sly girls who snuck onto the roof in the dark morning. If you have yet to catch on, my children, these are our heroes, and it is their story we shall soon be embarking upon. Welcome to this tale, of the world of the Fae, and the adventurers who discovered it. Now hush, and let the story begin.

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