#dreaming

The redcap scans the horizon for their southern target.

The apes say "We approach the South and will not go any further..we drop you off at the edge of what is left of China Town, but be careful. They maybe dainty, and breakable, but the have grown harder. And it is rumored there is a monster among them."

The town coming up looks to be crafted of delicate china, porcelain buildings with delicate swirls, tea cup shaped homes of great size.

And as she scans, Alexis' eyes see further south still what looks to be a palatial estate with a large bubble about it.

what is it with these folks and bubbles?

"So lemme guess, we want that big bubble palace?"

Toto coughs "NOt as easy to get to as you think. But yes"

"You know somethin'?"

Toto raises a furry brow "I'm Toto the 13th. I know every song a band every played, the lay out of oz, and how various vermin taste. I know a lot. But do go on"

"No, I'm askin'. What do you know about this one? Give with the intel. We got the sme goals, right?"

"Afraid I don't know how to slay her, no. Or I'd already be looking for the material. Traditionally the good witches of NOrth and south were prettier....in a traditional way, and more feminine, less broom more bubbles, flouncy dresses. As you can see, that's gone out the window. The current generation of witches are all, well, they run their territories and have bad attitudes. They control the poppy trade, get a cute of all prostitution and protection rackets. "

"This latest South Witch has hired hammerheads... not like sharks, great hulking brutes with square heads that slam into you"

"The -latest- South Witch? What happened to the last one?"

"You kidding? You think these are the originals? " He snorts "When the Old Man..Oz, floated off, there were whole generations. Ozma took over for a healthy reign, oh those were golden years....but then, that line ended and the witches turned... some say bad dreams" Now that they are dropped off by the apes the dog stretches all four legs and leads her "By then even glinda the good's youth spells had left out of her... sussccors couldn't hold a wand to her. Instead of trying to guide their people, they all became corrupt in one level another. The third great Witch war came up... some lived, some died. New folks claimed the title and in the end it was all back to square one."

"only with new witches...now you? You're turning the balance of power. Congrats on that I guess. Me? I want out"

"I ain't no Dorothy, this ain't my place." She says gruffly. "I get home, I'm done. I get some intel I been lookin' for, even better."

"If these witches are bitches like that, then must be some folks that don't like them bein' in charge. So we should find some like that."

"Oh yeah, Crystal balls are pretty common here. It's why the witches are always looking for someone new..and..." He tilts his head "You trying to start an uprising?"

She shrugs. "Well, could be a decent distraction, or maybe we just get someone who can tell us how to snuff her."

"Well, not that others haven't tried," He says "There are rumors that the wizard was old, but not dead, and got it on with some of the locals so some of the kids are 'heirs to the wizards' but that as generations ago so who keeps track? Oz is a wreck now. Sure, would folks like to take out all the witches until a new and better genration rose up? SURE...but whose gonna risk it? I'm not sure how much help we'll get in China County here... it's not what it was. ANd they're on the delicate side. I hear they have their own crime problems"

She shrugs again, unconcerned. "Well, we'll head for the bubble. See what happens." (And so they do.)

Well, they do, but they do have an encounter on the way... a miserable chipped gang of china dolls, their beautiful patterns faded and dimmed by multiple mendings and a few cracks come out bearing odd weapons, pincher like grabbers made of metal. They stare at the trio (For Klok putters behind) and say "Wait! You wish to pass through? YOu must pay tribute! Dross, cash, something! Or we will break you. You now face..." They clatter "The Tongs of China town"

"Yeah, you gonna face me?" She sneers to intimidate. "You better have something more than those little sugar-pickers."

One will whisper to the other "She's not made of Fine China. She's. ..ah meaty"

"Then we cut her?" Another says holding up a stump of a sharded arm, but when you make it a question it loses some power to intimidate.

Klok looks over at Alexis "Tick-would you like me to offer something in Tock-trade for information or unhindered tick-tock passage?"

Alexis draws her own sword purloined from the last witch. "Yeah?" To the China, then considers what Klok offers. "Yeah. Go ahead."

Klock focuses and 'tock tick tock tick tock tick' as the old grandfather clock seems to go..backwards? It's a strain on the old codger, clearly, but the gang of porcelian dolls gasps as their flaws mend...blurs return to cracks, but then cracks meld and return to lovely original patterns! Alexis has heard of this kind of time magic, mostly from Sidhe nobles...but it would appear Klok has it too- which makes sense.

The tong girls gasp and drop their weapons looking at them selves "Oh, we're like we were before!" And one tries to hug Alexis in gratitude even as another does hug Klok. And another Toto.

Toto grunts "Why do folks assume dogs LIKE this?"

"Huh." It might be that she's impressed, up to the 'attack.' She snarls a warning, but does not push or attack back. She suffers.